WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27, 2025
VOLUME 129 | ISSUE 52
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Dougco Schools add to career education with funding from bond BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
From left, Colin Moore, Greg Albers and Jesse Frisius were among those honored at the Elbert Fire Protection District awards ceremony, where they received COURTESY OF ELBERT FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT their Firefighter One certification.
Elbert Fire notes 2024 achievements District board presents chief with Lifetime Member Medal of Honor BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The Elbert Fire Protection District took time recently to celebrate their accomplishments from the past year and to recognize several notable achievements. According to EFPD, in 2024 the district responded to 186 calls and volunteer members contributed 8,797.25 hours of available time. EFPD only has four part-time staff covering the station and running medical calls Monday through Saturday, with around two dozen volunteers making up the bulk of the
department’s roster. At the Jan. 18 event, the EFPD board — Board Chair Jay Walp, Rich Barclay, Scott Field, John Thomas and Vince Pemberton — presented Chief Brandon Homer with the Fire Department Lifetime Member Medal of Honor for “demonstrating exceptional dedication, bravery, and sacrifice during his service as a firefighter.” Lifetime members are selected based on their “distinguished years of service, outstanding leadership, training, mentoring and a consistent record of heroic actions in the
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | PUZZLES: 19
face of danger.” The board of directors recognized Chief Homer’s 33 years of service and dedication to the district. “He tirelessly worked his way up through the ranks to become fire chief in 2015. Despite challenging financial times, Chief Homer found innovative ways to acquire funding to upgrade his personnel’s equipment, increasing their safety and effectiveness,” said Director Thomas. “... Chief Homer vastly improved the district’s capabilities and infrastructure by coordinating the financing and purchase of one engine, two tenders, an ambulance and a brush truck. He also oversaw the acquisition of new land and the construc-
tion and operation of two new fire stations thereby greatly enhancing their ability to provide more efficient life and property protection services to the entire district … Chief Homer’s outstanding service and leadership to date is inspirational and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the fire services profession,” Thomas added. The increased property protection also lowered residential homeowner’s insurance premiums. Board Chair Walp also had positive things to say about Homer’s tenure. “... The department would not be where it is today without the hard work and dedication of Chief Homer. SEE ACHIEVEMENTS, P12
With the voter approval of a $490 million bond, Douglas County School District is expanding its career and technical education programming to meet the growing demand from students. The November 2024 bond dedicates $32.8 million to investing in career and technical education (CTE) in the school district. District officials shared the plans for adding opportunities for students at the Feb. 11 school board meeting. Many of the additional classes will be offered at the Legacy Campus in Lone Tree, which is the central location for the district’s CTE programs. Upcoming opportunities at Legacy include classes on electric vehicle and automotive technology, advanced manufacturing, construction and electrical work. Outside of the Legacy Campus, the district will also offer cosmetology at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock and automotive technology at Highlands Ranch High School, expanding two popular class options to new schools. Student participation in the district’s career and technical education programming has significantly increased from last year. This year, approximately 25,500 students are enrolled in the district’s 75 CTE programs. “Whether their next step is college, the military, vocational training or directly entering the workforce, we aim to serve as a student launchpad,” Rex Corr, principal of the Legacy Campus, said. SEE FUNDING, P8
2025
VOTING STARTS
MARCH 1!
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