July 22, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
CastleRockNewsPress.net
VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 14
Colorado wildfires are year-round danger Hotter, drier climate influences how and when fires ignite BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
to make up for losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and make salaries slightly more competitive. However,
State climate experts and local fire officials along the Front Range say wildfire season no longer has an end as heat, low moisture and other factors have created a year-round problem. Russ Schumacher, the Colorado state climatologist and director of the Colorado Climate Center, said 2020 was the worst year on record for wildfires, rewriting record books on what kind of fires can happen and when. In the past, wildfire season was generally contained to the hottest part of summer in July and into August. Now, Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District Chief Daniel Hatlestad said, wildfires are a 12-month priority. The Inter-Canyon Fire District covers 52 square miles in Jefferson County. “We are seeing these fires spread, and spread quickly every month of the year,” Hatlestad said. “The fuel load across the Front Range has created more intense, frequent and longer-burning fires. There is no longer a change of approach to prepare for wildfire season because there is no season.”
SEE PAY, P31
SEE WILDFIRES, P19
Heidi Thomas, of Castle Rock, was the first alleged victim to testify in the 2018 Bill Cosby trial.
PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES
Bill Cosby accuser now spotlights change ‘We need to talk about where we go from here’ BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Despite a court ruling that freed Bill Cosby years after his sexual-as-
sault conviction, a Douglas County resident says progress is being made to help victims come forward and find justice in cases of rape and sexual assault, but more needs to be done. Heidi Thomas, who has testified in court that Cosby sexually assaulted her in the 1980s, said that when she read a news story
announcing he would be released from prison, it was a “punch in the gut.” “I had no idea this was coming,” said the Castle Rock resident and Littleton native. “It just came out of the blue.” Cosby was released on July 1 SEE CHANGE, P16
District takes first steps in overhaul of educator pay DCSD hopes to pick up where it left off before the pandemic BY LIAM ADAMS LADAMS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Douglas County School District has a short-term and long-
term plan to improve educator compensation. The district is ending furlough days and boosting employees’ base salaries this upcoming school year
Dream Big Dreams...
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 18
Special CD Rate
.75%
Special CD Rates ** Term * Term Or 2.74% APY 2.33% 16APYMonth 27 Month
APY * 10 Month Term
120 S. Wilcox, Castle Rock ♦ (303) 660-4001 *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and interest rate for Certificate of Deposit (CD) may change after account opening. Fees
120 S. Wilcox, Castle Rock (303) 660-4001
Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and interest rate for Certificate of Deposit (CD) may change after account opening. Fees could reduce earnings on the CD. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. *To open the CD, $1,000 minimum opening deposit is required. The CD is automatically renewed into a Standard 12 month CD with current ratecould at renewal. **To open the CD, reduce earnings on the CD. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. The CD is automatically renewed into $1,000 minimum opening deposit is required. The CD is automatically renewed into a Standard 24 month CD with current rate at renewal. The Annual Percentage Yield is current as of 11/22/018.
a Standard 12 month CD with current rate at renewal. *The Annual Percentage Yield is current as of November 19, 2020.