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Week of June 30, 2022
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LittletonIndependent.net
VOLUME 133 | ISSUE 49
County names board members, director for new health department Process in crunch as deadline is Jan. 1 BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With half a year left before the dissolution of the Tri-County Health Department, Arapahoe County has
announced its five-person board, and the sole finalist for executive director, to helm future health services. “What we’re doing is unprecedented,” said Shawn Davis, a Coloradobased health care consultant who will serve on the county’s new Foundational Board of Health. Following the breakdown of Tri-County, which for more than 50 years had been delivering health
services to Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties, Arapahoe has been in a race against time to create its own health department by Jan. 1, a day after Tri-County’s services will end. “We don’t have the option of delaying it or asking for an extension,” Davis said. “We owe it to the county to be ready by Jan. 1.” As that deadline looms, the depart-
ment’s new board expressed optimism that it is on track to provide high-priority services to the county’s population of just under 650,000 by the beginning of next year. But challenges lie ahead, especially as the department looks to finalize a budget, secure funding and attract staff. SEE HEALTH, P6
City to update bike lanes, walkways around Mineral Avenue $2 million project to reduce traffic speeds, improve safety BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Protesters stand outside the Littleton court house June 24.
COURTESY OF BEVERLY OBENCHAIN
Residents protest end of Roe v. Wade at city’s courthouse Group expresses support for abortion rights BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
About 20 Littleton community members protested outside the city’s courthouse June 24 following
the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that has protected the right to abortion nationwide for nearly 50 years. “It was a heartbreak, it was so disheartening,” said Littleton resident Bev Obenchain. The news of the Supreme Court’s decision came as a gut punch for Obenchain who, while driving near
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19
the courthouse later in the afternoon, saw a couple people standing with signs. She decided to take part and, before she knew it, drew a small gathering of roughly 20 community members. “I was so impressed, 20 people, all different ages, really engaged and you could feel they wanted to share
The City of Littleton is moving ahead with plans to improve intersections, bike lanes and walkways around Mineral Avenue in a bid to reduce traffic speeds and make the area more pedestrian-friendly. The project, known as the Mineral Mobility Improvements, will be funded by a $2 million grant the city secured from the Colorado Department of Transportation. Officials from the city’s planning department, during a June 22 virtual meeting, presented their latest ideas to more than a dozen Littleton residents who joined the call. Plans were drafted using feedback from prior community outreach that included a survey and focus group, officials said.
SEE PROTEST, P9
Evergreen Jazz Festival Big Talent! Small Venues! Great Setting!
Order tickets by June 30th and SAVE!
EvergreenJazz.org 303-697-5467
SEE MINERAL, P7
July 29, 30 & 31
