News-Press DCCR 9-5-2013
Castle Rock
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 24
September 5, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcastlerocknews.com
Pot fine for minors could reach $500 Community service might be imposed for offenders By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@ourcoloradonews.com Castle Rock City Council gave its initial OK Aug. 20 to increase the fine for minors caught with marijuana or drug paraphernalia from $100 to $500. The proposed changes in the town ordinance, which was scheduled to face a
second hearing Sept. 3, would also add a requirement of completing 24 hours of community service and/or attendance of a substance abuse class, whichever is recommended by the municipal judge and prosecutors. “It has been many years since that hundred-dollar fine was adjusted, so that no doubt needed some current review and assessment,” Castle Rock Town Attorney Robert Slentz told the council. The change was one of three requests brought up by Castle Rock Mayor Paul Do-
nahue at a June council meeting. Donahue at the June meeting explained that based on research he’s done, marijuana is a gateway drug. Also, since the implementation of medical marijuana, there has been a significant increase in marijuana use by teenagers in Colorado, he said. Donahue said he wants to make the fine stiffer so teens will “think twice about possessing.” Councilmember Renee Valentine called for an emphasis on community service since teens probably would turn to parents for help paying the fine.
Donahue’s two other requests at the June meeting were to consider putting the national motto “In God We Trust” in a prominent place in council chambers, and to considering repealing the town’s open weapons ban in municipal buildings. The council recently approved placing the national motto in town chambers, as well as the town’s and state’s mottos and the town’s date of incorporation, for a cost of Pot continues on Page 20
Castle View students help students Apprentice program idea gets attention of district By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office’s Dragon Runner bomb robot, unlike its 500-pound predecessor, has the ability to climb stairs and rough terrain and can be remote-controlled from out of sight. Photos by Ryan Boldrey
Sheriff’s office gets new bomb robot Federal grant pays for Dragon Runner By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office recently upgraded its resources with the addition of a Dragon Runner bomb robot. The robot, pack and remote included, weighs just 75 pounds, much smaller than its 500-pound predecessor, allowing it to get into harder-to-reach places as it keeps officers out of harm’s way while the bomb squad is deployed. Purchased for $110,397, the robot — designed by the Marine Corps for use in Afghanistan and Iraq — was fully funded by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. The appropriation of the grant money was approved by the county commissioners July 30 and the robot arrived in Castle Rock in early August. So far, officers have been thrilled at its capabilities. “It’s lightweight and portable and hooks
right on the backpack,” said Lt. Tommy Barrella. “We needed a small platform robot that we could deploy quickly. We can carry it with us into a school or neighborhood. You can’t do that with the big robot.” The big robot, which the department is keeping to conduct heavier, more timeconsuming work, is used mainly for bomb disposal, Barrella said. However, it is clumsy and can’t climb steep terrain or stairs, and if something breaks on it, it takes at least a half a day just to take the robot apart. The new robot requires just five minutes to take apart, but perhaps more importantly in a SWAT situation, can approach a house within minutes while the officers keep their distance and can be stationed in their command van. “It goes over everything that is put in its way,” Barrella said. “It’s a good set of eyes for us, and instead of climbing a hill with the van and entering plain sight with the big robot, this one can climb the hill itself or in a backpack with an officer.”
Robot continues on Page 20
Douglas County Sheriff’s Lt. Tommy Barrella demonstrates the various capabilities of the department’s new Dragon Runner bomb robot, which was purchased with federal grant money for $110,397.
Less than 1 percent of Douglas County students drop out of school each year, but six Castle View High School students aim to drop that figure lower still. They’ve proposed an apprenticeship program designed to keep at-risk students in high school while they learn a trade. Douglas County School District officials are working with them to make that idea a reality. The program was inspired by the Center for Civic Education’s Project Citizen, which urges middle and high school students to learn about public policymaking through projects. Its focus on empathy and critical thinking dovetailed with the goals of a sophomore-level class taught by Castle View’s Michael Schneider and Christina Classen. Six of those students, now juniors, saw a need among their peers. “We came up with the idea of helping students that are struggling in school find a way to have success in life,” student Madeline Morgan said. “These are our fellow classmates; we definitely care about them.” For at-risk students, success doesn’t necessarily entail post-secondary education. “Just because Douglas County is a prestigious school district, college is not really for everyone,” student Gregory Connelly said. “They feel like to have to make their own opportunities and find help themselves,” junior Lane Steas said. “It’s not offered to them, like it would be to other students.” “This is not exactly helping them be on a college track, but helping them to succeed even without a college degree,” Morgan agreed. “You definitely still can be a helpful member of society without having a degree.” The students presented their idea at the spring 2013 Colorado Project Citizen contest at the Colorado Capitol, earning a second place. At the invitation of Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen, they repeated that presentation to the DCSD cabinet. Two of the district’s top officials, director of operations and maintenance Bo Bacon and chief operations officer Bill Moffitt, now are working with the student team, hoping Students continues on Page 20