South Platte Independent 021722

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Week of February 17, 2022

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

SouthPlatteIndependent.net

VOLUME 77 | ISSUE 15

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 18

Big spending slated for High Line Canal Arapahoe County joins others in pledging $130 million over 15 years BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Over the next 15 years, Arapahoe County will join with neighboring counties, government agencies and a nonprofit to invest $130

million into conservation and accessibility projects for the High Line Canal, a more than 140-year-old humanmade irrigation waterway that has now become a popular recreation trail. With the creation of a new

partnership in late January, known as the High Line Canal Collaborative, local governments and organizations hope to improve the waterway and accompanying trail that serves communities across the metro region. The canal begins in southwest Douglas County and stretches 71 miles to Aurora, winding through Douglas,

Arapahoe, Adams and Denver counties. According to its website, the canal is one of the longest continuous urban trails in the U.S. “It’s an amazing amenity that’s used by hundreds of thousands of people a year,” said Arapahoe County Commissioner Nancy Sharpe. “There were a lot of conversations about not only how do we provide access to the

Man charged in death threat to superintendent

County officials decide how to use federal dollars

BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

SEE THREATS, P19

PRSRT - STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID LITTLETON, CO PERMIT #70 EDDM POSTAL PATRON

SEE HIGH LINE, P10

Pandemic relief spending to go toward homeless, mental health

Littleton district faced harassment, safety concerns after vaccine clinic videos New details about the death threats sent to Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Brian Ewert and the board of education following controversy over a district-hosted COVID vaccine clinic convey days of anxiety, uncertainty and urgency for the district. The threats began shortly after two videos surfaced showing a 15-year-old Littleton High School student and a 16-year-old homeschooled student lying to clinic staff at Heritage High School on Jan. 21 about age and parental consent as part of a deliberate attempt to shut down the clinic.

canal but how do we preserve it for the future.” Since 2014, the four counties, along with the Mile High Flood District, High Line Canal Conservancy and Denver Water, which owns the canal, have invested a combined total of over $32 million into preservation and improvement efforts.

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Brian Ewert at a school board meeting. FILE PHOTO

Homelessness, housing, mental health and business support are among the main targets of dozens of millions in spending planned so far by Arapahoe County after receiving funds under the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The American Rescue Plan Act is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill signed into law in March 2021 with a goal to support the economic and public health recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the county said in a news release. The county has begun distributing the one-time bucket of federal funds it received in 2021, the Feb. 11 news release announced. “Arapahoe County will be the responsible steward for these funds by allocating them where they’re needed most SEE RESCUE PLAN, P9

REACHING READERS

Book clubs are no longer just confined to living rooms

P14


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