Highlands ranch herald 1226 by Colorado Community Media

December 26, 2013 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 27, Issue 6 A publication of

highlandsranchherald.net

Shooting prompts outpouring of support Connections to Arapahoe High lead Douglas County schools to acts of compassion By Jane Reuter

jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Arapahoe High School’s location across a county line and in another school district matters little to Douglas County School District staff and students. In the wake of the Dec. 13 shooting that has left two students dead, one of whom spent nine days in critical condition, members of DCSD reached out to the AHS community through many compassionate acts. It started the Monday after the tragedy, when students throughout DCSD reported to school wearing AHS’ black-andgold colors. From there, students and staff launched a variety of projects. At Mountain Vista High School, stu-

dents are making and collecting homemade wind chimes to hang in the trees around AHS. A ThunderRidge High School teacher helped design a “Colorado Strong” T-shirt whose sales so far have generated more than $44,000 in donations. At Highlands Ranch and Rock Canyon high schools, teenagers signed studentmade banners with messages of support. Acres Green Elementary held a pajama-day fundraiser. And dozens of DCSD schools started collections to help offset shooting victim Claire Davis’ medical costs. AHS, located mere minutes from many DCSD facilities, shares much more than a common boundary with the district. Hundreds of DCSD students previously shared classes and friendships with the shooter, Karl Pierson, and his sister Kristen, Highlands Ranch residents who attended both Acres Green Elementary and Support continues on Page 7

Highlands Ranch High School student Alex Macre signs a banner Dec. 18 that HRHS students planned to deliver to Arapahoe High School later that day. Photo by Jane Reuter

Local mom tried to kill her children, sheriff says She faces attempted murder charges By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@ coloradocommunitymedia.com

“I still don’t believe it happened,” said Arapahoe junior Tessa Serano (right, in white T-shirt) who, along with her twin sister Cheyenne (left) and fellow Arapahoe junior Caroline Powell (center), visited the memorial to Claire Davis on Dec. 19 after picking up their personal belongings inside the high school. “There’s a lot of love here,” said Cheyenne Serano. Photo by George Lurie

`Heaven has gained an angel’ Arapahoe High shooting victim Claire Davis dies By Chris Rotar

crotar@coloradocommunitymedia. com The list of items, each one dropped off as a gesture of hope and support, continued to grow. The flowers, the candles, the cards, the teddy bears, the balloons, the banners urging strength. Since Dec. 13, they piled up outside a fence at Arapahoe High School in Centennial. Claire Davis — and all of Arapahoe High — was tight within an extended community’s embrace. Nine days after Davis was shot in the head, one item, a yellow poster board, spelled out the heartbreaking conclu-

sion of her fight for life. “Heaven has gained an angel.” Davis had died the previous day, at 4:29 p.m. Dec. 21, at Littleton Adventist Hospital, her family by her side. The 17-year-old had been in critical condition since fellow Arapahoe High student Karl Pierson shot her at the school around 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13. A statement posted on the hospital’s Facebook page announced the news to the community and to those around the nation and world who spent more than a week praying for Davis to recover. The hospital’s message seemed to indicate that Davis was indeed “Warrior Strong” — a mantra built on the school’s nickname and the need to rebound from a nightmare — until the end.

Davis continues on Page 7

Claire Davis died Dec. 21 from the gunshot wound she sustained more than a week earlier. Courtesy photo

A Highlands Ranch mother faces attempted first-degree murder charges after she tried to kill her two young children, police say. Erin Giberti, 37, was found unconscious in a running vehicle in a garage Dec. 9, with her two children standing outside the home in the 4900 block of Laurelglen Lane, near Southridge Recreation Center. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is not releasing any other details about the incident, other than to say the “kids were initially in the car,” said spokesman Ron HanGiberti avan. The sheriff’s office recommended four felony charges against Giberti on Dec. 19, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a child under 12 by a person in a position of trust. Hanavan said he believes the children did not sustain injuries. Giberti, who was hospitalized after the incident, is in custody on a $250,000 bond. Her Facebook page provides a glimpse into the life of someone who appears to be a typical Highlands Ranch mother. Friends and family gushed about photos Giberti posted of herself with two young boys. In a section that enables Facebook users to talk about their personal life, Giberti encouraged readers to “spend quality time with family.” Her LinkedIn profile says she works for RE/MAX as a broker and relocation specialist.

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2 Highlands Ranch Herald

December 26, 2013

Warriors, fiercely kind, come together As Anna Sutterer crowded with 25 other students in the darkened corner of her AP Lit class, the words of the hymn she sings every Sunday at church — “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” — tumbled through her mind. Shots had just echoed through her Arapahoe High School halls. So she prayed. For strength in the moment. For the shooter, knowing he was one of God’s children, but was lost. For the aftermath, of peace in everyone’s hearts. “I thought this couldn’t happen to any of our Warriors,” she said later. “I prayed we would end up being more powerful than the actual event.” That’s exactly what’s happening. But perhaps that’s not so surprising, considering every school day for four years students hear the same seven words at the end of morning announcements: “Warriors Always Take Care of Each Other.” “Maybe you don’t feel it every single day, but it really is ingrained in us,” Anna, 17, said. “It’s part of the tradition of the Arapahoe tribe. …” In the days since an 18-year-old gunman — one of their own — killed himself after fatally injuring a 17-year-old girl, also one of their own, Arapahoe’s students, numbering about the size of a small town, have led a remarkable healing campaign with wisdom and compassion far beyond their years. They have supported each other in small and big ways, seeking comfort in numbers and solace in shared experience. “It seems,” Anna’s father said, “the whole community of students is determined to take care of each other.” A chain of “fierce kindness,” as one observer described, started almost im-

mediately. The day after the violence, 200 students gathered at noon at a nearby youth center to share stories and pray. A few hours later, another student opened her home until midnight for whoever wanted to stop by. Throughout the night, teens came and went, grabbing a bite to eat or talking or even dancing a little. “Nobody has wanted to be alone or without any of their friends,” Anna said. “We have to be in a big group. I think, for me, when I’m alone it kind of gives way to all those thoughts … the rushing of it.” That Saturday evening, Maggie Hurlbut, 17, the school newspaper editor who had crouched in the classroom with Anna, helped organize a candlelight vigil for Claire Davis, the senior who died Dec. 21 after nine days in a coma. “It was to pay our respects to Claire,” Maggie said. “Part of it was also a selfish need. I needed to be doing something. It gave me a purpose. … I wanted to be around people … and I felt that sentiment from other people.” More than 500 students, parents and community members formed a circle several layers deep at a Centennial park. As candles flickered in the night, students vowed the tragedy would not define them;

then they melted into hugs, many with people they did not know. “There definitely is a certain trauma we endured,” Maggie said. “It’s definitely not something we can handle alone. But being with others in the same situation can help us move past it.” That urge to gather as one — whether in celebration or sorrow — is an inextricable component of human nature, said Kim Gorgens, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Denver. “It’s every rally, every church potluck, every workplace meal delivery,” she said. “For as long as people have been tracking human behavior, that’s what people do in good times and in bad times.” Connection is essential to surviving the bad times. “The worst possible thing that undermines mental health is really that sense of powerlessness after any kind of tragedy … especially events like these, the catastrophic loss of a sense of safety,” Gorgens said. “But kids who find a sense of being or reason to be in action are the ones who really fare best.” Students’ desire to reclaim control has spread beyond Arapahoe walls. Teens from other schools are sending banners of support, selling T-shirts to support Claire and collecting donations to help cover medical expenses. A Twitter petition to bring Claire’s favorite band, One Direction, exploded to more than 40,000 tweets in just 48 hours. “It’s really touching,” Maggie said. “We’re (school) rivals every other time, but now it’s bigger than that. I hope that relationship will be changed a little bit.” What is sure to endure is the Arapahoe spirit: Warriors Always Take Care of Each Other.

“We buy it,” Maggie said. “… everything falls away in times when we need each other. And we’ve been very vocal right now that we really do need each other.” The daily repetition of this particular school motto is inspirational, said Gorgens, who calls it a smart way to bring kids into adulthood. “There’s something about clinging to an identity that’s prescribed to you,” she said. And this one “is fierce kindness … This is the outcome of what it looks like in a crisis. It’s a thing of beauty that these kids would be so present for each other.” Maggie and Anna expect some bumps as they navigate the road ahead. Neither is sleeping well. Loud noises startle Maggie. Anna can’t bring herself to watch or listen to the news much. “I think just because of all the things we’ve been doing, I will be more resilient than I expect,” Anna said. At the same time, “I’m trying to give myself grace for not immediately being OK.” Both are looking forward to returning to school. “There’s something about taking it back and redeeming that space,” Anna said. “Even being in that place where those memories are going to be, the fact is we really banded together because of that place.” They believe they will, eventually, leave behind what happened that terrible day, but, said Maggie, not “without some remembrance, respect and courage.” Like true — fiercely kind — warriors. Ann Macari Healey’s column about people, places and issues of everyday life appears every other week. She can be reached at ahealey@coloradocommunitymedia.com or 303-566-4110.

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Highlands Ranch Herald 3

December 26, 2013

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From left, Kelsey, Steven and Kaitlin Humphries model the shirts designed to help finance school music programs. Courtesy photo

Music-loving dad designs T-shirt to help program Portion of sales to benefit schools By Jane Reuter

jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com

niHighlands Ranch resident Stephen Humphries fell in love with music in the sixth grade, when he first picked up a set of drum sticks. It remains among his greatest life passions, one he hopes all children have the opportunity to experience. “I know it’s low on the priority list compared to English and math and science,” he said, “but I certainly don’t want to see it completely vanish from school programs.” Humphries and his 20-year-old, fellow musician son designed a music-themed T-shirt they hope can help keep music in school. A portion of the proceeds from the shirts’ sales will benefit school music programs, starting with Bear Canyon Elementary — where his two daughters attend school. Both girls have music class every three weeks in school, and also take guitar lessons.

“I’m not naïve enough to think I’m going to make a huge difference, but I think every little bit can help,” said Humphries, who owns a restaurant exhaust cleaning business. Bear Canyon music teacher Aimee Newman said Humphries’ gesture is welcome. “I’m honored he chose Bear Canyon to start this fundraiser and I hope they sell well,” she said of the T-shirts. “I feel music education is so important, and I appreciate that it’s supported here in the Highlands Ranch area.” The shirt spells out the word “music” in musical clefs and notes, followed by the words “is hope.” The three-word sentence reflects Humphries’ feelings about music. “It’s a universal language,” he said. “No matter where you go, music is one of the most important things in every culture. It’s just so easy to identify with — in good times and in bad.” Humphries will donate 20 percent of proceeds from the sale of each shirt to a school music program. The cost of a T-shirt is $12 for kids and $15 for adults. Shirts are available on eBay and Etsy.com by searching for “music is hope.”

have a story idea? Email your ideas to Douglas County Education Reporter Jane Reuter at jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com or call her at 303-566-4106.

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Highlands Ranch Herald 5

December 26, 2013

SHOOTING AT ARAPAHOE HIGH

Community rallies around wounded Warriors Memorial to shooting victim draws steady stream of visitors By George Lurie

glurie@coloradocommunitymedia.com Nearly a week after the shooting that turned Arapahoe High School into a war zone, nerves remained raw and a sense of disbelief lingered. The community rallied around the high school’s students and staff on Dec. 19. Claire Davis, who had been shot in the head, would die two days later, but on this day, she clung to life in critical condition at Littleton Adventist Hospital. “I still don’t believe it happened,” said Arapahoe junior Tessa Serrano, who along with her twin sister Cheyenne and fellow Arapahoe High junior Caroline Powell, stopped by the growing makeshift memorial to Davis to read cards taped to the fence and reflect on what Powell called “the craziest day of my life.” “There’s a lot of love here,” said Cheyenne Serrano. “The support from friends and family and people around the community I’ve never even met has been incredible.” Wearing white “Warrior Strong” T-shirts and expressions of grim determination, students returned to the scene of the Dec.

13 shooting this week to pick up personal belongings and reconnect with classmates. AHS juniors and seniors were allowed back into the school for the first time Dec. 19. Sophomores and freshman were scheduled to return for a few hours Dec. 20. School district officials announced late this week that the school’s library will be remodeled before reopening next year. The library was damaged by a fire from a Molotov cocktail thrown by gunman Karl Pierson before he shot himself. Classes at the high school are expected to resume early next year but district officials have yet to announce a specific date when students will return. “There are no activities at Arapahoe this week,” said Diane Leiker, director of communications for Littleton Public Schools. “There are no classes or finals. Finals will not occur in any format until students return in January.” Across University Boulevard from the high school, employees at the Burger King franchise were readying for an all-day fundraiser for Davis scheduled for Dec. 20. The fast-food restaurant planned to donate 100 percent of its sales on Dec. 20 to the Davis family. “We wish we could do more,” said the restaurant’s manager. Other businesses located near the high school were also quick to pitch in. Several were also planning to donate a portion of

Courtney Harriman (right) and Tian Bank, both 2013 Heritage High grads, came to Arapahoe High School’s makeshift memorial for Claire Davis on Dec. 19. “Arapahoe is our sister school,” said Harriman. “We needed to pay our respect,” said Bank. Photo by George Lurie their sales this week to the fund for Davis. During the anxious hours after the shooting, the King Soopers in the Cherrywood Square Shopping Center served as a makeshift shelter for students and a command center for emergency responders. Immediately south of the grocery store, the gym at Shepherd of the Hills Church was transformed into a gathering area for students who were led in groups out of

the school and then interviewed by police investigators before being released to the custody of their parents. Well into the evening, King Soopers employees continued to load up shopping carts full of water bottles, cookies and candy bars and pass them out to nervous parents waiting behind yellow police tape or in the long pick-up line at Shepherd of the Hills.

Shooter inked messages on his body By Jennifer Smith

doing the same to himself. He died in a corner of the library about 80 seconds after entering the building, upon being confronted by Deputy James Englert. Davis died Dec. 21 after nine days in a coma at Littleton Adventist Hospital.

jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com “The Die Has Been Cast.” That was Karl Pierson’s final message to the world, written in permanent marker on the inside of his forearm in Latin - “Alea Iacta Est.” According to Wikipedia, “The Die is Cast” is what Julius Caesar is reported to have said as he led his army across the River Rubicon in Northern Italy, beginning a long civil war. The phrase is still used today in Italy to mean that events have passed a point of no return, that something inevitably will happen. The coroner’s office also discovered that the Arapahoe High School shooter had written five separate numbers and letters on his arm that might correlate to classrooms in the building, according to Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson. “The letters/numbers written on the shooter’s arm is an indicator to investigators of the shooter’s plan,” wrote Robinson in a press release. His team will try to determine whether particular occupants of those rooms might have been targets. Pierson, an 18-year-old AHS student,

“The robust and ongoing investigation into the Arapahoe High School shooting is being conducted in a deliberate and methodical manner,” reads the press release. Both the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI are assisting.

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6 Highlands Ranch Herald

December 26, 2013

SHOOTING AT ARAPAHOE HIGH

Shooting response earns praise Changes since Columbine prove their worth By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com There’s a general consensus in the law enforcement community that things could have been much worse. By any measure, a school shooting that leaves two students dead and hundreds with deep emotional scars is an unthinkable and heart-wrenching tragedy. As the gravity of the shooting at Arapahoe High School on Friday the 13th becomes more real, officials will take every angle to look at what went right and what went wrong. As for the swarming emergency response to the Centennial school, there is a lot that went right. It became obvious in the days following the shooting that the perpetrator had plans for widespread death and destruction. It is believed that the immediate response by an armed school resource officer and his confrontation of the shooter, ended the rampage much sooner. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Rob-

inson said years of intense training for an active shooter situation were instrumental in limiting the number of casualties. “The response was very effective and obviously quick and also was very consistent with what we’ve done over several years, the exercises we’ve done on a regional level,” Robinson said. Coincidentally, one month before the shooting, Littleton Public Schools was ranked by Security Magazine as the seventh best school district in the nation for security, and among the top 500 institutions nationwide. The magazine cited ongoing training, security protocols and a close partnership with local law-enforcement agencies as reasons for the high ranking. At least 10 agencies — even Colorado Parks and Wildlife — responded to the scene at Arapahoe High School.

Response changes have paid off

Pointed criticism of the handling of the Columbine High School massacre forced law enforcement officials to rethink every procedure they had in place. In the 14 years since, police and fire departments have completely overhauled communications systems and revised tactics. The directive for first-responders to

At least 10 agencies responded to the Arapahoe High School shooting on Dec. 13, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Photo by Chris Michlewicz eliminate the threat right away, with or without back-up officers, came from lessons learned in previous shootings, especially Columbine. That tactical change has proven effective, and the swift end to the Arapahoe High School shooting is a perfect example, said Sgt. Andy Coleman, public information officer for the Parker Police Department. Previous rules for dealing with an assailant are almost laughable, like the use of colored cards by teachers who were instructed to lock the door and slide the cards underneath to let police know the condition of those inside. Green meant everything was okay, red meant help was needed, Coleman said. Policies and procedures continue to be tweaked based on de-briefings that analyze the performance of officers in realistic training scenarios. The Parker Police Department, which sent three officers and a supervisor to Arapahoe High School the moment the call went out, participates in at least two active-shooter drills every year with neighboring agencies. Interagency partnerships have become

a crucial tool in making sure adjacent jurisdictions are on the same page in an emergency. Mutual aid protocol at a scene requires “fairly close control,” with everyone checking into a command post, Robinson said. Coleman says the assistance, particularly when an officer from another department might be able to respond quicker, can make all the difference. “It would be crazy to say we could handle it by ourselves,” he said. “There’s no way.” With so many people converging on one area, a well-coordinated response depends largely on uniform policies, full-scale rehearsals and, perhaps most importantly, a tried-and-tested communications system that enables responders to be as effective as possible. “The communications system functioned exactly as we expected it to,” Robinson said. “We put a lot of time and resources to make sure we were inter-operable throughout the metro area. Our capability was tested and we passed with flying colors.”

Stories of heroism emerge after shooting Medics rush in despite danger By Chris Michlewicz

cmichlewicz@coloradocommunitymedia.com As Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson puts it, “there was a lot of heroism” that went into preventing further bloodshed at Arapahoe High School. There is the custodian who sent out the first alert that an armed student was entering the building. There is Tracy Murphy, the librarian and debate team coach who exited the school after finding out he was the target. And there is James Englert, the school resource officer who challenged the threat, possibly causing the shooter to turn the gun on himself instead of continuing to fire at others. When the cloud of confusion clears, it’s typical for a handful of stories to emerge. Sadly, some go untold. Here’s one that won’t: Stationed two blocks away from the school were Littleton Fire Rescue firefighter/emergency medical technician Josh Meneses, paramedic firefighters Ryan Martin and Scott Osman, firefighter Erik Etheridge and Capt. Richard Taylor. They got to the scene seconds after the arrival of the first Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputy. Without knowing where the shooter was or even how many shooters were present, Martin, Osman and Etheridge entered the building in search of a wounded female student. The deputy, with his weapon drawn, provided initial cover for the unarmed medics as they scrambled to get to Claire Davis. The 17-year-old had been shot in the head from point-blank range,

and it was obvious that she needed immediate medical attention. Meanwhile, Meneses removed the stretcher and readied medical supplies in the ambulance. He estimates the crew was at Arapahoe High School for less than two minutes. “Since there was an active shooter, they said they wanted us to get off scene,” Meneses said, “so our job was to load her up and get her out of there as quick as possible.” He drove the three minutes to Littleton Adventist Hospital while relaying information about the patient’s condition to emergency room staff. Meneses was later told by a doctor that the forewarning enabled the hospital to get seven surgeons ready for the patient’s arrival. The firefighters and EMTs didn’t know the shooter was already dead when they entered. Their bravery, talent and readiness for the situation was “very apparent” at Arapahoe High School, said John Mullin, chief of Littleton Fire Rescue. “They demonstrated sound decisionmaking and discipline under extreme stress,” Mullin said. “I could not be more proud to be a member of this organization.” Training played a large part in the success of the operation. Littleton Fire Rescue participates in drills alongside nearby police and fire agencies, including an activeshooter drill in Englewood in early November. They hoped the moment would never come, that they would never have to put their knowledge to use in a real-life situation. But when it did happen, in the face of grave danger, they were prepared. “It was one of those above-and-beyond calls that happens once or twice in your career,” Meneses said. “Everything went like we would have trained.”

Highlands Ranch Herald 7

December 26, 2013

Davis

shooting at aRaPahoe high

Support

Continued from Page 1

Cresthill Middle School before enrolling in Littleton Public Schools’ AHS. Students and staff at Acres Green Elementary know Karl’s mother Barbara from her 2008-2010 stint working there as an educational assistant. Open enrollment means teenagers cross county lines to attend high schools in both school districts. And teachers who live in the two counties also have taught in the neighboring schools, further intertwining the lives of AHS and Douglas County students, parents and teachers. “This hit really close to home,” Highlands Ranch High School Principal Jerry Goings said. “I think everybody has been impacted by it one way or another — whether it’s a student that knew (Pierson) personally, or because it happened just down the road in our neighborhood. Because of the nature of the incident and the fact it involved a teacher, it really hit our teachers coming in on Monday morning, too.” Rock Canyon High School students and staff share similar connections. “Our largest open enrollment group comes from Cresthill,” Principal Andy Abner said. “My wife’s a teacher at Arapahoe. We have a teacher here whose son goes to school there, and kids who show horses with Claire. It doesn’t always seem like a small world when something like this happens.” Focusing on finals helped, Goings said. So did finding ways to help. “There’s been a lot of support for the school,” he said. “That’s the cool thing.” There’s also been support from DCSD schools and staff. HRHS was among many local schools with mental health crisis teams available for students after the shooting. “Lots of teachers asked, ‘Do we need to talk about this?’” student Taylor Garner said. “Our orchestra teacher dedicated the entire class to talking about it.” On Dec. 19, the day before some

Highlands Ranch High School was among several DCSD schools that collected money or did other projects to show support for shooting victim Claire Davis and the Arapahoe High School community. Photos by Jane Reuter

DougCo sChools take aCtion Following is a sampling of projects launched at DCSD schools this month to support the Arapahoe High School community. Several schools said they plan to take action after the holiday break. Chaparral High School: Planning a multi-school/ multi-district volleyball tournament in January with proceeds donated to Claire Davis and her family. Details are in the process of being finalized. Highlands Ranch High School: Signed and delivered student-made banner of support to AHS. Collected more than $1,000 for the Davis family. Legend High School: Student-initiated donation collection for the Davis family. Mountain Vista High School: Making and collecting handmade wind chimes to hang in the trees around AHS. Community members may deliver wind chimes to teacher Kristine Tadlock’s attention at Mountain Vista High School after the holiday break. Collecting donations for Davis’ medical expenses. Rock Canyon High School: Signed a banner of support and collected donations. Prior to the Dec. 20

AHS students were allowed back to pick up belongings, HRHS student senate members delivered their banner to the school. Bold, black letters encircled with the signatures of Highlands Ranch students offered sup-

RCHS vs. AHS basketball game, students held a pizza dinner, united the two student bodies for a mass photograph and held a moment of silence. ThunderRidge High School: Selling a “Colorado Strong” t-shirt created in the wake of the AHS shooting. Sales and donations so far have raised $44,000 for the Davis family and AHS community. Mountain Ridge Middle School: Student selling bracelets and donating proceeds to support AHS. Ranch View Middle School: Collected $1,700 for the shooting victim’s family during a “Coins for Claire” bucket donation drive. Acres Green Elementary: Students made $5 donations to wear pajamas to school Dec. 19. Money raised was donated to the Davis family. Cougar Run Elementary: Donated proceeds from sales of the Cougar Run Press Paws student newspaper to the Davis family. Academy Charter School: An Academy Charter School parent who owns the University Boulevard Burger King adjacent to AHS donated all Dec. 20 proceeds to the Davis family.

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port: “Stay strong, Warriors, Falcons have you under our wing.” “A lot of us have friends who go there,” HRHS student Emily Kohn said. “We just want to let them know we’re there for them.”

‘Warrior Strong’ shirts benefit Davis fund By Jennifer Smith

jsmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com If Jeff Wasden had not opened PROformance Apparel eight years ago, he might well have been inside Arapahoe High School on Dec. 13 when shots rang out, fatally wounding 17-year-old student Claire Davis. Wasden taught at Newton Middle School for several years, and had just accepted the position of dean of students at AHS when the deal for his business came through. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, the students, the staff and the community, and we’re honored to be part of that family,” he said on Dec. 19. To show that pride, Wasden is offering “Warrior Strong” T-shirts to the community for $15 each, of which about $12 is going to the Claire Davis fund at First Bank. “We’re delighted to participate with the kids from Arapahoe who created this concept,” he said. The shirts are white and feature a bow in gold and black, the school’s colors, and the date of the shooting, “12.13.13” There’s a large, black “A” with the word “Arapahoe” inside, and the words “Warrior Strong” in bold, black letters. The school is named for the Arapaho Native Americans, and the tribe maintains a close relationship with the school. Former Principal Ron Booth reached out to the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming in 1993, in the midst of a slew of mascot controversies around the country. Tribal elders decided AHS was place deserving of their respect and endorsed the school’s “Arapahoe Warrior” mascot, which was designed by Arapaho artist Wilbur Antelope. Members of the tribe visit every other year. In March 2012, Darrell Lonebear said the AHS students are champions to the Arapaho Tribal Nation. “I can tell warrior pride here at this high school is strong, and the energy we feel here is great,” he said. Wasden said the kids he’s working with on the T-shirts are doing OK, that they’re resilient and strong. “They’re showing a great deal of love and support and care for each other,” he said. They’re helping make the shirts, even going to his store in the middle of the night to help get orders out. Wasden estimates more than 2,000 shirts have been

Jeff Wasden’s PROformance Apparel is selling these T-shirts and most of the money is going to the Claire Davis Fund.

purchased, which means about $24,000 for the Claire Davis fund. The Davis family has asked that donations in Claire’s honor go to TLC Meals on Wheels or the Littleton Hospital Foundation to support mental-health awareness and support programs. “Difficult times allow people to show their colors,” said Wasden, adding that he’s proud of the kids, the staff

and the whole community. “There’s no reason to worry about who we’re handing the world over to,” he said. “They’re going to be in better shape than we are.” T-shirts are available at PROformance in the Broadridge Shopping Center at 6905 S. Broadway, or at www.warriorstrongshirts.com. You can donate directly to the fund at First Bank, 2323 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial, Colo. 80122.

Service Above Self Join Us!

Thursdays at 12:10pm rotary club Lone Tree Golf Club - of highlands ranch 9898 Sunningdale Blvd

“Despite the best efforts of our physicians and nursing staff, and Claire’s fighting spirit, her injuries were too severe and the most advanced medical treatments could not prevent this tragic loss of life. Claire’s death is immensely heartbreaking for our entire community, our staff and our families.” Shortly after that posting, the hospital relayed a message from the Davis family, which, in part, stated: “Although we have lost our precious daughter, we will always be grateful for the indelible journey she took us on over the last 17 years — we were truly blessed to be Claire’s parents. The grace, laughter and light she brought to this world will not be extinguished by her death; to the contrary, it will only get stronger.” Davis, who loved horses and the boy-band One Direction, was a senior at

Arapahoe. Authorities believe she just happened to be near the north entrance to the school used by Pierson as he made his charge to the library in search of his primary target, the coach of the speech and debate team. The shotgun-wielding Pierson killed himself in the library about a minute after shooting Davis. Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said the two knew each other, but likely not well, and that there is no evidence she was a target of Pierson’s. “As the result of discussions with the Davis family and friends of Claire Davis, it is clear that Claire and the shooter were school acquaintances, but were never close friends,” Robinson said in a news release. Davis’ family announced the establishment of the Arapahoe High School Community Fund honoring Claire Davis. The charitable fund will support Arapahoe High School and the surrounding community by providing assistance for mental health care, antibullying programs and other community needs.

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Contact HighlandsRanchRotary.org

8-Opinion

8 Highlands Ranch Herald

December 26, 2013

opinions / yours and ours

Crucial to take time to heal after tragedy After the horror that hit Arapahoe High School on Dec. 13, it’s natural to look for answers. Why did Karl Pierson do it? Why Claire Davis? Why this community? So many questions, so much pain. The answers, as with all school shootings, are slow in coming, if they ever come at all. Discussions about guns, school security and mental health are prevalent following school shootings, and this one is no different. They are healthy discussions to have, and eventually, solutions can evolve from them. For example, emergency response in an

our view active-shooter situation is undoubtedly better now than it was pre-Columbine. But today, with emotions still raw and Arapahoe students yet to return to class, we think it is appropriate to focus on the healing process. The Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health

question of the week

What is your new year’s resolution? We asked people at the Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch what new year’s resolution they had in mind.

“Time management, work-life balance with kids.” — Dawn Schilling, Highlands Ranch

“It’s silly, in my opinion, to make a resolution at one point in the year, when I already make resolutions all year long.” — Lindsey Lauer, Highlands Ranch

“Find a home. (I’m condo shopping.)” — Yvette Jackson, Greenwood Village

“I’m going to try to keep my grade point average at 4.0.” — Morgan Moen, Parker

Seabiscuit’s bad blue brother My painting of a dog doesn’t look very much like a dog, unless there is a new rectilinear breed. Even so, the collector wrote from northern California to tell me that his granddaughter pointed at it and said, “Poppy, I wish that was a real doggie that I could have.” Some artists rarely abstract their references at all. Dürer and da Vinci are good examples. Van Gogh didn’t really abstract his subjects very much. His abstractions can be found in his unusual technique. He compounded individual daubs of paint, and each stroke stood out. He didn’t blend paint the way Dürer did. Think about Picasso’s portraits. Both eyes might be on the same side of the head, like a flounder’s eyes. That is considered an extreme abstraction. When I was painting and drawing images, I was closer to Picasso on an abstraction scale. I enjoyed reinventing eyes and noses and mouths. Then there is this “Blue Mustang” out at the airport. You can’t miss it. Its abstractions consist of its color. Horses aren’t blue. And its eyes, horses don’t have red light bulbs in them. Maybe night mares look like this. A night mare is not the same thing as a nightmare. A night mare would be a female horse who stayed out late. By definition, the word `nightmare’ derives from the Old English `mare,’ a mythological demon or goblin who torments human beings with frightening dreams. The mustang is not exactly a goodwill ambassador. Well, maybe it is, if you like to see the Headless Horseman’s horse before you fly to Cleveland. I would rather not do either. Sculptor Luis Jimenez was an exceptional artist. I wish I knew why he proposed a horse for the airport commission. Give me anything else, a genuflecting penguin, instead of another horse around here. W. C. Fields would have said, “Pardon my redundancy.” Everyone doesn’t have a degree in art, but everyone has a degree in art criticism. The horse has been embraced and the horse has been denounced. I think we are stuck with

it, since the five-year probationary period passed without an organized attempt to have it relocated. For Denver’s Commission on Cultural Affairs to take action to remove it, a petitioner would have to demonstrate `extreme adverse public reaction’ over an extended period of time. That didn’t happen by the time the horse’s window closed on Feb. 11, 2013. There is a big difference between choosing to see a work of art in a museum, and having one in your face. That’s what public art is. Sometimes it is a moment of unexpected wonderment, and sometimes it can be disturbing. Both can be enlightening. If you plan to see an Edward Hopper at the Art Institute, you know exactly what to expect. But public art can sneak up on you, and it can feel like a prank. Seabiscuit’s bad blue brother is neither very literal, nor very inventive. Be one or the other. Then-Denver Post art critic, Kyle MacMillan, thought that the horse was “nothing short of a masterpiece, a monumental public work in which Denver, and indeed the entire region, can be justifiably proud.” MacMillan and I didn’t always agree. In a review (March 9, 2008) he wrote, “Jimenez’s depiction is highly realistic and anatomically correct, with the musculature and even some blood vessels clearly outlined on the horse’s body.” If it were highly realistic, good. But it’s not. If it were as creative as Franz Marc’s “Large Blue Horses,” good. It’s not. I see a horse that ran away from a carousel and Hulked. Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net

Network has some tips for parents whose children have been in traumatic situations. “During times of tragedy, our children will look to us as their parents and caregivers to determine how they should be responding,” said Laurie Elliott, the network’s clinical director. “Therefore, it is critical that we take care of ourselves so that we may remain calm and regulated in order to support our children, our community.” Taking care of yourself, the network says, includes limiting alcohol and caffeine; talking with other adults and seeking support;

getting enough rest; and holding off on making any major decisions. When it comes time for parents to talk with their children, the network recommends: • Encouraging kids to talk about it. • Being a good listener. In fact, listen twice as much as you talk. • Providing information in a clear, but age-appropriate manner. • Limiting media exposure. • Maintaining the normal rules of the household, like chores and curfews. Take care of yourself and your children.

Middle-of-the-week holiday It’s always a little awkward or confusing for some companies and for many people when Christmas and New Year’s fall in the middle of the week like they will this year. For some of us we just assume that the whole week is a holiday and just can’t get our head around the work-related stuff. And for others, we still try and squeeze in every last minute of work or shopping that we possibly can right up until Christmas Eve and even New Year’s Eve. People take personal time off of work; some companies plan for the slowdown or even shutdown, and in some cases productivity, both personally and professionally, takes a holiday too. And that is okay. For many, this is a time of year to recharge the personal batteries and get excited about the coming New Year. The awkward or confusing part comes in those in-between days. As both holidays fall on a Wednesday, what happens on that Thursday, Dec. 26th through that following Friday, Jan. 3rd? For some people it is not a question or an issue. People who provide us with exceptional service in the retail, restaurant and tourism industries know that their days will be filled with opportunities to serve customers, solve problems and create loyal fans. And, of course, there are other companies, businesses and services that need to be open during this time as well, and we are especially grateful for those doctors, nurses, police officers, fire fighters and other state government and local workers who make sure we are safe and that we have power and energy to heat and light our homes. I think as I have talked to people about this topic, some are still undecided as to how they will use their personal or business time. You see it’s easy when the holidays fall on a weekend or close to the weekend as we just turn those into what

Highlands Ranch Herald 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

gerard healey President and Publisher ChrIS rOTar Editor ryaN BOldrey Assistant Editor erIN addeNBrOOke Advertising Director JIM BOUCher Sales Executive aUdrey BrOOkS Business Manager SCOTT aNdrewS Production Manager SaNdra arellaNO Circulation Director

has become known as the long weekend. But boy, that whole middle-of-the-week thing causes quite a conundrum for some people. It feels like we should be on vacation or we just lack the motivation to get beyond anything other than the festivities and parties. For me, I generally take off the time between Christmas and New Year’s regardless of what day it falls on. I do use the time to get recharged, plan for next year, and make sure I am in alignment with my family, my faith, my fitness and my friends. I re-evaluate my goals, near-term and long-term, to make sure that I am always stretching myself and balancing my life goals with my business goals. And I use this time to connect intimately and socially with those that matter most in my life. What will you be doing between the holidays? Whether you are working or not, relaxing or keeping busy, or serving others as a volunteer or other way, I hope that you find a little extra “you” time as you close out 2013 and enter 2014. I would love to hear all about it at gotonorton@ gmail.com and I wish you all a better than Merry Christmas and joyous New Year! Michael Norton is a resident of Highlands Ranch, the former president of the Zig Ziglar Corp. and the CEO/founder of www. candogo.com.

Colorado Community Media Phone 303-566-4100 • Fax 303-566-4098 Visit us on the Web at highlandsranchherald.net

Columnists and guest commentaries The Highlands Ranch Herald features a limited number of regular columnists, found on these pages and elsewhere in the paper, depending on the typical subject the columnist covers. Their opinions are not necessarily those of the Highlands Ranch Herald. Want your own chance to bring an issue to our readers’ attention, to highlight something great in our community, or just to make people laugh? Why not write a letter of 300 words or fewer. Include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

email your letter to letters@ourcoloradonews.com We welcome event listings and other submissions. News and Business Press releases Please visit ourcoloradonews.com, click on the Press releases tab and follow easy instructions to make submissions. Calendar calendar@ourcoloradonews.com Military Notes militarynotes@ourcoloradonews.com School accomplishments, honor roll and dean’s list schoolnotes@ourcoloradonews.com Sports sports@ourcoloradonews.com Obituaries obituaries@ourcoloradonews.com To Subscribe call 303-566-4100

we’re in this together Our team of professional reporters, photographers and editors are out in the community to bring you the news each week, but we can’t do it alone. Send your news tips, your own photographs, event information, letters, commentaries... If it happens, it’s news to us. Please share by contacting us at news@ourcoloradonews.com, and we will take it from there. After all, the Herald is your paper.

Highlands Ranch Herald 9

December 26, 2013

State finances don’t inspire optimism Economist addresses crowd at South Metro Chamber By Jennifer Smith

jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com The state of Colorado has taken a few steps back from the edge of the financial cliff, but researchers say it’s not out of danger of falling off. “There’s not truly cause for optimism,” Phyllis Resnick, lead economist with Colorado State University’s Colorado Futures Center, told business and community leaders at the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 10. “We’ve delayed some of the inevitable, but we haven’t really gotten rid of the problem.” The good news is that the center predicts a budget gap in 2024 of nearly half of what it expected in its 2011 study, which was about $3.5 billion. CFC said at the time that by then, there would only be enough in the state’s coffers to pay for Medicaid, K-12 education and corrections — just enough to “medicate, educate and incar-

cerate,” said Resnick. Federal stimulus money and a robust housing recovery helped delay the pain, said Resnick. “Revenues have come back kind of on steroids,” she said. “But I think this is artificially stimulated. I expect sales-tax revenue to continue to decline.” The bad news is that the shortfall is still probably going to happen, but not until 2029 or so. There are a lot of reasons, but a major one is an aging population that spends more money on services, which are not taxed, than products. In 1959, people spent about 56 cents of every dollar on goods; today it’s just 36 cents. Things continue to get cheaper — think electronics — and people more often are buying online, where there is no sales tax. Additionally, the recession and recordhigh youth unemployment rates kept a lot of young adults from moving out and starting their own families, so they don’t need houses and furniture and all the trappings of the American dream quite yet. They’re also not having kids, which means lower spending on education in the coming

Experts explore future of region’s job growth Event puts focus on Denver area’s economic development By George Lurie

glurie@ourcoloradonews.com The news was mostly positive and upbeat at this year’s annual economic forecast breakfast, held Dec. 13 and hosted by the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. Nearly 800 business and civic leaders attended the two-hour event, including a bevy of local elected officials representing Centennial and Arapahoe County. Held in the grand ballroom of the Denver Tech Center’s Hyatt Regency hotel, the annual gathering featured presentations from a panel of nationally renowned economic experts. After brief opening remarks from South Metro Denver Chamber President John Brackney — who encouraged “everyone in this room to be economic developers” — and chamber Chairman-elect Rick Whipple — who touted the Chamber’s ongoing efforts around the state to promote the “Fix the Debt” campaign — the main presentation kicked off with an update from Ken Lund, director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets good planning,” Lund began, quoting Thomas Edison. “Colorado will never be a big financial center like New York but we can be the place that is the most innovative, the most entrepreneurial,” said Lund, whose speech highlighted the importance of cultivating an educated and talented workforce. Colorado’s labor force “is everything,” he said, encouraging the state’s business leaders to hire the best and brightest workers in order to stay competitive. Dr. Richard Wobbekind, a University of Colorado economist, delivered an encouraging forecast for 2014. Noting that Colorado was among the top seven states in terms of current population growth, Wobbekind predicted Colorado will create 61,000 new jobs next year. “The job growth will continue to be very broad-based,” Wobbekind said. “Almost every sector is growing.” Wobbekind said that commodity prices

have benefitted the agricultural and energy sectors in particular and pointed out that foreclosure rates across the state “have really dropped and are now a non-issue.” Dr. Martin Shields, an economics professor at Colorado State University, painted a picture that was not quite a rosy as the speakers who preceded him. Noting that the so-called Great Recession officially ended in 2009, Shields said the economy is no longer in “recovery” mode. “This is as good as it’s going to get for a while,” Shields predicted. Despite steady job growth, unemployment across the state remains relatively high because of the influx of new residents, Shields said, adding that businesses that concentrate on administrative and support services — temporary staffing agencies — continue to be the leading growth sector. “That means companies are still not convinced the recovery has taken hold and are willing to bring employees on fulltime,” he said. Forecasting 26,000 to 30,000 new jobs will be created in the Denver area during 2014, pushing down the unemployment rate to 5.9 percent, Shields tempered his otherwise upbeat comments. “A lot of families are still struggling financially — and so are the businesses that rely on those families’ paychecks,” he said. Adding that he did not see a lot of “upward pressure” on wages in the new year, Shields pointed out that real median household income in the U.S. is at its lowest level in 17 years. There is a “disconnect” between economic growth and individual prosperity, he added. “Income is one of our measures of wellbeing,” Shields said. “And in the last 17 years, that income has been eroded.” Shields predicted healthcare, manufacturing and retail will be the leading sectors in the state’s economy in 2014. Most of the other speakers at the breakfast agreed, including Wells Fargo Securities economist Michael Wolf. Lund, who worked as Gov. John Hickenlooper’s chief legal counsel before taking the helm at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, lauded Colorado as a place “where you can make your fortune and raise your family.” He encouraged those in attendance to be “creative, innovative and collaborative. We need to be busy inventing the future,” Lund said.

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK? Want to know what clubs, art exhibits, meetings and cultural events are happening in your area and the areas around you? Visit our website at wwwcoloradocommunitymedia.com

years — good news for the state budget, bad news for the schools. Those kids have been going to college, however. Student-loan debt is now $1 trillion nationally, second only to housing in terms of household debt. These are the same kids who were supposed to prop up Medicaid and Social Security for all those seniors, the numbers of which will grow by 50 percent in the next two years. On top of all those problems, most of which are occurring nationally, Colorado has the unique situation of TABOR. The constitutional amendment caps revenue growth to the amount of inflation plus population change, and requires any excess be returned to taxpayers unless voters say the governmental entity can keep it. CFC predicts having an excess will be the norm starting in about 2016 because of Colorado’s hospital-provider fee, established in 2009 to pay for the Medicaid expansion. “The juxtaposition of cuts in generalfund programs, which could include cuts to schools, higher education and a variety

of other programs, at the same time the state is returning `surplus’ funds to taxpayers under TABOR, will be puzzling to many Colorado citizens,” writes CFC in its executive summary. The state could begin to close the gap by exempting the hospital fee from TABOR and taxing some personal services like haircuts and lawn mowing, for example, says Resnick. “Why not modernize the system to capture where the economic activity is taking place?” she asked. “If we could make these two changes, we could come pretty close to becoming structurally sound through the end of this decade.” Next up would be taking a hard look at how property taxes are calculated in an effort to shore up the education system, she said. “Inaction, of course, would bring about a strictly budget-cutting solution,” reads the study. “The cuts would be extreme. For example, closing the gap with cuts alone, while maintaining full funding for K-12, Medicaid and corrections, would result in cuts of nearly 75 percent to all of the other 17 general-fund departments by 2030.”

AREA CLUBS EDITOR’S NOTE: To add or update your club listing, e-mail calendar@ourcoloradonews.com. POLITICAL DOUGLAS COUNTY Democrats executive committee meets at 7 p.m. every first Tuesday at various sites. Contact Ralph Jollensten at 303-663-1286 or e-mail ralphw@comcast.net. Social-discussion meetings are in Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Parker and Lone Tree. Visit douglasdemocrats.org and click on calendar for more information. REPUBLICANS OF Highlands Ranch meet every last Friday of the month at the Cafe Mon Ami, 9579 S. University, Unit No. 150, at 7 a.m. Speakers of local, state and national political office address the group. Call Rick Murray at 303-9333292, or e-mail at rickmrry@yahoo.com.

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS LEADS Group meets at 7:15 a.m. Wednesdays at LePeep at Quebec Street and County Line Road. Call Rita Coltrane at 303-792-3587. HIGHLANDS RANCH Business Leads Inc., call Dale Weese at

303-978-0992.

HIGHLANDS RANCH Chamber Leads Group meets at 11:45 a.m. Mondays at The Egg and I in Town Center at Dorchester and Highlands Ranch Parkway. Call Jim Wolfe at 303-703-4102. HIGHLANDS RANCH Chamber of Commerce, call 303-791-

3500.

HIGHLANDS RANCH Leads Club meets at 7:30 a.m. Thursdays at Le Peep on South Quebec Street. Call Kathy at 303-692-8183.

OBITUARIES

To place an obituary: Private Party

Contact: Viola Ortega 303-566-4089 obituaries@ourcoloradonews.com

Funeral Homes Visit: www.memoriams.com

10-Color

10 Highlands Ranch Herald

December 26, 2013

Students take leadership cue Three-year program inspires future leaders By Jane Reuter

jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Highlands Ranch High School student Cole Miller already has his career goals firmly in place. Youth Leadership Douglas County will help him get there, he believes. “I want to be a lobbyist,” the junior said. “This helps most definitely with my interpersonal skills.” Modeled after the adult Leadership Douglas County program and launched in 2006, YLDC is tailored to high school students. Most of them already have taken leadership roles in their schools, and seek to polish those skills as they prepare for adult life. Students are chosen as sophomores by members of the junior-year YLDC class. Like the adult program, they participate in monthly day-long, experiential-based programs during their junior and senior years of high school. They learn team building by taking on a ropes course, history through a visit to the Highlands Ranch Mansion, personal finance with trips to car dealerships and furniture stores, and about government with a trip downtown to meet local legislators at the state capitol. “Each class has a different theme,” program coordinator Kristine Turner said. “For example, personal finance day teaches students about financial independence but also highlights understanding your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Health care day at Sky Ridge (Medical Center) also teaches them the leadership skills of team building: How do you build a strong team that balances people’s strong points

Castle Rock

and weak areas? How do you get input from all members of a team, even the quiet members?” As they progress through the 3-year-long program, Turner said she sometimes sees dramatic changes in YLDC participants. “There are students that start out quiet and reserved,” she said. “Then there are some that are already leaders. They come here and think, ‘Oh, I have to share the limelight.’ They are learning to lead and also learning when not to lead.” Consultant Vanessa Lujan volunteers her time annually to help lead a YLDC session. During the December session at the Lone Tree Civic Center, she urged the students to study other leaders, learn how to listen to others and stay open to new experiences. “Leadership is a journey,” Lujan said. “It’s not a destination.” As seniors, YLDC students are expected to turn their skills into action and give back to the community. YLDC seniors have taught leadership classes for elementary schools, volunteered at Sky Ridge Medical Center, and planted school gardens. The class costs $495 per student, but YLDC granted $6,000 in scholarships to participants in 2012 alone to help defray that cost. “We want to make sure every child who wants to participate can have that opportunity,” Turner said. Students who participate in YLDC also may get college credit for the course, which are transferable to many colleges in Colorado and other states. The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce established the adult Leadership Douglas County program in 1999. For more information about the adult and youth programs, visit www.leadershipdouglascounty.org.

Highlands Ranch

Abiding Word Lutheran Church

First United Methodist Church 1200 South Street Castle Rock, CO 80104 303.688.3047 www.fumccr.org

Services:

Saturday 5:30pm Sunday 8am, 9:30am, 11am Sunday School 9:15am Little Blessings Day Care www.littleblessingspdo.com

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

Open and Welcoming

Sunday Worship 8:00 am Chapel Service 9:00 & 10:30 am

Sunday School 9:00 & 10:30 am

www.st-andrew-umc.com



303-794-2683 Preschool: 303-794-0510

An Evangelical Presbyterian Church

A place for you

 Franktown

  



Trinity Lutheran Church & School

Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:45 a.m.

Worship Services Sundays at 9:00am

303-791-3315

pastor@awlc.org www.awlc.org

Littleton

Lone Tree

Joy

Church of Christ Sunday Worship - 10:00am Bible Study immediately following Wednesday Bible Study - 7:30pm Currently meeting at: 9220 Kimmer Drive, Suite 200 Lone Tree 80124 303-688-9506 www.LoneTreeCoC.com

Parker

LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA

SErviCES:

Saturday 5:30pm

Sunday 8:00 & 10:30am

Education Hour: Sunday 9:15am Joyful Mission Preschool 303-841-3770 7051 East Parker Hills Ct. • Parker, CO 303-841-3739 www.joylutheran-parker.org

GRACE PRESBYTERIAN Alongside One Another On Life’s Journey

www.gracecolorado.com

You are invited to worship with us:

Sundays at 10:00 am

Grace is on the NE Corner of Santa Fe Dr. & Highlands Ranch Pkwy. (Across from Murdochs)

303-798-8485

 303-841-4660 www.tlcas.org  To advertise your place of worship in this  section, call 303-566-4091 or email kearhart@ourcoloradonews.com.

Congregation Beth Shalom Join us at Sheraton Denver Tech Center 7007 S Clinton Street in Greenwood Village (nearby I-25 and Arapahoe Rd.)

www.cbsdenver.org

303-794-6643

Parker Parker

Community Church of Religious Science

Welcome Home!

Trinity Lutheran School & ELC (Ages 3-5, Grades K-8)

 

(Next to RTD lot @470 & University)

Parker

Sunday services held in the historic Ruth Memorial Chapel

303-663-5751

“Loving God - Making A Difference” 

8391 S. Burnley Ct., Highlands Ranch

Lone Tree

9203 S. University Blvd. Highlands Ranch, 80126

 Sunday Worship 10:30  4825 North Crowfoot Valley Rd.  Castle Rock • canyonscc.org



Highlands Ranch

Highlands Ranch High School junior Cole Miller makes a point during a Dec. 9 session of Youth Leadership Douglas County held at the Lone Tree Civic Center. Photo by Jane Reuter

Weaving Truth and Relevance into Relationships and Life

worship Time 10:30AM sundays 9:00am Spiritual Formation Classes for all Ages 90 east orchard road littleton, co

303 798 6387 www.gracepointcc.us

at the Parker Mainstreet Center

...19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker 80138

Parker evangelical Presbyterian church Connect – Grow – Serve

Sunday Worship

8:45 am & 10:30 am 9030 Miller road Parker, Co 80138 303-841-2125 www.pepc.org

New Thought...Ancient Wisdom Sunday Service

& Children’s Church 10:00 a.m.

Visit our website for details of classes & upcoming events.

303.805.9890

www.P a r k er C C R S.org P.O. Box 2945—Parker CO 80134-2945

Where people are excited about God’s Word.

Sunday Worship: 10:45AM & 6PM Bible Study: 9:30AM Children, Young People & Adults 4391 E Mainstreet, Parker, Colorado 80134 Church Office – (303) 841-3836

www.parkerbiblechurch.org United Church Of Christ Parker Hilltop 10926 E. Democrat Rd. Parker, CO • 10am Worship www.uccparkerhilltop.org 303-841-2808

Denver Tech Center

First Presbyterian Church of Littleton Meets at the Marriott DTC 4900 S Syracuse St, Denver, CO 80237

10 am every Sunday Sunday

8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m.

1609 W. Littleton Blvd. (303) 798-1389 • www.fpcl.org

Free parking December Study:

The Cast of Christmas Pastor Mark Brewer

11-Color

Highlands Ranch Herald 11

December 26, 2013

Former deputy coroner faces 15 years Carter Lord found guilty of embezzlement, forgery By Ryan Boldrey

rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com Former Douglas County Deputy Coroner Carter Lord has been found guilty of embezzlement and forgery, crimes he committed while serving the county. In October 2012, the criminal justice division of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office filed a complaint against Lord accusing him of embezzling firearms from the Douglas County Coroner’s Office that had been collected as evidence. An ensuing investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation uncovered the fact that three guns which had been taken as evidence by the coroner’s office follow-

ing suicides investigated by the office had gone missing. “In four instances, the next of kin released the guns to the Douglas County Coroner’s Office, and those weapons should have been destroyed,” a news release from the Attorney General’s Office states. “Four guns were released to Lord for destruction; however, only Lord one of the four guns was actually destroyed. “Lord resold one of the guns, and kept two of the others to sell at a store he owns called The Stock Shop, in Sedalia. Carter Lord filed falsified documents with the Douglas County Coroner’s Office showing that the guns had been destroyed.” Lord pleaded not guilty to the charges and the case was presented to a Douglas

County jury on Dec. 17 and 18. The jury returned with guilty verdicts on one count of embezzlement and two counts of forgery on Dec. 19. Lord, who was also arrested on a DUI charge in March near Sedalia, could face up to three years for the embezzlement count and up to six years on each count of forgery. He will be sentenced on Feb. 24, 2014. “We appreciate the thoughtful work of the jury, and believe their verdict represents a just outcome,” said Attorney General John Suthers. “We also thank our partners at the CBI for conducting a very thorough and professional investigation.” The first of the weapons was discovered missing from the coroner’s office in 2012 by Coroner Lora Thomas, who had defeated Lord in the 2010 Republican primary. Once Thomas saw there was a weapon unaccounted for, she turned the case over

to authorities. As Lord, who served under former Coroner Wes Riber, was a suspect in the investigation, and Sheriff David A. Weaver had endorsed Lord’s candidacy against Thomas, the sheriff’s office passed the investigation on to the CBI. “The reason I ran for this office was because I knew about the mismanagement here,” Thomas told Colorado Community Media in a prior interview regarding the case. “I inherited a situation here. I’ve been here for about two years and it’s a totally different environment. We are accountable, professional and efficient.” Thomas is a Republican candidate for Douglas County Sheriff and is running against Weaver’s undersheriff, Tony Spurlock, a fellow Republican, as well as Castle Rock Police Cmdr. John Anderson, also a Republican. The Republican primary is slated for June 2014 and the general election will be November 2014.

things to do in YoUR CoMMUnitY

RecuRRing/ThRough Jan. 1

elk heRd Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking public input on the future management of the Mt. Evans elk herd (E-39) via an online survey through Jan. 1. Herd population and composition objectives and other issues regarding elk management in Game Management Units 39, 391, 46, and 461

are being addressed. E-39 encompasses portions of Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, and Park counties. To provide input on the herd, visit (http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/ BigGame/HerdManagementDAUPlans/Pages/ HerdManagementDAUPlans.aspx). The survey only takes a few minutes to complete.

Jan. 5

elca.org.

Blood dRive Christ Lutheran Church community blood drive is from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 5 inside the Fellowship Hall at 8997 S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch. For information or to schedule an appointment, contact the church office at 303-791-0803 or www.chistlutheran-

Jan. 14 divoRce seminaR St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 9203 S. University Blvd., Highlands Ranch, presents a 10-week seminar “Rebuilding When Your Relationship Ends,” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays starting Jan. 14. The seminar pro-

Economic Forecast Breakfast Sees Light at the End of a Long Tunnel With 2013 coming to an end and 2014 on the horizon, the economy is steadily improving at a slow pace with the amount and pace of that improvement varying widely determined by where you live and how you make a living. This was one take-away listening to economic experts at last week’s 27th Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast held at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. Over 750 South Metro Denver business leaders gathered to build on existing or create new business relationships, share their visions of the future and hear the latest on our local, regional, and national economy. Presenters included Dr. Rich Wobbekind, Executive Director of the Business Research Division and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs at the University of Colorado - Boulder; Dr. Martin Shields, Professor of Economics and Director of the Regional Economics Institute at Colorado State University; and Michael Wolf, economist for Wells Fargo Securities. Ken Lund, Executive Director for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade was also on hand to report on the state’s efforts on growing the current economy. Lund highlighted Governor Hickenlooper’s Colorado Innovation Network (COIN) - the governor’s vision of branding Colorado for innovation and entrepreneurship. A video from the COIN Summit held last August included excerpts from presentations by Salman Khan, Founder of Khan Academy; Mary Grove, Director of Google Global Entrepreneurship Outreach; Hikmet Ersek, President and CEO of Western Union; and Mayor Michael Hancock on the importance of innovation and creativity in building an economy. Colorado’s envious business climate and talent pool was also noted. Colorado was hailed as the 2nd best state to start a business by CNBC, 2nd best state for entrepreneurship and innovation by Ali Recek of Goodwill Industries, Melanie Worley Developmental Pathways and Jerry Healey of Inc. Magazine, and of Colorado Community Media connecting after the the 2nd best state presentations. for high tech business according to TechAmerica. Forbes named Colorado the best state for labor supply last year, has the 2nd highest population with bachelors degree or higher, and is 3rd in high-tech employment by TechAmerica. This all boils down to Colorado being a great place to build a career, and the way that is done is through growing business according to Lund. “We have 2.4 million employees in the state of Colorado. If we can get that grown by 10% - that’s 240,000 - it will blow Rich’s [Wobbekind] numbers out of the water for 2014. So let’s go get it done.” Dr. Wobbekind presented the state’s economic outlook for 2014 with an optimistic flair. Starting with an image of a beautiful Colorado scene and the title “Looking good...” the economist shared the facts that Colorado is among the top states for population growth and continues to bring in an impressive talent pool. Job growth continues to be broadbased with technical, construction and retail/wholesale trade showing the biggest gains. He noted that we have passed the pre-recession employment peak, and the wage peak is at an all-time high. Wobbekind stated that Colorado has consistently been above the national average economically and will continue to be a role model for much of the country looking into the future. He saw no reason that the upward trend shouldn’t continue at a slow rate up until late in the decade when changing demographics will create a shortage in the workforce. Dr. Shields agreed that we have recovered from the economic downturn, but rejected continuing to use the term “recovery”. “Recovery is an interesting word. The recession ended in 2009 and we are still talking recovery 4½ years later... the use of ‘recovery’ suggests that this is going to be some kind of a rapid growth and we are not at that phase... this is as good as it’s going to get for a while. This is what it is.” His regional report echoed much of Dr. Wobbekind’s analysis, but emphasized that unemployment is still relatively high at 6.4% and real household income is at its lowest level in 17 years despite a growth in overall wages.

motes healing for those who are going through a divorce or the ending of a love relationship. It offers education, support and optional social activities. Cost is $175 for the 10-week class and complimentary child care is provided with prior registration. To register, or for information, email Beth Walker at bethdwalker@gmail.com.

Calendar of Events

For a complete calendar of South Metro Denver Chamber events or more information, visit our web site at www.bestchamber.com or call 303-795-0142.

Wednesday & Thursday, December 25th & 26th: Chamber offices closed for Christmas Holiday

Friday, December, 27th: President’s Leadership Forum