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October 6, 2016 VOLUM E 128 | IS S UE 1 1 | 75¢
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A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
LittletonIndependent.net
ZOMBIES ENLIVEN THE WEEKEND
LITTLETON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
D istrict looks at graduation guidelines Class of 2021 will be first to graduate under new rules, which allow for more flexibility By Kyle Harding kharding@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Zombies in Littleton tend to be Broncos fans. October started with a crawl as zombies — or people and pets dressed as them — shambled down Littleton Boulevard and into downtown, led by the Rootin’ Tootin” Dixieland Jazz Band playing a New Orleans-style funeral march. The sixth annual Zombie Crawl and Pig Roast on Oct. 1 was sponsored by the Historic Downtown Littleton Merchants Association. Hundreds of zombies took part, beginning at Woodlawn Shopping Center, with some joining in late as the crawl approached the parking lot of the Reinke Bros. costume shop, where it ended with the pig roast. Greg Reinke, president of the merchants association, said the crawl is a family-friendly event that always draws a large crowd. “This is such a fun one to do,” he said.
PHOTOS BY KYLE HARDING
Zombies keep up with the latest trends, like Pokemon Go.
New graduation requirements are coming to Colorado high schools, and Littleton Public Schools is working to stay ahead of the state. The new guidelines will begin next school year with ninth-graders who will graduate in 2021 and will provide students with more options to fulfill English, math, science and social science requirements. The Colorado Department of Education began developing new graduation guidelines after a 2007 state Legislature bill mandated it, and established them last year. Now, local jurisdictions must adopt requirement that meet or exceed state guidelines. The new state guidelines give districts leeway to allow students to demonstrate math and English competency in different ways, such as by taking tests. LPS Superintendent Brian Ewert said the district plans to have its new policy in place well before the end of this school year in order to give incoming ninth-graders and their parents maximum time to prepare. He hopes that the LPS Board of Education will adopt the new guidelines by the end of October. According to the CDE, about 75 percent of jobs in the state will require some form of post-secondary education or training by 2020, and 40 percent of students enter college unprepared for their classes. While a traditional approach to moving on to higher education after graduation has driven much of high school class choices, the guidelines the board of education is considering gives weight to Graduation continues on Page 18
PUMPKIN TIME
In lieu of brains, most zombies will eat roast pork, corn and potatoes.
Jazzy the husky-collie mix is proof that dogs are not immune to becoming zombies.
It isn’t autumn without the popular flavoring added to just about everything. PAGE 14
LITTLETON INDEPENDENT (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 315-780) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Littleton, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 2550 S. Main St., Littleton, CO 80120. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT LITTLETON, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 5 p.m. | Classifieds: Tue. 8 a.m. | Obits: Tue. 11 a.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.