News-Press Douglas 4.18.13
Castle Rock
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 11, Issue 4
Toy wonders
April 18, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcastlerocknews.com
Deputy’s assailant handed 108 years Man sentenced for 2010 incident in Castle Rock By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
The Snavely brothers — Blaise, 3, left, and Jarrett, 4, of Castle Rock — excitedly browse through the toy section at the Just Between Friends Children’s Consignment Event, held on April 12 at the Douglas County Events Center. The four-day sale drew thousands of bargain-hungry parents, including those looking for summer clothes for their growing little ones. Photo by Chris Michlewicz
County strikes deal for fire helicopter Officials can call for exclusive use By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews. com It was 2010 when Douglas County first signed an agreement with Castle Rock-based Rampart Helicopter Services, using the company on an asneeded, on-call basis to provide aid in wildland firefighting. On April 9, the county commissioners unanimously approved a new contract that allows the county to shift from a call-when-needed basis to an exclusive-use situation for a minimum of 30 days whenever it sees fit. “Up until today, if the helicopter were in Castle Rock and were available we could call them and use them specifically for wildland firefighting,” said Tim Johnson, Douglas County director of emergency management. “The problem with that contract, though, was that they were not obligated to stay if they had other work and other obligations. “These guys have contracts all over the western United
Castle Rock firefighters train with Rampart Helicopter Services last July at Douglas County High School. Douglas County entered an exclusive contract with the helicopter service this past week for the first time. File photo States on a call-when-needed basis, so they could literally be in Montana doing work for the forest service or a utility company under contract, and a fire could break out in Douglas County and they would be unavailable to us.” By placing Rampart under exclusive use, it gives Douglas County the upper hand, and the service is guaranteed to be on stand-by and ready to go when needed. County Manager Douglas DeBord used his authority to
sign an agreement with Rampart April 1, placing them under exclusive use through May 1, at which point federal resources are available. Those resources remain available through Oct. 1. The problem with relying on federal resources, Johnson explained, is that they are extremely limited, and Colorado is just one of the states that receive money allocated for the Rocky Mountain Region. “If our fires are not high enough on the priority list some of those resources may not be
available to us,” he said. Last year, for instance, with federal money coming into the state already to assist with Waldo Canyon and High Park, a Douglas fire the equivalent of the 2011 Burning Tree blaze might not have drawn federal assistance. And if Rampart was somewhere else under contract, the county may have been left without aerial support. “It’s kind of like an insurance policy,” Johnson said. “With the increased fire danger and increase in intense fires that we’ve seen the last few years, we looked at this and said, `We really need to have something to help us through the periods when we know our federal partners are not available.’ We want to be able to immediately react.” As a bipartisan bill works its way through the state Senate to provide Colorado with its own aerial fleet, Johnson says he is excited about the possibility, but that Douglas County needs to be proactive to make sure it is covered regardless of what happens with the Legislature. “We’ve needed more resources here in Colorado for a long time,” he said. “I think this bill is a good step forward.”
A man who was arrested in 2010 for driving away from a traffic stop with a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputy hanging off the side of his vehicle in Castle Rock was sentenced to 108 years in prison. Reese Slade, of Elizabeth, was convicted in January following a jury trial in which he was found guilty of first-degree assault on Deputy Jason Jarrett, attempted first-degree assault of Castle Rock Police Officer Todd Thompson and a charge of menacing on Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Nichols. He was also convicted of driving under the influence as well as possession of a quarter-pound Slade of methamphetamine and some oxycodone. Slade, who had been convicted for four previous felonies, was sentenced by 18th Judicial Court Judge Richard Caschette as a habitual offender. “This 108-year sentence sends the message that our office will vigorously prosecute anyone who attacks the police, judges, prosecutors and prison guards who work to keep us safe,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “We will protect those who protect us.” Slade was pulled over on Caprice Drive in Castle Rock on Feb. 5, 2010, following a Slade continues on Page 9
Castle Pines mulls pot ban City drafting prohibition on commercial activities By Rhonda Moore
rmoore@ourcoloradonews.com The City of Castle Pines is drafting an ordinance to prohibit the retail sale and commercial cultivation of marijuana within city limits. The proposed ordinance is scheduled to go before the city’s planning commission April 25 and in front of city council for public comment May 14, according to the City of Castle Pines. Adoption of a ban would make Castle Pines the latest Douglas County municipality to draft regulations against commercial marijuana activities. The only remaining municipality in the county without a ban would be Larkspur. Larkspur has yet to discuss the possibil Pot continues on Page 8