WEEK OF MAY 15, 2025
VOLUME 130 | ISSUE 11
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Home-rule plan spurs contentious discourse Douglas County voters face big decision in June BY JULIA KING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Elbert County’s Allison Torrence qualified to compete at the 2025 Rifle and Pistol Junior Olympic National Championship in both the Air Rifle and COURTESY OF SARAH LAVE Air Pistol categories.
Young competitive shooters represent Elbert County 2025 Rifle and Pistol National Junior Olympics held in Alabama BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The 2025 Rifle and Pistol National Junior Olympics, organized by USA Shooting, was held this April in Alabama. A talented group of local young people — Reese Metzler, Bryce Metzler, Allison Torrence, Cora Lave, Hayden Tairney and Leah Lave — all
qualified to compete and traveled to Alabama to represent Elbert County. Competitive shooting demonstrates the accuracy, precision and speed of the shooter. Each individual qualified to compete in a variety of events: Air Rifle — Cora Lave and Allison Torrence Air Pistol — Reese Metzler, Bryce Metzler, Allison Tor-
VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19 | PUZZLES: 22
rence, Hayden Tairney and Leah Lave Smallbore Rifle — Cora Lave Sport Pistol — Reese Metzler The group started out together in the Elbert County 4-H Shooting Sports Program, and the members now compete through USA Shooting. They train at the NTC Shooting Club (formerly known as the Olympic Training Center) in Colorado Springs, putting in hours of time and effort throughout the week practicing and preparing for compe-
Douglas County voters are set to make a rare decision next month as they weigh whether to rewrite the rules of county government. Officials agree it could be a historic moment for the county — but they’re divided on what’s at stake. At the center of the debate is a proposal for Douglas to become a home rule county, allowing it to adopt its own governing charter. Supporters say home rule is a necessary tool to protect local interests from what they view as overreach by liberal state lawmakers. Critics argue the process has been rushed and risks entrenching a narrow political agenda. During a four-minute special meeting on March 25, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted to place home rule on the ballot for a June 24 special election. Voters will be asked two questions: whether to form a home rule charter and to elect 21 charter commission members who would be tasked with writing it. If the commission is approved and seated, the drafted charter would return to voters for approval in November. If approved, Douglas County would become just the third of Colorado’s 64 counties to enter home rule status — and the first in nearly 50 years to do so. What home rule could change — and what it can’t
tition. Cora and Leah’s mother, Sarah Lave, said shooting sports have had an incredibly positive influence on her children’s lives, offering a unique blend of individual achievement and team camaraderie through Elbert County 4-H and the Olympic Training Center. “They’ve built lasting friendships, explored new places through travel competitions, and developed essential life
Home rule charters outline how a county or municipal government is structured, and they grant authority over more than 40 specific areas, from reorganizing departments and defining election processes to setting local public safety and transportation rules, taxes, term limits and salaries. Counties can use that power to tailor policies to local needs — for example, Pitkin County taxes luxury real estate. Pitkin and Weld are the only two Colorado counties with home-rule status that are not combined cities and counties. If home rule passes in the June special election in Douglas County, the charter’s contents would be open
SEE YOUTH, P14
SEE HOME RULE, P10
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