WEEK OF JUNE 22, 2023
VOLUME 128 | ISSUE 19
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Elbert Day Festival set for July 8 BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The Dads of Elbert County stand with Eric and Beth Ayn Rognmoe in front of their home.
PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON
Dads do their part for family Nonprofit overhauls stairway to help woman with mobility issues BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Twelve members of the nonprofit Dads of Elbert County joined forces on June 10 to help a local family achieve home accessibility for their daughter. Twenty-two-year-old Hannah Rognmoe suffered a traumatic brain injury when she was found unconscious and unresponsive at the deep end of a swimming pool in 2011. She now uses a wheelchair for mobility and is unable to climb stairs.
To help Hannah and her family with home accessibility, the Dads of Elbert County — or DoEC — did a complete overhaul the Rognmoes’ stairs in their Elbert County home. They put in an electric stair lift chair that now helps to move Hannah up to the second story of the house when needed. Prior to the installation, Hannah’s father and brother would carry her up the stairs. “We want to be able to do things for families that will make a difference in their lives, for those who can’t do it themselves,” said DoEC member Bruce Hicks. “We felt the need here was great. The Rognmoes are a terrific family.” Hannah’s parents Eric and Beth Ayn Rognmoe work to give back to the community that has helped
them throughout the years. In 2018 they started a nonprofit foundation to help families like theirs. Hannah’s Hands of Hope is based out of Elbert County and is named for Hannah Rognmoe. The foundation is committed to providing practical and strategic resources for families in traumatic and lifealtering situations. “As overwhelming and traumatic as the whole experience was, we’ve since seen so many families go through the same thing,” said Beth Ayn Rognmoe. “We knew we had to do something. We started Hannah’s Hands of Hope. We try to help other families any way we can.” According to their website, the foundation has three practical goals: SEE DADS, P4
VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 11
The Elbert Town Committee is hosting its annual Elbert Day Festival on July 8 in downtown Elbert around the historic Russell Gates Mercantile Co. building. The event is free to attend and open to visitors of all ages. This year’s Elbert Day Festival is packed with quaint, small-town fun. The event will kick off with the Elbert Woman’s Club Breakfast and the everpopular small plane flyover. The event will also have a parade, numerous food and craft vendors, tractor pull, and games and activities for children. “We’re pleased to say that we have two new improvements,” said Lacey Catterton, head organizer for the festival and president of the Elbert Town Committee. “We have expanded our kid attraction zone with new bounce houses, obstacle courses, games, crafts and more.” Two bands will serve as entertainment for this year’s Elbert Day Festival. WMW is an Elizabeth-based rock band and Lookin’ Back is a Coloradobased classic rock cover band. “This year we also added an exclusive sponsorship level that we named ‘Diamond Sponsor.’ Because of the rising costs to host the event, we voted to add this exclusive sponsorship level to help support our larger attractions like our tractor pull and SEE FESTIVAL, P2
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Landmark 20th
July 28, 29 & 30
Evergreen Jazz Festival Big Talent! Small Venues! Great Setting!
Dancers Welcome!
Free Parking!
EvergreenJazz.org 303-697-5467