July 16, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 33
County sees wet spring, but autumn fires still possible Spring this year was in top 10% for precipitation BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
technical and operational systems to improve that experience. “Just be patient with us. We’re going to make some mistakes; we’re going to have some growing pains,” Trujillo said. The bar hosted two bands during the event, which drew about 700 people total throughout the evening, Trujillo estimates. “That did my heart well to see people enjoying themselves,” Trujillo said.
While Douglas County and the rest of the Front Range has fared better than expected during the first few months of wildfire season, experts are still asking residents to be ready for those circumstances to change. “The threat has diminished slightly,” said Tim Johnson, director of Douglas County’s emergency management office. “However, we know we’re right around the corner from another potential wildfire season.” In March, the county’s emergency management office said it was preparing for a likely dry and hot summer. The county had been experiencing months of the worst possible drought conditions and forecasts weren’t predicting improvement. However, the county — along with the rest of the Front Range — has since seen above-average precipitation. In Douglas County, this spring was in the top 10% for precipitation, according to the WestWide Drought Tracker. “That’s what I would call a drought buster,” said Becky Bolinger, the state’s assistant climatologist. “That was really the spring moisture not only providing the spring moisture (we needed) but also knocking away those deficits that were longer term.”
SEE VENUE, P13
SEE FIRES, P30
Colorado-based musician Hazel Miller performed during the Wild Goose Saloon grand opening July 9.
PHOTO BY RORY YOUNG
Parker live-music venue takes flight Wild Goose Saloon’s capacity is more than 700 people BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Parker’s newest music venue and restaurant, Wild Goose Saloon, celebrated its grand opening July 9. The newly-constructed venue will feature live music from multiple
genres every Wednesday through Sunday. For now, its hours are from 2 p.m. until close, but in the coming weeks the restaurant expects to expand them to serve lunch, said owner Dale Trujillo. “We want to be a little bit of everything to everybody,” Trujillo said. A line of guests wrapped around the building for the grand opening event. Trujillo said that while some at the opening may have experienced long wait times, the bar is working on improving both its
FREE RANGE THERAPY How a horse and a trail can be good for the soul
P14
OLYMPICS BOUND
Jessica Thoennes is among local athletes heading to Tokyo P24