October 25, 2012
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 123, Issue 40
75 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlittletonnews.com
Two teens shot, one killed Witnesses say gang members had dispute By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com By the morning of Oct. 21, the evidence was collected, the crime-scene tape was gone, the mobile-command unit was back at the station, one young man was dead and another was in the hospital. Both had been shot. Late the night of Oct. 19 and all the
next day, Littleton police took over the entire neighborhood at Fox Street and Berry Avenue, tucked between Cherrelyn Manor nursing home and Living Word Tabernacle church. On Oct. 20, neighborhood children gathered to watch detectives catalog copious amounts of evidence. They marveled at the news van parked down the street. They watched stoically as a black
pickup truck, one window shattered, was towed away. They pointed at empty shoes lying in a driveway, a baseball cap in the middle of the street. They asked if the body was still under the red tent and were told it wasn’t. They told how their moms ran to their bedrooms to check on them when the gunshots rang out. Neighborhood teens gathered in a front yard described how things went awry at a party gone out of control. Gang members with “previous beef” clashed,
they say, and guns came out. A little after 11 p.m. Oct. 19, shots reverberated throughout the neighborhood. Just a block away at the time, police arrived quickly on the scene. They found an 18-year-old dead in the street. A 17-year-boy was transported to Swedish Hospital. As of Oct. 23, police had not released names or other details. A girl watching police work the day after the shooting said one boy was her Murder continues on Page 9
Humane Society director fired
MAZE DAYS
Shelter has struggled for financial viability By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com
The only thing easy about the Chatfield Corn Maze is getting lost. There might not have been a nicer day to do so than Oct. 21, with the Broncos idle and temperatures in the 70s. Just one weekend remains to find your way through the Denver Botanic Garden’s popular labyrinth. Admission is free for children 2 and younger; ticket prices range from $4 to $10 and can be purchased at King Soopers locations in advance or on site while the maze is open Oct. 26-28. Photo by Ryan Boldrey
The Humane Society of the South Platte Valley’s board has fired executive director Nick Fisher and replaced him with an interim director, Leslie Maisonneuve. Board member Margie Munoz and Maisonneuve briefed Littleton City Council on the situation on Oct. 16. “We’ve taken steps within the last week to implement a dynamic growth plan,” said Munoz. She thanked Fisher for his time and energy, but said the board is excited to explore permanent options. Council unanimously approved an agreement Sept. 18 to work with Arapahoe County, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Sheridan, Englewood, Lone Tree and Parker to explore options for housing lost or abandoned critters throughout the south metro region. The agreement does not specifically say the joint committee will look for ways to keep the HSSPV viable, just that it will Humane continues on Page 9
‘Queen for a Day’ shares lessons from long life Aspen Grove center, nonprofit agency work together to honor seniors By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com Elizabeth Horner, 90, loves purple, the color of royalty — apropos for the “Queen for a Day.” “This has probably been the most joyful day of my whole life, because of the
people, not because of the things,” said Horner. And considering she’s lived nearly 33,000 days, that’s saying something. Every month, Aspen Grove Lifestyle Center welcomes a special senior from an area nursing home to get totally spoiled. They’re treated to manicures, cupcakes, clothes, brunch — all kinds of treats fit for a queen. “She’s one of our special ladies,” said Julie Schroeder, activities director at Cherrelyn Healthcare Center in Littleton, where Horner resides. “She’s the secretary of the resident council. She’s very
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positive and kind and loving, and everything is always wonderful for Elizabeth. She deserves to be honored.” “I don’t know,” Horner replied, laughing. “Maybe honored, but maybe not this much.” Horner is a Denver native and an East High School graduate, Class of ‘39. After college in Illinois, she taught in Denver elementary schools for 37 years. “I got lucky in my choice of, well, I don’t want to call it `work,’” she said. “It really wasn’t work, it was play most of the time.” The “Queen for a Day” program is a collaboration between Aspen Grove and Bessie’s Hope, a local nonprofit that works to enhance the lives of seniors who live in care centers by bringing generations together. The “Queen” program particularly focuses on residents who don’t get a lot of visitors — up to 60 percent don’t get any, according to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. Queen continues on Page 9
Elizabeth Horner, 90, shows off her new purple sweater and beautiful scarf graciously donated by Aspen Grove and Coldwater Creek to top off her experience as “Queen for a Day.” Courtesy photo