July 2, 2020
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
HighlandsRanchHerald.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 10
VOLUME 33 | ISSUE 32
GRADUATION AT A DISTANCE UCHealth Local high school seniors celebrate with precautions P4-6
Highlands Ranch turns one COVID-19 has been new hospital’s biggest challenge BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Wildfire forces evacuations near Highlands Ranch Nearby homes evacuated, but no structures were lost BY ELLIOTT WENZLER AND JESSICA GIBBS COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
A wildfire burning near Highlands Ranch grew to 461 acres June 29, pumping smoke over the area and advancing toward homes in a nearby subdivision, but the blaze was 100% contained by evening and no homes were lost. The cause of the Chatridge 2 fire remained under investigation, but Denver station KCNC-CBS4 quoted fire marshal’s investigators as blaming a power-pole malfunction. Nearly 60 units battled the wildfire amid gusty winds, supported by a heavy presence from firefighting airplanes and helicopters. South Metro Fire Rescue crews began working to contain the blaze at roughly 10 a.m. on June 29. The fire in SEE FIRE, P7
Smoke rises from the Chatridge 2 fire near Chatridge Court and U.S. Highway 85 in Douglas County on June 29. ELLIOTT WENZLER
When Diane Cookson set off to open up a hospital in Highlands Ranch, she had no idea of the year she had in store. Since its kickoff in June 2019, the UCHealth Highlands Ranch campus has seen nearly 27,000 patients, 600 births and 55 COCookson VID-19 patients. “Obviously the biggest challenge we faced is the pandemic,” said Cookson, president of the hospital. “I’ve been in health care for 30 years and this is a first for me.” One thing that Cookson believes helped the hospital maintain its levels of care is that they’re part of the larger UCHealth system, she said. “We didn’t have any issues with PPE (personal protection equipment), we didn’t have any problems getting ventilators,” she said. “We were very well-prepared, as a system, to take care of this and I think as a result, our community benefited from that.” Like other state hospitals, UCHealth Highlands Ranch only continued non-covid procedures that were medically necessary. They saw fewer patients in their operating rooms and in the emergency room. “It was just a matter of shutting down operations to a certain degree and just caring for urgent care,” she said. The hospital system has not yet had to lay off any staff and employee salaries were guaranteed through April and May regardless of if an employee was working, she said. COVID-19 challenges During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors and hospital SEE HOSPITAL, P12