Tribune TRI LAKES 1.23.13
Tri-Lakes
Tri-Lakes Region, Monument, Gleneagle, Black Forest and Northern El Paso County
January 23, 2013
Free
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourtrilakesnews.com
Green asked to resign No reason given, with the town for nearly eight years By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com
Dr. Kimberley De La Harpe, a physics professor at the Air Force Academy, puts a balloon in liquid nitrogen to show fifth graders at DCC what will happen to it during Space Day. Photos by Lisa Collacott
DCC students visit space for a day Third annual Space Day gets students interested in space and potential careers By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews.com It’s interesting to find out what happens to a balloon filled with air when it is placed in a bowl of liquid nitrogen. Elementary students at Discovery Canyon Campus learned that the balloon deflates and when taken out of the liquid nitrogen it fills back up with air. This experiment is one of the many activities that K-12 students at DCC took part in during the third annual Space Day. Topics and experiments ranged from physics, space, chemistry, the Mars Rover, robotics, astrobiology, rocket science and satellites and guests included speakers from the Challenger Learning Center, the Air Force Academy physics and aeronautical engineering department, a NASA astronaut, Cool Science, Center for STEM Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation and Mohawk guy, also known as the Mars
Two students get ready to test their robot during the Robotics session of Space Day. Curiosity flight director. The Storm Troopers were even on hand for photo opportunities. Space Day is a hands on approach to sci-
ence, technology, engineering and mathematics to the classroom opens the door to the wide range of opportunities for space careers.
Monument town manager Cathy Green has been asked by the Monument board of trustees to resign from her position. Her resignation was effective Jan. 11. Green, who has been working for the town of Monument for nearly eight years, said she did not know the reasons behind the board’s decision but she was asked to resign and did. “I asked why and they didn’t want to talk about it,” Green said. Green said the board isn’t required to give her a reason. Green She said according to her employment contract the board of trustees can let her go and give a reason for the termination but she wouldn’t be entitled to any severance or they can let her go and give no reason and allow her to take settlement compensation. She said the board may be going in a different direction with the town than when she was first brought on as town manager. A different board was in place at the time she was hired for the position. Green was originally hired as the town planner. Prior to working for Monument she worked as a city planner in Pueblo for 13 years. As the town manager Green helped implement town policies and the enforcement of laws and ordinances, worked on the budget and also worked closely with the police department and public works. She was considered a contract employee and made an estimated $102,000 per year. Monument Mayor Travis Easton said he could not comment on Green’s resignation but in an email did state that he would like “everyone to know that the board of trustees takes their job very seriously and places the taxpayers at the forefront of every decision.” Green is not sure what she will do next but lives in Monument and would like to continue to work with the downtown merchants.
County Commissioners approves ban on retail pot stores Ordinance passed, does not affect medical marijuana facilities By Lisa Collacott
lcollacott@ourcoloradonews. com El Paso County Commissioners approved an ordinance banning retail stores of recreational marijuana in unincorporated El Paso County. Despite a public hearing in which many citizens spoke out against the ordinance and asked the commissioners to wait and receive direction from the state, commissioners approved the ordinance during the Jan. 15 BOCC meeting. This is the second and final reading of the ordinance. The first reading was approved at the
Dec. 18 meeting. Commissioner Peggy Littleton voted against the ordinance both times. The ordinance prohibits the operation of marijuana cultivation facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities and retail stores in unincorporated El Paso County. The ban does not affect medical marijuana facilities. Additionally the ban does not apply to areas within incorporated municipalities of Colorado Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Green Mountain Falls, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Calhan and Ramah. Those jurisdictions can develop their own regulations according to Amendment 64.
With many citizens asking commissioners to carefully consider holding off on approving the ban, one citizen asked commissioners to be leaders in the state and to not sit around and wait to see what the state is going to do. Littleton opposed the ban saying the BOCC should hold off on the ordinance and give careful consideration and not act in haste. She said although she did not vote for Amendment 64 her district overwhelmingly voted for it and she told her constituents she would represent them. Littleton’s district sits within the city of Colorado Springs. “I am willing to propose that we take this and look at this in the
Colorado voters legalized the recreational use of marijuana for those 21 and older this year, but area communities individually decide if they want to allow retail sales or commercial growth. File photo future (and) make a well informed decision, Littleton said. “I don’t think we are acting Pot continues on Page 5
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.