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October 13, 2016 VO LUM E 29 | IS S U E 47 | FREE
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County’s homeless have new shelter option Church network will house women and children during cold months
By Jessica Gibbs jgibbs@coloradocommunitymedia.com For Nicole Bell, 32, a kitchen table has real significance. The homeless mother of five has
been living in a Lone Tree hotel for more than two years. For the sake of space and efficient parenting, her two oldest children live with their father in Castle Rock. Today, Bell struggles to remember the last time she could sit her children down at their own kitchen table for dinner. “I’ve been homeless and poor for so long ...,” she said. “I hate it and I’m trying so hard to get out of that.”
A new hope This winter, Bell and families like hers will have a new safety net. As part of the inaugural Winter Weather Shelter program, eight Douglas County churches have committed to act as shelters for Douglas County’s homeless women and children, opening their doors each night of the week from Nov. 1 through March 31. Men will be provided assistance such as hotel vouchers, but churches are un-
THE ARTIST’S MUSE
able to house men, women and children together for purposes of safety and privacy, program officials said. Nicole DeVries, an outreach director with Southeast Christian Church in Parker, said program organizers identified single women and their children as some of the greatest in need, based on the percentage they make up of Douglas County’s homeless population.
Homeless continues on Page 35
‘People’s moods this year are very different’ Unpopular candidates and a polarized electorate typify 2016 presidential race By Tom Skelley tskelley@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Dorothy Dhooge, 82, has watched a lot of election cycles come and go, but this year’s presidential race may be the most divisive she’s seen. Dhooge, an Arapahoe County resident, said the tension has caused her to avoid talking politics with some of her own family members. “We steer clear of it,” she said, adding that she thinks the divisions run beyond just her own family. “I think it’s split people in the country.”
Election continues on Page 8
Raegan Young, 4, takes her pumpkin painting seriously as she decides just what colors will make for the best, most artistic result. A beautiful fall day Oct. 8 brought families — including Raegan and her mom, Jenny, who live in Highlands Ranch — to Schweiger Ranch’s annual fall festival. The historic ranch in Lone Tree, just southeast of I-25 and Ridgegate Parkway, had something for everyone, including a pumpkin patch, bluegrass music, apple-picking and haywagon rides. Photo by Ann Macari Healey
Improvements planned for Backcountry HRCA seeking input for amenities on open land By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunity The Highlands Ranch Community Association is planning for improvements in the Backcountry Wilderness Area, a stretch of 8,200 acres of open land southwest of the community. The potential improvements — which include a covered pavilion, ropes course, horse facility,
archery range and additional trails — will make up approximately 20 acres. “These are preliminary plans,” Backcountry Wilderness Area Director Mark Giebel said at a Backcountry Q&A session at Westridge Recreation Center on Oct. 6. “We are drawing bubbles on a map — the next step will be drawing buildings on a map.” The Backcountry Planning Areas Committee, a group of six volunteers who evaluated information from community surveys on the land in years past, presented the recommendations
last year to the HRCA Board of Directors and delegates, who represent Highlands Ranch neighborhoods. The HRCA is now developing a conceptual plan, which includes choosing one of five locations in the Backcountry. A bylaw states that the project must have approval from delegates. Delegate Jim Allen, also on the Backcountry Planning Areas, said more people should be familiar with what is in the Backcountry.
COMING NEXT WEEK: ELECTION GUIDE Don’t miss Colorado Community Media’s guide to the 2016 local and state elections in next week’s edition.
READY, SET, GO Kids’ running programs get children excited about physical fitness on PAGE 12
Backcountry continues on Page 35
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