December 10, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
Clinicians, police professionals work together to help citizens in need Community Response Team brings an understanding approach BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Arriving in an unmarked car on a hot summer morning, a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy, a certified clinician and a case manager walk calmly into a Highlands Ranch home. The night before, the county sheriff’s office had been called about a teenage boy in distress. The deputy who had responded to the nighttime call did not arrest the teen or take him to a hospital. Instead, the deputy referred the case to a unit known as the Douglas County Community Response Team, or CRT. The CRT’s three professionals are not there to intimidate, scare or get the neighbors talking. Instead, they are there to follow up and help a family going through a tough
BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The new majority on the Douglas County Board of Education offered a preview of their immediate plans for the district in a recent study session — and a desire to speed-track
Masks not perfect, but do help, says local health chief Tri-County’s Douglas, data shed light on misconceptions
From left, Case Manager Steve Kalisch, Clinician Ellen Pronio and Deputy Zachary PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES Zepeski team up to help local citizens.
time. There are multiple CRT units across Douglas County, as the county sheriff’s office and police departments in Castle Rock, Parker and Lone Tree have all adopted this approach to answering calls of distress from members of the community. These calls of distress do not involve people breaking the law. They typically involve stressed-out
family members, residents contemplating suicide or people struggling with alcohol and substance abuse.
taking up their campaign promises. Among their priorities — making masks and vaccinations optional and repealing and replacing the district’s equity policy. Other priorities include amending the district’s common communicable disease policy and retaining an attorney for the board who is separate from the district’s legal counsel. The board agreed to spread items related to COVID-19 policies over a special meeting set for Dec. 7 and a regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 14. Directors decided to hold
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
off on reviewing the equity policy until the new year. The board will consider a resolution making masking a choice on Dec. 7, according to the agenda. Board President Mike Peterson said another major reason for calling a special meeting on Dec. 7 is incoming board members’ wish to hold a vote on the district’s plans to acquire the CU South campus. That will provide the public with a record of each official’s position,
His local public-health department has issued another maskwearing mandate for two metroDenver counties with nearly 1.2 million people. Even so, John Douglas doesn’t hesitate to admit that masks aren’t perfect in the fight against COVID-19. “But, like vaccines, they work better when more people use them,” Douglas, executive director of the Tri-County Health Department, told Colorado Community Media. “Because, like vaccines, they can both prevent the individual from getting infected or sick,” and also can prevent spread of the virus to others, Douglas said. Tri-County Health serves Adams and Arapahoe counties, and provides certain public-health services in Douglas County. Under a Nov. 22 Tri-County order, all people 2 and older in Adams and Arapahoe County must wear a face covering in all public indoor spaces. Authorities in Jefferson, Denver and Boulder counties have issued similar mandates. With rates of new coronavirus
SEE OPTIONAL, P13
SEE CRISIS, P10
‘Amazing how brave people can be’ Clinician Ellen Pronio explains that her job is to help get residents and families back on track by cutting through red tape, offering an understanding perspective and SEE RESPONSE, P8
New school board majority lays out priorities Optional masks, repealing equity policy among top of the list
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 2
SANTA PAINTINGS
Inspiration comes from the foothills of the Rockies
P14
2 Parker Chronicle
December 10, 2021
At mandate’s border, masks are a game of inches Mandate in effect in Arapahoe, not in Douglas BY KYLE COOKE AND BRIAN WILLIE ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS
The one constant throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is that things are always changing. Few people know this better than Karli Millspaugh, owner of Curate: A Local Mercantile, at 8242 S. University Blvd. in Centennial. Millspaugh’s shop provides a space for local artisans and vendors to sell their goods, and November and December has historically been a great time for business due to the holiday season. “This is the time when most retail businesses get in the black,” Millspaugh said. She spoke with Rocky Mountain PBS at Curate’s brick-and-mortar location in Arapahoe County. Just steps from her shop is Douglas County and Highlands Ranch, right on the other side of County Line Road. In the days before the COVID-19 pandemic, that dividing line hardly mattered. But in the era of mask mandates, it can make all the difference. “We’re kind of in a unique position here, where people coming
Masks are now required at indoor businesses in Arapahoe County, such as Curate in Centennial. But some shoppers coming from nearby Douglas County, which has no mask mandate, may not even realize they’ve crossed county lines. PHOTO BY BRIAN WILLIE / ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS
from Highlands Ranch might not even realize that they’ve crossed into a new county,” Millspaugh said. “So when mask mandates and things like that change, it just keeps us on our toes.” Arapahoe County is currently one of several metro-area counties that has an active indoor mask mandate as a COVID-safety
measure for public indoor spaces like Millspaugh’s business. On Nov. 22, the Tri-County Health Department announced the new mandate for Arapahoe and Adams counties. However, Douglas County’s new health department has authority over county-wide public health orders and COVID-19 services, and
has not imposed a mask-wearing rule. “I have to acknowledge that people are on different sides of this,” Millspaugh said, speaking less about geographic boundaries and more about ideological ones. “And our mission … is really to SEE MANDATE, P3
I am a food bank volunteer. I am a pediatrician.
I am Centura.
At Centura Health, we’re creating a community of caring—where we live and where we work. Learn about our legacy of healing at centura.org.
Dr. Akinrinola Pediatrician
Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2021. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711).
Parker Chronicle 3
December 10, 2021
Three Holiday fireworks shows Dec. 18
Curate in Arapahoe County, where mask wearing indoors is required, is a short distance away from Douglas County, with no mask rule.
MANDATE FROM PAGE 2
be a happy place for everyone who enters. So I just want to make sure that no matter what side of this you’re on, you feel comfortable shopping here.” Mask wearing, along with vaccination and social distancing, has been identified by public health experts as a vital tool for stopping the spread of COVID-19, which as of Dec. 3 has killed more than 9,500 Coloradans. “Masks have proven to be effective in reducing the spread of this virus, especially when combined with other prevention efforts” said Dr. John Douglas, Tri-County Health’s executive director, in a news release. “With the holiday season upon us, this order is necessary to try to avoid hospital capacity being breached by a growing number of hospitalizations and running the risk of having to ration medical care.” A sign on the door of Curate informs shoppers of the new mandate. “According to Arapahoe County, we are now under an indoor mask mandate,” the sign reads. “Thank you for your cooperation!” But a laminated piece of paper tacked to the entrance only has so much power. Some shoppers still do not wear face coverings at
Millspaugh’s store, an issue many stores are facing. “I really don’t want to have to be the mask police,” Millspaugh said, adding that she especially does not want her employees to have to stop people at the door. “I don’t want them to make anyone feel like they can’t come into our store and shop,” she explained. “That definitely wasn’t in their job description.” Unfortunately, it has become a responsibility for many people who work in retail where there are COVID-19 restrictions in place. Last summer, NPR reported on retail workers around the country facing threats for enforcing public health orders. Millspaugh hopes it never comes to that at her store, and that shoppers understand the situation she and her workers are in. “I would just, you know, ask that shoppers — when they come in — they just understand they may be asked, ‘Do you happen to have a mask or would you like a mask?’ But understand that if your answer is ‘No thank you,’ we still want you to shop with us,” she said. “We still want you to have a great time and support all of these local vendors.” This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.
Sheridan Library to hold free vaccination event Englewood-Littleton area facility welcomes all to get shots Dec. 14 BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Sheridan Library will host an event to offer vaccine shots against
COVID-19 and the flu for people ages 5 and older on Dec. 14, the Arapahoe Libraries district announced. As usual, it is free to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and no health insurance or ID are required. Anyone is welcome to get vaccinated, the event webpage says. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s SEE EVENT, P16
Welcome the holiday season and celebrate the resilience and positive spirit of our community by watching high-in-the-sky fireworks shows Saturday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. The 30-minute displays will launch from locations in Castle Rock, Parker and Highlands Ranch, and will be livestreamed on the County’s website and YouTube page. For more information visit douglas.co.us/fireworks
Funds available to veterans Emergency assistance is available for veterans struggling with housing (mortgage/rent), transportation, employment, healthcare or other emergency needs. To apply for the veteran assistance funds visit douglasveterans.org or call 303-663-6200.
Skip the trip - motor vehicle services just a click away Renew your driver license or motor vehicle registration and more from the convenience of your smartphone, tablet, desktop or laptop. You can also renew vehicle registrations at MVExpress kiosks. Find information at DouglasDrives.com
Questions about snow removal in unincorporated Douglas County? Do you ever wonder how county roads are prioritized for snow removal? Questions about citizen snow removal responsibilites? Answers to these questions and more can be found by visiting www.douglas.co.us and search for Snow and Ice Removal.
What’s happening with your County government? Our commitment to open and transparent government includes online posting of information about public meetings at which the business of government is conducted. To view public meeting agendas, participate in-person or remotely, or watch select meetings via live stream visit douglas.co.us and search for Meetings and Agendas.
County Offices Christmas Holiday closures Douglas County offices will be closing at noon on Friday, Dec. 24 and closed Monday, Dec. 27 in observance of the Christmas Holiday. Many services are available at DoItOnlineDouglas.com
Visit douglas.co.us
4 Parker Chronicle
December 10, 2021
Colorado’s fentanyl crisis is surging Only two school districts have ordered doses of the opioid antidote BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN
As the number of fentanyl overdoses began to climb, Colorado policymakers created a program to put the life-saving opioid antidote naloxone inside police departments, universities, workplaces and schools. But two years later, when annual deaths from fentanyl have surpassed 500 and fake painkillers laced with the synthetic opioid are killing an increasing number of high school and college students, just two school districts in the entire state have taken advantage of the program. Only Boulder Valley and Clear Creek school districts have ordered doses of naloxone — a nasal spray or an injection that can reverse an overdose if it’s given in time — from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment bulk purchasing fund. Health officials are concerned the slow start is because of stigma associated with drug use, and they fear school leaders are not seeking the opioid antidote because it might cause parents or others to think certain schools or districts have a bigger drug problem than others.
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“We applaud the schools that have a naloxone program and want to make clear that schools that make naloxone available do not necessarily have higher statistics of overdose but rather are being proactive in preventing overdoses,” said Andrés Guerrero, manager of the overdose prevention unit at the state health department. “Prevention is key as we are seeing increases in overdose due to fentanyl in the Colorado drug supply.” While 176 out of Colorado’s 178 school districts have not asked for free naloxone, the bulk purchasing program has helped dozens of other entities, mainly law enforcement agencies and harm reduction
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centers where people go for clean needles and information about drug treatment. The fund paid about $337,000 for about 10,500 doses of naloxone in 2020, dispensing the doses to 90 entities statewide. This fall has been particularly busy, with orders totaling $547,322 since September. The fund has $1.24 million still available. The naloxone bulk purchasing fund, created by 2019 legislation and put in place in January 2020, uses federal and state funding to buy naloxone at wholesale prices and distribute to first responders, campus police, harm reduction centers, workplaces, recreation centers and schools. The doses are free to school districts and other agencies that apply to the program. Boulder Valley was the most recent school district to apply, receiving enough this fall to place at least one dose of the nasal spray in all 64 school buildings and bus terminals by early next year. The district said nurses are receiving training on how to use the spray with a goal of having doses officially in place soon after the winter break. After a string of overdose deaths and nonfatal overdoses in the community last school year, Boulder Valley students were increasingly requesting naloxone and training in how to use it, school officials said. The district has been working since last May to get naloxone, and officials noted that not all potential opioid overdoses occur because of illegal drug use. Boulder Valley’s decision to place a dose in every school is a long time coming, said Kelly Luck, who for two years was an addiction counselor at Arapahoe Ridge High School in Boulder. Luck, who left the job last spring to return to work as a substance abuse counselor at a community treatment center, said two students overdosed while she worked at the alternative high school that specializes in career and technical education. The first time it happened — on her first day on the job — there was no naloxone on hand after a student took “fake benzos,” the street term for knockoffs of the anti-anxiety medication, Xanax. But Luck was ready the second time. When another student was found unconscious at school, she pulled out her own dose of the nasal spray she had started carrying with her at work.
Luck said she pushed for two years, making requests in her school and to the district, for Boulder Valley to purchase naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan. “I was almost horrified to learn the first day that there was no Narcan in the building and it’s not standard protocol for anyone to carry it,” she said. “I am not the only person who has had this frustration.” Luck picked up several doses of Narcan on her own and passed them out to teachers and staff at school, she said. She wonders why every school in the state doesn’t have the opioid antidote at arm’s reach, just in case. The drug can restore breath to a person who has stopped breathing, keeping them alive until paramedics have a chance to arrive. School officials and parents who don’t think naloxone is needed on campus are naive, Luck said. “Kids are doing every drug imaginable in the bathroom at high school,” she said. Clear Creek School District received naloxone for its two elementary school campuses and combined middle and high school campus last year, a credit to the community’s “very forward-thinking school board,” Superintendent Karen Quanbeck said. “The thinking is that it could be used for anyone who is in need, whether it’s a visiting family member or a member of the public or a kid,” she said. “It’s not specific to students.” The opioid antidote is kept in a locked box by the school nurse’s office, not far from EpiPens in case of anaphylaxis from bee stings and kits used to stop severe bleeding from a wound. So far, no one has had to use it, said Quanbeck, who has been superintendent for three years and said there has not been an overdose on school grounds. Office staff, health staff and other employees learned to use the nasal spray during virtual trainings last year and this year. Quanbeck said the district has not received any negative feedback about the program “I hope we never have to use it, but it’s here if we do,” she said. “It’s thinking about all the things we can do proactively to ensure our community is safe.” Denver Public Schools does not yet have naloxone on its campuses but is making plans to do so, said district spokesman Will Jones. “We recognize that opioids are a problem in society at large,” he said via email. “In order to be proactive, we will have naloxone in our middle and high schools to help in case opioids find their way into our schools.” The district’s nursing team is still in the process of determining how to order the opioid antidote and has not yet applied to the state program. This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
Parker Chronicle 5
December 10, 2021
FREE ADMISSION!! Holiday Craft Show & Mini-Market Third Annual
Hourly will be raffles held! Sign u
Saturday Dec. 11 8am - 4pm
Sunday Dec. 12
p chance for your cash to to win sp the sho end at w!
8am - 2pm
Douglas County Fairgrounds 500 Fairgrounds Dv. Castle Rock, CO.
Come shop for unique gifts and special items during the annual Colorado Community Media Holiday Craft Show and Mini-Market; With more than 100 exhibitors filling the Douglas County Fairgrounds, this is the best place to find that special, personal gift for friends and family. The show will feature handmade crafts in all areas from metal and leather, to flowers, baskets, ceramics, and so much more.
Bright Little Brains Rozanne Steyn Brightlittlebrains.com
Carol’s Creative Cards Carol Smith Cjaysmith.com 303-886-6730
Shawn Johnston – Kambo Practitioner
kambodenvercolorado.com 303-594-9339
Discovery Toys
Julie Olivett - Team Leader 303-437-7067 YourToyLady.com
Nerdy Sheep Fiber Arts Nerdysheepfiberarts.com info@nerdysheepfiberarts.com
Suelyn’s Creations
Suelyn Gnormley 720-201-3930 facebook.com/SuelynsCreations
Blue Butterfly
https://linktr.ee/BlueButterflyGallery
Creatively Affordable
pam@creativelyaffordable.com 303-550-4421 creativelyaffordable.com
Vendor applications being accepted now. Contact Event Producer Thelma Grimes at tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com All applications must be approved to participate
6 Parker Chronicle
December 10, 2021
Parker offers ice trail, hot chocolate, fire pits Rentals are $4 BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Parker’s Ice Trail in Discovery Park is back again this year with fire pits, hot chocolate and endless skating loops. Dozens of skaters stepped out onto the ice Dec. 6, some using plastic walker-like devices tfor assistance and others grabbing the railing. While some kids held hands with their parents as they tried out the ice for the first time, others ventured out on their own, darting through the trail. The ice trail is open daily with weekday hours from 5 to 9 p.m. On Saturday, the trail is open from 11
a.m. to 9 p.m. On Sunday, the hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For kids 10 and under, admission is $6. For those 11 and over, the fee is $8. Skate rentals are $4. The trail also offers multiple visit passes and group rates. From Dec. 17 to Jan. 3, the ice trail will have special holiday hours opening between 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The ice trail will remain open throughout the winter depending on weather, according to a town spokesperson. Other hours: Christmas eve: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas day: 3 to 7 p.m. New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Nick Giardina, right, ice skates with his daughter Sadie, 9, at Discovery Park in Parker PHOTOS BY ELLIOTT WENZLER Dec. 6.
Alina Voicu, right, ice skates with her son Tudor, 9, in Parker Dec. 6.
Nine-year-old Sadie skates with her aunt, Aileen Giardina, left, and her dad, Nick Giardina, right in the Discovery Park Ice Trail.
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Parker Chronicle 7
December 10, 2021
Holiday events coming to Littleton area
TAKE OUT
Festive music, meetings with Santa and more BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
There’s plenty of time to get into the holiday spirit, whether it’s sipping on a warm festive drink, listening to seasonal classics or meeting Santa Clause. Here are four events happening around the Littleton area in the lead-up to Christmas. Christmas with the Colorado Choir Where: First Presbyterian Church of Littleton, 1609 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton When: Dec. 11 from 2 to 2:45 p.m. The Colorado Choir will host a special Saturday matinee concert, a shorter version of their full concert program that features traditional and contemporary holiday music. Holiday Brunch at the ViewHouse Where: ViewHouse Littleton, 2680 W. Main St., Littleton When: Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. The ViewHouse in downtown Littleton will be hosting a holiday brunch and ornament exchange. 2021 Holiday’s Evening Where: Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton When: Dec. 12 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Hosted by the Littleton Museum and Friends of the Littleton Library and Museum, attendees will
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THE FEAST A storefront off Littleton’s Main Street displays festive decorations.
be transported back in time to the 1800s with this outdoor event on the grounds of the museum’s living history farm. The event will feature wagon rides, costumed actors who will teach about life in the 1800s, and warm drinks such as apple cider, all lit by luminaries along paths. Children can also make art and write letters to Santa who will visit via video call from inside the museum. Cost for children aged 12 to 16 is $3 for members and $4 for nonmembers. For adults it is $7 for members and $10 for non-members. Go to tinyurl.com/littletonmuseumholiday to purchase tickets.
PHOTO BY ROBERT TANN
Breakfast with Santa Where: Peak Community & Wellness Center, 6612 S. Ward St., Littleton (south Jeffco near Simms and Coal Mine) When: Dec. 11 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hosted by the Foothills Park and Recreation District and the Children’s Hospital Colorado, parents can bring their children to meet and take a photo with Santa while enjoying a catered breakfast and holiday music. Cost is $15 for child and $20 for adult. Children under 12 months are free. You must register at tinyurl.com/foothillsbreakfastwithsanta to attend.
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10335 S. Parker Rd., Parker 303-805-9742
8 Parker Chronicle
December 10, 2021
Clinician Ellen Pronio has worked to change how police answer calls dealing with citizens struggling with mental health.
PHOTOS BY THELMA GRIMES
RESPONSE FROM PAGE 1
assisting in developing a plan that a case manager will take over. In the CRT visit to the Highlands Ranch home, the mom talks about the night before, when both her teenage son and daughter were struggling, Pronio and case manager Steve Kalisch ask questions. The mom shows them a lengthy list of therapists she was provided, saying she already called some on the top of the list and they are not taking new patients. Kalisch quickly scans the list and stresses that it’s useless and he can do better. He knows many of the therapists on the list are not accepting new patients and can charge as much as $200 an hour. As the mother explains that she does not currently have health insurance, Kalisch asks if she would be OK with him cutting through the red tape, saving her time in making pointless calls, and allow him to help. She says, “Yes.” As a case manager, Kalisch said he knows which therapists are taking patients, which ones are affordable and where to send families who do not have time to call every therapist on a list. Kalisch does not always ride with the team but said doing so on occasion helps him connect with citizens even more. “I am proud of this team,” Kalisch said. “I have seen cases that are serious and (Pronio) talks and gets them to agree to help.” Pronio said every person is different. “It is amazing how brave people can be,” she said. “We ask questions and get honest answers. They are not playing phone tag or getting forwarded to some second or third party. They are getting direct help right away. Most people are willing to accept help and have the power to make their own decisions in those moments.” A need for security During the week, the sheriff’s CRT covers all of unincorporated Douglas County, driving to homes and calls from Highlands Ranch to Sedalia. The team usually starts the morning by following up on calls from the night before, traveling to homes from one side of the county to the other. SEE RESPONSE, P9
Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Zachary Zepeski prepares to drive the Community Response Team to citizens for the day.
Community Response Teams are being utilized by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Castle Rock, Parker and Lone Tree police departments.
Parker Chronicle 9
December 10, 2021
RESPONSE FROM PAGE 8
“Sometimes people can get so frustrated with the system that they just give up,” Pronio said. “For us, we go to the homes and show that we care. They get a response. For some, we will do up to three follow-up visits. If they want the help, we provide it. If they say go away, we go away.” Driving Pronio and Kalisch is Sheriff’s Deputy Zachary Zepeski. Zepeski offers security, but stresses that the real work is done by Pronio and Kalisch. While he gives full credit to Pronio and Kalisch, Zepeski’s personable nature serves as a calming voice as they enter family homes to talk about highly personal and stressful situations. The need for Zepeski’s security is obvious on one of the morning’s follow-up calls, in a case where a woman reported a domestic-violence incident involving her boyfriend the night before. Zepeski leads the way, knocking and meeting the woman’s boyfriend. Based on tone, the
boyfriend clearly does not want the CRT there. However, through calm conversation, Zepeski persuades the boyfriend to get the woman on the phone where Pronio and Kalisch can speak to her directly, learning she checked herself in a place to get help. Kalisch said his job moving forward will be to follow up and make sure she is still on the right path. Zepeski says watching what Pronio does every day has given him a new outlook on how policing can take place in a community. “When I first started doing this, I got some needling from other officers,” Zepeski said. “That went away as officers have become glad to be able to call CRT for help and have (Pronio) as a primary resource for calls.” Taking the pressure off Kalisch said the CRT is all about relieving stress on the system. When people with schizophrenia and other issues are calling 911 regularly, it puts pressure on police and fire departments, he said. “The CRT takes that pressure
off the system by taking the calls and having the partnerships that will get the help people need,” Kalisch said. “We take the pressure off the emergency side of public safety.” Not all follow-up calls are welcome. At a Sedalia home, Pronio surprises a father opening the door. She tells him while he was out of town, his son called for assistance. The father was surprised by all of it and sends the team away. Besides follow-up calls, Pronio has become a go-to resource for officers dealing with subjects threatening suicide or going through a crisis that required a call to 911. Zepeski said her ability to calm a subject down to get to a point where they can make rational decision is “impressive” and better than anything a police officer could do. As CRT programs are taking hold nationwide, Zepeski and Pronio both say that Douglas County is a step ahead because of the commitment to maintaining the program and providing funds. After attending a national conference, the two professionals said they learned a lot of similar
programs are completely grantfunded. Pronio said job security in Douglas County is not about whether a grant is renewed. Instead, Douglas County commissioners have created a recurring line item in the General Fund to pay the more than $300,000 in annual salaries for departments to have CRT programs throughout the county. Using partnerships, while the county pays CRT salaries through the Mental Health Initiative, participating departments provide the equipment and vehicles.
PART TWO IN A SERIES This story is the second part of a three-part series on the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative. Part 1 was published in last week’s print edition, and you can read it online at tinyurl. com/MHIWeek1. Part 3 will appear in this paper next week. In 2018, Colorado Community Media published “Time to Talk,” an extensive series on mental health issues in Douglas County and elsewhere. To read that report, go online to coloradocommunitymedia.com/timetotalk.
Community Response Teams change policing A change in approach prevents arrests, saves money BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
By building a proactive mental health approach into community response through police and fire calls, Douglas County is in a better position than it was five years ago. In 2016, the Castle Rock Police Department embarked on a pilot program with the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative (MHI). The department donated an officer, car and equipment and MHI provided a certified clinician to respond to mental health calls. Thus, the Community Response Team (CRT) became reality. Castle Rock Police Cmdr. Jason Lyons said the original CRT was created to manage citizens who were regularly calling 911 or the
department for issues that were not emergencies. “We had folks we were always dealing with,” he said. “They were utilizing a lot of police time and consuming city services. Law enforcement response to mental health had been flawed for decades. We would handcuff a person and put them on a mental health hold for 72 hours without knowing the root cause of the crisis or being equipped to deal with it.” These callers, referred to as “high utilizers,” started being transitioned to the CRT in 2017. This meant a decrease in calls to 911, and citizens started getting help they deserved from people qualified to provide it, Lyons said. Castle Rock’s success in the pilot program became the county’s gain. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has formed several Community Response Teams, along with the Parker and Lone Tree police departments. Douglas County Sheriff Tony
Spurlock said having CRTs is a game changer in policing, and citizens are benefiting the most. In the past, Spurlock said citizens struggling with a mental health issue would have been taken to jail or a hospital. “They should not be in jail and we know that,” Spurlock said. “We are seeing more young adults and adolescents getting the right kind of care and that is not through law enforcement. CRT plays a huge role in our communities.” “The beauty of the CRT is having a clinician go out on a call with law enforcement so that people in crisis can be directed to services instead of being criminalized,” said Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon. “Not only does this better serve our county residents but it actually saves taxpayers money by reducing expenses and impacts on law enforcement and the district attorney’s office when (citizens suffering from a mental health
crisis) are diverted to care instead of our hospitals or county jails.” Since data started being collected, MHI Coordinator Laura Ciancone said there have been 514 successful jail diversions. With CRT taking or intervening for specific mental-health related calls, an estimated 3,301 police and 547 firefighter calls have been released back to regular service calls and duties. Ciancone said cutting out the use of public safety crews, jails and emergency rooms has saved the county an estimated $6.4 million in reimbursement fees since 2017. With the CRT program initially focused on adults, in 2019 MHI started a youth program. Through working with local school districts and youth organizations, MHI has placed a focus on addressing the mental health needs of elementary-school students, teenagers, college-level students and young adults under the age of 25.
19 charged in Denver-area fentanyl trafficking investigation Counterfeit pills causing a surge in overdose deaths BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN
Federal and state authorities announced indictments Dec. 1 against 19 people accused of smuggling drugs from Mexico to Denver, calling it proof of “the
alarming trend in counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl flooding our streets.” Fentanyl, which is the active ingredient in counterfeit pills made to look like real oxycodone and Xanax, is the leading cause of drug overdose in Colorado. More than 525 people have died from the drug so far this year, according to state health department statistics. The U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration said the accused drug traffickers distributed cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl in Arapahoe, Douglas, Denver and Jefferson counties, according to an investigation that began in April. Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran, 30, of Thornton, coordinated drug shipments and deals from Mexico, authorities said. Authorities seized 110,000 coun-
terfeit pills, 11.5 kilograms of cocaine, 28 firearms, three hand grenades and body armor. Besides the 19 people named in the indictment, two other defendants were arrested in the drug-distribution ring, which also included illegal weapons. John Kellner, district attorney for Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert and SEE FENTANYL, P22
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cases recently reaching levels not seen since December of last year — and daily deaths among those with COVID-19 recently hitting numbers higher than they did during the first wave in spring 2020 — coronavirus hospitalizations in Colorado had for months been creeping up toward last December’s peak. And while numbers so far this month suggest hospitalizations may finally be coming back down, Colorado’s number of COVID-19 patients still sits high above what it was during most other parts of the pandemic. Colorado had 1,368 people hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 as of Dec. 3 this year, according to state data. Colorado had the 10th-highest COVID-19 hospital demand in the United States as of early November, according to a Nov. 3 report by the Colorado School of Public Health. But with the public hearing so many concerns about masks and mask effectiveness — and about vaccines — why wear a mask? Why get vaccinated when so many people already have been? Colorado Community Media spoke to Douglas and reviewed other sources of information below to address those questions. Like ‘sand through a chain-link fence’ At a contentious public comment session in front of Arapahoe County’s elected leaders after Tri-County Health issued its school mask order in August, a man offered an evocative picture of how he thought masks interact with the coronavirus. “If you took a fist of sand and threw it through a chain-link fence, imagine how much of it would go through,” the man said during the meeting, noting how small the virus is. A post on a popular social media page last year, focusing specifically on N95 masks, said: “COVID 19 virus particle size is 125 nanometers (0.125 microns); the range is 0.06 microns to .14 microns,” the post said, according to a USA Today fact-check report. “The N95 mask filters down to 0.3 microns. So, N95 masks block few, if any, virions (virus particles).” A micron is one one-thousandth of a millimeter — it’s also referred to as a micrometer. But there’s more to it than that. A COVID-19 virus particle exists on a tiny scale — around 0.1 microns in size — but it is always bonded to something larger, an expert told USA Today for the report. In other words, masks don’t have to stop bare virus particles alone. “There is never a naked virus floating in the air or released by people,” Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech who specializes in airborne transmission of viruses, told USA Today. The virus attaches to water droplets or aerosols — really small droplets — that are generated by breathing, talking, coughing and so on. These consist of water, mucus protein and other biological material and are all larger than 1 micron, USA Today reported. Those points were echoed in a research article published in the
December 10, 2021 journal City and Environment Interactions and available online in May 2020, a piece that also suggested the use of masks indoors and improving ventilation to combat COVID-19. See that article at tinyurl.com/MaskArticleCity. Douglas, the local health chief, has said masks have been shown to be “50-70% effective.” The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website says: “Multi-layer cloth masks can both block up to 5070% of … fine droplets and particles and limit the forward spread of those that are not captured.” Another speaker at that Arapahoe County commissioners’ meeting in August, from Centennial, said: “If you want to wear a mask, wear it. If you don’t, then don’t. If your guys’ mask works so well, why do I have to wear one? Why does my kid have to wear one?” The issue arose again at a Nov. 22 Arapahoe commissioners’ meeting, where Commissioner Nancy Sharpe said: “I do think there’s a level of personal responsibility ... They should wear them if they want to wear them and if they need to wear them.” Masks are primarily intended to reduce the emission of droplets toward others, an effect known as “source control,” as opposed to “wearer protection,” the CDC’s website says. But studies also demonstrate that cloth mask materials can also reduce wearers’ exposure to infectious droplets through filtration, including filtration of fine droplets and particles less than 10 microns. “The relationship between source control and wearer protection is likely complementary and possibly synergistic, so that individual benefit increases with increasing community mask use,” the website adds. See the long list of studies the CDC cites about mask effectiveness and related topics on the bottom of that page at tinyurl.com/MaskStudiesData. “By the way, we often forget that this is (spreading) because a very large chunk — maybe 60% of COVID cases — (come from) people who are asymptomatic or presymptomatic,” Douglas said, using terms for people who have COVID-19 without symptoms or whose symptoms have yet to arise. For a look at other mask data, see our previous story at tinyurl.com/ MoreMaskData. Because masks aren’t a cure-all, physical distancing; meeting outdoors rather than indoors; avoiding large groups; and improving ventilation by opening windows or running heat, air conditioning, or an air purifier are all still important steps to take, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reiterated on Nov. 24 ahead of holiday celebrations. Masks in schools State health officials have presented data showing that requiring kids to wear masks while in school is associated with lower rates of COVID-19, The Colorado Sun reported in September, citing comments from Rachel Herlihy, the Colorado state epidemiologist. The state public-health department looked at age-adjusted case rates for kids in 48 school districts,
A sign read, “I don’t co-parent with the government” during an Aug. 30 protest against mask requirements at the Arapahoe County administration building in PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD Littleton.
Parents protesting the Tri-County Health Department mask order for kids ages 2 to 11 pray outside the Adams County Government Center on Aug. 24 before a county board of commissioners public hearing. PHOTO BY LIAM ADAMS
Children hold signs protesting Jeffco Schools’ mask mandate for students ages 3-11.
PHOTO BY BOB WOOLEY
split into two groups by whether the districts are requiring masks in schools, the Sun reported. See that story at tinyurl.com/SunSchoolData. A recent CDC study looked at the impact of masking in schools on COVID-19 case rates among K-12 students across the United States. Counties without school mask requirements experienced larger increases in pediatric COVID-19 case rates after the start of school compared with counties that had school mask requirements, according to the Sept. 24 study. See that at tinyurl. com/CDCSchoolStudy. While Douglas acknowledged it’s difficult to say unequivocally that the masks made the difference, he’s confident that the data back up that conclusion. “What is notable in the data from CDPHE and even more so from the national study performed by CDC
is that while rates were reasonably similar between districts that did and did not implement mandates going into the school year, they increased substantially more in the areas without mandates than in those that had them, which is highly consistent with a benefit of the mandate,” Douglas said.
Mental health concerns Douglas previously responded to concerns among some parents that masks are making kids anxious or leading to other negative mental health outcomes. Mental health concerns among young people are likely due to family life and routines being disrupted amid the pandemic, along with isolation and uncertainty, according to Douglas. Speaking to Colorado Community SEE CRISIS, P11
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BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Parents joined the protest on Sept. 1 alongside their children at Legend High School. PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS
CRISIS FROM PAGE 10
Media, Douglas said younger kids “probably do lose a lot of emotional cues” such as smiles, frowns or teachers’ lips moving. “I don’t disagree at all that from a learning perspective, there may be an impact, but the counter to that is that masks have ended up being (what) allows kids to stay (safe) in the classroom anyway,” Douglas Ssaid. As opposed to school being remote, kids get more social interaction from being in a classroom, Douglas said. “You’ve got better education outcomes (and) probably better social-emotional outcomes” in that case, Douglas said. The text of Tri-County Health’s initial mid-August school mask order also addressed the topic of mental health. It reads: “Children’s Hospital Colorado clarified that mask wearing has not been linked to mental health problems in children or any other group and did not contribute to their declared ‘state of emergency’ for pediatric mental health.” Elizabeth Whitehead, a spokesperson for Children’s Hospital Colorado, confirmed the accuracy of that statement. For more outside information on masks and mental health, see the “mental health” section of our previous story at tinyurl.com/MasksAndMentalHealth. Physical health concerns Another claim that came up during a Tri-County board of health meeting on Aug. 16: Masks problematically forcing a person to “rebreathe the carbon dioxide.” Wearing a mask does produce a “small increase” in breathing resistance caused by the mask material filtering particles and any moisture that is trapped in the mask material, according to a commentary in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. “One consistently documented negative impact of wearing a mask for a long period of time is
Dr. John Douglas, executive director of Tri-County Health Department since 2013, PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER at his home.
an increase in the development of headaches in people with a history of headaches,” the September 2020 article says. See it at tinyurl.com/ MasksAndBreathing. “In otherwise healthy individuals, wearing masks, even for an extended period of time, does not produce any clinically relevant changes in circulating O2 or CO2 concentrations, and does not seem to impact tidal volume or respiratory rate,” the article says. Douglas pointed to real-world experience: health and hospital settings, where health care providers have been wearing masks for “decades if not longer.” “There have been virtually no detected impacts on acute health, long term health (or) job performance,” Douglas said. Why more vaccinations? The speaker at the Arapahoe County commissioners’ meeting in August from Centennial also asked: “If your vaccine works so well and you believe in it so much, why do I have to wear a mask? Why do I have to get a vaccine?” Douglas, speaking to CCM, brought up the example of compel-
While children as a group have been shown to be at lower risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, they can still spread the virus, according to Children’s Hospital Colorado. “Most kids over age 2 can — and should — wear face coverings to help keep themselves and their family and friends safe,” the hospital system’s website says. For parents who are struggling with getting a younger child to wear a mask, Children’s Hospital Colorado offers the following tips: • Comfort your child and help them feel safe: Ask them what about the mask they don’t like. Having a better understanding of what they don’t like can help you figure out how best to address the issue. • Start slowly: Begin by having your child practice wearing their face covering for short spurts of time during an activity they enjoy. For example, have your child wear a mask for 10 minutes while they play with their favorite toy. • Try different designs and styles: Cloth face coverings vary significantly, so you might have more success with a different type of mask based on style, material, fit, tie style, size and so on. • Some masks have adjustable elastic, which can help ensure a better fit for your child. If the mask secures around their ears,
ling people by law to wear seatbelts. “We’ve made the decision that somebody dying in a car accident is a bad enough societal impact that something pretty minor … seatbelt wearing, is something we endorse and use,” Douglas said. He added: “Most of the time, a law like that is purely designed to protect the person using the preventive measure.” He noted that the chances of the virus spreading — and the chances of more-dangerous variants developing — are reduced the more people get the vaccine. “We’re in this national, if not global, lifeboat together because we share a contagion that can spread globally really quickly, certainly quickly nationally,” Douglas said. Some people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19, according to the CDC. An infection of a fully vaccinated person is referred to as a “vaccine breakthrough infection,” the CDC’s website says. Like other vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines are not 100% effective. That’s part of why stopping the virus’s spread on a societal level is important — and it’s partly why mask wearing is still being urged. Even when fully vaccinated people develop symptoms, they tend to be less severe symptoms than in unvaccinated people. This means they are much less likely to be hospitalized or
putting a thick lotion or Vaseline behind the ears can prevent the ears from getting irritated. Many kids don’t like the feeling of the elastic pulling on their ears, so it may help to find a style that ties behind their head. • Give your child some control back: Often, children refuse to cooperate because they feel like they don’t have a say and they want to demonstrate their independence from you. Giving them options, like the ability to choose their mask, can help increase their sense of control and their likelihood of cooperating. For kids who attend in-person school, day care or another in-person activity, Children’s Hospital Colorado recommends sending multiple face coverings with them in case any get dirty, lost or damaged. For example, you could send your child to school with two containers: one marked “clean” and the other marked “dirty.” A mask should be clean before each day of use. Parents should wash masks using laundry detergent and hot water. A regular dryer cycle is sufficient, the hospital system’s website says. “In a pinch, you can hand launder your face coverings. Make sure they’re fully dry before wearing,” the website adds. See other tips for parents and more about masks at tinyurl. com/ChildrensHospitalColoradoTips.
die than people who are not vaccinated, the CDC’s website says. Herd immunity Some may be wondering when enough people will be vaccinated for life to begin returning to some semblance of normal. At one point, it was thought that “herd immunity” — a term for when enough people become immune that the spread of a disease becomes unlikely — could happen when around 70% to 80% of people attain immunity to COVID-19. (See more on how that works in the sidebar in our previous story at tinyurl.com/ HerdImmunityExplain.) But there is uncertainty regarding the true herd immunity threshold. What’s more, the delta coronavirus variant is more transmissible, a development that changes the percentage needed for herd immunity, according to an article from the American Medical Association. “Herd immunity is a helpful concept but often difficult to operationalize and hang your hat on,” Douglas said. “The estimate went up because delta is over twice as contagious as the original strain. Eighty to 90% of persons in the population being immune is the best estimate at this point, but it would go higher if an even more contagious variant emerged.”
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December 10, 2021
VOICES
Looking for book ideas this season?
I
f you are ever looking for a great conversation starter, try asking people what they may be reading. What people read can give us great insight to their hobbies, passions, and interests, and that helps lead into a fun and engaging discussion. This is also one of those questions I find myself answerWINNING ing as well. Depending on when that question comes my way will WORDS determine my answer as I have been following the same reading pattern for many years now. In addition to my Bible, blogs, columns, and industry information, I read somewhere between 40 and 50 books per year. And the reading cycle that I tend to follow is this: A faith-based book; Michael Norton business book; biography; history; and then a fiction book. For me this provides a glimpse into the areas that help me personally and professionally, while also helping me to be prepared for conversations with family members, friends, people I meet socially, and my clients. I find the different perspectives extremely helpful in understanding how others view the things that are happening in our world. At this time of year the question about what I am reading comes up a lot. Many of you send me emails asking for recommendations throughout the year, and during the holiday season, as
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Like a spinning top No, Commissioner Laydon, there aren’t dozens of staffed hospital beds lying vacant, and unless hospitalized patients are going to be attended by family members … one bed + no staff = no bed. No, Commissioner Thomas, Florida’s COVID performance is among the worst, not the best. No, Commissioner Teal, ditching TCHD won’t make COVID go away, or do you really care if COVID goes away? As a Douglas County resident, it looks very much like our county commissioners have side-slipped into the posture of the tribe that can’t decipher fact from fiction. Or maybe that’s a “won’t” rather than a “can’t.” In the past, we expected public officials to negotiate their stances from a base of facts, or at least positions that were not blatant confabulations. Looks like those days are fading as quickly as the winter sunset over the western mountains. Falsehoods and misinformation from elected officials do not support a healthy American democracy. And it really doesn’t matter where the spin originates — from small town councils to the halls of Congress. Getting elected isn’t a green light to an alternative reality. If we, the People, sit idly by while our elected leaders pontificate and propagandize their tribal fakery, we’re a lot closer to the third rail. Lloyd Guthrie Roxborough
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people are looking for gift ideas, the question comes up with greater frequency. So here is what I recommend this year as I follow the cadence mentioned above: Faith-based: “2 Chairs” by Bob Beaudine; “Grace” by Max Lucado; “Lead Like Jesus” by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges; “Bethlehem” by Max Lucado; “Hope for Each Day” by Billy Graham. Business: “The Expansion Sale” by Erik Peterson and Tim Riesterer; “Business Secrets of the Bible” by Rabbi Daniel Lapin; “10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times” by Tom Ziglar; “The New Psychology of Winning” by Denis Waitley; “Traction” by Gino Wickman Biographies: “Joy” by Joy Clausen Soto; “Boyd” by Robert Coram; “Where Men Win Glory” by Jon Krakauer; “Washington: A Life” by Ron Chernow; “Colin Powell: My American Journey” by Colin Powell History: “True Raiders” by Brad Ricca; “The Journey of Crazy Horse” by Joseph M. Marshall III; “In the Hurricane’s Eye” by Nathaniel Philbrick; “No Easy Day” by Mark Owen; “The Johnstown Flood” by David McCullough Fiction: “The Evening and the Morning” by Ken Follett; “Fast Ice” by Clive Cussler; “Win” by Harlan Coben; “Plum Island” by Nelson DeMille; “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coehlo Maybe you have a different cycle of reading that you follow. Perhaps someone you know may
be interested in one of the books I have mentioned here, so I hope this list is helpful in some way. Each of us has our favorite books and authors. Some of us enjoy our books that we can physically touch and hold, myself included. Others prefer their e-reader. And there are many who enjoy consuming their stories through audio books. Whatever our preferences are, whoever our favorite authors are, and however we choose to take a mental, emotional and spiritual journey by engaging with our favorite books, the important thing is that we make time to broaden our horizons by reading as much as we possibly can and from as many sources as we possibly can. How about you? Are you a fellow voracious reader? What are you reading these days? Is it time to mix it up a bit and start reading something new? Have you shared your reading list with others? I would love to hear all about what you are reading now, or even your favorite books from the past, at mnorton@tramazing.com. And when we can expand our thinking through what others are writing and sharing, it really will be a better than good year. Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.
Time to create new rituals for the holidays
T
he sun is shining, the grass is green. The orange and palm trees sway. Wait, what? With our recent weather here, you’d swear we were in California for the holidays. But we really are a mile high at the foot of the mountains, and I want to GUEST have a ColoCOLUMN rado Christmas that feels like, “Snow, snow, snow … it won’t be long till we’re all there with snow.” It already seems like we’re lighting our Linda Newell menorah too soon, but this weather is downright weird for the holiday season. Almost 30 years ago, I moved here from Southern California (yes, I was one of those) to escape the constant sun and enjoy the change of seasons in the Rockies. Although I grew up with the pleasant predictability of temps in the 70s and sunshine,
I yearned for the change of seasons, especially around the holidays. So, weather gods … where’s our snow, sleet, or even just some flurries?? How can we bustle down the street with our arms full of packages and our boots on under warm and dry skies? And who would have ever thought that we’d still be here with yet another COVID-19 variant pushing us again to order online and avoid the in-person shopping experience of holiday Muzak and children’s choirs? So, to help get in the holiday spirit, I’ve created some new rituals this year: • I got my flu shot! (Just in case. I don’t want to be in bed for the holidays.) • I greet each sunny day with a warm robe, pajama pants, and a hot cup of tea in front of my TV streaming fireplace. (God knows I don’t need to heat up the room with a real one right now.) • When the doorbell rings with a delivery of a Christmas present I ordered online, I run to get my boots and gloves on to bring the package inside. (Before any
stealthy porch pirate can swoop it.) • Since I can’t listen to KOSI101 Christmas music in the car because I hardly drive anywhere, I’ve started playing it on my computer and loving singing with it. (Gotta get my fill of Pentatonix for the holidays.) • I’m still planning on doing our annual tradition of driving around looking at the neighborhood holiday lights. (Thank God some traditions can still be strong.) • My roommate and I have started a nightly “Hide and Find Elvie” hunt where we take turns hiding the Christmas elf from each other and then trying to find it the next day. (So far, neither of us has been able to stump each other, but I’m still planning to.) • In our house this year, we have become aficionados of the British Baking Show holiday episodes and that has really stepped up my baking game! (Can’t wait to decorate those Christmas
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Parker Chronicle A legal newspaper of general circulation in Parker, Colorado, the Chronicle is published weekly on Friday by Colorado Community Media, 9233 Park Meadows Dr., Lone Tree, CO 80124.. Send address change to: Parker Chronicle, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110
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OPTIONAL FROM PAGE 1
he said. They also want a final opportunity to hear public comment, although the superintendent already has clearance to acquire the property. “We want to start the work,” Peterson said.
A lengthy to-do list Tension ebbed and flowed during the Nov. 30 study session. Directors Susan Meek, Elizabeth Hanson and David Ray at times pushed back on the need for a special meeting, the idea of altering current policies and the speed at which new directors — Peterson, Becky Myers, Christy Williams and Kaylee Winegar — aim to take up the issues. During a discussion about calling a special meeting on Dec. 7, directors and legal counsel reminded the board multiple times not to veer from the limited task of setting upcoming agendas by getting into discussion on the proposed items. Ray cautioned about piling too many items on the December meeting agendas. Preparing any resolutions for consideration by Dec. 7 would require Peterson as board president to draft them at the “midnight hour,” Ray said. Legal counsel would have between Tuesday night and Thursday evening to vet the document so it could be posted by Friday, the deadline to give the public notice of a Dec. 7 special meeting. “I want our staff not to die,” Ray said. Meek questioned the need for a special meeting, saying they are , typically called for a single, press- ing issue. She would be comfortable convening to address the acquisition of the CU South property because the project was running up against real estate transaction deadlines, Meek said. But she felt uneasy calling a special meeting so new directors could tack on agenda items geared toward fulfilling their campaign goals, she said. “That raises a red flag for me,” she said. Hanson said she understood wanting to make good on campaign promises but was vocal in her concern the board would put too much work on directors and district staff if it attempted to pack upcoming agendas. “Our people are our most important resources,” she said. Peterson said repeatedly during the meeting that he does not
NEWELL FROM PAGE 12
cookies with our new 7-year old in our family!) • Probably most important, is my continuing daily focus on gratitude. Every night, as I’m getting settled into bed, I reflect on my day and find at least three things for which I am grateful. (Be careful to do this before your melatonin gummies take effect.) You’re welcome to join me in any or none of these depending on your
Peterson
intend for the district to change policies too quickly or without due diligence. If the board moves too hastily, he said, it could risk making a legal or logistical mess.
Masking and vaccinating A resolution attached to the Dec. 7 special meeting agenda would make masking a choice in DCSD, and also prohibit univeral masking mandates at the school or district level. Local, Myers state or federal laws requiring universal masking would supersede the resolution. The resolution would also prohibit universal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, unless required by local, state or federal law. Williams The resolution would require the district to make reasonable accomodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act, which could result in certain classrooms or activities mandating masks. On Nov. 30, Peterson Winegar said the four new directors wanted to hear a plan from the superintendent that would take into account COVID-19 mitigation measures other than masking mandates. It should also require the district to work with the newly-formed Douglas County Health Department, Peterson said. Myers, Peterson, Williams and Winegar also want to amend the district’s common communicable disease policy so that it would no longer bind DCSD to follow TriCounty Health Department guidance. Williams said the Dec. 14 agenda was too full to include a discussion about masking policies. The board is scheduled to hear updates on improving compensation during that meeting. Williams said she wants to move toward a mask-optional policy as soon as possible, urging a discussion by Dec. 7. Waiting until the new year would be dragging feet, she said. Ray said he was surprised by the suggestion DCSD jump into drafting a new masking plan and policy. Referencing conversations with Peterson, Ray said he thought the board would start by directing the superintendent to launch a feasibility study about making masks optional before formally considercorny or sarcasm tastes. But whatever you choose to do, I hope you and your family stay safe, loving, and warm. And may we all enjoy the crazy Colorado weather and crazy COVID times no matter what comes our way. Former Colorado state senator, now with a master’s in Social Justice and Ethics from Iliff School of Theology, Linda Newell is a writer, instructor, facilitator, and conflict coach. Senlindanewell@gmail.com, www. lindanewell.org, www.senlindanewell. com, @sennewell on Twitter, Senator Linda Newell on Facebook.
ing a new policy. “If their analysis is that this is going to cost quite a bit of additional dollars and resources or people resources, do we continue to go forward with then looking at a policy for a mask-optional kind of policy,” he said. Equity question set for January Directors agreed to postpone taking up the equity policy until January because they anticipate preparing for that discussion will be a heavy lift for the board and staff. The idea struck a chord with Meek and Hanson, who warned that repealing the policy could stir a reaction from its supporters in the community. Meek pressed the new directors hard on the idea of repealing the equity policy, and criticized any plan that repealed the policy without immediately replacing it. She had advocated for more public input when it was being passed, she said, but also stressed the policy did go through considerable review by district committees. “Christy, you sat on the (district accountability committee). It was before the DAC multiple times, and I never heard you once mention a concern,” Meek said to Williams. Meek said criticism of the policy’s language from a group of
charter schools who want exempted boiled down to a single word. “I’m just trying to give you a reality check,” Meek said. “Like, really? The message that this is sending to our community is that we don’t care about all of the other input that happened and we’ll get to it later.” Winegar said she had heard anecdotal examples of equity work that concerned her, which she said was made possible by the equity policy. Winegar said she believes “there needs to be a change.” “That word (equity) has become tarnished and misinterpreted,” she said. Peterson said the policy might be well-intended, but in its implementation, led to work he disapproved of. He named hiring The Gemini Group as an example. The consulting firm had provided diversity, equity and inclusive trainings to staff that sparked brushback. Saying the new directors want to throw out the policy and start over was a mischaracterization, he said. He wants to keep what he called good aspects of the policy while putting more limitations on how it can be implemented, he said. “Don’t mistake this as an attack on the work and an attack on equity,” Peterson said.
Memory In Loving
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14 Parker Chronicle
LOCAL
LIFE Tom Newsom, one of the few Santa painters in the U.S., poses in a St. Nick suit for illustration research.
COURTESY OF TOM NEWSOM
Evergreen is home to a well-known Santa artist BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
F
or Tom Newsom, one of about six Santa painters across the United States, inspiration comes from the foothills of the Rockies. “Living in the mountains in Colorado is pretty inspiring,” Newsom said. For those who have ever completed a Santa puzzle, or seen ASPCA Christmas cards, Newsom’s art might seem familiar. Chances are, it’s his name on those illustrations. As well, he completed the artwork for the books Indian in the Cupboard, the Wizard of Oz, The Night Before Christmas, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and more. Some were for the original copies and some were reprints. A Texas native, he moved to Colorado in 1981 and resides in Evergreen with his wife, Carol. Since he was a boy, Newsom has always been drawn to creating artwork. In college, he started off as an engineering major with hopes to work in the space program, which heightened his interest during the 1960s. However, he quickly switched to his passion. In 1971, he graduated from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California as an illustration major. He gravitated away from astronomy to pursue painting, but the two spheres came together. Newsom was hired to watch a space shuttle launch at Cape Kennedy and create several pieces of art for the Manned Space Flight Art Collection. His career started off while he was in college, creating illustrations for cash. During the summers in between semesters, he drew portraits at an amusement park to afford tuition. Then, he graduated from art school and his salary ever since comes from his artwork. “There aren’t very many people who actually make a living at art. I mean, a lot of people go to art
December 10, 2021
school and they wind up doing something else. But I’ve managed to make a career for a long, long time doing artwork,” he said. Although painting remains as his passion, he does not encourage others to join in. “I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody,” he said. “It’s a pretty tricky profession. I’ve worked exclusively on commissions, piece by piece. My total income is just dependent on artwork. And so it’s, you know, it’s a chancy thing to work on your own life.” That discouragement did not come off to his family, as artistry must run in Newsom blood. His wife, Carol, also creates illustrations. His two sons, Andy and Phillip, graduated from the ArtCenter College of Design. Andy, 46, is a graphic designer and Phillip, 42, paints landscapes and animals. Now, Newsom focuses on painting Santa through the Gouache medium. Gouache is water-based, opaque watercolor style of painting and allows for very fine de-
A piece of Tom Newsom’s artwork.
tails. Bright colors come out very bright and dark colors come out very dark, and he uses very small brushes to extract the utmost detail. Over the years, Newsom has created over 150 total Santa paintings. His process of painting starts out with a commission. A buyer will give him verbal directions, “Santa with puppies,” for example, and then he creates sketches. The sketches are sent back and after receiving confirmation, he
will begin his paintings. All paintings start out with research. Some pieces consist of merely a photograph of a model, but others need more digging. He explained how a commission hired him to paint St. Nick on a motorcycle, and he needed to visit a motorcycle museum. There, he took many photographs of a model next to a 1940s Harley because he knew the motorcycle community needed to see the exact details of their beloved steeds. For Newsom, hiring models in Evergreen, Colorado is no big deal. “They’re pretty easy to find up here in the mountains, old guys with white beards,” he said. After taking photos of the models, he then starts the process of painting. A typical painting usually takes between a week and ten days, if he works about six hours a day. Once the piece is finished, he sends a digital copy over to the buyer. For current projects, Newsom remains busy working with two self-publishing children’s books authors to create illustrations, a portrait of a political commentator and a cover of Texas Magazine.
Tom Newsom is one of six Santa painters in the U.S..
COURTESY OF TOM NEWSOM
Parker Chronicle 15
December 10, 2021
Library is venue for handbell concert SONYA’S SAMPLER
Sonya Ellingboe
B
emis Library, 6014 S. Datura St. in Littleton, will host the Smithtonian Handbell Ensemble at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m. on Dec. 11. Free, but pre-registration is required. 303- 795-3961. In other library news: the Holiday Book Sale continues, hosted by the Friends of the Library/ Museum, with bargains for all ages. And pre-registration is required for create an Ugly Christmas Apron as a gift to give: 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 18. Free, register at 303-795-3961.
Author to appear via Zoom Author Taylor Jenkins Reid will appear on Zoom from 2 to 3:30 p.m. to talk about her new book: “Malibu Rising.” Register in advance and get information about using Zoom: 303-542-7279, arapahoelibraries.org. Colorado Ballet Colorado Ballet dancers are wearing 171 new costumes as they perform in this year’s “Nutcracker” performances. Cost? $1.5 million! (It’s been 33 years
for the old ones!) The big order saved jobs for a number of seamstresses. Designer was Holly Hynes. Nutcracker performances: through Dec. 31, but these tend to sell out, so pick a date and nail down tickets soon, if there’s a little dancer who wants to go. Tickets range from $40 to $175. All performances at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Masks required, here and at all theatrical performances, plus proof of vaccination. SEE SAMPLER, P16
‘A Hudson Christmas’ has roots in past Gardens’ namesake couple had restaurant on Littleton site
IF YOU GO
BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As I enjoy the thousands of lights at Hudson Gardens this season, I recall a long-ago conversation with my good friend Evelyn Hudson. She told me she had been in the Littleton city planning office (a visit she made often to question city council decisions that affected local beautification) and she saw a drawing that projected a future for the lovely green Santa Fe Drive acreage she and her husband, Col. King C. Hudson, owned — where their nationally recognized restaurant, The Country Kitchen, was located, starting in 1939. It showed rows of apartment structures where the handsome log restaurant building stood on an expanse of green lawn, surrounded by specially-selected evergreen trees. Angry, she went home, called her lawyer and quickly set up a foundation that could preserve the 30 acres of lovely riverside land in Littleton as open space, so people could forever enjoy its beauty! At first, she, her nephew and a few local Hudson friends made up a board, which later expanded
Hudson Gardens is located at 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton. “A Hudson Christmas” tickets are sold online only — none at the door. “Any day” tickets are sold out, but dated tickets ($15, adults; $12 ages 4-12) are available — check your calendar and then go to hudsongardens. org. to include additional interested people. (I was fortunate to be involved from the start with planning, which included discussions about whether it should become a formal garden, following French design, with straight paths, squared beds and rows of plants, or a more casual English garden with curving paths, casual groups of plants and a bit of water.) Local landscape architect Doug Rockne was hired to help lay out a structure, and soon, skilled British plantsman Andrew Pierce was also recruited to begin selecting roses, trees, shrubs and flowering plants by the hundreds. The property is now open daily, year-round, for people to stroll, rest, picnic and enjoy nature, just away from the noise of busy Santa Fe Drive, with sound buffered by a wall of evergreen trees. Look for the sign across to the west from Arapahoe Community College. A story tells of a day soon after King and Evelyn Hudson moved to Littleton: She surveyed the property and decided it was lack-
Hudson Gardens lights up for the holiday season with “A Hudson Christmas.” The LittlePHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT ton attraction is hosting the festive annual event through December.
SEE ROOTS, P16
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16 Parker Chronicle
December 10, 2021
EVENT FROM PAGE 3
mobile vaccine unit will be parked at Sheridan Library from 3 p.m.
ROOTS FROM PAGE 15
ing the dark, spiked accent of evergreen trees. The sometimesbrusque Colonel mildly said “yes, dear” and later returned with the
to 7 p.m. After getting vaccinated, attendees can warm up inside the library with hot cocoa and cookies, according to the event webpage. Vaccines available at the event were to include Pfizer (regular, booster and
pediatric), Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, along with flu shots. The pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is available for children ages 5 through 17. The event takes place at the library located at 3425 W. Oxford Ave., a short drive south of U.S. Highway 285, west
of Federal Boulevard. The event will be held in partnership with an organization called Community, Research, Education and Awareness (CREA) Results and the University of Colorado, according to a news release.
first of many truckloads, which they planted. In Decembers, Hudson Gardens now celebrates a ticketed “A Hudson Christmas.” Doors open at 5 p.m. and lights go out at 9:30. Nixon’s Coffeehouse at the north end, near the South Platte River, is
open for hot beverages and snacks. Nights scheduled for this season are Dec. 9-12, Dec. 16-24, and Dec. 26-31. Families will encounter giant snowmen, dancing Christmas trees, a popular holiday light tunnel that especially attracts kids who love to run through it (sometimes hollering), hundreds of large and small evergreens with colored lights, lighted barebranched deciduous trees, and
miles of pathways, both paved and not. Enjoy the numerous works of public art placed among the trees and shrubs, a bow to Evelyn Hudson’s longtime interest in art and her years of service on Littleton’s Fine Art Committee. (She was an original member.) While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, public events frequently are canceled or rescheduled. Check with organizers before you go.
SAMPLER
from the Rodgers and Hammerstein television show. Nominated for nine Tony Awards. Plays through Jan. 9, 2022. Tickets: $20-$38. Go to vintagetheatre.org, 303-856-7830.
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... Upcoming: “Romeo and Juliet,” Feb. 4-13. See coloradoballet.org. Vintage Theatre “Who’s Holiday” plays at Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora through Dec. 31. ‘Tis a raunchy riff on Dr. Seuss, they say. Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. $25. Added performances beginning Dec. 14. Adults only. Also: “Twelve Dates of Christmas” through Dec. 26. 90 minutes, plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $20-$34. Also: children’s musical “Cinderella,”
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December 10, 2021
Shooting victim found dead in Highlands Ranch Authorities say a suspect was also found deceased BY MARK HARDEN MHARDEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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The body of a woman who was the apparent victim of a fatal shooting was found in a vehicle in Highlands Ranch on the morning of Dec. 4, and a suspect in the shooting was later found dead, authorities said. According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the body of the victim was found in a vehicle parked at the Central Park shopping center near Park Central Drive and Lucent Boulevard. The sheriff’s office on Dec. 6 identified the victim as Jamie Sullivan, 49, of Highlands Ranch. While authorities searched for a suspect on Dec, 4, they asked people in the area to shelter in place, and they warned the public to stay away from the area. That request was lifted about 12:30 p.m., TV station KCNC-CBS4 reported. That afternoon, Capt. Darren Weekly of the sheriff’s office said via a Twitter video that a suspect in the shooting “has been located deceased. We believe that the suspect died by his own hands.” He was later identified by the sheriff’s office as 55-year-old Art Valen-
Capt. Darren Weekly of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office gives a briefing about a homicide investigation in Highlands Ranch. PHOTO BY DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE VIA TWITTER
tine. No hometown was released. Authorties believe “the suspect and victim were known to each other,” Weekly said. He said authorities believe there is no ongoing danger to the community. At press time, the case was still being investigated.
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December 10, 2021
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20 Parker Chronicle
December 10, 2021
Beyond Denver Colorado’s meager snowpack is worrisome BY OLIVIA PRENTZEL THE COLORADO SUN
Snowflakes began falling in Denver on Dec. 1, 1913, and didn’t stop for four days, leaving the city blanketed under 45 inches of snow. Some mountain towns saw even more snowfall, with 86 inches recorded in Georgetown, 53 in Estes Park and about 44 in Boulder. The anniversary of Denver’s biggest blizzard comes amid a much different record for the city: 225 days without snow. But climatologists say they’re more worried about the meager snowpack levels in the mountains this season. “Snow in Denver is a bit of a novelty and it is a bit overrated. It doesn’t matter that much here in Denver,” said Chris Bianchi, a meteorologist with 9News. “It matters in the context of climate change and a warmer climate overall, but in terms of affecting our day-today lifestyles, snow in the mountains is what really matters.” According to the latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire state is facing drought conditions and about 40% of Colorado is facing “severe to exceptional” drought levels, further depleting low reservoir levels. Snowpack is below average, too, with the lowest levels in Colorado’s southwest mountains, according to the data released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The San Juan basin in southwest Colorado is at 35% of an average snowpack level, data show. A forecast storm could bring some relief to the high country early next week, but it will likely be too dry and warm for snow in Denver, Bianchi said. Colorado climatologists answered our questions about this season’s dry conditions and what to expect in the months to come.
anchi said. Forecasts show next Tuesday could bring some precipitation, though it’s too early to say if it will be snow or rain. “But it does look like the mountains get some snow,” Bianchi said, “and that’s where it really does matter.” November tied for Denver’s 9th driest on record, with just 0.07 inch of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service office in Boulder. Denver also finished its warmest and driest combined summer and fall on record. Between June 1 to Nov. 30, less than 2 inches of precipitation was recorded, while an average amount in that period is about 9 inches, Bianchi said.
Temperatures during the same time period averaged about 65.6 degrees — 3.5 degrees above average. “The last six months here have been wild — the fact that we have been so consistently warm and so consistently dry for that long of a time spell, and not just in Denver, throughout eastern Colorado, it’s just been bone dry, we’ve been living basically in the desert for the last six months,” Bianchi said. “That, to me, is a classic sign that we are experiencing the effects of climate change.” Why no snow? There’s no one answer to explain the lack of snow, but a La
Niña weather pattern and climate change are two factors impacting the state’s parched conditions, especially in the southwest, according to Greg Hanson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boulder. During a La Niña winter, most storms come out of the northwestern parts of the U.S. and western Canada before diving down across Colorado. This year, heavy rains brough flooding and mudslides to Washington state, but the storms petered out before reaching Colorado. “All of the moisture ends up staying in the Pacific Northwest,” Hanson said. “We don’t get a lot of moisture to produce the snow
How long will this dry spell last? Denver likely will be snow-free for the next seven to 10 days, BiSEE BEYOND, P21
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Parker Chronicle 21
December 10, 2021
BEYOND FROM PAGE 20
or the rain that we need to get ahead of the drought.” Colorado’s northern mountains could get decent snowpack in a La Niña pattern, he said, while the San Juan and Upper Rio Grande basins tend to be hit the hardest. Will we eventually have a snowy winter? Regarding the mountain’s snowpack: “it’s not necessarily all doom and gloom,” Bianchi said. “We’ve gotten off to slow starts before. We’re a little over half of where we should be in the season, but one big storm could flip that pretty quickly,” he said. Last spring, which was also during a La Niña weather pattern, saw historic levels of rain and snow. And because spring is Colorado’s main season for snowfall, Hanson said, there’s no need to panic just yet. “So the conditions now — we should pay attention, definitely — but it really isn’t that alarming until we see how the springtime shapes up.” Where is snowpack the lowest? Snowpack is the source of most of Colorado’s water supply, stored in reservoirs after snow melts into water. Right now, reservoirs in the southern and southwestern part of the state and down the Colorado River basin are at record or near-
record lows. “We have the reservoirs there and one of the reasons they’re there is to have a savings account, so to speak, to have water to get through a dry year or maybe a couple of dry years,” said Russ Schumacher, the state’s climatologist. “But now they are so low, that that isn’t there. So if we do go through another winter with another sub-par snowpack, the water concerns from western Colorado through the Southwest are going to get pretty serious by next year,” he said. A “really big snow year” could help ease current conditions, but Schumacher said he’s not feeling optimistic. “What the seasonal outlooks are pointing toward with La Niña in place, is that it’s not really likely that we’re going to have a big snow year in the parts of the mountains that really need one.” All of Colorado is facing some level of drought, but conditions are slightly better than this week last year, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Monsoonal moisture over the summer brought some improvement to drought conditions along the Front Range and Eastern Plains, but it’s been mostly dry ever since. “Now, a lot of places along the Front Range and Eastern Plains have been among the hottest and driest summer and fall time periods that have ever been recorded,” Schumacher said. For now, the impacts are not anything to be extremely concerned
about at this time of the year, he said, noting that water supplies along the Front Range aren’t in imminent danger. Is this year a harbinger of more dry winters? “What’s going to happen with the winters, it’s still tough to say, but the effects of warming, they’re becoming more and more apparent with every year that goes by,” Schumacher said. For Hanson, this season’s conditions are a clear sign of climate change. “This is what climate change
looks like, with a more compressed winter season: snow starts later and ends sooner,” he said. “If people want to know what we’re looking at in terms of climate change 50-100 years from now, this is it.” This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
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22 Parker Chronicle
December 10, 2021
SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE
FENTANYL FROM PAGE 9
Lincoln counties, said he intends to prosecute the defendants in Douglas County. “These are people who peddle deadly substances,” he said. “And where we find the illegal drug
trade, we usually find illegal weapons.” Counterfeit pills made to look like actual pharmaceuticals are typically manufactured in Mexican garages and warehouses with chemicals shipped from China. The process is not precise — about two in five pills circulating the streets have a lethal dose of fentanyl.
David Olesky, acting special agent of the DEA’s Denver field office, joined Kellner at a news conference about the bust. “This investigation demonstrates and corroborates the alarming trend in counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl flooding our streets, as well as the continuing nexus between drug trafficking and
violent crime impacting our communities,” he said. This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
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. t n e d i Conf Raising a family as a single father, Michael wanted his kids to have a stable home and great schools in a safe community. With help from people like you, they are now living a life filled with love, hope, and purpose.
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December 10, 2021
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24 Parker Chronicle
December 10, 2021
LOCAL
SPORTS
Cherry Creek players leap up to join their fans to celebrate their 21-0 victory over Valor Christian in the 5A State Final.
PHOTOS BY PAUL W. DISALVO
Creek shuts out Valor for 3rd straight 5A crown
Coach Dave Logan wins 10th state title BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Cherry Creek High won its third consecutive Class 5A state football championship on Dec. 4 at Empower Field at Mile High, but this title was exceptional. Creek came into the game as the underdog in the minds of most people and was going against a Valor Christian team that was dominant, unbeaten and had its way against most of the Highlands Ranch school’s previous 13 opponents. But Creek used a 21-point first half performance and the Bruins’ defense contained Valor’s fast-paced, no-huddle offense in a 21-0 victory which marked the school’s 12th overall state football title. “We were really motivated,” said Creek junior linebacker Henry Lamar. “We had a lot of energy coming into this game. We felt like we were really underrated and everybody felt Valor was just going to run all over us but we felt we had one of the best defenses in the state and we proved it.” It was the 10th state championship for the Greenwood Village school’s 67-year-old head coach, Dave Logan. He’s won four at Creek, four at Mullen and one each at Chatfield and Arvada West.
The Bruins and Eagles have now played in three of the past four state title games. Valor won 24-14 in 2018 and Creek took the crown in 2020 with a 21-0 shutout in Pueblo. “It never gets old,” said Logan, a former Denver Bronco. “Valor is so wellschooled in what they do. They play at such a high tempo it is hard to simulate in practice. I’ve never been more proud of a team. “We lost 35 seniors from last year’s team,” he added. “The team out there today was underclass heavy. You have to earn what you get. We knew this was a great challenge. They have dominated people with that running game. I’m proud of our defense and then offensively we were able to hammer out, move the ball a little bit, stay on the field and not turn the ball over.” Creek, which managed 193 yards in offense, used three big plays to get the lead and the defense took care of the rest. The Bruins held the Eagles offense, which averaged 41 points a game in winning its first 13 games, to 278 total yards. Cherry Creek’s defense kept a wrap on prominent Eagles running back Gavin Sawchuck, who finished with 77 yards on 29 carries. Sawchuck finished the season with a school record 2,004 yards rushing which was helped by the 350 yards he gained in the previous two playoff games. Creek Quarterback Christian Hammond
Cherry Creek defender Sam Pezdirtz, 26, breaks up a pass play to Valor Christian’s Jackson Reinheimer, 6, as Henry Lamar, 8, closes in.
-- younger brother of Julian, who led the Bruins to titles in 2019 and 2020 -- completed 10 of 11 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns. He found Maxwell Rodriquez for a 21-yard scoring pass to open the scoring and then avoided a Valor pass rush and hit Ismael Cisse for a 39-yard TD. That play swelled Creek’s lead to 21-0 with 2:41 left in the second quarter. In between, Lamar picked off a pass from Valor quarterback Colton Allen and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown. It was one of three SEE FOOTBALL, P25
Valor Christian’s Gavin Sawchuck, 27, gets caught in the backfield by Cherry Creek defender Ez Rice, 32.
Parker Chronicle 25
December 10, 2021
FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 24
interceptions three interceptions for the Creek defense. Tyler Tolbert and Blake Purchase had the other Creek interceptions. “We’re really young and I’m proud of every team but certainly proud of the effort we gave against Valor,” said Logan, whose team was 12-2 this year. “We beat a really good team. I though we we were really efficient,” Hammond had plenty to say about the Bruins’ defense and he talked about his ability to elude a swarming pass rush and hit Cisse with a TD pass “The defense was huge,” said Hammond. “To get a pick six and multiple turnovers it gave us really good spots on the field. “My second TD pass was a designed screen and I was going to go to that, but the rush kind of got there, so I tried to make something happen,” he added about the TD pass to Cisse. “I started running out and tried to keep my eyes on the field and I looked and saw Ismael wide open. “It crazy how I feel,” he continued.”I can’t really explain
it. It’s a really good feeling especially since no one believe we could really do this.” Purchase, a junior and younger brother of last season’s do-it-all defender Myles, led the Bruins with 10 tackles while sophomore Angelo Petrides and Lamar each had eight. Valor’s defense was led by Jordan Norwood with 17 tackles and one sack. Donnie Yantis is now 20-2 in his two years as Valor’s head coach; both losses came to Cherry Creek. “It was a tough game and we couldn’t get much going on offense,” said Yantis. “The defense played well. Credit to coach Logan and his Cherry Creek program. They were the better team. The result is not what we wanted, but I’m proud of our team including our 29 seniors. It was a blessing to coach those young men.” Yantis added: “We’re really young and I’m proud of every team but certainly proud of the effort we gave today. We beat a really good team. This is a team that had not been beaten and lost only one game in the past two years. I though we we were really efficient. Their defense is magnificent and we (knew) this was not going to be a 41-38 game.”
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TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional at CTI! Get trained & certified to work in months! 888-572-6790. The Mission, Program Information and Tuition is located at CareerTechnical.edu/consumer-information (M-F 8-6 ET)
Driver CDL HAZMAT DRIVER WANTED by Spring Valley Gas, Inc., family owned; 20 year old company, seeking local propane delivery driver with customer service experience. Join our team! Salary based on certification and experience. Class A or B with hazmat endorsements. Full time position. Propane experience preferred but not required. Clean MVR with no DUI or drug history. On call pay, holiday pay, paid industrial training, and paid time off. Call for interview: 303-660-8810.
Software Developer Code & oversee SDLC for specific proj./tasks. Enforce their execution & timely delivery. Participate & able to animate parts of AGILE ceremonies (daily standup, sprint retro, backlog grooming w/ product mgmt./QA team & stakeholders). Take on & maint. existing key pieces of conferencing audio & video apps. Participate in improvement of internal devel. processes. Participate in design, creation & building of new products/ features in conferencing field. Req. Master’s deg. 4 yrs.+ java or .NET devel. / preferably both req’d. 4 yrs.+ DB exp. incl. AWS good knowl. req’d. Exp. in Web audio & video conf & mobile video sys. (Android preferred) req’d. w/ orientation towards Customer Management Systems. Familiar w/ cloud providers offerings & APIs for AWS EC2, S3, RDS & VPC. Knowl. of ColdFusion & exp. in migrations to Java webpages & Web Services using SOAP, WSDL req’d. Exp. w/ VOIP / SIP &/or some telecomm. knowl. is a plus. Knowl. of software design patterns incl. MVC variations & N-Tier Architecture. Send resume: MeetingOne.com Corp., 501 S. Cherry St., Ste. 500, Denver, CO 80246.
Help Wanted Land & Water Conservation Director Mountain Area Land Trust Evergreen CO Seeking a director with 3-5+ years experience negotiating, writing and closing Conservation Easements. Apply: https://savetheland.org/jobopportunities/ Contact info: lindab@savetheland. org
LEGITIMATE WORK AT HOME No Sales, no Investment, No Risk, Free training, Free website. Contact Susan at 303-646-4171 or fill out form at www.wisechoice4u.com SEASONAL TAX PROFESSIONAL JAN - APRIL 2022 Small but busy, seasonal Northglenn Income Tax Preparation Service is seeking experienced Tax Professionals to join our team. We believe in serving our clients well and having fun in the process. Preferred candidate would have 2-5 years tax preparation experience. Must be able to pass background check. Contact info: Kendra@ northglenntax.com
LEGAL ASSISTANT Centennial Law firm seeks P/T legal assistant. No prior legal experience necessary, Good communication/ typing skills req. Flexible hours work from home or office. $22-30 p/hr Contact info: Tom Arckey 303-9288546 tja@arlaw.us
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Lost and Found
Enhanced Vision Merlin Magnifier, 20” screen and all cables. Practically new since it was only used one month. Private party in Centennial. $1,200. Email Fred at jafb1948@ comcast.net
DISH TV $64.99 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR included, Free Voice remote. Some Restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/22. 1-833-872-2545.
Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587
!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-4338277
LOST RING
Men’s diamond ring. Lost in Parker Wal-Mart, self-check out lane. Gold ring with 5 diamonds. Call Jim 720-219-2549
Misc. Notices WIDOWED MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICA. A social club offering many exciting activities and life long friendships. Social hours for all areas of Metro Denver. Reopening Activities May 1st, 2021 Visit Widowedamerica.org for details In your area!
Merchandise Antiques & Collectibles Set of Beer Steines before Berlin wall came down. Pewter. Art pieces from 1883 signed and dated. Few Chinese artwork from before WWII. Serious inquiries and by appointment only. Call 303-979-6164
Firewood
Split & Delivered $350 a cord Delivery $50. Stacking $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173
Health & Beauty Stroke & Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death according to the AHA. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Call Life Line Screening to schedule a screening. Special offer 5 screenings for $149. 1-833-549-4540
VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol
Miscellaneous AT&T Internet. Starting at $40/month w/12-mo agreement. 1 TB of data/ month. Ask how to bundle & SAVE! Geo & service restrictions apply. 1-888-796-8850 PROFESSIONAL WATER JET BACK MASSAGE TABLE: Reconditioned. Chiropractors and therapists use Sidmar tables to loosen patients’ muscles and ease pain. $1250 obo 303 688-9171 DIRECTV NOW. No Satellite. $40/ mo. 65 Channels. Stream news, life events, sports & on demand titles. No contract/commitment. CALL 1-866-825-6523 Scrap Metal, Batteries, Appliances, Wiring, Scrap Plumbing/Heating, Cars/Parts, Clean out Garages/Yards, Rake, Yard work done w/chainsaw, Certified Auto Mechanical / Body Work & paint available Also can do inside or outside cleaning 303-647-2475 / 720-323-2173
Necchi Sewing Machine Cabinet and seat (removable) No heavy use. Recently serviced. $125. 720-344-4705 The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-855-270-3785 NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your book. Free author submission kit! Limited offer! 866-951-7214 DENTAL INSURANCE - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-888-623-3036 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258.
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BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725 GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during power outages, so your home & family stay safe & comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-yr extended warranty $695 value! Request a free quote today! Call for terms & conditions. 1-844334-8353
LIFE INSURANCE
DIRECTV DIRECTV for $69.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Watch your favorite live sports, news & entertainment anywhere. One Year of HBO Max FREE. Directv is #1 Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) (some restrictions aplly) Call for more details! 1-888-725-0897
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DENTAL INSURANCE Dental Insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real Dental Insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do NOT WAIT! Call Now! Get your FREE Dental information kit with all the details! Call - 1-855-781-1668 AT&T WIRELESS PHONE SERVICE
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Wanted to Buy
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I BUY OLD/VINTAGE CHRISTMAS DECOR! If you are purging I am buying. Happy to dig in closets, sheds, basements Call or text Lisa B. 720-838-4549 Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201
Pets
Gorgeous AKC mini longhair Dachshunds due in December, ready around Valentines Day. Accepting adoption applications now. Visit www.kirstenawitherell.com Dachshund page or text 720-495-9261.
Transportation
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Long distance moving: Call for a free quote from America’s Most Trusted Interstate Movers. Let us take the stress out of moving! Speak to a relocation specialist 888-721-2194
Autos for Sale 2010 Honda Accord Tan 2010 Honda Accord 4-door Sedan with just under 72,400 miles. Asking price is $8,500. Please call 720-641-5701 for more information.
Doodle Puppies
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Looking for assisted living, memory care, or independent living? A Place for Mom simplifies the process of finding senior living at no cost to your family. Call 1-833-386-1995 today! Update your home with beautiful new blinds & shades. Free in-home estimates make it convenient to shop from home. Professional installation. Top quality - Made in the USA. Free consultation: 877-212-7578. Ask about our specials!
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Automotive
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Parker Chronicle 29
December 10, 2021
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Parker Chronicle 31
December 10, 2021
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PUBLIC NOTICES
Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Public Trustees PUBLIC NOTICE Parker NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2021-0027 To Whom It May Concern: On 9/27/2021 8:18:00 AM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: Kevin Tibbetts Original Beneficiary: First Franklin a Division of Nat. City Bank of IN Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: Wilmington Trust, National Association, As Successor Trustee to Citibank, N.A., As Trustee for First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2005FF12 Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 9/12/2005 Recording Date of DOT: 9/14/2005 Reception No. of DOT: 2005087572 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $276,000.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $310,153.88 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust. **This loan has been modified through a Home Affordable Modification Agreement effective December 1, 2015. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 8, BLOCK 1, STROH RANCH FILING NO 2C, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO Which has the address of: 12688 South Creekside Ct, Parker, CO 80134 NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at the Public Trustee’s office, Philip S Miller Building Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.
Fax #: Attorney File #: CO10198 *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: http://www. douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No. 2021-0027 First Publication: 11/25/2021 Last Publication: 12/23/2021 Publisher: Douglas County News Press PUBLIC NOTICE RENOTICED AND REPUBLISHED PURSUANT TO CRS 38-38-109(2)(b)(II) Parker NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2017-0171 To Whom It May Concern: On 10/4/2021 7:55:00 AM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: SHANE A STECKEL Original Beneficiary: MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR CHERRY CREEK MORTGAGE CO., INC., ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: NEWREZ LLC, D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 10/2/2014 Recording Date of DOT: 10/3/2014 Reception No. of DOT: 2014057254 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $284,050.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $274,398.05 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Borrower's failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 4, BLOCK 2, STROH RANCH FILING NO.9C, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 12775 Buckhorn Creek St, Parker, CO 80134 NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.
First Publication: 11/25/2021 Last Publication: 12/23/2021 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at the Public Trustee’s office, Philip S Miller Building Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.
Dated: 9/27/2021 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee
First Publication: 12/2/2021 Last Publication: 12/30/2021 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
Dated: 10/4/2021 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee
AMANDA FERGUSON Colorado Registration #: 44893 355 UNION BLVD SUITE 250, LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80228 Phone #: (303) 274-0155
The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com
HOLLY SHILLIDAY Colorado Registration #: 24423 7700 E. ARAPAHOE ROAD, SUITE 230 , CENTENNIAL, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (877) 369-6122 Fax #: Attorney File #: CO-20-886541-LL *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: http://www. douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ No. Notice No. 2017-0171 First Publication: 12/2/2021 Last Publication: 12/30/2021 Publisher: Douglas County News Press PUBLIC NOTICE Parker NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2021-0025 To Whom It May Concern: On 9/15/2021 2:57:00 PM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: HOWARD D. REEVES AND MADONNA L. REEVES Original Beneficiary: BOKF, NA dba Colorado State Bank and Trust Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: BOKF NA DBA BOK FINANCIAL Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 2/27/2016 Recording Date of DOT: 3/7/2016 Reception No. of DOT: 2016013345 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $45,056.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $43,098.23 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations of the terms thereof. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 11, BLOCK 7, CLARKE FARMS SUBDIVISION FILING NO. 4A, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 17041 Hastings Ave, Parker, CO 80134 NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at the Public Trustee’s office, Philip S Miller Building Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.
JENNIFER C. ROGERS Colorado Registration #: 34682 4100 E. MISSISSIPPI AVE., STE. 420 , DENVER, COLORADO 80246 Phone #: 877-353-2146 Fax #: Attorney File #: 48013519 *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: http://www. douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No. 2021-0025 First Publication: 11/18/2021 Last Publication: 12/16/2021 Publisher: Douglas County News Press
City and County Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budgets for the County of Douglas and all its agencies, the Douglas County Law Enforcement Authority, the Douglas County Woodmoor Mountain General Improvement District, and the Douglas County Local Improvement District No. 07-01-Lincoln Station have been submitted to the Board of County Commissioners of Douglas County for the ensuing year 2022. The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of the proposed budgets on December 14, 2021 beginning at 2:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible, in the Commissioner’s Hearing Room, Phillip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado. Any interested elector of Douglas County may file an objection to the proposed adopted budget prior to its final adoption by the Board of County Commissioners. A copy of said resolution may be obtained for inspection on-line at www.douglas.co.us. Legal Notice No. 941109 First Publication: December 9, 2021 Last Publication: December 9, 2021 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on December 14, 2021 beginning at 2:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible, in the Commissioner’s Hearing Room, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Douglas will conduct a public hearing concerning the proposed adoption of a resolution amending the 2021 adopted budget. Any interested elector of Douglas County may file an objection to the proposed amendment to the budget at any time prior to it’s final adoption by the Board of County Commissioners. A copy of said resolution may be obtained for inspection at the offices of the County Commissioners at the above address in Castle Rock, Colorado, or viewed on-line at www.douglas.co.us. Legal Notice No. 941112 First Publication: December 9, 2021 Last Publication: December 9, 2021 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press
Bids and Settlements Public Notice PUBLIC INVITATION TO BID Separate sealed bids for PALMER DIVIDE AVENUE PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION: CI 2021-043 will be received by the Owner, Douglas County Government, Department of Public Works Engineering, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104, until Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. This project consists of paving of an existing, unpaved portion of Palmer Divide Avenue east of State Highway 83 in southeast Douglas County.
other means than as described above may not be complete or accurate, and it is the Bidder’s responsibility to obtain a complete set of the Project Plans and Specifications. Douglas County will not be held responsible for misinformation received from private plan rooms. A PRE-BID CONFERENCE will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at the Department of Public Works Engineering, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104. All questions are due to Karl Lucero, Project Engineer by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2021. The Bid Opening will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at the same address. The Project includes the following major items and approximate quantities: • 2,087 CY of unclassified excavation • 2,082 CY of embankment material • 4,030 tons of Class 6 Aggregate Base Course • 1,040 tons of HMA Grading SX • 1,560 tons of HMA Grading S • Installation of 119 linear feet of 24” RCP • Installation of 5 each 24” RCP flared end sections • Installation of 1 each Type C Inlet (5 Foot) Prior to submitting a Bid Proposal, Bidders shall have received prequalification status (active status) with the Colorado Department of Transportation to bid on individual projects of the size and kind of work as set forth herein. Any questions on the bidding process shall be directed to Karl Lucero, Project Engineer at 303.660.7490. Plan holder information, can be found on the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System Website. Legal Notice No. 941125 First Publication: 12/09/2021 Second Publication: 12/09/2021 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Account Number: 2734
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF CONTRACTORS SETTLEMENT COUNTY OF DOUGLAS STATE OF COLORADO NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 38-26-107, C.R.S., as amended, that on January 2, 2022, final settlement will be made by the County of Douglas, State of Colorado, for and on account of a contract between Douglas County and Chato’s Concrete, LLC., the 2021 Sidewalk Repair Project Number CI 2021-001 in Douglas County; and that any person, copartnership, association or corporation that has an unpaid claim against said Chato’s Concrete, LLC., for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or any of his subcontractors in or about the performance of said work, or that supplied rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement on said 2nd Day of January, 2022 file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Board of County Commissioners, c/o Director of Public Works Engineering, with a copy to the Project Engineer Daniel Roberts, Department of Public Works Engineering, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104. Failure on the part of claimant to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve said County of Douglas from all and any liability for such claimant's claim.
Get Involved! First Publication: 11/18/2021 Last Publication: 12/16/2021 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Dated: 9/16/2021 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee
The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:
Facts do not cease to exist b because they are ignored. re ignored. - Aldous Huxley
The Contract Documents will be available after 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 13, 2021 through Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System Website (www.rockymountainbidsystem.com) or they may be obtained at the above address. Electronic versions of the Plans obtained by any
Every day, the government makes decisions that can affect your life. Whether they are decisions on zoning, taxes, new businesses or myriad other issues, governments play a big role in your life. Governments have relied on newspapers like
The Board of Douglas County Commissioners of the County of Douglas, Colorado, By: Janet Herman, P.E., Director of Public Works Engineering. Legal Notice No. 941097 First Publication: December 02, 2021 Second Publication: December 09, 2021 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Account Number: 2734
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Parker Legals 12.10.21 * 1
32 Parker Chronicle
December 10, 2021
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