September 16, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
Lone Tree remembers 9/11 victims in ceremony Mayor honors first responders, calls for moment of silence BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Kathy Keith sat at her desk on that New York City morning 20 years ago, her office about 20 blocks from the World Trade Center. The building boasted a perfect view of the twin towers, she said. “I remember someone saying, ‘Oh, a plane just hit the World Trade Center,’ so we all run to the window,” she said. “And we see the smoking north tower.” Keith and her coworkers stood there, all staring at the surreal sight of smoke billowing across what had been a clear blue sky. “At that moment, a fireball goes up and a second plane had hit the south tower,” she said. “One person next to me said, ‘We’re under attack. I’m leaving.’ Another person brought in a TV, so we can see what’s going on.” People tried calling family but there was no service. They caught SEE SEPTEMBER 11, P8
BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado has lapsed on its obligation to provide mental health care for needy children, leaving
How state law will guide county’s new health agency Choosing a health director a key first task for board BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
because no beds are available. The case is similar to major lawsuits filed in other states, including Illinois, which was forced to revamp its mental health system for children in a 2018 settlement. “Colorado needs a comprehensive mental health plan of care for these children, and there are significant gaps and missing links that need to be rectified,” said
As Douglas County proceeds with breaking away from the Tri-County Health Department and building its own public health agency, the next major step for the agency will be selecting a public health director. The director, who will serve as the head of the county health department, will be required by state statute to hire all personnel for the new department, issue public health emergency orders and enforce all public health laws, among other duties. Both the county director’s responsibilities and qualifications for the role are specifically detailed in Colorado law. Finding someone who fits those requirements will be one of the primary tasks for Douglas County’s new board of health. “I would say it’s going to be among the first things it’s important for them to address,” said Barbara Drake, deputy Douglas County manager. The three Douglas County commmisioners agreed at a Sept. 7 work session that they would name two of their own to the health board — commissioners Lora Thomas and George Teal — as well as Dr. Linda Fielding, Kim Muramoto and Doug Benevento. Fielding and Muramoto serve on Tri-County’s board of health and Benevento is a member of the
SEE LAWSUIT, P22
SEE HEALTH, P20
The official 9/11 Flag of Honor bearing the names of victims who died at the World PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS Trade Center hangs in Lone Tree on Sept. 11, 2021.
Suit targets Colo. child mental health gaps Plaintiffs include hospitalized teens from Castle Rock, Northglenn
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 30
them to cycle in and out of emergency rooms instead of receiving appropriate long-term care, according to a federal class-action lawsuit filed against the state Medicaid program. The lawsuit so far includes three anonymous plaintiffs, all teenagers who have for months or years been checked into hospital emergency rooms and psychiatric facilities but then were refused step-down residential treatment
PANDEMIC FASHIONS Sustainability shapes style trends P14
COACH’S CHALLENGE SPARKS WIN
Mountain Vista receiver Nick Stone catches 4 TD passes P24
