HAVE A BLAST
August 4, 2016 VO LUM E 29 | IS S U E 37 | FREE
Western Welcome Week returns to Littleton with plenty of activities for all ages. Check out the special pullout section on pages 17, 18, 19 and 20.
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
Living with marijuana next door A new ordinance aims to reduce number of plants allowed for home growth
By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com The home in the orderly Kentley Hills subdivision of Highlands Ranch — where the average sales price is $587,000 — looks like many others on the street, except for a few details: There are rarely cars in the driveway.
On garbage day, no trashcans are set out. The grass in the front yard is browning. Trucks visit in the middle of the night. And a smell of marijuana seeps from the house on Bentwood Circle into the neighborhood. “It’s unbearable,” said James, a neighbor who asked that his last name not be used because he said he fears for his family’s safety. “For my kids, it’s uncomfortable to play outside.” The home — about a half mile
from Heritage Elementary School — was reported to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in April because of the continuous odor and traffic in and out of the house. It is one of 20 homes in Douglas County reported to the sheriff’s office during the first five months of 2016 for complaints related to marijuana cultivation. “We have this going on in all parts of Douglas County — they aren’t confined to one area,” said Chief Deputy Steve Johnson of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. Marijuana continues on Page 6
DOUGLAS COUNTY MARIJUANA CULTIVATION COMPLAINTS 50 45
40 30 20
21
24
20
10 2013
2014
2015
Source: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
TAKING THE REINS
AS OF MAY 2016
DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
Medical pot policy approved for students Highlands Ranch mother led fight for son with epilepsy to use medical cannabis By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Jameson Benson, 2016 Douglas County Fair and Rodeo Queen, pins Emily Wormington, of Highlands Ranch, as the 2017 queen before the Hometown Rodeo July 30. Wormington was one of five queen contestants. See more on page 14. Photo by Shanna Fortier
C-470 corridor in Highlands Ranch booming County planned for business expansion, residential development in area By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunitymedia.com Brian Brewster, owner of NoNo’s Café, a Cajun-style restaurant on the north side of C-470 off West County Line Road, is preparing for an increase in business. He opened his restaurant about 10 years ago when the only other businesses in the area were Harley Davidson and Hampton Inn & Suites. There’s now multi-family
housing, a self-storage facility and an event center being built within walking distance. “Any kind of traffic is good,” he said. “We are excited for what this could do to business.” The mile-long corridor that straddles C-470 between Sante Fe Drive and Lucent Boulevard is booming. On the south side of the state highway near Lucent — adjacent to Plaza Drive — will be 285 apartments in a multi-family housing project called Solana. On the north side is the renovation of the existing Mike Ward car dealership. C-470 continues on Page 27
After being seizure-free for several years, 14-year old Benjamin Wann began suffering again last Thanksgiving Day. He subsequently had four more seizures in 14 days. Doctors, his mother said, wanted to put him back on powerful pharmaceutical drugs to treat his epilepsy. With her son soon to begin high school, Amber Wann hesitated to put Benjamin on drugs that included dangerous side effects like depression and suicidal tendencies. Instead, she turned to medical cannabis— specifically the non-psychoactive hemp oil extract called Charlotte’s Web. Students continues on Page 5
TO YOUR HEALTH Pepe Olmedo is the manager of NoNo’s Cafe, off West County Line Road near Sante Fe Drive. When the restaurant first opened about 10 years ago, the only other businesses in the area were Harley-Davidson and Hampton Inn & Suites. Photo by Alex DeWind
Water infused with fruits and vegetables is a nutritious drink choice. PAGE 12
Lunch and Learn: Cellfina: A permanent solution to cellulite
August 17th at 12:15 pm
303-945-2080 David Verebelyi, MD
See page 5 for more information on Cellfina®.