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July 1, 2021
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
SouthPlatteIndependent.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 20
VOLUME 76 | ISSUE 34
Proposed map launches redistricting process Littleton would remain in 6th Congressional District under preliminary plan from nonpartisan staff BY THY VO, SANDRA FISH, JESSE PAUL AND DANIEL DUCASSI THE COLORADO SUN
back across the railing and made his way to the next unit. Heathman cut her hand on the shattered glass of the door as she stepped onto the balcony. The unit next door was roiling in black smoke. Flames licked around the wall, clawing toward her. An officer stood in the courtyard, yelling YOU HAVE TO JUMP! Heathman put her hands on the railing, growing hot from the inferno next door, and struggled to climb on a bad knee. She pushed off as hard as she could, and
Colorado’s new, eighth congressional district would include the cities of Arvada, Westminster, Broomfield, Thornton, Brighton and Platteville, a preliminary map drawn by nonpartisan redistricting staff and presented to the state’s Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission on June 23 shows. Staff placed the new district in the north Denver metro area for two reasons, said Jeremiah Barry, a legislative attorney advising the redistricting commissions. “The first reason was we recognize this was the fastest-growing area of the state,” said Barry. “The second was a recognition that although nearly 30% of the population of the state are Hispanics, none of the current seven districts are represented by a Hispanic.” The map is a major first step in the state’s once-a-decade redistricting process. It will evolve as the commission gets input from the public and interest groups over the next few months.
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Anne Heathman describes how first responders busted out her patio doors on the morning of the fire, yelling for her to escape. PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT
Through the smoke As Windermere apartments fill back up after 2018 fire, survivors still struggle BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
“I remember the railing was hot.” On a calm June afternoon, Anne Heathman ran her fingers along the steel railing of the balcony of her old apartment — the first time she had visited since the morning
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she narrowly escaped with her life. Heathman, 76, was one of 163 seniors who fled an early-morning fire that ravaged the Windermere apartment building at 5829 S. Datura St. in Littleton on Nov. 17, 2018. Heathman was awakened a little after 5 a.m. that morning by a Littleton police officer pounding on her first-floor patio door, howling for her to get out. As she struggled to make sense of what was happening, the officer bashed out her sliding glass doors, screaming FIRE, FIRE! GET OUT! He leaped
SPARKS WILL FLY
A regional look at July Fourth events
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