September 11, 2020
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 17
New Parker Rotary Club is one of a kind Group is the first for special-needs individuals BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Under the gazebo at O’Brien Park in Parker, Eddie Biegel rang the ceremonial Rotary Bell on Sept. 1 to sound off the first meeting of a groundbreaking Rotarian club for special-needs citizens. Biegel is the first president of the new Rotary Satellite Club of Parker, CO Cherry Creek Valley United. The United Rotary club inaugurated its first 25 members at the O’Brien Park gazebo and flower garden, both of which were gifts from local Rotary clubs. The Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker (CCVRC) is the parent to the satellite club. A Rotary International official told CCVRC officials that the United club is the first of its kind in the organization, which consists of more than 35,000 clubs and 1.2 million members. “We are the first in our nation to be an inclusive club. We are the first in Rotary. We are the first globally.
BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The four-person race for mayor of Parker is now down to three. Cheryl Poage is no longer running for mayor after failing to return her nomination petition before the Aug. 24 deadline, she said Sept. 8. Now, the sitting Parker Town Council member is endorsing her colleague on council in the mayoral race, Jeff
174 asked to quarantine amid COVID cases at Legend High School Quarantined students were asked to stay home until Sept. 15 BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNUITYMEDIA.COM
The Rotary Satellite Club of Parker, CO Cherry Creek Valley United is the first club in Rotary International of its kind — a club run by people with disabilities. PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT We are setting precedent, and I hope it takes off like wildfire,” Rivero said. Rotary International does not discriminate against potential new members with special needs. The
sive Cameron Peak fire. Fire officials issued a voluntary evacuation for the area where Poage’s cabin is located during the same week Parker council and mayoral candidates were to circulate a nomination petition of 25 signatures. The day before the filing deadline, Poage prepared to visit Montana, a trip she and her family had planned since April, she said. “I really felt I had my hands full at the time,” Poage said. “On top of that, we wound up with four candidates, and that’s a bit much to put out there.” Poage said she did not request a
The Douglas County School District has asked 174 people to quarantine after learning of two positive COVID-19 cases at Legend High School. A letter dated Sept. 6 asks people believed to have had close contact with the sick individuals to quarantine and not return to school until about Sept. 15. “If your child was at school on Monday, Aug. 31 and/or Wednesday, September 2, your child was in close contact with one of these people and your child should enter into quarantine,” the letter reads. The letter instructed families with more than one child at the Parker school to contact the school and confirm which of their children needed to quarantine. Siblings of a child asked to quarantine can still attend school unless they become sick or test positive for COVID-19, the district said. A separate letter was sent to school community members who were not believed to have been exposed. Students who are quarantined will continue learning virtually while they are unable to attend
SEE ELECTION, P11
SEE LEGEND, P14
Parker United club is the first to be operated by and for people with special needs, according to CCVRC officials. SEE ROTARY, P8
Poage out of Parker mayoral race Council member to support colleague in 3-way race
VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 43
Toborg. The field is now down to Toborg, Jonathan Bollefer and Council Member Josh Rivero. A combination of factors, including local wildfires and scheduling conflicts, made it difficult for Poage to circulate her petition in time, she said. “It’s not so much that Poage I didn’t really want to,” Poage said. Poage said she has made several trips to the Crystal Lake area, northwest of Fort Collins, to evacuate her cabin property the week of Aug. 17. The cabin was threatened by the mas-
CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH PEOPLE IN NEED
Building community through cash-free exchanges, gifts P12
A LOPSIDED WIN FOR TOP SOFTBALL TEAM Rock Canyon trounces Highlands Ranch 12-0 P17