Elbert County News 0111

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75 CENTS

January 11, 2018

ON THE TOWN WITH FIDO: More metro hot-spots open their businesses to canine companions P14

ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

Libraries see improvements, longer hours STAFF REPORT

Kassidey O’Brien, an Elizabeth High School senior, leads her steer Burt out of the stall at the National Western Stock Show Complex. O’Brien was one of 40 young men and women who successfully caught a calf at last year’s National Western Stock Show, and raised the animal in preparation for this year’s judging that will complete the project. TOM MUNDS

Catch-a-Calf projects coming to completion Elizabeth High School classmates showing the steers they raised at National Western BY TOM MUNDS TMUNDS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Elizabeth High School seniors Alexa Hagans and Kassidey O’Brien joined 38 other Catch-a-Calf competitors who brought the steers they raised from calves to the National Western Stock Show Complex Jan. 5 so they could groom them and prepare them for the

Jan. 7 judging The judging will complete the projects that began at last year’s National Western Stock Show when each of the 40 young men or women became a successful Catch-a-Calf competitor by catching one of 10 calves released during one four of rodeo performances. There were frequently more candidates than calves, so not everyone was successful. Hagans said she didn’t have a lot of trouble catching her calf. “Our family ranches, so I knew how to catch the calf. But you don’t get to keep and raise that one,” she said. “I got my calf Ernie in May when he was a couple months old and weighed

about 748 pounds. I took care of him, fed him and groomed him and he now weighs more than 1,400 pounds.” She said she let the calf be a calf for about a week, then started working him, and they were friends in about a month. She said the hardest challenge was getting Ernie broken to the halter and walking when being led. “I am happy where Ernie is today,” she said. “You get close to an animal when you are caring for him, so it will be a little hard to be separated from him. But I have raised market calves before so that will make it a little bit easier.” SEE PROJECTS, P10

Faster computers, longer hours and enhanced staffing are just some of the improvements Pines and Plains Libraries users will see this year. Last year, the library district increased its computing power, bought more books and offered more activities. Thanks to an increase in revenues and effective budget management, the improvements will continue in 2018, according to a news release from the library district. The Elizabeth and Simla libraries will be open extra evening hours during the week, and Kiowa will be open on Saturdays. The Elbert branch is moving its Monday hours to afternoons. Residents unable to make it into the library can enjoy tens of thousands of ebooks and audiobooks at the digital branch, pplibraries. org. The public-use computers are being replaced, and the new units have three times the horsepower. The Kiowa and Elizabeth libraries also will get boosts to Internet speeds and hardware, resulting in better wi-fi for those who bring their own mobile devices to the library. The Elizabeth, Kiowa, and Simla branches will have full-time library service leads, who will bring new levels of expertise and skill sets to visitors. Three new program and outreach coordinators will create more and better activities to entertain and educate all Elbert County residents as well.

THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL

“The greatest investment that anybody or any business can make to see improvements in performance is an investment in themselves and in their people.” Michael Norton | columnist, Page 12 INSIDE

VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 8 | SPORTS: PAGE 21

ElbertCountyNews.net

VOLUME 122 | ISSUE 50


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