August 6, 2015
THIS WEEK IN
VOLUME 113 | ISSUE 40 | 75¢
LIFE
LOCAL
Colorado cuisine has much more to offer than just an omelette
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
WHAT’S INSIDE
Fair’s stock on rise Roll out: Microsoft Store hosts Park Meadows concert to promote Windows launch. See Page 10
BY THE NUMBERS $298,430
— Amount raised through the Junior Livestock Sale in 2014
$114,548
— Revenue generated by ticket sales in 2014
15,938 —
Earning and learning: Blind teens take summer jobs at Coventry Farms. See Page 20
Number of general admission tickets sold in 2014
54 — Percent
increase in fair attendance since 2010
3
Part of the team: Rock Canyon junior finds role on Special Olympics team. See Page 23
Events like roping are always a big draw at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo, which has seen attendance rise in recent years. File photo
IF YOU GO What: Douglas County Fair and Rodeo When: Aug. 6-9 Hours: Aug. 6 (4 to 11 p.m.), Aug. 7 (noon to 11:30 p.m.), Aug. 8 (10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.), Aug. 9 (7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
POSTAL ADDRESS
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, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, 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: Fri. 11 a.m. Legals: Fri. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 5 p.m.
PL E ASE R ECYC LE T HI S COPY
Where: Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Drive, Castle Rock Tickets: Aug. 6 (free admission), Aug. 7 ($6 per person; age 7 and under are free), Aug. 8 ($6 per person; age 7 and under are free); Aug. 9 (free grounds admission courtesy of Castle Rock Bank)
Booming attendance tied to activities, entertainment, cost By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando@colorado communitymedia.com Over the past four years, more and more people have poured into the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo — so many that it has become Colorado’s fastest-growing county fair, local officials say. The four-day event running from Aug. 6-9 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock has seen a 54 percent increase in attendance over the past four years. More than 29,000 people came to the fair in 2014.
— Rank in Colorado’s Top 10 Summer Rodeos by Real American Cowboy magazine
“The reason it’s grown is because we have a lot of new activities and entertainment for people, and it’s an affordable event,” said Gary Debus, chairman of the marketing committee for the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo. Nearly 16,000 tickets were sold in 2014, an increase of about 3,000 from the previous year. Revenue from those sales was nearly $115,000. Debus said one of the biggest draws has been free admission on Sundays, which is sponsored by Castle Rock Bank. “On Sunday, it used to be that we had no one there,” Debus said. “Saturday and Sunday are our biggest attendance days now.” Fair continues on Page 7
Growth brings bumps in the road Keeping traffic flowing is among Castle Rock’s biggest challenges as population swells By Nick Puckett
npuckett@colorado communitymedia.com Paul Morris turns and waves his arm in the direction of the road behind him, Crystal Valley Parkway. The road, which runs east to west from South Lake Gulch Road to I-25 on the south side of Castle Rock, is one of the busiest in the town. “This used to be a small country road,” said Morris, 45. “There’s lots of new construction projects…you’re talking about 5,000 more cars coming through here.” The four-year resident talks about how the road was mostly used by farmers and ranchers, but is now serving new residents of homes edging the one-time farmland. Since Morris had moved to Castle Rock, the town expanded Crystal Valley Ranch into one of the largest housing areas in the town. “With more residents,” said Dan Sailer, assistant director of the town’s public works commission, “comes an increase in traffic.” Since the beginning of its rapid population growth in the early 2000s, solving future traf-
Roadwork, like this on Wilcox Street in downtown Castle Rock, is a familiar site around town. Photo by Nick Puckett fic problems has been a key issue for town officials. In 2003, the town published a Transportation Master Plan, a 152-page document to guide decisions on future traffic problems based on expected growth over the next 20 to 30 years. The plan includes details on improved roadways, bicycle paths and multi-use, 8-to-10-foot sidewalks. The plan was last revised in 2011. The master plan had estimated Castle Rock’s population would grow to 64,100 residents by 2030, but recent studies suggest the town’s ranks will grow to more than 100,000 by then. Castle Rock’s population as of December 2014 was 56,645, according to a town estimate.
“It’s a matter of shaping the overall transportation system as we continue to grow,” Sailer said. With many more people than jobs, most of Castle Rock’s residents commute away from the town for work. That, according to some residents, is a major contributor to the increasing traffic problem. “It looks like were growing super-fast,” Morris said. “The infrastructure isn’t there to keep up with the new residents coming in.” One project that should help relieve traffic congestion is the North Meadows Extension. Growth continues on Page 7