September 24, 2015
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Festival Guide Inside 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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FLIPPING OUT
Bus driver shortage driving concern School district says safety is priority, raises base driver wage By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com For Highlands Ranch mother Kimberly Owen, sending her children to and from Fox Creek Elementary School on the bus has been a gamble this year. “It’s been a nightmare since the beginning of the school year,” Owen said. “The very first day — of school the bus didn’t Number of students pick up on time. There transported by bus to and from school was no notification to per day in Douglas the school or the parents County that it was going to be late. They were probably — Number a good hour late.” of square miles Stephanie Van Zante’s covered by school son, a junior at Ponderodistrict buses sa High School in Parker, is regularly experiencing — Number overcrowding on his bus. of buses used by “My son either has DCSD by the school to crowd onto a bus district and has had to stand,” Van Zante said, “or wait — New for an additional bus base wage for to be dispatched by the Douglas County district, delaying him School bus drivers arriving home by 30 minutes.” Stories of late school buses, overcrowded situations and too few routes are emerging as Douglas County School District officials acknowledge the district is 30 percent short of the number of bus
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Tom Cibulski completes a flip during the Ruler of the Railzz competition at Redstone Skate Park Sept. 19. The competition was conducted by the Highlands Ranch Metro District and included kids ages 7-17 vying for prizes in seven categories with BMX, scooter and skateboard divisions. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen/ Highlands Ranch Metro District
Suicide prevention walk moves to Coors Field More than 2,000 expected to walk Out of the Darkness
By Taryn Walker twalker@coloradocommunitymedia.com The walk to raise awareness about suicide that started at Highlands Ranch High School in 2010 has grown so large it will move this year to Coors Field in Denver. More than 2,000 walkers are expected to turn out for the Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Oct. 3,
said Highlands Ranch resident Sheri Cole, the Rocky Mountain area director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “It’s one of the biggest walks in the country and the local community is so involved,” said Cole, who lost her son, David, to suicide when he was 16 years old. The walk begins at 10 a.m. with day-of registration at 8:30 a.m. Those interested can register online until Oct. 2. Walk donations will be accepted until Dec. 31. With suicide claiming more than
41,000 lives of all ages and backgrounds a year, the organization helped raise more than $150,000 last year for AFSP reasearch and hopes to surpass its goal this year, Cole said. Lisa Neison, who’s also a part of AFSP, said as of now, the group has raised more than $75,000 online. Neison lost her 19-year-old son, Adam, and three years later his father, Dave, to suicide and has been involved with spreading awareness since. Suicide continues on Page 11
Buses continues on Page 6
Driver wonders why some pass on jobs By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com Douglas County School District bus driver Larry King doesn’t understand why more people aren’t jumping at the chance to drive for the district. “Most of us drivers don’t understand why there is a shortage of drivers,” King said. “It’s a good job with benefits. People need jobs. It doesn’t make sense.” Drivers in the Douglas County School District qualify for medical, dental and vision benefits once they King hit 30 hours per week. Jobs continues on Page 6
GRAND OPENING CENTENNIAL | SEPTEMBER 27, 8AM | I-25 + COUNTY LINE RD