October 23, 2020
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 25
VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 49
Campaign donations pouring in The races for two commissioner seats have seen more than 10 times the contributions as in 2016 BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
discrimination. He resigned while on leave, citing personal and family matters. “The investigator found that the complaint was made in good faith, but that there was no policy violation,” a district statement said. Tucker provided a statement via text message saying he supports investigating all claims of workplace
Campaign contributions to candidates vying for two seats on the Douglas County Board of Commissioners already total more than 10 times the amount contributed in 2016, with tens of thousands of dollars coming from out-of-state sources, according to a Colorado Community Media analysis of campaign finance reports. By the end of the 2016 election cycle, $52,234 had been contributed to the four candidates on the general election ballot in the races for the District 2 and District 3 seats. That figure excludes nearly $113,000 in loans that District 3 winner Lora Thomas gave to herself that year. In this year’s two races, through Oct. 8, a total of more than $560,000 had been contributed to the two Democrats and two Republicans on the ballot. In the District 2 race, Democrat Lisa Neal-Graves and Republican George Teal are neck and neck in terms of contributions, with NealGraves outraising Teal $128,316 to
SEE TUCKER, P7
SEE CAMPAIGN, P11
Caroline Lundstrom, 3, shows off her petite pumpkin at the Flat Acres Farm in Parker Oct. 18. Lundstrom’s parents and extended family grew up with the Flat Acres Farm fall festival. Only removed from Colorado one year, the family came back to the one spot they knew to have the best fall fun. PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT
Flannel, family and Flat Acres Farm
BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Over the past 11 years, Mike Smith has built Flat Acres Farm into a Parker institution.
The 40-acre property at Dransfeldt and Twenty Mile roads has become an almost indispensable part of thousands of families in eastern Douglas County. Families from as far as Denver travel to Flat Acres Farm.
A handful of families come week after week, Smith said. “This allows families to check out and have some fun with the kids,” SEE FARM, P24
Probe finds ex-superintendent did not violate policy Tucker to begin new role in the Kentucky Department of Education BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
An independent investigation into former Douglas County School
District Superintendent Thomas Tucker has concluded and found Tucker did not violate any district policies, according to a statement from the district. Tucker was placed on paid administrative Tucker leave in September while he was investigated for allegations of workplace
DON’T BE TRICKED
There are plenty of ways to have a happy Halloween amid the pandemic
P14
FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY
Mayoral candidates share their views on the town’s financial future P5