May 14, 2015 VOLU M E 1 1 3 | I S S UE 28 | 7 5 ¢
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
WHAT’S INSIDE
Pebley sentenced: Man who shot at police to spend life in prison. See Page 3
Memorial Day weekend: Check out what’s rockin’ around the metro area. See Page 15
Deputy Mark Barela, right, receives the Purple Heart Award from Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock May 11. He was injured when a suicidal man attacked him. Photos by Chris Michlewicz
Deputies honored for heroism
Sabercats come close: Castle View’s boys lacrosse team falls in quarterfinals. See Page 21
Purple Heart, Medals of Valor doled out May 11 Staff report
POSTAL ADDRESS
Deputy Kevan Nichols, left, received a standing ovation after receiving the Medal of Valor from Sheriff Tony Spurlock. Nichols pulled two people from a burning vehicle, saving their lives.
NEWS-PRESS
(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, the NewsPress is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media and additional mailing offices. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. GE T SO CI AL WITH U S
P LE A S E RECYC L E T H I S C OPY
Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock used examples from 2014 to underscore the dangers faced by deputies every day they put on the badge. One deputy wrestled a .45-caliber pistol from a man bent on suicide by cop. Another pulled two people from a burning car. Two more braved treacherous terrain and weather conditions to reach a hiker who was badly injured in a fall. Others dismantled drug rings, performed cell extractions or streamlined emergency responses. Awards continues on Page 9
Littleton schools didn’t wait on state Douglas County dilemma was faced by adjacent district By Jane Reuter
jreuter@colorado communitymedia.com The outgoing Littleton Public Schools superintendent said his community shares the Douglas County School Board’s concerns about Colorado’s school-funding formula, but decided it couldn’t wait for help from the state. “This is not my district, it’s not our staff’s district, it’s the community’s district,” said Scott Murphy, reflecting on Murphy its decision to put an ultimately successful bond issue on the 2013 ballot. “The community has to decide what it wants its schools to do and be. “We’d gotten to the point where
FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS
we could wait all day for the state, but we decided not to.” L i k e Douglas C o u n t y, Littleton needed m o n e y to repair and maintain aging buildings — its average structure is more than 50 years old. It’s using the funds to replace boilers and roofs, update electrical and plumbing systems, and improve technology infrastructure. About 60 percent of voters approved the LPS measure, which Murphy said was not controversial. In part, he believes that’s because the school board was united in support of the issue. With passage of the 2013 measure, LPS extended its mill levy, and taxpayers’ school bills stayed Schools continues on Page 7
Ben Barnett and son Oliver climb the challenge staircase last fall at the new Philip S. Miller Park. File photo
Park popular in first 6 months Officials expect numbers to spike as summer nears By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando@colorado communitymedia.com Castle Rock’s new Philip S. Miller Park has had a banner first six months since opening in October, with more than 161,000 people entering the park in March alone and an average daily usage of more than 5,200. The Miller Activity Complex has also been successful, bringing
in 52,000 daily admissions visits since opening in October. “We’ve been very successful,” Castle Rock Recreation Manager Eileen Matheson said. “This park and the MAC are getting loved to death already.” The number of people using the park has exceeded expectations. Usage is tracked using a vehicle counter posted along the park entry that only counts vehicles coming into the park. On March 14, Castle Rock Zip Line Tours opened, and since Park continues on Page 9