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Week of February 10, 2022
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
SouthPlatteIndependent.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 18
Aspen Grove housing plan heading to city-wide vote Petition highlights public rebuke of rezoning plans
SEE ASPEN GROVE, P8
BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
clinic staff about age and parental consent, were part of a deliberate attempt to shut down the clinic, and the chances of others in the future, the father of the high school student said. Ewert made the decision to do just that, issuing a statement on Jan. 25 that said the district “does not condone the administration of COVID vaccines or any other
With a search firm secured, the City of Littleton is entering is beginning the process to replace City Manager Mark Relph, who announced plans to retire in June. On Feb. 1, the city council unanimously approved a contract with California-based firm CPS HR Consulting. The firm will be paid at flat rate of $25,000 for what is expected to be a three to four-month recruitment process. According to Noël Mink, director of human resources for the City of Littleton, that expense could rise depending on other costs not included in the firm’s flat rate. Unexpected costs may include travel costs for candidates council may want to interview. The city council has already held two closed-door meetings regarding the recruitment process. During the first executive session on Dec. 14, the council told city staff to provide a modified list of search firms. On Jan. 18, councilmembers interviewed three firms before landing on CPS. Though the firm is based outside the state, it has a history of recruitments for local governments throughout Colorado, including with the cities of Aurora, Greeley and Boulder. The firm has a regional office in Littleton.
SEE SCHOOLS, P6
SEE CITY MANAGER, P9
After receiving approval from city council in November, a plan to rezone the Aspen FILE PHOTO Grove shopping center in southwest Littleton is headed to a city-wide vote.
LPS superintendent says he got death threats over vaccine controversy Videos of minors about to receive shots after lying to staff spurred turmoil BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Brian Ewert said he received death threats and other
PRSRT - STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID LITTLETON, CO PERMIT #70 EDDM POSTAL PATRON
Recruiting firm to seek next city manager Process could take three to four months before final candidate is selected
BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A proposal to rezone southwest Littleton’s Aspen Grove shopping center for high-density, mixed-use housing is headed to a city-wide vote after residents petitioned to hold a referendum on the redevelopment plans. The move spells the latest development in a months-long saga dating back to at least March 2021, when the mall’s owner, the Gerrity Group, first announced plans to overhaul the area. After a heated public hearing in October, during which residents packed the council chamber to speak for and against the proposal, city council narrowly voted 4-3 in November to approve the plans. But thousands of residents
VOLUME 77 | ISSUE 14
harassing emails after two videos surfaced on a right-wing Twitter account showing minors unaccompanied by their parents cleared to receive a COVID-19 vaccine during a clinic at Heritage High School on Jan. 21. The two videos, posted on Jan. 25, have since been deleted, and neither student received a vaccination. The videos, in which a 15-year-old high school student and 16-yearold homeschooled student lie to
PARTNERS IN WORK & LIFE
For couples, shared business is life P14