June 2, 2016 VOLUME 121 | ISSUE 18 | 75¢
ElbertCountyNews.net E L B E R T C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Candidates square off at debate in Kiowa Voters share views about how political hopefuls fared By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media
Elizabeth’s Jacob Morse clears the barrier as he competes in the 300-meter hurdle event during the May 21 Colorado Track and Field Championships. Morse finished fifth in the event and the Cardinal boys finished 27th in the Class 4A team standings. Photos by Tom Munds
Cardinals hold their own at state meet Elizabeth athletes earn places on awards podium By Tom Munds tmunds@colorado communitymedia.com Elizabeth High School athletes came away with some respectable finishes at the May 19-21 Colorado Track and Field Championships held at Jefferson County Stadium.
Members of the Kiowa 4x400 relay team received medals for placing in the event at the May 21 Colorado Track and Field Championship. Kiowa girls finished 18th and the boys team finished 32nd in the Class 2A team standings.
Overall, the Cardinals girls team finished 23rd and the boys team finished 27th in the final team standings among 45 schools in 4A. In the boys division, Jacob Morse had the best individual finish for the Cardinal team, placing fifth in the 110-meter high hurdles. Teammate Ryan Stuchlik, who finished eighth in pole vault, said it was a lot of fun to compete at state. “Pole vault is the only
event I do,” he said after he accepted his medal. “I took up pole vault because it is a lot more fun than all the other events. The polevaulting technique is challenging and you really get an adrenaline rush when you put it all together and clear the bar.” A smilling Stuchlik said stepping onto the awards podium was a great way to wrap up his senior year in high school. In the girls division, Tegan Alexander posted
the best finish for the Cardinals, taking fourth place in the 100-meter dash. Elizabeth also posted seventh-place finishes in the 4x100 relay and the 4x200 relay. Athletes from Kiowa High School competed in Class 2A. The girls team finished 18th in team standings and the boys finished 27th. Melanie Deering led the way, gathering points for the girls team as winner of the 400-meter dash.
Chloe Peterson comes out of the blocks as she runs the first leg for the Elizabeth girls 4x100 relay team during the May 21 Colorado Track and Field Championship. The Cardinals finished seventh in the event and the girls team was 23rd in the Class 4A team standings.
Start with six candidates from two parties, add around 130 county voters from three or more parties, and stir with two moderators: The result was, the Kiowa Community Church Fellowship Hall crackled with ideas and energy on May 24. In the only debate before the Republican primary on June 28, Elbert County commissioner candidates from both parties, two Republicans and one Democrat running for District I seats and two Republicans and one Democrat running for District III, faced off in a debate over the future of Elbert County. The candidates are: District I, Republicans Christopher Richardson and James Whistler and Democrat Marie Soderberg; District III, Republicans Grant Thayer and Scott Wills and Democrat Barbara Miller. Moderators Jerry Bishop (Prairie Times) and Beth Shelly (Ranchland News) asked questions of the six candidates centering on transparency, growth, water, and oil and gas. As expected, the current state of county government was a topic, specifically the infamous November 18 Board of County Commissioners meeting where county employees and several elected officials staged a revolt over a resolution to invoke a contractual precursor to the potential termination of County Attorney Wade Gateley. It has been more than six months since the clashes in November, but the incident remains very much on the minds of people on both sides of the issue, and the atmosphere in the Kiowa remains toxic. In addition, debate participants were also asked to contribute $200 for hot dogs from Charlie’s New York Hot Dogs in Elizabeth to feed the spectators during a break. The remaining $418.85 plus $160.85 contributed by the Prairie Times staff is pledged to benefit Kiowa businesswoman Leanne Goetz, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. District I candidate Soderberg offered her own brand of help for Goetz during her closing comments by commandeering the hat from an audience member, and asking those in attendance to add what they could to the “offering plate.” The 10-minute, impromptu fundraiser netted an additional $410, bringing the total to around $1,000. Debate continues on Page 9
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