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Superintendent: District can now heal Ewert meets with staff at Arapahoe High School By Jennifer Smith jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com In the aftermath of the release of the independent studies into the Dec. 13, 2013, shooting at Arapahoe High School, Superintendent Brian Ewert said the district is finally able to move forward with the healing process. “I spent two full days at Arapahoe High School last week talking to staff,” he
told the Littleton Public Schools Board of Education on Jan. 28. “There was a wide variety of emotions. Certainly some themes have emerged. Our goal is to continue to help the healing process. It’s just going to take a long time.” He said he met with more than 40 employees, and expects to go back in the near future. Ewert “I’ll just say it was well worth it,” he said. Still, some in the community wonder if
the district is doing all it can. “You can lock down the schools all you want, but if you don’t fix the climate, it won’t make a difference,” said Arapahoe High parent Heidi Schlossberg. It’s a conclusion all of the studies concur with. “The evidence of faulty systems thinking within AHS and LPS included a tendency for groupthink, a reluctance to reflect on and admit failure, and the minimization of sincere concern,” reads the report by the University of Colorado Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence. “These findings represent the
most challenging and the most important of the problems to solve, because information sharing and threat assessment cannot overcome an unhealthy organizational system.” Another mother addressed the board holding a picture of her daughter, a former Arapahoe student who killed herself in 2009. “I just want you to know that (my daughter) once told me she didn’t think anybody at her school cared,” she said. The district has admitted mistakes Arapahoe continues on Page 7
Sheriff’s office seeks suspects in robbery Armed teens made off with cash from victim at Streets at SouthGlenn Staff report
Ollie is a 2.75-pound poodle mix that played for Team Fluff in the soon-to-air Puppy Bowl. He lives in Centennial. Photos by Shanna Fortier
Locals join lineup for Puppy Bowl Dumb Friends League sends three to annual event By Shanna Fortier sfortier@colorado communitymedia.com Three puppies from the Dumb Friends League — including two from Colorado — were drafted to star in Puppy Bowl XII to complete Animal Planet’s roster of adoptable players. The Dumb Friends League is among 44 shelters and rescue groups representing 25 states across the U.S. and Puerto Rico participating in Puppy Bowl XII. All three of the Dumb Friends League’s puppies were adopted following the event. The Puppy Bowl is recorded each year and then is aired on Animal Planet on Super Bowl Sunday. Puppies play in a model stadium as commentators weigh in about their actions. “The Puppy Bowl is more than entertainment,” said Megan Rees, public relations manager for the Dumb Friends League. “It encourages adoption, a message that is ingrained in every aspect of the event. We are proud to partner with Animal Planet to help drive that message into millions of homes across the country that will be watching.”
Moose is a 2.54-pound poodle mix that played for Team Fluff in Puppy Bowl XII. He lives in Parker. Meet the players Moose Weighing in at 2.54 pounds, Moose, a 3-month-old poodle mix, will be representing Team Fluff. He first entered the Dumb Friends League as part of a large neglect case from southeastern Colorado. The day that he returned from taping the bowl in New York, Moose’s adoption contract was permanently signed with a
loving new family in Parker. “He’s been wonderful,” said Jenny Kuist, who adopted Moose, now renamed Rico. “He’s really rambunctious but also a cuddler.” Moose continues his training at home by going for three-mile walks and playing with his brother, Bob the poodle. “He’s gonna kill it in the puppy bowl,” Puppy continues on Page 7
Three teenagers with nearly identical descriptions recently robbed a 32-year-old victim at gunpoint at The Streets at SouthGlenn, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said. Investigators need help catching them. The incident happened in the parking garage of the Centennial shopping mall at about 5:50 p.m. Jan. 25. “Given the time this robbery occurred, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office believes someone may have seen these males before the robbery or as they fled the scene, and may have seen them enter a vehicle or an area store,” reads a news release from the sheriff’s office. All three are described as black males, about 16 to 17 years old, medium-length hair, with slender builds between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall. All were wearing black pants. One was wearing a red and black puffy coat, the other two were wearing plain black puffy coats. One had on a black hood. At least two of them were armed with handguns. They took cash, a cell phone and a key fob before leaving the area. No surveillance video or photos are available at this time, but the sheriff’s office believes the suspects are armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding this crime or these suspects should call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867), or text DMCS and your message to 274637 (CRIMES). Callers can remain anonymous. The tip line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
OVERTIME RUMBLE Fans rocked the gym as the Warriors faced off against Grandview. PAGE 26