October 29, 2020
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 25
VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 38
Voter turnout rises in Douglas County That’s due in part to ballots going out earlier, officials say BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County is seeing a higher volume of ballots cast compared to the same period in 2016, according to county officials. As of Oct. 23, about 58,500 more ballots had been returned in Douglas County compared to the same period in 2016, said county Clerk and Record-
er Merlin Klotz. “Volume is higher, there’s no question about it,” Klotz said. That could be in part because of ballots going out nearly a week earlier this year, Klotz said. The county used a new, faster printer service for ballots and the post office “knocked it out of the park,” he said. There’s also been a higher emphasis from each political party on voting early. “That I appreciate,” Klotz, a Republican, said. “Our first counts are better when people vote early.” The county’s increase in population SEE TURNOUT, P11
A list of secure drop box locations for Douglas County voters is available at DouglasVotes.com. PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER
A little litter goes a long way Cleanup starts eco conversation in Lone Tree, group hopes BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Three members of the Lone Tree Sustainability Team — Carol and Steven Sorensen, and Kathy Reiner — paused on a corner at Heritage Hills Circle and Yosemite Street to compare their hauls of trash Oct. 24. Each bag was nearly full. The sun finally started to warm their shoulders and, when they looked around at the bustling shopping complex around them, they could smile and feel like they made a difference. They laughed, posed for photos and brainstormed ways to increase their efforts. Cars came and went from the fast-food restaurant behind them, just one of the culprits for the litter they find scattered in their Fairways neighborhood across the street. For a split second, a person stopped their car at the intersection and SEE CLEANUP, P12
Quarantine protocols modified School district staffers hope new guidance will decrease disruption to learning BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Gary Mendenhall places a piece of trash in a bag held by his wife, Susan. The bag nearly filled up in a short, half-mile walk down Fairview Drive. The couple was determined to complete a two-mile route around the park. Occasional passersby would shout “thank you” and, to Susan and Gary, that was enough. PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT
NEXT WEEK
Look for coverage of the Nov. 3 election in next week’s print edition and on our website at LoneTreeVoice.net
The Douglas County School District is changing its approach to COVID-19 quarantines — under the blessing of new state guidelines — in hopes the new protocols will lessen the scope of quarantines and as a result, lessen the disruption to students’ education. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment relaxed guidance for quarantines after the first several weeks of school resulted in thousands of students in the state being sent home and asked to quarantine. SEE QUARANTINE, P12
WHEEL DEAL
Community bike shops offer help, skills to kids
P16