COLD-BLOODED COMPANIONS
September 15, 2016 VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 24 | FREE
Exotic pets require unique foods, habitats. PAGE 12
CastleRockNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
POOCHES PLUNGE INTO POOL
Who pays the price of a recall?
Castle Rock Town Council considers ordinance to reimburse members for defense expenses By Jessica Gibbs jgibbs@coloradocommunitymedia.com Recalling a town councilmember comes at a price, some say. That’s why the Castle Rock Town Council could soon approve an ordinance allowing councilmembers who prevail in a recall attempt to seek reimbursement for expenses incurred while defending their seat. The policy was drafted following the recall petitions involving Mayor Paul Donahue and District 5 representative Renee Valentine. Donahue won his recall election in July, and will retain his seat until the end of his term-limited tenure in November. A recall petition against Valentine, which had been placed on the Nov. 8 ballot, was dropped Sept. 9 when petition representatives provided the Castle Rock town clerk with written requests to withdraw their petition. Town council on Sept. 6 approved a first reading of the policy with a 5-0 vote. Donahue and Valentine excused themselves from the discussion. A second reading will take place at the Sept. 20 council meeting. Town Attorney Bob Slentz stressed the ordinance is not about any one particular councilmember. It is written to provide each councilmember, current or future, the opportunity to seek reimbursement if they win a recall election or if a protest overturns the petition.
Winnie, an 8-month-old Labrador mix, dives head-first into the pool on Sept. 10. Castle Rock’s Pooch Plunge on Sept. 10 welcomed pups of all shapes and sizes to the Butterfield Crossing community pool. Dogs enjoyed a day of swimming — an opportunity some owners said doesn’t come around very often. Admission fees and donations will benefit the Denver Dumb Friends League’s Buddy Center. The Buddy Center is a full-service animal shelter, specializing in adoptions, lost and found services, pet intake and humane education classes.
PHOTOS BY JESSICA GIBBS
Recall continues on Page 7
Stetson, a 3-year-old golden retriever, finally succeeded at retrieving all the toys that owner Alaina Meyers threw into the pool. An overachiever, Stetson sometimes collected two at at time.
SCENIC ROUTE
School board seat officially vacant Two days earlier, the board was deadlocked on the issue of Benevento’s resignation By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com After a second special meeting of the Douglas County Board of Education in three days, Doug Benevento’s resignation was accepted by a 6-1 vote Sept. 8. David Ray cast the dissenting vote.
At a Sept. 6 meeting on the same topic, the board did not accept his resignation following a deadlocked 3-3 vote. “I voted ‘no’ to convey the message that I am still concerned that we are condoning a political tactic that gives an unfair advantage to a future candidate,” Ray said. “Had there been an Benevento acknowledgment from the board president that it is inappropriate
to resign from an elected position with this intent, I would have voted in favor of the resolution.” Benevento, an attorney who lives in Highlands Ranch, did not attend either meeting in person but called into the Sept. 8 meeting to ensure the vote to accept his resignation was successful. The District E seat is now officially vacant. The district encompasses Lone Tree, Acres Green, Castle Pines and eastern Highlands Ranch.
Find all of this week’s advertisers online
ShopLocalColorado.com Please support our local advertisers for their contribution to keeping our community connected, and tell them you found them in the News-Press!
Board continues on Page 6
More than 170 artists from around the country gathered in Castle Rock for the Colorado Artfest. PAGE 17
CASTLE ROCK NEWS-PRESS OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. Obituaries: Mon. 4 p.m. Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.