POWER SHIFT Democrats take control of the state Senate P4
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November 15, 2018
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
Measure for schools approved by voters Mill levy override gets approval from district voters BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Norton takes sheriff’s race BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Republican Tim Norton will be Elbert County’s new sheriff. Norton garnered about 74 percent of the vote in his race against Democrat Don Charobee in the Nov. 6 election. Norton will replace fellow Republican Shayne Heap, who is term-limited. “I’m very excited, very happy with results, Norton and I want to thank the county for believing in me,” Norton said. “I look forward to taking the sheriff ’s office into the future.”
Norton moved to Elbert County after retiring from the Phoenix police department after 30 years of service. He served as a patrol officer, fieldtraining and K9 officer. He became lead trainer of the K9 department, and managed 18 handlers and their K9s. Norton has said he will prepare his department to deal with the increased need for law enforcement due to growth in the county, and will expand the Posse and the Explorer programs, as well as implement programs within the schools to increase safety. Among his top priorities, Norton said he will do independent audits of all property, evidence, jail, assets and personnel, and implement a
neighborhood enforcement team that will investigate all calls of suspicious drug activities. Charobee began his 35-year career in law enforcement as an inspector with the U.S. Customs service. He served as a street agent, directed daily work assignments of investigators and task force officers as a manger for 15 years. He worked in the private sector after retirement, as a certified anti-money laundering specialist. “I thought it was going to be a lot closer — obviously, party affiliation seems to be more important than anything else,” Charobee said of the election results. “But it’s Elbert County, so that’s not a surprise.”
Voters in the Elizabeth School District approved a mill levy override through Issue 4A in the November election, allowing Elizabeth schools to continue receiving $1.59 million each year, which the district will use to hire and retain qualified teachers and support staff, increase safety and socialemotional support for students, and increase technology access for students. Voters approved the measure 62.9 percent to 37.1 percent, with 5,589 for and 3,294 against, according to unofficial results released early the day after the Nov. 6 election. The approval of 4A allows the school district to continue receiving funds from a bond that was issued in 2000 to build the high school. Original funds were secured to build the school, and with the school being paid off in 2019, the school district will now be able use the money approved to improve services within the school district. SEE OVERRIDE, P5
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“We owe a debt to these men and women whose military service has ensured our way of life and our freedom.” U.S. Rep. Ken Buck | Page 15 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 10
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 123 | ISSUE 42