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January 1, 2015 VOLU M E 2 8 | I S S UE 6
HighlandsRanchHerald.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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New state rep ready for action Kevin Van Winkle discusses goals for office By Christy Steadman
csteadman @coloradocommunitymedia.com
Mountain Vista senior Bailey Roby is shown during game action in January. Roby’s prosthetic legs led to him temporarily being ruled ineligible. File photo
Colorado Gov. John Hicklenooper embraces Desiree Davis on Aug. 16 at the dedication of Clarity Commons, a peaceful park-like memorial honoring her daughter Claire, who lost her life eight days after being shot by classmate Karl Pierson on Dec. 13, 2013. File photo
For state Rep. Kevin Van Winkle, his District 43, covering Highlands Ranch, has the reputation of being the “best place to live, work and raise a family.” As the first-term Republican takes office in January, one of his primary goals is to make sure the district’s reputation stays intact. The district was long represented by fellow Republican Frank McNulty, who was term-limited. Van Winkle, who will be sworn in on Jan. 7, sat down with Colorado Community Media to talk about how he intends to fulfill this goal and others. You recently announced you have been appointed to serve on the judiciary Van Winkle and finance committees. What background knowledge or experience will you be bringing to these two committees? I was the senior policy analyst for the Senate Republicans prior to running for office. In that role, I would read every single bill. That’s where I kind of fell in love with the nuts and the bolts of bills. The judiciary committee is normally reserved for lawyers, oftentimes trial lawyers. Being a non-lawyer, I can bring a fresh perspective to the judiciary committee that may not come from other places: the everyday person’s perspective, the small-business person’s perspective. That’s the kind of the person I want to fight for, and be the voice for. What will be your role on the judiciary committee?
Jeff Pearce offers cookies to the more than 500 people waiting in line for the opening of the Park Meadows’ L.L. Bean store Nov. 21. The south metro area’s business community continued to flourish in 2014. File photo
Valor Christian quarterback Dylan McCaffrey runs the ball during the Nov. 29 Class 5A state championship game against Cherry Creek. The Bruins came back late to win the game and end Valor’s state title streak at five. File photo
South metro stories of the year A look at the top 10 of 2014 Staff report In the south metro Denver area, this past year was one of hope and change, inspiration and pain, growth and remembrance. The following are the top 10 stories of 2014, in no particular order, as chosen by Colorado Community Media’s editorial staff.
Business is booming
In November, Colorado’s unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent, the lowest since early 2008, before the recession slammed the country. The south metro area did its part in job creation in 2014, as businesses continued to find the region an attractive place to set up shop or expand. Some of the major developments of the year: • Sterling Ranch won another legal battle in February and forged ahead in northwest Douglas County. At build-out,
the development is expected to include more than 12,000 homes and spawn a number of businesses around it. • Charles Schwab opened its new Lone Tree campus in early October. As many as 4,000 employees are ultimately expected to work inside the office buildings. • Also in October, plans were unveiled for The Jones District, and early stages of groundwork began on the mixed-use development in Centennial. The project calls for 1.8 million square feet of resi-
dential, commercial and retail establishments. • In November, a $177 million project broke ground in Castle Rock. The Promenade at Castle Rock will feature 1 million square feet of retail and dining establishments. Meanwhile, national retailers continued to pick the south metro area as their first Colorado home. Following in the footsteps of IKEA and Cabela’s in recent years, L.L. Bean chose the area, opening in Lone Tree in November. At the same time, the area continued to grow into something of a hub for the craft beer industry, with breweries popping up, particularly along the C-470 corridor.
Generally, the judiciary committee gets the very hot topics of the day. The gun bills from two years ago, those went through the judiciary committee. Or, when marijuana was legalized in Colorado. Anything that has to do with marijuana — DUIs, anything like that — goes through the judiciary committee. When there are death penalty bills, generally speaking, those go through the judiciary committee. They’re kind of the biggest topics. And very complex issues. I think that’s why they usually pick lawyers. They’re trained to do a lot of research, and boil it down to be able to vote on very complex issues. Van Winkle continues on Page 9
COACH WINS 500th
Community seeks answers, healing
The Dec. 13, 2013 shooting at Arapahoe High School left two students dead, and painful emotions and questions swirled into 2014. The biggest question seemed to be this: Could the school district have Year end continues on Page 4
INSIDE: Highlands Ranch High boys basketball coach Bob Caton reaches a milestone. See Page 18