Category Archives: Custer County Kids

Trap Shoot Team Fundraiser

by Jerry Tracewell
Volunteer Asst. Coach


In case you haven’t heard, thanks to Todd Byerly (pictured on the right) and with the help of our CC School Superintendent, Mike McFalls (pictured on the left), and the unanimous approval of the School Board, Custer County Schools is adding a trap shooting team as a new student activity. Todd is the organizer and volunteer head coach of the team that will compete against other schools in the Colorado State High School Clay Target League; there are approximately 12 other schools in the state with either established teams or teams in formation. The CO State League is a subordinate organization of the USA High School Clay Target League that was incorporated in 2012 and now has more than 33,000 student participants in 1,100 teams spread across 25 states. Student teams practice for three weeks during March and April before beginning competition shooting within their respective states during April and May. Then, in early June, there is a State Championship Tournament for all students who wish to attend.

Membership on the team is open to any student from age 12 through 19. At this time, we have seven students who have completed registration for the team and another seven students in process. We estimate that the team will have 15 or 16 student members. The CC Board of Commissioners has given its permission to construct a trap range on county-owned property near the landfill. One of the most expensive items for this project is the target thrower itself, which has already been donated to the team by a local Westcliffe businessman.
However, there are several other team “start-up costs” such as the cost of ammunition, clay targets, shooting vests/hats and shell pouches, which brings us to the underlying purpose for this article. The Sangre Cristo Sentinel has graciously committed to hosting a fundraiser to help the team get started. The way this will work is that we are appealing to the citizens of Custer County (or anyone else who might want to help) to donate money to the team for purchasing items like those listed above. All donations of cash or checks will be collected at the Sentinel office. Checks must be made payable to “Custer County Schools” with a notation of “Trap Team.” Because your donation is to the Custer County Schools, it is tax deductible. You can also mail your donation to the Sangre de Cristo Sentinel at PO Box 179, Westcliffe, CO 81252. All monies collected by the Sentinel will be delivered to the school for depositing in the trap team’s school-managed bank account. Thank you for your support. For more information about the Colorado State High School Clay Target League, go to coclaytarget.com.

Coach Through, “District Not Resting on Distinction Award”

by Troy Bomgardner
Counselor/Head Football Coach
Custer County High School

Although just recently having received the prestigious “School of Distinction Award” by the Colorado Department of Education, the Custer County School District is continuing to work on improving the quality of education throughout the district. One of the key components is called a “Coach Through”. The concept involves an administrator stopping by a classroom, observing teachers Continue reading Coach Through, “District Not Resting on Distinction Award”

Rave Reviews for “Little Women the Musical”

 

by Lisa Frank
The Custer County High School Drama Department presented an entertaining musical that ran Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If you didn’t get the opportunity to see this energetic group of students perform, you missed a wonderful display of talent and teamwork. The musical is an adaptation of the novel, “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888).
Holly Wenger played the lead role of Jo (Louisa May) and was flawless in her characterization of the talented, often frustrated young writer. Holly’s voice was clear, emotive and beautifully on key which was herculean considering the length of her role with its intense physicality and complicated vocalizations. She succeeded in acting and dancing her way through two acts and 11 scene changes! Continue reading Rave Reviews for “Little Women the Musical”

Special Speaker to tell stories of Patriot’s Day

Dear C-1 students, teachers, administrators, parents and school board,

You are invited to attend on March 28th, 2019 a Liberty Rocks meeting at Tony’s Mountain Pizza at 6 PM. There are many reasons why this session will benefit students. As most adults know, prior to the American Revolution taverns and coffee houses in the colonies were filled with debate on whether the colonies should declare their independence from England. The “Liberty Rocks” sessions have been designed to duplicate the colonial meetings that were so popular 244 years ago. I have attended about two dozen of these meetings Continue reading Special Speaker to tell stories of Patriot’s Day

Donkey Basketball Coming to Custer County!

by Andrew Straight
Custer County Schools,
Director of Bands/HS Technology

“First off. This is real. This is not a joke.”

New rodeo stars will be born during the wild and crazy “Dairyland Donkey Basketball Show” at the Custer County School East Gym on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, starting at 6:30 p.m. (Moved to March 13 due to weather)

Dairyland Donkey Basketball

Continue reading Donkey Basketball Coming to Custer County!

Angela McCaffery – Youth Services Librarian

Youth Services Librarian
Photo by Fred Hernandez

by Fred Hernandez
Some Judeo Christian faiths teach that we all have a Guardian Angel, especially children who need most guidance and protection during their early and formative years. For the children of Custer County, they are specially blessed because of an opportunity to have even more than just one Guardian Angel. At the West Custer County Library on Main Street an Angel awaits all kids who would like to enroll in various programs now available since she came to work at the library in June of 2018. This Angel hails from the state of Kansas where she lived and went to school graduating from the state university in Art Education. Continue reading Angela McCaffery – Youth Services Librarian

Bobcats update: Mid January Games

by Barbie Gierhart,
Sports Reporter

Bobcat Girls Varsity
On Friday, January 18th, the High School Lady Bobcats played against Florence at home.
The Varsity Girls played hard, but lost to Florence 39-20. The high scorer of the game was Lindsey Gillmore with six points. Emma Aldrich brought six points, Memphis Curry added five, Brittany Benoit two, and Hailey Hunter with two points.
JV Girls Basketball
The JV Girls played a good game with a win of 17-14. Scoring the most points of the game was Morgan Foster with 9. Kaya Huffman put up five points, added by Katie Wilkinson with two, and Delaney Downing with one point. Continue reading Bobcats update: Mid January Games

Custer Students Selected for Honor Band

Press Release
Custer County Schools
Congratulations to the Custer County Middle School students, Cameron Penkoff (Euphonium) and Weston Jones (Percussion), who were selected to the San Luis Valley Music Educator’s Association (SLVMEA) Honor Band. The concert took place on Friday and Saturday, January 18-19, 2019, at Adams State University.

Continue reading Custer Students Selected for Honor Band

Custer County School Board Meeting January 2019

Infinite Campus Software, Tablets and Other Items Charged by Contractors, Geothermal  Answers, Construction Trades Teacher
Cole McCullum Resigns

BOE Regular Meeting
—January 15, 2019
McKenzie Huffman,
Education Reporter

Given that many of the committees did not hold meetings during the winter break, Tuesday’s meeting was short and sweet. Items that were discussed in addition to, or beyond approval included the NV5 Update. Again, no NV5 representative was present. Director Lee brought up that it has been two months since he requested further information regarding some of the contractors charging for their leasing of iPads, trucks, etc. Superintendent Payler reported that he too had sent correspondence asking for clarification regarding those types of charges, concluding that he would follow up on the topic.
In the District Financial Report, Amy Perschbacher mentioned that there was one odd item included in the report in the form of –$16,788.53. This amount was funds from local tax, that had been labeled incorrectly during the last fiscal year, and was paid to the school in error, and had to be reimbursed. On a positive note there was an increase in the State Equalization payment, due to an increase in per student funding. The amount was $93,501, when it is
usually in the $80k range. Continue reading Custer County School Board Meeting January 2019