75 CENTS
January 25, 2018
Guide
2018
FUTURE TO THE
SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE THIS ISSUE! ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
Library district sues board of commissioners Complaint alleges BOCC is overstepping its authority STAFF REPORT
The referee signals that Elizabeth’s 195-pounder Adadian Romero has pinned his Woodland Park opponent, Nathew Michaels, during the Jan. 17 dual match. The six team points Romero earned for the pin helped the Cardinals win the match in a squeaker, 41-40. TOM MUNDS
Elizabeth grapplers win squeaker Cardinals edge Woodland Park by a point in dual wrestling match BY TOM MUNDS TMUNDS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Elizabeth wrestling team won the key matches needed to post a 41-40 win in a Jan. 17 dual match against Woodland Park.
A sizable crowd of family, friends and classmates was on hand for the match. The walls of the Elizabeth gymnasium echoed with the cheers of fans, the advice of coaches and parents as well as the music from the pep band. The Cardinals established an early lead but Woodland Park scored wins in key matches to make the final score close. After the match, Elizabeth Coach Robert Chavez said his team is wres-
tling well. “This is my first year as head coach. The kids are coming on strong as they adopt the new style,” he said. “We are a lot more aggressive and doing well so far this season.” He said it is a young team, as he has 25 wrestlers on the roster and only three of them are seniors with a number of freshmen. He added that SEE GRAPPLERS, P2
A policy recently adopted by Elbert County’s board of commissioners is the target of a lawsuit filed by Pines and Plains Libraries, which believes the policy violates a state law protecting public libraries from political interference. Adopted by the three-member board of county commissioners Dec. 20, the policy “seeks to control the qualifications, appointment, tenure and termination of the library district’s board of trustees,” states a news release from the library district issued Jan. 17. The district — which contends that the Colorado Library Law places those subjects beyond the authority of the board of county commissioners — is seeking an injunction to block implementation of the policy. “The Trustee selection process required in the Policy is contrary to the Library Law,” states the complaint, which was filed in district court in Kiowa. “The BOCC’s sole authority under the Library Law is to ratify or reject a candidate recommended to the Board.” The library district news release also states that county commissioners acted on the policy without posting it on the county’s website and refused a request by a Pines and Plains trustee to postpone its consideration until the public had a chance to review it. In a news release of its own Jan. 17, the county said the purpose of the new policy is to “ensure transparency in the process of advertising vacancies and SEE LIBRARY, P2
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“I started thinking about the road I have ahead of me. I started looking at options, which is really big for me. Olympic gold medalist Missy Franklin | Page 20 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 22 | CALENDAR: PAGE 4
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 122 | ISSUE 52