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JUNE 26, 2020
A publication of
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
KEEPING PETS CLOSE Amid COVID-19, people are holding onto their animal friends P14
Poage claims impropriety after forced recusal Councilmember accuses staff, colleagues of blocking her vote BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
officer saved the life of a choking 1-year-old. Waid appeared at the town’s first protest in support of Black Lives Matter as well. Randy Corporon, an Aurora attorney and radio host, followed, saying “it’s going to be a lovely, nasty, brutal summer in Democrat-controlled cities around this country.” Corporon is representing a case against the state of Colorado in its decision
A Parker town councilmember says members of council and staff are using council’s conflict of interest policy to prevent her from voting on certain issues. The conflict culminated during a June 15 town council meeting, revealing the bubbling tension between Councilmember Cheryl Poage and the town’s unelected professionals. Poage Poage refused to recuse herself from a vote on an agenda matter over a conflict of interest that her cohorts on council say she held. Before being disconnected from the virtual meeting, Poage read a statement with words rooted in her long frustration with the influence of hired professionals at Parker Town Hall — specifically the town attorney’s office.
SEE RALLY, P24
SEE POAGE, P10
A rally in support of law enforcement took place at O’Brien Park in downtown on Parker June 20. The rally followed a month of demonstrations in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, with protesters calling to restructure police departments. The people who turned out June 20 defended local police and acknowledged their work in the community. NICK PUCKETT
‘Back the Blue’ rally draws hundreds to O’Brien Park Supporters of law enforcement, All Lives Matter protest idea of defunding police BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A rally in support of law enforcement and the “All Lives Matter”
movement took place at O’Brien Park in Parker June 20. The “Back the Blue” rally drew hundreds protesting the proposed defunding of American police departments. County Commissioner Lora Thomas and Mayor Mike Waid were among the guest speakers who took the stage at the O’Brien Park gazebo. Waid showed his support on behalf of the Town of Parker and council. Waid reminded his listeners of the good police do in Parker, citing a recent incident when a Parker Police
INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
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