Week of August 4, 2022
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
HighlandsRanchHerald.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19
VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 35
‘Friendship is the most important thing’ State halts work with Douglas Highlands Ranch resident going strong at 100 County health contractor BY MADDIE BROWNING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Yvette Gunther, Highlands Ranch resident, said her best friend is her dog, Toby. Tiaras line the shelves of a display case near a small white couch. A great grandchild’s painting of a bouquet of flowers is displayed proudly in the hallway. Photo albums containing snippets of a woman’s life lay scattered across the coffee table. No matter how many years pass, she always has a smile on her face. After 100 years of life, two husbands, five children, and many roles including Spanish teacher, dancer, AARP volunteer and decorated pageant queen, Highlands Ranch resident Yvette Gunther hasn’t let any time go to waste. Gunther turned 100 years old on July 30, celebrating with 80 friends and family members at Mount Vernon Canyon Club west of Golden.
County will continue contract with Jogan Health BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Mike Bailey said. “We wanted to show that we are good stewards of people’s assessment dollars and … we want to be leaders in the community, showing xeriscape is not simply putting down a bunch of rock.” On average, 1,000 square feet of grass uses about 18,000 gallons per year, while the same amount of xeriscape uses 5,000 gallons,
A Douglas County health contractor, hastily hired during the county’s divorce from Tri-County Health in 2021, has been cut off from new work by the state, recently settled a lawsuit with a former business partner and is under investigation by the state’s labor department. The county health department stands by its decision to hire Jogan Health and says it sees no reason to end their multimillion-dollar contract prematurely. Jogan Health was hired by Douglas County in November 2021 after the county board of health approved an order disallowing local mask requirements, resulting in Tri-County halting its COVID services in Douglas County. At the time, the state and Tri-County had been working with Jogan on vaccine clinics and both mentioned the company to the new county health department, said county spokesperson Wendy Holmes. In January, however, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment told Jogan the department was “seriously worried” about the company continuing work in the state, according to public records obtained by Colorado Community Media. “The complaints are just piling up,” wrote Daniel Rockwell, a supervisor with the state health department, in a Jan. 25 email to Jogan Health.
SEE WATER, P15
SEE JOGAN, P12
Yvette Gunther, Highlands Ranch resident, said her best friend is her dog, Toby.
SEE GUNTHER, P6
PHOTO BY MADDIE BROWNING
Metro district works to cut water by zeroscaping Work is part of broad conservation planning BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Landscaping is one of Centennial Water’s biggest guzzlers when it comes to water use, but a recent effort by the Highlands Ranch Community Association to imple-
ment drought resistant landscaping at the recreation centers is hoping to pave the way for more water conservation. The HRCA Board of Directors approved a plan to switch medians at the Eastridge and Southridge Recreation centers from grass to a xeriscape style, which will reduce watering by 70%. “Our board and delegates are extremely concerned with conservation,” HRCA General Manager
REPORT NOT AVAILABLE Commissioners not releasing findings in $17,000 Thomas investigation P4
ART IN THE OPEN
There’s plenty of sculpture to see in parks and public places
P16
