Elbert County
News
November 29, 2012
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourelbertcountynews.com
Elbert County, Colorado • Volume 117, Issue 44
Schools respond to survey Individualized instruction, boosts in technology urged By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com
Two-year-old Anna Deering of Elizabeth enjoys the last bite of cherry pie at the 20th annual Frontier HIgh School Thanksgiving meal. The event, held Nov.20, served about 300 local residents. The meal is the school’s way of thanking the community for its continued support. Photos by Deborah Grigsby
Serving up some holiday spirit Community meal draws hundreds of celebrants
Survey continues on Page 12
HOW PARENTS VIEW SCHOOLS The Elizabeth School District asked parents to respond to this statement: “I believe the three greatest needs for the district are:” Defined need Responses • Improved technology 356 • More individualized instruction 330 • Diverse educational opportunity 324 • Better leadership 208 • Better teachers 203 • Improved facilities 199 • More ways for parent involvement 166 • Don’t know 79 Source: 2012-2013 Elizabeth DAC study
By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com Last week, lunch at Frontier High School looked a lot like a family Thanksgiving meal, except with about 300 extra relatives. Now in its 20th year, the Elizabeth-based alternative school prepared, cooked and served a traditional Thanksgiving meal Nov. 20, free of charge, to anyone who was hungry. “We really try to create a family atmosphere, here in the school,” said Robert McMullen, director. “The kids are very close and take care of one another, and this meal simply lets us extend that philosophy to the rest of the community, which we consider family, as well.” Students, faculty and staff spent three days in the school’s cafeteria preparing 25 turkeys and hundreds of potatoes. “I’m just happy to be here, and happy to help,” said freshman Katie Holub as she sliced and served pies at the dessert table. “When I see a smile on someone’s face, it makes me feel so good for the rest of the day.” According to McMullen, the meal, which serves close to 300 people each year, including many elderly and home-bound residents, also provides students with an
Elizabeth schools will look for ways to improve instruction, technology, communication and parent satisfaction, according to an annual districtwide survey conducted by the District Accountability Committee. Each spring, the DAC polls parents, looking for feedback and constructive criticism on areas they feel need district attention. Results of the 2012-13 survey and DAC’s recommendations were presented at the Nov. 12 meeting of the school board, according to a school district memo, and principals responded that they were making “a concerted effort to improve.” Among the DAC’s top three recommendations were improvements in individualized instruction, technology and curriculum choices in all schools; improved parent satisfaction; and the development of a school-specific communication plan. An action plan submitted by Elizabeth High School indicated it plans to make scheduling adjustments for some at-risk students, assign peer tutors and include iPad labs for science and math classes. Frontier High School responded to the recommendations by stating “individual instructions is central” to the school’s philosophy and that class size is intentionally
Frontier High School students work the serving line at the school’s 20th annual Thanksgiving meal. Each year, the small alternative school in Elizabeth prepares, cooks and serves a meal for the community, free of charge.
‘When I see a smile on someone’s face, it makes me feel so good for the rest of the day.’ Katie Holub opportunity to learn job skills needed after graduation. “Everything you see here today was done, in some way, by a student,” he added. “We’ve got students who are cooking, serving, cleaning and even directing traffic in the school’s parking lot.”
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Frontier High School got its start as Elizabeth Alternative High School in 1995 after the school district determined some students in the general education population could benefit from more individualized learning opportunities. The school has 55 students and employs four teachers. However, alternative schools are often misunderstood, particularly in a small community like Elizabeth, said science teacher Amanda Goehry. “People tend to have the impression alternative schools are associated with a tougher crowd, which isn’t always the case,” she said. “These are just kids, that when given the chance, they can really rise to the occasion, much like what you’re seeing here today.” The meal was made possible through donations from residents and local merchants.
Tax cheat handed 10-year sentence Elizabeth man faces nearly $2 million in restitution Staff report
An Elizabeth man will serve 10 years in prison for tax fraud. Judge Robert E. Blackburn, of the U.S. District Court in Denver, sentenced Curtis L. Morris on Nov. 19 in Denver to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service announced. Morris must also pay nearly $2 million in restitution to the IRS. On April 30, Morris, 43, was found guilty on of three counts of mail fraud, seventeen counts of filing false claims against the United States, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. According to the testimony at trial, Morris and others conspired to file false federal income tax returns claiming large tax refunds based on fictitious federal income tax withholdings. Cheat continues on Page 12
2 Elbert County News
November 29, 2012
Cemetery care isn’t grave undertaking The first time Steve Engle ventured into the cemetery, the weeds and grass reached his shoulders. Thorny bushes grabbed at his clothes and twisted over the stones, muffling the past buried beneath. But as Engle uncovered first one stone marker, then another, unremembered stories began to whisper. He listened. And they touched his heart. “Simply because you’re dead doesn’t mean you should be forgotten,” said Engle, 64, as he gazed at the simple stone of Joseph Chmura, a Korean War veteran. “These stories need to be told. Those buried here need to be honored.” So Engle, a retired salesman who sees history’s footprints wherever he looks, has worked to do just that. It has become a labor of love and a way to chronicle the memoirs of the land around him. “We all need to have a relationship to the land,” he said, looking out from the graveyard into peaceful Mount Vernon Canyon. “There’s significance in the land.” The historic Rockland Community Church and Cemetery, built in 1879 and on the National Register of Historic Places, nestles against a quiet hillside minutes from the Lookout Mountain/Buffalo Bill exit off I-70. Slightly larger than a football field, the cemetery and its small, simple clapboard church with white peeling paint and green shutters are tucked between two private homes. Engle, who lives minutes away in Genesee, first stumbled upon the cemetery in 2008 during a work day with a men’s group from Rockland Community Church, whose modern-day incarnation sits just down the road. It took weeks to mow the brush and
clear away the thorns enough to begin to understand the importance of the narratives and lives that time and neglect had camouflaged. That same year, Engle began studying toward a master’s degree in public history at the University of Colorado-Denver. His thesis is to accurately measure and map the cemetery. That means finding and documenting graves, identifying them and providing each with “a proper obituary.” So far, he has uncovered 144 graves — the first burial was in 1880, the most recent in 2010 — but he believes more are there, some maybe even under U.S. 40, which borders the top of the cemetery. “People got sick, people died, they didn’t know where to take the bodies,” he said of the early years. “They dropped them off here. The ground was frozen, you couldn’t dig a hole. They tagged ‘em and dropped them off and went on their way.” Engle’s care has transformed the cemetery. Now you see the markers, once hidden under the brush, jutting from the ground beneath the Ponderosa pine. Simple white crosses. Gray and white marble headstones with precisely formed inscriptions. Red granite with names scratched on by hand. He has added American flags to the graves of all veterans — from the Spanish-
American War to the Korean War — and purple, yellow and blue plastic flowers to every marker. The graves are grouped by families, many of whose roots run deep in the area. More than a church cemetery, it is a community cemetery. All the while, Engle has listened. On this day, he sits on the edge of Charles Delaware Kemper’s grave and picks up a smooth, lined copper-colored rock. Kemper, in his early 30s according to the stone marker, died in 1994. Engle found the rock when he was clearing the grave. The marker reads: “You gave us love and laughter and taught us the meaning of hope and courage.” “I always kept the rock with it so it wouldn’t get away from here.” He turns it over in his hands. “It’s a very touching memorial, and it’s interesting that when you go to a cemetery you find a lot of reference to laughter.” Nearby stand a trio of white crosses, the only identification a small tag that says “Child of Bill Anderson.” “They all died at the same time. My guess is a diphtheria epidemic.” Engle walks toward three more crosses that say only “Stomp child.” “You reflect on life and how hard it can be, and how hard it can be for all of us, I guess.” The largest section belongs to the Ralston family, the area’s original pioneers. Lucien Hunter Ralston, a Civil War veteran and Army scout, brought his family from Kentucky in 1879, hoping the Colorado air would help his wife’s severe asthma condition. Engle stands by Ralston’s grave, which bears a U.S. and a state flag. “I put a Kentucky state flag out there for them.” Some markers share more than just names, birth and death dates. Engle stops before the grave of William
Keiper, whose stone depicts a cabin, elk, pines and coyotes. “What was important to this man was nature. He had his cabin out in the woods. He had a lot of game, the dove of peace, the howling of coyotes. … I’m sure he treasured that.” Much has been accomplished since Engle took on the job of caretaker. He’s on his fourth push lawn mower from Home Depot. He doesn’t use a riding mower because he would run over, and possibly destroy, the markers and relics he regularly discovers. But there is still much to do. Engle is hoping to use ground-penetrating radar to locate more graves and uncover the reasons for several ground depressions that pock the cemetery. Researching the lives of those buried is a consuming task. But he is happy to unlock the mysteries in this small piece of ground. He doesn’t plan on walking away any time soon. On a hot day, when he needs a shady spot to rest while he’s mowing, Engle usually heads over to World War II veteran Harry T. Lee’s grave under the juniper tree. “I’ll talk to him.” He chuckles. “You have a tendency to talk to them when you’re working around them.” But he also continues to listen. There are still so many stories left to tell. When completed, Steve Engle’s research will go to the Jefferson County Historical Archives. Anyone with information about the cemetery can reach Engle at empiresge@ aol.com or 303-526-0893. Ann Macari Healey’s column about people, places and issues of everyday life appears every other week. She can be reached at ahealey@ourcoloradonews.com or 303566-4110.
SO MUCH INSIDE THE NEWS THIS WEEK
CLARIFICATION A fundraiser to assist with medical expenses and related costs for 4-year-old Lillie Eaton will start at 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Russell Gates Mercantile Building, 24223 Eccles St. in Elbert. A roast beef dinner will be followed by an auction. The Elbert girl is fighting high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For more information, contact Amy Phillips at 303803-0917.
Winter season kicks off. Basketball teams take to the court. Page 13
All sugar plum, all the time. If you like “The Nutcracker,” this is your time of year. Page 11
Art awards. Painter Sandra Kaplan made her choices as the judge in the 47th Own an Original exhibition at the Littleton Museum. Page 8
Safety first. Some simple precautions can make the holiday season a lot safer for pets. Page 3
Ho-ho-no. Craig Marshall Smith runs down a wish list of things he’s wishing he won’t get. Page 6
Time’s a-wastin’. Shoppers didn’t dawdle after Thanksgiving festivities before flocking to area shopping centers. Page 4
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Elbert County News 3
November 29, 2012
Holidays hazardous for pets KEEP PETS SAFE DURING HOLIDAYS
Caution could prevent many ER visits for animals By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews. com It’s hard to imagine the holidays as anything other than joyous, yet the very things that make the season so merry can pose hazards to common household pets. According to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, thousands of pets enter veterinary emergency rooms each year with ailments or injuries related to holiday festivities. The ASPCA’s national Animal Poison Control Center received more than 140,000 calls related to pet exposures to toxic substances in 2009 and more than 167,000 such calls in 2010. And while not all ER visits are poison-related, many do come from everyday household items found during the holiday season. “The most common case we
Many things that make the holidays merry and bright, such as miniature light and power cords, also pose potential health hazards for pets. Photo by Deborah Grigsby see in the ER during the holidays is, ‘My pet got into blank’ — insert your own word,” said Megan Rector, an Englewood-based veterinarian with the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado. “And it’s everything from cookies, to chocolate, to missing Christmas tree ornaments.” Rector said with it’s easy to overlook pets during the holiday
season and that’s when problems can happen. “We see a lot of cases during the holiday, but nothing different than what we see throughout the year,” she said. “However, many are trips to the emergency room are preventable with a little bit of forethought.” According to Rector, simple things like not feeding pets spicy, fatty foods and keeping power
• Trees: Securely anchor Christmas trees so they don’t tip and fall and injure a pet. • Water: Make sure pets have plenty of fresh water. Stagnant tree water can cause nausea and other digestive issues. Tree water with chemical preservatives in it can be toxic. • Tinsel: Best to avoid sparkly, light-catching tinsel. Cats are attracted to its sparkle and it can become a potential choking hazard. • Chocolate: Keep foods with chocolate or xylitol away from pets. They can be toxic. • Leftovers: Fatty, spicy human foods can cause severe digestive problems and intestinal blockage. Never give a pet food with bones. • Candles: Don’t leave candles unattended as pets may knock them over and start a fire. • Wires and batteries: Pets like to chew on things. Power cords and holiday lights are perfect candidates for shock. Loose batteries are not only toxic if chewed, but can cause caustic burns. • Plants: Berries from mistletoe and poinsettia leaves can be make pets sick, as can many other holiday plants. Best to keep them out of reach. Lilies can cause kidney failure in cats. • Liquid potpourri: Best to avoid it altogether. It’s toxic and hard to keep from cats that like to climb on countertops. • Stress: A house packed for a holiday party can confuse and upset pets. Arrange for a quiet place for them to stay, away from all the noise and chaos. Sources: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado cords out of reach can prevent illness and injury. Common cold-weather items like antifreeze and liquid potpourri can be deadly. “These items are sweet and pets are attracted to them by their smell,” Rector explained. “These items can be very deadly, in some cases causing kidney failure, and cats are at particular risk because they tend to climb on counters. If
you’ve got a cat in the house, just get rid of the liquid potpourri altogether.” And as is the case with medical care for other family members, Rector said it’s a good idea to have local veterinary contact information readily available. “Keep your vet’s number handy, as well as information about any medication your pet may be taking,” she said.
ELBERT COUNTY NEWS IN A HURRY Elizabeth plans holiday happening
For a whole afternoon of holiday fun in downtown Elizabeth, come welcome the season with a holiday parade down Main Street at 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 7, followed by the community tree and street lighting ceremony at the Elizabeth Police Department, 425 Main St. Santa Claus will also be on hand to visit with the kids. Afterward, the excitement continues with First Friday Night Live, accompanied by extended shopping hours
from local merchants and cookie-themed prizes. For more information, contact the Town of Elizabeth at 303-646-4166 or the Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce at 303646-4287.
Chamber to host annual luncheon
The Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Spring Valley Golf Club, 42350 County Road 17/21 in Elizabeth. The luncheon event will
include a vote for the chamber’s new board of directors, presentation of the Chamber Member of the Year and discussion of the organization’s future. Tickets for the program are $15 and include a buffet lunch. Reservations are required and must be made by Dec. 10. Please R.S.V.P to Beverly at 303-646-4287 or director@elizabethchamber.org.
Women’s business meeting set
The High Prairie Business Women’s
Association will meet on Dec. 14, at the Elizabeth Branch Library, 651 W. Beverly St. The group strives to celebrate and foster the success of local businesswomen and to create a supportive atmosphere in which to grow professionally. The brown-bag lunch convenes around 11:30 a.m. followed by a presentation and guest speaker. Meetings usually end around 1 p.m. For more information, contact Janet Wilson at 303-646-6132.
4 Elbert County News
November 29, 2012
HORSEDRAWN HOLIDAY
Carriage rides took attendees around downtown Castle Rock Nov. 17 before the Starlighting ceremony and fireworks show. Other activities leading up to the Starlighting included live entertainment, carolers, puppet shows, a live Nativity scene, free giveaways and a chili dinner at the fire station. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen | ckuhlen@ourcoloradonews.com
Shopping season off and running Black Friday buyers throng to stores for pre-dawn bargains By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Tori Jones and Krystin Wignall were among the first shoppers through the doors of the Park Meadow’s Victoria’s Secret when it opened at 4 a.m. Black Friday. They were hardly alone. “Literally, I thought I was going to get trampled,” said Wignall, a Frisco resident. “The line to pay was 45 minutes long,” added Jones, who lives in Highlands Ranch. But both agreed it was worth it to get deep discounts on yoga pants, perfume and lingerie. The two friends make Black Friday shopping a tradition, and no hour is too early for them.
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They joined a crowd of about 700 people for Park Meadow’s midnight opening. Twenty of the Lone Tree mall’s 160 stores opened at 12 a.m. By 6 a.m., the entire center was open. A long line of shoppers snaked out of Starbucks. Others gathered in the dining hall for free pancakes, sausages and orange juice, a trio of musicians serenading them with carols as they ate. Littleton’s Jerrad Bieber, convinced by his girlfriend to experience Black Friday morning, was ready for a nap before the sun lit the sky. But he smiled through his fatigue. “I love the Christmas spirit,” he said. “I’m definitely feeling it.” Adrianna McCarthy, visiting from California, sat contentedly in the dining hall, guarding a tableful of shopping bags for her family. She’d already checked several items off her Christmas gift list. “I’m waiting for Godiva to open so I can buy chocolate for my boyfriend,” she said. “I love shopping.” Lone Tree Police Officer Greg Tuliszewski, whose shift started with the mall’s midnight opening, said the early opening went smoothly. “There’s a lot of holiday spirit here,” he said, “and some good deals.” Park Meadows wasn’t the only place offering good deals to early shoppers. Although tires may not top anyone’s Christmas list, Firestone offered deep discounts to those who booked service between 5 and 9 a.m. on Black Friday. “When they first told me about it, I thought, `Who is going to come to Firestone at 5 a.m.?’ ” said manager Aaron Bluchner, who clocked in at the Highlands Ranch Firestone
on Quebec Street at 4:15 a.m. “Then I looked and saw we had 65 appointments. “It’s the first year we’ve done it, and it’s gone extremely well.” At Park Meadows, general manager Pam Schenck-Kelly anticipates a robust few weeks. The larger-than-expected midnight crowd is just one indication. “It’s a longer season this year; we have five weeks,” she said. “Because of that, we were thinking it’d be less intense to start, but that hasn’t been the case.” Shoppers appear increasingly optimistic, she said. While Park Meadows suffered some of the economic woes other malls and retailers did during the recession, Schenck-Kelly said its dominant location, response to market changes and high-quality tenants softened the blow. “We see the same dips but not for as long, and we address them,” she said. “We’ve stayed true to our vision and plan.” At the Outlets at Castle Rock, Midnight Madness officially began at 9 p.m., Nov. 22, by which time shoppers were in full swing. Lines were out the door at some of the more popular stores, most notably the Coach outlet, where people queued up in a line that snaked in an organized fashion to allow others to make their way around to the other stores. The big announcement from the Outlets this year, which is celebrating 20 years in Castle Rock, is the opening of 10 major retailers that include Michael Kors, Le Creuset, Jos A Bank, American Eagle, Clarks Bostonian, Aldo and the return of Restoration Hardware, said Lisa Zetah, Outlets marketing director.
HAVE A STORY IDEA? NOVEMBER APRIL SPECIAL SPECIAL
Email your Elbert County story ideas to newsrooms at news@ourcoloradonews.com or call us at 303566-4100.
Elbert County News 5
November 29, 2012
Parker water district names new manager Castle Rock utilities chief will take reins By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com The Parker Water and Sanitation District announced a well-known name in the local water business as its new district manager. Ron Redd, the longtime utilities director for Castle Rock, was named during a meeting Nov. 15 as the replacement for Frank Jaeger, who has served as district Redd manager for more than 30 years. Redd was present for some of the Parker water district’s most recent notable accom-
plishments, including the opening of Rueter-Hess Reservoir and Dam. He was among the main players in Castle Rock’s agreement to purchase $40 million worth of water storage space in Rueter-Hess, making the town the PWSD’s largest partner on the expansion of the reservoir. Redd was among 50 candidates considered during a four-month search, including Jaeger’s assistant manager, Jim Nikkel. PWSD board member Bill Wasserman, a professional recruiter, spearheaded the search for a new manager and said Redd is “bright, innovative,” has a good technical mind and “comes up with creative solutions.” “He seemed to be a good fit,” Wasserman said. “Everybody likes him and he’s a good team builder.” Redd said his first priority will be catching up to speed on day-to-day operations and understanding how the PWSD can fit into regional partnerships. He has been active in searching for new
water resources and, when asked about residents’ concerns about not having water to fill Rueter-Hess, sought to ease fears among the public. “What’s important for customers to know is we’re working toward solving that problem,” Redd said, citing recent negotiations to purchase treated water and wastewater from Denver and Aurora through the WISE agreement. He also pointed to the possibility, albeit in the distant future, of a long-term source of water from Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming. Jaeger helped establish a coalition of interested water providers in the mid-2000s to determine whether an agreement can be made, and Redd has been among the active members. The project would require cooperation between dozens of water entities to build a massive pipeline along the Front Range that would end either at Rueter-Hess or in Pueblo. Jaeger decided to resign from his posi-
tion when three new board members were elected in May and made it clear his contract would not be renewed. During their campaigns, the board members were critical of Jaeger’s handling of the district’s finances, but they decided to keep Jaeger on as district manager during a six-month transitional phase. Jaeger, along with other members of a search committee, reviewed and interviewed potential successors. Wasserman pointed out that certain perks that have come with the district manager’s position in the past will no longer be in place, such as free gas. Jaeger drives a GMC Denali that’s owned by the district, an example the new board members used to highlight what they called excessive spending. Redd, who starts his job in early January, will get a $500-a-month auto allowance, along with his $150,500 annual salary. Wasserman said Redd is the ideal manager to lead the district into the future. “We’re really pleased,” he said. “I think he’s going to be a tremendous asset.”
Groomers, dogs escape Franktown blaze Thirty-four firefighters battle flames at pet salon By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com Employees of a Franktown dog grooming shop were able to escape with their lives
and those of their canine customers when a fire swept through. The Franktown Fire Protection District observed flames and smoke when it arrived on scene around 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at Gigi’s Groom & Board on the northeast corner of Colorado 83 and Colorado 86. Thirty-four firefighters and 12 apparatuses from Franktown, South Metro Fire Rescue, Castle Rock Fire Rescue and Kiowa
Fire Protection District were dispatched to fight the blaze, which caused significant damage to the back portion of the building and the roof, said Dave Woodrick, deputy chief for Franktown fire. There were no injuries and the employees were able to get all of the animal occupants out. Investigators are still trying to determine a cause and calculate the cost of fire and
smoke damage, as well as damage caused by the water that was used to extinguish the flames. Officials do not consider the shop a total loss, Woodrick said. No neighboring businesses reported any damage. On its website, Gigi’s Groom & Board bills itself as a “full service grooming and cage-free boarding salon.”
COLORADO NEWS IN A HURRY Schools get help from Gates Foundation
Colorado is getting some help from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia announced last week that the state is getting $5.9 million to help increase high school graduation rates and prepare students for college and careers. The grant will be administered through ethe Colorado Legacy Foundation. It’s dedicated to yincreasing student achievement by having effective yschool leaders and teachers. The foundation’s trust-ees include Garcia, former Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien eand state education board member Elaine Gantz Beroman.
Settlement offers mortgage
crelief , Colorado homeowners -
have received $207.4 million in mortgage relief under a landmark settlement over foreclosure abuses. Colorado Attorney General John Suthers last week announced that 3,700 struggling homeowners in the state received help under the agreement reached in February with five banks. Attorneys general from 49 states and the federal government forged the $25 billion settlement with Ally Financial Inc., Bank of America Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. The relief came in the form of principal reduction and debt forgiveness to help reduce monthly payments or help with short sales, in which lenders agree to accept less than what the seller owes on the mortgage. Nationwide, more than
309,000 borrowers have received some form of mortgage relief between March 1 and Sept. 30.
State jobless rate dips below 8 percent
Colorado’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.9 percent in October, down one-tenth of a percentage point from September’s figure of 8.0 percent. Colorado matched the national unemployment rate of 7.9 percent last month. Colorado’s unemployment rate was down two-tenths of a percentage point from October of 2011, when the rate was 8.1 percent. The figures released last week by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The largest over-the-month private sector job gains were in
professional and business services, health and education. Jobs in mining, logging and construction were down slightly from September, but above where those sectors were a year ago.
Christmas trees survive wildfires
The most destructive wildfire in Colorado history leveled hundreds of homes but didn’t touch a cherished tradition in Pike National Forest near Colorado Springs — cutting live Christmas trees. The U.S. Forest Service says last summer’s Waldo Canyon Fire didn’t touch the area of the forest where generations have gone to cut live Christmas trees. Each year, about 5,000 people buy $10 permits to cut a tree. Christmas tree seekers can choose from
E-470 tolls set to increase
d
n
Rates to cover -operational costs, e -bond obligations
e
By Darin Moriki
hdmoriki@ourcoloradone0ws.com A - Starting with the new -year, drivers will be paying more to use the E-470 and Northwest Parkway beltway that runs from Parker to Broomfield. The E-470 Public Highway Authority board of directors unanimously approved the implementation of a new rate schedule that will raise all tolls on the 47mile stretch of highway by about 4 to 5 percent. License plate toll customers with two-axle vehicles passing through mainline toll plaza A, between
Peoria Street and Chambers Road in Douglas County, will pay $2.95, a 15-cent increase, while EXpressToll customers will pay $2.35, a 10-cent increase. Two-axle vehicle drivers passing through the remaining four mainline toll plazas (B through E) will pay an additional 10 cents, resulting in a $3.25 charge for license plate toll customers and a $2.60 charge for EXpressToll customers. Ramp tolls for two-axle vehicles will increase by 5 cents, resulting in a $1.30 charge for license plate toll drivers and $1.05 charge for EXpressToll customers. These new tolls will become effective on Jan. 1. Vehicles with three axles or more pay an additional toll rate per axle. EXpressToll customers will continue to pay about
20 percent less than license plate toll customers. License plate toll customers can pay the lower rate by opening an EXpressToll account at www.expresstoll. com. E-470 finance director Stan Koniz said the increase will generate an estimated $124.8 million in revenue from toll operations — a projected $8.9 million revenue increase from this year. E-470 spokesman Dan Christopherson said that will allow the board to cover operational costs and meet its debt service obligations to bondholders, an expenditure that will increase next year from $67.4 million to $74.9 million. He said E-470’s toll rates are a part of a finance plan approved by the E-470 Public Highway Authority in 1995. The board voted in 2010
to replace larger rate increases every three years with smaller, incremental annual rate increases that would alleviate the impact on customers’ commuting expense over time.
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. 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 advertising: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal advertising: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classified advertising: Mon. 12 p.m.
lodgepole, limber and ponderosa pine as well as Engelmann spruce and Douglas fir. Chain saws are not allowed. Permits can be obtained until Dec. 12. Families are
limited to five trees. The Waldo Canyon Fire erupted June 23 and went on to kill two people and damage or destroy 359 homes. — Associated Press
6 Elbert County News
November 29, 2012
OPINIONS / YOURS AND OURS
So here’s the story on stories Our stories cover a wide swath of terrain and subjects. We report on people working to make your community a better place, young athletes striving to achieve big things, public-safety issues, government spending … the list goes on. Often, a story starts with a phone call. Like the one a couple of weeks ago when we were informed there was a fire at the Streets at SouthGlenn shopping center. Within minutes, our Centennial reporter was out the door, camera and notebook in tow. Upon her arrival at the scene, the presence of thick smoke and emergency crews quickly validated the news tip. Sometimes, that’s how it goes. But often, the story isn’t so obvious. For example, in monitoring how government entities spend your money, we have a responsibility to bring you information beyond what you can see or what is packaged in a press release. As a taxpayer, you are entitled to know who is spending your money and on what. And you have the right to learn this unencumbered by a government agency’s
tax-paid public relations staff, whose best interest calls for putting that government entity in the most favorable light. Our goal is not simply to put government officials and their actions in the best light. Nor in the worst light. Rather, we want to put them in the light. We do this is by asking questions, lots of them. That’s the only way to get answers. Who, what, where, when, why, how? While at times these questions may make some people feel unfairly scrutinized, asking these questions doesn’t mean we are taking sides. Instead, we ask questions to find out all sides of an issue. Before a single question is asked,
though, we must find out that a potential story is brewing. That’s where the phone calls come into play, sometimes from our readers, other times from sources like city or police officials. Sometimes it’s not a phone call, but an email that sparks our interest. Still other stories are the product of a journalist’s observations and curiosity. Then, the questions. They start with a reporter and various sources, but they don’t end there. After a story is written and turned in, editors often question reporters. Can you double-check this fact or this number? Can you get an additional source? After that, editors might question each other. What do you think of this sentence? Is that the best “play,” or page, for the story? Does the headline give an accurate description of the article? A question I always ask myself after reading a reporter’s story: “Is the article fair?” What does it mean to be “fair?” The dictionary has several definitions, but I like how the issue of fairness was tackled by a couple of veteran journalists. In their book
“Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect,” Tom Rosenstiel and Bill Kovach wrote the following: “Fairness should mean the journalist is being fair with the facts, and to a citizen’s understanding of them. It should not mean, ‘Am I being fair to my sources, so that none of them will be unhappy?’ ” In short, we shouldn’t be afraid to displease some people as long as we are confident in our facts and have pursued all sides of a story. Readers, reporters, editors — I’d like to think we all prefer a certain type of story. The one about the game-winning hit, or the home that volunteers built for a veteran, or the dog who saved a child’s life. These are the stories that make people feel better about their community and the world. But not every story can be that. Chris Rotar is the editor of Colorado Community Media’s eight south metro-area newspapers. He can be reached at crotar@ ourcoloradonews.com.
You shouldn’t have — really Journey isn’t all about destination I imagine you are wondering what to get me for the upcoming holiday. You are understandably grateful for a year’s worth of humor and insight. We show our gratitude by buying something for someone they would never want, but as the saying goes, “It’s the thought that counts.” That’s what I want you to get me: the thought. No actual objects. If it is the thought that counts, you could get someone anything, oatmeal on a stick, lozenges, an X-Acto knife that didn’t come with a blade, and just say, “After all, it’s the thought that counts.” Most people can’t give the right gift to save their souls. That’s why the gift card is a multi-billion-dollar idea. Do you know anyone who looks a gift horse in the mouth? Well, now you know one more: me. If I were to open a gift, let’s say a polyester vest or season one of “Breaking Amish,” I would hand it right back, with my fingers on my nose. We like to make lists at this time of year: Best Film, Best Song, Best Ex-CIA Director Scandal. I have come up with a list of things I don’t want you to get for me. That should streamline your shopping by hours. I do not want a gefilte fish. First of all, there is no such thing. It’s more like a fish pudding. It’s boned carp or pike and it’s ground up into a virtual paste and made into quenelles, or fish balls. No thank you. In fact. Let me save you a lot of trouble. I don’t want balls of any kind. Don’t get me anything that you talk into. Or listen to. If you get me an iPhone, don’t bother me anymore. Consider our bridge burned. It was probably a primitive suspension bridge to begin with. No magazine subscriptions, joke singing fish, or any kind of a novelty gift. It won’t pass “go,” it will go directly into the trash. One year my 40-something sister showed up with a Cabbage Patch Kid. Which she put in my mother’s antique, child’s rocking chair. My sister put a doll-sized quilt over the doll’s legs. It made me sick. I assume you know that malls atomize the atmosphere in all common areas at this
time of year with a scent that causes you to spend money recklessly. It’s a combination of a secret ingredient and the smell of scalloped potatoes. It can linger in the body for days, and it might explain why people actually line up on Black Friday to buy something with George Foreman’s name on it. I have been looking a gift horse in the mouth since I was a kid. A relative bought me a figurine of a horse. I had no interest in figurines of anything, and I had no interest in horses. The gift was a double negative. But I had been taught to be grateful. This was a mistake. I admired the horse and held it to the light. Noting my delight, the relative would later buy me half a dozen figurines of horses for special occasions. Then I put my foot down. The expression, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” comes from teeth. A horse’s teeth appear to become longer with age (you’ve heard “long in the tooth”) because their gums recede, exposing more tooth. If you were given a horse and inspected the teeth, it was considered ungrateful. Hell, yes! I rarely receive gifts anymore. Which is fine with me. Unless you can give me the keys to a Porsche, don’t bother. Objects will not make my life better, or any different. They just need to be dusted. I would take brutally strong coffee. Certain dog treats. The best gifts are good memories. Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@ comcast.net
“Are we there yet?” “How much farther do we have to go?” “Can you please go faster?” Anyone who has taken a long trip or car ride with anxious children or impatient adults has heard these questions before, and probably similar questions, comments, or complaints many times over. It seems that many people want to arrive at their destination without actually going through the journey. It’s like saying we want to win without playing the game. Where is the fun in that? Whether they suffer from a need for instant gratification or have a belief in teleportation like “Beam me up Scotty,” they are missing everything that makes arriving at our destination worth the journey and all the experiences that it took to get us there. Could you imagine if the coin toss in a football game actually decided the outcome? The players returning to the locker room, high-fiving each other, and passionately talking about the way the referee flipped the coin, how it bounced on the turf, and how they were racked with nerves and excitement waiting for the heads or tails outcome. That’s not how it works, right? They want to go back to the locker room a little battered and bruised, muddy and sweaty, and talk about the amazing plays, big hits, and spirit of the game. They want to share in their experience of the journey. Would we really buy a season pass or lift ticket so that we could take the chairlift up and then immediately ride it back down? No way. We want the journey of getting to the bottom so that we can get back on the
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lift and share the stories of our last run with our friends on the chairlift and everyone who will listen at the end of the day. While we are on our journey it is also important that we will fail sometimes, we will have setbacks, and we will even lose sometimes. If I stick with the football analogy there hasn’t been an undefeated Super Bowl winner since 1972. But 40 teams have won the championship since then, all with losses on their record. And how many of us have caught an edge in the middle of great ski run and wiped out? So on our journey and as we grow we must be willing to fail, as long as we learn from the setback and keep moving in the direction of our destination. Lastly, we need to have that destination clearly in our hearts and mind, because as we move toward our goal, we will reach mini-destinations along the way. It is like aiming for the moon and hitting a star. I would love to hear all about your journey and your destination at gotonorton@ gmail.com and I hope it will be a better than good week for each of you. Michael Norton, a resident of Highlands Ranch, is the former president of the Zig Ziglar organization and CEO and founder of www.candogo.com Colorado Community Media Phone 303-566-4100 • Fax 303-566-4098
Columnists and guest commentaries The Elbert County News features a limited number of regular columnists, found on these pages and elsewhere in the paper, depending on the typical subject the columnist covers. Their opinions are not necessarily those of the Elbert County News. Want your own chance to bring an issue to our readers’ attention, to highlight something great in our community, or just to make people laugh? Why not write a letter of 300 words or fewer. After all, the News is your paper.
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER Our team of professional reporters, photographers and editors are out in the community to bring you the news each week, but we can’t do it alone. Send your news tips, your own photographs, event information, letters, commentaries... If it happens, it’s news to us. Please share by contacting us at news@ourcoloradonews.com, and we will take it from there.
Elbert County News 7
November 29, 2012
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Minoo Asaadi’s paper collage “Eye,” at left, won third place in Littleton Museum’s Own An Original exhibition, which was judged by painter Sandra Kaplan.
‘Original’ winners on display Littleton Museum displays works until mid-January By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews. com Painter Sandra Kaplan, who says she “employs different focal lengths in the same painting, emphasizing differing aspects of what we do (or don’t) see,” has selected a variety of works for awards — just over 80 — from the pieces submitted for the 2012 Own an Original exhibition, which opened at the Littleton Museum on Nov. 15 and runs through Jan. 13.
The show is organized annually by the city’s Fine Arts Committee, a volunteer group appointed by the city council to advise on art purchases, to stage exhibitions and to offer art-related programming. In its 47th year, the show has become stronger in overall quality, although this year, there are no longer the fine crafts that were potential holiday gifts. Kaplan commented that the work in the show is “quite conservative,” while she likes some adventure. “Much of it is really technically proficient.” Of her choice for best in show, “Pine Needle Branch, Provence,” a watercolor by Ralph Nagel, she said: “It’s not showy, but every stroke is meaningful. For a wa-
IF YOU GO Own an Original is open through Jan. 13 during museum hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free. The Littleton Museum is located at 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. 303-795-3950. tercolorist, that is really, really hard to do.” The subtle painting of several mature pines in a wooded area has a slightly Oriental feel to it. It is exhibited on the north wall of the gallery. As one enters the gallery, Sina March’s oil painting “Happy Buddha” welcomes visitors. “It has a subtext that most of this work does not have,” Kaplan commented of the first-place winner. “It’s amusing.” The painting shows a small Buddha figure on a table, surrounded by an orange, lemon and other offerings. She also cited March’s “Soft Side of Manhattan,” which pictures people in Central Park, with high-rises in the background. “It shows the interaction of humans and nature — what I usually look for …” A large oil landscape, “Gore Creek,” by Karen Burch was one of about five candidates for second place, she said, but much bigger than the others. “It’s loosely painted. It’s hard to maintain a consistent sense of color, brush strokes and style on that scale.” “Eye,” Minoo Asaadi’s paper collage, won third place. “It’s really adventuresome, odd. I would love to see that painter work larger.” In a phone conversation after she had finished judging, Kaplan
Karen Burch’s oil painting “Gore Creek” earned second place in the Own an Original exhibition at the Littleton Museum.
Sina March’s oil painting “Happy Buddha” earned first place when Sandra Kaplan judged the Own an Original exhibition at the Littleton Museum. repeated, “It’s a really good show.” She was surprised there were not more entries, given the very nice first prize offered: gallery space for the winner’s own one-person show, plus a $1,000 check. She was unable to attend the
opening reception because she serves on an NEA panel for museum awards and she had to be in Washington, D.C. A closing reception and gallery walk/talk are planned, according to the museum’s Lorena Donohue.
Elbert County News 9
November 29, 2012
THINGS TO DO SERVICE PROJECTS. Frontier High School students plan community service projects. For the toy drive, bring a new, unwrapped toy for the holiday toy drive sponsored by the Elizabeth Fire Department. For the food drive, bring any non-perishable food items for distribution by the American Legion Post 82. Collection boxes will be located at the Frontier campus. Call the school at 303-646-1798 or email its director, Rob McMullen, at rmcmullen@esdk12.org to make a donation. Frontier High School is at 589 S. Banner St., Elizabeth. THROUGH NOV. 30 DRIVER SAFETY. AARP is offering a free drivers safety classroom course from Nov. 1-30 to veterans. The class is open to all veterans regardless of age who serve or have served in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard/Reserves or Coast Guard. Their spouses, widows/widowers and children may also take the free class. The AARP driver safety course is the nation’s first and largest course for drivers ages 50 and older. Classes are available all over Colorado. To register, call 303-7645995 or go online at www.aarp.org/drive.
THROUGH DEC. 1 SENIOR BASKETS. The Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce will help the seniors of Elbert County by gathering and creating baskets to distribute. We need your help to provide them with toiletry items, postage stamps, towels, Ziplock bags, gloves, hats, scarves, and lip balm. We will also accept gift cards and/ or money donations. Look for the decorated donation boxes at the following locations: Big R, Community Banks of Colorado Elizabeth, Community Banks of Colorado Kiowa, Elbert County Library - Elizabeth, Elodji’s Wine & Tapas, Magic Dog and True Value of Elizabeth. The project will conclude with the last drop off at our Olde Country Christmas celebration Dec. 1. Contact Beverly at the chamber 303-646-4287.
THROUGH DEC. 7 SILENT AUCTION. Friends of the Kiowa Library silent auction items will be on display starting Nov. 16. The theme-based gift baskets were donated by businesses and individuals in the area. Bidding ends at 2 p.m. Dec. 7, following the Kiowa Library’s
THROUGH DEC. 15 HOLIDAY PROGRAM. Home Instead Senior Care has part-
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DEC. 1, FEB. 14 FRONTIER FUNDRAISING. Frontier High School students will make reindeer and snowmen to sells at the EMS craft fair Nov. 17 and the local craft fair on Dec. 1. A spaghetti dinner, sponsored by students and staff, is planned for Feb. 14. Call the school at 303-646-1798 or email its director, Rob McMullen, at rmcmullen@esdk12.org to make a donation. Frontier High School is at 589 S. Banner St., Elizabeth.
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10 Elbert County News
November 29, 2012
Study ties ADHD drugs to less crime By Marilynn Marchione Associated Press
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Older teens and adults with attention deficit disorder are much less likely to commit a crime while on ADHD medication, a provocative study from Sweden found. It also showed in dramatic fashion how much more prone people with ADHD are to break the law — four to seven times more likely than others. The findings suggest that Ritalin, Adderall and other drugs that curb hyperactivity and boost attention remain important beyond the school-age years and that wider use of these medications in older patients might help curb crime. “There definitely is a perception that it’s a disease of childhood and you outgrow your need for medicines,” said Dr. William Cooper,
a pediatrics and preventive medicine professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. “We’re beginning to understand that ADHD is a condition for many people that really lasts throughout their life.” He has researched ADHD but had no role in the new study, which was led by Paul Lichtenstein of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. The findings were published in last week’s New England Journal of Medicine. About 5 percent of children in the U.S. and other Western countries have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which can cause impulsive behavior and difficulty paying attention. Many youngsters are given medication to help them sit still and focus in school. Some people have symptoms into adulthood. “It’s well known that in-
dividuals with ADHD have much higher rates of criminality and drug abuse than people without ADHD,” but the effect of treatment on this is not well known, Lichtenstein said. Using Swedish national registers, researchers studied about 16,000 men and 10,000 women ages 15 and older who had been diagnosed with ADHD. The country has national health care, so information was available on all drugs prescribed. Court and prison records were used to track convictions from 2006 through 2009 and see whether patients were taking ADHD drugs when their crimes were committed. A patient was considered to have gone off medication after six months or more with no new prescription. For comparison purposes, researchers matched each ADHD patient with 10
similar people without the disorder from the general population. They found: • About 37 percent of men with ADHD were convicted of at least one crime during that four-year period, compared with just 9 percent of men without ADHD. For women, the crime rates were 15 percent with ADHD and 2 percent without it. • Use of ADHD medicines reduced the likelihood of committing a crime by 32 percent in men and 41 percent in women. • The crimes were mostly burglaries or thefts. About 4,000 of more than 23,000 crimes committed were violent. ADHD medication use reduced all types of crime, Lichtenstein said. Cooper called the results striking. “I was surprised by the magnitude of the effect of the medications and the fact that it was so consistent across all the analyses they did,” such as the type of drug being used and the types of crimes committed, he said. The Swedish Research Council, the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Wellcome Trust and other agencies paid for the research. ADHD medicines may help people organize their lives better and reduce impulsive behavior. They also bring a patient into counseling and health care, said Philip Asherson, a professor at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London. “It’s not necessarily just the medication” that is reducing the likelihood of crime, he said.
AP Medical Writer Maria Cheng in London contributed to this report.
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Elbert County News 11
November 29, 2012
It’s the most ‘Nutcracker’ time of the year Tchaikovsky piece plays all over town By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com As Colorado Ballet enters its 52nd year, it again includes a number of area children in the cast of “The Nutcracker” as mice, party children, polichinelles, soldiers, angels and sugarplum attendees. The music and story become part of another group of families’ histories in this performance, as well those of as Littleton’s Dance Academy, Ballet Ariel, Ballet Nouveau and other companies. When these young ladies hear that music in future years, they’ll probably want to dance. A sampler here of performances we have heard about. • Colorado Ballet’s production at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, with traditional choreography by Marius Petipa, is the largest, most elaborate and it includes young dancers who attend the south area Ballet Academy. From Highlands Ranch: Natalie Cleland, Abbey Garber, Delaney Gilmore, Ava Miller, Katie Pfeufer, Sophis Quinn, Sophia Thomas and Addison Whitley. From Littleton, dancers include Alexa Chavez, Emma Cumming, Emma Lewis, Sierra Oklesson, Paige Pimmel, Ashley Rice and
Chandra Kuykendall as Sugar Plum Fairy and Alexei Tyukov as her Cavalier in Colorado Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.” Courtesy photo by Terry Shapiro Rachel Vilner. From Englewood: Nichole Ahrens, Emma Brizee, Evelyn Lyman, Alexa Peach, Malory Travis and Cassidy Travis. From Centennial: Emma Garrison and Hanna Eckerman will dance. Castle Rock dancers include Courtney King, Isabella Lee, Taylor Nossaman, Kristin Palyo and
Rachel Peete. Ticket prices range from $24 to $154, coloradoballet.org, 303-837-8888 ext 2. Numerous performances. • Littleton Dance Academy will feature a cast of more than 120 children, preprofessional dancers and guest artists in a production that runs at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 1
and 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at Colorado Heights University Theater, 3001 S. Federal Blvd., Denver. (School director Allison Jaramillo once danced as Clara in David Taylor Dance Theatre productions.) Tickets: $16 to $23. Littletondanceacademy.org. 303-794-6694. • Dawson|Wallace Dance Project, which took over the David Taylor Dance Theater, presents the charming Taylor version of “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 15-23 at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood, where it has been selling out for a number of years. Performances: 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays. Special reception before the 8 p.m. Dec. 21 show at $50. Tickets: $38/$28, 303-987-7845, Lakewood.org/CulturalCenter. • “The Nutcracker of Parker” is presented by the Colorado School of Dance at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker, from Dec. 13 to 16. Tickets: PACECenteronline.org, 303-805-6800. • Ballet Ariel, a Denver company that has at times performed in Highlands Ranch, will present its “Nutcracker” at the historic Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, 119 Park Ave., Denver. Performances: 3 p.m. Dec. 8, 9, 15, 16 and 8 p.m. Dec. 15. Tickets: $20/$16. There will be Sugarplum Teas on Sundays Dec. 9 and 16, following the performances, for $15 per child (adults free with a child.) 303-9454388, balletariel.org.
Vendors set to get Parker author dissects crafty in Centennial 50 years of Bond Annual one-day fair held in December By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com For the 26th season, area crafters will set up booths at Centennial’s Goodson Recreation Center for the annual Juried Holiday Arts and Crafts fair, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 1. Many, such as Prairie Essence soaps and lotions, are returning to the same space they have had in the past, and some will introduce new items to the exciting mix of available items. Nora Kentwerk and her mother, Donna Buskirk, have participated in the fair for 10 years, with soaps made from a great-grandmother’s recipe and lotions with similar fragrances. Nora said she makes the soap and her mother painstakingly decorates each bar of soap and packages it. They display their wares on a lace-covered table. Their sales have been primarily with craft fairs, although they did have it for sale at Grandma’s Trunk in Littleton for a time. The owner of that business has created some decorative basket packages for them — a gingerbread-scented one, for instance. Their website lists the different scents available at prairieessencesoap.com. Nora said she took a class and made soaps for family gifts to start, Her mother thought she’d like some for presents at her offices and the business was under way. They do five to six craft shows in the spring
and more from September to December, sometimes finding new scents to add to the line. They are members of the Colorado Crafters Guild, which has been a most helpful connection through the years, Nora said. The two only do indoor fairs, rather than deal with unpredictable weather. Their most popular scent year-round is lavender, and in the holiday season, the best-selling one is Victorian Christmas. Soaps take three weeks to cure, so if they run out, they do without at this point in the season (Rose Petal and Lilac Blossom are gone at this point). Last year, Amazing Fibers participated for the first time, with gifts made from alpaca yarn that are reported to have been very popular — especially their embellished scarves. They will return. Partners in the business are Samantha Tanner and Vickie Ruth from Elizabeth in Elbert County. Tanner is a retired accountant who, with her husband, bought 40 acres over 12 years ago and has a studio for spinning, weaving and dyeing the lovely soft yarn, as well as teaching others how to do it. Ruth, she says, raises 100 alpacas and both process the wool into yarn for scarves, purses, hats and more. The studio is open most days from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See amazingfibers.com. Shoppers will be able to find a bit of lunch at Goodson on fair day, if the munchies strike before they have finished with that list. Goodson Recreation Center is at 6315 S. University Blvd.
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Book release coincides with newest movie By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ourcoloradonews.com Of all the mega-fans who hungrily devour everything James Bond, a man named Patrick Mulready is at the top of the food chain. The early November release of “Skyfall,” the latest installment in the legendary film franchise, was met with rave reviews from Mulready critics and renewed public interest in a character that has had multiple incarnations over five decades. But a subculture of Bond fanatics keeps the questions circulating, and arguments about the best villains and best actors in the main role fully alive between movies. Mulready, of Parker, has turned his James Bond obsession into a comprehensive overview of all 23 films called “Licence Reviewed — 50 Years of Bond Movies.” The highly detailed e-book — released last month on Amazon by Blue Hour Publishing — is the result of a simple challenge from fellow Bond devotees in an online forum to explain why each movie must be looked at separately. First-time author Mulready breaks them out into “four ages of Bond,” including the swinging ‘60s playboy and the seemingly
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clueless ‘70s version, and analyzes everything from plot themes to directorial style to the best Bond girl. Mulready was hooked in 1975 the moment he saw Bond strangled from behind in the pre-credit sequence in “From Russia with Love.” He has since memorized every classic line and even dissected the dynamics of the characters’ relationships with one another. When asked to give an example of his undying dedication to the British spy — an invention of author Ian Fleming — Mulready recalls a Bond-themed “Scene-It” trivia game in which he played against his entire family and won. He also breaks out his impressions of mimic-able villains, like Goldfinger, and mentions past Halloween costumes. Perhaps the most telling sign, however, is that he decries the absurdity of things like the volcano-based villain’s lair in “You Only Live Twice,” while dismissing the protagonist’s numerous inexplicable escapes from life-threatening predicaments. “They built a private apartment inside an active volcano and it has a bridge over a piranha-filled moat. “So, how do you get the workmen there, how do you feed them while they’re doing it?” he said. Mulready is a foremost expert whose opinion is respected in Bond-enthusiast circles, with one reviewer on Amazon describing “Licence Reviewed — 50 Years of Bond Movies” as a “fun and enthusiastic effort by a fellow Bond fanatic.” The 230-page book, available for Kindle, PCs and tablets, is priced at $5.
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12 Elbert County News
Spider Woman’s tangled web
Survey: Law mandates committees for schools
Love, intrigue, magic behind bars
Survey continues from Page 1
By Sonya Ellingboe
Lights go up on a stark pattern of bars in prison cells, desperate-looking prisoners peering through. The score for “Kiss of the Spider Woman” by Kander and Ebb, with its dramatic, Latin beat, filters into the viewer’s consciousness and stays. Lighting and IF YOU GO staging take over the imagi“Kiss of the Spider Woman” nation. plays through Dec. 2 at Terrence McNally’s story Vintage Theatre’s new lobegins to unfold as one cation, 1468 Dayton St., meets Molina, a gay winAurora. Performances: 7:30 dow dresser, who spins an p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; ongoing fantasy about Au2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: rora, a B-movie actress who $30 ($25 advance) Fridays, once played the role of the Saturdays; $25 ($20 adSpider Woman. This sinister vance) Sundays. 303-856figment of the imagination 7830, vintagetheatre.com. glides in and out, sings and has the potential to deliver death with a kiss, according to tradition. Megan Van De Hey is in almost constant motion when on stage as Spider Woman, circling all, although she is drawn in by Molina’s imagination. Gabe Morales plays Molina and Brian Merz Hutchinson appears as the revolutionary Valentin, who is forced to be Molina’s cellmate as he dreams of his girlfriend Marta and the political revolution. He forbids Molina to cross a line he draws in the middle of their cell. The relationship between these diametrically opposite men changes.
website to tri-fold brochures. DAC members were unavailable for comment. Colorado law requires every school district to have a district accountability committee responsible for making recommendations to their local school boards concerning priorities for spending, preparation of the district’s performance reports and other items where recommendations or improvement may be needed.
kept small to ensure teachers can work directly with each student. Although survey results indicated most parents were satisfied with the information exchange with their schools, the DAC recommended more school-specific communication. Remedies provided by the schools list everything from more newsletters and a student-driven
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com
Megan Van De Hay, Gabe Morales and Brian Mertz Hutchinson appear in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” at Vintage Theatre. Courtesy photo by Ellen Nelson The warden (Brian Walker Smith) asks Molina to spy on his cellmate and identify Valentin’s girlfriend and other associates. Beatings are a regular part of every day in this brutal scene, and Molina’s mother (Deborah Persoff ) appears, adding another sad note to a hopeless love story behind bars. Somehow, throughout, songs carry through, under the direction of Mitch Samu, and fairly complex dance numbers are choreographed by Ron Marriott. One reaches the end with an immersion in the story that is stronger than usual. Images accompany one out into the night, due to director Craig Bond’s storytelling skills. The musical, which won 10 Tony Awards in 1993, is based on a novel by Manuel Puig and takes place in an Argentine prison in the 1950s. The ambitious Vintage Theatre has grown a notch in this production.
Cheat: Claims of withholding on tax returns were bogus Cheat continues from Page 1
of clients claiming large federal income tax refunds as the result of large amounts of income taxes purportedly withheld from clients’ income. He also prepared tax returns for himself and his spouse claiming similar withholdings. Kathryn Keneally, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Tax Division, commended the efforts of special agents of the IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Harmon and Tax Division trial attorney Kevin F. Sweeney, who prosecuted the case.
A co-defendant, Richard Kellogg Armstrong, 77, of Prescott, Ariz., was sentenced on Aug. 10 to nine years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. According to the indictment, from September 2008 through April 2009, Morris worked as selfemployed accountant, bookkeeper, consultant and income tax preparer, doing business, through EFFN Books Inc., under the trade name Numbers and Beyond. Beginning in September 2008, Morris prepared a series of federal income tax returns for a number
Castle Rock Franktown
Lutheran Church & School
Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Trinity Lutheran School & ELC (Ages 3-5, Grades K-8)
303-841-4660 Little Blessings Day Care www.tlcas.org www.littleblessingspdo.com CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING Greenwood Village Affiliated with United Church of Religious Science Sunday Services 10 a.m. Castle Rock Recreation Center
2301 Woodlands Blvd, Castle Rock www.OurCenterforSpiritualLiving.org 720-851-0265
An Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Sunday Worship 10:30 4825 North Crowfoot Valley Rd. Castle Rock • canyonscc.org 303-663-5751 CHRISTMAS AT CANYON’S December 9th 6:30pm Christmas Eve Service 6:30pm
The Bahá’í Faith
“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”
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(Next to RTD lot @470 & University)
Worship Services Sundays at 9:00am
303-791-3315
pastor@awlc.org www.awlc.org
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Adult and youth education 9:40 am
Where people are excited about God’s Word.
Sunday Worship: 10:45AM & 6PM Bible Study: 9:30AM Children, Young People & Adults 4391 E Mainstreet, Parker, Colorado 80134 Church Office – (303) 841-3836
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Sunday services held in the historic Ruth Memorial Chapel
Horizon Community Church
Littleton
First Presbyterian Church of Littleton
303-791-2143
Fellowship & Worship: 9:00 am Sunday School: 10:45 am 5755 Valley Hi Drive Parker, CO 303-941-0668
www.SpiritofHopeLCMC.org
at the Parker Mainstreet Center
...19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker 80138
New Thought...Ancient Wisdom Sunday Service
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& Children’s Church 10:00 a.m.
303.805.9890
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2121 E. Dad Clark Drive Highlands Ranch, 80126
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Parker
9203 S. University Blvd. Highlands Ranch, 80126
www.P a r k er C C R S.org P.O. Box 2945—Parker CO 80134-2945
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November 29, 2012
Sundays at 9:00 & 10:45 am Grace is on the NE Corner of Santa Fe Dr. & Highlands Ranch Pkwy. (Across from Murdochs)
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10550 S. Progress Way & Longs Way Parker, CO 80134
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Joy LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA
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Joyful Mission Preschool 303-841-3770 7051 East Parker Hills Ct. • Parker, CO 303-841-3739 www.joylutheran-parker.org
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Elbert CountySPORTS
Elbert County 13 November 29, 2012
Elizabeth resident Latseen Benson warms up for the Nov. 16 sled hockey game against the St. Louis Blues. Benson joined the Avalanche team late last year so this is his first full season on the squad. Photos by Tom Munds
Benson joins Avalanche sled hockey team Elizabeth resident trades wheelchair to take to the ice By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com Although a labor dispute continued to idle the National Hockey League, the Colorado Avalanche faced off against familiar foes like the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks Nov. 16-18 at the Edge Ice Arena. But no players were standing on skates because the games were part of the opening weekend of the Midwest Sled Hockey League. All the players, like Elizabeth resident Latseen Benson, were physically challenged and some arrived in wheelchairs. But that didn’t keep them off the ice or lessen the intensity of play which included crashing into the boards as they took part in the games in specially designed sleds. The sleds are equipped with adjustable blades mounted under the seat. Each player has two short sled hockey sticks in his hands. One end is a hockey stick blade to handle the puck the other end is blunt and the player uses that end to push himself along the ice. Benson, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, said he learned about sled hockey last year when he met Colorado Adaptive Sports Chairman Corey Fairbanks. “Corey told me about the game and I liked what I heard,” Benson said. “I came to practice to learn about the game and got to play a little last season. This is my first full season with the Avalanche team.” He said the game is a challenge and a good physical workout plus it is a way to make new friends. “I really like the sport. It is fun and it has got me battling again even if it is just to
score a goal or win a game,” he said. All the tournament games to open the league season were played at the Edge Ice Arena in Jefferson County. Benson and his teammates suited up for tournament’s first game on Nov. 16 as the Avalanche took on the St. Louis Blues. Other teams in the tournament included the Chicago Blackhawks, the San Antonio Rampage and a team of unaffiliated players. All the players donned regular hockey equipment personally adapted for them. Benson put on the shoulder pads, pants and jersey plus he donned a helmet with a face mask. He then strapped himself into his sled and went out on the ice. The Elizabeth resident, wearing No. 13, in the tournament opener, he played tough defense and helped push the puck up the ice in support of the Avalanche offense. A sled hockey game is three 15-minute periods. Substitutions are made on the fly and breaking a rule means time in the penalty box. The sled hockey game differs in one aspect from a regular hockey game in that the players all are on the ice in front of the team box because of the difficulty getting on and off the ice in a sled. The quick pace tests the players physically so substitutions are frequent and players seem to always be are moving in and out of the action quickly. “This is a great sport and I really enjoy playing the game,” Benson said of sled hockey. “I play a lot of defense but do get in on the attack some times. I scored my first goal earlier this year in a tournament and it was a good feeling to put the puck in the net.” Benson said the team practice once or twice a week and is helping to help him get physically fit and develop the stamina needed to play sled hockey. “I like everything about the game and I guess I really like to block other players,” he said with a smile. “Running into guys like that is really enjoyable.
Colorado Avalanche player Latseen Benson moves to cut off the shot line for a St. Louis Blues player during the Nov. 16 sled hockey game. Benson, an Elizabeth resident, is playing his first full season with the Avalanche.
The Avalanche finished the tournament 1-3. Fairbanks said there is no lack of talent on the team but the veterans are getting used to working with several new teammates so the team will continue to improve every time they are on the ice. The Avalanche team was formed in 1996 and the first team sponsored by an NHL team. Fairbanks, who is one of the program organizers, said the sport of sled hockey taken off so now just about every NHL organization is sponsoring a program. The Avalanche are in the Midwestern Sled Hockey League, one of several leagues across the country including the Northeast League, an Ohio Valley League and a new Florida league.” Fairbanks said his team gets an annual
grant from the Avalanche, allows them to wear authentic Avalanche gear and allows the team to have meetings and occasionally use the ice at the a Pepsi Center. There are 15 players on the Avalanche team, including two members of the National Sled Hockey Team. Also, the Avalanche is the defending national sled hockey champions. The American National Team also is the defending Paralympics sled hockey champions. “This is one of the fastest growing sports for physically challenged individuals,” Fairbanks said. “It continues to grow and what I would like to see is see creation of collegiate sled hockey programs like there are for wheelchair basketball players.”
14 Elbert County News
November 29, 2012
Local hoops teams ready to hit the hardwood By Scott Stocker
sports@ourcoloradonews.com
Simla makes move to 2A
Simla coaches David Guy and Al Snyder are well aware of the challenges their respective boys and girls basketball teams are going to face this season. After all, the Cubs are moving up from Class 1A to 2A after accumulating 19-4 and 24-2 records, respectively. “We’ve got quickness, size, good shooters and the kids are beginning to believe in themselves,” Guy said. “I can’t guarantee how good we can be, but the kids have been working their tails off. We’re young with only three seniors and two juniors.” Senior Eric Fulmer (5-8), now a four-year starter, junior Aaron Thieman (6-1), sophomore Cody Norris (6-2) and transfer Ricky Baumert from Miami-Yoder will be among the leaders for the Cubs. “Eric’s a great shooter and improved so much over the off-season,” Guy said. “He’s a young man who can be on fire and we are ready to rely on him. Aaron will be our key defensive guy. As for Ricky, we certainly are expecting good things from him. Everyone has talent for us to do well.” “The key is to continue to be confident in what we can do and come together as a team,” Norris said. Added Baumert, “Moving up is going to be interesting, but I think we’re all excited for the challenge. And, it’s going to be interesting to see how we take the challenge.” Snyder and the Simla girls are also excited about the season. “There is an adjustment to make as we move back up from 1A to 2A, but I think the girls are looking forward to it,” Snyder said. “Several played volleyball (state runner-up this season) so they have that winning spirit. I’m very fortunate to have them and blessed. They are experienced and their success shows how hard they work. They come into win.” Leading the way for the girls will be three-year starters Marylin Alexander (6-0, 12 points, 7 rebounds), Kenzi Mitchell (5-10) and Jessica George (5-9). “Marylin’s got the soft hands and shoots well,” Snyder said. “She takes care of business. Jessica puts up the two’s, but can certainly shoot the three’s for us. She’s a youngster who does extremely well on the breaks and plays the solid defense. Kenzi has been our point guard the past three seasons and can really shoot off the dribble.” “Having the success we had in volleyball can help carry over,” Alexander said. “The loss in the state volleyball (championship) has helped to motivate our basketball team. My key is that I need to be better on the boards than I was last year.” Those are thoughts also harbored by Mitchell and George. “We’re excited,” Mitchell said. “Our key will be to take care of the ball. I think we have a great opportunity to get a state berth and we’ll play as hard as we can.” Added George, “I just want to make sure that I can take care of the ball in pressure situations. But, that’s what we all want.” SIMLA BOYS Coach: David Guy 2011-2012 record: 19-4 Players to watch: Ricky Baumert (6-2, Sr.), Ed Ehmann (6-3, Sr.) Eric Fulmer (5-8, Sr.), Jason George (63, Fr.), Kyler Hamacher (5-11, So.), Cody Norris (6-2, So.), Kade Pyatt (5-9, Jr.), Wyatt Rector (6-0, So.), Aaron Thieman (6-1, Jr.). SIMLA GIRLS Coach: Al Snyder 2011-2012 record: 24-2 Players to watch: Marylin Alexander (6-0, Sr.), Morgan Dwyer (5-6,
After leading the Cubs to the 2A volleyball championship game, Simla’s Kenzi Mitchell takes her talents to the hardwood. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen | ckuhlen@ourcoloradonews.com Jr.), Jessica George (5-9, Sr.), Kenzi Mitchell (5-10, Sr.), Samantha Kaatz (5-6, Jr.), Brett Smith (5-6, Jr.), Kaci Smith (5-7, So.), Kassity Tucker (5-7, Jr.), Mikki Korinek, (58, Jr.).
Elbert boys bring back veteran squad
The Elbert boys and girls teams could find themselves on opposite ends of the spectrum this season. The boys, 15-7 last season, coached by Mac McGuire, are loaded with talent as seven strong seniors return and he hopes they can also play off their football success (9-1) this past season. The girls, coached by Rebecca Tomlin, could face a tough rebuilding year after going 16-5 last year as only two seniors, one junior and a host of sophomores and freshmen will be ready to take to the court. “Our key is our senior leadership,” McGuire said. “They have been together for the past three season and we’ve been blessed. We’ve got the boys who can shoot and handle the ball. We’ve got good height and speed that should also play to our advantage. I hope I’m not the one to mess them up.” The return of Bryce Hutchens (5-11) will also be a plus as will be a healthy Roger Carlson (6-3). And the height and that speed from the Bulldogs starters could certainly play to their success. Adam Averett, on the post, comes in at 6-10, all-league guard Justin Hood (6-0), forward Chance Hendrix stands 6-3, guard Noland Brogger, 6-2 and guard Blake Nicholas (5-11). “Our attitude will play a big key,” Nicholas said. “We just have to keep out cool under pressure. We have a lot of potential.” Added Hood, “We’ve got the potential and just need to be in control. We have the confidence, we have the experience and I think our defense will be much improved over last season.” Tomlin knows well that the focus for her girls, only 13 out this season, will be hard work and determination. “We’ll probably have to do a lot of simple stuff as it looks like it will be back to basics this year,” Tomlin said. “I want the girls to run on offense and defense. I think this is a very athletic group and some of the best I’ve coached for young
girls. “They’ve been able to pickup on everything so far,” Tomlin said. “They will press and go. On the returning side, Loren Pearson (5-7) can shoot from the outside and that’s certainly going to help. Reilly Franek (5-9) will be tough at forward, Sumiko McDonald (55) at guard. We will also count a lot on Kylee Harris and on Kaylee Heizenrader, who is coming back out this season. We might have a long way to go - we just want to be tough and go forward.” Despite the youth, Franek and McDonald are ready to go. “I think we will be able to run the floor well,” Franek said. “I had a solid summer. Our key will be to outrun people and get the ball u court. I want to have good ball control and be the good player I think I can be.” Those thoughts hold true for McDonald. “I’ve never been in sports before last year,” McDonald said. “This is only my second year of basketball. I’m finally really ready to go.” ELBERT BOYS Coach: Mac McGuire 2011-2012 record: 15-7 Players to watch: Adam Averett (6-10, Sr.), Nolan Brogger (6-2, Sr.), Roger Carlson (6-3, Sr.), Chance Hendrix (6-3, Sr.), Justin Hood (60, Jr.), Bryce Hutchens (6-0, Sr.), Blake Nicholas (5-11, Sr.). ELBERT GIRLS Coach: Rebecca Tomlin 2011-2012 record: 16-5 Players to watch: Logan Franek (5-9, Sr.), Reilly Franek (5-10, So.), Kylee Harris (So.), Kaylee Heizenrader (So.), Sumiko McDonald (5-5 ), Loren Pearson (5-7 ).
Deep Cardinals set for tip-off
The Elizabeth boys and girls basketball teams lost some valuable talent from a year ago, but the Cardinals are not about to look back. Boys coach Mike Boss and girls mentor Jaime Schmalz, beginning her second season, are optimistic after their teams finished 16-10 and 18-6, respectively. One player to certainly keep an eye on for the boys is sophomore Jake Javitt (6-4), who ranks ninth all-time as a scoring freshman in Colorado. Also, fans need to keep
any eye on talented Treyvn Ross (6-5) and Cody Steinke (6-1). “Jake has a wealth of talent, but we certainly have some good experience and depth back, though,” Boss beamed. “He’s an excellent ball handler and shooter, and we’re excited about his prospects. Treyvn and Cody are good inside and out, just solid in all aspects of their game.” Javitt said he is confident coming into the season after having such a fine freshman campaign, averaging 13.4 points a game. He knows he will be a target from other teams. “I think we’ll be pretty fast on the offense side and I think we can certainly use our chemistry to be good on defense,” Javitt said. “We’ve got some good height that we need to use to our advantage. I think my strength will be being able to get to the hoop and draw the fouls.” “I just want to push hard and make the contributions that will help us win,” said Steinke (12 points, 3 assists a game). “We can definitely improve on last year’s record. We’re working hard on defense and I think that’s going to be a key for us.” Added Ross (12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists), “If we stay together and stay focused we should do fine. I just need to relax and all of us just need the game to come to us.” No doubt, Schmalz is also ready to go. “We have a variety of talent and I feel all the girls are athletic and incredible,” Schmalz said. “We only lost one starter. But most of the girls were able to be starters at one time or another and being from a smaller school, they have grown up playing with each other. “ Four seniors help lead the way, but certainly one to watch will be 6-2 junior Tatum Neubert. “Tatum was certainly able to improve on her stress level last season,” Schmalz said. “She’s a great ball handler and such a fine outside shooter for a taller girl. She was all-conference, averaging 13 points and 7.5 rebounds a game.” Neubert is excited and feels the Cardinals can go a long way this season. “We’ve got a fine future and I think we can make state,” Neubert said. “I ‘ve worked hard, we all have. We have the depth and experience and we are certainly working as a team. “Our overall experience and team work will definitely be a key for us,” Neubert said. “We’re very confident that we can have a fine season.” Depth, though, is certainly a key for the Cardinals. Four seniors have all been starters at one time or another. Helping lead the way among the seniors are Lorrin Gavitt (5-9) and Ashley Stone (57). Juniors Sabra Ross (5-8), Emily Whitworth (5-8) and Sara Ernster (5-5) will all see a lot to playing time. ELIZABETH BOYS Coach: Mike Boss 2012-2013 record: 16-10. Players to watch: Trevor Boss (60, Jr.), James Christenson (6-0, Jr.), Treyvn Ross (6-5, Sr.), Brandon Severinson (6-2, Jr.), Cody Steinke (6-1, Sr.), Jake Javitt (6-4, So.), Shane Wilson (6-5, Sr.) ELIZABETH GIRLS Coach: Jaime Schmalz 2012-2013 record: 18-6 Players to watch: Sara Ernst (5-5, Jr.), Lorrin Gavitt (5-9, Sr.), Tatum Neubert (6-2, Jr.), Sara Ross (5-8, Jr.), Ashley Stone (5-7, Sr.), Emily Whitworth (5-8, Jr.).
Indians hope to improve
Older and wiser could be the theme for the Kiowa boys and girls basketball teams.
The Kiowa boys, coached by Walter Sutton, were 10-11 last season while the girls, under the watchful eyes of Mark Clemmons, ended the year 4-12. “We’ve got a good team with an older bunch,” Sutton said. “I think we can be at least in the top three in our league and the goal is to win at least 14 of our 17 games in the regular season.” Sutton was quick to point out that four-year starter Jordan Gabehart (6-4) will be a key and points to junior Issac Janes (6-2) and senior Andrew Pruitt (5-7) to standout. And, it’s a confident trio. “Jordan’s a leader and knows how to handle the basketball,” Sutton said. “He’s our go-to guy. Issac has come a long way for us. He’s a fine outside shooter and just so strong offensively all the way and has grown like a week. Andrew is very athletic, just solid.” No doubt they are ready to go. “I think we’ve got a group of hard working guys,” said Gabehart (11 ppg). “The key is to take care of the ball so we can execute the various ways we should and apply the pressure on defense.” Pruitt and Janes feel the same. “I think we just might have the best Kiowa team in history,” Pruitt said. “The key is to keep our heads in the game and not let ourselves get out of hand.” Added Janes, “We’re a group of hard working guys making sure we can execute the ways we should, taking care of the ball and applying the pressure on defense.” Others of note, senior Conner Pierson (6-4), junior Caleb Smith (6-0) and sophomore Mitchell Bates (6-1). Clemmons knows he has the senior leadership with his girls and knows that speed and quickness are among the fortes for the Kiowa guards, especially Sam Trehal (5-3) and Courtney Crocker (5-4). “We didn’t have a great record last year, but it was a learning experience,” Clemmons said. “Sam has that excellent clout on the court and just puts out so much. Courtney is a lot like Sam. These two offer a load of leadership and are certainly tough out front.” Trehal and Crocker are quick to point to the improvements they and their teammates have made. “I think we will be much improved over last season,” Trehal said. “We want to get out there and run, have a tough defense. A key for me is to stay out of foul trouble and be more disaplined. I’ve started for three years and I think I’ve got my role figured out. I want, as we all do, to go hard and be consicous of what is going on out there.” Crocker said one of her main goals is to calm her nerves. “It will be much better now,” Crocker said. “I just want our team to do well and I want to do well. I want people to look up to us and for us to make good impressions for our school and community.” While the senior leadership is evident, four juniors - Rebecca Seawald (6-0), Ashley Sandoval (5-10), Cheyenne McKenzie (5-9) and Ronnie Walden (5-1) - are expected to make valuable contributions. KIOWA BOYS Coach: Walter Sutton 2011-2012 record: 10-11 Players to watch: Mitchell Bates (6-1, So.), Jordan Gabehart (6-4, Sr.), Issac Janes (6-2, Jr.), Conner Pierson (6-4, Sr.), Andrew Pruitt (5-7, Sr.), Caleb Smith (6-0, Jr.). KIOWA GIRLS Coach: Mark Clemmons 2011-2012 record: 4-12 Players to watch: Courtney Crocker (5-4, Sr.), Cheyenne McKenzie (5-9, Jr.), Rebecca Seawald (6-0, Jr.). Ashley Sandoval (5-10, Jr.), Sam Trehal (5-3, Jr.), Ronnie Walden (5-1, Jr
Elbert County News 15
November 29, 2012
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November 29, 2012
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