Lone Tree Voice 9
October 20, 2016
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Fire Department — which is now South Metro Fire Rescue, a district that encompasses Centennial, Parker, Lone Tree and other areas of Arapahoe and Douglas counties. His grandpa knew the fire chief and his father took him for visits often. “I don’t think they quite anticipated that I would visit all the time,” Hurst said. The Littleton resident remembers being immediately drawn to that one red firetruck. More than two decades later, he saw the truck for sale online on a YouTube channel called The Fast Lane Truck and jumped at the opportunity, for which he paid $13,000. The truck now serves as a trip down memory lane for Hurst and his fellow firefighters, such as Lt. Mike DeBoer, who joined the Castlewood Fire Department in 1991. “It’s become a symbol of where we came from,” Hurst said. “It contributes to the firefighters who made us who we are today.” The truck, which was in service from 1970 to 2000, was used to respond to aircraft crashes at Centennial Airport. At the time, Hurst’s father-in-law, Wayne Austgen, was the public information officer for Castlewood Fire Department. He recalls stories of that very same fire
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sure we are serving the needs our kids. That’s something I’m thinking about as we are looking at those positions.” None of the positions has been filled. Kane, in charge of the hiring process, said she didn’t want to give a timeline for filling those roles. “They’re all positions that are a challenge to fill, but I don’t want to rush and make bad decisions,” Kane said. “We have to make good decisions going forward. We’re taking our time and making sure we get it right.” The turnover concerns Board of Education Vice President Judith Reynolds because of the challenges
A safe place to
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truck, including one occasion in the early 1990s when it was hit by a plane. “There was a firefighter in the cab,” Hurst said. “He came out untouched.” DeBoer, who joined the Castlewood Fire Department in 1991, remembers driving the truck to and from the airport. After Hurst bought the truck, DeBoer helped him replicate the Castlewood Fire Department lettering that had worn over the years. He has a graphic design business on the side. “We tried to make it look just like it did back in the day,” DeBoer said. The truck isn’t large and bulky like modern day fire engines. It has a cab and a bed. Its color
is a faded red with chips and marks acquired more than 40 years ago. Castlewood Fire Department is printed on the side in vintage yellow lettering. Its technology is old school — the dashboard is analog and a shifter sits on the floor. Hanging on the window are two weathered firefighter hats. “It’s a time capsule of a truck,” Hurst said. Hurst plans to feature the truck in the Littleton Fire Muster, held annually during the summer, as well as local events and parades. He describes himself a fire rescue historian and plans to use the truck to preserve memories. “There’s a lot of character to it,” he said. “All the scratches and dings have their own stories.”
of hiring out of the typical hiring season, which is generally spring and summer, and hiring into an interim situation. However, she said she is confident Kane can handle the situation. “Superintendent Kane and her team have a plan in place for covering the gaps, and are committed to hiring quality people into positions,” Reynolds said. “ I am confident in her and the staff’s ability to cover the positions that need to be covered, whether that is through a hire or restructuring of duties.” School board member David Ray said that while turnover can cause unrest, it can also lead to positive change. “This allows hiring and retaining upper-level administration who are motivated to restore our district to a place of excellence,” Ray said. School board President Meghann Silverthorn said the turnover at the
administrative level also makes her nervous because it means people with institutional knowledge are leaving the district. The goal should be to maintain as much continuity as possible, she said. “It happens all the time, but I want to make sure that we can find a way to keep doing business so that it doesn’t impact students,” Silverthorn said. “They should never know that there is turnover and things going on at the top level. We should be able to provide all of the same opportunities to them that we always have regardless of what’s going on in central administration.” The departures are not unexpected, school board member Wendy Vogel said. “We are clearly in a period of change,” she said, “and I am confident there will be excellent people willing to step into to those positions.”
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Eric Hurst, 32, stands next to the same fire truck he sat in as a 5- or 6-yearold. “I was always infatuated with the fire department growing up,” said Hurst. He stumbled upon a for-sale video for the truck a few weeks ago, and he bought it. Photo by Alex DeWind
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Colorado Community Media is proud to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a fun contest for you, our readers!
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Search this week’s paper and count the pink ribbons. Search carefully, you will find pink ribbons in ads, editorial features, and more!
your guess online for a chance to win 2 Enter weekly prizes! Online submissions must be received before 11:59 PM October 23, 2016. Winner will be announced in next week’s paper. ● For each ribbon in the paper, CCM will make a monetary donation to local breast cancer research. ● CCM will also feature inspirational stories throughout the month of October to encourage further awareness and support within our local communities.
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Breast cancer affects us all, and early detection can save lives. There is no cure for breast cancer, but mammograms can save lives by finding breast cancer as early as possible. Every woman, beginning at age 40, should schedule a mammogram and a physical every year. Women should also perform a thorough breast self-exam once a month. Help spread awareness in your community by educating your neighbors and friends on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and encourage the women you know to schedule a mammogram today.