June 2, 2016 VO LUM E 29 | IS S U E 28 | FREE
CHURCH CHUCKLES Congregation uses comedy to raise money for pair of causes on PAGE 12.
HighlandsRanchHerald.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Hospital planned for Highlands Ranch 33-acre medical campus projected to open in 2018 Staff report A medical campus that includes a hospital is planned for the C-470 and Lucent Boulevard area of Highlands Ranch. The addition will mean excellent health and wellness services in the community, said Terry Nolan, general manager of the Highlands Ranch Metro District. “The hospital will attract other businesses, which will also
be good for the community,” he said. UCHealth plans to open the $315 million, 33-acre facility in 2018. The medical campus will be part of the mixed-use development north of Highlands Ranch Parkway and east of Lucent called Central Park. The project also will include stores, restaurants, homes and a park. The hospital will be the first in Highlands Ranch to serve the general population and will be located near the Children’s Hospital South Campus. The hospital’s service area will
extend past Highlands Ranch and into other areas of Douglas County, said Justin Vaughn, chairman of the board of directors for the Highlands Ranch Chamber of Commerce. “We certainly look forward to their contribution,” he said. “This will be a good boost for the community.” The six-story hospital will have 72 inpatient beds, an emergency room, intensive care unit, operating rooms and advanced cardiac services, according to Hospital continues on Page 6
This artist’s rendering shows the hospital expected to be completed in 2018 at Central Park in Highlands Ranch. Image courtesy of UCHealth
GOOD TO BE ON TOP
Focus turns to Fagen’s legacy, successor Community members speak out as controversial superintendent prepares to leave for Texas post By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Valor Christian baseball players pile it up at the pitcher’s mound to celebrate their Class 4A championship following their win over Pueblo West on May 29. It was the school’s first title in baseball. For more coverage, turn to page 20. Photo by Paul DiSalvo
Club soccer team gets chance of a lifetime Storm U14 will participate in the Barcelona Summer Cup By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Irvin Carreon, front left, Michael Chavez and Tyler Stafford finish their last club soccer game at Dove Valley May 15. “We are basically family,” Carreon said. Photo by Alex DeWind
A group of parents watches the soccer game playing out on the field, yelling to their players from the sidelines: “Caliente! Caliente!” Hot. Hot. “Come on, buddy.” “Pasa.” Pass. “Nice work out there.” The team of 16 boys and one girl finish with a win, one more notch in a victorious season. But the real story goes beyond the game: This team is a melting pot of race, age and culture united by a love for soccer. Ron Miner, the Highlands Ranch coach, had a vision when he brought Storm U14 together last summer. “It was very segregated at first,” he said, “but as we started to practice more Soccer continues on Page 17
Douglas County School District Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen’s decision to leave Colorado to take the same position in Humble, Texas, a district of 39,000 students outside Houston, has sparked communitywide discussion about her legacy and who will replace her. Fagen, hired by the Douglas County school board in 2010, said in a May 24 email to district staff that she expects to leave by mid-July. There has been a mixed reaction to her Fagen appointment in Humble. A change.org petition protesting her hiring received 2,000 signatures online as of May 26. Meanwhile, parents and community Fagen continues on Page 5
GOING GREEN
Rock Canyon tees it up at the state golf tournament. Page 22