April 22, 2016 VO LUM E 1 4 | IS S U E 25 | FREE
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School board members face intimidation probe
Ponderosa protest organizer recorded meeting with pair
By Mike DiFerdinando mferdinando@colorado communitymedia.com The Douglas County School Board agreed April 19 to launch an independent investigation
into board President Meghann Silverthorn and Vice President Judith Reynolds after 16-year-old Ponderosa student Grace Davis said she was intimidated and bullied by the pair in a private meeting about the March protest she organized at the school. The three newest school board members, who said they had listened to a recording Davis made of that meeting, also called
Ponderosa High School student Grace Davis and her father at the Douglas County Board of Education meeting April 19. Davis called for the resignation of the president and vice president of the board. Photo by Mike DiFerdinando
unsuccessfully for Silverthorn’s and Reynolds’ resignations. “There is no excuse for two adults to intimidate a … student on school grounds,” board member Anne-Marie Lemieux said. Davis was one of about 100 students at Ponderosa who held a peaceful protest March 9 to ask why teachers were leaving their school and district. Board continues on Page 11
Keeping eyes, and minds, on the road Department of transportation highlights growing problem of distracted driving By Tom Skelley tskelley@coloradocommunitymedia.com
A maintenance worker removes snow from the roof of the Watermark townhome complex at 18508 E. Mainstreet in Parker on April 18. The weekend storm dropped 23.8 inches of snow in the town. Photos by Tom Skelley
Spring snow snarls streets Heavy snowfall covers traffic lights; half-dozen vehicle accidents reported
By Tom Skelley tskelley@coloradocommunitymedia.com A powerful winter storm blanketed the area between April 15 and April 17, leaving almost 2 feet of snow and a few traffic-related headaches in its wake. The snowfall began late Friday evening and continued until late Sunday. The National Weather Service reported 23.8 inches for Parker, with up to 4 feet falling in other areas in the Front Range. Parker police responded to 19 different calls related to the storm, mostly between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Most calls were related to traffic control, as stoplights around the town became packed with snow and motorists were unable to see them. Six accidents were reported, one requiring a person to be transported to a local hospital. Officers also responded to three calls for motorist assistance. Douglas County canceled all government services on Saturday, and the Town of Parker was on accident alert until the storm began to subside on Saturday afternoon.
Nicolle Dowling of Centennial knows her distracted driving is a problem. “I’m aware of it, but I need to do a better job of not doing it,” Dowling said. “Having the phone in my hand, whether it be for texting, talking, Texting distracts using navigamany motorists. tion apps, getting information or just Shutterstock image thinking I need to get information” — those are the things she sometimes does behind the wheel other than watching the road. Distracted continues on Page 5
LOCAL SPORTS
Nolan Dyk, 4, dodges snow falling from a playground structure on April 18. The snowfall over the weekend put the Town of Parker on accident alert from Friday until Saturday afternoon.
Ponderosa’s Lowe twins play doubles tennis — but not together. PAGE 24
Grand Opening Party This Weekend! ColoradoSkinAndVein.com See page 7 for an invitation to our grand opening celebration
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