TO YOUR HEALTH
August 4, 2016 VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 40 | 75¢
Water infused with fruits and vegetables is a nutritious drink choice. 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
Recall fails, mayor stays in office Petitioners say process reflected democracy in action By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com Paul Donahue’s constituents overwhelmingly voted to let him finish out his term as Castle Rock mayor and District 1 councilman, despite some residents’ wish to recall him from office.
An unofficial final count of ballots of the July 26 recall election show 1,245 votes to retain Donahue — almost 73 percent — versus 469 votes to oust him. “I was surprised by the margin by which they rejected the recall,” Donahue said the mornDonahue ing following the special election. “It was very encouraging to see that. I’m grateful for the
support of the residents of District 1.” Only residents in District 1, which includes the western side of The Meadows neighborhood, could vote. They returned 1,714 of the 5,129 ballots mailed to voters — a turnout of 33 percent, which far exceeded the 578 votes cast in District 1 in 2010, the last time Donahue faced an opponent in an election. “I think the election reflects the general opinion that Paul Donahue as a mayor has the best interest of the community in mind,” said Jeff Samuelson,
who lives in District 4 and has supported Donahue through the recall process. “It seems to be that the people who were passionate about the subject showed up to vote.” Donahue is term-limited and was first elected in 2008. He was appointed as mayor by other members of council in 2012 and again in 2014. His term expires in November. The deadline to file for the seat is Aug. 29. Recall continues on Page 11
DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
Medical pot policy approved for students Highlands Ranch mother led fight for son with epilepsy to use medical cannabis By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Braylon Briddle competes in the 10- to 13-year-old barrel racing division at the annual Hometown Rodeo.
Hometown talent shines at rodeo
Jackson Fox, 5, watches the rodeo up close July 30 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Fox, who lives in Elizabeth, attends all the local rodeos with his family. This was his first time at the rodeo in Castle Rock.
Former Douglas County Fair and Rodeo queen Anneliese Phippen rode through the arena July 30 in Castle Rock carrying the Colorado flag. She was joined by Haley Jacobs and ONLINE Carrie Thompson, both former queens, carrying Find more photos of the American flag and the the Hometown Rodeo Douglas County Fair and at CastleRockNewsRodeo flag. The three kicked Press.net. off the 2016 Hometown Rodeo, the first rodeo in a long lineup of events at MORE INSIDE this year’s fair and rodeo at the Douglas County FairFind more fair grounds. While the rodeo coverage on page 5. did not feature big events such as bull riding, the focus was on local participants and things that would happen on a working ranch, said Todd Spenser, chairman of the fair board. He said it’s about bringing the community together.
PHOTOS BY SHANNA FORTIER
After being seizure-free for several years, 14-year old Benjamin Wann began suffering again last Thanksgiving Day. He subsequently had four more A GROWING seizures in 14 days. Doctors, his mother ISSUE said, wanted to put Douglas County him back on powerresidents struggle ful pharmaceutical to live with neighdrugs to treat his borhood grow epilepsy. houses. Page 7 With her son soon to begin high school, Amber Wann hesitated to put Benjamin on drugs that included dangerous side Marijuana continues on Page 4
HEAR YE, HEAR YE
Colorado Renaissance Festival welcomes visitors to a simpler time. PAGE 9
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.