Week of January 5, 2023
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
CastlePinesNewsPress.net
VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 20
Douglas County Health beats Jan. 1 deadline Commission, staff celebrate a year of progress BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Douglas County Health Department is officially a go. Not that there was any concern in meeting the Jan. 1 deadline in a split last year from Tri-County Health, as officials
have been either ahead or on time in the project timeline throughout 2022. As the Jan. 1 deadline for the complete split came, Health Director Mike Hill continues to be confident in the work done in 2022 and going forward in 2023 and the future. Jan. 1 marks the official disbandment of Tri-County Health, which served Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties for more than seven decades. Douglas County started
the disbandment, with Adams and Arapahoe counties later following suit. After the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in 2020, Douglas County officials fought the pressure to wear masks in public, which became the tipping point to push for separation. As Tri-County Health ordered mask mandates, Douglas County rejected it and moved forward in 2022 to create its own health department.
Overcoming the challenges of Moebius syndrome Local woman succeeds without facial expression BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
For the majority of people, feelings are shown through expressions whether it be a smile, a frown or a look in one’s eye. However, for Madison Woodall, the ability to smile, frown or show emotion through facial expressions is impossible due to a rare condition known as Moebius syndrome. Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological condition that primarily affects the muscles that control facial expression and eye movement, which is essentially facial paralysis. The condition is rare, with estimates saying only 20 people per million are affected. In the U.S. there are fewer than 50,000 diagnosed in total. Madison’s mom, Monica Woodall, said when Madison was born she was diagnosed with Moebius immediately. Among other symptoms, Monica said Madison had club feet, which surgery has since corrected, no lateral eye movements and limited facial movements. SEE OVERCOME, P2
With what seemed like an uphill battle to complete in just a year, Hill, who came to Colorado from California to lead the charge, said staffing levels are where they should be, inspections are underway, and they are at the budget set by the Douglas County Commission. Not a divorce
Commissioner Abe Laydon said SEE HEALTH, P8
School board advocates for more funding, local control 2023 priorities outlined BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Local control, school safety and increasing educational funding are a few main themes of the legislative priorities approved by the Douglas County school board ahead of the 2023 General Assembly. School board members spent hours across multiple meetings and in the winter retreat discussing the district’s legislative priorities before approving them on Dec. 13. The legislative priorities document is updated annually and used to inform lawmakers on the district’s position relative to potential policies. “It’s really for us to convey, as a board of seven, to our elected legislators things that we are particularly Castle Rock resident Madison Woodall
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15
COURTESY PHOTO
SEE PRIORITIES, P4
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