APRIL 9, 2020
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Charles Paeplow DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
Cornerstone Homes Realty
720-560-1999 • charlespaeplow@yahoo.com
*Commissions subject to change
Hospital at ‘base of a wave’ UCHealth braces for surge of COVID-19 patients BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Dr. Ben Usatch was first offered a job at UCHealth Highlands Ranch while riding a ski lift in Vail, he never imagined where he would be almost two years later: preparing for a pandemic. Usatch, the medical director of the emergency room in Highlands Ranch, secured the job after he met the UCHealth systems’ chair of emergency medicine, Richard Zane, while on his ski trip. Usatch Now, he’s gearing up for a surge of patients unlike any he’s ever seen. “The best way to state where we are now is we’re on the base of a wave,” he said. “We’re starting to see patients come into the hospital with a high suspicion for COVID-19.” One day in late March, which Usatch called “a typical day right now,” he saw five patients whom he suspected had the respiratory disease. One of these coronavirus patients was admitted to the 87-bed hospital for further care that day, he said. While figures weren’t disclosed on how many COVID-19 patients are in the Highlands Ranch hospital, the entire UCH system had nearly 200 cases as of March 31. SEE COVID-19, P13
Andrew Michaud enjoys taking the time to play his bagpipe because it helps him decompress after spending all day teaching from his computer. ELLIOTT WENZLER
Musician is no pipe dream Bagpiper traveling trails is school band director BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In recent weeks, users of the Highlands Ranch trail system may have noticed a new, melodic addition to their workout. That’s because one resident, accompanied by his bagpipe, has taken to the trails and is playing mini concerts for anyone within earshot. So who is this piper?
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ONLINE Find many more stories and photos at HighlandsRanchHerald.net His name is Andrew Michaud and he’s the band director for Chatfield Senior High School. Normally, Michaud, 53, plays the trails by his home near the Town Center in Highlands Ranch, but after a Facebook post of one of his performances, folks have been asking him to come visit their neighborhood trails. Gov. Jared Polis recently stated that it’s “very unlikely” that the
state’s stay-at-home order — intended to halt the spread of COVID-19 — will end April 11, though he hasn’t yet extended it at press time. That means residents will presumably continue to be confined to their neighborhoods. “The walls are closing in on people,” Michaud said. “For a lot of us, it has been three weeks. Never in our lives have we been in a place for three weeks like this.” And that’s part of the reason he’s decided to spread his love of music on the trails. SEE BAGPIPER, P9
THE BOTTOM LINE
“This is an unprecedented situation we find ourselves in and I encourage you and your loved ones to continue following the advice and guidance of health care professionals.” DCSD Superintendent Thomas Tucker, Page 4 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12
HighlandsRanchHerald.net
VOLUME 33 | ISSUE 20