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Week of December 22, 2022
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 127 | ISSUE 45
Help wanted around Elizabeth Town, school district seek people to fill leadership posts BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Ashley Baller at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Welcome Ceremony.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY BALLER
State rodeo queen competes in Vegas Ashley Baller is former Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo Royalty Attendant BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Ashley Baller, former Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo Queen’s Attendant and the 2022 Miss Rodeo Colorado, recently competed at the Miss Rodeo America pageant in Las Vegas and took the third runner-up spot among 28 state rodeo queens competing for the crown.
Taking place over eight busy days, the Miss Rodeo America Pageant is held along with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo each year. The women compete in several categories including horsemanship, speech, written test, personality and appearance. For Ashley, 2023 has been a wild year. As she began her state reign at the start of 2022, the Elbert County News sat down with her to learn about her, the ins-and-outs of being Colorado’s rodeo queen, and her plans for the year. Now a year later, Ashley spoke with the Elbert County News on Dec. 12 about her time as Miss Rodeo Colorado and
her experience at the 2023 Miss Rodeo America Pageant. What was the Miss Rodeo America pageant like for you?
The Town of Elizabeth as well as the Elizabeth School District have recently announced vacancies for important leadership positions. The Town of Elizabeth is seeking applicants for the following positions: Board of Trustees (two vacancies) Historic Advisory Board (two vacancies) Planning Commission (two vacancies) Main Street Board of Directors (one vacancy) To qualify for consideration, individuals must have resided within the Elizabeth town limits for a minimum of one year, be a U.S. citizen, be a registered voter in the town and have an interest in town affairs. Experience in town government is not necessary. An Elizabeth mailing address does not necessarily mean a person resides inside the Elizabeth town limits — physical residency within the town boundaries is required. Elizabeth Board of Trustees
It was really hard. I was over prepared for everything and aced everything. I was really proud of myself. I was proud of all the work I put in. Overall, it was a cool experience. Every single aspect of the pageant I left feeling great about. My overall goal was to go into the pageant as prepared as possible and be in the pest place I could. As for the pageant week, you’re
Town Administrator Patrick Davidson, in a Dec. 12 interview with the Elbert County News, shared his thoughts on filling the Board of Trustees vacancies. “I am not sure there is any one specific quality that makes a good board member. I think it could be summed up with a love of the community, a willingness to learn and listen to differing opinions, and a desire to
SEE BALLER, P8
SEE VACANCIES, P2
INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 11 | VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14
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Colorado plays host to USA Climbing’s national championship P14