The Courier | El Paso County Newsletter - June 2023

In this month's issue, we are looking forward to the El Paso County Fair, July 15 - 23, 2023, in Calhan, Colorado. The Fair is our premier event and an opportunity to celebrate and connect with our residents. We understand the financial strain the economy has put on our residents, and we have worked hard to provide economical and family-friendly entertainment. I invite everyone to El Paso County Day at the 2023 El Paso County Fair on July 17. We offer FREE General Admission this day, and the first guests will receive a commemorative gift.

At this year's event, many all-day engagement experiences will be included with general admission, including the Butterfly Experience, Cow Town USA, Animals that Built America, and the Fair Zone. Many of our departments will also be onsite and available during the Fair. You can find them at the El Paso County booth within the Fair Zone. So please join us to celebrate at the 2023 El Paso County Fair, which will surely be part of A Summer to Remember!

C o u n t y F a i r

In 1905, people came by covered wagon and horseback to gather at the first Fair held in Calhan's little country schoolyard-a Thanksgiving festival held by the farmers to celebrate a bountiful potato harvest. The celebration was simple, a potato and bean bake, and joyful, with improvised entertainment and horse races!

By the end of the second county fair in 1906, the fledgling event had a three-person Board of Directors. By 1911, the small community event had outgrown the schoolyard. But thanks to the County Commissioners, who gave the Fair some land repossessed for unpaid taxes, the Fair had room to expand. It was then the most important social event of the year.

During World War I, the merchants and Town Council sponsored the celebrated Fair held on Main Street in Calhan. Then, in the late 1920s, the Hammerton family donated ten acres just south of the city to be used as the Fair's permanent grounds; several years later, additional acreage was donated.

In 1951, the Board of Directors introduced The El Paso County Fair Queen Program. This title would be awarded to a young woman in our County who exhibited outstanding skills and dedication to horsemanship, public speaking, and personal growth. In 1979, the fairground was deeded to El Paso County and became a taxsupported event under county supervision. No longer a simple potato and bean bake, the Fair has grown from those first few celebrants to the nearly 40,000 people who came to the Fair in 1984. Still, that early exuberant, joyful spirit that was the heart of the Fair is very much alive today.

2023 will mark the Fair's 118th anniversary honoring the County's rich history and traditions, welcoming a new generation of fairgoers, and providing educational and entertainment opportunities to visitors of all ages

With many upheld traditions, the crowning of the El Paso County Fair Queen remains a highlight within the community. Each year, a new Queen represents the Fair in various public speaking events, parades, and radio and television appearances. The Queen's primary responsibility; however, is supporting and inspiring the citizens of El Paso County. Our 2023 El Paso County Fair Queen, Aneka Normandie, was crowned in March. With only three months of taking on the role, Aneka has proven why she earned her title. We took a moment to ask our new Fair Queen some questions about how she feels since she's been crowned.

What is your favorite thing about the El Paso County Fair? "Definitely the community. I think no matter who you are or where you're from the community will always be so welcoming. There's just something for everyone! There is live music, shop vendors, carnival rides, great food, and so much more that people can discover."

What are you looking forward to the most now that you are the Fair Queen? "I'm looking forward to the El Paso County Fair because there's so much to do and I get to talk to all the people there. I have had the opportunity to talk with some County Commissioners and some people from the City Council and it's already been so much fun!"

What advice would you like to give to future contestants who are interested in being the next El Paso County Fair Queen? "I would say just go for it! You will never know until you try The El Paso County Fair Queen competition can also help you gain skills in agriculture and communication that can last you a lifetime."

This month, El Paso County is highlighting the El Paso County Fair. As the largest county in Colorado by population, the El Paso County Fair is one of the best-attended county fairs in the state, reaching over 25,000 attendees in 2022. The fair is a space to celebrate western roots and tradition while also enjoying modern activities and services. Even without being directly connected to the fair event, many county departments and offices have contributed to the well-being of the County Fair and the Fairgrounds over the years. Here, we want to highlight the County’s efforts to make the fair an enjoyable and meaningful experience for all, as well as share some highlights of the spring from around the county. Enjoy relevant content from the Public Health Department, the Department of Human Services, the County Attorney’s Office, Veterans Services, the Parks Division, the Environmental Division, the Clerk & Recorder’s Office, the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management, and the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

NINE NINE T T FIVE FIVE

Human Services

The main location for the Department of Human Services is at the Citizens Service Center on Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs. Also, in an effort to better serve residents in Northeastern El Paso County, staff are available each Wednesday at an office located at the County fairgrounds in Calhan. An Economic Assistance Technician is available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to answer questions about medical and food assistance and receive all types of documentation (initial applications, re-certifications, verifications, etc.). EBT Cards are not dispensed at this location. For more information, call: (719) 636-0000

County Planning and Community Development, and El Paso County Public Works. She also provides legal guidance to the Board of Health, the Board of County Commissioners, and the County Planning Commission. Ms. Seago’s workload includes drafting and reviewing contracts and agreements, writing proposed policies and regulations, assisting the County with compliance with state and federal laws, answering legal questions posed by staff, explaining rules and processes to citizens, and representing the County in court on land use matters. As the longest-serving member of the County Attorney’s Office, she also serves as a historical resource and clearinghouse for the occasional off-the-wall question. Ms. Seago applies her knowledge and expertise using a common-sense approach to serving the best interests of El Paso County.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be at the El Paso County Fair throughout the week to teach basic skills for helping your community – and yourself – be more resilient. If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays professional responders, citizens can be better prepared to protect themselves and support others by applying the knowledge and skills they learn during one of the training sessions being held at the fair.

Check out the Fair schedule for details on daily trainings and classes available at the 2023 El Paso County Fair, July 15-22, 2023: www.elpasocountyfair.com.

Clerk & Recorder's Office

Residents in the Fountain area can now easily renew their vehicle registration close to home. The Clerk and Recorder’s Office announced that a self-service kiosk is available inside the Safeway store at 6925 Mesa Ridge Parkway during store hours. That brings the total locations of the Colorado MV Express kiosks to eleven: two at Safeway stores, five at King Soopers, three 24/7 kiosks and one at the Powers Branch. These vehicle registration renewal kiosks allow the Clerk’s Office to provide accessible, customer-centric motor vehicle services to residents.

It should be noted that active-duty military non-residents are not able to renew their registration at a kiosk. In order to be eligible for the specific ownership tax exemption allotted under Federal and State law, they must provide certain documents. The kiosks are not programed to take in and review those required documents. Military personnel should visit one of the Clerk’s four motor vehicle offices to renew their registration.

Other services that may be offered at the kiosks include: check your title status, obtain a duplicate registration card, obtain replacement tabs.

To use a kiosk, simply type your license plate number on the touchscreen or scan your renewal postcard. Bring your renewal postcard or registration to access. Pay taxes and fees by check, credit or debit card. (Cash is not accepted at kiosks in King Soopers or

Public Health

El Paso County Public Health’s (EPCPH) Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership (TEPP) is partnering with TobaccoFreeCo to sponsor the 2023 El Paso County Fair. Join the TEPP team at the El Paso County Fair and get ready for summer fun! Members of the TEPP team will be available to promote educational materials on various tobacco-related topics and connect interested individuals to the Colorado QuitLine and other cessation resources available in El Paso County. There will also be fun, interactive activities available for event attendees.

Visit www elpasocountyhealth org to learn more about EPCPH’s TEPP program, in addition to local resources. The Colorado QuitLine a free telephone coaching program that provides one-on-one tobacco cessation support is also available as a resource. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to learn more.

Environmental Services

El Paso County hosts multiple Clean Sweep events annually for El Paso and Teller County residents These events allow residents to dispose of hard-to-recycle items for FREE! The next event is Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHWF) at 3255 Akers Dr., Colorado Springs, 80922. The El Paso County HHWF will take items, including mattresses/box springs, tires, and most electronics. An appointment time is required, which prevents long wait times and assists with traffic congestion. Residents can register online at https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/clean-sweep-events/. Residents MUST show a copy of their ticket either on paper or via an electronic device.

For more information on El Paso County recycling opportunities and events, visit: https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/recycling-programs/

Parks & Community Services

CONCEPT CONCEPT

El Paso County Parks & Community Services has plans to add another nature center to accompany the County's existing award-winning nature centers: Bear Creek Nature Center and Fountain Creek Nature Center. As with the Bear Creek Nature Center and the Fountain Creek Nature Center, the new Fox Run Nature Center will be an educational and interpretive center. The Fox Run Nature Center will have a focus on the Black Forest and its ponderosa forestry. The visitor's experience will be one that balances the engaging indoor interpretations that reveal the adjacent natural setting of the forest while expanding their understanding and care for the quality of the forest, and ecosystem beyond. In addition, plans for the center include a versatile media room available to the public for gatherings of all kinds, including lectures, meetings, and parties. To learn more about the project, visit https://www.tdg-frnc.com/

District Attorney's Office

Restitution in criminal cases is the act of compensating a victim for losses suffered by a defendant in a crime. Restitution is usually ordered as part of a criminal sentence or condition of probation. The 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office Restitution Department is a hard-working team of seven. We process and work several thousand cases a year in three sections: District Court, County Court, and Juvenile Court. Our IT department has implemented a tracking service that will track the number of orders produced and submitted to the courts, as well as calculate the amount of restitution ordered In the year 2022, once the system was up and running, 11,000 orders were submitted to the courts for restitution for victims of crime. As a team, we ordered $17.6 million for victims. Once restitution is ordered, all collections of restitution are done by the courts and not our office. Those figures are also tracked by the state. We work very hard to try and help victims recoup losses they may have suffered as the result of a crime within State Statues. Our team is only one small part of the criminal justice process.

El Paso County Division of Veteran Services has implemented the PACT Act Stand Down Program to provide new and streamlined services to the veteran community. The Program designates specific “claims clinics” to serve veterans at the El Paso County Veterans Office. During the clinics, the Veteran Health Administration assists County staff, providing medical providers who perform Toxic Health Screenings for veterans who served in PACT Act-presumptive locations. These veterans also have the opportunity to enroll in VA Healthcare if not previously enrolled.

For the months of April and May, the Program served 131 El Paso County Veterans. In addition, with the assistance of VA claims representatives, 88 Veterans sought help and guidance regarding filing claims. Additionally, toxic exposure screenings were completed for 94 Veterans. Since implementation, the Program has assisted over 425 veterans, resulting in 171 PACT Act claims filed.

The next clinic will be held at the El Paso County Veteran Service Office on Friday, June 16, 2023, which will include two sessions, the first at 9:00 a.m. and the second at 1:00 p.m. Another clinic will be held on July 21, 2023. All clinics will be held at the El Paso County Veteran Service Office located at 5850 Championship View, Suite 130, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80922. Availability is limited, and pre-registration is requested. To register and for more information, contact the El Paso County Veteran Service Office at 719.520.7750 or vet@elpasoco.com. For additional veteran resources, visit https://justiceservices.elpasoco.com/veterans-services/.

Every year, the El Paso County Fair connects the community with our heritage. Many of the events showcase various aspects of that lifestyle, but perhaps none more so than the 4-H events.

For those unfamiliar, 4-H is a youth development program that offers youth ages 5 to 19 hands-on, fun, and educational opportunities. In fact, it’s the largest youth development organization in the country.

The program itself is locally facilitated by the Colorado State University Extension and centered around being a responsible member of your community. The pledge makes it clear on what the 4 H’s stand for:

I pledge,

My Head to clearer thinking

My Heart to greater loyalty

My Hands to larger service

My Health to better living

For my club, my community, my country, and my world.

In the Region

These 4-H programs are about more than just creating responsible citizens. They also focus on providing youth opportunities that are hard to replicate elsewhere.

One aspect of the 4-H program it hthat it sees participating youth complete handson projects. These projects can range in type and field from STEM, agriculture, healthy living, and civic engagement.

The El Paso County Fair gives 4-H youth an opportunity to showcase these efforts, as well as provide a chance to advance to new levels of competition.

If nothing else, attending the 4-H events at the fair and taking in the incredible efforts of El Paso County’s youth is a ton of fun. It’s a clinic in fruit borne from months of hard work. You’ll also be able to see that the future, and the region’s Western way of life, is in good hands.

To get involved with 4-H programs in the area, visit:

https://forms.gle/BaZJXvsn4LpHjP1s5

Committed to serving our community

Viewpoint

J U N E

FIRST WEDNESDAY JOB FAIR 07

9 AM - 12 PM & 1 PM - 4 PM | Pikes Peak Work Force Center

Join us for this opportunity to chat in-person with hiring managers who have open jobs & are ready to hire you!

WHO DUNG IT 10

10 AM - 11:30 AM | Fountain Creek Nature Center

Spend your scat-erday morning discovering whose poo is along our trails. We'll learn all about scat from our local wildlife.

SCAN

9:00 AM | Lewis - Palmer High School - 1300 Higby Road

Our elected officials will have their weekly Board of County Commissioners meeting at Lewis Palmer High School

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 13

10 AM | Falcon Regional Park

EL PASO COUNTY KITE FESTIVAL 17

Join us at Falcon Regional Park for a fun filled day of kite flying! Bring your kites and lets fill the sky with color! Free event for everyone!

WESTERN STREET BREAKFAST

5:30 AM - 9 AM | Pikes Peak Avenue & Tejon Street

A fun street breakfast for the entire family! This event is held the 3rd Wednesday of June to kickoff rodeo season in Colorado Springs.

MILKWEED MENAGERIE

10 AM- 12 PM | Fountain Creek Nature Center