June 10, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 21
‘THIS IS OUR HISTORY’
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 16
Council aims to remove dog breed restrictions Ordinance to end ban on pit bulls heads toward second reading BY MADDIE BROWNING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
George Rodriguez kneels before the grave of his wife Katherine. “I was the one who went away to war, but she was a Navy wife,” George said. “She endured. Now she rests among those who died for this country. It’s a great honor, and one day I’ll join her here.” PHOTOS BY DAVID GILBERT
Remembering the fallen on Memorial Day BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
J
ames Hessel came home from school on Sept. 11, 2001, and told his mom he was joining the Marines. “He felt it was his patriotic duty after that terrible day,” said Hessel’s mom, Kathie Newman. “I told him to look into some of the other military branches. The Marines are pretty hardcore.” But Hessel was set on the Marines, and was sent to Iraq. “Every day, my pride and my fear lived side by side,” Newman said. Eventually, Hessel came home, but he wasn’t the same. SEE MEMORIAL, P6
Kirk Newman, left, and Kathie Newman sit before the grave of their son James Hessel, a veteran of Iraq who died by suicide days before his 28th birthday. The Newmans spend every Memorial Day at Fort Logan National Cemetery in southwest Denver.
SUNNY SKIES
How to protect your skin in the sun P14
Lone Tree City Attorney Linda Michow presented an ordinance June 2 to remove the city’s dog breed restrictions, and the proposed change got unanimous council approval on first reading. Michow explained that the council adopted a specific dog breed ban in 2006, following many other cities. At the time, pit bull terriers were considered stronger and more violent than other dog breeds, but public safety and welfare concerns have subsided. “Since that time, however, many communities have decided to focus less on the breed or appearance of dogs and more on behavior,” Michow said. She explained that Lone Tree already has animal behavior regulations in its municipal code, including a section that addresses less threatening behavior and another section that discusses vicious animal behavior. Surrounding municipalities have already repealed their pit bull bans, including Aurora, Castle Rock, Commerce City, Denver and Fort Lupton, according to the ordinance’s staff report. This ordinance would amend SEE PIT BULLS, P16
HIGH COURT SPORTS ACTION
Tennis players face off, target state titles P21