NEWS RELEASE

Market Reach 433-B West Elkhorn, P.O.Box 334 Estes Park, CO 80517 970-586-6186 Fax: 970-586-1929 (e-mail mrktreach@aol.com)

For Immediate Release

Date: January 23, 1997
Contact: Sally M. Anderson
Phone: 970-586-6186
Fax: 970-586-1929 (e-mail mrktreach@aol.com)

Samson to be Immortalized in Bronze

Estes Park, CO — The 1,000 pound bull elk known as Samson, killed by a poacher in November 1995, has been remembered on tee shirts, beer labels and other assorted memorabilia. Now the citizens of Estes Park, a mountain town at 7,500 feet elevation just 90 minutes north and west of Denver, plans to erect a larger-than-life bronze of the famous elk, who was considered a local mascot and whose killing resulted in more stringent enforcement of poaching laws.

Estes Park sculptor Carol Cunningham has been commissioned to create the monument which will be situated at the junction of U. S. highway 36 and Colorado highway 7 at the entrance to town on land donated by the Town of Estes Park. She will also cast 50 maquette sculptures — smaller versions of the finished work — to be sold at $2,600 each, a portion of the proceeds earmarked toward the cost of the monument.

Townspeople must now raise another $15,000 to pay for the statue, expected to be completed and installed in 1998. Anyone who has visited Estes Park knows that the wildlife, especially the herds of elk which frequent the area around the Stanley Hotel and the golf courses, are an important part of the mountain experience.

Anyone wishing to be a part of this effort can send donations to "Samson Sculpture," c/o The Town of Estes Park, P. O. Box 1200, Estes Park, CO 80517. Donations are fully tax deductible and donors will receive a letter to that effect for tax purposes.

Those wishing to order a maquette should contact Art Anderson at the Town of Estes Park, 970-586-5331.

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