February 4, 2016 VO LUM E 29 | IS S U E 1 1 | FREE
SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE HighlandsRanchHerald.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Students propose solutions via video
FRED MATAMOROS/GATEHOUSE MEDIA
FOLIO INFORMATION GOES HERE
THE THRILL OF VICTORY
Advertisements offer ways to tackle problems facing state By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com Eighth-grade students at Cresthill Middle School in Highlands Ranch looked at the biggest problems facing Colorado and developed their own video advertisements to explain how they would fix them. Bryce Johansson’s team wanted to see if Douglas County students were sleeping enough. It found, on average, students only get seven hours compared to the recommended eight to 10 hours for teenagers. “We were really disappointed in that and wanted to make it so there was an extra hour before school,” Johansson said. Reiley Forshey and her group studied how to keep increasing traffic in the Denver area from affecting the state’s tourism industry. “Our solution was more public transportation such as light rails and stuff like that,” Forshey said. Aarushi Gupta and her team discovered a need for funding in the biomedical industry. “Our solution was to fund small business incubators to help them grow and help find cures,” Gupta said. Thirty-seven teams representing 155 eighth-graders spent three months on the projects, which were a collaboration among social studies, language arts, science and wellness classes. The project reflected the district’s focus on innovation, 21st Century Skills and real-world connections, social studies teacher Sonja Herring said. “Rather than just learning about how one goes about impacting local government, we are actually trying to go through the process ourselves,” she said. “Students were able to choose an issue that was truly affecting Colorado Video continues on Page 9
INSIDE
This year’s Puppy Bowl to feature several local pooches. PAGE 5
The Canyon Crazies student section from Rock Canyon lives up to its name as the clock winds down in the Jaguars’ 44-43 boys basketball victory over ThunderRidge on Jan. 29. For more coverage, turn to Page 26. Photo by Paul DiSalvo
Event offers help amid struggle Community of Care Network holds event in Castle Rock By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com Stacey Hudgens and her family have been living motel to motel for the past year. “It’s been pretty tedious,” she said, adding that they are currently living in a Super 8 in Douglas County. Her family was one of the many that attended Strive to Thrive, an event that brought together 35 agencies offering a variety of assistance to Douglas County families. “My husband and I are having some hard times right now, and this is just a great resource for our family,” Hudgens said. “To know that there’s food available at all times and you don’t have to go hungry is inspiring.” The eighth biannual Strive to Thrive Resource and Service Fair, hosted by Douglas County’s Community of Care Network, was Jan. 26 at Calvary Chapel in Castle Rock. The free event is designed to help teach attendees how to take advantage of free food and clothing, medical assistance and more, while giving them the opportunity to receive many of those benefits on site in a one-stop shop setting. Attendees were able to walk away with new warm clothes as well as food provided by food banks. They also learned about employment opportunities and how to apply for food stamps. Free haircuts, dental checkups, free stress tests and wellness checks were also available. “The hair cutting was excellent,” Hudgens said, touching her freshly cut hair. “I needed that. Years ago I should have gotten one, but I didn’t — I kept putting it off.” Project ReCycle was also at the event Thrive continues on Page 9
Lance Mettler, of Project ReCycle, hands out bikes to youths at the Strive to Thrive event hosted by Douglas County. Photos by Shanna Fortier Laura Medina serves hot meals at the Jan. 26 Strive to Thrive event.