Lady Sundevils, Hilltoppers advance out of semifinal round Sports, B-1
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App improves control of prosthetics Amputee can program grip of bionic hands By Kathy Matheson
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Doubleamputee Jason Koger used to fly hundreds of miles to visit a clinician when he wanted to adjust the grips on his bionic hands.
Now, he’s got an app. Koger came to Philadelphia this week to demonstrate the i-limb ultra revolution, a prosthetic developed by the British firm Touch Bionics. Using a stylus and an iPhone, Koger can choose any of 24 grip patterns that best suit his needs. It’s the latest evolution in equipment for Koger, a 34-year-old married father of three from Owensboro, Ky., who lost his hands in an all-ter-
rain vehicle accident in 2008. “Five years ago, I couldn’t pull my pants up by myself,” said Koger. “Today, I go hunting and do some of the things that I probably never imagined I could have done five years ago.” The technology indicates how rapidly the field of prosthetics is changing, benefiting patients from injured military members to victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Practi-
tioners say increased government research in the wake of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is driving some of the advances. In Koger’s case, he was shocked by a downed power line. He went into a coma and had no idea until he woke up three days later that doctors had amputated both his limbs at midforearm.
Please see CONTROL, Page A-5
Surviving on a trickle With low flows in Rio Grande, farmers leave little for river runners
Double amputee Jason Koger, 34, demonstrates his i-limb ultra revolution hands Thursday in Philadelphia. MATT ROURKE/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blaze risk prompts statewide fire bans S.F. County prohibits open burns for 90 days The New Mexican
Eliana Gladstein and her father, Mitch, of New Jersey take a rafting trip down the Rio Grande on Friday with Elisha McArthur of Kokopelli Rafting Adventures. They started at Quartzite, near Pilar, and floated for about three hours, traveling five miles to the Rio Arriba County line. The low flows on Rio Grande will impact the season’s rafting businesses. CLYDE MUELLER/THE NEW MEXICAN
By J.R. Logan The Taos News
W
hen the Rio Grande entered the San Luis Valley in Colorado on Tuesday, it was running at a swift 1,820 cubic feet per second. But when it hit the state line and crossed into New Mexico, it was at just 55 cfs. For rafting guides in Taos County, the gaunt river flow through the Rio Grande Gorge hits their businesses hard. “It’s damaged our ability to sell a product to tourists and create an economic boost to Taos County,” says Cisco Guevara, owner of Los Ríos River Runners. In recent weeks, Guevara has been especially outspoken about what he sees as an unfair agreement over sharing water that he believes hurts New Mexico — especially
Local rafting outfitter adapts to unfavorable conditions
Taos County. This time of year, the headwaters of the Rio Grande start to swell with runoff from the San Juan Mountains above Del Norte, Colo. But once the river hits the San Luis Valley, farmers this year are pulling 94 percent of the water to irrigate thirsty crops like alfalfa, which is selling at record prices. What’s left when the river crosses into New Mexico is a trickle compared to the flow 100 miles upstream. The 1938 Rio Grande Compact dictates how water from the river is shared among Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. But in drought years, Colorado’s annual obligation to New Mexico drops. Craig Cotten is with the Colorado Division of Water Resources. His agency is charged
Kokopelli Rafting Adventures owner John Seiner, 38, wishes the measly 265 cubic feet per second of water trickling between the banks of the Rio Grande in the popular Race Course below Pilar were about five times that amount. “I’d love to have 1,500 cfs or more,” he said. But after more than a decade running white water in Northern New Mexico, he said, he and other outfitters have learned to adapt to being in the water sports business in times of drought. “We’re no strangers to low-water conditions,” he said. “We see that every year at the end of the year. You just have to go for it and take all the conditions and make the best of it.”
Please see TRICKLe, Page A-4
Please see OUTFITTeR, Page A-4
Campfires, smoking, open burning and fireworks will be banned on all state and unincorporated private lands beginning Wednesday due to extreme fire conditions, according to the New Mexico State Forestry Division. The state ban in all 33 counties doesn’t apply to federal, tribal or municipal lands. Counties also often impose their own fire restrictions. Santa Fe County approved an ordinance Tuesday declaring hazardous fire conditions and banning open burning, smoking and campfires in the county for the next 90 days. Fire Chief David Sperling told the County Commission in a memo that the measure was made necessary by “persistent and severe drought compounded by abnormally warm temperatures and frequent erratic spring winds.” Santa Fe National Forest spokesman Bruce Hill said Friday that forest officials have not yet imposed any restrictions due to the current fire danger, but “we’ll be discussing it Monday.” State Forester Tony Delfin said Friday that “high fire danger exists across much of New Mexico, and new fire starts are becoming difficult to control. I’m urging all state residents affected to follow the restriction guidelines to protect lives and property in their communities.” The state’s restrictions will remain
Please see RISK, Page A-5
By Phaedra Haywood The New Mexican
Obituaries Drucinda Leigh Ewing, April 25 Jimmy Kin Man Gee, 81, April 30 George Rivera, 85, April 28 PAge A-10
Today Mostly sunny. High 70, low 38. PAge A-12
Western drought met with prayers and revived faith By Susan Montoya Bryan
The Associated Press
BERNALILLO — Along the irrigation canal that cuts through this centuries-old New Mexico town, a small group of churchgoers gathers to recite the rosary before tossing rose petals into the water. Remnants of a tradition that stretches back to the days of Spanish explorers, the humble offerings are aimed at blessing this year’s meager irrigation season and
Index
Calendar A-2
easing a relentless drought that continues to march across New Mexico and much of the western half of the U.S. From the heart of New Mexico to West Texas and Oklahoma, the pressures of drought have resulted in a resurgence of faith — from Christian preachers and Catholic priests encouraging prayer processions to American Indian tribes using their closely guarded traditions in an effort to coax Mother
Classifieds B-7
Comics B-12
Lotteries A-2
Nature to deliver some much needed rain. On Sunday, congregations across Eastern New Mexico and West Texas are planning a day of prayer for moisture and rain. “We’re worried, but we’re maintaining our traditional ways and cultural ways. Together we pray, and individually we pray,” said Peter Pino, administrator of Zia Pueblo. “We haven’t lost hope in
Nick McGovernor, left, and Orlando Lucero hold a statue of San Ysidro, patron saint of farmers, after a prayer procession in Bernalillo. SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Please see PRAYeRS, Page A-4
Opinions A-11
Police notes A-10
Editor: Rob Dean, 986-3033, rdean@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Elizabeth Lauer, ehlauer@sfnewmexican.com
Sports B-1
Time Out B-11
Life & Science A-9
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SeeSaw Circus-arts troupe Wise Fool New Mexico, 1 and 8 p.m., Santa Fe Railyard Park Performance Green, Guadalupe St. at Paseo de Peralta, wisefoolnewmexico. org, donations accepted.
Two sections, 24 pages TV Book, 32 pages 164th year, No. 124 Publication No. 596-440