COSTLY CONCERN
May 12, 2016 VOLUME 121 | ISSUE 15 | 75¢
A sharp rise in child care costs has impacted the finances of many families on PAGE 10.
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E L B E R T C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
Cleanup event draws crowd Volunteers also tackle projects around Elizabeth By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media The Town of Elizabeth held its annual Town Clean Up Day on May 7, but tidying up the town’s parks and streets was not the only work carried out on that Saturday. Several other groups in the area got an early start to beat the chilly weather that moved in by the afternoon to make repairs, raise funds and green up the town. Town Administrator Dick Eason wrangled up around 35 volunteers to spread mulch at parks, pick up trash on sidewalks along Highway 86, and complete minor landscaping around the town hall, where later that afternoon hot dogs and burgers were grilled to feed hungry volunteers. To assist with the cleanup, the town brought in three dumpsters again this year for residents to bring loads of trash. In addition, Elizabeth Police Chief Stephen Hasler led a group of volunteers to make pickups in the department’s HMMWV and trailer for residents who were unable to deliver trash on their own. At the Arena at Casey Jones Park, Elizabeth Stampede volunteers continued work on the grandstands that began last month. This year the stands are receiving a makeover. Cleanup continues on Page 9
Volunteer Bill Mock of Elizabeth sands layers of old paint from the grandstands at Casey Jones Park. Crews have been working for weeks to replacing planks and preparing the stands for new paint. Photo by Rick Gustafson
Sierra Taylor trains with her fellow riders on the Blazing Saddles Drill Team. Taylor is one of the most experienced riders on the team and enjoys performing the “fast lap,” which is a high-speed lap of the arena around a slower circle of riders toward the center. Photos by Rick Gustafson
Drill team hitting stride Blazing Saddles participants bring commitment to the arena By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media With the Elizabeth Stampede less than a month away, pounding hammers and buzzing sanders are not the only sounds echoing inside the arena at Casey Jones Park. Each Friday, the beat of hooves, hoots of delight, and the steady, amplified voice of Cindy Adams fill the grounds as she guides 20 girls and horses from the Blazing Saddles Drill Team through their performance. “They’re a great bunch of kids,” said Adams, drill master for the team. “They take care of their own horses at all these shows and rodeos.” Adams helped found the Blazing Saddles Drill Team in 2006. Since its creation, the drill team has performed at, among other events, the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo, Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade and Rodeo, and Cowboy Up in Kiowa. In addition to regular performances at the Elbert County Fair, the team has become the exclusive drill team for the Elizabeth Stampede — which is June 3-5 — and for the second year in a row, will be performing at the Rooftop Rodeo in Estes Park July 6-11. The team is open to both boys and girls, though there are currently no boys on the team. Saddles continues on Page 9
Kaelie Denton of Elizabeth tacks up Tuffy before drill practice on May 6. Denton is in her first year on the Blazing Saddles Drill Team and enjoys riding in parades.
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