November 5, 2015
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Challengers sweep the slate Lemieux, Vogel and Ray win nearly 60 percent of the vote for Douglas County School Board By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com A crowd of supporters gathered on Election Night at the Southern Hospitality barbecue restaurant in Lone Tree to cheer on the incumbent candidates for Douglas County School Board as results came in.
The night didn’t go as they expected. Anne-Marie Lemieux, Wendy Vogel and David Ray — candidates who oppose the school district’s reform policies of the past several years — ousted incumbents Kevin Larsen, Craig Richardson and Richard Robbins. Each challenger won with at least 58 percent of the more than 82,000 votes counted by the end of Nov. 3. “The voters of Douglas County have spoken,” said Larsen, the school board president. “They clearly touched on a
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nerve that people responded to.” In District C, Lemieux, a former teacher, took 58.3 percent of the vote in her race against Larsen.
“We are happy for our community. We’re happy for our schools,” Lemieux said. “We’re happy for our educators and most especially, we are happy for our kids. This is a very good day for Douglas County.” In District F, Ray, a former DCSD principal, won 59 percent of the vote against Robbins. In District A, Vogel, a school district parent and volunteer, garnered 58.7 percent of the vote in the race with Richardson. Election continues on Page 8
Residential group homes spur debate Neighbors worry about safety and traffic concerns, but supporters laud benefits By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Norma Grigs was pleased to see what was left of the barn silo on the old Grigs dairy farm homestead in the backcountry of Highlands Ranch. “The silo did exist,” she said. “I knew I wasn’t dreaming!” Photo by Alex DeWind
Woman takes walk into past Remains of family dairy farm spark memories
By Alex DeWind adewind@coloradocommunitymedia.com An old homestead rests in the backcountry of Highlands Ranch. Rhyolite rocks line its base. Its rich wood is cracked and split, its windows gone. Its skeleton
has been worn down over the years. But the decaying home means a lot to Norma Grigs, 87, who spent a recent afternoon walking around her late husband’s family property. “The last time I was here,” says Grigs, “a bee stung Bill right on the forehead and he went into shock. I had to drag him back to the car.” Bill Grigs, her husband, passed away four years ago. His father, Edgar, grew up
Valor unveils $34M arts venue Facility could be available for community use in 2016
By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com Valor Christian has opened the doors on a 94,000-square-foot arts venue that is the first of its kind at the high school level in Colorado. The building took seven years to complete and cost more than $34 million. “The reason we are investing that much is because Valor has this vison — we believe that media and the arts are a huge communications portal to our culture,” said Arie Ringnalda, director of Valor arts+media. “So if we are going to teach kids to be leaders with strong
on the homestead, which was part of the Grigs dairy farm that spanned more than 1,000 acres in what is now part of Highlands Ranch’s backcountry. The backcountry is 8,200 acres of open space that runs along Grigs and McArthur Ranch roads. Grigs and her daughter, Jeannine Colley, were invited to see the homestead by Jamie Noebel, director of community
For Highlands Ranch resident Cathy Mumper, the decision to move her father, who was beginning to experience symptoms of dementia, to a group home four years ago has been a good one. The small size and familial environment provide comfortable, secure and personal care, she said. “It keeps him in a place where his anxiety doesn’t come up because he feels safe.” But some Highlands Ranch residents are unhappy with the location of two group homes for seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s in their neighborhoods and the proposed building of a third. Homes continues on Page 9
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Grigs continues on Page 9
CHAMPS, ONCE AGAIN
COMPARING COSTS A look at what it cost to build some of the newest arts venues in the south metro area: • Valor Center (Highlands Ranch): $34 million • Lone Tree Arts Center: $23 million • PACE Center (Parker): $21.7 million
values that benefit society, we have to do that well on the arts side.” According to Ringnalda, the majority of the project was funded by nine Valor continues on Page 5
Members of the Mountain Vista boys cross-country team hold the trophy and championship banner after they won their fourth straight Class 5A championship on Oct. 31. For more coverage, turn to page 25. Photo by Tom Munds