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January 22, 2015 VO LUME 1 26 | IS S UE 2 6 | 7 5 ¢
LittletonIndependent.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
New dependencies: Are we addicted to social media and technology? See Page 2
High-tech facilities: South metro libraries are more than books these days. See Page 15
Down, but not out: Heritage loses to Denver East but looks to improve. See Page 23
POSTAL ADDRESS
Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education students help Karen Brown re-enact the Ironman competition she competed in. Photo by Jennifer Smith
Female Ironman aims to inspire Littleton resident shares her story with kids By Jennifer Smith
LITTLETON INDEPENDENT (ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 315-780) OFFICE: 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Littleton Independent 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
jsmith @coloradocommunitymedia.com In the Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education library on Jan. 14, there sat the world’s future pro hockey players, veterinar-
ians, writers — who knows what lies ahead in the life of a fifth-grader? Anything is possible, says Karen Brown. When she was about their age, she couldn’t have known that randomly changing TV channels one day would transform her from a teenage girl into Ironman. “I always had this feeling inside that I could do bigger things,” Brown told the fifthgraders at the Littleton school. “But I didn’t really understand how to get it out.” It was Julie Moss who inspired Brown to
set out on a journey to someday finish the annual Ironman competition in Hawaii, which she did in 2012. Thirty years before that, Brown saw Moss literally crawling over the finish line after her body simply gave out. She’d held the lead all day, but just one competitor passed her in the end. “I was absolutely stunned, and so excited,” said Brown. Brown was there to hopefully share that Ironman continues on Page 4
Committee takes hard look at LPS security District seeks help finding gaps after Arapahoe High tragedy By Jennifer Smith
jsmith @coloradocommunitymedia.com The Littleton Public Schools Safety and Mental Health Advisory Committee, formed to tackle questions raised in the aftermath of the 2013 Arapahoe High School shooting, heard from the district’s director of security and emergency planning during its second meeting, held Jan. 14. “It takes a community to keep the schools safe,” Guy Grace told Security continues on Page 4
Officials with the Littleton Public Schools security team review best practices with members of the district’s new Safety and Mental Health Advisory Committee. Photo by Jennifer Smith