News-Press DCCR 5-30-13
Castle Rock
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 10
May 30, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcastlerocknews.com
Drive for new libraries begins Capital campaign raising funds for three facilities By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Douglas County High School graduates Jacob McCleerey, left, and Brandon McRae celebrate receiving their diplomas on May 23 at Douglas County Schools Stadium. Photo by Ryan Boldrey
Class of 2013
Most high schools in Douglas County held their commencement ceremonies last week, as thousands of young men and women took a big step in their lives. Here, we give you glimpses of the graduation events. Find more images inside on pages 3 and 4.
Rock Canyon salutatorian Austin Beane, right, jumps for joy after receiving his diploma at Shea Stadium in Highlands Ranch on May 24. Photo by Jane Reuter
Castle View High School seniors give a standing ovation after founding principal Lisle Gates’ name is read aloud at Red Rocks Amphitheatre May 22. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
Library continues on Page 13
Police bike unit rides a second summer Castle Rock cops cruise town on two-wheelers By Rhonda Moore
rmoore@ourcoloradonews.com The Castle Rock Police Department is reaching the streets for the second year in a row from atop a two-wheel cruiser. The department’s bike unit launched its second summer with a bike rodeo for kids designed to teach bicycle safety. The bike rodeos, which launched May 25 for children ages 5 to 11, feature an obstacle course with an officer acting as a walking course escort, helmet checks,
Castle Pines resident Lynette Kramer is a Douglas County Libraries fan. Her favorite branch is Lone Tree, not only because it’s close to Park Meadows mall and her kids’ schools, but because its staff knows how to find the offbeat music she favors. “They always have it,” said Kramer, who visits the Lone Tree branch three or four times weekly despite her proximity to the Castle Pines branch. “I would use (Castle Pines) more if it had more selection.” Much as she loves the Lone Tree branch, she sees its shortcomings. “The parking’s not great,” she said. “The drop-off is horrible. The location’s good but they don’t have the land to expand.” The library district sees that, too. It’s launched a multi-year capital campaign called “No Leaf Unturned” for construction of new libraries in the fast-growing communities of Lone Tree, Castle Pines and Parker. Based on current and projected population growth, the Lone Tree and Parker libraries need to double in size, library director Jamie LaRue said. The Castle Pines branch, now tucked into a 1,500-square-foot rented space in a strip mall, ideally will more than triple in size to about 5,000 square feet. The Town of Parker recently offered the district a site for a new library on townowned land downtown. In Lone Tree, the developers of RidgeGate had in 2008 earmarked a lot for the library, but its use hinged on passage of a proposed library district property tax increase. When the measure failed, “We were
safety lessons and bicycle registration with the police department. The department’s bike patrol unit is part of the community policing concept to increase communications between officers and residents. The unit includes four officers whose job is to increase police presence and visibility in Castle Rock, focusing on downtown, in retail areas, along trails and in open spaces. In years past, officers occasionally patrolled on bicycles, but the organized unit did not form until 2012, after Chief Jack Cauley took the helm of the department. No new officers were hired for the bike patrol unit, according to the Town of Castle Rock.
The bike patrol unit will ride in Castle Rock through September. Additional bike rodeos and events will take place throughout the summer and into the 2013-2014 school year at area schools. To sign up for event alerts, visit Castle Rock’s online event calendar at CRgov.com/events and click “notify me.” For more information about the bike rodeo events, contact Officer Seth Morrissey at smorrissey@CRgov.com.
The Castle Rock Police Department bike unit will ride this summer, with four officers who will patrol downtown, on trails and in retail areas. Courtesy photo