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July 31, 2014 VOLU M E 27 | I S S UE 37
HighlandsRanchHerald.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
WALKING THE WALK
District rejects federal lunches County high schools won’t adopt what nutrition chief calls ‘strict standards’ By Jane Reuter
jreuter @coloradocommunitymedia.com
Even dogs participated July 25 and 26 in the Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Cresthill Middle School. Approximately 750 people took part in this year’s event and nearly $65,000 was raised. The money will go toward cancer research, patient advocacy and support services and programs for cancer survivors and their families. For more on the event, turn to page 21. Photo by Christy Steadman
Leadership changes hands at sheriff ’s office Spurlock takes top spot after Weaver becomes county commissioner By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com Tony Spurlock beamed with pride as his wife, Stacy, pinned the new stars on his uniform. “We get a little emotional at these things. Ceremony is pretty important to us in law enforcement,” Spurlock said. “These badges really mean a lot to us.” Spurlock was chosen as the 33rd sheriff of Douglas County by the county commissioners and was sworn in on July 23. The former undersheriff replaces David A. Weaver, who was sworn in as the new county commissioner for District I on July 21. Weaver, who had served as Douglas County sheriff since 2005, is replacing Jack Hilbert, who was in the final year of his second term as commissioner but resigned on July 13 after accepting a position with the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Child Welfare Protection Division. Weaver was appointed to the seat and is the Republican candidate for the commissioner position in the November election. “We see the level of trust that is put into law enforcement in Douglas County. We know that (according to) a citizen survey that was just completed, that 90 percent of the survey respondents stated that they are completely satisfied with law enforcement by the sheriff’s office,” Douglas County Commissioner Rodger Partridge said. “That is a telling statement … So we see the importance of continuing the sheriff’s office’s level of service to this community.” Weaver said that by appointing Spurlock as sheriff, he expects a seamless transition for both the department and the county. Representatives from police departments around Douglas County came to the swearing-in to show support for the new sheriff, in-
Tony Spurlock is sworn in as Douglas County sheriff by District Court Judge Paul King on July 23 in Castle Rock. At right is Spurlock’s wife, Stacy. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando cluding two retired Douglas County sheriffs — Steve Zotos, who served from 1983-2003, and Michael Acree, who served from 20032005. “It’s not that common to have four living sheriffs in one room like this,” Weaver joked. Spurlock, who described becoming sheriff as a lifelong dream realized, won the Republican primary for sheriff by a wide margin over write-in candidate John Anderson and is heading into the general election in November against Libertarian Brock McCoy. The new sheriff began his career with the county in 1980 as a dispatcher. Spurlock has served as commander of detentions, patrol and the investigations division, was a bureau chief and finally became undersheriff. He is a Colorado native and lives in Highlands Ranch with his wife. “I really appreciate your confidence in me and your confidence in the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office,” Spurlock said. “This is humbling, and I’m honored to wear the uniform of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and to lead them as their next sheriff.”
Holly Nicholson-Kluth made history by being appointed by Spurlock as the first female undersheriff in Douglas County. She started her career with the sheriff’s office in the patrol division in 1989. Spurlock also appointed Tim Moore to serve as chief deputy of the Administrative Services Bureau, the position formerly held by Nicholson-Kluth. Moore, who joined the sheriff’s office in 1990, was previously chief of the law enforcement bureau. Spurlock said he plans to fill that position with an outside hire, which he will announce in August. The new sheriff also promoted Lt. Kevin Duffy to captain of the detention division. Duffy was previously the head of the special investigations section. Spurlock’s other captains will be Robert McMahan, Brad Heyden, Darren Weekly and Jason Kennedy. “(Being named sheriff) is the most wonderful, exciting and scary time of one’s life in law enforcement,” Spurlock said. “Thank you for having faith in me. I know this is going to be a wonderful ride.”
The Douglas County School District is opting its high schools out of the 2014-15 National School Lunch Program, citing concerns about the stringent level of the program’s newest nutritional requirements. By not accepting the federal funds provided through the program, DCSD does not have to adhere to the standards. The recommendation to leave the program for a year was based on student needs, said Brent Craig, director of DCSD’s Nutrition Services. “I support the USDA and what they’re doing; it’s the right thing to do to help teach kids to eat better,” Craig said. “We’re still committed to healthy food for the high school kids. But we can’t live by those strict standards of sodium and calories.” The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 funds free and reduced-price lunch programs and sets nutrition standards, a key part of first lady Michelle Obama’s fight against child obesity. The latest round of regulations, which went into effect July 1, set nutritional standards that limit the sodium, fat and caloric content of items sold in school vending machines, a la carte lunch lines, in student stores and fundraisers. Those restrictions would put the nine Subway franchises located in DCSD’s high schools out of business. The decision comes at an estimated cost of about $200,000, funds provided by the National School Lunch Program for students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals, but Craig said Nutrition Services will pick up that expense. Lunch continues on Page 4
NUTRITION STANDARDS LIMITS ON calories, sodium, fat and sugar as estab-
lished in the National School Lunch Program:
CALORIE LIMITS ENTRÉES: 350 calories or less SNACKS/SIDES: 200 calories or less SODIUM LIMITS ENTRÉES: 480 mg or less SNACKS/SIDES: 230 mg or less *FAT LIMITS TOTAL FAT: 35 percent of total calories or less SATURATED FAT: 10 percent of total calories or less TRANS FAT: 0 grams *SUGAR LIMITS TOTAL SUGAR: 35 percent of weight or less from total
sugars
*WITH LIMITED exemptions SOURCE: USDA