$1.00
Week of March 17, 2022
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 127 | ISSUE 5
Experienced officer joins Elizabeth police force Mike McDaniel has spent 17 years in law enforcement BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
An artist’s rendering depicts proposed upgrades to Casey Jones Park in Elizabeth, with the recreation center in the foreground and the rodeo grounds at top center. Residents of the Elizabeth Park & Recreation District will vote May 3 on whether property taxes COURTESY OF ELIZABETH PARK & RECREATION DISTRICT should be increased to support the $45 million plan.
Overhaul eyed for rodeo grounds, event center $9.7M slated for arena if May 3 vote passes BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The Elizabeth Park and Recreation District hopes district residents will vote for an increase in their mill levy on May 3, which would support major upgrades to Casey Jones Park. A previous Elbert County News story detailed part of the proposal, focusing on a rec center and fieldhouse/ag building. The rest of the proposal largely focuses on the Casey Jones Park rodeo grounds and arena space, as explained in a Feb. 8 presentation by Elizabeth Park and Recreation District Executive Director Mike Barney, who is holding a series of community
meetings in the leadup to the May 3 balloting. Improvements proposed for the rodeo grounds and arena space include a plan to re-align the rodeo arena to true north/south orientation and several improved structures. The arena would have new covered grandstands with a seating capacity of 3,500, including a VIP area. Located underneath the improved grandstands would be concessions, restrooms, storage space and emergency shelter. The rodeo arena would also include a new announcer’s booth with digital display boards. In addition to arena improvements, surrounding rodeo grounds would also see changes. These include an improved warm-up and practice space, a 20-stall covered stable, and enhanced site safety for spectators and livestock. Casey Jones Park would also see
The Elizabeth Police Department welcomed its newest officer on Feb. 13. Mike McDaniel, 49, is now a patrol officer with the EPD. McDaniel is an Elizabeth native, now living in Colorado Springs. He is married with six children, and comes to EPD with 17 years of experience under his belt. On March 7, McDaniel sat down with the Elbert County News for an interview at the Elizabeth police station, sharing stories of his policing experiences, career goals and personal interests.
an expansion to its campground. Improvements would include 10 full hook-up RV sites, four allseason yurts, a tent camping area and a group propane fire ring. The revenues from park camping would help fund other park improvements. The Elizabeth Park and Recreation District has received a $150,000 GOCO grant — meaning Great Outdoors Colorado, from lottery proceeds — to assist in funding the expansion. Improvements are already underway. With the funds, the park district in collaboration with the Elbert County Agricultural Alliance plans to create a homestead education center. The center’s plans envision community greenhouses and gardens, a festival site, program spaces and kiosks, an updated
Talk a bit about who you are and why you chose to work for the Elizabeth Police Department. I was born and raised in Elizabeth. I went to school here back when the elementary school was still K-6 and high school was 7-12. I lived here through my sophomore year and moved to Englewood for my junior year of high school. Growing up out here as a kid, I thought it was awesome. We would get real winters. We used to jump off our back porch into these big ol’ 10-foot snow drifts. It was great. It was mostly dirt roads. Since we left, I think I’d been back to Elizabeth once, just driving through. I started policing in 2005 with the
SEE PARK, P12
SEE POLICE, P4
INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 7 | VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 10
BEST OF THE BEST
VOTE NOW! ElbertCountyNews.net