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So long, 2008
  
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Our top 10: Year's No. 1 story left a community in mourning
Staff Report
On a hot summer day, Stacey Mendieta reported her two children missing by calling 911.
They would be found dead shortly afterward in a tragedy that shocked the community.
At about 3:15 p.m. Aug. 20, Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 900 block of Bramblewood Drive in Castle Pines North. The bodies of Jasmine Mendieta, 5, and Nathan Mendieta, 2, were found in a car parked in front of the home of Mendieta’s parents, Pamela and Kenneth VanHerpen’s.
“This is just devastating,” a neighbor said.
The Douglas County coroner determined the cause of death of the two children was complications of hyperthermia due to being inside the hot vehicle.
The community reached out to support the family in the following weeks, including arranging for the delivery of meals.
“This horrendous event and grief is not defined to one street or house, but to the entire city,” said Maureen Shul, mayor of Castle Pines North.
In October, Mendieta, 29, was arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse resulting in death. The felony carries a penalty range of 16-48 years in prison per count.
Mendieta was taking a nap as her children sneaked outside to play, according to an affidavit for the arrest warrant.
Mendieta is residing at her parents’ home and was able to visit family over Thanksgiving in Texas. She is represented by attorneys Shana Beggan and Mike Pellow, and will appear in court for a preliminary hearing Jan. 8, 2009.
2- Crime spree
Nov. 18, Douglas County detectives took into custody two suspects they believed to be involved in a major crime spree during the late spring and summer of last year.
Brandin Kreuzer, from Sedalia and Taylor Moudy, from Castle Rock, both 19 years old, are charged with 123 criminal counts, including attempted first-degree homicide.
The two are suspected of charges involving 17 automobile thefts, six residential burglaries, two police pursuits, one armed robbery and the shooting of a police officer.
“This could be one of the most serious crime sprees we have seen in Douglas County in a long time,” Castle Rock Police Chief Tony Lane said at a news conference Nov. 19 at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center.
Kreuzer and Moudy each has a court appearance Jan. 26, 2009.
3- 2008 Election
It was a tough election year for Douglas County government, with taxpayers saying no to all but one tax initiative. The Douglas County School District was turned down for a dual request for a $395 million mill levy increase and a $17 million budget override, while the library district mill levy increase fell for the second election in a row after voters again said no in 2008.
The single successful tax increase was granted by tenants and property owners in downtown Castle Rock, who approved a series of questions to form a downtown development authority, impose a mill levy, provide tax increment financing and incur debt to trigger a revitalization of downtown Castle Rock.
4- New municipality
It was Feb. 12 when Castle Pines North officially became a city.
In late August, the town city council unanimously approved rezoning of the Lagae parcel, bringing a new school, park and church to Castle Pines North. This parcel will generate more than $22 million in tap fee revenue that will directly benefit the Castle Pines North Metro District in its quest for renewable water. Moving with innovation through the year, the new city hired CH2M HILL OMI, a partner in providing a range of municipal services.
City clerk Janie Berry and city manager Alan Lanning are employed by CH2MHILL.
“Our 21st century city has a vision,” said the city’s first mayor, Maureen Shul, “that balances the preservation of our community’s history with growth that enhances the quality of life for our citizens.”
Castle Pines North is home to about 10,000 people.
5- Road projects
Castle Rock embarked on a series of road projects for the southeast and southwest arterial connection roads and The Meadows extension. The $30 million project costs were approved by voters in 2005 and the projects are intended to create a connected series of “ring” roads around the perimeter of Castle Rock to improve transportation.
Progress on The Meadows extension is stalled by the threat of a lawsuit from Castle Pines Village, where residents fear an increase in traffic on Happy Canyon Road. Negotiations between Castle Pines residents, Castle Rock and Douglas County continue as planners aim for an extension of The Meadows from U.S. 85 to Interstate 25.
6- Foreclosure nation
Douglas County experienced a sharp increase in foreclosure rates in ’08, with a 49 percent increase in foreclosure filings during the first half of the year, compared to the same time last year. By the end of June, the Colorado Division of Housing reported that foreclosure filings were issued against one in 74 households in Douglas County.
The county responded with free foreclosure counseling through the Douglas County Housing Partnership. The program is funded by a federal grant and provides counseling to county residents facing foreclosure.
7- Development delay
An outcry from residents who live near the base of a landmark mesa on the west side of Castle Rock sent the developer of the Hillside annexation back to the drawing board in July.
The development was originally supported by town planners for its mixed-use features. With a combination of multifamily housing and commercial components, neighboring residents objected to the development’s high density use. Developers are working with residents on lower density, patio-style housing for the mature buyer in a development with no commercial features.
The Town Center development in The Meadows remains the only mixed-use development to make it through the end of the approval process. In September, developers broke ground for the first buildings at Town Center.
8- Pharming hits home
In February, nine students at Castle View High School were treated for consumption of oxycontin, a powerful painkiller distributed by a fellow student. The students received medical treatment for their symptoms, faced felony charges under consideration by the district attorney’s office and eventually were expelled until the end of the school year.
A subsequent incident involving the distribution of vicodin between a middle school and a high school student prompted the Douglas County School District to conduct public meetings to work toward community outreach.
Officials said “pharming parties” are sweeping the nation as parents become aware of the increase in use of pharmaceutical drugs among teens. Unbeknownst to parents, officials say the drugs often are obtained from family medicine cabinets.
9- Tropical paradise
Scientists discovered new life in the 63.8-million-year-old rainforest preserved about 10 feet below the surface of Castle Rock, after Colorado Department of Transportation contractors at work on the new Plum Creek Interchange on the south end of Castle Rock unearthed a massive palm frond, the first sign of palm trees in the fossil bed known as the Castle Rock Rainforest Flora — widely regarded as the oldest documented rainforest in the world.
The fossil was discovered in July and sheltered from onlookers by its below-grade site, kept secret until excavation was completed in September.
10- The Democratic National Convention
August’s Democratic National Convention drew thousands of visitors and more than a few protesters. The police presence in Denver needed to be formidable.
The Castle Rock Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were among the agencies that responded with assistance.
Beyond security measures, hotels far and wide were booked to capacity, including in Castle Rock.
They would be found dead shortly afterward in a tragedy that shocked the community.
At about 3:15 p.m. Aug. 20, Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 900 block of Bramblewood Drive in Castle Pines North. The bodies of Jasmine Mendieta, 5, and Nathan Mendieta, 2, were found in a car parked in front of the home of Mendieta’s parents, Pamela and Kenneth VanHerpen’s.
“This is just devastating,” a neighbor said.
The Douglas County coroner determined the cause of death of the two children was complications of hyperthermia due to being inside the hot vehicle.
The community reached out to support the family in the following weeks, including arranging for the delivery of meals.
“This horrendous event and grief is not defined to one street or house, but to the entire city,” said Maureen Shul, mayor of Castle Pines North.
In October, Mendieta, 29, was arrested and charged with two counts of child abuse resulting in death. The felony carries a penalty range of 16-48 years in prison per count.
Mendieta was taking a nap as her children sneaked outside to play, according to an affidavit for the arrest warrant.
Mendieta is residing at her parents’ home and was able to visit family over Thanksgiving in Texas. She is represented by attorneys Shana Beggan and Mike Pellow, and will appear in court for a preliminary hearing Jan. 8, 2009.
2- Crime spree
Nov. 18, Douglas County detectives took into custody two suspects they believed to be involved in a major crime spree during the late spring and summer of last year.
Brandin Kreuzer, from Sedalia and Taylor Moudy, from Castle Rock, both 19 years old, are charged with 123 criminal counts, including attempted first-degree homicide.
The two are suspected of charges involving 17 automobile thefts, six residential burglaries, two police pursuits, one armed robbery and the shooting of a police officer.
“This could be one of the most serious crime sprees we have seen in Douglas County in a long time,” Castle Rock Police Chief Tony Lane said at a news conference Nov. 19 at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center.
Kreuzer and Moudy each has a court appearance Jan. 26, 2009.
3- 2008 Election
It was a tough election year for Douglas County government, with taxpayers saying no to all but one tax initiative. The Douglas County School District was turned down for a dual request for a $395 million mill levy increase and a $17 million budget override, while the library district mill levy increase fell for the second election in a row after voters again said no in 2008.
The single successful tax increase was granted by tenants and property owners in downtown Castle Rock, who approved a series of questions to form a downtown development authority, impose a mill levy, provide tax increment financing and incur debt to trigger a revitalization of downtown Castle Rock.
4- New municipality
It was Feb. 12 when Castle Pines North officially became a city.
In late August, the town city council unanimously approved rezoning of the Lagae parcel, bringing a new school, park and church to Castle Pines North. This parcel will generate more than $22 million in tap fee revenue that will directly benefit the Castle Pines North Metro District in its quest for renewable water. Moving with innovation through the year, the new city hired CH2M HILL OMI, a partner in providing a range of municipal services.
City clerk Janie Berry and city manager Alan Lanning are employed by CH2MHILL.
“Our 21st century city has a vision,” said the city’s first mayor, Maureen Shul, “that balances the preservation of our community’s history with growth that enhances the quality of life for our citizens.”
Castle Pines North is home to about 10,000 people.
5- Road projects
Castle Rock embarked on a series of road projects for the southeast and southwest arterial connection roads and The Meadows extension. The $30 million project costs were approved by voters in 2005 and the projects are intended to create a connected series of “ring” roads around the perimeter of Castle Rock to improve transportation.
Progress on The Meadows extension is stalled by the threat of a lawsuit from Castle Pines Village, where residents fear an increase in traffic on Happy Canyon Road. Negotiations between Castle Pines residents, Castle Rock and Douglas County continue as planners aim for an extension of The Meadows from U.S. 85 to Interstate 25.
6- Foreclosure nation
Douglas County experienced a sharp increase in foreclosure rates in ’08, with a 49 percent increase in foreclosure filings during the first half of the year, compared to the same time last year. By the end of June, the Colorado Division of Housing reported that foreclosure filings were issued against one in 74 households in Douglas County.
The county responded with free foreclosure counseling through the Douglas County Housing Partnership. The program is funded by a federal grant and provides counseling to county residents facing foreclosure.
7- Development delay
An outcry from residents who live near the base of a landmark mesa on the west side of Castle Rock sent the developer of the Hillside annexation back to the drawing board in July.
The development was originally supported by town planners for its mixed-use features. With a combination of multifamily housing and commercial components, neighboring residents objected to the development’s high density use. Developers are working with residents on lower density, patio-style housing for the mature buyer in a development with no commercial features.
The Town Center development in The Meadows remains the only mixed-use development to make it through the end of the approval process. In September, developers broke ground for the first buildings at Town Center.
8- Pharming hits home
In February, nine students at Castle View High School were treated for consumption of oxycontin, a powerful painkiller distributed by a fellow student. The students received medical treatment for their symptoms, faced felony charges under consideration by the district attorney’s office and eventually were expelled until the end of the school year.
A subsequent incident involving the distribution of vicodin between a middle school and a high school student prompted the Douglas County School District to conduct public meetings to work toward community outreach.
Officials said “pharming parties” are sweeping the nation as parents become aware of the increase in use of pharmaceutical drugs among teens. Unbeknownst to parents, officials say the drugs often are obtained from family medicine cabinets.
9- Tropical paradise
Scientists discovered new life in the 63.8-million-year-old rainforest preserved about 10 feet below the surface of Castle Rock, after Colorado Department of Transportation contractors at work on the new Plum Creek Interchange on the south end of Castle Rock unearthed a massive palm frond, the first sign of palm trees in the fossil bed known as the Castle Rock Rainforest Flora — widely regarded as the oldest documented rainforest in the world.
The fossil was discovered in July and sheltered from onlookers by its below-grade site, kept secret until excavation was completed in September.
10- The Democratic National Convention
August’s Democratic National Convention drew thousands of visitors and more than a few protesters. The police presence in Denver needed to be formidable.
The Castle Rock Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were among the agencies that responded with assistance.
Beyond security measures, hotels far and wide were booked to capacity, including in Castle Rock.
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