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December 12, 2014 VOLU M E 1 4 | I SS UE 3
CentennialCitizen.net A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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A year of living with tragedy Community deals with Arapahoe High shooting in myriad ways By Jennifer Smith
jsmith @coloradocommunitymedia.com One year ago, it was unimaginable that two lives would end violently inside the walls of Arapahoe High School. But on Dec. 13, 2013, that’s exactly what happened. Senior Karl Pierson walked into the building with a gun, mortally wounded classmate Claire Davis, then killed himself in the school library. It all took less than two minutes. In all the minutes since, emotions in the community have run the gamut from heartbreak to confusion, anger to hope, fear to Warrior pride. “It’s a beautiful conundrum we face now: each of us being both `Warrior Strong’ and needing to lean on each other more than ever,” wrote AHS senior Anna Sutterer in a story for Colorado Community Media in January.
The tragic event galvanized the community into action. Dozens of fundraisers have brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars to go toward the library renovation, mental-health support, anti-bullying programs and Clarity Commons, an acre of peace on the AHS campus initiated by Davis family friend Bob Lembke. “Kids hopefully will leave messages for others or for their future selves,” he said. “Every one of them, to some degree, has been changed by this. Some profoundly, some positively, some maybe not. It’s been a consistent drumbeat about how to deal with the worst side of life.” While Littleton Public Schools has officially remained mostly silent, the district has taken actions toward protecting the well-being of its students. It created an advisory committee that will focus on mental health and school security. The board of education allocated $810,000 for an inhouse mental-health clinic and $200,000 for additional school resource officers. The library was completely remodeled and open in time for the new school year. “There is no doubt that LPS continues to be a special place with unprecedented support from its communities,” Superintendent Scott Murphy, who in October announced he was retiring effective June 15, wrote in a letter to parents in November. AHS continues on Page 10
Remembrance ceremony scheduled for Dec. 13 Staff report An event designed to help the community heal will be held on the Arapahoe High School campus Dec. 13, a year after the fatal shooting at the school, a news release announced Dec. 9. The candlelight remembrance ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Clarity Commons on the school’s campus, 2201 E. Dry Creek Road, Centennial. Clarity Commons is a peaceful, park-like space that was dedicated on Aug. 16, what would have been Arapahoe High shooting victim Claire Davis’ 18th birthday. Gov. John Hickenlooper, student body president Sanjay Patil and Michael Davis, Claire’s father, are ex-
pected to speak. The event will also be an opportunity to give back. Representatives from TLC Meals on Wheels and Denver Health’s Family Crisis Center will be on hand to collect donations. “Choose to Love is the theme of Clarity Commons and the message we hope people will take away from Saturday’s remembrance,” Desiree Davis, Claire’s mother, said in the news release. “One way the community can choose to love is by supporting two very special organizations…Even if you can’t be with us on Saturday, we hope you’ll consider honoring our daughter by supporting these charities.”
Michael and Desiree Davis, parents of Claire Davis, clasp hands as an emotional moment passes during the Aug. 16 opening of Clarity Commons on the campus of Arapahoe High School. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is seated first from the left, and behind him is Littleton Public Schools Superintendent Scott Murphy. Seated next to Murphy is Arapahoe High principal Natalie Pramenko. Photo by Deborah Grigsby
State Rep. Swalm ready for next chapter The term-limited Republican legislator will finish in January By Christy Steadman
csteadman @coloradocommunitymedia.com Initially, he thought he would dread the task. But knocking on doors — listening to the people — became one of Spencer Swalm’s favorite things from the years he spent as a Colorado state representative. Swalm, 63, will finish eight years as the representative for District 37 early next year because of term limits. The district, which en-
compasses much of Centennial, is a competitive one, Swalm said, and because he ran every two years, he had to ring a lot of doorbells. “It turned out that most people had never had an elected official come to their front door,” he said. “Most people were very appreciative.” Frank McNulty, a fellow Republican and the representative for District 43, which consists primarily of Highlands Ranch, went on a couple of these walks with Swalm. “He was the voice of common sense,” said McNulty, Swalm who is also term-limited. “He would bring a real-world perspective to an issue.” One thing Swalm, and other elected of-
ficials, generally struggle with, Swalm said, is the willingness to “say what needs to be said, no matter what people will say about you.” “(And) do it in a way that won’t cause an explosion,” he added. He used to talk routinely about issues surrounding children being born outside of wedlock, which is one of those taboo topics, he said. Affordable healthcare for the average person is something Swalm advocated in his political career. A background as a health insurance broker contributed to his knowledge of the topic. “He had to earn a living under what was passed in the Legislature,” McNulty said, which brought “a good perspective to the debate.” During his time in office, Swalm worked on a pilot program that focused on the San
Luis Valley. Historically, it is a low-income part of the state, and most of the residents there couldn’t afford healthcare, he said. Low-income families, the “forgotten people,” are the ones where a lot of attention should be directed, Swalm said. It would have allowed low-income people to buy affordable health insurance, Swalm said. “Some insurance is better than no insurance at all.” The plan would have provided purchasers an annual benefit of $50,000. However, under Obamacare, it was no longer permissible, Swalm said. President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, into law on March 23, 2010. Swalm also placed high importance on Swalm continues on Page 9