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July 6, 2017
PACK UP THE CAR: With a few rules of the road, family trips can get rolling P10
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
County attorney steps down Wade Gateley served in the role since March 2014 BY JODI HORNER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
A young girl leads Honey, a quarter horse at Elizabeth’s Eagle’s Nest Ranch, during a bonding session with the ranch’s Soaring program. JODI HORNER
Eagle’s Nest Ranch aims to be place of healing
Horse ministry helps people who are struggling, including military veterans BY JODI HORNER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Eagle’s Nest Ranch ministry in northern Elizabeth is set on the rolling hills just outside Parker, with Indian paintbrush wildflowers and wish-blows mixed into the blowing grasses. “We’re a horse ranch ministry giv-
ing people who are struggling with adversity an opportunity to interact with horses, and to find some hope and healing,” Suzy MacKenzie explained. She specifically avoids the term “equine therapy” since “it’s not clinical therapy,” she said. When MacKenzie founded Eagle’s Nest Ranch three years ago, she was at a crossroads in her own life. She had been a missionary for “a long time” in South America and had worked 13 years at a nonprofit. Since she had always loved horses — she had owned horses on and off throughout her life — she was drawn to read the book “Hope Rising” by Kim Meeder, about a horse ranch in Oregon that provides op-
ABOUT EAGLE’S NEST RANCH WHERE: 40757 County Road 21, Elizabeth CALL SUZY at 303-596-2784 to schedule time at the ranch or to find out more about the programs. BUCKAROO DAYS are scheduled for July 15 and Aug. 11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. portunities for humans and horses to bond, and enabling emotional healing. “Oh my goodness, this is exactly what I want to do, combining my
After more than three years as the Elbert County attorney, Wade Gateley presented a letter of resignation to the county commissioners June 26, making it public at the board of county commissioners meeting June 28. The county commissioners had planned to discuss whether or not to extend Gateley’s contract at the June 28 BOCC meeting, but with his notice of resignaGateley tion already in hand, the agenda item was not included. Gateley’s last official day with the county will be July 13. Gateley, who lives in Colorado Springs, was hired by former commissioners Kurt Schlegel, Larry Ross and Robert Rowland and formally began employment as Elbert County’s attorney in March 2014. His current contract is set at a salary of $97,500 annually and would have expired Aug. 31. “We thank him for the service he provided for this county, and we appreciate his support through these years,” said Commissioner Danny Willcox after the June 28 meeting. The other commissioners also expressed their appreciation for Gateley’s time as county attorney. “Mr. Gateley has been of great service as we three new commissioners settled
SEE RANCH, P6
SEE GATELEY, P4
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
‘I get just as much joy out of spending the week with these kids as they do. I just like to see the expressions on their faces and the energy they come in with every day.’ Chauncey Billups, retired NBA star | Page 13 INSIDE
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VOLUME 122 | ISSUE 23