1-Color
May 22, 2014 Elbert County, Colorado | Volume 119, Issue 16 A publication of
elbertcountynews.net
Virus prompts rodeo cancellation One horse euthanized, another feared sick with equine herpes Staff report A rodeo scheduled to be held in Kiowa on March 17 and 18 was canceled after a horse known to have attended recent events on the Colorado rodeo and barrelracing circuit tested positive for equine herpes. Another horse, a stablemate that attended some of the same events, has shown signs of the disease. The horse that tested positive on May 14 was euthanized and the second horse “has developed a fever and is considered a suspect case,” according to a May 16 news release from the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Local teenagers were poised to compete in the Colorado High School Rodeo event at the Elbert County Fairgrounds over the weekend. On May 16, the Colorado High
School Rodeo Association’s website posted the cancellation, recommending that members “not expose your horses this weekend at any equestrian event.” Symptoms of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalitis include fever, decreased coordination and lethargy, the ag department’s release stated. There is no cure for the potentially fatal disease, but symptoms may be treatable. EHV-1 is not transmissible to people. The two horses were at events in Henderson (April 26, 27), Eagle (May 2-4) and Rocky Ford (May 10, 11), the release said. The Colorado Veterinarian’s Office was planning to contact all Colorado contestants involved in those events. “Disease prevention practices and good biosecurity should be implemented,” state veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr said in the release. “Owners should consider the risk for exposure to EHV-1 at upcoming events to be elevated and owners may want to consider keeping their horses at home to limit the individual risk.” The location of the horses’ stable has not been released.
Logan Massaro, of Loveland, competes in last year’s Colorado State Junior High and High School Rodeo in Kiowa. A high school rodeo scheduled for May 17 and 18 in Kiowa was canceled after one horse with equine herpes was euthanized and a second horse started to show possible signs of the condition. Both horses were active on the Colorado rodeo/barrel racing circuit. File photo
Fracking special session possible
CLOSE CALL
Lawmakers may work overtime to prevent issue from going to ballot By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Valor Christian freshman Vincent Hood, left, crosses the finish line in the May 15 100-meter prelims. Hood came in just .08 seconds ahead of Elizabeth senior Joel Thies. The two finished four-five in the heat and both advanced to the Class 4A finals in Lakewood. For more coverage, please turn to page 13. Photo by Ryan Boldrey
Ceremony set for veterans memorial By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com Local veterans will be honored on Memorial Day, May 26, in a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Elizabeth Veterans Memorial, located at the Elizabeth Cemetery. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will be on hand to lay flowers and place flags. The scouts will also be taking all un-
serviceable American flags to turn in for a later retirement ceremony. “While we will be celebrating all veterans, there will be a special focus on those from our local area that have paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Diana Robins-Mansell said. The service will include a 21-gun salute, taps and a prayer. Veterans and their families are invited to come join in honoring the sacrifices
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made by members of the armed services. The memorial was dedicated on May 27, 2013.
The memorial wall sits in the northeast corner of the cemetery with a series of flagpoles that fly the American, Colorado and POW/MIA flags. The wall is about 6 feet high and 36 feet long, with permanent plaques for the five branches of the military. Construction of the memorial wall came from donations of labor and material from building supply companies in Elizabeth, Parker and Castle Rock. Personalized bricks to honor service members are available for purchase and permanent installation at the memorial wall. Each brick can have up to four lines per brick with no more than 14 letters and spaces per line. Bricks will be used to form multiple smaller walls within the memorial park area. The bricks are $150 each and available to order online at http://evmf.webs.com. For more information call 720-300-4927 or email dlrobi72@gmail.com.
Gov. John Hickenlooper said recently that the odds are “50-50” that he could call lawmakers back to the Capitol over the summer for a special legislative session that deals with hydraulic fracking. The purpose of the session would be for the Legislature to reach a compromise in terms of the amount of control that local communities have when it comes to regulating oil and gas operations, especially the polarizing business of fracking. The governor said he is hopeful that the oil and gas industry, environmental groups and other interested parties can come to a compromise on this heavily important issue — one that’s gained steam over the last couple of years as drilling has moved closer to Front Range communities. But Hickenlooper also acknowledged that he is not holding his breath on an agreement, just yet. Report “We’re not close enough yet,” Hickenlooper told reporters on May 8, the day after the legislative session ended. “We’ve made tremendous progress, enough progress that it’s worth continuing to talk and try to work through that split.” However, the governor added that “there’s no point in calling a special session unless you get to that point (of agreement).” The debate over fracking — the mixing
Capitol
Fracking continues on Page 8