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January 30, 2014
75 cents Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 122, Issue 13 A publication of
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Tensions flare over open-carry Castle Rock Town Council OKs repeal on first reading By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@coloradocommunitymedia.com Most Castle Rock police officers and town employees want town council to keep the ban on open carrying of weapons, as does the town’s public safety commission and some members on other advisory boards — and planning commission members warned they all might resign if the ban were repealed, according to statements taken at the Jan. 21 town council meeting. Also, Mark Stevens, Castle Rock’s town manager, stated in a report that if council repealed the ban that “at a minimum” the council should direct staff to prepare
a new ordinance go online that would prohibit open carry in buildThe second reading ings where employand final approval of the open carry ban ees work, meetings repeal was scheduled are held and the for Jan. 28. Read about public does busiit at www.castlerockness. newspress.net. “It’s an issue of intimidation,” said Millie Bennett, cochair of the town’s public safety commission, which advises town council on police and fire matters. She talked about the concern she would have if an audience member had a rifle at a town meeting. But in the end, after about a five-hour Open-carry continues on Page 11
About 200 people attended Castle Rock City Council’s Jan. 21 hearing on an ordinance to repeal a ban on open carrying of weapons. With the hearing room at capacity, some watched on television in the lobby and others watched from a separate room at town hall. Photo by Virginia Grantier
Wildfire legislation rolled out Key recommendations by governor’s task force absent By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Deidre VanRy, (left) a library employee and Tai Chi teacher, takes students in her kids class at Castle Pines Library through techiques that show them, among other things, how to modulate their emotions. Photo by Virginia Grantier
Chillin’ the children with ‘Chi’ Evening Tai Chi classes for kids teach emotional balance By Virginia Grantier
vgrantier@coloradocommunitymedia.com Her six-year-old son is “pretty intense,” and usually has lots of energy, but on a recent Thursday at the Castle Pines Library, she noticed he had noticeably calmed down, said mom Aimee Oldenburg, 36, of Castle Rock. That was after he, Owen Oldenburg, had the opportunity to participate in the library’s weekly Tai Chi Kids — Fun and Focus class. He told the News-Press later he had learned techniques to help him when he gets mad at his sister, and indicated he’d probably be using the technique a lot. Instructor Deidre VanRy, who has pracPOSTAL ADDRESS
ticed Tai Chi for 16 years, said it has made her stronger, both physically and mentally. She said that in addition to it being a light physical workout that increases balance and physical and mental flexibility, it also teaches how to “modulate emotions by way of the body” — to “rev up” when needed, to calm down when needed. To energize when getting out of bed in the morning, she took her seven students through a particular stretch and positioning that ended with having them do a “belly laugh,” which made them laugh even more and energize more. To calm and focus them for such things as doing homework, she took them through some deep-breathing and balancing techniques. Some were in the form of games. Tai Chi was thought to have been created in the 12th Century. It’s known for its defense techniques, health benefits, and a means to
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alleviate stress and anxiety, VanRy said. Cherie Ellingson, a branch program liaison for Douglas County Libraries, is the one who decided that VanRy’s proposal for a kids class was a good fit for the library for a couple of reasons — including that they want more programs for children between the ages of 8 and 13. Ellingson also said martial arts is popular now, and thought it would be fun and educational. Research, she said has shown a positive correlation between practicing Tai Chi and coping with ADHD, and over-stimulation and anxiety. VanRy said a goal for the class is to make it fun, so kids will continue to practice it. One activity was the five-animal frolic, different techniques based on movements of the tiger, deer, bear, monkey and bird. Owen said he thinks it’s the “deer” technique that will help him with his sister.
(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 Englewood, Colorado, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, the News-Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media and additional mailing offices. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, 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. | Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Tues. 12 p.m.
Gov. John Hickenlooper and state lawmakers unveiled a package of bills on Jan. 23 that is “aimed at improving Colorado’s ability to mitigate and fight wildfires.” However, Hickenlooper and legislators spent most of a Capitol press conference answering questions having to do with wildfire mitigation options that are not part of the eight bills that were introduced. The bills do not include key recommendations made by the governor’s own wildfire task force committee, including ones that place fees and building code mandates on homeowners who reside in areas where a high potential for wildfires exists. And the package does not address the creation of a state firefighting fleet. The governor’s office says the issue needs more work. But a Republican lawmaker who is sponsoring his own air tanker legislation said at the same press conference that the time for a wildfire fleet is now. “I believe that wildfire is a clear and present danger to Colorado and we need to take action,” said Sen. Steve King, R-Grand Junction. The governor insists that the bipartisan pieces of wildfire legislation that were introduced on Jan. 23 will go a long way in combatting a growing threat facing the state. “I think with this year we will continue to raise the ante and try to dedicate more resources up front to try to
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Wildfire continues on Page 11
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