December 25, 2015
THIS WEEK IN
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Meet the All-South Metro Football Team
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New housing on horizon in Parker
Several developments are taking shape around town
By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com Work has begun on several new housing projects in Parker. While colder temperatures take hold, construction is just heating up. Several developments are being considered for approval, going through the necessary steps to prove that the project complies with all town standards.
The following is an update on three ongoing developments. Overlook at Cherry Creek Construction is underway on the Overlook at Cherry Creek, a development adjacent to the portion of Clarke Farms that’s southeast of Mainstreet and Motsenbocker Road. Town council approved a final plat in July 2015 to create three filings within the Overlook at Cherry Creek for a total of 186 single-family detached lots on 63 acres. Significant grading work has been underway since September to smooth out the rough
topography. In 2013, the town granted a request from the landowner to rezone the property and remove language that allowed for apartments. The previous owner had planned to build an 844-unit agerestricted retirement village. At that time, some nearby homeowners inquired about potential impacts to home values and traffic congestion on nearby roads. Rhonda Miracle, whose backyard is adjacent to the project, said the grading has caused Housing continues on Page 6
A surveyor walks in front of a grader at the construction site for the Overlook at Cherry Creek, a 186-home neighborhood under construction next to Clarke Farms. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
County budget puts focus on roads Emergency communication also part of spending plan By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunitymedia.com
it would be — aside from realizing that beloved host Alex Trebek doesn’t actually hang out with contestants before filming. McMullen, a bartender at McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks in the Denver Tech Center, studied hard to prepare for her national TV debut, brushing up on subjects such as opera and literature, for which she researched the “top 100 American novels and top 100 British novels and who wrote them.”
Transportation and public safety investments are at the forefront of Douglas County’s $346 million 2016 budget, which was unanimously approved Dec. 15 by the three commissioners. Of the $346 million budget, $186 million goes to operations, which includes personnel salaries, service contracts and supplies for county offices to run on a daily basis. The combined impact of traffic congestion, aging county roads, limited state funds to maintain state-owned highways within the county, and citizen survey findings influenced the commissioners’ decision to commit $118 million in 2016 to transportation-related expenditures. The road improvements include partnerships to work on roads in cities and towns within the county, area metro districts and private roads. It also includes improvements to state highways within the county, including Highway 85 (Santa Fe Drive), C-470 and Interstate 25 — these projects are in partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation. “For decades, we’ve known that more than 80 percent of our citizens and taxpayers rely on state highways within the county for commuting to work, school and other day-to-day activities,” Commissioner Roger Partridge said. “Traffic congestion is not unique to Douglas County, the metro Denver area or other communities in the state of Colorado and this nation, yet since 2008, the Federal Highway Trust Fund, a significant source of transportation funding for state and local governments, has faced a major gap between available revenue and nationwide needs, with only short-term extensions and transfers of funds, just to keep our nation’s transportation network viable.”
Jeopardy continues on Page 6
Budget continues on Page 6
Lynsey McMullen, of Parker, in a promo shot with “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek. Courtesy photo
Who is Lynsey McMullen?
This Parker woman appeared on ‘Jeopardy!’
By Chris Michlewicz cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com Lynsey McMullen was picking up her kindergartner from North Star Academy when she got the call telling her she would be a contestant on “Jeopardy!” The moment was the culmination of more than five years of perseverance and the fulfillment of a nearly-lifelong dream. First, she called her husband, Andy, who left work early and was waiting at home with a bouquet of flowers. “I was really over the moon for her,” said Andy McMullen, who plays trivia with his wife and acknowledges her as “the stronger player.” “This is something she wanted to do for so long.” Seven months had passed since she had played a mock game and been interviewed by producers who stopped in Denver. She originally took the online test in January. “I was starting to give up hope,” McMullen, 35, said. Then came the call in September.
TELLING STORIES Before each episode of “Jeopardy!” is filmed, producers ask contestants to provide five interesting facts about themselves. Host Alex Trebek then selects from those items when chatting briefly with the contestants after the first commercial break. When prompted by Trebek, Lynsey McMullen recounted a funny story from her youth as a dancer when she performed a belly dance for Hollywood-actor-turned-Governator-turned-
“Culver City” popped up on the caller ID and she quickly pacified her 5-yearold, Harper, with Skittles and SpongeBob Squarepants to create a quiet zone. After receiving the news, her husband promptly told every coworker he could find about his better half’s achievement. McMullen’s episode was filmed in October and aired Dec. 16, and although she placed third, she kept herself in contention for much of the game. She faltered on three questions, including a “Daily Double.” But the experience was everything she hoped
Hollywood-actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She managed to give a shout-out to her first dance teacher, who also happens to be her mother. When Trebek asked if she still dances, McMullen informed him and a large viewing audience that she now has “too much junk in the trunk” to do so. It has been a source of laughter ever since for McMullen and her friends and relatives.