Week of January 12, 2023
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LoneTreeVoice.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 47
Outgoing Sheriff Tony Spurlock reflects on 42-year career Tragedy, highlights and change BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
and carried various signs, including ones that read “Stop Absurd Election Conspiracies” and “Stop Extremism DougCo.” For about an
Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock’s 42-year stint in law enforcement started with a conversation about his career aspirations with his manager at a grocery store. That manager was married to a cop who was put in contact with Spurlock. The rest is history. Spurlock dreamed of being in law enforcement since he was 10 years old. After speaking with his manager’s husband, he began working at the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office where he started as a deputy. He later moved into investigations and in 2015, he took over as Douglas County’s 33rd sheriff. Spurlock has gone on to serve the office for eight years, terming out in 2022. As Spurlock comes to the end of his final term, he reflects on a full career. Not all moments are happy, as he explained. During his time as sheriff, many tragedies have taken place, including school shootings, officers losing their lives and the unexpected complications of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Tragedy fell upon us here in Douglas County and one thing led to another and I started to see different ways that the sheriff can influence public safety and the sheriff can keep people alive and the sheriff can be a part of making a long term difference,” he said. One of the most difficult parts of being a sheriff for Spurlock is having employees intentionally disrupt the sheriff ’s office. He said the other difficult part is when an officer has been severely injured and killed. “I never thought I’d have to do it… sit next to the wife of an officer that was just killed and grab her hand and hold her and say, ’I have no idea where the hell we are going with this, but we are going together,’” said Spurlock. As sheriff, Spurlock has focused on mental health, the mental wellness of the community and employees, leading him to become a strong advocate
SEE JAN. 6, P5
SEE SPURLOCK, P8
Manish Budhathoki spoons spices into a bowl in Total Vegan’s kitchen on Jan. 5.
PHOTOS BY RACHEL LORENZ
No meat, no eggs, no dairy — but plenty of flavor and spice Vegan restaurant opens in Highlands Ranch
Budhathoki stirs a flaming skillet of aaloo gobi, or potatoes and cauliflower, during the midday rush.
BY RACHEL LORENZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Total Vegan, a fast-casual Indian restaurant with food that’s 100% free of animal products, is the first of its kind in the area. Possibly first in the nation, according to restaurateur Basanta Lamsal. SEE VEGAN, P6
Anti-extremism group marks Jan. 6 anniversary BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A Douglas County group called Just Say No to Extremism gathered in downtown Castle Rock in
remembrance of the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the nation’s Capitol. Standing outside of the Douglas County Wilcox Building, around 15 people waved American flags