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March 11, 2021
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 126 | ISSUE 6
Proposed ballot initiative could affect ranching PAUSE proponents start process that could lead to measure for 2022 election BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The Protect Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation
— or PAUSE — proposed initiative for the 2022 ballot was filed with Colorado legislative staff last month, and aims to make some serious changes to the existing animal cruelty laws across the state. Grant Thayer, who lives east of Kiowa and has experience with cattle and ranching, said the proposed changes would devastate not only Elbert County, but all of agriculture in Colorado. Thayer is
a county commissioner but was not speaking in his official role. The initiative — which is in very early stages of a long process — aims to make amendments to Colorado Revised Statute 18-9-201. It proposes that the life span of animals be considered and would only allow ranchers to butcher the animals after they had lived a quarter of their natural life span. PAUSE also asks to have “ac-
cepted animal husbandry practices” stricken from the statute’s language. The initiative seeks to expand the description of sexual act with an animal, potentially making it illegal to artificially inseminate an animal. The statute’s current language addresses health care for animals, but PAUSE would delete “accepted SEE RANCHING, P5
Podcast focuses on local school district ‘Redefining Rural’ eyes Elizabeth’s success with in-person learning BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
When Elizabeth School District students returned to in-person learning last August, it was unclear whether they would be able to continue the practice, as the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing, with numbers of cases on the rise. But, according to Superintendent Douglas Bissonette, the district has kept the schools open for in-person learning so far. “We’ve been in-person since August,” said Bissonette. “Fully in-person, not a hybrid model. The only exception was the week after Thanksgiving, when we had our high school go remote for one week. We have worked really hard to keep a safe learning environment, and the kids have been phenomenal about doing what they’re supposed to do.” Bissonette and the district were featured on the Feb. 25 “Redefining SEE PODCAST, P5
Elizabeth School District Superintendent Douglas Bissonette talks about the importance of in-person learning during a recent SCREENSHOT BY TABATHA STEWART Redefining Rural podcast.
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 9 | CALENDAR: PAGE 11
CRAFTING THE PERFECT CUP Area roasters get creative, to the delight of coffee enthusiasts
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