May
Pirates Cove offers swimming, sliding water fun for south suburban community
May 29 was the grand opening of Pirates Cove, the new outdoor aquatics facility.at 1225 W. Belleview Avenue (303-762-2683).
Pirates Cove features a 25-meter, 6-lane competition pool, a 35-foot slide tower with three slides, a leisure pool, spray garden, lazy river, swim lessons, concessions, and is available for birthday parties and after-hours private rentals.
Hours are 10:30 am to 6:30 pm daily, open through September 6. More info
$10,000 reward offered
in Rhonda Holland murder case
David and Hazel Brewer, the parents of a woman slain while working in a downtown Littleton craft shop, are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator of the crime.
Rhonda Holland, 46, was stabbed fatally in the throat in the basement of the Season's Giving Gift Shoppe on South Rapp Street in January.
Relevant information on the case can be submitted to Russ Hoffman of the Littleton Police Department, 303-795-3896.
March
US Supreme Court justices
hear Christal's challenge to zoning law READ >
Littleton man has a bad experience
on Denver's 16th Street Mall,
83-year-old man crossing Santa Fe
struck dead by 85,000-pound gravel truck
February
Doty elected, Baker out as
Rezoning for commercial/residential
project rejected
A two-year effort by developers was defeated to applause in Littleton City Council chambers.
The Planning Commission voted 5 - 2 to turn down the proposal to turn a northeastern section of Broadway and Dry Creek into a large residential/commercial project.
Marathon Oil had requested to to rezone its property from Scientific Technological to residential/commercial. Developers had designed Rollins Ridge, an "in-fill" development of single-family homes and businesses anchored by a Lowes Home Improvement store.
City Council will make the final decision in the controversial proposal at its first meeting in April.
Victims assistance fund started
The Littleton City Council unanimously approved a victims assistance fund that will help compensate local victims of crime for medical, hospital, and various healthcare expenses, as well as for loss of earnings.
The fund will be paid for by a 10 percent surcharge on fines levied by the municipal court on traffic and ordinance violations, but not on parking tickets.
It's estimated the fund will raise close to $100,000 yearly, which will pay for the victims compensation fund as well as for staff salaries.
Current state funding for the local victims compensation fund has been inadequate and has seen large decreases recently due to budget cuts.
Bandage bandit hits Key Bank READ >
January
Nineteen teacher positions slashed
as part of LPS budget adjustments
At a January 22 meeting the Littleton Public Schools Board of education approved eliminating 19 teacher positions -- a three percent reduction at all school levels
-- saving $900,000. Class size will increase from 24.5 to 25.25 students.
Other cost-saving measures were approved, as well as using Amendment 23-generated funds for existing programs. Together with the teacher cuts, these moves will save the district $3.5 million, eliminating the budget deficit.
Littleton city revenues take a dip
City Manager Jim Woods says a preliminary report shows a 10 percent drop in overall revenues for the City of Littleton.
The drop has been attributed to decreases in business use tax, interest earnings, and motor vehicle use tax. Retail-sales tax has remained steady during the last three years.
The city council has discussed the viability of a mill levy increase in next November's general elections. They levy, if approved by voters, would repay general obligation bonds to help finance the new $15 million police station.
Mayor John Ostermiller says the city is staying "on a financially even keel." Spending and salary freezes have been adopted by the council for 2004.
Littleton Public Schools face
$3.5 million budget deficit
Income from lower student enrollment has been outpaced by increased costs of supplies, utitlities, and insurance.
Possible remedies will be staffing cuts and a property tax increase. The school board has discussed an increase of $8.91 per month on a $250,000 house, which would generate an addditional $6 million for the district. The proposal for a tax increase would have to be approved by the voters.
Tracy Baker files challenge
to recall election
December
Bicyclist charged with careless driving in deadly collision
Recall election date set
for Tracy Baker: Feb. 24
Exactly 37,261 Arapahoe County voters signed petitions, requesting the recall. Baker has refused to step down despite accusations that a love affair with a co-worker resulted in mismanagement and misused taxpayer dollars. MORE >
The world's longest escorted
motorcycle procession starts
in Littleton
It's recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records, an annual affair that provides toys during Christmas for kids at Children's Hospital.
In 1985 Harley Davidson dealer Vinny Terranova wanted to do something about the bad rap bikers were getting. He organized a bunch of riders to deliver presents to the young patients at Denver's Children's Hospital. And the rest is history.
This year over 7,000 bikers with police escorts from five jurisdictions transported presents in the Toys Run for Children's Hospital. The route covered 12 miles from its starting point at the Aspen Grove shopping center to the hospital near downtown Denver.
For more information about this event, contact Rocky Mountain Harley Davidson, 303-703-2885.
November
Windermere extension voted down
by Littleton city council
Several hundred people packed a public hearing where the city council voted 7 - 0 to reject a proposed extension of Windermere Street to Dry Creek Road.
Proponents of the measure favored the extension because it would ease traffic around Heritage High School and provide direct access to Dry Creek Road.
Opponents did not want their neighborhoods congested with traffic that would result from the extension, which was said would mostly benefit Highlands Ranch traffic with a direct route to Denver.
(Voice your opinion in a poll on this topic and give your comments)
Arapahoe County voters
approve Open Space tax
Arapahoe County will no longer be the only county in the metro area, besides Denver, without an Open Space tax.
Voters in November approved a .25 cent county sales tax which will raise $17 million a year to preserve urban and rural Open Space and natural areas.
.
An overview of the Arapahoe Co. Open Space program
Divisive grocery tax gets repealed
Douglas H. Buck Littleton Community Recreation Center
has groundbreaking
A new rec center is ready to rise on the site of the demolished Arapahoe County Jail.
The $11.25 million facility will be located at 5606 S. Court Place, behind the historic courthouse building, just north of Littleton Blvd.
The rec center is named after the late Littleton resident Douglas Buck, whose family's donation of funds made it possible to add a gym and running track to the facility. The project will help fill the void created by the closure of the Littleton YMCA. The rec center is expected to open in the spring of 2005.
Wild Oats adds second Littleton store
Wild Oats Markets has opened a store at 8194
S. Kipling Parkway, happy news for fans of the health-food outlet.
The store's 27,500 square feet of space, employing 150 people, carries 7,000 products, including 2,000 natural, organic and gourmet brands.
Wilds Oats is also located at S. University and Orchard, part of the 100-store chain that from its Boulder beginnings in 1987 has expanded to 25 states and Canada.
Eckerd opens first drug store
October
Adult entertainment store case goes to US Supreme Court
Christal's, an adult entertainment store located a few hundred feet from a church on S. Broadway, remains open despite a Littleton ordinance meant to outlaw it.
A US 10th circuit court of appeals found fault in the ordinance, and the issue will be resolved in the US Supreme Court.
"This case is going to have nationwide impacts because our ordinance is fairly typical," commented the Littleton assistant city attorney.
Tracy Baker recall election on track
The Committee to Recall Tracy Baker has gathered enough signatures for a recall election.
Baker, the embattled Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, has been the center of a whirlwind of controversy for the exchange of steamy e-mails on his office computer with his girlfriend and assistant, Leesa Sale.
The e-mails in question have been directed to district court, and Baker is the focus of allegations of sexual harrassment as well as misuse of county funds and equipment.
September
Littleton High football team wins
its first game since 1999
The Lions of Littleton had a great Labor Day weekend: they broke a 34-game losing streak that began four years ago.
Littleton beat beat Denver Kennedy 23 - 14, the school's first victory since it beat Pine Creek 44 - 34 in week six of the 1999 season.
June
Littleton Public Schools district
receives EPA environmental
achievement award
