Week of January 20, 2022
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 9 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 8
Health board is sued again over mask exemption order Lawsuit is filed by Montessori school in Parker, hair salon in Castle Pines BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
For the second time since its formation in September, the Douglas County board of health is being
sued over its mask exemption rule. That public health rule — approved by the board Oct. 8 — says that anyone can opt themselves and their children out of mask requirements in the county. The order was first challenged by the Douglas County School District and is now being disputed in a lawsuit filed by two Douglas County businesses: the Parker Montessori School and a Castle Pines hair salon. The civil lawsuit, filed Jan. 6 in
Douglas County District Court, argues that both the order and the entire Douglas County Health Department are unlawful and asks the court to agree. “All we’re doing really is trying to hold Douglas County to the law,” said Igor Raykin, from Kishinevsky & Raykin, the law firm that filed the document. In the lawsuit, Anitha Harshan, the director of Parker Montessori, and Becky Henderson, the owner of
King Soopers strike continues in Parker Employees look for better wages, security BY ELLIIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Several employees of King Soopers in Parker walked out on the job on Jan. 12 as a part of a planned three-week labor strike for some of the Denver-area stores. Employees picketing outside told Colorado Community Media that they’re hoping for improved wages, additional staff members and more security at the store. Parker resident Basil Ortiz, who has worked for the King Soopers’ Starbucks for about two years, said the company is also considering cutting overtime hours. “A lot of us need the overtime or else we can’t afford to live here,” Ortiz said. “I really like the Town of Parker. It’s really nice here. I would like to continue living here.” Shannah Fields, who has worked at the store’s Starbucks for one year, said she recently got a raise, but SEE STRIKE, P22
Curl Up N Dye hair salon, allege that the Douglas County Health Department “was not lawfully constituted” because the county did not “provide the statutorily required one-year written notice” before withdrawing from the Tri-County Health Department. The county has argued that a oneyear notice they sent to Tri-County in July 2020 but rescinded soon after SEE SUED, P6
Douglas County Schools leadership debates COVID precautions Second semester plans draws scrutiny from some board directors BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A group of workers on strike from King Soopers began picketing in front of the Parker PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER store Jan. 12.
BLOOD SUPPLIES ARE LOW
Donations needed regionwide
P2
As the omicron coronavirus variant explodes throughout Colorado, Douglas County School District leadership spent much of the first board meeting of 2022 looking at COVID-19 trends in the district and what mitigation strategies will be in place during the second semester. With a board divided over COVID-19 response, the issue sparked some debate at the Jan. 11 meeting, SEE PLANS, P11
TAKING FLIGHT
Pilots happy to teach children to fly
P12