August 25, 2016 VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 32
SEE SPECIAL CENTER SPREAD INSIDE THIS PAPER!
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Departure leaves board at crossroads Group now split 3-3 on policies of school district reform By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@coloradocommunitymedia.com Douglas County School Board member Doug Benevento’s resignation has left the board with three members who support the school district’s reform policies and three who oppose them. The remaining board members hold
the choice of a replacement, and quite possibly, the direction of the Douglas County School District, in their hands. “The person who fills this board member vacancy will need to have a common passion for moving forward with the efforts to restore our district back Benevento to its state of excellence,” board member David Ray said. Judith Reynolds, board vice president, wants to find someone who can “hit the
ground running.” “I would look for someone with the ability to look at the big-picture issues but still sees the details, someone who is a problem solver and someone who is student focused,” Reynolds said. Benevento — who was three years into his second term when he announced his resignation Aug. 17 — was a strong supporter of school choice and pay-forperformance for teachers as a member of the reform-minded majority on the board. An attorney who lives in Highlands Ranch, he was first elected in 2009 and re-elected
HAPPY 20TH, PARK MEADOWS
in 2013. Term limits would have prevented him from running in the next school board election in November 2017. Benevento was among the four board members who voted to approve a contract for interim superintendent Erin Kane, president of a local charter school, the night of Aug. 16. Reynolds, board president Meghann Silverthorn and Dr. James Geddes also approved hiring Kane, while the three members who have largely opposed reform measures dissented. Board continues on Page 7
Lone Tree resident indicted in heroin ring Drugs, firearm, cash seized during arrest at apartment By Josh Sumner jsumner@colorado communitymedia.com
Anna and Elsa from the Disney movie “Frozen” took pictures with children Aug. 20 at the street fair celebrating the 20th anniversary of Park Meadows in Lone Tree. Park Meadows mall in Lone Tree celebrated its 20th anniversary Aug.19 and 20 with a street fair. The weekend-long event began the night of Aug. 19 with a performance by the band Firefall before ending early due to rain. On Aug. 20, the sun came out for an afternoon that featured a beer garden, street performers, food sampling from local restaurants and children’s activities such as face painting and balloon animals. Park Meadows opened its doors Aug. 30, 1996.
PHOTOS BY MIKE DIFERDINANDO
COMING NEXT WEEK
Jack Bonneau sells lemonade from his stand at the street fair.
A look at the evolution of Park Meadows and the role it plays in Lone Tree and the area.
A Lone Tree man has been named in a grand jury indictment as the leader of a drug-trafficking network throughout the Denver metro area that had $2.2 million worth of heroin seized in recent raids. Jose DeJesus BernalZamora was at his apartment in the 9000 block of South Yosemite Street when law enforcement officers executed a search warrant July 27, according to the indictment, which was issued Aug. 11. OffiBernalcers turned up more than Zamora a kilogram of heroin, approximately 131 grams of cocaine, a 9mm Beretta pistol and $10,498 in cash during the seizure. “The drug epidemic is still going on, and it’s going to continue,” said Lone Tree interim police Chief Ron Pinson, whose agency was not involved in the operation. Pinson said the popularity of heroin has risen during his more than 25 years in law enforcement. “When I was on the road, you didn’t see heroin,” said Pinson. “If you ran across heroin, it was a surprise. Now, it’s prevalent.” Heroin continues on Page 9
UNSUNG HEROES Long snappers for area football teams take their role seriously. Check out this story and others as we continue our fall sports previews on PAGE 22.
Children get their faces painted at the Park Meadows street fair.
A performer entertains at the street fair in Lone Tree.