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October 1, 2015 VOLUME 113 | ISSUE 48 | 75¢
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DouglasCountyNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
WHAT’S INSIDE
Memorial: Fallen Marine, his dog honored. See Page 6
At home: Asian Indians are a growing community in the area. See Page 13
Steve Williams is one of the residents fighting for a quiet zone along the train tracks in downtown Castle Rock. Photo by Shanna Fortier
Rattled residents seek quiet
Behind the scenes: Athletic trainers play crucial role. See Page 20
Train noise prompts call for special zone, but mayor says it wouldn’t be fair to all taxpayers 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 RECYCLE
By Shanna Fortier sfortier@colorado communitymedia.com Steven and Beverly Williams can see the railroad tracks from their back porch. As the train comes though, several times throughout the day and again in the early morning hours before the sun rises, the house rattles and glasses clink together in the cabinet. But that is not their biggest concern.
Having purchased the home in Castle Rock’s historic downtown in 1973, Steven Williams was well aware of the train tracks. But over the years, he said, the noise of passing trains has grown louder. According to the Association of American Railroads, freight rail traffic increased from 3.1 million containers a year in 1980 to 13.5 million containers in 2014. And a new federal rule in 2005, which mandates a consistent pattern and decibel level of horn-sounding at public at-grade crossings, requires train horns to be between 96 and 110 decibels at public crossings. While this regulation implements a maximum decibel Trains continues on Page 7
ESTABLISHING A QUIET ZONE A quiet zone is a section of a rail line at least one-half mile in length that contains one or more consecutive public highway rail-grade crossings at which locomotive horns are not routinely sounded when trains are approaching the crossing. Colorado has 13 established quiet zones. Three are in Arvada, three in Commerce City, two in Fort Morgan and one on the west end of Castle Rock. The others are in El Paso County, Monument, Winter Park and Westminster. Implementing a quiet zone in the historic downtown area of Castle Rock would include installing four
quadrant gates, one on each side of the track to ensure cars cannot get around the gate. A cable would also have to be installed at each crossing. Because of regulations, Councilman Chip Wilson said Second and Third streets also would need to be quieted in addition to the main quieting on Fifth Street because of proximity. But improvements already made to the Fifth Street crossing have created enough of a barrier to qualify as a quiet zone without the gradient gate. This, according to Wilson, reduces the estimated cost of the project to about $750,000 from $1.8 million.
No holding back Oktoberfest in Castle Rock Event keeps growing from past years
IF YOU GO What: Oktoberfest
By Shanna Fortier sfortier@colorado communitymedia.com
When: 1 to 8 p.m. Oct. 3
Oktoberfest has been a tradition in Castle Rock for over 10 years, but Kevin Tilson, director of the Castle Rock Downtown Alliance, said that this year’s will be the biggest event yet. Forty kegs are ordered for the festivities, which is 11 more than last year, and more than double that of three years ago. “The fall in Colorado is a great time to be outside drinking a beer,” Tilson said, adding that feedback from event attendees led to a time change. This year’s event will be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 3, to cater to the after-dinner crowd. In addition to more beer, the event has also grown in space.
Cost: Free
Festival continues on Page 7
Where: Wilcox Square area and surrounding streets in Castle Rock
The Castle Rock Oktoberfest will be Oct. 3. Courtesy photo
Info: Lone Tree Brewing is the primary beer sponsor. There will also be beer from Pikes Peak Brewing, Blue Spruce Brewing, Horny Goat Brewing, Barnett and Son Brewing, Living the Dream Brewing Co., Empyrean Brewing Co. and Brewery Rickoli. The Average German Band will provide entertainment. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets
SAFETY KEY TO GOOD TIMES To encourage getting home safely from the Castle Rock Oktoberfest, there will be designated driver tents set up throughout the event, in
which drivers get a special
Local downtown businesses
wristband, which entitles
will also offer discounts
them to free water and
on meals to designated
soda throughout the day.
drivers.
In addition, the Medved auto dealership will provide free shuttle service from the event to anyone who lives in Castle Rock.