75 CENTS
May 17, 2018
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
FEELING THE FORCE: Comic Con gives fans a chance to get their cosplay on P14
Outstanding class graduating from Elizabeth High Achievements will be remembered as 132 seniors move on in life BY JULIE A. TAYLOR SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
pole bending and keyhole racing. In each event the rider guides his or her horse through the pattern of obstacles as quickly as possible. The rider with the fastest time wins. Mutton-busting is for riders 7 years old or younger who climb on the back of a sheep released into the arena. The idea is for the rider, who holds on tightly to the animal’s pelt, to stay mounted while the animal tries to dump the rider. The race is either to the end of the course or for a specified time, usually eight seconds. Kiowa resident Trevor Smith, the rough stock coordinator for this year’s community rodeo, is
“Outdoorsy.” “Active.” “Competitive.” “Responsible.” “Ingenious.” “Motivated.” “Like a family.” This is how teachers, administration, younger students and current seniors describe the Elizabeth High School class of 2018. They are a group that shirks stereotypes and cliques, and as numerous peers have said, their last four years will leave a legacy. At 10 a.m. May 26, 132 seniors will commemorate their hard work before moving on to their next phase. Principal Bret Mclendon said the seniors acted like true leaders this year. “This is a class with a lot of potential. There’s a lot of talent that is present in this class, whether academic or artistic or athletic. There’s a lot of potential for great things as long as they put in the effort to achieve it,” McClendon said. Peyton Baldwin, along with many of her classmates, said that cliques are hard to find in her class, and their time outdoors only brings them closer together. “Our class likes to have fun. Go outside and hike,” Peyton said. “It’s a misconception that our generation sits inside and plays video games.” Isa Tebrugge, currently a junior and elected student body president next year, said the class of 2018 motivated and inspired her. “They showed us how to be involved,” she said while serving in one of the two head positions of the Big Help volunteer Day. The other student who served in a head position for Big Help, fellow junior Lexye Wood, returned to school after a hard day of manual labor to find
SEE STAMPEDE, P9
SEE CLASS, P5
Mutton busting is part of the May 20 gymkhana events. FILE PHOTO/RICK GUSTAFSON
Events lead up to Stampede Community rodeo, gymkhana are on tap BY TOM MUNDS TMUNDS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Elizabeth Stampede is a couple of weeks away but the community rodeo on May 19 and gymkhana on May 20 traditionally launch the events that are part of the May 31-June 2 Stampede. “The community rodeo and gymkhana have been part of the Stampede for a long time,” Jace Glick, Stampede president, said. “The community rodeo usually attracts quite a few local competitors. The rodeo includes
traditional events as well as what are called ranch rodeo events.” The ranch rodeo is a four-member team competition during which competitors are timed to complete activities like milking a cow and loading a cow into a trailer. “The gymkhana has always been a big event with a lot of entries and we expect it will be a big event this year,” Glick said. “The gymkhana included the usual events like barrel racing and other equestrian events, and we also plan to have muttonbusting.” An equestrian gymkhana is defined as a number of timed speed events that includes, but isn’t limited to, barrel racing,
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“This is the first time in two or three years that I’m not standing up here talking about a quarterback debate.” Emmanuel Sanders | Broncos wide receiver | Page 18 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 6 | SPORTS: PAGE 17
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