One Trip into the Pines Brought Peace
Pictured above: CBS4 evening news anchor Karen Leigh with her husband, Jim, and daughter, Elle.
Growing up, I was not that kid who pretended to be a reporter or was glued to the news. I was more of a kid who climbed trees, had skinned knees and never wanted to come inside until the sun set. My father said I could wear anyone down with my questions.
CBS4 evening news anchor Karen Leigh (right) with sports anchor Michael Spencer (left) on set
Wearing makeup for television and dressing up was never in the plans, but I was curious. I loved talking with people and hearing their life stories. For 27 years I have been a journalist, starting at a tiny radio station in my home state of Arkansas and finding my way here to glorious Colorado. My career path kept the U-Haul business busy, moving six states in 15 years.
Television news brought me to Colorado in 2008, and I realized I had never felt at home or settled … until here. I met my husband, Jim Peros, a Colorado native, who graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, went to CU Boulder and is part of the Greek community. Living previously in the Denver Tech Center area, we felt we needed more room to breathe.
One trip on Castle Pines Parkway and that was it for us. I was sold on the Pines, the people and the sunsets.
Jim and I are blessed to be raising our 12-year-old daughter, Elle. We call her our “Vail baby.” While we were on a last-minute getaway, Elle came one month early at Vail Valley Medical Center. Elle loves it all. She’s learning lacrosse, and is passionate about her friends, school and volleyball. As a couple, we love to golf, travel and to serve the community however, and whenever we can. We are fortunate that Jim’s family is still around us in Colorado while mine is back home in Arkansas.
Elle with the family’s Bernese Mountain Dog, Eze, named due to Jim and Karen’s affinity for Eze, France, following their 2019 visit.
And I cannot forget our youngest baby, Eze, our Bernese Mountain Dog. If you are familiar with their personalities, you know how much fun they are and how there is never a moment in our home that she is not attached to one of us.
I’m proud to be part of the CBS4 family where you’ll find me Monday through Friday anchoring the evening newscasts. I feel privileged knowing so many people trust me to share in their lives every day and count on me for their news. I love our viewers.
If you ask me what is close to my heart, it is a quick answer: my family and my faith. People are what matter – our relationships, our connections and how we treat those we love and those around us.
In short, my goal each day is to wake up and to go to bed in gratitude. I feel that way about Castle Pines. Moving to the neighborhood three years ago was a gift I didn’t know I needed.
And, now thanks to The Castle Pines Connection inviting me in, I look forward to enjoying even more of that … with all of you.
Article and photos by Karen Leigh; courtesy photos
