WEEK OF JUNE 12, 2025
Dispatchers surprise boy with Superhero Award
10-year-old showed maturity, poise when calling to report medical emergency involving brother
BY HALEY LENA
When faced with an emergency, there can be a lot of emotions running through a person’s head as they dial 911 and speak to a dispatcher.
But when 10-year-old Eli Carey had to call 911 to help his baby brother earlier this spring, he remained calm.
“Eli did something incredible that not a lot of adults can normally do,” said Nick Bloss, a dispatcher with Douglas County Regional Dispatch. e Douglas Regional 911 Communications Center provides dispatch to more than a dozen agencies throughout Douglas and Elbert counties — including the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce, re rescue and emergency medical services — and receives thousands of calls.
Voters eye home rule as election approaches
Public debate has intensified as June 24 balloting nears
BY JULIA KING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Douglas County voters have begun to receive ballots for a June 24 special election that could change how the county is governed.
Introduced by county commissioners in March, the home rule vote has grown into a countywide conversation marked by division and debate. e ballot asks whether the county should write its own home rule charter — and if so, who should help write
Nearly 9,000 residents attended or livestreamed a county-hosted town hall on May 28 designed to explain the home rule process. Commissioner Abe Laydon opened the meeting by framing the measure as a chance to reclaim local autonomy.
“It’s not that deep. is is all about local control,” he said. “Are we OK with how the state handled the COVID pandemic? And are we OK with how the state has enabled illegal immigration?”
So when Bloss received the call from Carey, she was amazed by his maturity.
“It’s not often that we have children callers,” said Bloss.
“He showed a level of maturity that we don’t see very often.”
On April 30, around 10:40 p.m., Carey saw his 8-week-old brother choking, and he immediately wanted to do something to help.
He was initially nervous to call 911 because he was unsure who he was going to talk to, but once he got on the phone, he gave his address, including the correct spelling of the street he lives on, as well as a phone number.
“As a dispatcher, the most important thing I need from you during an emergency is your location, otherwise I won’t be able to get you
County Attorney Je Garcia followed with a 30-minute presentation on the legal and procedural mechanics of home rule. But as the meeting moved into public comment, tensions rose. Only six questions were taken, leaving more residents in line, and the session ended with commissioners calling for order as attendees demanded additional time to speak.
One resident who did get to ask a question during the public comment period challenged both the need for structural change and the tone of the presentation.
“It was very clear to me … that you’re trying to sell this to us, and that’s not your job as a county attorney,” the attendee said.
In response, Garcia acknowledged that the process could bring legal risk — but said that the potential bene ts to residents outweigh the uncertain-
“ ere’s a chance the charter oversteps and we have to defend ourselves,” Garcia said. “But if it’s for the betterment of the residents, I know our … commissioners are OK with my o ce taking that on.”
Garcia also acknowledged thenancial reality of the June 24 election, which is expected to cost up to $500,000.
Eli Carey, a 10-year-old student in Parker, meets the dispatchers he spoke with when he called 911 to help his baby brother.
PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
At a school awards ceremony, Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly presents a Superhero Award to a 10-year-old who remained calm when calling 911 during an emergency.
PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
Home rule battle shows contrast in campaign finance reports
‘Pro’ side gets big money, ‘anti’ side gets big turnout
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Campaign nance reports have been led for the committees supporting and opposing home rule in Douglas County, and they are starkly di erent.
Yes on Local Control, the group supporting home rule, has received nearly four times as much money in campaign contributions as the opposition, but that massive support came from only ve donors, while opposing committee Stop the Power Grab has received contributions
ELECTION
Some residents have criticized the decision to hold a special election instead of waiting until November, when a general election is already scheduled. At a May 27 Douglas County School District meeting in Highlands Ranch, several residents raised concerns over the election’s price tag and whether home rule could expand county power in ways that threaten school funding, safety planning, and public education.
A group called Stop the DougCo Power Grab has staged multiple protests ahead of the special election, citing similar concerns.
“We’re not anti-home rule. We honestly don’t even know enough about it,” said member Kelly Mayr in an interview with CBS Colorado. “ e problem is they pushed for a special election in June … What’s the rush?”
In the same segment with CBS Colorado, Commissioner George Teal said he believes “there is a silent majority that is very much in favor of home rule.”
A recent survey of 3,617 residents found public opinion divided. When asked whether they support a home rule charter, 54% said no and 44% said yes. Support weakened when speci c policy proposals were introduced. For example, 61% said they would be less likely to support home rule if it included a ban on employee unions, and 52% said the same about a proposal to expand immigration enforcement. One exception was a provision to protect gun rights, which received 53% support.
e Yes on Local Control committee, which supports the establishment of home rule in Douglas County in the June 24 special election, has received about $110,000 from its ve donors.
from more than 200 people. Both committees led their nance reports with the Colorado secretary of state on June 3.
e Yes on Local Control committee, which supports the establishment of home rule in Douglas County in the June 24 special election, has received about $110,000 from its ve donors.
e two largest contributors supporting home rule are Ventana Capital Inc., a real estate investment and land development company along the Front Range, and e Cundy Harbor Irrevocable Trust, an entity that lists an address in Solano Beach, California. Each gave $50,000. Other contributors include Westside Investment Company, a Denver-based real estate development rm, and Doug-
las County Commissioner George Teal’s wife, Laura Teal. e fth contributor is Laura Tonner, the wife of Sean Tonner. Tonner is a principal of Renewable Water Resources, which aims to pipe water from the San Luis Valley to Douglas County. He was appointed to the Douglas County Water Commission in late 2023.
e expenditures for the pro-home-rule committee include approximately $90,400 for purposes of advertising and polling.
Stop the Power Grab, the committee opposing the formation of the home rule charter and commission in Douglas County, reported contributions of about $30,000. Donations ranging from $10 to more than $1,000 came from more than 200 residents, including some local
elected leaders, previous candidates and various involved citizens. Some made multiple contributions.
Some of the contributors include Angela omas, who ran unsuccessfully to be a Douglas County commissioner last fall; Lone Tree resident Julie Gooden, who was a part of a recent lawsuit against the county commissioners over the home rule movement; state Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, who also was part of the suit; and Cali Wolf, who was recently selected to serve on the Highlands Ranch Metro District board of directors. e anti-home-rule committee’s expenditures for signs and advertising total around $9,000.
e next nancial report must be made available on June 20.
Several elected o cials — including Commissioners Abe Laydon, George Teal and Kevin Van Winkle; Sheri Darren Weekly; Treasurer Dave Gill; and Assessor Toby Damisch — are not only endorsing the home rule measure, but running for seats on the charter commission. ere are more than 40 candidates for the commission listed on the county’s home rule information page.
Because the charter hasn’t been written yet, its potential contents have fueled speculation from both home rule supporters and opposition.
During the May town hall, Weekly said a home rule charter could allow Douglas County to codify public safety standards, such as minimum sta ng levels for law enforcement. Damisch added that it could give the county more leverage in disputes with the state over property taxes. Commissioners said they would not support changes to term limits, elected positions or o cials’ salaries being written into a charter. ey also responded to questions about how a county-level charter might interact with municipal governments. One resident asked whether it would impact home rule towns like Castle Rock or Parker. Laydon clari ed that it would primarily a ect unincorporated areas, such as Highlands Ranch, unless mu-
nicipalities opted into certain aspects of the charter.
“ ey already have methods laid out in their municipal charters on how to adopt changes,” he said. “ e e ect on any of our municipalities … will be very minimal.”
Some residents wondered whether home rule could revive past development battles — namely the controversial Renewable Water Resources (RWR) proposal to import water from the San Luis Valley. Laydon and Teal rejected that claim.
“RWR is dead,” Teal said. “Home rule will have no e ect on engaging with Re-
newable Water Resources … It’s only being brought up as a fear-mongering technique by those opposed.”
If a majority of voters approve the June 24 measure, the newly elected commission will begin drafting the charter this summer. e drafting process will include three mandatory public hearings to provide opportunity for public comment. A nal version would go before voters again in November. Until then, the county remains in a holding pattern — debating not just whether home rule is a good idea, but who should decide how Douglas County governs itself.
Nearly 9,000 residents attended or livestreamed Douglas County’s May 28 town hall, seeking clarity on the home rule proposal now on the June 24 ballot.
PHOTO BY DREW BOUCHARD
What I’ve Learned About Why Condominiums Are Getting Harder to Finance
Four years ago on June 24, 2021, part of a 12-story condominium building in Surfside, Florida, collapsed at 1:14 a.m. killing 98 residents and injuring 11 others.
But that’s only one event that has contributed to the increasing difficulty of selling and financing the purchase of condos across America.
Primarily because of severe weather, especially hail storms in Colorado, master insurance policies have gotten more expensive and their deductibles increased dramatically. When the deductible in a master insurance policy exceeds 5% of the insured value, units within a condo association become “non-warrantable” according to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines — and over 90% of all loans are sold to those federal agencies after closing and must therefore meet those guidelines.
home for first-time homebuyers who are less likely to have that much cash. They could also go to a “portfolio” or “non-QM” lender, but those lenders don’t typically offer the low down payments of conventional or FHA lenders.
by a single entity
Fewer than 35% of the units are the primary or second home of the unit owner (FHA only)
The HOA has inadequate reserves
Every lender has its own condo questionnaire that must be completed by the association property manager. The questionnaire addresses the numerous concern areas of the lender. The loan could be rejected if:
Master insurance deductible is over 5%
Commercial space exceeds 35%
More than 15% the unit owners are 60 or more days delinquent on HOA dues
A construction defect lawsuit is pending Less than 10% of the HOA budget is allocated to reserves
There’s a lot of deferred maintenance
FHA does a lot of this analysis for lenders and will provide a 3-year certification which lenders can rely on, but the application process is tedious and many condo associations fail to apply for or renew their certification.
That FHA lookup website is https:// entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/condlook.cfm
Here’s what the screen looked like when I searched for the Centennial condo featured with a price reduction in last week’s ad:
Sometimes it’s hard to know whether a unit is a condo or a townhome. The simple distinction is that a townhome owns the land under it, but even a standalone home could legally be a condo.
Buyers can pay cash, of course, but condos have long been considered the entry-level
More than 20-25% of the units are owned
NAR Dilutes Its Rule Against Hate Speech by Realtors
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis cop in May 2020, and the heated rhetoric, much of it racist, which followed, the National Association of Realtors enacted a “standard of practice” to go along with Article 10 of the NAR Code of Ethics, which bars Realtors from denying professional services based on “race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”
Inspired by demand for social change and an unprecedented number of complaints received by NAR relating to discriminatory conduct and language by Realtors, the Board approved Standard of Practice 10-5 with language that expanded Article 10 to include the prohibition against harassment and hate language generally and not just limited to a Realtor’s professional life.
SOP 10-5 was implemented by the NAR Board of Directors on Nov. 13, 2020, and read as follows: “Realtors must not use harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs
based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”
Here’s the new language, which no longer enforces that rule on Realtors’ communications or actions outside their business life:
“Realtors, in their capacity as real estate professionals, in association with their real estate businesses, or in their real estaterelated activities, shall not harass any person or persons based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.” (Emphasis added.)
SOP 10-4 continues as follows:
“As used in this Code of Ethics, harassment is unwelcome behavior directed at an individual or group based on one or more of the above protected characteristics where the purpose or effect of the behavior is to create a hostile, abusive, or intimidating environment which adversely affects their ability to access equal professional services or employment opportunity.”
The search showed that this condo is approved by FHA for the 3-year period beginning July 24, 2023.
Although regulators have determined that the buyer’s agent, not the listing agent, is obligated to check whether a condo is FHAapproved, a responsible listing agent should, in my opinion, do the simple search described above and not list “FHA” as acceptable financing if the community is described as “rejected” or “expired” on that website.
Even if the website shows the association as approved, the lender will still require the long-form questionnaire from the association and study the budget, declarations, bylaws and more before approving a loan, so the lender should request those documents as soon as possible after the buyer goes under contract — certainly within a week.
The legal description can sometimes mislead a lender, broker or buyer as to whether they’re dealing with a condo or a townhome. Typically, the legal description should refer to a “condo declaration” and not have a “block and lot” description that is more appropriate to a parcel that includes land. Some legal descriptions which include the word “condo” are in fact townhomes, and vice versa. The title company can quickly research the full legal description and answer that question, which becomes critical to obtaining loan approval. Another clue would be if the association is on the FHA condo lookup database.
Back to the subject of insurance coverage and deductibles, a buyer who purchases a condo as a primary resident or second home should get an HO-6 “walls-in” condo insurance policy which includes a “loss assessment” endorsement, which would pay for the deductible which is assessed to each unit owner as the result of a hail or other claim. The annual cost of such a policy is far less than the insurance policy for a single-family home and can save you up to a 5-figure special assessment from the condo association. If the master policy does not include roof, exterior, etc., the unit owner should purchase a more expensive HO-3 policy instead of the HO-6 policy.
FHA is favored because of its low downpayment requirement — as little as 3.5% — but with a higher down payment it’s possible the lender will only require a “streamline” review, which is quicker and less expensive. That requires a minimum 10% down payment for a primary residence and 25% for a second home.
It’s important for a buyer to hire an agent experienced in condo purchases and who can refer you to the best lender.
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Colorado experts say vaccination is strongest defense against measles
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With con rmed measles cases popping up across the Denver metro area, here’s what you need to know about the infectious disease and what to do if you believe you have been exposed.
With more than 1,000 measles cases con rmed nationwide, there have been about a dozen con rmed in Colorado, as of June 4.
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, these cases have been con rmed in Aurora, including Children’s Hospital Colorado, Greenwood Village, Denver, Evergreen, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Glendale and Windsor.
Although there have been no reported cases in Douglas County, the Douglas County Health Department said it has been tracking the state’s measles cases closely.
In addition to the department collaborating with municipal partners at Metro Denver Partnership for Health to deliver information, Laura Larson, the assistant director for community health for the county, said its epidemiologists have been working with child care facilities and the school district to educate and inform families with unvaccinated children.
posed to measles, they can most likely get vaccinated within 72 hours.
However, pregnant women, immunocomprised individuals and infants under the age of 1 are unable to get the measles vaccine.
Samuel Dominguez, professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital Colorado said that while the vaccine is safe, infants under the age of 1 already received immunity from their mother’s antibodies. ese antibodies can interfere with the infant’s ability to respond to the vaccine.
“When you’re trying to evaluate whether to get vaccinated against measles or not… you’re not only protecting yourself, you’re protecting other people and potentially other people that you love,” Pastula said.
If people are planning on traveling outside of the country, Dominguez said infants between 6 and 11 months should get a dose before they go. Once they return, they should still get the two recommended doses.
For more information about what to know when traveling, visit cdc.gov/measles/travel/index.html.
“We are working closely with CDPHE in preparation for managing any measles exposures in the county,” Larson said. Signs, symptoms and who to call Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease. e virus spreads if an infected person coughs or sneezes onto someone else, or
touches a surface in which another person touches the same surface. Additionally, if a person breathes in air in the room up to two hours after a person with measles spent time in, the person can contract the disease.
According to state law, illnesses including measles must be reported. Symptoms appear one to two weeks after being exposed. First signs include a runny nose, cough, red or watery eyes and a fever up to 104 degrees.
White spots in the mouth can appear
about 2-3 days after the rst signs appear, and raised bumps atop red spots occur a few days after that.
Measles can cause other severe illnesses and long-term complications such as hearing loss, pneumonia, lung damage and brain swelling. Daniel Pastula, the chief of neuro-infectious diseases and global neurology at UCHealth, added that it has the ability to hide in the brain and cause dementia.
e disease also increases a person’s risk of contracting other illnesses and having other infections.
“Measles likes to infect some of your memory immune cells,” said Pastula. “It can wipe out protection against other infections that you may have had before.”
While there is no speci c treatment for measles, experts are warning people about taking vitamin A in an attempt to prevent the disease because high levels of the vitamin can be toxic to the liver.
Report an illness at tinyurl.com/dougco-health-report.
The MMR vaccination
Experts say the strongest defense against measles is being vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, which can prevent measles, mumps and rubella. ere is another vaccine called MMRV, which includes prevention from varicella.
Pastula said since 1989, the recommendation has been for children over the age of 1 to get two doses of the live measles vaccine and they will “be good for life.”
e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get the rst dose of the MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months old and the second dose between the ages of 4 and 6.
However, the vaccine doesn’t prevent an individual from getting measles. One dose of the vaccine is 93% e ective and two doses is 97% e ective. If a vaccinated individual gets measles, Pastula said they will most likely develop milder symptoms and be less likely to have severe side e ects “Vaccines aren’t necessarily designed to prevent you from getting sick, they’re designed to keep you out of the hospital,” Pastula said.
e National Foundation for Infectious Diseases states that about one in ve unvaccinated people in the United States who contracts measles will be hospitalized.
Also, if an unvaccinated individual is ex-
Where to get vaccinated
In Douglas County, there are 24 locations that provide free-to-low-cost MMR vaccines to those without insurance. It is encouraged to call ahead to con rm availability and cost. ese locations can be found at cdphe.colorado.gov/ ndfree-low-cost-vaccine-provider.
For those who have private insurance, the MMR vaccine is available at your healthcare provider’s clinic. ey are also at retail pharmacies like e Little Clinic at King Soopers, CVS, Safeway and Walgreens.
e county is also partnering with the Public Health Institute at Denver Health and ColoVAX to make vaccine events available to residents.
As future clinic dates approach, the locations and times can be found at douglas.co.us/health-department.
People who have been exposed to the disease close to a clinic date should not go to the clinic. Instead contact the county’s health department and healthcare provider to get an individual assessment and guidance.
Community members can contact the Community Health team at the Douglas County Health Department at CH@douglas.co.us or call 720-643-2400 for assistance with accessing vaccines.
How did we get here?
Pastula called the highly contagious disease an “ancient virus.”
In 1912, measles became a national epidemic in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 6,000 measlesrelated deaths were reported each year within the rst decade.
Before a vaccine became available in 1963, it was estimated to infect 3 to 4 million people in the U.S. each year. However, an improved vaccine was developed in 1968, which is the vaccine that is available today.
By 1981, the number of reported cases was 80% less compared to the year before. en in 2000, the disease was declared eliminated from the U.S.
Pastula said despite measles cases occurring every year since then, most doctors have never seen an active case, including himself.
“But, unfortunately, we’re sliding back into the history books,” Pastula said.
Various locations across Douglas County provide measles vaccinations.
PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
Man gets 25 years for DUI crash in Parker
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County District Court Judge Ryan Stuart on June 2 sentenced an Elizabeth man to 25 years in prison for felony vehicular assault and felony child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.
Chase Lein, 32, pleaded guilty to the charges earlier this year.
Just after 6 p.m. on April 10, 2024, Diane Lampasona and her two children were turning onto Mainstreet in Parker at the intersection of South Chambers Road and Mainstreet Parker when Lein ran a red light and struck the family with his truck.
A video played in the courtroom shows the moment that 12-year-old Victor Lampasona was ejected from the vehicle upon impact, despite being buckled in.
Victor Lampasona endured multiple skull fractures, his older sister, Addison Lampasona, sustained a spinal fracture and Diane Lampasona had internal injuries. Diane Lampasona and her daughter have undergone multiple medical procedures since the crash.
Diane Lampasona was pleased that the driver who hit and injured her family in that crash was sentenced to 25 years in prison, she said.
“Going into something like that, I was very anxious,” Diane Lampasona told the Parker Chronicle. “But I was just ready to put it all behind us … move on with our next chapter.”
Although more than a year has passed, Diane Lampasona told the judge on June 2 that her children will have lasting physical and mental health issues, adding that her son is continually being evaluated for
his traumatic brain injury.
With a blood alcohol concentration of 0.326, which is dangerously high, the prosecution argued that Lein’s actions that day were sel sh.
With his family and friends sitting behind him in the courtroom, Lein addressed the judge and the Lampasona family.
“ ey don’t deserve the pain and trauma I created,” said Lein.
He added that alcoholism consumed him, but he has gone to classes, done community service and has been sober
for a year. He said that he made a huge mistake and asked for the family’s forgiveness.
After the sentencing, Diane Lampasona said that she doesn’t think Lein is a monster, and forgives him.
“I do think that we all make mistakes in life, (but) we also do have to pay the price for those mistakes that we make in life,” said Diane Lampasona. “I de nitely have a forgiving heart and I pray for him as well.”
e judge said while it wasn’t a crime of violence, it did involve a child, who he
called a superhero.
“In my mind, they both are superheroes, they have overcome so much,” said Diane Lampasona.
DUI case trends in Parker
Diane Lampasona and her family were just one of the hundreds of crashes reported in Parker in 2024.
In the monthly reports posted by the Parker Police Department, between January and May 2024, there were 456 crashes within Parker’s boundaries. Of those crashes, there were more than 40 reported injuries.
According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Colorado Crime Statistics, there were 16,208 DUI cases in Colorado, which was a slight decrease from 16,259 in 2023.
While Parker mirrors that state trend, Douglas County as a whole does not. e number of DUI cases in Douglas County increased from 297 cases in 2023 to 343 cases in 2024. In Parker, DUI cases slightly lowered from 100 to 93 cases.
However, as of June 1 this year, there have been 94 DUI cases in Douglas County and 43 of those cases have been in Parker.
“We are going to vigorously, aggressively pursue those who put people in danger,” 23rd Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler told the Parker Chronicle. e Colorado Department of Transportation also states that even if a person’s blood alcohol count is less than 0.05%, the person can still be arrested for a DUI if the o cer notices signs of impairment.
“You get a DUI in this jurisdiction, you should go to jail every time,” Brauchler said.
Diane Lampasona speaks with Deputy District Attorney Joe Ratner outside of the courtroom on June 2. PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
Landscape materials
Help prevent clogged stormdrains. Place landscape materials on driveways, not in streets.
Schools consider financial literacy curriculum
New law asks what teens must learn about handling money
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SUZIE@COTLN.ORG
Forget balancing a checkbook. Today’s teens need to know how to avoid identity theft, decode a credit score and gure out if that “buy now, pay later” plan is actually worth it.
With a new state law requiring all Colorado high school students to complete a course in nancial literacy beginning with students in the 9th grade on or after Sept. 1, 2026, educators now face a practical challenge: how do you design a course that prepares 21st-century teens to make smart nancial choices in a world of skyrocketing rents, digital wallets, student loans and TikTok stock tips?
e law, House Bill 25-1192, mandates a semester-long course in personal nancial literacy for every public school student, beginning with the class of 2028.
But it leaves the details up to local school districts, many of which are still guring out what today’s students need most: the basics of budgeting and saving, yes, but also how to navigate the gig economy, manage online spending and protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated nancial scams.
What the law requires, and what it doesn’t While the law sets a content require-
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Economic Factors, Policy Landscape Lead to Budget Shortfall
Fire and medical emergency response services are at
risk
The Challenge
There’s been a 20% increase in calls for service since 2019.
This includes structure, vehicle, and wildland fires; explosions and hazmat incidents; water rescues; vehicle crashes; public or police assistance; and medical emergencies.
Emergency medical calls now account for 65% of all response – this is expected to increase with an aging population.
Costs have increased dramatically in six years; for example:
The cost for a fire engine has gone from $725,000 to $1.3 million (79% increase).
The cost for protective bunker gear has gone from $4,321 to $6,047 (40% increase).
To continue providing quality fire and emergency response, South Metro needs an additional $34 million annually.
State legislation that passed during a special session in 2024 reduces property tax revenue South Metro collects by $16 million in 2026 and $270 million over 10 years.
South Metro Fire Rescue is facing an immediate budget shortfall due to years of rising costs, consistent increases in demand, and new state legislation. Without new revenue, the organization will not be able to maintain the high level of service for fire and emergency response that residents and businesses deserve, and have come to expect.
Did You Know?
South Metro is a full-service department Here are a few key facts:
stations across 30 square miles 287
personnel across 800 divisions 8
residents, which will serving 571,500 in grow to 595,0004 years municipalities and 12 counties 3
Including:
Centennial Airport, Lockheed Martin, Highlands Ranch, 4 Square Mile, and The Pinery
The Bottom Line
With $34 million needed to address increased demand for services and rising costs, plus the $16 million shortfall, South Metro needs to identify how it will generate $50 million in additional funding annually.
The often-missed path to greater success
After decades of working in the personal and professional development space, I’ve had the opportunity to evaluate businesses, teams, and individuals across a wide range of industries. Whether we’re conducting a classic SWOT analysis; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, reviewing assessment data on talents and competencies, or sitting down for interviews with key players, one thing becomes abundantly clear time and time again: when strengths and weaknesses are laid out side by side, far too many people zero in on the weaknesses. at focus makes sense, on the surface. After all, we’ve been taught to improve what’s broken. If a machine isn’t functioning, we x the faulty part. If a report is wrong, we nd the error. But when it comes to people, teams, and businesses, this singular focus on “ xing” weaknesses can back re, especially when it comes at the expense of building upon strengths.
WINNING
that shine a light on areas where I need to improve. And yes, that list is always longer than I’d like. Without a plan to address those areas, they’ll only grow into bigger problems.
Now, let’s be clear: acknowledging and addressing weaknesses is important. In fact, neglecting them altogether is a recipe for stagnation or decline. I make a point each year to take assessments
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Why we’re a ‘no’ on home rule
After attending multiple forums and digging into the facts, we’ve concluded that the proposed home rule initiative raises far more questions than it answers — and poses real risks to Douglas County governance.
1. Home rule doesn’t guarantee local control.
We’ve been told home rule will give us more control, but under Colorado law, the state can override local authority in any area related to emergency powers, health, safety, and welfare. In other words, the legislature still holds the nal say.
2. If home rule is so powerful, why so rare?
But here’s the truth I’ve come to embrace, and what I hope you take away from this column: the real momentum, the kind that lifts us to the next level, comes from doubling down on our strengths. When we re ne what we already do well, when we lean into our natural talents, repeatable behaviors, and reliable competencies, we nd traction. And that traction leads to tangible, repeatable success. ink about it. Professional athletes are the best in the world at what they do, yet they spend countless hours re ning their strengths. ey don’t stop practicing their signature moves because they’re already good at them. In fact, they practice them more, seeking that slight edge that will make them unstoppable. e same holds true in business, entertainment, and high-level leadership. Top perform-
Despite being available since the 1960s, only a handful of counties have adopted home rule. If it’s truly the silver bullet for resisting overreach, why hasn’t it been widely embraced?
3. Con ict of interest at the core.
e very people pushing for home rule — our current county commissioners — are also seeking power from it. at’s a glaring con ict of interest. ey should not be writing the rules they will later bene t from.
4. Appointed, not elected?
Under home rule, key positions like sheri could be appointed by commissioners instead of elected by the people. at’s a dangerous step away from direct democracy.
5. No real-world feedback.
vague promises and political talking points. Commissioner Teal’s endorsement isn’t enough — especially considering his involvement with the controversial Renewable Water Resources (RWR) initiative. And under home rule, commissioners could saddle us with new debt without current scal safeguards.
Ann Molner, Castle Rock
Home rule and schools don’t mix
As a Douglas County resident, I’m concerned about how home rule governance could undermine our school district’s independence in three critical areas: curriculum, school safety, and land use decisions.
Currently, our independently elected school board has direct control over curriculum decisions, allowing parents to voice concerns and hold the school district accountable. Home rule threatens to insert county commissioners into these educational decisions. Should a county commissioner have in uence over reading programs or social studies curriculum? is moves decision-making power away from parents and educators to politicians who have nothing to do with classroom instruction.
No canvassing has been done in existing home rule counties to understand how it’s actually working. Weld County is a cautionary tale — their home rule e ort ended in a lawsuit where the Colorado Supreme Court ruled commissioners must still follow state law. Just search “Home Rule Weld County Lawsuit.”
We need more study — not a power grab.
Until there is real outreach, independent research, and transparency, we’re a hard “no.” Voters deserve more than
ers rarely become top performers by trying to be great at everything. Instead, they become elite by identifying what they do best and doing it better than anyone else. is is a transferable truth. Whether we’re talking about a business unit, a leadership team, or a high-potential employee, there is incredible value in identifying the strengths and intentionally investing in them. at might mean assigning roles that align with natural abilities, providing tools that elevate already-strong performance, or simply encouraging more time and focus on the work that brings energy and results. Let’s not forget the psychological bene t. When we only focus on weaknesses, our mindset often follows. We begin to feel like we’re always behind, constantly catching up, never enough. at kind of thinking can be toxic. But when we focus on strengths, we tap into con dence, momentum, and engagement. It’s a motivating force, one that propels us forward rather than weighing us down. Ultimately, this isn’t an either-or conversation. It’s about balance. We absolutely must identify and work on our weaknesses, creating long-term strategies to grow in the areas that need im-
still be considered? Will charter schools get higher priority for land than neighborhood schools? Schools could become bargaining chips in county development negotiations, compromising needs like adequate acreage, safe transportation routes, and compatibility with residential neighborhoods.
DCSD achieved its status as the topscoring district in the Denver metro area through independent governance that prioritizes academic excellence, student needs and family partnerships. Parents can directly in uence curriculum, safety policies receive focused expertise, and land use planning prioritizes student needs. e June 24 home rule election presents a clear choice: maintain independent school governance that delivers results, or risk subjecting our children’s education to broader county political machinery. I urge fellow residents to protect our district’s proven success by rejecting home rule governance that threatens local control over curriculum, safety, and educational facilities. Vote no on home rule. Jill Sprafke, Sedalia
provement. But we must also capitalize on our strengths for near-term success and con dence-building wins. at balanced approach, acknowledging both what needs to change and what needs to be ampli ed, is the real key to unlocking potential.
So the next time you conduct a selfreview, a team evaluation, or a strategic plan, pause. Before diving into all the things that need xing, ask: What’s already working? What strengths can we build upon? at might just be where your next breakthrough lies.
How about you? Do you tend to focus too much on what’s wrong? Or do you take the time to take inventory of your strengths and then leverage those strengths? As always, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can learn to lean into our strengths to tap our true potential, it really will be a better-than-good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
e sheri ’s o ce, local police departments, and the school district have already built a strong, e ective relationship prioritizing student safety. Adding county oversight through a home rule charter risks disrupting this collaboration, and adding a political layer to emergency decision-making could introduce dangerous delays or misguided mandates. School safety is too critical to become a political football. We need to protect the systems that already work well.
Our school district works directly with local authorities to secure sites for new schools and protect facilities from incompatible development. Home rule could subvert these needs to broader county development priorities. When the county needs revenue from commercial development, will school facility requirements
Commissioners vs. grassroots
A bipartisan grassroots movement, initiated by the people, is underway in Douglas County. Taxpayers of all stripes agree to oppose home rule because it’s a power grab. Taxpayers don’t want to bankroll the BOCC’s political games and will defend a government that aligns more closely with the will of the people. Follow the money for the proof.
ere are 268 regular folks who have contributed to Stop the Power Grab in this grassroots e ort.
How many regular folks have contributed to the “Yes to Local Control” campaign supporting home rule? Two. One of them is Laura Teal, Commissioner George Teal’s wife. e other is Laura Tonner, wife of Sean Tonner of Renewable Water Resources.
Only a total of ve donors have contributed to the pro-home rule campaign, with
$50,000 from one Colorado real estate developer (Ventana), $10,000 from another Colorado real estate developer (Westside Investment Company), and $50,000 from a Cundy Harbor Irrevocable Trust with an address in Solano Beach, California. George Brauchler, district attorney for Douglas County said, “Government is best that is closest to the people,” in support of home rule. But the process has clearly been closer to the commissioners than to the people, and that’s not good government. Now we can see that the money is also not close to the people. It’s coming from deep pockets and special interests. In Pitkin and Weld counties, the people initiated home rule in response to corrupt and overreaching county government. By contrast, Douglas County government is initiating the process so that they can increase local control. Whose control? Not the people’s.
ree commissioners, in a four-minute public meeting on March 25, approved a $500,000 special election to vote on home rule. at same day, a slate of charter commission candidates including several county o cials was drafted. Meanwhile, “the people” of Douglas County were trying to gure out the de nition of home rule. At the rst and only town hall to date, the BOCC ran out the clock on a one-hour meeting, then threatened to arrest residents who pleaded to have their questions answered in that “public meeting.” Is this an example of “government closest to the people”?
So I ask, who is home rule for? e people? Or the commissioners and their special interests?
Angela omas, Castle Rock
Problems with John Adams Academy As a concerned parent in Douglas County, I’m writing regarding the pending charter application for John Adams Academy (JAA) with the Colorado Charter School Institute.
I don’t feel the school is a good t for our exceptional county.
Academic data from existing JAA schools is concerning. e 2024 pro ciency rates at JAA’s California location show only 37% of students demonstrate pro ciency in mathematics, 46% in science, and 71% in reading. Also, JAA’s student-teacher ratio is 20 to 1, while Douglas County’s studentto-teacher ratio is 17 to 1.
en, let’s talk about the land situation. Here’s the problem: while the Douglas County School Board speci cally said JAA shouldn’t use land earmarked for future district schools, that’s exactly what JAA is trying to do. eir application targets property that our district has already identi ed for a future public school. is creates a clear con ict and could prevent our community from building muchneeded district schools, such as high schools, in the future.
Next, JAA’s application fails to demonstrate compliance with Colorado curriculum standards. While their classical education model, which utilizes Core Knowledge and Singapore Math, may have merits, there is no clear mapping to state standards. How can we ensure this school aligns with Douglas County’s educational requirements?
Douglas County families, like all families, deserve educational options that are transparent, aligned with state standards, and built on solid foundations. We deserve our land resources to be preserved for comprehensive middle and high school facilities that will serve the needs of our growing community.
I encourage residents to learn more and get involved by visiting nojaa.org.
Katie Burton, Sterling Ranch
Home rule e ort misleading
Question 1A on the special election ballot (Election Day June 24) is misleading. It asks voters to elect a home rule charter commission “to study the structure and organization” of Dougco government. But this commission is tasked with much more than a “study.” If voters say yes, those elected will have just two months to write a county charter, described as a county constitution, with only three public meetings proposed in July and August, and a nal draft due August 22. is is not enough time for the detailed, thorough, transparent process that such a vital purpose deserves.
We could have given the charter commission 8-9 months to write the charter instead of just two, and saved taxpayers $500,000 by waiting until November’s general election, nalizing it in 2026 instead of 2025.
When the commissioners rst announced this plan on March 25 with their own slate of 21 candidates already identied, they gave the rest of the community just one month to learn about the process, decide if they wanted to get involved, obtain petitions, gather signatures, notarize, and turn in their petitions by April 24 to get their names on the ballot. Luckily, some engaged and organized community members managed to get it done, but it appears the commissioners timed this to discourage competition on the ballot. Finally, the Stop the Power Grab effort against home rule has shown a huge amount of community support, collecting donations from 268 unique individuals or entities as of May 29. In contrast, the “yes” e ort has collected donations from only ve unique individuals or entities (but deep pockets mean much more total cash), receiving $60,000 from real estate develop-
ers and $50,000 from a California Trust. e entire process is misleading, secretive, nancially irresponsible, rushed, and funded by special interests. Let’s not reward the commissioners for this biased implementation. Vote no on 1A, and, in case the yes votes win, vote for independent committee members who aren’t beholden to special interests, such as:
At Large: Steven Boand, Angela omas, Steve Johnson
District 1: Matthew Lunn, Emily Suyat, Jason Hamel, October Levy, Irene Bonham, Julie Gooden
District 2: Kevin Leung, Julien Bouquet, Barrett Rothe, Julie Watkins, Douglas Gilbert
District 3: Susan Meek, Bob Marshall, Michael Lees, Alicia Vagts, Lee Hudson Frame, Gordon Van De Water Connie Davison, Highlands Ranch
Demand answers on home rule
e 5/28 home rule town hall meeting was disappointing and frustrating. Commissioners limited the meeting to one hour, taking only a few questions.
e commissioners have initiated home rule, not the citizens of Douglas County. e process is rushed and lacks sucient public discourse. Transparency requires more opportunities for questions and meaningful dialogue from a wider segment of the public. Home rule is permanent and deserves a more thorough, broad-based, citizen-driven engagement process.
During the meeting, commissioners described the positive aspects of our county — low crime rates, high wealth, nearly zero homelessness and high-quality schools. ese positive attributes and many others have been achieved without home rule. What crisis is so urgent to drive a rushed process with this tight timeline? If Colorado laws are truly bad, why have only two of 64 counties pursued home rule in over 25 years?
e meeting failed to provide meaningful details. Voters should insist on answers to the following:
• How was the $500,000 for this special election authorized and what services will be a ected by this reduction from the county budget?
• Speci cally, what state laws do commissioners want to “opt-out” of (as stated by multiple presenters) and why?
• How will governing change, including term limits and positions?
• Will the charter have a budget impact score with nancial details? If taxes are reduced, what services will be impacted by the revenue loss? If resources are increased, how will voters approve the increased costs?
• How will the charter be maintained, changed or even nulli ed? When lawsuits arise (as they surely will), where will that funding come from?
Don’t be fooled: this home rule e ort is not about local control, (as stated by the Commissioners), but really about increasing commissioner control, driven by commissioner-stacked slate of candidates to create a charter that concentrates commissioners’ power over Douglas County people and resources.
Vote no on June 24th to shut this down until a broad coalition of citizens can drive a more transparent process. A yes vote allows only 60 days to create a permanent charter with major implications for everyone. Whether voting yes or no, take the time to research the at-large and your district candidates. Understand their background and positions ensuring you are truly represented should the process continue.
Lisa DiSalvo, Highlands Ranch
Summer reading underway in Elbert County
Library kicko events take place in Elizabeth, Simla
BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Each year libraries across the country o er reading programs to engage the community and encourage reading while school is out for the summer. At the West County Pines & Plains Summer Reading Program Kicko on May 31, kids lined up to try the brightly colored bounce houses amid waves of bubbles. e event at the Elizabeth Library also included face painting, free popsicles, a petting zoo and
a barrel train. e theme this year is “Color Our World,” described as “emphasizing colors in animals, art, botany, food, music, science, and space.”
e East County Kicko came a few days later, on June 3, at the Simla Library. Everyone who signed up for SRP in Simla received a free slushy. e reading program o cially began on June 1 and will run through July 31.
Susan Byrne, director of Pines & Plains Libraries, said: “We are thrilled to be kicking o our summer reading program, which is the library’s biggest event of the year.” Studies show that summer reading programs help prevent the “summer
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Catching a ride on the Barrel Train was a popular option at the Pines & Plains Libraries Summer Reading Program Kicko on May 31.
PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY
slide” that children experience between school years, she explained.
“If you’ve been meaning to get back to reading more, this is a great opportunity to start,” Byrne said. “We have prizes for the most minutes read in every age category from adults down to the littles who need books read to them.”
Debbie Upho , a retired teacher, encouraged her granddaughter to attend the event. “I think it’s important to read during the summer so the kids don’t lose their love of reading,” she said. “ e kicko hopefully reminds the kids to keep reading and track their progress.”
Byrne emphasized that reading doesn’t have to be a chore and readers are encouraged to read whatever they enjoy. “Any kind of reading goes,” she said. “Listening to a book? Count those minutes. Reading an article on the internet? Count those minutes, too. Reading the back of the Cheerios box? Count your minutes as you crunch!”
Research shows that reading has a wide range of bene ts. It increases intelligence, improves memory, reduces Alzheimer’s risk, lowers blood pressure, improves sleep and can even increase a person’s lifespan.
Kids who read perform better in school and show improved comprehension and communication. ey also show increased attention span, have greater concentration and develop empathy. “Kids who read gain emotional intelligence,” Byrne said. “Reading ction has been shown to build empathy in study participants, and empathy is what one article calls the glue that holds society together.” Reading aloud to children also shows
Elbert Stampede Rodeo Queen Kallie Russell, left, and Attendant Georgia Swanson were on hand to welcome people, give out popsicles and make sure the bubbles kept on flowing.
PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY
increased concentration and discipline, improved imagination and are better prepared for academic success.
SRP registration is available now on the Pines & Plains website or in-person at any library branch. When people register, they receive a bag with program information and other goodies. Preschoolers through high school seniors also receive a brand new book.
ere are four registration categories: Preschool, Elementary (K-5), Teen (6-12), and Adult. e top three readers in each age level will receive a prize, ranging from gift baskets to Amazon gift cards. e top prize in each category is a gift certi cate to the Cave of the Winds. Attending library events can also help readers win more points.
Visit the Pines & Plains Libraries Events Calendar at pplibraries.org/03-activities to see what’s coming up next. Storytimes will continue throughout the summer, including some extra special storytimes at area parks. e next big event at the Elizabeth Library will be the Active Minds; Van Gogh Program on June 14 at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit the Pines & Plains Summer Reading Program website at pplibraries.org/03d-summer-readingprogram.
Return ballots by Tuesday, June 24
Home Rule is rushed, it’s
Pro=Home Rule had just 5 donors give > $110K from three developers outside Douglas County and two developer/ commissioner spouses. (This does not include untold amounts of hidden dark money of a 501(c)(4) registered to also push Home Rule upon DougCo voters). By contrast, Home Rule opponents raised $30K from almost 300 individual donors, almost all living in DougCo. Which represents the people and which represents special interests? See tracer.sos.colorado.gov
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Jared Polis signs bill aimed at reducing Colorado’s rape kit backlog
Law will increase oversight, try to decrease turnaround time of evidence kits
BY LUCAS BRADY WOODS THE COLORADO SUN
Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law June 3 launching new e orts to cut down on the state’s delays in processing sexual assault evi-
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dence kits, including by increasing oversight over the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Currently, it takes 554 days for the CBI to process DNA evidence kits from sexual assaults, which has left 1,369 cases in limbo as victims and investigators wait for results, according to the agency’s latest available data.
One of those victims is Democratic state Rep. Jenny Willford of Northglenn, the leading lawmaker behind the new bill.
Willford says she was sexually assaulted over a year ago and led a police report. But her case was one of the many swallowed up by the backlog.
Law enforcement nally issued an arrest warrant for Willford’s alleged attacker last month, more than a year after the incident, after they received the test results from her evidence.
e new law is named the “Miranda Gordon Justice for Survivors Act of 2025.”
e group will convene by Aug. 1 and will be made up of sexual assault victim advocates, medical forensic experts and members of law enforcement.
e law also creates a 60-day turnaround goal per DNA evidence kit, three times faster than the state’s current 180-day guidance.
Sexual assault victims will also be entitled to updates on their pending evidence kits every 90 days under the new law.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Democratic Sen. Mike Weissman of Aurora, the measure’s lead sponsor in the Senate, said the bill is about getting sexual assault perpetrators o the street as well as justice for victims.
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e measure, Senate Bill 304, directs the attorney general’s o ce to create the Colorado Sexual Assault Forensic Medical Review Board to oversee kit processing and make recommendations for how the state can better address sexual crimes.
HERO AWARD
help,” said Bloss. “So Eli did an amazing job giving me his address … at 10 years old, he didn’t need to ask anybody.”
He told dispatchers that he was with his brother and that his parents were trying to discharge whatever he was choking on.
He then gave the phone to his mom so the dispatchers could give her instructions to help her child, while Carey went downstairs and unlocked the door. Once rst responders arrived, he brought them to his brother who received medical attention.
Now, a few months later, the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce surprised Carey with a 911 Superhero Award at his school in Parker on June 3. e students in rst, second and fth grades were receiving awards for their school work at the Leman Academy of Excellence Bayou Gulch’s inaugural end of the school year awards ceremony when the principal, Trustin omp-
“We can get lost in processes and abstract terms like ‘kits,’ but what we’re talking about here is bringing forward evidence by which we can arrest people who have committed hideous crimes and subject them to appropriate consequences,” said Weissman. “Without moving through this backlog, we don’t have that evidence, there cannot be accountability.” is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.
son, introduced the special award to Carey.
He “bravely, calmly, coolly and collectively was able to help his family out,” ompson said.
After the awards ceremony, the dispatchers, including Bloss, had the chance to meet Carey and hold his little brother, who Carey calls “little dude.”
Bloss said dispatchers don’t typically get to meet the people that are on the other side of the phone call, so to have this moment with the Carey family was special.
“It means a lot,” said Bloss. “He’s not my kid, but I’m super proud of him.”
Standing next to his brother and giving him a st bump, Carey had a smile on his face and said that he is excited to be able to teach him how to play baseball one day.
While giving the award to Carey, Douglas County Sheri Darren Weekly told Carey that he hopes to see him as a dispatcher or in law enforcement in the future.
Although he is unsure if he wants to become a dispatcher when he’s older, Carey said he is grateful for the award.
“Even though this little dude scared me a little bit,” Carey added.
Gov. Jared Polis signs a bill aimed at tackling the state’s sexual assault kit processing backlog into law at the governor’s mansion in downtown Denver on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
PHOTO BY JESSE PAUL / THE COLORADO SUN
BY ISABEL GUZMAN IGUZMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In a softly lit room in Centennial, Lilly Cadillac Unger shu es her tarot cards with practiced hands. e space, lled with gentle natural light, is the heart of her business, Altered Arcana. On the table, a classic three-card spread — past, present and future — unfolds a story. Among the cards drawn: Death, the Six of Cups and the Nine of Wands.
“I see here that there was some kind of huge transition,” Unger said, pointing to the Death card.
e card’s reputation, she said, is the most feared and is more Hollywood than reality — its real message is transformation and rebirth.
Unger’s journey with tarot began at age 12, sparked by curiosity and the little guidebook included with her rst Rider–Waite deck — the most popular tarot deck, she notes, and one she’s mis-
placed more times than she can count.
For Unger, tarot isn’t about predicting the future.
“Tarot really should tell you about your present,” she said.
e Rider-Waite tarot card deck, rst published in 1909, was created by artist Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of occultist A.E. Waite. e deck consists of 78 cards — 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana — with each card featuring symbolic illustrations designed to evoke intuitive and emotional responses.
Distinctive for its fully illustrated Minor Arcana, the Rider-Waite deck’s imagery draws from esoteric traditions that embrace practices that involve secret or hidden knowledge, Christian mysticism and the teachings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society that studied occultism and metaphysics, according to the University of St. omas.
Kate Kettelkamp, who reads tarot cards from her Denver o ce, also starts
with the three card spread that displays the past, present and future. After she shu es, she has the person receiving the reading pull three cards.
“I like people to choose their own cards,” Kettlekamp said. “Di erent tarot readers have di erent rules. I like people to select the cards because I feel like you bring your own energy to it.”
When the cards are pulled and laid out as reversals — meaning the card’s art is upside down — Kettlekamp said that can signify an energy blockage.
Looking towards the card that represents the past, Kettlekamp observed the Nine of Cups, reversed.
“Cups are water, so it has this emotional, imaginative quality to it,” she said. “With it reversed, it can (signify) wanting to move something forward but having some obstacle.”
When Kettlekamp moved from California to Denver almost 10 years ago, she said everyone she met in the new city knew their astrology signs and
owned a tarot deck, inspiring her to dive into the metaphysical world. She currently studies consciousness in a graduate program at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
In the program, Kettlekamp studies culture, the human journey, the soul and the environment, which she said sets her up for inquisitive knowledge for reading tarot.
“I like to approach (tarot) from a place of inquiry. Some people ask, ‘should I break up with my partner?’ But I nd that the tarot doesn’t answer deterministically,” she said. “ en they’ll pull the Death card and I’ll say, ‘well, possibly, what do you think? It’s up to you.’ at could just be their current energy that is creating a trajectory towards breaking up.”
Kate Kettelekamp reads tarot cards at Kronos Astrology in Denver.
Florentino re ected on the readings she’s done that the cards portray a potentially negative message, and how she communicated it to her client.
Kettlekamp said the cards do not tell the future but can give insight into what struggles someone may be currently facing. She said it’s important for readers to uphold ethics when doing a reading.
“I’ve had people come into my o ce who have been disturbed from prior readings because they’ve been told things that make them anxious. So I do think that there’s some responsibility on the reader’s part to not induce anxiety by giving a deterministic prediction about someone’s life,” she said.
When the cards convey a negative message, Rachel Florentino from Bridge the Gap Tarot in Westminster said she views the cards as morphable.
“It’s not set in stone. ( e cards) are something we can bring to the present and change if we want to,” she said.
“ ere was a client that desperately wanted a baby … When I looked at her present, the problem was, she worked 80 hours a week and she wasn’t listening to her doctors telling her, ‘no, you cannot sustain that type of lifestyle while you’re pregnant,’” she said. “It hurt me because she wasn’t going to do that. I had to tell her she has to listen to people.”
Something Florentino did not always do at the beginning of her reading journey — even when she met the woman who wanted a baby — was shielding. In an e ort to protect herself from her clients’ energies, sometimes Florentino will imagine herself wearing a cloak that acts like a shield.
During another reading, Florentino pulled the Tower card in a past, present and future spread — with the Tower card in the future pile, she said it’s the harshest card of the deck.
“It’s because there’s things that you should be doing that you’re not doing and so the universe is going to make it happen. It can be harsh because it can no longer be in your control,” she said.
According to Florentino, the Tower card can show up when someone may be losing a job if they continue down their current trajectory.
“It’s de nitely a warning of: what do we know we need to be doing but we haven’t done yet?” she said.
Regarding the seemingly worrisome card — the Death card — Florentino said the image of the card, which typically displays a grim reaper-esque skeleton with a sword, scares people, largely due to Western society’s perspective of death.
“I think Hollywood has done a great job in scaring us with (death). In the United States, we’re not open about death and don’t view it as a rebirth but as the end of something. In a lot of other cultures, death is looked at as a deathrebirth process,” she said.
Regarding the online popularity of tarot card readings — from mass-collective tarot readings on YouTube to online psychic chats — Kettlekamp and Unger suggest looking at reviews to avoid being scammed.
“I would recommend for people to nd someone that has reviews because there are people who will take your money,” Kettlekamp said. “Anybody that has a physical location, not that that’s necessary, but it can indicate how much time they spend practicing.”
For Unger, reviews and having a connection with a reader are two ways to prevent scams.
“You just have to be honest with yourself about if it resonates, and I think you should be careful who you go to,” she said. “I think at the end of the day, getting reviews, and maybe just really asking yourself: ‘who am I being led to and why? Am I being led to this person because I saw something online that said: he’s thinking about you? And is that what I’m seeking?”’
LEFT: In the two photos, Lilly Cadillac Unger reads tarot cards in Centennial at Altered Arcana.
PHOTO BY ISABEL GUZMAN
RIGHT: Kate Kettlekamp moved from California to Denver and was inspired to learn tarot card reading after meeting others who owned tarot card decks.
COURTESY OF KATE KETTLEKAMP
Champ Bailey honors state’s ‘most positive’ student athletes
Positive Athlete awards scholarships to youths with high character
BY JOHN RENFROW JOHN@COTLN.ORG
High school athletes, two coaches and an athletic director were honored for being the “most positive” in Colorado at the Douglas County School District Legacy Campus in Lone Tree June 2.
Pro Football Hall of Famer and Broncos legend Champ Bailey is the Positive Athlete organization’s lead athlete. Bailey helped to recognize the top seven male and female athletes in high school sports who displayed the highest character and generated overall positivity on and o the eld.
e full list of recipients includes students from schools across Colorado, from Colorado Spring to Fort Collins and Breckenridge to La Junta.
ose honored are: Alex Beasley - Lewis-Palmer (Monument); Avery Leman - Poudre (Fort Collins); Jaden FrancisElizabeth (Elizabeth); Jay Peltier (coach) - Summit (Breckenridge); Katherine Lorck - Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs); Kevin Prosser III - Rangeview (Aurora); Kinsley Mayo - La Junta Jr/Sr (La Junta); Liam Graham - Standley Lake (Westminster); Megan Waters - Lakewood (Lakewood); Peighton MarreroStrasburg (Strasburg); Ray Lopez (coach); - Abraham Lincoln (Denver); Rhett McDonald - Wiley (Wiley); Roxann Serna (athletic director); - Centennial (San
Luis); Ryan Cornell - Longmont (Longmont); Sage Adkins - Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch); Simon Lunsford - Green Mountain (Lakewood);and Staia YoheSavage - George Washington (Denver).
“I’d seen their Positive Athlete nominations and bios, but meeting and celebrating the winners in person exceeded all expectations,” Bailey said. “It’s easy to see why they are the future leaders in their
vate high schools (equivalent to 53% of all Colorado high schools with formalized athletics programs).
Nominations covered all 27 state-sanctioned sports as well as e-sports, archery, equestrian, martial arts, motocross, ultimate, Uni ed Sports and more.
Considerations for awards included if students displayed how positive athletes “O.P.E.R.A.T.E.” (Optimistic, Put team rst, Encouraging, Respectful, Admits imperfections, True heart for others and Embraces service).
Five scholarships were awarded, totaling $8,000.
Standley Lake High School’s Graham won the male O.P.E.R.A.T.E. Award, while Leman from Poudre won the female O.P.E.R.A.T.E. Award. Each received $2,500 toward their chosen academic institution or trade school. Additionally, Mayo, McDonald and Yohe-Savage received Positivity Champ Awards, including a $1,000 scholarship.
communities and the workforce. I’m excited to follow them as they lean in to take advantage of the ever-growing resources o ered by Positive Athlete—not just to winners but to all nominees.”
More than 440 nominations from coaches, principals, athletic directors, teachers and parents were submitted for the Positive Athlete program state-wide, representing 197 di erent public and pri-
“I think that being recognized as a Positive Athlete really gave me more condence not only in my athletics but also in my everyday life, like I was being seen for the work I was putting into my everyday life and my positivity through times of di culty and struggle,” said Waters from Lakewood. “I loved being able to meet the other kids and parents being awarded, because you can really tell that it’s a good group of kids and they were all raised by incredible people. ey are all so kind.”
Nominations will reopen in the Fall for the next school year. However, Positive Athlete is currently taking pre-nominations at www.PositiveAthlete.org, which will trigger an automatic reminder when nominations reopen.
Pro Football Hall of Famer and Broncos legend Champ Bailey addresses the most positive Colorado high school student athletes of 2025 at the Douglas County School District Legacy Campus in Lone Tree on June 2.
Thu 6/19
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LETTERS
Home rule? No way
I’ve been a resident of Douglas County for close to 40 years. At one time it was a wonderful place to live - very welcoming, neighbor helping neighbor. However, the quality of life here has steadily continued to erode, and the decline has been hastened by the current county commissioners whose focus as of late is on trying to quickly push through home rule, which serves only to give them more concentrated power to promote their own agenda without regard to what their constituents want.
eir home rule “resolution” was conceived behind closed doors with absolutely no public input, no transparency. In addition, they had the audacity to put their own names on the at-large candidate list for the charter commission - a real “fox in the henhouse” scenario. eir one and only town hall on Wednesday, May 28 was a sham. It was nothing more than a sales pitch where they continued to give incorrect information on what home rule really means for Douglas County.
Only seven questions (six in person and one online) were taken, despite the fact that hundreds of folks attended in person, and 9,000 viewed remotely. e commissioners’ condescending and arrogant responses to those with opposing views was on full display. Frustrated citizens who still wanted answers and asked that the meeting be extended were then threatened that they would be removed by the sheri . ese three commissioners are interested in increasing their own power and furthering their own interests. ey do not care about their constituents in the least. Even their own survey shows that the majority of citizens (54%) oppose home rule. And I expect that number to increase as informed citizens continue to do their homework on what home rule actually means, especially in the hands of these three. I am emphatically voting no on home rule and urge others to do the same.
Sherri Gronli Littleton (unincorporated Douglas County)
Red flags about home rule
I am part of the League of Women of Arapahoe and Douglas County Observer Corps. I was involved in the home rule pro-
cess in another state and knew the importance of extensive public education. So, I have red ags about the home rule process in this county. I am very concerned about the lack of citizen meetings, the ability to ask questions directly to the commissioners by the citizens, and comments made during presentations to other districts and boards. So here are a few of my citizen participation red ags out of many.
Red ag 1: About 12-15 planning sessions were held between January to March about home rule and a judge ruled that open meeting laws were not violated. Announcing the home rule planning sessions in January would have allowed interested individuals to attend these meetings.
Red ag 2: e charter commission was brie y mentioned at the home rule press conference but was not listed as a home rule step on their website as of 5/29. Step one was the home rule press conference/ announcement; Step two is to vote on June 24. As a previous participant in home rule, the lack of emphasis on the charter commission was a glaring omission.
Red ag 3: e charter commission will draft the home rule charter and yet I had to send an email requesting information on the charter commission petitions that needed to be completed in 30 days with signatures. e county placed the information on their website when I requested information. So, thank you.
Red ag 4: All donations for a home rule charter are dark money. e state does not require the name of the donor to be listed. is is a very big red ag.
Red ag 5: e Douglas County home rule presentations to boards, metro districts, city meetings, etc. only allow those board members to ask questions. e commissioners and the county attorney leave before public comment begins by the citizens.
Red ag 6: May 28th was the rst true public meeting where citizens could ask questions but it was scheduled for an hour. With close to 9,000 people in attendance, this should be the commissioner red ag. ere are more red ags about the process/presentation comments conducted by the Douglas County commissioners and the county attorney.
Mina Hall
League of Women Voters Arapahoe and Douglas County Highlands Ranch
Vote yes on home rule e Parker Chronicle of May 29 con-
tained a letter from Dawn Caldwell. e letter claimed that Douglas County residents place no value on the proposed home rule. Of course they don’t, because few even know what it is. at does not make it less important. Colorado is under the thumb of a far left governor and legislature that pass extreme leftist laws. Home rule is proposed to give our county a little relief from this dynasty. If we pass it the county will be able to push back on some of the over the top goals of the left. So yes, we do need to vote approval for home rule. Ballots have been mailed. Vote for freedom in Douglas County.
Alan Wild Parker
United we stand, divided we fall
One of the founding principles of our form of government was that of lengthy debate leading to compromise between the various constituencies to come to consensus. Not anymore. Now it’s all or nothing politics for almost everything in the name of fundraising. As a result we’re trending towards “Burger King” democracy: have it your way. California doesn’t like what DC says? We’ll do it our way. Douglas County doesn’t like what Denver says? We’ll do it our way. What happens when Parker or Lone Tree decides it doesn’t like what Castle Rock says? Suddenly they won’t be able to declare “freedom”? Or how about an HOA within one of those cities - Do they get to have bespoke government too? Once we’ve started down that path who will have any standing to say “well, no, actually you can’t do that”?
It’s a simple lesson all of humanity has known for thousands of years: United we stand, divided we fall. What the heck are we doing?
Matt Rosario Parker
Home rule and hypocrisy
I recently attended the county commissioners’ home rule town hall, and left more convinced than ever that this proposal deserves a rm no. I was struck not just by what was said, but by the glaring disconnect between their words and actions. Time and again, they’ve proven to be hypocritical.
e commissioners say they “work for their constituents,” yet during the meeting, they only allowed six questions from residents. Six questions — on one of the most important decisions we will be making. Residents who tried to ask questions after the o cial meeting were shut down — even
threatened with arrest. at’s not transparency. at’s suppression. ey also claim home rule would “take choice out of the hands of elected o cials” to better protect the public. But here’s the kicker: those same o cials are running for seats on the commission that would wield this new power. If they’re elected, they’ll still be making the decisions — just with fewer checks. at’s not reform. at’s a con ict of interest.
Don’t be fooled by polished talking points. Don’t just listen to what they say — watch what they do.
I’ll be voting no on home rule — and I urge fellow residents to look closely before giving away more power to the same people who’ve shown they can’t be trusted with it.
Carol Sorensen
Lone Tree
Beware home rule lawsuits
e Douglas County home rule presentation by Commissioners Teal, Laydon and Van Winkle, and County Attorney Je Garcia, discussed the Weld County commissioner lawsuit led by the League of Women Voters. e correct story is that the presentation failed to mention redistricting violation of the state law and only attributed the lawsuit to the League of Women Voters. e LWV of Greeley-Weld County and the Latino Coalition of Weld County District Court lawsuit argued the Weld County Commission (home rule county) violated state law and procedural due process after they refused to follow the requirements of HB 21-1047 (thinking home rule was not subject to the law). e bill, signed into law in 2021, mandates counties to hold public hearings, appoint a redistricting commission and an advisory commission, as well as use redistricting criteria in addition to population equality between districts, and to be in compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, Section 2, including the preservation of communities of interest when redrawing county commissioner districts.
e Weld County District Court found in a summary judgment in favor of the plainti s and the Colorado Supreme Court supported that judgment unanimously. e Weld County commissioners violated this law and were held accountable. In the end, this violation of redistricting laws cost the citizens of Weld County and the state taxpayers’ money for this court case. e Douglas
LETTERS
County citizens need to be aware that frequent lawsuits challenging state law cost the county and the state taxpayer money.
Jill Smith
LWV Arapahoe-Douglas Counties
Highlands Ranch
Barbara Whinery
LWV Greeley-Weld County
Greeley
Commissioners mislead on home rule
I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the Douglas County commissioners’ push for home rule and the misleading narratives they have used to justify this dramatic change in our county’s governance.
e commissioners have repeatedly claimed that adopting home rule would allow Douglas County to ignore certain state laws, such as Colorado’s gun regulations, and grant the sheri new powers over immigration enforcement. ese assertions are simply not true. Legal experts and state o cials have made it clear that home rule does not give counties the authority to disregard state law on matters of statewide concern; attempts to do so would likely result in costly legal battles, with taxpayers footing the bill for lawsuits the county is unlikely to win.
Moreover, the commissioners have framed home rule as a grassroots response to state “overreach,” yet the process they followed was anything but democratic or transparent. e vote to place home rule on the ballot was presented in a special meeting with scarcely the minimum 24hour notice required by law, with no prior town halls or community surveys to gauge genuine public interest. Many residents only learned of the plan after the decision
was made, undermining trust and transparency. is stands in stark contrast to other Colorado counties where home rule e orts were citizen-led and built on broad community consensus. e commissioners’ authoritarian e ort to implement home rule process ensures they entrench the current political power structure. Instead of expanding representation, the proposed charter could cement the current three-member board of commissioners, concentrating power even further and making it harder for residents’ voices to be heard.
Finally, despite the recent court ruling to stop the special election over open meetings law violations, the judge’s decision does not dispel the troubling lack of transparency and public engagement that has characterized this process. How would the commissioners explain pre-selection of 21 charter member candidates prior to public announcement? e commissioners’ actions were made in advance behind closed doors, for political gain rather than the public good.
Douglas County deserves better. Major changes to our government should be driven by the people, not orchestrated in secret by a handful of o cials promoting misleading arguments. I urge my fellow residents to look past the commissioners’ rhetoric, vote no and demand a process that is open, honest, and truly representative of our community’s will.
Cynthia A. Prien Highlands Ranch
Home rule bid is power grab
Like many of my Highlands Ranch neighbors, I just learned in March about the actions of our county commissioners and the resulting home rule special election in June. Many of us are scrambling to catch up on what home rule is and why it is something our county needs on such a rushed time-
line. ere was just an election in 2024, and home rule wasn’t on the ballot then, so why now? e $500,000 cost to taxpayers for a single issue that could have waited for a normal election year is wasteful. e commissioner planned meetings under the radar of the general public and press. Dating back to November, these meetings excluded community input and lacked any press coverage. It’s shocking that our civil servants have not learned anything from the recent school board years that breaking Sunshine Laws is illegal and results in expensive litigation.
Here we go again. Douglas County deserves better.
If passed, home rule permanently changes the way this county is governed and gives signi cant power to a few individuals with respect to the size of our constituency. It creates a 21-member board that will be permanent and will minimize voters’ voices in our community. Misinformation regarding the capabilities of home rule such as not becoming a sanctuary county and eliminating shopping bag fees are not reasons to upend a community’s governance without additional research and input. If the commissioners think this is a way to circumvent Colorado state laws, they are wrong. We cannot opt out of state laws where the majority interest lies with the state. I view home rule as a way for a very few in power to attempt to isolate Douglas County from the rest of Colorado under the guise of being “self governing.”
e reality is that this is a solution searching for a problem. Douglas County has a track record of being a top place to live and the evidence is clear that the commissioners are trying to quickly ram through a power grab to suit their own political and personal interests. Take a giant breath and vote no to Home Rule.
Hilary Lindsey Highlands Ranch
Don’t give commissioners more power
Anyone who has been paying attention to the clown show that is our Board of County Commissioners would ask of the home rule question, “… why would I want to give these characters more power?” ey have cost the voters signi cantly in legal fees and embarrassment for their various miscues, which have been well covered in this publication. If the county commissioners are truly interested in giving the voters of Douglas County a stronger voice in how they are governed, they would instead expend their energy on expanding the board to ve members that are elected by district as opposed to at-large. is would go a long way to having the diverse political views of the county represented, rather than the current system which serves to maintain the monolithic status quo. e structure of our Board of County Commissioners lends itself to concentration of power and insular thinking. is is not a formula for good representative government.
How to make things better? First, vote a resounding no to home rule, sending a clear message to the board that putting even more power in their hands is contrary to the interests of Douglas County voters.
Second, let the commissioners know it is past time that Douglas County had a more representative method of electing county commissioners, i.e., ve commissioners representing ve districts, elected by voters in each of those districts. is option is available to all Colorado counties with populations above 70,000, which Douglas County passed years ago and whose population at the end of 2024 stood at 384,000. At the very least, the three county commissioner slots should be elected by district rather than atlarge. Douglas County is not the rural, small population county that it once was. It’s time our government re ected the reality of who Douglas County is today.
Jason Trow, Highlands Ranch
Go wild for Front Range air quality.
Created from pollutants like car exhaust, ozone is the Front Range’s biggest air quality issue and a leading cause of respiratory problems.
“BetterAirCO”
1. AD SLOGANS: Which retail chain urges consumers to “Expect More. Pay Less”?
2. MATH: What is an obelus?
3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the last to own slaves?
4. LITERATURE: Author Ian Fleming’s Jamaican estate has the same name as which James Bond movie?
5. TELEVISION: How many seasons of “Wheel of Fortune” did Pat Sajak host?
6. SCIENCE: What are cordyceps?
7. MOVIES: Which actor/comedian/ lmmaker made his lm debut in the movie “Donnie Darko”?
8. ACRONYMS: What does the acronym BBC stand for?
9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the only bird that can y backward?
10. FOOD & DRINK: What is a mirepoix?
TrIVIa
Answers
1. Target.
2. e division sign.
3. Ulysses Grant.
4. “GoldenEye.”
5. 41.
6. A type of fungus or mushroom.
7. Seth Rogen.
8. British Broadcasting Corp.
9. Hummingbird.
10. A recipe base of onion, celery and carrots. (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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ment, it allows schools to integrate the nancial literacy standards into an existing course rather than create a new standalone class.
But, students must understand and practice lling out the federal or statenancial aid form (FAFSA or CAFSA), unless they and their parents opt out. Colorado has one of the lowest FAFSA completion rates in the country, according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education. is means Colorado students are missing out on signi cant amounts of federally available grant money.
e law doesn’t include a standardized curriculum or end-of-course exam. Instead, it points to existing high school standards, last updated in 2020, as the foundation. ose standards cover budgeting and saving, credit and debt management and understanding taxes. But they also include topics like risk management and insurance, fraud prevention and identity protection and nancial decision-making and planning for college. Each district will determine how to implement the course, whether as a graduation requirement embedded in current
o erings or as a standalone class
What’s useful for teens in 2025
Anneliese Elrod, chief operating ofcer of Westerra Credit Union, says the curriculum must go far beyond “checkbook math” to prepare students for reallife nancial challenges. at includes understanding how credit cards work, budgeting realistically and navigating everything from nancial aid to digital payment scams.
“Budgeting by available balance is one of the most common mistakes we see young people make,” Elrod said. “ ey don’t understand the di erence between their current balance and what’s pending. It can lead to overdrafts or worse.”
She said teens should learn how to read a pay stub, build a credit score and avoid scams on payment apps like Venmo and CashApp. Lessons should also guide them through how to evaluate nancial decisions, such as whether to rent an expensive apartment or sign up for a “buy now, pay later” plan.
“Even understanding basic investing, like what a Roth IRA is or how to open an interest-generating savings account can give them a huge head start,” Elrod said.
Elrod said she was especially glad to see FAFSA covered in the new requirement.
“ at knowledge is something you just don’t intuitively understand, and it’s a
very convoluted maze,” she said. “If we are doing it for that reason — bravo.”
Additionally, she emphasized that understanding FAFSA and student loans is crucial, as many students miss out on nancial aid by skipping the application process, which can leave them paying o debt well into the future.
While today’s teens may be more aware of traditional scams than older generations, Elrod said, they’re often more vulnerable to savvy marketing and highpressure sales tactics.
“Marketers are very good at making it feel good and immediate,” she said. “And kids are all about that.”
Keeping teens engaged in a dry subject
Teenagers may not be thrilled about taking a required money class, but educators can keep them engaged with realworld scenarios, Elrod said. at starts with relevance.
“ ey’re not going to understand purchasing a house. ey are going to understand going out to dinner with friends or buying new clothes,” she said. “Making the examples relevant helps students connect the dots.”
Elrod’s team at Westerra Credit Union o ers a classroom simulation that gives students a job, a salary and bills to manage and then throws high-pressure sales pitches their way.
“It’s one thing to talk about budgeting,” she said. “It’s another to experience the consequences of blowing your budget on an apartment with killer mountain views and realizing you can’t a ord to eat.”
When students walk through those decisions, Elrod said, the lessons tend to stick. “You can tell them they need to budget, but letting them feel what it’s like to make the wrong choice is much more e ective.”
What parents can do at home
Financial education doesn’t have to stop at school. Elrod encourages parents to involve teens in family budgeting, talk openly about money and consider opening joint accounts or debit cards when they’re ready.
“Every student is di erent. Some are ready at 10, others not until 16,” she said. “ e key is creating habits early and making the conversation feel relevant.”
Elrod recommends apps that help families gamify chores, savings and spending. Some allow parents to set savings rules, such as automatically diverting one-third of every allowance into savings and help kids track their spending in real-time.
“ e goal isn’t to lecture,” she said. “It’s to build con dence. When teens feel in control of their money, they make better choices.”
