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October 22, 2015 VOLUME 120 | ISSUE 38 | 75¢
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Rescued horses on the mend Some might be ready for adoption by holidays Staff report Several horses rescued from a Texas ranch in June and brought to Colorado are showing significant signs of improvement. Most of the horses have gained a substantial amount of weight — putting on between 100 and 140 pounds in less than 45 days, according to officials at the Dumb Friends League’s Harmony Equine Center in Franktown. Many of the horses are still being treated for serious hoof issues. The 61 neglected horses that were brought in September to Harmony Equine Center, 5540 E. Highway 86, were among approximately 200 seized from a ranch near Conroe, Texas. They have since had access to food around the clock and received some TLC from volunteers along the way. “Overall, the horses are doing fantastic,” said Garret Leonard, director of the Harmony Equine Center. When the horses were initially
Harmony Equine Center in Franktown says many of the 61 horses taken in from Texas last month are improving. Courtesy photos
POSTAL ADDRESS
impounded in June, the Houston SPCA noted that nearly all of them were suffering from a wide range of health problems, including emaciation, abscesses and open wounds, and hoof problems. The majority also appeared to have never received hoof care or experienced human contact. Sadly, a few were not able to overcome their illnesses. “To relieve their suffering, we did have to humanely euthanize a few of the horses that could not be rehabilitated because of the severity of their medical conditions,” said Megan Rees, spokeswoman for the Dumb Friends
League. All of the stallions have been gelded, thanks to a group of Colorado State University veterinary students, overseen by three faculty veterinarians who came to the Harmony Equine Center to perform the surgeries at no cost to the Dumb Friends League. Those horses are now ready to begin working with Harmony Equine Center staff trainers. Working with untouched, unbroken horses can be dangerous, so the center expects that getting
Most of the 61 horses rescued in June and brought to Colorado have made strides in their recovery.
Horses continues on Page 9
Fun runs through Elizabeth celebration Town marks 125 years since its founding with good times, races ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100)
OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ELIZABETH, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 10 a.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE
By Geraldine Smith Special to Colorado Community Media Elizabeth held its quasquicentennial celebration/block party on Oct. 10 with its “Wine in the Pines” celebration plus 5K and 10K races. Quasquicentennial, meaning a 125th anniversary, takes almost as long to learn to say and spell (correctly) as the town of Elizabeth has been in existence. The town once known as Russellville was incorporated on Oct. 10, 1890. The “Wine in the Pines” event was held at noon, and was preceded at 10:30 a.m. by the races. Participants ran in 80-degree weather, but still enjoyed the morning run and the course. As 5K participant Laurie Duke said, “It was fun but hot, and I love that I can now enjoy my beer.” The winner of the 5K race, Kristina Miklavic, a transplant from Massachusetts, ran with her dog, Maggie. “The course was beautiful, more like running out in the country,” Miklavic said. She agreed it was a very hot run for both her and Maggie. Refreshment for the parched runners was not hard to find, with two breweries and four wineries represented and open for tastings, plus a variety of vendors offering food to replenish those carbs. Also running, but from the law, were the scoundrels who robbed the bank across the street from the gathering. A staged bank robbery — with the requisite shootout in the middle of the dusty street between the sheriff
A staged bank robbery with a “shootout” in the middle of the dusty street between the sheriff and the villains in full Western gear added historical flavor to the event to the Oct. 10 “Wine in the Pines” event in Elizabeth. Photo courtesy of the town of Elizabeth and the villains in full Western gear — added historical flavor to the event. Not surprisingly, the “good guys” prevailed and the ne’er-dowells were hauled off to jail, to return again in one hour for the next show. The history of Elizabeth is one of character and grit. Elizabeth withstood natural and economic disasters over time, but is still kicking after 125 years. The town’s origins were along Running Creek, where the Weber Brothers sawmill camp was established in 1855. As with so many towns in the West, the discovery of gold
in 1858 figured in Elizabeth’s development, but only in a small way. Without sufficient amounts of quality ore, a boomtown never materialized. Regardless, some fortune-seekers stayed, increasing the general population. The original camp flooded, causing a move to the town’s present location. Undaunted, Elizabeth persevered until receiving its greatest boost with the arrival of the Denver and New Orleans Railroad (D&O). Finally
Fun continues on Page 9