FEELING NOSTALGIC: Denver Silent Film Festival takes guests on a trip down memory lane P14
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April 26, 2018
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
Vasquez digs into new role as mayor Insurance professional took more than half of votes in three-way race BY TOM MUNDS TMUNDS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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The election results are official and Elizabeth residents selected Megan Vasquez to be the mayor for the next two years. Vasquez, a 2004 Kiowa High School graduate, has lived in Elizabeth for 10 years and she is part-owner of the Farmers Insurance office in Elizabeth. She was elected to the Elizabeth Board of Trustees in 2016. This year, Vasquez, Scott Walter and Mayor Pro Tem Rachel White ran for mayor in the mail-in ballot election. According to the official Vasquez results released April 12, Vasquez received 121 votes and is the new mayor. Walter received 46 votes and White 43. Although she wasn’t elected mayor, White will complete the remaining two years of her term on the town board of trustees. Vasquez took time from her busy schedule to talk about why she ran for public office and what she wishes in the future for the community.
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The Forest Ridge Fire burned 375 acres south of Kiowa in March.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ELBERT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Fire danger high for state Dry winter leaves state vulnerable to destructive blazes ASSOCIATED PRESS
Forecasts indicate Colorado could be in for its worst wildfire year since the historic fire seasons of 2012 and 2013, leading Gov. John Hickenlooper and fire officials to
warn residents to do their part to help prevent fires. An abnormally dry winter left the statewide snowpack 68 percent of average, with conditions in the northern mountains better than in the south. Hickenlooper said on April 13 that the state is better prepared than ever to fight wildfires because of increased funding and cooperation in the wake of massive blazes like the 2013 Black Forest Fire in El Paso County destroyed
nearly 500 homes, the most by a wildfire in state history. The previous year, the Waldo Canyon Fire also destroyed hundreds of homes. Those and other fires led lawmakers to spend nearly $20 million in 2014 to buy two fire-spotting planes and contract helicopters and single-engine tankers to try to stop fires early before they grow and threaten homes. The fire outlook was released as a storm brought snow to the
What made you decide to run for public office? I was dealing with a property issue
SEE FIRE, P6
SEE VASQUEZ, P6
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“It’s not something where I feel like I’ve made it. That’s not ever my mentality. I’m going to stay hungry.” Case Keenum | Broncos quarterback | Page 18 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 13 | SPORTS: PAGE 17
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VOLUME 123 | ISSUE 13