July 7, 2016 VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 36 | 75¢
BLESSED GIFTS Christian organization provides toys, sports equipment as part of outreach. PAGE 12
DouglasCountyNewsPress.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
The rise of Sterling Ranch
Man gets 8 years for death of trooper Retired Army colonel tells of shame over his actions By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Construction begins for the 1.5 million-gallon water tank that will supply about 12,000 homes in Sterling Ranch, the 3,400-acre, mixed-use development west of Santa Fe Drive in northwestern Douglas County. “Our water conservation will be leading in the state,” said founder and managing director Harold Smethills. Photos by Alex DeWind
At buildout, community will have 12,000 homes and 33,000 residents living in neighborhoods with latest in technology By Alex DeWind adewind@colorado communitymedia.com
A
bout two years ago, Harold and Diane Smethills and about 20 congregants from a nearby church walked up a grassy hill in the rolling landscape near Roxborough in northwest Douglas County. They joined hands and began to pray. For the land. For the well-being of
neighboring communities — Roxborough, Littleton, Highlands Ranch. For the residents of Sterling Ranch, the community that would rise from the land around them. “We prayed that it would be a wonderful place to live,” Diane said, “filled with wonderful families.” Sterling Ranch has been the Smethillses’ dream for 12 years: A $4.4 billion multigenerational, eco-conscious Sterling continues on Page 6
Brock Smethills, left, and his parents, Diane and Harold, stand in front of Sterling Ranch plans in their Highlands Ranch office. “In all candor,” Diane said of the development, “we were inspired by our two millennial sons.”
Commissioners turn down block-grant money Board requests work session to look for alternative funding By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com The Douglas County Housing Partnership has used federal Community Development Block Grant funding to offer down-payment assistance for first-time home buyers and help provide affordable senior housing.
In 2015, the multi-jurisdictional housing authority — which connects businesses and local and county government to address the issue of the lack of affordable housing for people who work in the area — received $310,000, the largest individual CDBG grant in the county, for its supportive housing program. With CDBG funding, the partnership has added 10 families per year to the program. But with the Douglas County Board of Commissioners’ June 28 deci-
sion to decline all CDBG funding in 2016, Diane Leavesley, executive director of the partnership, said the program will be severely limited and some aspects are uncertain. “Beyond 2015 funds we will only be able to continue this program with money from when a family repays their loan,” Leavesley said. “No new money will be coming in.” In 2015, Douglas County received Grant continues on Page 11
A 52-year-old retired Army colonel has been sentenced to eight years in prison for driving while drunk and killing a Colorado state trooper last year. Douglas County District Court Judge Richard Caschette handed down the sentence to Eric Peter Henderson on June 28. Henderson, who also was sentenced to five years of parole, pleaded guilty May Henderson 18 to vehicular homicide and tampering with evidence, two of the five charges he faced in connection with the death of Colorado State Trooper Jaimie Jursevics. “The sentence today must send a clear message Jursevics to those who are thinking of drinking and driving,” Caschette said. “It is clear to the court that on the day of Trooper Jursevics’ death, the defendant had too much to drink, but he made the decision to drive. “In the past, the defendant has served his country with honor, but on this night, he was a coward.” The night of Nov. 15, 2015, Jursevics, 33, was parked on the right shoulder of I-25 near mile marker 175 in Castle Rock investigating a crash. While outside her vehicle, she was hit by Henderson and sustained fatal injuries. Sentencing continues on Page 11
HEADS UP
Dozens of football coaches gather to discuss ways to keep young players safe. PAGE 22
DOUGLAS COUNTY NEWS-PRESS (ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Douglas County, Colorado, the News-Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Mon. 4 p.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.