September 3, 2015
THIS WEEK IN
LIFE
LOCAL
A look at what makes a good song for the summer A publication of
WHAT’S INSIDE
A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Page 14
SouthPlatteIndependent.net
A SIZZLIN’ GOOD TIME
Making the grade: Citizens give Littleton Public Schools high marks on survey. See Page 5
Must love dogs: Colorado canines are often part of the family. See Page 13
Ron Walker, center, of Mr. Steak, a Denver-area cover band that revives hair metal, belts out lyrics to Van Halen’s “Jump” at the Alferd Packer Bacon Party in downtown Littleton on Aug. 29. Walker called the event “awesome” and said, “If you’ve got bacon, you’ve got to have a little steak in there somewhere.” Let the games begin: Fall sports season gets underway. See Page 23
The third annual Alferd Packer Bacon Party brought hundreds of people to the parking lot of Reinke Bros. in downtown Littleton for food, music and a good cause. The Aug. 29 event, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Littleton, featured four bands, a half-dozen or so food trucks and free bacon samples. It also was an opportunity to help the nonprofit organization Free the Girls by donating a gently used bra. The group provides job opportunities for survivors of sex trafficking in developing countries, and the bras will be sold by women as part of that program.
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South Platte Independent
The event was a collection point for gently used bras, which will be provided to the nonprofit organization Free the Girls for sale by survivors of human trafficking.
Rotarians Nancy Taoka, left, and Bobbi McCombs prepare platters of free bacon samples. McCombs works for Boar’s Head, which provided the bacon.
Drones put on show at memory center Fliers turn out to provide visual treat for residents By Jennifer Smith jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com
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Ron Cox lands his homemade hexcopter drone as residents of Highline Place memory-care community look on. Photo by Jennifer Smith
When Bill Payne sees the drones, his eyes light up, and one can’t help wondering what’s behind them. But he can’t tell you. His wife, Linda, sheds some light on what might be going on in his mind as he watches the drones dart around the entryway of the Highline Place memory-care community on Aug. 25. She explains that her husband is a hero. Col. Bill Payne was a pilot in the Air Force for 28 years. He was shot down twice in Vietnam, earning a Purple Heart. She met him later, when he applied for a job with the police department in Daytona, Florida. She happened to be sitting in for the chief’s secretary that day. He got the job and the girl, 41 years ago now. A state job with a search-and-rescue team eventually brought them to Colorado. Drones continues on Page 4