SAVE THE DATE Couples’ plans postponed as vendors brace for industry impacts amid COVID-19 P14
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April 9, 2020
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
‘He was my everything’ Taken by COVID-19, Steve Evans remembered as devoted father, friend, community member
RELIEF EFFORTS Council approves financial help for businesses, residents
BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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Steve Evans thought he was coming down with a common bug. He developed a light, wet cough, and an upset stomach. He felt increasingly tired. After a couple of days, the 51-year-old Castle Rock man began feeling better, but then started having difficulty breathing. Getting out of bed and walking downstairs left him winded. He likened the feeling to his large dog laying on his chest, he told his 20-yearold daughter, Elly Evans. Having previously undergone a kidney transplant, Steve focused on keeping hydrated. Still, his illness did not seem serious. On March 27, Steve called his kidney doctor as a precaution, who recommended he go to the hospital and get examined. To his surprise, staff at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital insisted on admitting him that day. “He called me to tell me that they were going to sedate him and put him on a ventilator, and he sounded really SEE EVANS, P10
STAYING HOME
DCSD students will not return to classrooms this spring P3
LOOKING FOR THE ‘POSITIVES’
Steve Evans, shown with his daughter, Elly, died April 6 after fighting COVID-19. COURTESY PHOTO
Area residents share how the pandemic is changing their lives P8
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THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“We may not have the solution to the pandemic or the economy, but we can come up with solutions and ideas to help ourselves and our families make the very best of the situation.” Michael Norton, columnist | Page 12 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net
VOLUME 118 | ISSUE 23