May 28, 2021
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 23
VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 26
Town clerk retires after 40 years Carol Baumgartner helped incorporate town in 1981 BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Legend High School principal Jason Jacob hugged each graduating senior after they received their diploma during the May 19 PHOTOS BY ELLIOTT WENZLER ceremony.
Legend High School seniors graduate Class of 2021 celebrated commencement on May 19 BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Legend High School’s class of 2021 threw their caps in the air in celebration May 19 after each of their names was read during their graduation ceremony. The event, at EchoPark Stadium in Parker, began at 10 a.m. and consisted of speeches, poems and songs from the group of seniors. “My message to all of you is to take your time and find out what SEE GRADUATION, P9
Josh Eckert, a Legend High School graduate, addresses his fellow classmates during the May 19 graduation.
PATHWAY PROTOCOLS
Enjoying the trails with etiquette in mind
P14
When Carol Baumgartner first took on the role of municipal clerk for the Town of Parker, there were fewer than 300 people in the town. Forty years later, Baumgartner, who also helped incorporate the town back in 1981, has decided to retire. Baumgartner, a resident of Parker since 1976, was one of the town’s original residents who sprung into action after seeing that their community Baumgartner was missing essential services and amenities. “There was a group of us that decided that we needed to have our own destiny because the county wasn’t doing a lot for us at that time,” she said. Back then, many roads weren’t paved, there wasn’t any snow plowing and there were unfinished and ramshackle buildings lining the streets, she said. “The town was kind of a mess,” Baumgartner said. “It didn’t look like it does today.” Baumgartner began as town clerk in 1981, when it was a volunteer position, and has served in the role, which later transitioned to a paid position, ever since. In the early years, she also worked the job of human resources, bookkeeping and more, she said. SEE CLERK, P5
PREP SPORTS IN ACTION
Sports roundup, swimming and lacrosse P23