Week of May 19, 2022
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net
VOLUME 120 | ISSUE 28
County health department moves forward with facility, services, staff Plans approved in May 12 meeting BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Douglas County Health Department is on its way to providing services, having a facility and hiring staff as the agency prepares to fully separate from Tri-County Health
Department later this year. The Douglas County Board of Health approved a list of services the agency will provide during a May 12 meeting. Some of the services included are COVID-19 response, public health emergency preparedness, restaurant inspections, immunizations and sexual health services. During an April 22 work session for the board of health, Public Health Director Mike Hill presented
the list of services provided by Tri-County with information about what is expected by the state health department along with recommendations for services he believes the new health department should provide. “There are certain things that I just think are worth doing because they’re important for public health, the state expects us to do them and I think our population expects us to do them,” Hill said.
The health department will provide 33 of the 60 services provided by Tri-County. Most of the services the board opted not to use are things the county doesn’t use or are already being completed by other local agencies. Other Tri-County services that won’t immediately be available from DCHD include recreational water inspections, community nutrition SEE HEALTH, P10
Immigrants honored with citizenship during ceremony Student group
proposes policies, classes for Douglas County Schools
26 new U.S. citizens hailing from dozens of countries are welcomed BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, during a May 9 ceremony at Belleview Elementary School in Centennial, granted citizenship to 26 immigrants hailing from 20 countries. Residents currently live in a slew of communities in the Denver metro area and beyond including Aurora, Centennial, Commerce City, Elizabeth, Golden, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood, Parker and Sedalia. “It was probably the happiest moment of my life,” said Fadilayda Solakkaya, who immigrated from Turkey and now lives in Parker, and is excited to have a passport, vote in elections and help her community. Goran Vejvoda, originally from SEE HONORED, P8
Suggestions for dress code, equity made BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Twenty-six immigrants hailing from 20 countries were officially made U.S. citizens in a PHOTO BY ROBERT TANN ceremony on May 9.
Dream Big Dreams...
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 26
SEE BOARD, P12
Special CD Rate
.90%
Special CD Rates ** Term * Term Or 2.74% APY 2.33% 16APYMonth 27 Month 120 S. Wilcox, Castle Rock ♦ (303) 660-4001
120 S. Wilcox, Castle Rock (303) 660-4001
Douglas County students envision a number of new initiatives, policy updates and class offerings throughout the district in the next few years. On May 10, Student Advisory Group subcommittees presented the Douglas County School Board the culmination of a year’s work on eight topics where students identified and proposed improvements.
APY * 11 Month Term
Percentage Yield 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*Annual penalty may be imposed for early(APY) and interest rate for Certificate of Deposit (CD) may change after account opening. Fees 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 rate at renewal. **To open the CD, couldYield 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 is current as of 11/22/018. a Standard 9 month CD with current rate at renewal. *The Annual Percentage Yield is current as of March 17, 2022.