Englewood Herald 0130

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January 29, 2015 VOLU M E 9 4 | I S S UE 49 | 7 5 ¢

EnglewoodHerald.net A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O

A publication of

WHAT’S INSIDE

Guiding light: A victim advocate has helped many during her 30 years on the job. See Page 2

Dames of Downton: Event tells the stories of American heiresses. See Page 15

Join the club: Is specializing in one sport good for high school athletes? See Page 25

Rodney Miller gets a hug from his sister as he and four other men became the first graduates from the 18th Judicial District’s Veterans Treatment Court. The program is designed to help veterans in the criminal justice system get their lives back on track. Photo by Tom Munds

Area veterans back on track Event marks first graduation from intensive court program POSTAL ADDRESS

By Tom Munds

tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com Drop and do 20 push-ups. The five graduates from the Veterans Treatment Court agreed their program should end like it began. So veterans, police officers, prosecutors, public defenders, probation officers and others involved in the program dropped to the floor and counted the push-ups as they took part in the activity that culminated the Jan. 16 graduation ceremonies.

ENGLEWOOD HERALD

(ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 176-680) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Englewood Herald is published weekly on Friday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT Littleton, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US

P L EA SE R ECYC L E T H I S C OPY

Five military veterans whose lives had been on slippery slopes celebrated gaining solid footing and the opportunity for a bright future that completion of the program provided. “I am so grateful for this program because, today, I feel like my life is back where it should have been when I got out of the service,” graduate Kevin Slack said after the ceremonies. “I messed things up when I messed with drugs and alcohol. This program has reversed all the negatives, and my life is back where it should be.” He said jail time was painful, but it was the birth of a desire to get his life back on track. “I thank all the veterans and the court personnel who encouraged me to stick with the program and to complete treatment,” he said. “I feel I am

ready to get to the next level where I am 100 percent accountable for myself.” The Veterans Treatment Court is one of several 18th Judicial District problem-solving courts. The goal is to ensure community safety while participants receive treatment and the help they need to return as active, contributing members of the community. Participants may reside anywhere in the district, which encompasses Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties. There are currently 21 veterans enrolled in the program. The number is expected to grow to 30 — the maximum the program can accommodate — in the next couple months. Vets continues on Page 4

Dogs help kids gain reading skills Library hosts Paws to READ twice a month By Tom Munds

tmunds @coloradocommunitymedia.com Connor’s tail wagged as Bruktawite Dadi read him a story. Bruktawite was one of the children who read stories to the golden retriever during the Jan. 17 Paws to READ program at the Englewood Public Library. Bruktawite said she loved to read to the dog. “I like it because I really like doggies and I like to read,” the girl said. “I don’t have a doggie so it is sort of like this is my doggie.” She said reading to the dog helps her learn her words. “Reading out loud to the doggie helps me learn to be brave because I don’t really like to talk out loud to other people,” the Littleton Academy fifth-grader said. The library hosts the Paws to

READ program on the first and third Saturdays of each month. The library listing for the Paws to READ states the Denver Pet Partners supplies the four-footed listeners and parents provide the readers. The listeners are Reading Education Assistance Dogs who, along with their owners volunteer their time to the two-hour sessions. Jackie Benson, Connor’s owner, said she and her dog have been Paws to READ volunteers for five years. Connor was a Hurricane Katrina dog from Louisiana she adopted from a golden retriever rescue organization when she was living in Houston. She calls Connor her Cajun puppy. “Connor loves kids so he likes being here. I like being here too because I like helping kids learn to read better,” she said. “It is a fun volunteer thing to do. Maybe because I love to read, I enjoy seeing the reading skills improvement of kids who come every month.” Jordan Hegui, Englewood’s Dogs continues on Page 4

Bruketawite Dadi reads to the dog Connor and Jackie Benson, the dog’s owner, while the girl’s brother Nathnael waits his turn. The children took part in Paws to READ on Jan. 17 at the Englewood Public Library. Twice a month, owners bring their Reading Education Assistance Dogs to the Englewood Library so children can read aloud to the dog. Photo by Tom Munds


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