Highlands Ranch Herald May 22, 2025

Not your average school resource o cer

Three charter schools pitch Castle Rock campuses

With proposals for same region, board members doubt demand exists

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ree new charter school applications currently under review by the Douglas County School District share something in common: they all want to open in Castle Rock. Renaissance Secondary Charter School, Leman Academy of Excellence and STEM School Castle Rock each presented proposals to expand or replicate to the school board during a May 6 meeting. All three are targeting the same general area of Castle Rock, along with similar grade congurations and timelines for opening.  at overlap raised immediate questions about the long-term sustainability of adding multiple new schools to one geographic area.

“I’m looking at three new charters for Castle Rock,” said Board Member Brad Geiger. “Each model is di erent, but I worry there’s not enough student demand to ll them all. It’s not that Castle Rock doesn’t need more options — it’s whether the student population is large enough to support three new schools in the same area.”

When Douglas County Deputy Brian Corbin, who is the school resource o cer at Cresthill Middle School in Highlands Ranch, rst met who he was going to be working with next school year, he knew it was going to be a hit.

Standing side-by-side with his new partner, Corbin watched as Deputy Guster, a yellow Labrador retriever, became the rst school resource o cer K9 to be sworn in at the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce in Castle Rock.

“It gives the kids an opportunity to have a furry friend during the school day,” said Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly. “Guster is going to be there to help foster that love and that support that these kids need.”

For the past ve years, Corbin has walked the hallways of Cresthill Middle School as its only school resource o cer, building strong ties with the students.

“His presence, his connection with our kids is incredible,” said Principal Francesca Papalardo. “ ey trust him, they use him as a resource and go to him for advice.”

While Corbin has enjoyed this role in law enforcement and getting to connect with younger students, he is excited for this new chapter of his career.

“He’s going to be a great asset to Cresthill and the community,” Corbin said about Guster. “It just adds another layer of what we do as an SRO unit.”

Although he began his work near the end of the school year, Guster has been welcomed with open arms as he gets a feel for the school. Sta hopes that the introduction of Guster will excite the students for when they come back for the next school year. Corbin said Guster will be there for students who need him or if they just want to stop and say hello.

e two were introduced to one another in April through a nonpro t organization in Centennial, Freedom Service Dogs.

Founded in 1987, the organization breeds, trains and matches dogs with individuals who have speci c needs and disabilities. As part of the dogs’ training, they are assessed to see where they would t best.

About a year ago, the organization began matching dogs with rst responders, and with Guster, it is the rst time they are placing a dog with a school resource o cer. However, Chris Nelson, president and CEO of the organization, said they had been speaking with the sheri ’s o ce about the idea for the past few months.

As with any handler, Corbin was introduced to multiple dogs to see which would “vibe” with him the best. It was also a chance for Freedom Service Dogs to get to know more about the school and the community.

Nelson said it was clear that Guster was

According to their applications, Leman projects an eventual enrollment of more than 1,000 students, while Renaissance Secondary and STEM also propose serving hundreds across multiple grades.

What the schools propose

Renaissance, an arts-integrated model that currently operates a secondary program in Castle Rock, is seeking to unify and expand those campuses into a comprehensive PK-12 charter school. Renaissance Elementary is a magnet school and is separate from the charter.

Leman Academy, which is based in Arizona, wants to replicate its classical K-8 model that emphasizes “a rigorous, back-to-basics curriculum rooted in the classical tradition of education,” according to its application.

e network currently operates two schools in the district: one

Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly swears in Guster as the Douglas County School District’s first school resource o cer K9, who will serve alongside Deputy Brian Corbin. PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

HOME RULE DEBATE

Why Douglas County needs home rule

In Douglas County, we want our freedom back.

For years, public safety, public health, the economy, our citizens’ tax bills — and much more — have been burdened by progressive state policies that are out of step with the priorities and the values of Douglas County’s residents and businesses. We can gripe about the status quo or take action to — wherever possible — chart our own course.

We prefer action.

at’s why the Douglas County commissioners unanimously voted to launch the process to become a home rule county, as other Colorado counties have done over the decades. If approved by voters, it will provide signi cant exibility for county leaders.

is transparent, citizen-centered effort, which includes two elections, is urgently needed and long overdue.

Our litany of concerns stretches back many years but began to crystallize during the panicked and excessive bureaucratic response to the COVID pandemic. We learned that, years before, our county’s power to shape emergency public health policies was severely limited, having been legally ceded to bureaucrats at a multi-county health department.

Fortunately, we were able to retrieve the county’s funding of the department, roll back burdensome and ine ective mandates and set up our own countybased Board of Health that is accountable and responsive to our local Douglas County community.

is experience caused us to put a laser focus on the numerous ways that state laws, regulations and mandates hamper our ability to align our actions with the needs and concerns of our citizens.

e most concerning example is how state law handcu s our ability to combat illegal immigration.

Unlike in liberal bastions of Denver and Boulder, our citizens want to see criminal illegal aliens apprehended and deported. ey strongly support the ability of our sheri ’s o ce to work with federal immigration authorities to get that job done. Colorado’s sanctuary laws prohibit common-sense cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) o cers to make our citizens safer. But if we become a home rule county, ICE will come in and criminal illegals will go out.

Our citizens are also strong defenders of the Second Amendment, a commitment that is not shared by the vast majority of Democrat legislators and our governor, who are determined to make Colorado the most hostile state in the nation to constitutional gun rights. My goal under home rule would be to nd every way possible to make Douglas County an island of Second Amendment freedom in a sea of progressive anti-gun activism.

Taxpayers have not fared any better than gun owners under Colorado’s liberal government. When lawmakers repeatedly failed to nd a strong solution to soaring property tax bills, we decided

Home rule: It’s not what they’re telling you

to take the lead and cut taxes on our own. An obscure state board stepped in and stopped us, which forced taxpayers to continue to struggle with sky-high bills. Under home rule, Douglas County can regain control of our own tax policy. e target list for reforms is long, and growing, right down to determining if we can roll back the litany of fees our residents and businesses pay — including the irritating fee on retail shopping bags.

But not on the list are ways to expand county government or give elected ofcials pay raises. Our goal is to reassert conservative, pro-taxpayer principles, not mimic the big-government tactics that sparked this e ort in the rst place.

We have heard the outcry from citizens who have been clamoring against an overreaching state government. In fact, our 2023 Citizen Survey showed 79% of respondents rated “greater home rule, that is, more independence from state controls over county administration” as a priority.

It will be our Douglas County citizens who drive the framing of the home rule charter.

On May 28, we invite you to a Live Town Hall at 6 p.m. to learn more about home rule before the June 24 election. You can join in-person, online or via phone. Visit douglas.co.us/townhall for details.

en, in June, county voters will decide whether to move the process forward and elect 21 members of the Charter Commission. e members of the commission will draft the charter, and that process will include several formal opportunities for citizens to provide input. Once the draft is completed and accepted by the county commissioners, voters will then have the chance to approve the charter in November.

For too long, citizens, businesses and local governments in Douglas County have been forced to comply with, and pay for, state-driven policies that are ine ective at best and dangerous at worst. rough the home rule process, our citizens can plant the ag of freedom and say, “enough.”

is guest opinion column was written by Douglas County Commissioner George Teal.

Iwas as surprised as nearly everyone else when I learned on March 25 that the Douglas County commissioners voted unanimously to place the question of county home rule on a June 24 special election ballot that will cost taxpayers $500,000.

Prior to this surprise, the commissioners had not uttered a single word about this monumental change to our county government in any of their public meetings, an apparent violation of Open Meetings Laws. eir clandestine actions begged the question: If home rule is such a great proposal, why did the commissioners do all of the necessary months of planning behind closed doors in secret, deliberately excluding the key ingredient in representative government — input from We the People? Out of 64 counties in Colorado, only Weld and Pitkin have chosen to become home rule counties, and in both counties, home rule was a product of grassroots movements — citizens who were fed up with three corrupt commissioners pursued the home rule process as a means to rein in their elected o cials. In both counties, the three-member board of commissioners was expanded to ve to curtail crony corruption. In Weld, the process involved almost eight months, with scores of public meetings according to news reports, while in Pitkin the process took two years with a failed initial election and a second successful attempt in which only 7% of quali ed voters actually participated.

e June 24 Douglas County Special Election addresses two questions. e rst: “Shall the voters of Douglas County, State of Colorado, elect a County Home Rule Charter Commission to study the structure and organization of Douglas County government?” e second question pertains to electing at-large and representatives from each of the three commissioner districts to serve on the Charter Commission, which will be tasked with writing the complicated document that will determine the governance of Douglas County into the future. is rather daunting task must be completed in only two short months, including three public meetings for citizen comment.

e chief confusion regarding home rule counties, as cited in the May 2020 Legislative Council Sta Issue Brief, stems from the fact that the authority for a home rule county is very limited when compared to the powers a home rule municipality exercises. Folks hear the term “home rule” and automatically assume it is all the same. It absolutely is not! Any conversation about county home rule must begin with the clear understanding that only the structure and organization of a home rule county can be addressed in the charter. For example, in both Weld and Pitkin counties, term limits for elected o cials were increased, and Weld increased salaries as well. Weld also changed the coroner and treasurer to appointed positions rather than elected by the people as they are in Douglas County.

Proponents have described a home rule charter as a “constitution.” It ab-

Lora Thomas

solutely is not! Home rule counties are, per statute, corporate in nature. Just because a provision is included in the charter does not make it unassailable law impervious to state government action. Just recently, Weld County commissioners ran afoul of state law in following their charter. House Bill 20211047 required a speci c process to determine commissioner boundary lines. When Weld did not follow the state law but instead followed the guidelines in its half-century-old charter, the League of Women Voters sued the commissioners, who claimed exemption from the state law as a home-rule county. On February 25, 2025 the Colorado Supreme Court ruled against the Weld County commissioners, stating, in part, “Although home rule counties enjoy autonomy in determining their internal organization, they remain bound to perform mandatory functions prescribed by state law.” 25 CO 8 (2025) Douglas County commissioners and their allies tout that home rule will make Douglas County safer, bring lower taxes and allow for governance of our county without the overreach of Denver-in uenced state government interference. In general, county home rule is being sold as a panacea of “local control” and “freedom,” but these home rule proponents cannot bolster any of these claims with actual facts or law. e truth is, the facts and law demonstrate these claims don’t hold water.

As someone who strives to be an informed voter, I strongly urge Douglas County residents to become likewise informed on the home rule question. Please do not allow yourselves to be misled by slick images and catchy slogans and sound-bites into thinking county home rule is something that it actually is not — state laws cannot be ignored nor easily circumvented by home rule counties. Unfortunately, we will still have to pay 10 cents for bags and follow guncontrol laws enacted at the state Capitol — at least until they are successfully challenged in court. Don’t believe me? Just ask the folks up in home rule Weld County who are doing just that!

is guest opinion column was written by former Douglas County Commissioner Lora omas.

George Teal

Home Sharing Helps Single Seniors Deal With Finance and Loneliness,

Married seniors living in long-time family homes that are bigger than they need often call me and other Realtors about downsizing, and I have written many times about the options they face, including the option that Rita and I chose, which was to sell our home and move into a 55+ rental community.

Widowed seniors face a more pressing problem. The retirement income, including Social Security, which supported them and their late spouse is now reduced as much as by half, and maybe it’s not enough to support them in their beloved home.

That’s where a Denver non-profit called Sunshine Home Share Colorado comes in. Sunshine completes background and credit checks on all participants in the program. All applicants must have three verifiable references. Home seekers must provide proof of income. Sunshine also completes a 1-2 hour social work intake with each program participant, assessing for mental health, emotional health, physical health, and substance abuse.

Allowing Them to Age in Place

A senior homeowner with no mortgage or lots of equity may be able to do what we did — sell the home and live off the proceeds, plus his or her reduced retirement income, for the rest of their expected life. Another solution is to take out a reverse mortgage, even if he or she owns it free and clear, and live of that equity for the rest of their life.

But there’s another option which not only addresses finances but also that big killer of seniors — loneliness. You could consider taking in a roommate — or “boommate” — but how do you find and screen such a person so it doesn’t lead to something even worse than running out of money?

Home providers must be over 55 years old; home seekers only need to be over 18. The rent could be up to $1,000 per month, reduced by mutual agreement when the home seeker provides services such as snow shoveling, housekeeping, lawn care, taking out the trash, or providing transportation to the home provider for medical appointments, etc.

Home seekers do not provide any personal care such as showering, toileting, and assistance transferring between bed and chair. For that, the home provider would have to secure appropriate professional service providers.

The matching process typically takes eight weeks, which includes a 2-week trial period. The organization provides periodic check-ins later on to make sure that the fit still works.

Home in Golden’s Village at Mountain Ridge Listed by Jim Smith

OPEN May 24, 11am - 1pm

Homes in this late-’90s subdivision backing to the foothills come on the market rarely and sell quickly. This one at 165 Washington Street is especially sweet, with the most awesome chef’s kitchen you’ve likely ever seen. Beautiful hardwood floors grace the main floor, with newer berber carpeting upstairs and in the walk-out basement. The Table Mountain views from every level, but especially from the primary suite, will take your breath away. If you’re a soccer fan, the pix and awards in the main-floor study will leave you wishing for autographs! Sorry, the seller won’t be at the open house this Saturday from 11 to 1. A narrated video walk-through is posted at www.GRElistings.com

$1,495,000

4-Bedroom Tri-Level in Arvada Listed by Kathy Jonke

The housemate has to have an income to support their rent payments and is expected to be gone for employment purposes most days. Typical “service exchange” work can range from 5 to 20 hours per week. The more work is done, the less rent the home seeker is expected to pay, all negotiated up front.

All home shares are month-to-month, with the average home share lasting only a year, but they could last five years or longer. Having the third-party involvement of Sunshine makes it easy for either party at any point to say, “sorry, this isn’t working for me.”

One of the biggest problems faced by single or widowed seniors is loneliness. It’s a big reason that moving into a 55+ community makes sense, and I have seen that work in person from living in such a community — especially for the single residents. However, many seniors want to “age in place,” to stay in their long-time home as long as possible, and home sharing can make that possible not only financially but by providing some healthy companionship.

Sunshine Home Share operates throughout the Denver metro area. If you think this idea would work for someone in another state, check out the National Shared Housing Resource Center at nationalsharedhousing.org

This Column Now Appears Bi-Weekly “Real Estate Today” will be on this page every other week, so the next time you’ll see it will be June 5th. On those alternate weeks, you will find a half-page ad on a related topic. Next week it will be on a topic related to sustainability. One June 12th it will be about well-being.

The organization’s website provides stories of matches they have made and FAQs. Go to www.SunshineHomeShare.org. Their phone number is (720) 856-0161. Their office is in north Denver.

Our Attempt to Resurrect Our Free Box Truck Has Not Succeeded

You may recall that we launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to get our truck back on the road so that multiple non-profits, not just our clients, would have it to use for free. Well, we only raised $2,000. Rather than return that money, we are going to divide the proceeds among those nonprofits that used it the most, including BGoldN, Family Promise and the International Rescue Committee.

Here Are Some of My Previous Columns on Related Topics

Find and download each of them online at www.JimSmithColumns.com

Jan. 2, 2025 —Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for You?

Oct. 31, 2024 — Cooperative Living Presents an Attractive Alternative to Downsizing Oct. 17, 2024 —Understanding the Different Kinds of 55+ Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

Sept. 26, 2024 — Keeping Your Death from Becoming an Undue Burden on Your Heirs

Aug. 8, 2024 — Seniors Might Consider Downsizing into a Rental, Not a Smaller Home

Also: Trusts as an Estate Planning Strategy

Feb. 8, 2024 — ‘Empty-Nest’ Baby Boomers Own Twice as Many Big Homes as Millennials with Children

Aug. 17, 2023 —Should You Consider a Reverse Mortgage as Part of Your Retirement Plan?

Mar. 16, 2023 — Here Are Some Ways to Make Your Home More Senior-Friendly Dec. 29, 2022 — Have You Considered Cohousing — An Explanation and Some Examples July 28, 2022 — Aging in Place vs. Moving to a 55+ Community: Some Considerations

Townhome-Style Condo in Centennial Listed by Chris Sholts

$489,000

$575,000

This updated, 4-BR/2-bath tri-level at 6337 W. 68th Place is in a quiet, established neighborhood. Each level has been thoughtfully renovated. The vaulted main level has new luxury vinyl plank floors, and there’s new paint throughout. The galley kitchen has new cabinets, complemented by white appliances. The upper level has 3 bedrooms with new carpet and an updated full bathroom. The lower level has a spacious family room with a red brick fireplace and above-grade windows. There is a 4th bedroom, laundry, and updated 3/4 bathroom on this level. The windows and siding were replaced in 2018, and a new roof is being installed! A video tour is posted at www.GRElistings.com. Call Kathy at 303-990-7428 to request a showing.

This updated 2-story condo at 5555 E. Briarwood Ave. has a finished basement, offering the perfect blend of comfort, style, and convenience. Located in the heart of the Summerhill neighborhood, this home has thoughtful upgrades and a bright, open floorplan. The main level is ideal for entertaining with its inviting family room, complete with wood-burning fireplace. It flows into the formal dining area and opens to a private patio. The updated dine-in kitchen boasts stylish countertops and laminate wood flooring. All appliances are included. A stylish half bath with tile flooring rounds out the main floor. Upstairs, the vaulted primary suite has dual closets and a beautifully updated ensuite bath. The finished basement has a large recreation room, laundry area, and ample storage. A private patio is just steps from the neighborhood pool and hot tub. More information at www.GRElistings.com

Bond reduced for Main Event shooting suspect

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e bond for Nevaeha Crowley-Sanders, the 23-year-old woman facing charges related to a shooting at Main Event entertainment center in Highlands Ranch earlier this year, was reduced.

Following her arrest in early February, Crowley-Sanders had been held on a $1 million cash or surety bond. In a packed courtroom at the Douglas County Justice Center in Castle Rock Monday afternoon, Douglas County District Court Judge Elizabeth Volz reduced Crowley-Sanders’ bond to $250,000 cash or surety. A check of jail records on May 15 showed Crowley-Sanders was not in custody.

Crowley-Sanders is facing multiple charges, including assault in the rst degree and attempted murder in the rst degree.

Just before midnight on Feb. 8, Crowley-Sanders was allegedly in a physical altercation with an acquaintance in the women’s restroom in the entertainment center when she allegedly pulled out a handgun and red it several times, according to a police a davit.

Along with the bond reduction, Volz imposed speci c criteria. She said Crowley-Sanders may not have a rearm, cannot go near the Main Event entertainment center, cannot contact the victims and must have GPS monitoring.

Prior to the judge’s ruling, the prosecution argued that there were public safety concerns if Crowley-Sanders were to make the reduced bond. ey said the decisions that Crowley-Sanders made on Feb. 8 to open re in a public setting

put a lot of people at risk of harm and that she was willing to in ict harm.

When Volz asked the prosecution what the safety concerns would be for the community, they argued that there are scenarios, such as not knowing where an incident like this could occur again or who might be around Crowley-Sanders, that would make giving a speci c exam-

An “All Things Senior” Douglas County Event

e defense asked the judge to consider reduding the bond to $100,000 cash of surety. In addition to pointing out that Crowley-Sanders has no criminal history, has stable housing, is the provider for her 2-year-old son and is getting an education in the medical eld, the defense spoke about the 84 letters of support for Crowley-Sanders, 18 of them provided to the judge.

ese letters included some written by an assistant professor at Metropolitan State University in Denver, clergy members from New Hope Baptist Church and family members, among others.

e defense also mentioned that they had spoken with multiple victims of the Feb. 8 incident and said that they were supportive of Crowley-Sander’s release.

“ is is a long journey, and today, this mother, this family was able to feel a win,” said MiDian Schofner, an advocate for the Crowley-Sanders family.

Crowley-Sanders addressed the court during her May 12 hearing.

“I’m not a ight risk,” Crowley-Sanders said. “I will abide by the laws of the state.” She said that upon her release, she would immediately go back to work and continue to pursue her education to become a medical assistant.

ple di cult.

Volz told the courtroom that every defendant is entitled to be released while waiting to see if the prosecution can prove the defendant committed the crime. She added that for bond hearings, it’s her job to determine whether a released defendant would ee and whether the community would be safe.

Crowley-Sanders added that she will demonstrate to the community that she is not a danger.

Following the court proceeding, family and friends embraced one another and thanked the judge for allowing CrowleySanders to speak.

“ ose who don’t know her, nally got a glimpse of who she is,” Schofner said.  Crowley-Sanders’ arraignment has been set for 4 p.m. July 28.

Aurora man gets 14 years for fatal hit-and-run in Parker

Tory Conyers, 46, was convicted of vehicular homicide, other charges

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An Aurora resident has been sentenced to 14 years in the Department of Corrections following a conviction of vehicular homicide and eeing the scene, charges that stem from an incident in Parker in 2023.

In late February, a jury found Tory Conyers, 46, guilty of vehicular homicide, hit-and-run causing death, reckless driving, eluding law enforcement and theft. During Conyers’ sentencing hearing on May 12, Douglas County District Court Judge Elizabeth Volz gave Conyer 600 days of credit for time served.

Around 8 p.m. on Aug. 21, 2023, Parker police responded to a theft call at a local Walmart in which Conyers was seen on surveillance video stealing a cart full of

merchandise before driving o in a vehicle.

O cers attempted to stop the vehicle near Parker Road and Plaza Drive but Conyers did not stop. For safety reasons, o cers called o the pursuit when another call came in for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle.

Conyers had run a red light and struck 51-year-old Jossy Pinto who was crossing the designated crosswalk at Parker Road and Lincoln Avenue. Pinto died at a local hospital following life-saving measures.

With the assistance of the Aurora SWAT Team, Conyers was later taken into custody.

Conyers had told the judge at his May 12 court appearance that he did not see Pinto and argued that he wanted to tell the person he borrowed the vehicle from about the incident before he turned himself in, adding that he knew he would be caught.

“I never denied driving that vehicle,” Conyers said during his May 12 sentencing hearing.

He added that he does not blame anyone else for his actions.

MiDian Shofner, left, stands with Trianna Sanders-McNeil, the mother of Nevaeha CrowleySanders, after a May 12 bond hearing at the Douglas County Justice Center in Castle Rock.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Economic Factors, Policy Landscape Lead to Budget Shortfall

Fire and medical emergency response services are at

risk

The Challenge

There’s been a 20% increase in calls for service since 2019.

This includes structure, vehicle, and wildland fires; explosions and hazmat incidents; water rescues; vehicle crashes; public or police assistance; and medical emergencies.

Emergency medical calls now account for 65% of all response – this is expected to increase with an aging population.

Costs have increased dramatically in six years; for example:

The cost for a fire engine has gone from $725,000 to $1.3 million (79% increase).

The cost for protective bunker gear has gone from $4,321 to $6,047 (40% increase).

To continue providing quality fire and emergency response, South Metro needs an additional $34 million annually.

State legislation that passed during a special session in 2024 reduces property tax revenue South Metro collects by $16 million in 2026 and $270 million over 10 years.

South Metro Fire Rescue is facing an immediate budget shortfall due to years of rising costs, consistent increases in demand, and new state legislation. Without new revenue, the organization will not be able to maintain the high level of service for fire and emergency response that residents and businesses deserve, and have come to expect.

Did You Know?

South Metro is a full-service department Here are a few key facts:

stations across 30 square miles 287

personnel across 800 divisions 8

residents, which will serving 571,500 in grow to 595,0004 years municipalities and 12 counties 3

Including:

Centennial Airport, Lockheed Martin, Highlands Ranch, 4 Square Mile, and The Pinery

The Bottom Line

With $34 million needed to address increased demand for services and rising costs, plus the $16 million shortfall, South Metro needs to identify how it will generate $50 million in additional funding annually.

Castle Rock race is more than just a workout

Climb4Change turns 200-step challenge into celebration of community, inclusion

BY JULIA KING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

ink you’ve got what it takes to climb 200 stairs — again and again?

On June 14, Castle Rock’s Philip S. Miller Park will host Climb4Change, an event that blends physical endurance with giving back. Participants will ascend the 200 steps of Challenge Hill — some once, others for an hour-long challenge — to bene t Castle Rock’s therapeutic recreation program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

e event, which is the only race permitted at Challenge Hill each year, o ers various challenges to suit all skill levels: a timed sprint to the top, a trail run with stairs and a family-friendly fun run. For many, Climb4Change is not just a race. It’s a space for community and connection.

Heather Tidwell, a volunteer at the event and Castle Rock resident, is the mother of a son with a disability and has long recognized the value of inclusive community programs.

“People realize it’s not just another race. It’s not just another event to participate in. Many people truly have a great heart and are looking for a good cause on top of going to do something fun,” she said.

Climb4Change doubles as an outreach opportunity, where attendees can connect with vendors and other families, share experiences and discover support they might not have known existed.

“So often you feel like you’re on an island, and it’s important to have a community around you,” Tidwell added. “We’re all created for community … and being able to get o that island or bring people onto the island with you is important.”

Colorado is widely recognized as one of the most disabilityfriendly states in the U.S., thanks

to its strong Medicaid waivers, home- and community-based services, and top-ranked outcomes in education and employment for individuals with disabilities. After years of military moves, this made the state an ideal place for Tidwell’s family to settle, she said.

Castle Rock has a strong community that o ers a network of services to people with IDD, anchored by organizations like Wellspring, a local nonpro t that o ers a broad range of programs.

One of its most visible e orts is the Castle Rock Collective, which is a café on Perry Street. Operated in partnership with World Orphans, the Collective o ers adults with IDD meaningful employment and a chance to build valuable skills.

Wellspring also helps address a critical need — a ordable housing for adults with IDD — through a partnership with the state, the Douglas County commissioners and the Castle Rock Town Council. at kind of comprehensive support is what sets Castle Rock apart, said Rebecca Erickson, who has worked in the town’s therapeutic recreation program for the past seven years.

“It just highlights and shows you how unique our community is — how much love is in this community for people of all abilities,” Erickson said. “I’ve had families even share with me that they’ve moved here for the services.”

at sense of community comes to life at events like Climb4Change, where after chatting their way up and down Challenge Hill, participants can explore booths at the base o ering hands-on experiences like meeting a therapy horse or trying out adaptive bikes — while connecting with local resources and one another.

“I love re ecting back years and years and years, and my kids now that are grown, wearing them on my back or on my hip and doing it together as a family,” Erickson said.

Last year’s event raised about $2,000, and this year’s organizers hope to double that impact. Sponsored by Developmental Pathways, Climb4Change kicks o at 7 a.m. on June 14, with registration open through June 9 and walk-ups welcome the morning of.

More info is available at CRgov. com/Climb4Change.

Participants celebrate during a previous year’s Climb4Change event.

Climb4Change participants ascend Challenge Hill at Castle Rock’s Philip S. Miller Park to raise money for therapeutic recreation programs.

PHOTOS BY JOHN LEYBA / COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF CASTLE ROCK

Teacher arrested on suspicion of sex assault

David Feil, 49, was employed at Roxborough Intermediate School

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce detectives arrested a Roxborough Intermediate

School teacher on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child.

PARKER’S FAVORITE WEEKEND!

Feil has worked for the Douglas County School District since 2014. He was released on $50,000 bond from the Douglas County Detention Facility on May 14.

According to the sheri ’s o ce, the investigation is ongoing. O cials did not

David Feil, 49, who has a Littleton address, was taken into custody by detectives with the Special Victims Unit on May 12. He faces two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust.

release further details about the allegations but are asking anyone with information or potential additional victims to contact Detective Clay at sclay@dcsheri . net.

e sheri ’s o ce emphasized that a charge is merely an accusation and Feil is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Shopping H FOOD H EXHIBITS H MUSIC H RIDES H FAMILY FUN

FUN THINGS TO DO: Live Music • Festival Food • Shopping

Street Performers • Free Kids Crafts • Carnival Rides Water Bubbles • Bungy • Nerf Terf • In atables

TURF PROS SOLUTION EAST MUSIC Stage Music All Day — Highlights

Friday, June 13 presented by 6:00 pm: Blinker Fluid Band • 8:15 pm: Hillbilly Demons

Saturday, June 14 presented by 5:30 pm: Chris Daniels & The Kings 8:15 pm: The Walker Williams Band Sunday, June 15 presented by 3:30 pm: The Threadbarons • 6:00 pm: Jewel & The Rough

THURSDAY, JUNE 12 1 pm – 10:30 pm: Carnival Only

FRIDAY, JUNE 13 Fri 1 pm – 10:30 pm: Carnival Fri 4 pm – 10:30 pm: Festival

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 Sat 10 am – 10:30 pm

SUNDAY, JUNE 15 Sun 10 am – 8:30 pm

STAGE – Music All Day — Highlights Friday, June 13 presented by 6:30 pm: TEN YEARS GONE • 8:30 pm: PATRICK & THE LVB Saturday, June 14 presented by 6:00 pm: GLITTER IN THE AIR • 8:30 pm: LAST MEN ON EARTH Sunday, June 15 presented by 4:00 pm: DUEY & UNBROKEN • 6:30 pm: THOSE CRAZY NIGHTS

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SRO DOG

the dog for Corbin.

With a relaxed personality, Guster is a “working dog,” said Nelson.

“Guster can be in a room full of all kinds of distractions and (be) like: ‘I’m going to hang out and be ready and when you need me, I’m on,’” Nelson said. “Deputy Corbin and Guster were a match made in heaven.”

While some schools have therapy dogs, they are typically with a school counselor. Guster, as a school resource o cer, will be in the school hallways and interacting with the students.

Weekly said that this partnership is just another piece of investing in the safety of the students, and he not only hopes that this will bridge the gap between students and law enforcement, but also hopes that the program can expand to more schools.

“Our kids face a lot of challenges these days,” said Papalardo. “To have this added piece at Cresthill Middle School for kids to have a friendly face, someone wagging a tail, just adding that comfort, is going to be a game changer at Cresthill.”

Deputy Guster, the Douglas County Sheri ’s

rests in the sheri ’s o ce in Castle Rock.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

in Parker and another at Parker-Bayou Gulch.

STEM School Castle Rock, an o shoot of the Highlands Ranch campus, emphasizes career-connected learning through a STEM-based approach.

Its application highlights partnerships with industry and higher education institutions to provide students with “realworld problem-solving experiences” and access to mentors in science and technology elds.

Board members question whether demand exists

While each school highlighted its strengths and plans for growth, board members questioned whether Castle Rock’s student population could support them all.

Each school referenced community, character or college readiness goals and highlighted similar facilities’ strategies and overlapping enrollment projections.

“What evidence do you have that there is demand for this?” asked Board President Christy Williams.

Amy Stuart, head of Renaissance Secondary, pointed to a waitlist of 172 students for their elementary program as of March 31, as well as 247 letters of intent to enroll for the proposed new site. She noted that 50% of seats for a planned 2027 opening were already accounted for, even from parents with children as young as 2 years old.

Leman Academy leaders said their interest list once topped 1,000 families, with a signi cant portion residing in Castle Rock.

STEM School Castle Rock o cials ac-

knowledged they did not yet have expressions of interest but emphasized their plan to launch a full-scale campaign to gauge demand if conditionally approved.

Geiger asked Leman Academy representatives whether they were concerned that the potential opening of John Adams Academy, another classical education charter school proposed for Sterling Ranch, could a ect their enrollment. In response, Leman Board President Paige McLaughlin said they did not be-

lieve a Sterling Ranch school would affect their future enrollment in Castle Rock, noting that families tend to choose schools closer to home.

Michael Farley, a founding board member of Leman Academy, added that while their newest campus in Bayou Gulch is still lling, they anticipate that any new location wouldn’t open before 2028 or 2029, giving the site time to reach capacity.

STEM School Castle Rock leaders said

their longer timeline, which states a 2028 opening at the earliest, was intended to avoid market saturation and give them time to nd the right location.

“We don’t want to start something that’s going to fail,” said Matt Cartier, the school’s chief innovation o cer. “We’ll go out and get community demand, and if it’s not there, we’ll pull the application.”

None of the three charter applicants has purchased property yet, a point several board members noted during the meeting. Each applicant said securing land is contingent on receiving board approval, which allows them to proceed with bond nancing and formal negotia-

“Purchasing land ahead of an approval is not a good nancial decision for our current community,” Stuart said, explaining that making such a commitment without authorization would put their current operations at risk.

Leaders from Leman Academy and STEM School Castle Rock expressed similar concerns, noting that site selection and acquisition would come in the months following approval.

None of the applications directly addressed how they would coordinate with existing district schools or mitigate possible impacts on enrollment or sta ng.

What’s next

At the meeting, district sta noted that the three proposals must demonstrate clear community demand and long-term viability before earning board approval.

A decision on the applications is expected in June. If approved, each charter would proceed with nal negotiations and site readiness planning.

Families, community members and educators may provide public comment or feedback throughout the board’s review process.

Outside the Douglas County School District building in Castle Rock. PHOTO BY

Curiosity, the quiet super power

If you want to build stronger relationships, at work, at home, and everywhere in between, there’s one often overlooked super power that is more overlooked and even more e ective than charisma, charm, or even competence. It’s curiosity.

Curiosity isn’t about being nosy. It’s about being genuinely interested in other people, what they care about, what makes them tick, and what they’re navigating in life. Curiosity sends a message that says, “You matter to me.”

e best salespeople already know this, at least when it comes to their clients. Ask a top performer about their biggest accounts, and they’ll light up. ey’ll rattle o the names of spouses and children. ey’ll know who has a golden retriever named Max and who has an anniversary next Tuesday. ey’ll know which client is a die-hard Notre Dame fan and which one skis Beaver Creek every winter.

work, teammates, operations sta , even their own leaders, their answers get vague, and the connection

is same pattern shows up in our friend circles, communities, and even families. e people we do life with often get the least of our curiosity. We assume we know them already, or we’re too distracted to ask a deeper question.

realization: we didn’t know nearly as much about the people closest to us as we thought we did.

Why? Because we stopped being curious.

We live in a “me”-centered world. Social media encourages us to share everything we’ve accomplished, what we’re doing, and what we think. Somewhere along the way, we lost the habit and the desire to ask meaningful questions of the people right in front of us.

again. Ask your spouse what they’ve been dreaming about lately. Ask your kids what music they’re into and why. Ask better questions, and then really listen. Curiosity doesn’t cost a thing, but it pays dividends in every relationship. e truth is, most people have a powerful story to tell. But they rarely get asked to tell it. When you become someone who’s genuinely curious, you give others the gift of being seen, not for what they do, but for who they are.

ey’ve earned that level of trust because they’ve earned the right to know their clients on a deeper level. And that kind of trust only comes through curiosity. But here’s the gut-check: When I ask those same salespeople what they know about the people who support them at

Recently, I asked a few friends and golfing buddies some simple questions about the guys in our group, people we’ve played dozens of rounds with and shared plenty of meals. e results were humbling. No one could name another guy’s birthday or anniversary. No one remembered where anyone had gone on vacation. When I asked about wives’ favorite restaurants, a few answered quickly, others guessed. en I asked their child’s favorite color. One guy cautiously o ered, “I think it’s pink?”

I pressed further: “What music are your wife and kids listening to right now?” Silence. A few chuckles. And then a quiet

Economy facing many challenges

Spring is a time of renewed hope, with longer days, warmer weather, green grass and pretty owers blooming. But while nature ourishes, a dark cloud looms over the economy.

Five months into the new year, economic growth is slipping, and so far, 2025 does not appear to be the turnaround year of positive change. Instead, consumers, business owners and investors are struggling with in ation, declining economic growth and daily volatility in portfolios of all risk levels. Hope springs eternal, however, and there is still a chance we could get through this decline without going into recession.

Let’s take a closer look. is month, the rst-quarter gross domestic product (GDP), the rate at which our economy is growing, was announced. ere was actually a contraction, or negative growth, of three-tenths of 1%. e news sent the markets into a heavy sell-o amid concerns of a recession. e technical de nition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative GDP. Since we have one quarter under our belt, all attention is focused on this second quarter and whether there will be slight growth or another contraction. Mariner’s chief economist, William Greiner, has been predicting for most of this year that our GDP will land somewhere between 1.5% and 2%. While that is considerably lower than last year, it would still be enough to keep us out of a recession. Greiner remains optimistic, putting the chance of recession this year at only 40% — more positive than the majority of economists, who are predicting a worse economic outlook for 2025.

Reasons for concern include¹:

• Changes in economic policies under President Trump

• Trade de cits and potential tari s

• Weakening consumer demand

• Pessimistic CFO outlook

• Major nancial institutions estimate a

50% to 60% chance of recession this year

Here’s the irony: we all want deeper relationships. We want stronger teams at work, better marriages, tighter friendships, and more connected families. But instead of leaning into them, we double down on ourselves.

If we want to grow closer to others, we must ip the script. We have to move from “me talk” to “they talk.” at’s how relationships deepen, trust builds, and walls come down.

Want stronger teams? Ask your coworkers what they love doing outside of work. Learn their kids’ names. Celebrate their birthdays. Discover what lights them up, and follow up when they share something personal.

Want to reconnect at home? Get curious

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Home rule — what’s the rush?

Yes, your story matters. But when you become great at asking about someone else’s story, you unlock a level of connection, trust, and relationship that most people only wish they had.

Be curious. Stay curious. Watch every relationship around you grow stronger. As always, I’d love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com. When we learn how to lean into curiosity, life truly becomes better than good.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

Reasons for optimism include:

• Strong job growth and low unemployment

• Public and private investments in infrastructure and technology

• e potential of articial intelligence to drive economic growth

Consumers still make up almost 70% of our GDP, so watching what we buy is key to understanding how the second quarter will unfold. Tari s have driven up the cost of many items, from dollar-store trinkets to automobiles. Now, consumers are more worried about egg prices and less concerned about buying discretionary items that can wait.

Investors, too, are playing the waiting game to gauge whether the economic impact of these changes will trigger a slowdown. At the same time, the stock market is repricing itself. e best performers of last year are coming down in value as the price-to-earnings ratios of high- ying tech stocks fall. e market is now focused on anticipating how consumer spending will shift next, bringing more undervalued stocks into the game.

ese are all good reasons to have a strong, actively rebalanced portfolio strategy in place. Such an approach would have triggered a sale on US large-cap growth stocks toward the end of last year, and the investment of the proceeds into underdog value stocks. is is the ultimate opportunity to see “buy low, sell high” at work in real time.

1. Bureau of Economic Analysis

Douglas County is the home to 393,995 residents as of 2024. And each of these people has chosen Douglas County to be their home for assorted reasons. Home rule is not necessarily a bad thing. Only these three commissioners, Kevin Van Winkle, Abe Laydon and George Teal behind closed doors, have decided to implement home rule for 393,995 residents that live in Douglas County.

However, this is “our” home. Shouldn’t there be open meetings, surveys, our voices, our views, our votes, for how this would be implemented (really the details of your plan) and is home rule really needed or not? So, what is the primary need to rush this home rule? Usually, the process begins with a citizen petition, drafting a charter, meaningful public input, with transparency and a community-led process.

On the website Colorado Politics the reason stated for having home rule was to maintain conservative “Republican principles.”

We have lived in Douglas County for almost 50 years and have watched Douglas County grow beyond the many open elds that are now housing developments, shopping malls and businesses. With this growth I am quite sure the Douglas County commissioners have had numerous challenges and opportunities as to how and to whom this growth has taken place. I have been to your meetings when as a citizen of Douglas County, we questioned one of “your” projects and it was quite clear our voices and concerns meant nothing. You have had home rule for all the years we have lived here so do you just want a crown now?

regarding this rush behind closed doors home rule.

Tomorrow’s future includes inclusiveness. Commissioners are elected to serve all 393,995 residents of Douglas County. e citizens of Douglas County also need to vote for these commissioners. It’s about time for this to happen! Sharon Hoery, Highlands Ranch

Vote against home rule

As a previous elected o cial from a home rule city, I saw the bene ts of having that status to bene t our community. In a county that has many separate governing bodies to be dictated by three commissioners doesn’t make sense. Is this a Republican ploy to take a page from Trump and force their agenda on local communities and taxing agencies? Voting no on home rule for the county is common sense.

Rebuttal to Kane’s column

Patricia Kummer is managing director for Mariner, an SEC

Adviser.

Registered Investment

So, my question to the commissioners is what are your conservative Republican principles that need to have home rule now? Spell them out with complete transparency for all 393,995 (2024) residents to see and have open discussions

Dave Usechek, Parker

I am writing in response to Superintendent Erin Kane’s portrayal of the Douglas County School District 20242025 school year in her recent column. While her message highlights successes, it overlooks persistent and critical challenges facing our district — especially those a ecting minority students, underfunding, teacher pay, and political interference.

Superintendent Kane’s emphasis on broad achievements obscures deep disparities. A 2023 district report noted “signi cant gaps” in how safe and welcome Black students feel compared to their white peers. Discipline data from 2021-2022 shows 41% of Black students were disciplined versus 16% of white students, even though Black students make up just 1.6% of the district. ProPublica found Black students are 4.9 times more likely to be suspended than white students; Hispanic students are

Patricia Kummer

WINNING

LETTERS

2.1 times more likely. Academic gaps persist, with Black students averaging 1.8 grades behind white students and Hispanic students one grade behind. A federal civil rights lawsuit and a DOJ investigation underscore the urgency of addressing these inequities.

Kane also downplays nancial strain. Like many Colorado districts, DCSD suffers from state budget limitations and declining enrollment in some areas. Efforts to pass local funding measures often fall short in a community where the majority of the population does not have children in schools. Meanwhile, infrastructure needs exceed $300 million. ese budget constraints directly a ect educational quality and limit program o erings.

Teacher compensation remains another overlooked crisis. DCSD’s starting salaries are among the lowest in the Denver metro area, making it di cult to attract and retain quality educators. is directly impacts student success and long-term district performance.

Finally, growing political polarization continues to undermine trust, transparency and stability. Contentious school board debates, especially over equity policies, have created division rather than unity. e 2022 superintendent’s termination, seen by many as politically motivated, led to a costly settlement. Violations of Colorado Open Meeting Laws and protests over racism and equity add to public frustration.

While it is important to celebrate success, real leadership also demands a clear-eyed view of ongoing challenges.

Superintendent Kane’s overly optimistic framing fails to acknowledge the disparities, nancial issues, low teacher pay, and political dysfunction that continue to hinder DCSD schools.

Constance Ingram, Highlands Ranch

Oppose home rule

Home rule is being rushed through Douglas County without meaningful public input, transparency, or a clear understanding of its long-term consequences. While it allows counties to write their own charters, this “local constitution” could radically alter how elections are run, how taxes are managed, and how much say residents truly have. Of Colorado’s 64 counties, only two adopted home rule — both in the 1970s. Douglas County already functions e ectively without it. So why the sudden urgency?

Commissioners Teal, Van Winkle, and Laydon are fast-tracking a process that normally takes a year into just a few months, spending $500,000 in taxpayer money with no community vote or consultation. ey are operating behind closed doors.

is e ort risks concentrating power,

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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reducing accountability, and weakening public oversight. Vague charter language could allow the commissioners to appoint allies, dissolve independent boards, and reshape government in ways that bene t a few — not the public. Douglas County deserves thoughtful governance, not a hasty power grab. Vote no on home rule on June 24.

Kelly Mayr, Highlands Ranch

Parent concerned over reporting I am concerned about biased reporting in the May 6, 2025, Colorado Community Media article on the Douglas County School Board’s opposition to House Bill 25-1312. e article misrepresents a letter I wrote which was endorsed by four out of seven board members, framing their concerns as misguided while downplaying the bill’s negative impacts on our schools. e article omits that the letter, submitted by a parent (me) on May 5, was written before the bill’s amendments were introduced later that day. At the time, the bill’s language raised valid concerns about parental rights, local control, and administrative burdens — issues still present in the legislative summary. By ignoring this timeline, the article implies the board opposed a revised bill, distorting their position.

e article claims the bill doesn’t penalize parents for misgendering or deadnaming in custody cases, only allowing courts to consider these as evidence of coercive control. is downplays the risk of pressuring parents to conform to speci c views on gender identity, chilling free speech. e article dismisses these “signi cant constitutional concerns” without fair engagement, favoring the bill’s sponsors’ perspective over the reality of the bill’s wording. Similarly, it minimizes the bill’s impact on school policies, stating it doesn’t mandate chosen name policies or ban dress codes. Yet, requiring existing policies to accommodate all name change reasons or mandating gender-neutral dress code options could con ict with local recordkeeping and parental noti cation practices, creating confusion. ese concerns, raised by the board, are brushed aside.

e article also fails to address how HB 25-1312 places schools at the center of divisive legal and social debates, potentially diverting resources from education to compliance. By framing the board’s opposition as disconnected from an o cial vote, it undermines their commitment to safe schools, quoting their view that the bill “poses an obstacle to that goal” without exploring their reasoning.

As a Douglas County parent, I expect balanced reporting that respects all stakeholders, not selective framing that marginalizes community concerns. e board’s endorsement of a parent’s letter re ects legitimate worries, not political posturing. Colorado Community Media should provide a fairer portrayal of this issue.

Allyson Rydwell, mother to a trans child Parker

DAVIS

April 27, 2025

Shirley Davis, formerly of Highland Ranch Colorado died peacefully in her sleep April 27th at Fall River Hospital in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Shirley was outgoing and did most everything with a personal are. e ursday before her passing was no di erent; she had lunch at Pine Hills with friends, got her nails done and won at Bingo. She lived life fully to the end. Just being with her made people happy for she glowed Jesus from within.

not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for o ce. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information about a candidate’s opponent. Letters advocating for or against a political candidate or ballot issue will not be published within 12 days of an election.

Shirley was active in Sertoma Club, Toastmasters District 26 Foothills division Governor. Member of Je erson County Chamber of Commerce and Republican women’s. She loved to square dance with her husband Bob and actively participated in e Red Hat Society Highlands Ranch.

Nutrition with a Bachelor of Science. Her careers began with opening and directing two church based preschools. She owned and operated Cottage Casuals career women’s clothing store in Littleton, CO Spoke to business men and women regarding Business Etiquette and authored e Con dent Traveler. From 1994 to present she enjoyed helping people increase their health through her Shaklee business.

Shirley, with her husband Bob, enjoyed raising guide dogs for the blind and rose gardening. She was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years Robert E. Davis and her grand children Josh, Beth, and Chris Zorno.

Shirley graduated from Orange Coast College in Nursery School Administration. Fullerton Junior College in Pre-school Education. Once her children were grown she broadened her interests and graduated from American Holistic College of

Shirley is survived by her sons Terrel and Ron and daughter Carolyn Davis-Zorno and their children.

Shirley Davis’ Life Celebration will be May 24, 2025 at Pine Hills Retirement Home 2-4pm 2711 Hwy 18 W, Hot Springs, SD 57747.

Shirley Davis

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CCM papers acquired in deal with Arizona group

National Trust for Local News announces partnership with Times Media Group

e National Trust for Local News on May 13 announced a restructuring of its Colorado operations — known as Colorado Community Media — that centers on a partnership with Times Media Group.

e National Trust will transfer ownership of 21 local publications concentrated in metro Denver to Times Media Group (TMG), a community news publisher based in Tempe, Arizona, whose owner has personal roots in Colorado.

e National Trust will retain ownership of seven publications stretching from Brighton to Idaho Springs, and will continue to grow and operate the Trust Press, a community printing press that serves the Front Range media ecosystem. e organizations will enter into a strategic partnership around shared services and print production.

“We couldn’t be more excited to serve the communities in Colorado.”

Steve Strickbine, president and founder of Times Media Group

Fort Lupton Press, Canyon Courier, Clear Creek Courant, Northglenn- ornton Sentinel, Westminster Window and Golden Transcript. ese titles will become part of the Colorado Trust for Local News, a subsidiary of the National Trust dedicated to building an equitable, resilient, and vibrant future for local news across Colorado.

t for Times Media Group and the National Trust for Local News. I look forward to the great journalism ahead and the new ways we’ll create for our advertisers to reach their customers and clients.”

CORRECTIONS

Colorado Community Media asks readers to make us aware of mistakes we may have made.

Email sgilbert@coloradocommunitymedia.com if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.

“ rough this strategic partnership with Times Media Group, we can reduce our footprint in greater Denver without reducing local journalism there, all while positioning ourselves to grow in the parts of Colorado where the need for our unique model is greatest,” Will Nelligan, chief growth o cer at the National Trust for Local News, said in a statement.

“While it wasn’t an easy decision, we think it’s a positive outcome from all perspectives that sets the stage for a more resilient, equitable, and vibrant media ecosystem in the state.”

e seven newspapers retained by the National Trust are the Brighton Standard-Blade,

Times Media Group owns and operates more than 60 publications in Arizona and California — free weekly newspapers, magazines, specialty publications and robust digital platforms that reach hundreds of thousands of readers. e news brands shifting to Times Media Group include newspapers like the Arvada Press, Littleton Independent and Parker Chronicle, as well as two shoppers.

e majority of Colorado Community Media’s employees were o ered positions with Times Media Group, while others will stay with the Colorado Trust for Local News.

“We couldn’t be more excited to serve the communities in Colorado. We know how much community news means in this state, and we understand the terri c legacy created over the years by these publications and their teams,” said Steve Strickbine, president and founder of Times Media Group. “ is partnership is a good

e National Trust for Local News acquired Colorado Community Media in 2021 to ensure its nearly two dozen newspapers had a future and would not become news deserts. Leadership told employees that e Trust was approached by Times Media Group in recent months and discovered the company shared its mission of preserving and growing local news. Last fall, the National Trust opened the Trust Press in Denver, a community printing press designed to serve publishers across Colorado who are struggling with the rising costs of producing their journalism. e press has now taken on its rst seven printing partners. As part of the transaction, TMG will print with the Trust Press. As another part of the transaction, TMG will provide shared services to the Colorado Trust for Local News, including page design, digital infrastructure, advertising sales, and circulation management. Other terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Leadership for Times Media Group, Director of Operations Nadine Johnson and founder and President Steve Strickbine, were in the Colorado Community Media o ces on May 13, 2025, to announce the deal.

PHOTO BY COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF

RTD swears in Steve Martingano as new police chief

Law enforcement veteran to lead agency’s growing police department

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e new police chief for the Regional Transportation District was sworn in and will head up new e orts to keep more than 3,000 employees and customers safe across a service area in eight counties and 40 municipalities.

Steve Martingano is a 30-year law enforcement veteran who joined RTD in 2015 as a commander and was promoted to deputy chief in 2017.

During his time at the agency, he worked to modernize RTD’s police department and response model by introducing sector policing, according to an RTD news release.

Martingano also pioneered the rst mental health co-responder unit in transit policing, a program that was later expanded to include outreach coordinators focused on the unhoused pop-

ulation, according to the news release.

“As police chief, my top priority is reducing crime across our transit system. is means taking a proactive, preventive approach—being present, being visible, and being ready,” Martingano said in the news release. “ is position is not just a title; it is a calling. It’s a commitment to serve, to protect, and to help restore con dence in the safety and integrity of our public transit system.”

RTD-PD has approximately 100 POST (Peace O cers Standards and Training)-certi ed o cers, with a goal of expanding the department to 150 POST-certi ed o ces by year-end, the news release states.

Martingano was o cially sworn in as RTD’s new police chief Tuesday after serving in a deputy role under now former Chief Joel Fitzgerald, who was let go in September 2024.

In November, Fitzgerald led a lawsuit against RTD, alleging racial discrimination and retaliation, according to Denver7. e lawsuit names Martingano 41 times and includes accusations of discrimination and harassment against Fitzgerald and other Black o cers, according to Denver7.

BY ANDREW KENNEY DENVERITE

What do you call something that looks like a bike but rides like a scooter? A scicycle? A booter?

Whatever you want to call it, its o cial name is the LimeGlider, and it’s the latest rentable micromobility vehicle to hit Denver’s streets.

Lime, the dockless vehicle giant, deployed about 250 of its newest wheeled contraptions on May 14. e LimeGlider looks like a bike, with two spoked wheels and a seat.

But instead of pedals, it has a throttle, and it’s smaller than the company’s ebikes.

“It sort of behaves like a seated scooter, but I think for use cases, it’s more similar to a bicycle, right?” said Zach Williams, senior director of government relations for Lime in Colorado.

Looks like a bike, rides like a scooter

An ‘inclusive vehicle’

e company is positioning them as its “most inclusive vehicle to date.” Its wheels are signi cantly larger than a scooter’s, which makes it better able to handle curbs and obstacles. At the same time, its lower pro le could make it easier to mount and less intimidating than the company’s ebikes, Williams said.

e Glider was in development for several years, with the design process focused in large part on women and older riders, who may nd it uncomfortable to swing their legs onto a taller bike, Williams said.

“It’s a lower vehicle with a much lower center of gravity. Your feet on the running boards are pretty close to the ground, and so it feels really stable, really easy to plant your feet on the ground. I think it’ll be really attractive for more novice riders, many of whom gravitate to standing scooters,” Williams said.

e vehicle is designed for longer trips across town, while a scooter is most useful

for traveling a mile or so, Williams said.

Lime deployed the vehicles in small tests last year. One early reviewer called them a “sit-down scooter,” which is, sadly, probably better than “booter.” (Ed. note: Could not disagree more.) e city will classify the new vehicle as a bike, but it will track it as a distinct category.

A writer for Wired said they “felt nimbler and easier to maneuver” compared to Lime’s bikes. Another reviewer was impressed “by the feeling of stability.”

e Gliders also have a sizable basket, a seat cushion and a place to mount a phone. Lime currently operates about 5,000 vehicles around the city, of which 4,500 are scooters and the remainder are bikes, according to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Denver was second city of its debut

e Gliders made their full debut in Seattle several days ago, with Denver’s eet close behind. ey’ll show up rst in the

central city, but riders can take them anywhere in the local service area. e vehicles will soon appear in the Lime app as a third option alongside e-bikes and scooters.

e rollout comes as city leaders are considering new regulations for the city’s dockless mobility eets, which are run by Lime and Lyft.

“I wouldn’t say the political situation necessarily [was a motivating factor], but I do think it is a signal of how committed we are to Denver,” Williams said. He added that Lime chose Denver for the early deployment because it is one of the company’s strongest markets.

e Glider was developed by Lime and is fairly distinct from the rest of the scooter market, though it does resemble some seated cooters like the Veo Cosmo. is story is from Denverite, a Denver news site. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite. com.

Steve Martingano was sworn in May 13 as RTD’s new police chief. COURTESY RTD

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When Comedy Works owner Wende Curtis’ attorney rst took her to the future site of her second club in Greenwood Village’s Landmark complex, she was lost.

“My tiny world is downtown and Cherry Creek,” she said. “I had to follow him out there. I didn’t know where the hell I was.But I knew I wanted to expand in that direction. I needed to open another club; I felt like the city could handle it. And if I was going to go to a suburb, my gut instinct was that I’d go to where there was more money per household.”

Zip code scanners Curtis got for her downtown location in 2004 had already given her the data to back the decision up. It showed a lot of the downtown club’s customers were driving in from the suburbs. But she suspected there were potentially many more.

“We were very busy downtown, and I felt I was missing a part of the population

Comedy boom

Curtis and other metro-area comedy venues are riding a nationwide wave.

Stand-up comedy ticket sales have tripled over the last decade, and many credit the internet and social media — and speci cally Net ix — for transforming the industry.

According to Bloomberg, Net ix started funding new stand-up comedy in 2013, with specials from Mike Birbiglia, Iliza Shlesinger and Aziz Ansari.

“ e company saw stand-up as an underexploited genre, a low-cost way to get hours of programming and some famous names on the platform,” according to the Bloomberg article.

Net ix quickly scaled the business from a handful of specials annually to dozens, paying high dollars for big names like Jerry Seinfeld and Kevin Hart.

Competing services rst viewed Net ix’s investment in comedy as irrational, but comedians didn’t. And while other streaming services have since gotten on board, Net ix remains the king of comedy.

in the Denver metro area,” she said. “If you live in Castle Pines and you’re driving downtown ve days a week, are you going to drive down there again on Saturday?”

While the downtown Comedy Works is dark and intimate, Curtis designed the Greenwood Village site very di erently — with not only more seating capacity but more space overall. e nished 21,000-square-foot Comedy Works South that opened in October 2008 includes a restaurant and martini bar. ese features are not available at the original site. Also unlike downtown, parking is free and easy to nd.

While those added amenities attract customers, they also re ect what Curtis felt suburban customers wanted.

“I knew when I built something in the suburbs I was going to have to make it roomier,” she said. “Downtown is tight. People move to the suburbs to have space, and I think they expect it.”

Comedy Works South is a Landmark anchor that’s stood the test of time, with numbers that consistently exceed Curtis’ expectations and reinforce her initial instincts that suburban residents would support a comedy venue.

e exposure it gave comedians brought their talents to a wider audience, and the appreciation for comedy spun into the real world. Ticket sales for live comedy shows topped $900 million in 2023.

Why is comedy so popular? It’s not just because it’s funny.

Comedians use humor to speak truth to power while giving audiences a bit of relief from the absurdities and emotions of everyday life.

“ eir craft allows them to push boundaries and provoke deeper thought through laughter, sparking joy, conversations and, sometimes, fresh perspectives,” according to an article in Medium.

It also has health bene ts. Laughter releases chemicals in our bodies and brains that instantly relieve stress and boost mood. And it helps bring people together, crossing political, cultural and societal barriers in a way few other things can.

For all those reasons, Comedy Works is just one comedy business venturing beyond the city limits.

Rotating Tap

Denver comedian Steve Vanderploeg is now a regular performer at Comedy Works. But a few years ago, that wasn’t the case. So he started his own suburban comedy business.

“Within a few years, it started winning local awards,” Vanderploeg said. “It turns out breweries are very good locations for comedy because they need entertainment just as much as other venues.”

He’s since expanded to breweries throughout the metro area, including Arvada, Brighton, Lakewood and Littleton. Most of the shows are free, as many brewery owners wanted to keep their regulars happy. But it also makes comedy fans happy. Many can’t a ord or don’t want to pay for tickets, food and drinks — a two-item food or beverage minimum is required at Comedy Works. And scattering shows at breweries in neighborhoods throughout the area makes seeing a show logistically easier.

“One thing that makes us di erent is we actually bring comedy to these deeper pockets of the ‘burbs,” Vanderploeg said. “A lot of times people don’t want to go downtown. Bringing the comedy to them has helped grow the love for comedy around Denver.”

“I thought Comedy Works was never going to pass me — which means you get paid to work on the weekends,” he said. “I thought I’d never get that opportunity, so I needed to build opportunities for myself.”

Vanderploeg suspected breweries could be good venues for stand-up comedy. Not everyone agreed.    “I had a couple comedians telling me breweries were terrible locations for comedy shows,” he said. But like Curtis, Vanderploeg followed his instincts, launching Rotating Tap Comedy in spring 2019. He started at south metro Denver’s Chain Reaction Brewing — the owners were his childhood hockey buddies.

A Rotating Taps venue is also a good place for new comedians to test their stand-up chops. Vanderploeg typically books a mix of newer and more experienced comedians together.

“ ese are mostly locals I work with — it’s a big network,” he said. “We like to give opportunities to those coming up because that’s why I started it — to give myself opportunities. But in order to keep it sustainable, we also have to bring in seasoned pros that

e newest metro-area entertainment venue is part comedy club, part variety show theater and part arcade. Husband-and-wife team Brandon Riks and Stacey Bell opened Gnarly’s in late December, taking over the former Miners Alley Playhouse site in down-

COMEDY

Riks and Bell believe their business lls a gap in the popular tourist town.

“ ere’s a lot of stu to do in Golden, but we feel it’s geared toward an older crowd,” Riks said. “ ey’ve got the playhouse, where you can catch an awesome musical or play, and the Bu alo Rose, plus lots of good places to eat and drink. But there’s not really a good hangout place for families or college kids, for comedy or some other type of adult-themed variety show.”

e couple has some history to back their theory up. While they’re new to comedy, Riks and Bell are experienced in business, running Lakewood’s Gnarly Toybox vintage toy store since 2018.

Riks and Bell carried that theme to Gnarly’s in Golden, including a vintage toy museum with everything from He-Man to Ninja Turtles to Garbage Pail Kids. Harkening back to simpler times, all Gnarly’s arcade games are set to free play.

“As long as you have a ticket to the show or a wrist band for the arcade, games are set on free play,” Riks said.

Because the theater only holds about 100 people, Riks and Bell shifted their plans from doing comedy full time.

“We know quite a few comics, and we’d always talked about how Golden would do really well with a comedy club because there’s nothing anywhere near,” Riks said. “But with 100 seats, our original thoughts of pulling famous comedians into the theater seemed a little bit unreachable. We’d have to charge too much for the tickets to pay them.

“So the plan is to become someplace cool enough and well known enough that when other comics are in town, they want to do a set at Gnarly’s,” he said. “And also to maximize the abilities of the space. We landed on making it a variety show theater on top of a comedy club.”

While most of Gnarly’s comedians will focus on adult content, the variety shows are designed to be family

friendly, featuring ventriloquists, magicians and jugglers. Riks plans to o er six-to-eight half-hour variety shows daily. Gnarly’s has a liquor license but for its day shows, it’ll accent an old-school soda bar and exotic snack bodega.

In Riks’ vision, it will o er something for everyone.

“Dad can sit down and have a beer, let the kids run in the arcade and catch a quick juggling show,” he said. Riks and Bell aim to o er three-to-four comedy shows a week and keep the price friendly, too. He expects it will generally be $20 a ticket.

What If Theatre

found it a little calculated. I was trying really hard to nd the points within my act to gauge what would get maximum laughter from the audience. With improv, you are feeling out the audience and your teammates for what works best with the people who are in this space, at this time. And it will never be repeated.”

Carletti sees a di erence in demographics in suburban audiences. People in their 20s and 30s tend to frequent downtown venues.

Well-rehearsed stand-up comedy is one way to get laughs. But in Lakewood, Joy Carletti and Colin Iago McCarthy are placing their bets on improv. e two opened What If eatre in October 2023, producing six inhouse shows a year and bringing in improv troupes from throughout the Front Range.

“I feel like our audiences skew both older and younger. I see people who live here coming to see the shows, and I’m very grateful for that,” she said. “I think the arts should be accessible to people – you should have art where you are. Asking people to come to the city is not for everyone. So let’s meet people where they are.”  Evergreen also has an improv group. e Evergreen Players Improv Comedy troupe, known as EPiC, performs twice each year at the Center Stage eater. It also offers classes and ensemble groups for all experience levels and ages.

e business taps into not only their love of improv, but for each other. e two met while doing improv in San Francisco, returning to McCarthy’s home town of Lakewood to eventually open the theater.

ey follow a form of improv called the Harold, a longform improvised format that emphasizes patterns, themes and group discoveries instead of a traditional plot or story. So while their shows are designed to be funny, they’re carefully constructed to include much more than just humor.

e house ensemble, for instance, goes by the name Streaky Bacon — inspired by a Charles Dickens quote.

“It basically says good plays should have comedy and drama in as equal layers as in good, streaky bacon,” Carletti said. “We believe yes, we’re creating comedy, but there should be some drama and vulnerability because that makes the comedy brighter.”

e shows typically revolve around familiar themes, including “Law and Order,” or a version of “Vacation.”

Another show featured a teenager who saves the world.

“A suburban audience that might not have seen an improv show doesn’t know what they’re going to get,” Carletti said. “We feel thematic or genre shows tend to hook a suburban audience more.”

Hooking suburbanites on improv is exactly what the couple hopes to do. She believes it o ers a very di erent experience than stand-up.

“I wanted a place where folks who were more of a theater audience could see improv and feel like it was accessible to them,” Carletti said. “Improv is collaborative. It is about listening and teamwork. It allows people to tell their own stories and it’s very human.”

While Carletti appreciates stand-up comedy, she sees improv as a di erent comedic art form — one that requires coordination with fellow actors and the audience.

“I’ve done stand-up. at’s one person alone on a stage. My own experience is it was a little isolating, and I

Comedy in Denver metro

Whether it’s stand-up or improv, all four business owners agree that Denver and its suburbs are among the top places to see comedy — or to be a comedian.

Curtis believes decades of bringing top-notch comedians to the city has made metro-area residents a sophisticated comedy audience.

“Comedy Works is the Red Rocks of comedy in the country,” she said. “I have leverage even with the bigger acts because it’s Comedy Works. e reputation gives me clout.We’ve developed people that like stand-up comedy. e Denver crowds are smart. You give them smart comedy and they respond. It’s turned into a great place for comedy and comedians.”

Vanderploeg agreed, saying the many stages that offer chances for new and more seasoned comedians to practice their material has improved the quality of local comedy for everyone.

“Denver is one of the best comedy scenes in the country,” Vanderploeg said. “Denver has shows most nights of the week, so there are opportunities for comedians to get up and develop, practice. Just by sheer stage time, we blow pretty much every other city out of the water. It’s kind of in the culture here. ere’s something about Denver that loves standup.”

Beyond developing the comedy business, Carletti sees laughter as not an option, but a necessity for individuals and our modern world.

“It’s so important to have small theaters and small comedy venues, not just in Denver but everywhere,” Carletti said. “ ere’s something about being in a room with a lot of people laughing and experiencing it live, whether it’s improv, stand-up or whatever. Live theater is phenomenal. And the need to laugh right now is so

Comedian Steve Gillespie entertains the crowd at Stranahan’s Distillery as part of Rotating Tap Comedy. SPAWOLOGY PRODUCTIONS

Comedian George Lopez on stage at Comedy Works South in Greenwood Village. COURTESY OF COMEDY WORKS

Gnarly’s co-owner Brandon Riks stands in front of the bar at the comedy/variety show venue he and his wife Stacey Bell launched recently in downtown Golden. COURTESY OF GNARLY’S

BY BEN MARKUS CPR NEWS

Sports betting revenue keeps rising

Coloradans love to gamble on sports. And the addition of new ways to wager, like parlays and live bets, have helped to boost industry revenues, despite the randomness of sporting events that can leave sportsbooks occasionally at a loss.

Because at the end of the day, the house rarely loses for long.

Gambling companies, including DraftKings and FanDuel, brought in $475 million in gross gaming revenue in Colorado last year (wagers minus payouts), a 21% increase over 2023, according to data from the Colorado Department of Revenue. It’s almost double the rate of revenue growth in 2023, which was 11%.

e new data shows the industry has yet to fully mature, about ve years after Colorado allowed the rst legal sports wagers.

e increased interest in sports betting means more tax revenue for Colorado.

Last year, Colorado collected $31.9 million from those bets. And Colorado will get to keep all that money thanks to the recent passage of Proposition JJ, which allows the state to keep tax revenues over the previous TABOR-mandated cap of $29 million. e money goes to a variety of things, most notably for water plan projects.

Parlay bets increased profits

It’s unclear if there are more people betting in Colorado or if the people betting are just wagering more. One of the biggest changes in the industry is the growth of parlay bets, where gamblers string together a series of things like: Nuggets to win,

created that technology quicker than anyone else, that’s why they rose to the top,” said Butler.

He said younger bettors in particular prefer parlay bets. “ ey just like the lottery ticket aspect of it.”

e vast majority of sports gamblers will not develop an addiction, the national rate is estimated at up to 3 percent. But there’s concern that addiction rates are higher among young men, who are growing up with unlimited sports gambling on their phone.

Colorado has granted millions to behavioral health providers and educational campaigns. e Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission announced $2.9 million in grants in February, up from $2 million the year before.

Beyond parlays

Nikola Jokić to record a 30-point game, and total points to go over 200 points. It’s a higher-risk, higher-reward bet that the apps heavily promote through incentives, like bigger payo s.

Parlays are a win-win for the industry.

“ ese parlays make the sportsbooks more money, but people also like to bet them; it’s more fun for the bettor,” said Ryan Butler, who covers the industry for Covers, a gambling website. ere are many apps on o er in Colorado for sports bets, but DraftKings and FanDuel now control about 70 percent of the U.S. betting market, in part because they added enticing parlay options to their apps. “So DraftKings and FanDuel

e sportsbook has long been a relatively small part of casino pro ts, so the app developers are looking ahead to a more lucrative business: fully online casinos, things like poker and blackjack, not just sports.

“Everything is based o of that goal,” said Butler.

Only a handful of states allow online casino games, but they are hugely pro table. In the rst quarter of this year, DraftKings reported $881 million in sports betting revenue across 25 states and Washington DC, and $423 million revenue in the just ve states that allow it to operate casino games online.

Any such plan would face a lot of hurdles in Colorado. e handful of physical casinos operating in the state, which are mandated by law to be located in three historic mining towns, would likely ght

any proposal to expand online gambling to phone apps.

Sports are unpredictable

While last year saw large growth in sports bets and revenue, there are periods when the house loses. In Colorado, sports gaming revenues dropped 20 percent in March, compared to March of last year. Sportsbooks said that’s because more favorites won than anticipated in the recent March Madness men’s basketball tournament. DraftKings reported that more than 80 percent of favorites won, the most in more than 40 years. And bettors tend to put their money on the favorites. at’s just the nature of sports.

“ at’s why people watch sports and want to bet on sports, it’s part of what makes the customer experience great,” said Jason Robins, CEO of DraftKings, on a Friday investor conference call. “So there are periods where you’re gonna have quarters two, three in a row sometimes with bad outcomes.”

Colorado bettors are the best?

Butler has data on hold percentage by state, and Colorado has the lowest hold percentage in the U.S. Hold percentage is the money that sportsbooks keep for every dollar wagered.

“So one can extrapolate that Colorado has the best bettors,” said Butler. “It makes sense: higher education level, really loyal fans, pretty a uent demographic.”

So when it comes to sports betting, Colorado is winning in more ways than one. is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

A football betting board shows the odds of weekends-worth of games. Betting companies continue to post record revenues from sports betting in Colorado. SHUTTERSTOCK

Thu 5/29

Neil Z @ Carillon at Belleview Station @ 3pm Carillon at Belleview Station, 4855 Niagara St, Denver

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2TheXtreme @ 10am / $19.95

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Kid Astronaut + The Nebula @ Skyline Beer Garden @ 10am Skyline Beer Garden, 1601 Arapahoe St, Denver

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Tue 6/03

Minsk @ 5:30pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen @ 7pm

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison

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Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W Florida Ave, Denver

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Parker police to get heart tests

Colorado Peace O cer Benefits Trust funds cardiovascular screening for law enforcement

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Despite the high level of pressure that both law enforcement and re ghters face on a daily basis, for years, just reghters have had cardiovascular screenings available to them to help nd signs of heart disease – until recently.

e Parker Police Department has become the third law enforcement agency in the state to become a member of the Colorado Peace O cer Bene ts Trust, after the Parker Town Council approved the agency’s participation in early May.

“Obviously, in our line of work, the risk of heart disease is great,” Comdr. Jim Prior said to the town council. “It’s the silent killer for law enforcement and tends to get a lot of our brothers and sisters in law enforcement, both active duty and retired.”

To help prevent life-threatening issues, the Colorado Legislature passed House Bill 24-1219 last year, which requires employers to participate in a trust to provide funds for law enforcement ofcer heart and health screenings.

Since the bill was signed into law in May 2024, the Colorado State Patrol and the Larimer County Sheri ’s O ce have become members of the bene ts trust.

e bill states that the trust will be reimbursed by the state through the general fund for providing the bene ts, and if funding to reimburse the trust is inadequate, the requirement for employers to provide the speci c program is optional.

Whether it’s for people who are at risk of heart disease or are pre-risk, the screenings o ered will be a medical evaluation to include scans and blood work to determine if there are early signs of heart disease or other critical issues. “ e program is designed to detect early warning signs and ensure those affected receive the care they need,” Prior told the Parker Chronicle.

Are first responders actually at a higher risk?

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease refers to the buildup of plaque in the heart’s arteries, reducing the ow of blood. is can lead to heart attack or ischemic stroke.

Multiple studies have shown that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for those in law enforcement.

While there is no one speci c reason why people in certain professions, such as law enforcement, are at a higher risk of heart disease, Dr. Chris Post, emergency room medical director at AdventHealth Parker, said there are several factors.

In addition to family history of the disease and diabetes, risk factors for heart disease also include high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Post said these risk factors can be the result of stress, diet and an unsteady sleep schedule.

People who have jobs that tend to have higher stress levels “develop higher blood pressure, just from adrenaline, constant stimulation, lack of sleep (or) disjointed sleep,” Post said.

Although there are factors and variables that are sometimes behind a person’s control, Post added that the best thing someone can do is to catch it before it’s a problem.

“Getting raw numbers (through screenings) is great, it’s the rst step. But encouraging them to follow up with their primary care physicians or providers is really important,” Post said.

ese prevention screenings have been established for re departments for a few years. e 2024 First Responder Employer Health Bene ts Trust bill not only o ers the opportunity for law enforcement, but it also expands state funding for the re ghters’ bene ts program to include part-time and volunteer re ghters.

South Metro Fire Rescue implemented a coronary CTA screening program in 2023 and since then, have screened over 300 re ghters.

Dr. Carrie Burns, a wellness and occupational physician for the south metro re district said that the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for re ghters is sudden cardiac death, and that heart disease is the likely cause in approximately 80% of cases.

“Not only has the screening identied early coronary (heart) disease in a majority of re ghters, but it has also detected serious heart disease in nearly 10% of participants,” said Burns. “Some of those individuals require further evaluation and potentially life-saving treatment in the cardiac catheterization lab.”

The next steps

For a one-time fee of $100 for the department, Parker police will have a lifetime membership for as long as the department is with the trust.

Also, the bill establishes that an employer of law enforcement o cers has to be part of a trust in order to provide o cers with cardiovascular screenings and other health screenings for prevention for o cers.

With three o cers approved to serve on the board, Prior has submitted an application.

“Even if I wasn’t on the board, we would still be part of the bigger trust and still have a representative as part of the member meetings that would happen,” Prior said.

As the trust is in its preliminary stages and the board is not active as of press time on May 14, there are more logistics to work through. Those include choosing which medical facilities to contract with and the criteria to have a screening.

“We’re getting much better at taking care of ourselves,” said Prior.

Parker Police Department Cmdr. Jim Prior speaks before the Parker Town Council about the importance and need for law enforcement o cers to receive cardiovascular screenings.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

1. ACRONYMS: What phrase does the acronym URL stand for?

2. MOVIES: What is the name of the ghost that haunts the girls’ bathroom at Hogwarts (“Harry Potter” series)?

3. HISTORY: Which decisive battle ended the Revolutionary War?

4. LITERATURE: What is the pseudonym of the author Eric Arthur Blair?

5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which of the national parks is the most visited in the United States?

6. TELEVISION: Which medical series is based at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital?

7. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of Denmark?

8. U.S. STATES: In which state is Glacier National Park located?

9. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the rst vice president to die in o ce?

TrIVIa

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Answers

1. Uniform resource locator.

2. Moaning Myrtle.

3. e Battle of Yorktown.

4. George Orwell.

5. Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

6. “House, M.D.”

7. Copenhagen.

8. Montana.

9. George Clinton.

10. Noble gases.

(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Miscellaneous

We buy houses for cash as is! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer & get paid.

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Pets

Dogs

Doodle Puppies Golden Doodles and Bernedoodles Home-Raised Heath Tested and Guaranteed Standard and Mini Size available Schedule a visit today! (970)215-6860 www.puppylovedoodles.com

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

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