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October 22, 2015 VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 29 | FREE
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CastleRockNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
SCHOOL BOARD RACE
WHAT’S INSIDE
Fundraising figures so far favor challengers
New day: Rescued horses recovering. See Page 13
Third-party money pays for TV ad in support of incumbents By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Matter of faith: Pentecostal congregation focuses on experience. See Page 14
Cross country: Teams hit the course in Continental League meet. See Page 21
Castle Rock Fire Chief Art Morales transforms Ethan Waldrop, 14, into a zombie. Photos by Shanna Fortier
Makeup at center of haunted house horror in Castle Rock Find all of our advertisers online
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PL E ASE RECYCLE
The Castle of Terror runs through Oct. 30 By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com Planning for this year’s Castle of Terror started in July with brainstorms of concepts, set building, character costumes and marketing plans. In its ninth year, the haunted house opened Oct. 16 for a three-weekend
Francy Davenport, 14, gets the final touches on her zombie makeup before taking her spot in the haunted house.
run. “I came from Thornton and the police did a haunted house there and it was always a lot of fun,” Castle Rock Fire Chief Art Morales said when talking about why he wanted to start a haunted house. “My kids really enjoyed it when they were younger, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for the kids here to have the same opportunity.” The haunted house casts 50 volunteers per night, most of which are students. “What I wanted was to give our kids an opportunity to enjoy haunted houses without having to go all the way to the metro area,” Morales said. “I felt this would be more wholesome fun with kids enjoying playing the part, making the haunted house, working in the haunted house — and our explorers get a great fundraising opportunity out of it.” Proceeds from the haunted house benefit the police and fire explorer program. Students who volunteer also earn community service hours. Castle of Terror continues on Page 12
In contrast to recent Douglas County School Board races, candidates challenging the school district’s reform policies have raised more money than their opponents as of the first reporting deadline. David Ray, Anne-Marie Lemieux and Wendy Vogel have combined to raise $51,765, nearly $44,000 more than the three incumbent candidates during the reporting period that ended Oct. 8. Those totals do not reflect third-party money being spent to try to influence voters. Kevin Larsen, Craig Richardson and Richard Robbins have raised $7,793, according to the most recently released campaign finance reports. By this time in the 2013 campaign, the candidates who supported the school district’s reform policies had outraised their opponents $156,631 to $30,541. Those candidates, Doug Benevento, Judith Reynolds, Meghann Silverthorn and James Geddes, each won. Each of the candidates elected in 2013 received a $25,000 contribution from Alex Cranberg of Aspect Energy in Austin, Texas, and $10,000 from Ralph Nagel of Top Rock LLC Financial of Denver, according to the Colorado secretary of state’s database at tracer.sos. colorado.gov. DCSD continues on Page 5
WHAT THEY’VE RAISED A look at the campaign fundraising totals of candidates through the first reporting period, which ended Oct. 8, in the 2015 Douglas County School Board race: Incumbents Craig Richardson: $3,020 Kevin Larsen: $2,800 Richard Robbins: $1,973 Total: $7,793 Challengers David Ray: $19,015 Anne-Marie Lemieux: $17,805 Wendy Vogel: 14,945 Total: $51,765 Source: tracer.sos.colorado.gov
Schools, faith groups team to prevent teen suicide Representatives hope to start conversation, bridge gap By Shanna Fortier sfortier@colorado communitymedia.com With 26 suicides of children between the ages of 10 and 19 years old in Douglas County over the past five years, the Douglas County School District has reached out to the faith-based community to find ways to reach those students before they consider taking their own lives.
“Everyone knows that this is not a challenge that we can solve single-handedly, but if we work collaboratively we have a better shot to catch kids,” said Dr. Jason Germain, student advocacy officer for Douglas County schools. “I think, ultimately, if nothing more happens than starting a conversation about something people don’t enjoy talking about, I’d be satisfied.” “The school district and the churches both clearly care about the same kids,” said Jake Meuli, a volunteer in the faith community in Douglas County. “It’s Suicide continues on Page 9
Douglas County Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen addresses school staff and community members at a recent suicide-prevention meeting. Photo by Shanna Fortier