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Monday July 29 2019

Custer County National Night Out Honors "The Thin Blue Line"

Mark your calendars for National Night Out,
sponsored by the Custer County Sheriff’s Office.
This year, the event will be next Tuesday, August 6,
from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Wet Mountain Valley
Saddle Club, located at 90 County Rd. 241 in
Westcliffe. Come out and support those that protect
and defend us.
The evening will begin with a presentation of the
colors by the American Legion Post 170 and the
National Anthem will be sung.
Attendees will have an opportunity to meet the
deputies and staff of the CCSO and enjoy grilled
hamburgers and hot dogs, along with side dishes.
Sugarfoot, a local band, is sure to entertain the
masses with their lively tunes.
There will be a bounce house, donated by First
Baptist Church in Westcliffe for the kiddos to enjoy
along with a dunk tank, manned by the Search and
Rescue Dive Team, basketball, and other games and
activities. Participation in any activity other than the
Tug-a-Cop-Car, is by donation only.
The Colorado State Patrol will be involved and
Trooper Shields may bring his K-9 along.
There will be a “Tug- a- Cop- Car.” Cost is $5-$10
per team, with the proceeds being split between the
CCSO and the winning team.
​Custer County Search and Rescue and Custer County
EMS will speak on the partnerships between first
responders and how they make it work.
The Wet Mountain Fire Protection District
(WMFPD) will give a demonstration on how the
Jaws of Life works. The car has been donated by
Forsaken Towing.
The CCSO wishes to thank the following businesses
and individuals that have donated to this year’s
National Night Out in Custer County.
First Baptist Church, Crestone Graphics for making
the banners which will be distributed around the
community, and Dollar General who has offered to
blow up all the balloons.
There are 10 sponsorship levels and the community
still has time to help fund this yearly event. All
proceeds raised go to National Night Out, locally. All
sponsorships are tax-deductible as well. Stop by the
CCSO to make a donation. Sponsorship forms are
available in the front entry room.
The theme this year is the “Thin Blue Line.” There
will be a balloon arch in honor of all the fallen
officers killed in the line of duty.
- by Tracy Ballard

Tip-A-Cop Fundraiser Garners Nearly $1,300
For The CCSD Lunch Program

​Last month, the Silver Cliff Mountain Inn,
A.K.A. “Willie’s Place” hosted the annual
“Tip-A-Cop” fundraiser on Wednesday,
June 12.
Diners were able to have a great meal and
tip the staff, deputies, and posse members of
the Custer County Sheriff’s Office at the
same time.
During the event, $1,297 was raised. Monies
will go to help fund the Custer County
School lunch program.
Organizers wish to thank the following for
their time, dedication, and generosity that
made this year’s fundraiser a huge success.
​Extra special thanks to Willie, Cheryl, along
with their staff at the Silver Cliff Mountain
Inn, many thanks to the Custer County
Sheriff’s Office staff, deputies, and posse
that volunteered, including, Sheriff Byerly,
Mike Halpin, Sgt. Buck Wenzel, Chelsea
Geanetta, Dawn Ramsdell, Jim Parkes, Ted
Rockinhouse, Neil Swan, and Greg Reeve.
A special thank you goes to Anita Gregg,
representing the Custer County School
District. She was there throughout the entire
event.
And also to all of you that came out for such
a great cause! See you at the next Tip-A-
Cop event.
- by Tracy Ballard

Paula Mankel, "The Brains of the Operation"

​
Paula Mankel is the administrative manager
at the Custer County Sheriff’s Office
(CCSO).
“As the administrative manager, I am the
receptionist, manage the records, pay the
monthly bills although the county does the
hard part, recently took over the concealed
handgun program, and I also coordinate the
civil process program.”
Mankel definitely keeps the office running
smoothly. Sheriff Byerly stepped in during
the interview and complimented her by
saying, “she’s the brains of the whole
operation.”
Her background has always been in
administration, it’s only within the last 16
years that she has worked the law
enforcement side of it. Mankel has been
with the CCSO a little over three years now
and has settled into her position nicely.
“I want citizens to know that I have found
police officers, deputies, the ones I have
always worked around, have been really
good people and this department has been
no exception to that. They really care about
the community and this office, in my
opinion, is a really good place to work. It is
a very pleasant atmosphere. I am really
happy to be among them.”
Mankel commutes from Canon City where
she and her husband of 18 years live. He
works for the Department of Corrections in
the state. They have two adult children and
an infant granddaughter.
As an administrative manager, she has to
participate in programs put on by
“ALERT/SAM.”

“According to The Colorado Certified
Records Network (CCRN), which is an
independent organization working in
conjunction with the Association of Law
Enforcement Records Technicians,
Supervisors, and Managers to establish a
standard by which public safety records
personnel can be measured, accredited, and
recognized according to criteria of
experience and capability established by
their peers. CCRN is governed by a Board
of Advisors, endorsed by the County
Sheriffs of Colorado (CSOC), the Colorado
Association of Chiefs of Police and
recognized by the Colorado Department of
Law’s Peace Officer Standards and Training
(POST).
​Mankel explained the simple process that
persons seeking a concealed weapon permit
will need to complete. “You get one of the
classes and we have several people that do
that in Custer County. It can also be taken
anywhere in the state. The class goes
through everything you need for the
concealed handgun permit process. You fill
out the form, pay your money, and we send
your information off to the state and they do
the Insta-Check to make sure you are
eligible to possess a firearm. We do a
background check on you to make sure
nothing has slipped by, then the Sheriff
issues a card for you.” The cost is $52.50
payable in the form of a money order or
cashier’s check. The CCSO does not charge
a fee as Sheriff Byerly has waived all fees
for it. “We just take whatever fees the
person gives us and we send it straight up to
state.” All the information and forms can be
found at: www.countysheriffs.org. The
forms cannot be emailed as they must be
signed in person. The entire process must be
completed within 90 days.
To contact Mankel, please call 719 783-
2270.
- by Tracy Ballard
Picture
Paula Mankel- CCSO Administrative Manager -  Courtesy Photo by the CCSO
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PO Box 1179
Westcliffe, CO 81252

​719-315-6172