JOB FAIR
May 20, 2016 VO LUM E 1 4 | IS S U E 29 | FREE
Are you looking for new talent? Join us for the Highlands Ranch Chamber’s Job & Career Fair! See Inside for Details!
ParkerChronicle.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
A MOMENT TO REMEMBER
Derek Schneiderman practices using the ReWalk with Kaci Hudson outside of Craig Hospital in Englewood. Hudson says she and Schneiderman have to communicate closely to manipulate the sensitive machine. Photo by Tom Skelley
Taking one step at a time
Grace Lanae Radliff looks to her family after receiving her diploma at the Ponderosa High School graduation ceremony on a cold, rainy May 17 at Sports Authority Stadium in Parker. For more on Ponderosa’s graduation, turn to PAGE 7. Schools around the area are sending their seniors out into the world; insights about the Class of 2016 begin on PAGE 17. Photo by Tom Skelley
Pine Curve application gets pulled by council
Man who lost use of legs works with device to get back on feet By Tom Skelley tskelley@coloradocommunitymedia.com A car crash in 2008 fractured Derek Schneiderman’s spinal cord, cost him the use of his legs and left him in a coma. When he awoke and doctors told him he was paralyzed from the waist down, he took the news too well. “The doctors at the time thought there must have been something wrong with me, because why wasn’t I upset?” Schneiderman said. “It was my mom and dad who told them: ‘That’s just who he is, that’s just his personality.’ ” Schneiderman doesn’t dwell on the traffic accident, and he doesn’t look back on the life he had before he lost the use of his legs. Instead he looks, and moves, forward. “I love doing as much as I can,” he said with a smile. “Why? Because I can.” His weekly schedule bears out that statement. Monday through Friday, Schneiderman works full time as a financial planner for Morgan Stanley. He enjoys the work Step continues on Page 5
Residents express gratitude, relief as proposed rezoning for retail center is withdrawn Medicolegal death investigator C.J. Lay weighs a heart while assisting on an autopsy. Photo by Shanna Fortier
‘Citizens can count on us’ Douglas County morgue works toward objective of national accreditation By Shanna Fortier sfortier@colorado communitymedia.com For Douglas County Coroner Jill Romann, national accreditation of
By Tom Skelley tskelley@coloradocommunitymedia.com
her office is about accountability and transparency to taxpayers who depend on her staff to explain why people have died. “It means citizens can count on us,” Romann said. “We are very invested that when something does go to litigation we are ready, or when telling a woman her husband’s cause of death,
Parker residents fighting plans to develop the Pine Curve property into a shopping center scored a victory May 16 when the Town Council voted unanimously to withdraw the rezoning application for the land. “The response from the community was very fast and unified,” said Michael Roueche, a vocal opponent who attended the meeting. He was referring to the two recent petitions, one online and one on paper, which garnered more
Morgue continues on Page 25
Council continues on Page 35
Can’t get your acne under control?
We can help! 303-945-2080 Dr. Kimberly Neyman
See page 5 for Dr. Kim Neyman’s column on acne.