August 26, 2021
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
CastleRockNewsPress.net
VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 19
Residents weigh in on redistricting maps Many attendees advocated for county, municipalities to remain whole BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
ing where members took the final vote on wording for the ballot measures, several home builders spoke
Douglas County residents and leaders came together Aug. 18 to provide input for the once-a-decade redistricting process during a public hearing with the commissions in charge of drawing the new district boundaries. For the first time, twin independent redistricting commissions — instead of the state legislature — are creating the districts for Colorado’s state legislative and congressional districts. Among the 35 speakers who signed up to speak at the meeting in Ranch View Middle School in Highlands Ranch were the Douglas County commissioners, the mayor of Parker, Wind Crest Senior Living Community residents, former state Sen. John Evans and Stu Parker, the chairman of the county’s Republican Party. Speakers were given three minutes to speak and were then asked questions by the commission. The commissions released preliminary maps June 23 and are now in the process of hearing from the public. The commissions’ maps must be approved by the Colorado Supreme Court no later than Dec. 15
SEE BUILDERS, P10
SEE MAPS, P13
A crowd fills the Douglas County Board of Commissioners hearing room on Aug. 19.
PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS
Schools keep mask order despite county opt-out DCSD superintendent says district must follow health order BY ELLIOTT WENZLER AND JESSICA GIBBS EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
While Douglas County has opted out of a public health order requir-
ing masks for young students and their teachers as a COVID-19 safety measure, the local school district says it plans to keep that order in place. In an Aug. 20 letter to the community, Douglas County School District Superintendent Corey Wise reinforced an earlier announcement that the district would adhere to the latest public health order from Tri-County Health De-
partment despite county commissioners’ unanimous opt-out vote on Aug. 19. That Tri-County Health order, approved Aug. 17, requires masks to be worn among children ages 2 through 11 in any indoor school or childcare setting. Staff members who work with that age group were also included in the order, which SEE SCHOOLS, P18
Builders say construction tax could drive them away Castle Rock council believes growth will continue even if new-home tax increases BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After months of discussion, the Castle Rock Town Council voted to
place four tax-increase measures on the November ballot, leaving the need for new revenue streams up to residents in November. During the Aug. 17 council meet-
Dream Big Dreams...
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 21
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.