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August 5, 2021
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 126 | ISSUE 25
Recall effort targets all 3 county commissioners Commissioners deny claims they ‘ignored citizens’ concerns’ BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Some residents of western Elbert County have launched a petition effort in support of recalling all three county commissioners — Rick Pettitt, Christopher Richardson and Grant Thayer. In a lengthy statement posted online at recallelbertcounty.com, recall backers accuse the commissioners of having “repeatedly ignored citizens’ concerns, the people’s welfare and the county’s regulations” and point to issues involving the Spring Valley Ranch development in the county. “Elbert County is growing and that growth requires roads and water,” the statement, accessed July 30, says. “Most citizens are not against growth. Citizens are against the county’s elected officials relieving developers the obligation to build the infrastructure their growth necessitates.” Richardson and Thayer were re-elected last November. Pettitt was elected in 2018. Residents held a meeting to discuss the recall on July 24 at the Elizabeth American Legion. Nineteen people attended.
UCHealth, Denver Health operate across metro Denver and beyond BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN
believe we can work through them collectively,” McNeely wrote in her statement to the Kiowa Schools community. “It was brought to my attention that many of our patrons are not aware of an edict that was passed in our state’s legislation,” she wrote, noting the prohibitions of Senate Bill 21-116. She noted that “the school district will be fined TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) monthly if all our
Two more major health systems in Colorado announced July 28 that they will require their employees to be vaccinated against coronavirus by the fall. UCHealth, which operates the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, UC Health Highlands Ranch Hospital and 10 others, will require staff to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1. Denver Health will require its employees to be vaccinated by Nov. 1. UCHealth has about 24,000 employees. In addition to hospitals, UCHealth has clinics, stand-alone emergency rooms, offices and other operations in Arvada, Centennial, Commerce City, Denver, the Inverness area, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Parker, Thornton and other locations, according to its website. “After fighting COVID-19 for more than a year, and as the dangerous Delta variant has become the dominant strain in Colorado and elsewhere, it is clear that vaccination against this disease is essential to protect our employees, along with our patients and visitors,” Elizabeth Concordia, president and CEO of UCHealth, said in a statement. “We know that vaccination will also improve health and safety within the
SEE MASCOT, P16
SEE HOSPITALS, P10
Elbert County recall petitioners at a booth set up off of Delbert Road on July 28. From left: Kahl Forington, Chuck Boyd and Susan Rudman.
SEE RECALL, P14
PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON
Kiowa superintendent gives update on mascot change New state law bars use of Native American team names in public schools BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
On June 28, Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill into law banning Native American mascots in public schools throughout the state. The law prohibits any “name,
symbol, or image that depicts or refers to an American Indian tribe, individual, custom, or tradition that is used as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, or team name for the school.” On July 21, Kiowa Schools Superintendent Dr. Silvia McNeely released a statement as to the tentative plan to comply with the new law. The district’s teams are called the Indians. “I am anticipating a great year this year; even though we may be facing unexpected challenges, I
INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 11 | VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 13
Hospitals to require COVID vaccines for employees
FUN AND FLEXIBLE
Outdoors or indoors, a round of miniature golf is what you make it
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