1-Color
May 29, 2014
75 cents Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 122, Issue 30 A publication of
douglascountynewspress.net
council OKs ballot language
The ’14ers reach new heights Pomp and Circumstance may have been the most played tune of the past week as high school bands warmed up and performed all over the metro area for annual commencement ceremonies lauding the classes of 2014. For more coverage of Castle View, turn to pg. 9; Douglas County, go to pg. 12; and Rock Canyon, go to pg. 14.
Special election set for August on open-carry issue By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Graduates from the Douglas County High School Class of 2014 celebrated after receiving their diplomas May 22. The girls were given purple and white roses. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
Parker Lewis pulls out a confetti popper during his speech May 21 for the Biotechnology and Health Sciences Academy at Castle View High School’s commencement ceremony at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Photo by Hannah Garcia
Emilia Bartelheim, Lily Gardner, Liam Kelley, Samuel Makikalli, Mackenzie Reed and Logan Schafer preform “Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart at the Rock Canyon High School graduation May 23 at Sports Authority Stadium. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
Elephant Rock ready to roll Riders have plenty of options in region’s largest cycling festival By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando@colorado communitymedia.com For the 27th year, the Subaru Elephant Rock Ride will unofficially kick off the start of cycling season on the Front Range. The June 1 event in Castle Rock offers 100-, 62- and 32mile rides, along with a 27-mile fat tire ride, and an eight-mile family fun ride. “It really is a great time to start the season,” event director Scott Harris said. “The roads are getting clear, temperatures are warming up and people are starting to get into their training.” The region’s largest cycling event will host live music, food and an expo showcasing the best of the outdoor industry. More than 60 vendors are expected to be at the expo. As the largest cycling festival in Colorado, event officials say they expect a projected 7,500 cyclists in attendance. “From the eight-mile fam-
ily ride to the century course there’s something that’s right for everyone, even beginners,” Harris said. Proceeds from the Subaru Elephant Rock Ride go to assisting several nonprofit partners in raising funds for their organizations. In 2013, around $330,000 was raised on behalf of The Colorado Neurological Institute, Team Transplant, ALZ Stars, Team Zimbabwe, The Ride School of Denver and The Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation. The cost of the event is $85 for adults riding the 100- and 62-mile courses, $6 for adults riding the 32- and 27-mile courses, $50 for children riding the 32- and 27-mile courses and $40 for the eight-mile family ride. Each rider will receive a ticket to a post-ride Italian lunch, a specially designed 2014 Subaru Elephant Rock T-shirt, a virtual goodie bag and a chance to win dozens of valuable prizes and a bike number and wristband. Riders must wear their event wristband at all times. The wristband will provide access to the courses and re-
POSTAL ADDRESS
Tom Walton of Colorado Springs cruises to the finish line of last year’s 62-mile Elephant Rock ride. The 27th annual Elephant Rock Cycling Festival will start and finish June 1 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock. File photo freshments at the aid stations and serve as a ticket to the post lunch and prize drawings at the post party. Helmets are required for all rides. For the 100- and 62-mile courses, riders must be at least 15 years of age. Ride-day registration will be held at the Event Center at The
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Douglas County Fairgrounds from 4-8 p.m. May 31 and 5:309 a.m. June 1. Camping is available at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Saturday night for both tent camping and RV camper parking. The cost is $20 per campsite and RV spot. “Cycling is fun alone, but there’s something special about riding in a group like this,” Harris said. This year the Subaru Elephant Rock Ride is introducing a new race to the festival. Douglas County’s Greenland Ranch open space will host Colorado’s 1st annual EROCK Sunrise to Sunset Front Range Relay Mountain Bike Race. The course is a fast 8.25-mile loop with stunning views of Pikes Peak and the Rampart Range and will take place May 31. The Sunrise to Sunset race is designed to offer recreational and competitive cyclists the opportunity to experience the thrill of competing in a challenging endurance race on a less technical off-road course. The daylong race offers competitors with awards, prize packages and a post-race awards celebration.
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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.
The Castle Rock Town Council voted May 20 to approve the language for a ballot question that addresses the issue of the open carry of firearms in municipalowned buildings and town parks. A special election is set for Aug. 19. The ballot question will read as follows: “Shall the town council ordinance 2014-03 be approved which ordinance revokes the authority of the Town manager under the municipal code to prohibit the open carry of firearms within municipal buildings, parks, recreation areas and other municipal properties owned or operated by the town of Castle Rock? Yes or No?” A “no” vote would restore the town manager’s authority to ban the open carry of guns on town property. The council considered five possible wordings of the question. “One thing that we all wanted to make clear was that individuals knew exactly what they are voting on,” Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Green said. In January, the town council voted 4-3 to repeal a 2003 ordinance that gave the town manager the authority to prohibit firearms on property the town owns or controls. Under the town manager’s authority, firearms were prohibited in most townowned buildings and parks. The January repeal meant there would be no restrictions on the open carry of firearms on town-owned property. In February, some residents initiated a referendum to reverse council’s January decision. They collected 2,249 valid signatures, meaning council was required by state statute to reconsider. The council could have either set the election or rescinded its January decision to lift the 2003 ordinance, meaning authority would have remained with the town manager. In April, the council voted to set a special election regarding the issue. Earlier this month, the council considered the first version of proposed ballot language on the question. The 2003 ordinance giving the town manager authority to bar guns is “a bad law. It does not belong on our books. Regardless of where you stand on open carry, regardless of where you stand on the Second Amendment, it’s a bad law. We should pull it out by the roots and toss it aside,” District 6 Representative George Teal said. During the same meeting, councilmembers also discussed proposing an amendment to the Town Charter regarding the open carry of firearms on townowned property.
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Council continues on Page 14
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