Parker Chronicle 1211

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December 11, 2015 VO LUM E 1 4 | IS S U E 6 | FREE

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LET IT SNOW

Union tries to find fit in district Douglas County Federation lost ability to negotiate with district in 2012 By Mike DiFerdinando mdiferdinando@colorado communitymedia.com

Alex Budnick performs a backside 360 over the 6-footer at the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre. Liberty University in Virginia is currently the only Snowflex system in the nation. Castle Rock Town Council recently took a step toward building the second one at Philip S. Miller Park. Photo courtesy of Liberty University

Snow complex would be second in country $28-million, year-round park would include jumps, rails, tubing and more

‘For me, it’s introducing something that I love to the masses.’

By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com A year-round snow sports facility — only the second of its kind in the United States — slid one step closer to becoming a reality in Castle Rock when the Town Council entered into a memorandum of Snow continues on Page 27

Louie Vito, five-time Winter X Games medalist who attended the council meeting to voice support for the project

Transplant patient shares ‘miracle’ story

A teachers’ union has not participated in collective-bargaining negotiations with the Douglas County School District since 2012, but for some teachers, it still pays to be a member. “The main reason I am a union member and support the union is very simple,” said Kelli Eastmond, a kindergarten teacher at Arrowwood Elementary in Highlands Ranch. “No one else has my back. No one else will fight for me. With all that is going on in this district, I need someone who supports me and is taking care of me and my best interest.” The previous collective-bargaining agreement between the school district and the Douglas County Federation had been in place in various forms for 47 years before it expired after negotiations failed in 2012. Until then, the union and district had enjoyed a relationship that was acclaimed nationally for its collaboration and willingness to work together, helping produce one of the nation’s first pay-for-performance programs in 1994. But the 2009 election of a conservative school board, which saw unions as serving national political interests rather than focusing on local teachers’ issues and development, eventually led to the

Union continues on Page 11

BACK ON TOP

Donor’s liver gives Parker man second chance at life

By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Wes Cook recalls vividly a motorcycle ride he took three years ago. It was to be his last. Cook, a Parker resident for 12 years, was also planning to get rid of his skis, because he was almost certain he would never use them again. Meanwhile, he was compiling notes in a book for his wife filled with details about finances and how to winterize the house. Cook was putting his final affairs in order. “The weirdest thing in the world is to feel perfectly healthy and look in the mirror and know that you’ve been sent home to die,” said

Patient continues on Page 7

Parker residents Wes and Debbie Cook enjoy every moment they have together after Wes’s cancer scare in 2012. Photo by Chris Michlewicz

Valor players celebrate winning the Class 5A state football championship by edging Pomona 29-26 in the game played Dec. 5 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. For more photos and the story, turn to Page 20. Photo by Tom Munds

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