Week of June 23, 2022
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
HighlandsRanchHerald.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
Drag show protesters, counterprotesters eye future events Sold-out event deemed a success BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Highlands Ranch’s first-ever drag comedy show carried on despite the roughly 50 protesters who gathered outside the Southridge Rec Center on the evening of June 17 to oppose the event. Carrying signs that read “Don’t Drag Down Highlands Ranch” and “Freak Shows Belong at the Circus,” protesters said they were concerned about the show being hosted at a rec center, even though it was a ticketed and 21 and up event. “They’re trying to normalize behavior that is not traditional. We’re into traditional families and what they’re trying to do is erode the traditional family with this,” Joy Overbeck, a Parker resident and protester, said. SEE PROTEST, P8
BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County is moving forward with acquiring 17 temporary shelters as part of their plan to ad-
County looks to take over control of Daniels Park from the City of Denver Land could cost half a billion dollars BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
the homeless or creating encampments on any level,” Laydon said. “We’re looking to support our code enforcement and by law in order to have that code enforcement there has to be a place for people to go.” Commissioner Lora Thomas voted against the decision, saying she felt the county wasn’t ready for the move.
Douglas County is looking at ways to take over a Denver park located in the county, a move that City of Denver officials say could cost the county at least half a billion dollars. Daniels Park, located between Highlands Ranch and Castle Pines, is owned by the city and known for its bison herd. The decision by Douglas County commissioners to look into the topic comes about a month after Denver City Council voted to ban concealed carry firearms in its parks. While Denver Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Scott Gilmore said he was told this was the reason for the possible takeover, multiple calls and texts to Commissioner George Teal to confirm that claim went unanswered. In a Monday work session, the county commissioners voted to direct legal counsel to proceed with gathering information about how to “bring Daniels Park into Douglas County ownership.” Teal and Commissioner Abe Laydon voted in favor of the motion while Commissioner Lora Thomas voted against it. “Creating an expensive legal battle with Denver is not governing well, but is instead infusing politics into yet another decision, and I am frankly not interested in this discussion,” Thomas wrote in her weekly newsletter.
SEE HOMELESS, P12
SEE PARK, P7
Protesters gather on a corner near the Southridge Recreation Center in Highlands Ranch holding signs in protest of a drag queen show that was held at the rec center. The show was hosted by Comedians in Drag, Denver’s top drag queens who entertain with their comedy and musical performances. The event was sold out. PHOTO BY JOHN LEYBA / THE COLORADO SUN
County buys shelters as part of addressing local homelessness Facilities don’t yet have a set location
VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 29
dress the rise in local homelessness. The “Pallet” structures are 64 square feet, collapsible and include air conditioning, mattresses and electricity. They will cost the county about $200,000. Commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal voted to approve the decision in a June 13 meeting. “We’re not interested in building residential communities for
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