Douglas County

Cannabis Time Capsule: Man sells bunk weed, ounces go for $1

In digging up old articles on cannabis in Colorado, we've come across a few stories that didn't warrant entire posts of their own. But they add up to something interesting, so we've compiled them for this week's edition of Colorado Cannabis Time Capsule. The first comes from the Camp Hale Ski-zette ... More >>

Marijuana: Commercial pot shops prohibited in Douglas County as others consider bans

As of December 26, "retail marijuana stores" are officially prohibited in Douglas County. That means that six weeks after the legalization of recreational marijuana, any commercial activities involving pot are banned in DougCo. The county is the first in Colorado to enact this kind of ordinance -- a ... More >>

Amendment 64: Douglas County to ban retail marijuana sales a year before they could happen

Although voters approved Amendment 64 earlier this month, the retail sales aspect of the measure can't go into effect prior to late 2013 or early 2014 -- and that's only if (and it's a big "if") the federal government doesn't take action to intervene. Yet Douglas County Commissioner Jack Hilbert has ... More >>

Reader: Medical marijuana legalization didn't lead to doom, so why should Amendment 64?

Our recent post featuring Douglas County Sheriff David Weaver's dire predictions should Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, become law attracted comments on both sides of the issue. Here's one that's short, sweet and to the point.

Scott Gessler, two county clerks targeted with lawsuit over "election from hell"

The "election from hell." A "COLOSSAL problem." A "stunning level of incompetence." These are all phrases used to describe a primary race in Teller and Douglas counties that was allegedly so disastrous that one of the candidates, in a new lawsuit, is arguing that the election should be voided. F ... More >>

4/20: Teen volunteer program aims to take day back from marijuana, Columbine

April 20 is simultaneously a day of celebration and a day of mourning -- claimed by both pro-marijuana activists and those impacted by the 1999 Columbine shootings. But this year, the Substance Abuse Coalition of Douglas County is looking to reframe these associations. The coalition is organizing "T ... More >>

Ten Colorado companies strut their stuff at the Consumer Electronics Show

otterbox.com​ The Consumer Electronics Show, that yearly technology bacchanal, kicks off today in Las Vegas. It's an orgy of smartphones, tablets, Justin Bieber and ... gospel singers belting out tweets? You better believe it. A host of Colorado companies are there, showing and telling and (ho ... More >>

Kick Loose at Freedom Fest

Burning Tree Fire near Franktown: 95% contained, livestock can't return yet (VIDEOS)

Videos below.​Update: Wow, that was fast. Almost as quickly as the Burning Tree fire near Franktown flared up, crews supplemented by aircraft borrowed from the Indian Gulch fire in the Golden area have knocked it down. According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, containment currently sta ... More >>

Phillip Abernathy & Connor Greenwall: Teens allegedly just old enough to distribute child porn

Big pics below.​There's something more than a little creepy about suspects barely beyond childhood accused of distributing child pornography. But that's what the Douglas County Sheriff's Office accuses Phillip Abernathy and Connor Greenwall of doing in separate cases. Below, see full size boo ... More >>

Suicidal man prompts standoff with SWAT team on 9600 block of Maribou Court in Littleton

Near the scene.​Last night, residents living on or near the 9600 block of Maribou Court in Littleton were asked not to leave their houses for several hours -- except for those police escorted out. The reason? A standoff between the Douglas County SWAT team and a suicidal man who barricaded hi ... More >>

Thanksgiving decorations struggle for freedom: Kenny Be's Yard Arteology

Yard Arteology: The study of neighbors through lawn ornaments... Figure 88a. Country Club: Cross-dressing goose behind bars.​ In Douglas County, the imprisoned pilgrim pictured above might actually have constituted a political statement about our founding fathers and the current state of Ameri ... More >>

Fifteen-year old allegedly robs convenience store at gunpoint to steal... a pack of cigarettes?

Flickr​Cigarettes are extremely pricey these days -- but has the cost gotten so high that they're worth risking an armed robbery beef? That's one way to interpret the story of a fifteen-year old from Castle Rock, who avoided paying for smokes by pulling a gun.

Today: Food festivals in Douglas County and Beaver Creek

A Flickr photo​It's not yet ski season, but you can get a taste of Beaver Creek at the annual Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival. Closer to home, you can get a Taste of Douglas County. Keep reading for details:

Richard Anderson identified as gunman in officer-involved shooting in Douglas County

Richard Anderson.​Yesterday, we told you about an officer-involved shooting on Bayou Gulch Road in Douglas County that left a deputy slightly wounded and a suspect in critical condition. The latter has now been identified as Richard Anderson, 51. He's likely to face charges of attempted first ... More >>

Medical marijuana dispensary ban to be on some (and maybe all) Douglas County ballots

DougCo commissioner Jack Hilbert.​HB 1284, the measure designed to regulate the medical marijuana industry, contains a provision allowing municipalities to ban medical marijuana dispensaries either by a vote of city councils and the like or via ballot initiatives. Aurora has already taking th ... More >>

David Dolan, Colorado State Patrol officer, arrested for investigation of driving drunk in squad car

A 9News image of CSP's David Dolan getting busted.​Usually, Colorado State Patrol officers respond to reports of erratic driving. But this morning, things worked the other way around. Motorists complained about problems relating to a CSP vehicle, leading to a stop by Douglas County Sheriff's O ... More >>

Douglas County Republicans ramp up the rhetoric in school board fight

John Ransom.​School board races are typically nonpartisan, but not this year in Douglas County. The Republican party there has endorsed a slate of four candidates -- an unusual move the Denver Post took note of in an October 20 article that focused more on conflicts and complaints from the lik ... More >>

OMG! Douglas County teens face horrors of sexting

​I am back from the front lines of the kiddie porn wars with some shocking news: The prosperous, sprawling suburbs of Douglas County conceal a steamy underbelly of underage sexual exhibitionism. Youth are being exploited right and left. Usually by each other. Sexting -- the insidious, techno ... More >>

Another marijuana-grow operation is uprooted in Pike National Forest

Assorted agencies took down a marijuana-grow operation on Sugarloaf Mountain in July.​As smoke continues to gather over medical-marijuana operations in Colorado, local law-enforcement agencies continue to find weed-growing operations in remote locations -- and Pike National Forest appears to b ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, September 2 edition

Busdriver deals with negativity.​Better late than never. Today in Backbeat Online: • Q&A with Regan "Busdriver" Farquhar. • Flier of the Week: Dressy Bessy at the Gothic, September 5. • Win stuff in our random midweek contest! • Dulcinea's to re-open as Pete's Monkey Bar. • Single F ... More >>

Colorado Crimes: The disadvantages of robbing someone you know

Brandon Gaitan. According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Brandon Gaitan and Keith Paris II, both 19, had what must have seemed like a good idea at the time: break into the apartment of someone on vacation and do whatever for as long as they wanted. Problem is, said vacationer returned home ... More >>

This just in: Newspaper lovers still exist

The conversation took place at Parker's Warhorse Inn. Covering the troubles in the newspaper industry can be mighty dispiriting: I sometimes feel like I spend my days writing the obituary for my own career. No wonder I felt such trepidation when accepting an invitation from the folks at the Douglas ... More >>

Isaac Slade on the meaning of "You Found Me"

We started off the day talking about the Fray's new album, which hit stores today, and posted a link to its performance on Good Morning America. So it seems fitting to end the day with another clip that Ron Patrick from Douglas County Television brought to our attention of Isaac Slade giving more in ... More >>

Parade of Homes Developer Pleads Guilty to Theft

Ollie!

Littleton brings out its skaters, singers — and the Fray.

Shakespearing It Up

Heavy Exercise

Colorado Gypsy For Hire

A Tale of Two Buildings

Are political ties getting one Douglas County property owner a tax break?

Uplifting Charity

Bras for the Cause raises money for breast cancer

Teen Spirit Rocks

'Burbs bust out Battle of the Bands

The Next Bad Thing

Creeping traffic. Strained schools. Dwindling water. Commuters are flocking to Elbert County for a little bit of country, but there isn't much country left.

Best Defense of Nature

Douglas County Open Space

Pajama Party

Swallow Hill makes it easy for kids to jump into dreamland

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

The Waiting Game

Justice will be served in the 18th Judicial District -- eventually.

A Gopher in Your Pocket?

Douglas County's very own gopher is the latest endangered-species hopeful.

Running Birds

Don't bury your head in the sand for the Rocky Mountain Ostrich Festival.

Branching Out

A bold plan to bring downtown to the suburbs takes root in Lone Tree. Just add water.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Even if one community turns them down, developers always know they can get what they want from another.

Little Grouse on the Prairie

Fortress of Solitude

Two new county justice centers are high-tech, high-security--and designed to keep prisoners and the public in their place.

Plugging In to D.C.

How Washington lobbyists--and some politicians--cash in on Colorado's local governments.

Strange but True

Class Warfare

As they battle for bigger budgets, Colorado educators get a crash course in fundraising.

Carrying Their Water

Douglas County's lawmakers jump to the defense of home builders, kill water-use warning measure.

Letters

DRY COUNTY

ON THE FAR SIDE OF COUNTY LINE ROAD, DEVELOPMENT IS BOOMING--AND THE WATER LEVEL IS SINKING.WELL WISHERS DOUGLAS COUNTY IS RUNNING OUT OF GROUNDWATER--BUT ITS RIVER OF DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES IS FLOWING STRONG.

A SWEET DEAL

NEED A TAX BREAK FOR THE NEW YEAR? CONSIDER RAISING BEES, DONKEYS, HAY OR, AS A LAST RESORT, A STINK WITH THE COUNTY ASSESSOR.TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE? FOR A SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPER SEEKING A TAX BREAK, THAT'S NO QUESTION. BUT TAXPAYERS GET STUNG.