Parker, CO

The improper disposal of legal fireworks sparked a fire that destroyed two homes in Parker, as reported by Denver Gazette media partner KUSA, South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR) said.

Firefighters responded to the 10000 block of Kimball Street around midnight and found two homes on fire in the Clarke Farms neighborhood. The homes are in an area north of Main Street and east of Jordan Road in Parker.

Both families made it out of the homes safely before the fire department arrived.

Update: 2 homes have sustained major damage and firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to 3 neighboring homes. Crews continue to work on extinguishing the flames, thankfully no injuries have been reported. Investigators are on scene working to determine the cause. Thank… pic.twitter.com/MdjJQiAUFD

— South Metro Fire Rescue (@SouthMetroPIO) July 4, 2023

"We always encourage folks to leave the fireworks to the professionals," said Fire Marshall Anthony Valdez.

"If you're still eager to utilize your personal fireworks at home, one, insure you're using the state-legal fireworks which allows for a little bit more safety. However, in this case, we believe this was a legal firework in Colorado, so this also shows the result, the outcome is still dangerous and bad things can still happen."

SMFR successfully prevented the fire from spreading to three neighboring homes, but the first two homes were destroyed.

"They did initially start going into the houses. However it became a defensive operation just due to the amount of fire. It became unsafe for firefighters to operate within the structures," said Valdez.

One firefighter suffered a minor burn injury while fighting the fire and was taken to the hospital for treatment as a precaution, SMFR said.

Investigators determined that the fire was started by legal fireworks that were disposed of in a plastic bin outside of a garage.

Fireworks may also be to blame for a fire in Aurora Monday night that displaced a family of four.

Aurora Fire Rescue (AFR) responded to the 600 block of S. Worchester Street off South Potomac Way just west of Interstate 225 around 10:30 p.m. Monday and found active fire conditions in the attic spaces.

The fire was quickly brought under control and no injuries were reported. According to AFR, the residence will be temporarily uninhabitable leaving two adults, two juveniles and five pets displaced until repairs can be done.

Witnesses reported that the fire was possibly started by fireworks debris that landed on the roof of the residence, however an investigation into the cause and origin is ongoing.

Centennial-based Redstone Bank has broken ground on a third branch location, capitalizing on growth in the south Denver metro area with a new office in Parker.

The opening of the 11,000 square-foot branch next spring will mark a relatively big step for the community bank, which is just 15 years old, said Chief Credit and Lending Officer Jeff Walker.

Redstone opened in Centennial in 2008 on the idea that residents of southern metro counties such as Douglas and Arapahoe could use a community bank, Walker said. While that was during the height of the banking crisis, he said Redstone had none of the issues plaguing the rest of the sector because it was just starting out.

Fastforward to 2020, when Redstone opened a second location in Littleton just two months before the pandemic struck. Now, the bank is breaking ground on a new branch against the backdrop of more banking industry turmoil with the failures of three regional banks this spring. Still, Colorado's banking leaders maintain that most banks in the state are insulated from a similar kind of fallout.

Walker said that Redstone is no different, touting what he calls a granular portfolio that reflects hyper-local businesses rather than the players of the riskier tech industry.

However, watching the rapid failure of institutions such as Silicon Valley Bank "scares the heck out of you as a banker," Walker said. "It is something our industry has not seen ever."

At Redstone, Walker said the bank hopes to take advantage of high loan demand coupled with strong liquidity and capital as other banks pull back on lending.

To that note, Walker is eyeing some ambitious growth goals. By 2028, he said he hopes to see Redstone managing $500 million in assets, citing an "easy" 10%-15% growth rate for the bank over the last three years.

Redstone Bank, which was acquired in 2018 by Nebraska-based Midwest Banc Holding Co., had $246.1 million in assets as of Dec. 31, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Walker said it might take the opening of another branch to reach those goals.

"We’re going to be opportunistic," Walker said.

While a potential new location doesn't have to be in the south metro area, he said it does need to maintain the same kind of community feel as the places where the bank currently operates.

The new branch will include teller services and drive-up lanes, an ATM, and loan officers for commercial, consumer and mortgage sectors. The location will also incorporate a community room and more floating offices and capabilities for staff to move across branches, Walker said.

2022 Colorado Bank Holding Cos.

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Parker's residents will find a new way to get into the pickleball craze as a Chicken N’ Pickle anticipates opening a location in town as part of an expansion into Colorado. In other news, road improvements, including lane expansions, are on tap.

The Town Council unanimously approved a tax and fee assistance program agreement for Chicken N’ Pickle. The entertainment outfit meets all of the criteria, including being public benefit, according to the council.

Chicken N’ Pickle was established in 2016 in Kansas. Since then, the restaurant has expanded to Texas, Arizona and Nevada. The restaurant includes a sports bar, yard games and pickleball courts.

The proposed project consists of a 10,000-square-foot restaurant, a 4,000-square-foot rooftop patio and 17,000 square feet of pickleball courts. The project is estimated to cost $22 million.

Goss annual sales for the first year is estimated to be $12 million, according to city documents, and $14 million a year by the end of the fifth year.

“We are seeking a sales tax rebate for five years, for Chicken N’ Pickle,” said Weldy Feazell, department of economic development. “That would be 50% of the general fund's sales tax. The 2.5% at a maximum amount of $660,000.”

Chicken N’ Pickle would give the town 100% of their remitted sales tax and the town would rebate the restaurant the $660,000 over five years on a quarterly basis, said Feazell.

In addition, the business projects it will employ up to 200 people with an annual payroll of about $2.7 million.

A site plan has not yet been submitted, however. The company has entered into a Letter of Intent with Life Church to purchase a portion of their property located on Parkerhouse Road as well as a parking agreement.

In other news, the council unanimously approved an ordinance to improve roads.

Following Engineering and Public Works Bob Exstrom’s presentation, the council approved a right-of-way purchase and sale agreement with TMV Retail II Owners Association and the town for a portion of road known as Stage Run in what's dubbed the Dransfeldt Road Widening Project. The project will widen the road from four lanes to five, including the addition of one new turning lane for southbound traffic as well as reconstruct sidewalks and curb ramps on Dransfeldt Road between Pony Express Drive and Mainstreet.

“Anybody that drives that section of road knows we have incredible stacking at all times of the day, there needs to be a relief somehow and someway and I think this is an excellent way to handle that,” said Councilemember Joshua Rivero.

Nearly 378 square feet of additional right-of-way is needed to accommodate new sidewalks and curb ramps. In addition, about 1,917 square feet of temporary construction easement is needed to restore portions of the Stage Run Road interrupted by the construction.

The purchase price of the property is estimated at $6,110, funding has been appropriated for this project in the 2023 Urban Renewal Projects Fund.

Of five contract bids, the council awarded a trade contract agreement with 53 Corp. for Hilltop Road/Canterberry Parkway Area Improvements in the amount of $989,915. Funding has been appropriated in the Highway and Streets Capital Projects fund.

Town engineering staff identified an accident trend involving rear end accidents on Hilltop Road near Legend High School, said Tom Gill, project manager for the town.

Construction is is expected to begin May 30 and last through most of the summer.

To expand accessible care to families in the Parker community, Children’s Hospital Colorado opened a pediatric urgent care center.

Having been in the emergency department at Parker Adventist Hospital a few years ago, Dr. Erin Harvey, assistant professor of pediatrics and director of urgent care at Children’s Hospital Colorado said they are excited to have their own freestanding urgent care in the community.

Parker Urgent Care includes Children’s Hospital Colorado doctors, nurses, staff and board certified officials who are trained in pediatric care. Doctors will communicate directly with the child’s primary care provider, keep families informed of all diagnoses, treatments and tests in order to keep the medical record up-to-date and accurate.

“[Pediatricians] learned the specific mechanisms of pediatric injury and how they're different from adults and how medications affect kids differently,” said Harvey. “With our nurses and assistants are also pediatric trained and know how to deal with children at different developmental levels and provide a comforting and nurturing environment.”

Families can expect the care provided at Parker Urgent Care to be the same as the care received at the Anschutz location.

“Pediatricians, who are staffing our sites, do three extra years of training to specifically be able to take care of kids,” said Harvey.

The new facility includes outpatient care during the week, which can be made by appointment. According to the website, the facility offer’s specialty care clinics available through referral from the child’s primary care physician.

Conditions treated at the new location include but are not limited to mild allergic reactions and asthma attacks, minor broken bones and sprains, coughs, cold and congestion, fever in patients over 60 days old, rashes, skin irritation, sore throats, vomiting and or diarrhea.

When your child is unwell or injured, it can be difficult to determine whether to take them to an urgent care or the hospital. Harvey’s advice is for families to first call their pediatrician.

“They know your child,” said Harvey. “They can help decide whether this can wait until they can see you in the office or it needs to be seen on a more urgent basis and then decide where.”

Harvey also recommends families look at the ParentSmart Healthline and Children’s Hospital Colorado website for information.

In addition, pediatric sports medicine specialists are also available in the Parker Urgent Care facility. Care includes comprehensive assessments for improved sports performance, treatment and care for acute and overuse-related sports injuries, sports injury prevention education, physical therapy and access to a sports gym designed for agility training, cardio and strength training.

“There’s a variety of other sub-specialists who rotate through this space,” said Harvey. “They’re on sort of a weekly or monthly basis.”

Located at 9399 Crown Crest Blvd. Suite 300 in the Sierra Medical Building on the third floor, the Parker Urgent Care will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. all year round, including holidays.

“We really do value the medical home and are really committed to communication with patients, primary care providers about any of the care that’s done there, any of the test results, follow up plans, new medications, anything like that,” said Harvey.

Keywords

parker, children's hospital colorado, pediatric urgent care, sports medicine care

Chaparral High School students were dismissed at 1:15 p.m. Friday after being evacuated due to a reported threat, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said.

PARKER, Colo. — Chaparral High School in Parker was evacuated Friday afternoon while authorities investigated a bomb threat.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office said at 12:40 p.m. that students were gathering in the parking lots while they investigated the threat that was called in.

Just before 4 p.m., the Sheriff's Office said the school had been cleared by deputies and no suspicious devices were found.

Students are being dismissed at 1:15 p.m., the Sheriff's Office said. Students who rely on bussing will be transported to their normal bus stop.

"It will take bomb dogs a significant amount of time to clear the entire building, based on the size of our school, Douglas County School District spokesperson Paula Hans said. "As a result, we are implementing an early dismissal today at 1:15 p.m. Parents are encouraged to come to the school as soon as possible to pick up their students. Chaparral High School staff will remain at the school until every student is picked up."

As rooms in the school are cleared by bomb dogs, backpacks will be brought outside for students to take with them. Students who left before getting their belongings can return from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. to get their items.

Breaking News: The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is currently searching Chaparral High School after receiving a bomb threat. Students have been evacuated and are gathered in the parking lots. Early dismissal at 1:15pm. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation. pic.twitter.com/lWzPTsui4q

— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) April 28, 2023

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