Littleton Indpendent 0129

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January 29, 2015 VO LUME 1 26 | IS S UE 27 | 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

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

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

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. 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.” Vets continues on Page 4

Littleton hopes project boosts retail center Plan would improve greenway behind Riverside Downs By Jennifer Smith

jsmith @coloradocommunitymedia.com Littleton City Council and South Suburban Parks and Recreation on Jan. 20 approved a plan to beautify the section of the Mary Carter Greenway Trail that runs past the Riverside Downs shopping complex, on Belleview Avenue just west of Santa Fe Drive. “We created a place where there wasn’t an opportunity before,” said Councilmember Debbie Brinkman, who represents Littleton on the South Platte Working Group. Convened in 2006 by Arapahoe County, SPWG is made up of 21 local jurisdictions and agencies that have contributed more than $25 million for projects so far. This particular project will be a public-private partnership among the city, SSPR and

Arapahoe County, which still needs to approve the plan. The plan depicts a small amphitheater facing the river on the south end of the shopping complex, where small concerts could be held. Footpaths would lead from there to the river and to Belleview Avenue, and the open space in between would have shade structures, bocce courts, stone benches, lots of bike racks, public art and a river overlook. Seating around the existing fire pit will also be flipped around, redirecting the focus of the entire center toward the river. “This river has been part of the Littleton fabric since the 1800s, and really only has been used recreationally in the last few years,” said Steve Kurtz of Littleton Capital Partners, which owns and manages the center. “We believe this type of project adds great value to our development.” Kurtz said the original plan was to orient the complex to the river, but it didn’t happen for a variety Riverside continues on Page 4

From left, Rotarians Tom Ashcraft, Peter Ewing, Mickey Kempf and Ann Tull remember Mary Bradford, whose estate made a donation to Rotary’s polio efforts. Photo by Jennifer Smith

Rotary will help share Bradford’s legacy Gift will help those with polio, like donor’s son By Jennifer Smith jsmith @coloradocommunitymedia.com Mary Bradford served countless causes with grace and generosity in her life, but one of them was more

personal than others. His name is Scott, and he’s her son. In 1957, at the age of 6, he literally became a poster child for polio. “The fact that she was so involved in this is because she didn’t have a choice,” Mickey Kempf, Scott’s older brother, told a roomful of his fellow Littleton Rotarians on Jan. 20. Mickey Kempf was there on beBradford continues on Page 4


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