1-Color
February 20, 2014
75 cents Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 122, Issue 15 A publication of
douglascountynewspress.net
answers sought in teen suicides State’s second-leading cause of death among young people claims 4 locally in 2 weeks By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com Four Douglas County teens were lost to suicide in less than two weeks — a number equal to the total of teen suicides in the county in 2013. The deaths recorded between Jan. 31 and Feb. 11 appear unrelated
and do not point to copycat syndrome. “We have not found there’s any communication, any tie between them,” Douglas County Coroner Lora Thomas said. “But like many of the suicide cases we have sadly investigated, mental illness can play a role in suicides.” Thomas would not discuss specifics about any of the cases, including the manner of death and what led to the fatal decisions. The children range in age from 15 to 17, and include 15-year-old Mountain Vista High School sophomore Robert Klamo. He
fatally shot his mother and then himself in their Highlands Ranch home Jan. 31; he reportedly was undergoing treatment for mental illness. Two of the four attended Douglas County High School. The teen deaths have prompted communitywide concern. The Douglas County School District sent an email to parents that included suicidal behavior warning signs, resources and tips for talking to students. Two Castle Rock churches held prayer vigils. The cases haunt Thomas, who has studied suicide extensively to try to slow or
prevent the incidents, and who visited this week with one of the teen’s parents. “These parents loved this kiddo desperately and they did everything they could,” she said. “It’s almost like he was this fragile little Christmas ornament. They carried him along for so long to protect him, but something happened and he slipped out of their hands. “When I look in the eyes of these parents that are devastated…” Thomas trailed off and paused before continuing. “Gosh, what can we do to help these kids?” Suicides continues on Page 9
Zip-line business explored
Top 10 clash
Two companies interested in developing synthetic snow, adventure services in new park By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@coloradocommunitymedia. com
have found the right person for the job. We chose Bob because of his experience with strategic planning, his broad knowledge of information technology, and his overall business acumen,” said Bob Morris, Douglas County Libraries board president. In Iowa, Pasicznyuk was project manager for two simultaneous building projects: a $46.6 million flagship library and a $2.5 million branch library. In addition, he reversed a decade of eroding library support and steady decline, according to a news release. “Over the years, Bob has been acknowledged numerous times by both his peers
Castle Rock Town Council is considering the feasibility of a year-round ski resort destination with synthetic snow, as well as having a major zip-line adventure operation — both to be built in the town’s new 237-acre Philip S Miller Park just east of Interstate 25 and south of Plum Creek Parkway. “… If that park wasn’t already exciting enough as planned… these two next items… really provide for some really unique opportunities for not only the citizens of Castle Rock, but regionally for Castle Rock to be known for,” said Rob Hanna, director of parks and recreation, at the Feb. 4 Castle Rock Town Council meeting. Castle Rock Town Council voted 6-0 to approve letters of intent with Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours and with Weston Solutions. The former company, owned by Franktown resident Ty Seufer, is the biggest zip line company in Canon City. The latter is a Pennsylvania engineering firm, which has a principal who was significantly involved in building a synthetic-snow facility at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. The letters of intent give both firms a certain amount of months to further evaluate feasibility of the projects, and while they do that Castle Rock agrees not to consider other vendors. Seufer, who has had 40,000 customers since 2011 at his Canon City zip-line-tour service, said he thinks this project could bring “tens of thousands of tourists” to town and put Castle Rock “on the map.” Prior to the vote, Mayor Paul Donahue called it an “awesome project” and that if it were up to him it would be starting tomorrow. Councilmember Clark Hammelman wanted people in the audience to understand that letters of intent will just allow for
Library continues on Page 9
Zip line continues on Page 9
Rock Canyon’s Morgan Roos, left in white, gets a hand in front of Castle View’s Mikayla Gonzales, shooting, as the two Top 10 teams battled it out Feb. 13 at RCHS. No. 10 Rock Canyon got the best of the No. 7 Sabercats, 66-60. For more on this game as well as the meeting between the boys teams, turn to page 21. Photo by Paul DiSalvo
Former tech innovator to lead libraries Robert Pasicznyuk, a familiar face in Douglas County, replacing Jamie LaRue By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@coloradocommunitymedia. com Robert “Bob” Pasicznyuk, who had a reputation for changing the face of a library with technology tools, was hired in 2004 when Jamie LaRue, now retired, was Douglas County Libraries’ executive director. Then in 2009, Pasicznyuk — pronounced POSTAL ADDRESS
Paz-nick — left his senior technology role when Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s library system, devastated by floods, needed a leader that could bring it back. He reportedly brought it back. Now, he’s back. The Douglas County Libraries Board of Trustees has selected him to replace the recently retired LaRue as the next director of the Pasicznyuk libraries and he’ll assume his new role on May 5. “With today’s announcement, we feel we
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