November 6, 2015
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A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Moon to replace husband in District 1 In other races, incumbents retain seats on Centennial City Council
By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunitymedia.com Two incumbents and the wife of another incumbent won their races for seats on the Centennial City Council. All four city council districts were featured on the ballot. Here is how the election shaped up after votes were counted Nov. 3:
District 1 Candace Moon will succeed her husband, Vorry Moon, who could not run again because of term limits. She received 43 percent of the vote to win a three-way race. Bonnie Percefull garnered 35.5 percent of votes and Sharon Kellogg 21.3 percent. Candace Moon was traveling for business and unavailable for comment. “She wants to keep listening to the citizens of District 1 and keep the city’s progressive state,” her husband, who managed her campaign, said the morning after the election.
Moon is a native of Arkansas and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Park University. She received a master’s degree in applied communication from the University of Moon Denver. She’s lived in what is now Centennial for 23 years and is employed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration, Department of Homeland Security. District 2 Carrie Penaloza ran unopposed. “I’m thrilled to have the chance to
continue the good work that’s been done in the city of Centennial,” Penaloza said at an Election Night viewing party. Penaloza’s first focus will be the fiber optic initiative, a project started last year to evaluate existing traffic signalization. Her plan is to see if the initiative is viable for the city. “I have a lot of hope for our city,” she said. District 3 Incumbent Ken Lucas easily won re-election, with 71 percent of the vote against Joan Lopez.
Election continues on Page 13
Arsonist sentenced to 45 years Woman set fire in attempt to kill her former girlfriend Staff report
Seniors who are 65 and older can qualify for a free SilverSneakers card through Medicare. The card grants access to all of the South Suburban recreation centers. Photos by Mike DiFerdinando
SilverSneakers gives seniors a lift Free card a passport to fun, fitness at South Suburban facilities
By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com The seniors each pick up a chair and set of hand weights before they find their spots in the gym of the Lone Tree Recreation Center. They huddle in groups, chatting and stretching — some making plans for lunch after the class. For older adults in the area, the popular SilverSneakers fitness class offers fitness and fun at a manageable pace for residents in Lone Tree, Littleton, Centennial and Sheridan. “I love this class. I’ve been coming since I retired, just before I was 70, so I’ve been coming for about seven years now,” Lone Tree resident Rita Smith said. “I like Sneakers continues on Page 7
A woman who set an apartment-complex fire in an attempt to kill her former girlfriend — an action that may have been triggered by a Facebook announcement publicizing the former girlfriend’s new relationship with a male roommate — was sentenced on Oct. 29 to 45 years in prison. Naomi Christine Almodovar, 24, of Aurora, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder, an arson count and three sentencing enhancements stemming from the June Almodovar 6, 2014, fire at the Copper Terrace apartments at 6550 S. Dayton St., Centennial. The fire that started about 1 a.m. caused several residents of the building to suffer injuries when they jumped from balconies to escape the flames. Investigators determined the fire was arson and had originated outside the door of a specific unit, and they interviewed the woman and three men who lived there, according to a news release by the 18th Judicial District. The female resident said she had broken up three months earlier with Almodovar, who then set about harassing the female resident and the resident’s new boyfriend, who was one of the roommates. The female resident said Almodovar had made several threats to burn the apartment building down, and the resident’s boyfriend said the couple had recently made their new relationship public on Facebook. Relatives of Almodovar also
Arson continues on Page 4
COMING NEXT WEEK Rita Smith of Lone Tree has been coming to SilverSneakers workout classes for seven years.
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