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February 5, 2015 VOLU M E 1 1 3 | I S S UE 1 4 | 7 5 ¢
DouglasCountyNewsPress.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
WHAT’S INSIDE
Making the grade: See how Douglas County schools fared in one rating system. See Page 2
New fire station?: It’s a possibility for the Crystal Valley Ranch area. See Page 6
Telling their stories: Some World War II-era veterans take part in a project documenting their experiences. See Page 15
Workers put up zip lines in Philip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock. Castle Rock Zip Line Tours will host its grand opening March 14. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
Zip line course going up Fun begins March 14 at Castle Rock park By Mike DiFerdinando POSTAL ADDRESS
NEWS-PRESS
(ISSN 1067-425X) (USPS 567-060) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, and the towns of Castle Rock, Parker and Larkspur, the NewsPress is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media and additional mailing offices. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G E T SO CIAL WITH U S
P L EA SE RECYC L E T H I S C OPY
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com Zip lines are swinging into Castle Rock’s new Philip S. Miller Park. Castle Rock Zip Line Tours will be hosting its grand opening March 14. The 1.5-mile course will soar along at speeds of 50 mph on what the company describes
as some of the state’s longest and fastest cables. The towers and lines are already going up in the park. “It’s really coming together now. We’re finishing off the last few touches and making it pretty,” said owner Ty Seufer. “The course is awesome. I think people are really going to like it.” Zip line course are set up similar to golf courses with a “tee box” and final destination for each zip. According to Seufer, the lines will be increasingly adventurous
as you make your way through the course. “The first couple are to get you used to everything and ease you in,” Seufer said. “By 10, the dual line, you’ll be going 50 miles per hour and racing your friends.” In addition to the traditional zip lines, the “Head Rush” Epic Adventure Tower will be opening in May. The Epic Adventure tower will consist of a 42-foot climbing wall, four rappelling stations and a 70-foot eagle’s nest platform. The tower also includes a 45-de-
FOR MORE ON THE PARK, SEE PAGE 4 gree cable drop and will combine a zip line and auto belay line to provide an exciting drop to the ground below. There is not an age range as the tours are based on weight ranges, which are 50 to 250 pounds. Children ages 5-15 must Zip line continues on Page 13
County shines in economic numbers Unemployment figures hit lowest level since 2008 By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com When it comes to the economy, it’s a good time to be in Douglas County. The unemployment rate in the county fell to 3.2 percent in December — a 1.5 percentage-point drop from the same time the previous year — according to data released Jan. 27 by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, The dip below 4 percent in recent months marks the first time the county has seen such healthy employment figures since 2008. Meanwhile, sales prices for single-family homes jumped throughout the county in 2014. And, according to data compiled in September by Sentier Research, Douglas County has the sixth highest median household income in the
nation at $99,767. That’s nearly twice the national average of $52,300. “I think we have done our best to create an environment where people want to come and do business,” Douglas County Commissioner Jill Repella said. “That is one of our long-term goals for the county.” Repella pointed to a climate of less red tape and more streamlined regulation for things like licensing and building permits, as well as the use of a business personal property tax exemption to invite and stimulate economic growth. Under the tax exemption, the first $100,000 of actual value is exempted for businesses in Douglas County. The exemption was originally created for new businesses, but has seen so much success that the county has now made it available to all businesses. “We believe in strategic investment,” Repella said. Andrea LaRew, the president of the Highlands Ranch Chamber of Commerce, said the ability of all of Douglas continues on Page 13
Home sales in Douglas County A look at the median sales price of single-family homes in some Douglas County communities in 2014 and the percentage change from 2013. CASTLE ROCK: $356,000 9.4 percent HIGHLANDS RANCH: $370,000 7.8 percent LONE TREE: $634,000 34.5 percent PARKER: $369,000 10.8 percent COUNTYWIDE: $375,000 9.2 percent Source: Douglas Elbert Realtor Association website: derarealtors.com