Thursday, February 9, 2012
Valley Courier
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Valley News Trial ■ Continued from Page 1
to hold a gun, and how people hold a handgun differently. Defense asked the witness to demonstrate for the jury what it would be like to shoot around cover while still protecting yourself. The witness was also shown three videos, which he had recorded of himself shooting a gun similar to the one reportedly used by Martinez. Paradis testified that he shot this gun approximately 150 times to test different angles of holding the weapon, in an effort to determine which angle would cause a casing to eject forward rather than back. He testified that holding the gun at an ap-
Water ■ Continued from Page 1 but the board could extend the deadline if interest grows. RGWCD Manager Mike Mitchell said that the program is calling for a significant irrigation reduction. “Twenty-four inches is what is used on the common crops,” Mitchell said. “The whole focus of this is to see how much we can save.” He added that the management plan was looking to include lands on the perimeter of the subdistrict. RGWCD Subdistrict 1 Office Manager Amber Pacheco
proximate 12-13 degree angel would produce a forward casing ejection. The witness further testified upon questioning that it is possible that the casings could have traveled through the window if the shooter was outside the window, but wasn’t sure at what distance the shooter would be in order for that scenario to occur and he could only guess to the best of his ability. Jurors did have questions for Paradis prior to him being released as a witness. Question: Do you think an inexperienced shooter could fire three shots in 1.5 seconds accurately? Answer: Witness said, “we are back into the realm of possibility.” He didn’t know what the time frame was, but that it would be possible. Question: Is it your expe-
rience that inexperienced shooters will hold the gun at arm’s length? Answer: Often people will mimic what they see on TV, sometimes they do this recklessly and sometimes they do it correctly. Question: is it possible to estimate the height of the shooter based on the bullet’s trajectory? Answer: No. Question: Could bullet #2 make a hole through both sides of the kitchen wall without exiting the wall? Answer: “I believe it did not stay in the wall, it went through the second wall.” Martinez chose not to testify. Counsel informally discussed the instructions for the jury Wednesday night and will formally discuss them Thursday morning at the courthouse. Closing arguments will be made after 10 a.m. today.
explained to many listening ears the annual water assessment formula. She said that water users should see assessment documents in their mailboxes this week that are due by March 15. The information includes well meter readings; surface meter readings; ditch and crop information; irrigation methods; land and water lease. The data will figure into water fees and the final management plan draft that the RGWCD Board of Directors will present at a public hearing before April 15. The hearing is prior to the board approving the draft for the Colorado Division of Water Resources. As a means to efficiently and effectively meet the
state’s management plan requests, RGWCD Program Assistant Martha Archuleta stressed that water users record all meter readings, estimate water use and measure every drop of water used. “Now water is tied to dollars,” Archuleta said. “We need to keep it accurate.” If a water user finds the water assessment is incorrect, Pacheco said the user has a right to appeal. She said the RGWCD would review fee calculations to begin the appeals process. “Our door is always open,” Archuleta said. We have had four or five appeals approved through the board process.”
Subdistrict 1 •On Dec. 19, 2011, the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed Chief District/Water Judge O. John Kuenhold’s approval of the San Luis Valley’s first sub-district water management plan. •The plan as approved and decreed adequately addresses the replacement of well depletions that injure adjudicated senior surface water rights, along with restoring and maintaining sustainable aquifer levels in accordance with the applicable statutes. •The first sub-district encompasses about 3,000 irrigation wells on 174,000 irrigated acres in the area of the Valley known as the closed basin north of the Rio Grande. •The Supreme Court’s decision also means the district can now spend money collected from groundwater irrigators within the sub-district boundaries. So far, money collected has gone into an escrow account. •In 2011, irrigators in the first sub-district paid administrative and CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) fees, and this year they will also pay a $45 per acre foot variable fee, based on their 2011 pumping.
Valley GOP caucus results
VALLEY — The Colorado Republican Party announced unofficial caucus results from Tuesday, with Senator Rick Santorum projected to win the 2012 Colorado Republican Caucuses. The unofficial results with 99.79 percent of precincts reporting statewide were: Rick Santorum: 26,372 - 40.24 percent; Mitt Romney: 22,875 - 34.9 percent; Newt Gingrich: 8,394 - 12.81 percent; Ron Paul: 7,713 - 11.77 percent; Write In: 57 - .09 percent; Rick Perry: 52 - .08 percent; Jon Huntsman: 46 - .07 percent; and Michele Bachmann: 27 - .04 percent.
Results from San Luis Valley counties were: Alamosa County Precinct Results: Mitt Romney 52 percent Rick Santorum 24 per-
cent Newt Gingrich 12 percent Ron Paul 12 percent Others 0 Costilla County Precinct Results: Rick Santorum 55 percent Newt Gingrich 21 percent Ron Paul 16 percent Mitt Romney 8 percent Others 0 Conejos County Precinct Results: Mitt Romney 79 percent Rick Santorum 10 percent Ron Paul 6 percent Newt Gingrich 5 percent Others 0 Rio Grande County Precinct Results: Rick Santorum 45 per-
cent Mitt Romney 26 percent Newt Gingrich 20 percent Ron Paul 9 percent Others negligible
Shares ■ Continued from Page 1 Angel’s native language, Kanjobal. Angel’s son had his first birthday in that home. The mother and son also lived with a foster mother and her female partner in a home where only English was spoken, and then in a foster home in Center where Spanish was spoken. Angel began learning Spanish and attending high school. During her transitions among various foster families with her son, Angel did not understand much of what was happening or the language spoken around her, but she knew one thing: She had to stay with her baby and protect him. Some of her experiences in foster care were very difficult, as she was treated more as a servant than a child and allotted by one foster family $5 a month for discretionary funds. (She was supposed to receive $40 a month.) She was given hand-me-down clothing in that home, also. Angel felt as though she was a stranger in someone else’s home. Some of the time she did not even have a separate bedroom for herself and her son. Court experiences and encounters with social services representatives were sometimes confusing as Angel dealt with unfounded abuse allegations and ultimately with the loss of her child. When Angel turned 21, she was too old for the foster care system, so social services helped her find an apartment but retained her son in foster care. When Angel began living independently, she took care
of her own needs and did not accept aid such as food stamps but worked to support herself. Angel initially went through a three-month treatment plan during which time she had regular, but brief, visits with her son who was dropped off at her apartment. Normally she would physically check her son over when he arrived for visits but one time she did not, and a few days after that visit she was accused of hitting her son and causing bruising, an allegation she denied and was not proven. Angel said she never saw the bruise but thought if there was bruising, it might have occurred at the foster home, where she believed sometimes older children would encourage the younger ones to fight. As a result of the allegation, however, visits with her son were shorter, supervised and more restricted. Another allegation surfaced later that Angel had hit her son with a book during a visit, but that, too, was not proven. Angel’s son remains in foster care and has lived in three different foster homes without his mother. Last June he was placed with a couple interested in permanently adopting him. After Angel began living on her own, she had another child, a daughter, who will be 1 year old in March. Although social services initially investigated the daughter’s care, they decided not to pursue custody. Angel receives no financial support from her daughter’s father, who is now in Guatemala. Angel is now awaiting a district judge’s decision to determine if she can have her son back. Her next court date is Valentine’s Day. Angel said her strength
through these last few years has come from her faith and from other people, like her mother who illustrated to her how to be strong. Angel has also encountered compassionate people in the San Luis Valley who have supported her through her ordeal. Attorney Ray Miller represents her case in court, for example. Staff at the Immigrant Resource Center helped her obtain legal status. Staff members at WIC and Child Find have helped her provide care for her children. Members of the Guatemalan immigrant community like Francisco have helped her translate and transition into a foreign culture. About 30 Guatemalan immigrants showed up to support her for her last court date. She has also found support in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church she attends and in the prayers of fellow members. Sacred Heart members Antonio and Sandy became involved in her life when her son was only 6 months old, and they continue to visit her frequently. More recently they testified on her behalf in parental right hearings regarding her son. They testified about how caring a mother Angel is, for example. Members of Sacred Heart’s Social Justice Committee have become involved as well. Angel’s immediate goal is simple: She would like to have her family together again. She hopes her two children and she can be trilingual, able to speak her native tongue, Spanish and English. She is now more fluent in Spanish but still struggles with English. Someday she would also like to buy a house ... and live the American dream.
Alamosa clerk wants input on primary election process ALAMOSA — Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder, Melanie Woodward is seeking written comments from residents of Alamosa County whether the June 26, 2012 Primary Election should be conducted by mail ballot only. House Bill 1015 gives the Clerk and Recorder authority to conduct a Primary Election as a mail ballot election with a few additional requirements. A mail ballot would mean that all Democrat and Republican voters in Alamosa County would receive their ballot in the mail about three weeks prior to the Primary Election, which selects party nominees. Unaffiliated electors must affiliate with a political
Mineral County Precinct Results: Rick Santorum 50 percent Ron Paul 19 percent Mitt Romney 19 percent Newt Gingrich 9 percent CENTER — The Annual Rick Perry 3 percent Saguache County Health Others 0 Fair will be held from 7-11 Saguache County Pre- a.m. on Friday, April 20, at the Head Start building cinct Results: Rick Santorum 54 per- at 301 East Third Street in Center. There will be cent Newt Gingrich 17 per- several screenings and displays provided free of cent Mitt Romney 17 per- charge including hearing, vision, blood sugar testcent ing, cholesterol testing, Ron Paul 12 percent dental screenings, masOthers negligible
party in order to vote in the Primary Election. Unaffiliated electors will be able to declare their party affiliation and pick up a ballot at the Clerk and Recorder’s Office as soon as ballots are available; unless party affiliation change is completed prior to the deadline of May 25 then the ballot will be mailed. Under a mail ballot system, voters will have until 7 p.m. June 26 to return their voted Primary ballot by mail or drop off at the Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, 402 Edison Avenue, Alamosa. (All ballots must be returned to the Clerk and Recorder’s office by 7 p.m. Postmarks do not count.) Residents may submit written comments to Melanie Woodward, Alamosa County
Saguache County Health Fair in April sage therapy and more. Blood tests are available for a fee. For more information, or to volunteer, call 7543191, 754-2773 or 6552533.
Clerk and Recorder’s Office, 402 Edison Avenue, Alamosa, Colo. 81101 until February 19 at 5 p.m. Comments can also be made at mwoodward@ alamosacounty.org.