March 24, 2016
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VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 9
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Q&A WITH LONE TREE GYMNAST JACQUELINE KRANITZ
Local athlete wins ‘Arnold’ contest
COUNTY ASSEMBLIES Find out who the parties chose to appear on ballot. PAGE 4
School board votes to revive vouchers Revised version removes religious facilities from Douglas County program By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Jacqueline “Jax” Kranitz, 15, left, of Lone Tree, stands next to Arnold Schwarzenegger as the first ever winner of the Miss Arnold Teen Fitness competition. Courtesy photo
Girl is first winner of national Miss Arnold Teen Fitness competition
By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com Jacqueline “Jax” Kranitz, 15, of Lone Tree became the winner of the first Miss Arnold Teen Fitness competition in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this month. Contestants from around the country submitted a video and a detailed application in order to be chosen to compete. Scores were based on a two-minute fitness routine, fitness wear and a gown competition. The judging panel featured Olympic champion speed skater Apollo Ono, three former Mr. Olympia fitness champions, two talent scouts and the editor of Pageantry magazine. Kranitz is also a longtime gymnast and has already committed to a full gymnastics scholarship to the University of Iowa in 2018. The Miss Arnold Teen Fitness Pageant is part of the yearly Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, and is designed to promote fit and healthy lifestyles in youths. The winner is expected to become an advocate for raising awareness of health and fitness in schools and communities nationwide. Kranitz took some time recently to answer questions from Colorado
How did it feel to be the first winner of the Miss Arnold Teen Competition? It was very special being the first one to ever win. But it feels even more special to be the first one to have that experience. Not just winning, but doing the whole thing in general. It was a really fun thing to be a part of and taught me a lot of things. I’m really glad I did it. What will you remember most about the experience? The girls. Going into the pageant, I didn’t know what to expect from the other competitors. I know that can be kind of a tough world, but all of the girls there were very nice and supportive. I’m very glad to have met them all. How did you get into fitness? When I was in eighth grade I took a season off of gymnastics due to injury and I really needed something physical to do. I did the Warrior Classic fitness competition here in Colorado for fun in the teen fitness category. I also had to miss some time doing gymnastics this year because of injuries and this opportunity presented itself. I remembered how fun the Warrior one was so I went for it. Fitness continues on Page 6
The Douglas County School Board has passed a revised version of the school district’s voucher program that removes religiously affiliated schools as an option. The 4-3 vote on March 15 to approve the revision to the Choice Scholarship Program comes nine months after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled the original version of the program was illegal. No public funds can be used to aid or support any “sectarian” institution, the court ruled. The school district appealed the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. A decision has not been made on whether the court will hear the case, but the appeal will continue, a district spokeswman said. School board member Doug Benevento said the district now has a clear direction from the courts about what is allowable under state law and should proceed with the new program. Benevento “They made the decision that you cannot have a voucher program that includes religious schools — therefore, we won’t,” he said. Cindy Barnard — president of the group that filed the original lawsuit against the district to stop the voucher Voucher continues on Page 6
NET GAINS Jacqueline “Jax” Kranitz takes part in the Miss Teen Fitness competition, with scores based on a fitness routine, fitness wear and a gown competition.
In tennis, the second serve is one of the most important parts of the game. PAGE 22
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