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August 13, 2020
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 125 | ISSUE 28
Census workers continue counting in Elbert A high-plains sunset is seen in August 2017 from the north end of the town of Kiowa. Voters in the town will be asked on their November ballots whether they support an increase in the town’s sales tax. DAVID GILBERT
Kiowa ballot will feature sales-tax question Voters will decide whether to add to existing levy BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Kiowa voters will decide in November whether or not to increase
sales tax within the town by 1.5 percentage points, which would bring about $40,000 into the town budget each year. The last increase in sales tax was more than 20 years
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Maybe you’ve lost your family’s child care. Maybe you barely broke
even this month. Maybe you’re on the verge of having to fend for yourself on the street. Maybe you’re a business owner, fighting to keep your doors open for your workers. Or maybe you’re an older adult, isolated and unsure of where to turn for help picking up groceries or your prescriptions. The coronavirus pandemic has been raging through Colorado
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 6 | LIFE: PAGE 11
BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
for five months, but there are still people, nonprofits, government programs and other information that can help you make it through. Here is a list of programs that can help. For all of the website links for the programs mentioned below — including ones for job training, job-search assistance and free, confidential support for mental health
Under usual circumstances, if a stranger appeared at your door wearing a mask, you might have reason to worry. But this year, due to COVID-19 and the fact that is a census year, there’s a good chance that masked stranger is a census worker paying a visit to ensure that Elbert County citizens get counted. Census takers are hired from local communities, so there’s a chance the masked stranger is one of your neighbors. “Census takers are going door-todoor, and operations are scheduled to end on Sept. 30, 2020,” said Laurie Cipriano, media specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau. Census workers are required to wear face masks while conducting their work, and follow all CDC and local public health guidelines during each visit. All census takers speak English, many are bilingual, and they carry materials on hand to help identify the household’s language. Census takers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph.
SEE HELP, P2
SEE CENSUS, P8
ago, according to town administrator Maria Morales. An increase in sales tax has been denied in the past, but Morales and board of trustee members are hoping increased communication with SEE BALLOT, P3
COVID-19 resources: Where to turn for help How to find assistance with food, housing, personal needs and more
County still has about 7,000 responses to go
PERIODICAL
FROM SWAN DIVES TO FIGURE EIGHTS
Denver’s Smith Lake once was a yearround resort P11