Riding for love County changes fairgrounds policy after drag show backlash

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’s not every day that a Douglas County commissioners’ meeting includes a quote of Rihanna lyrics. Several area residents at the meeting expressed concern with last year’s drag show event at the county fairgrounds in Castle Rock, a topic that gave way to a broader discussion about a parent’s ability to choose what kinds of entertainment their kids can view.

e meeting also heard accusations of indoctrination of children.

Joy Overbeck, a Parker resident, referenced videos of performances she took issue with at the May 9 meeting.

She referred to a performer “belting out” a song with the lyrics: “I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it. Sex is in the air, I don’t care, I love the smell of it. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me.”

Bike trip will be in memory of wife lost to Alzheimer’s

BY ALEX K.W. SCHULTZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

When Sam Van Why hops on his 22-speed Cannondale bicycle in a few weeks to take on a rugged 45-mile ride, it will be the perfect metaphor for what the Castle Rock resident’s life has been.

e ride won’t be easy. In fact, Van

Why may feel like he’s “just surviving” at times as he pumps his legs over and over for nearly four hours.

But the retired college professor, you can be sure, will keep going. He won’t for a moment think about stopping, even if his 74-year-old legs and body are pleading with him to do so. He’ll push and push until he crosses the nish line. at’s what Donna would have wanted.

On Dec. 8, 2022, Van Why lost the love of his life, his wife of nearly 30 years, to Alzheimer’s disease.

On June 11, he will ride for her. e Alzheimer’s Association Ride to End ALZ Colorado will start and end right outside Colorado State University’s Canvas Stadium. e route Van Why has chosen will take him south from Fort Collins, back north to Laporte, along the foothills of Horsetooth Reservoir and nally back to where he started — about the same distance from Fort Collins to Boulder.

“Oh yeah,” he said when asked if

Another performance, Overbeck claimed, involved young girls on stage performing in a drag dance contest, mimicking the dancers. “ is can only be called recruitment — promoting sexualization and sexual confusion to children,” Overbeck told the county’s elected leaders.

Douglas County PrideFest held its annual event at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in August. During a drag show at the celebration, a performer’s breast plate and false nipple were temporarily exposed.

Castle Rock Climb4Change set for June 10

Changing a workout could change someone’s life. Don’t miss Climb4Change on Saturday, June 10. Outdoor enthusiasts, tness bu s and families of all shapes and sizes will have the opportunity to conquer the 200-step Challenge Hill at Philip S. Miller Park for a good cause. More information, including race details and registration, is available at CRgov. com/Climb4Change.

Sponsored by No Limits Physical erapy, proceeds bene t the town’s erapeutic Recreation program.

Photo source: Castle Rock Facebook page

Help for homeless gets funding boost e Douglas County Homeless Initiative announced it is the recipient of $1.6 million in state grant funding.

A Douglas County Facebook post says a funding boost is coming to homeless services. According to the county, state funding will further Douglas County’s work to help those in our community experiencing homelessness.

Photo source: Douglas County Facebook

Castle Rock has a refreshed Facebook page e Town of Castle Rock’s website — facebook.com/crgov — is its primary communication vehicle. Last year alone, the website saw about 1.2 million visitors.

Have you visited the refreshed town website? Tell us about your experience.

Last month, the o cial online source for town information got a new look and several enhancements to make nding information even easier. An improved search function and updated navigation more e ciently connect site visitors to resources.

Information from town depart- ments, such as Parks and Recreation, Castle Rock Water, Police, Fire, Development Services and Public Works is more prominent. e town calendar has been simpli ed to give you a better look at what’s ahead. And, the site is now more user- and mobilefriendly.

We hope you’ve had a chance to check out the updates at CRgov.com and want to know what you think. Visit CRgov.com/Feedback to provide your feedback on the updated design and ease of navigation.

Thomas appointed to ethics commission

Douglas County Commissioner Lora omas has been appointed as the local government representative to Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission (IEC). e IEC was created by voter initiative in November 2006 with the passage of Amendment 41 to the Colorado Constitution.

“I am truly honored to be selected by the current board members of the Independent Ethics Commission for this important assignment to serve the public interest and represent our local governments,” said Commissioner omas on the Douglas County webpage announcing the appointment. “Please know that I will bring the same diligence and commitment to this commission that I have always applied to my lifetime of public service. I look forward to working with such esteemed and accomplished individuals on this commission who have set an impressive standard of thoughtful and considered thoroughness and fairness.” e IEC consists of ve members, one appointed by the governor, one by the Colorado House of Representatives, one by the Colorado Senate, one by the chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, and one by the other four commissioners. e fth commissioner must be a representative of local government. e IEC’s commissioners serve without pay but are reimbursed for expenses. No more than two members may be from the same political party. Each member serves a fouryear term. Terms are staggered and a member may serve multiple terms.

Laydon heads to Harvard Douglas County commissioner and board chair Abe Laydon was accepted to Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program, a three-week interactive and intensive public policy and leadership program at Harvard University. According to course information, the program will

Correction

A story published the week of April 13, 2023, headlined “Plan for new truck stop off I-25 in Larkspur moving forward,” incorrectly described planned-unit cost the county $17,400.

Share your baking, jewelry, photography or gardening

Have you recently discovered or renewed your love for baking, gardening, jewelry making or photography? ere’s no need to keep your creativity to yourself. Share it with our community at this year’s 2023 Douglas County Fair & Rodeo. Learn more at bit.ly/41vMQNW.

Photo source: Douglas County

Understand your property taxes at the upcoming town hall

If you’re a property owner in Douglas County, you may have questions about a historic increase in your next assessment. Why is this happening and what can you do? Here are a couple of resources to answer your questions:

-Watch this Live Town Hall, “What’s Happening with Property Taxes?” https://youtu.be/TKWFPPU6WBg

-Read more about your Notice of Valuation and our next Live Town Hall, scheduled for May 24: https:// www.douglas.co.us/own-propertyin-douglas-county.../ development, or PUD, zoning. The size of PUD areas can vary widely, and different communities take different approaches to them.