After all DA Pete Hautzinger put Gene Lawyer and his family through, it hardly seems just or anywhere near fair that the likely real culprit of Kirk Firko escapes without a trial.
Unlike Trooper Lawyer's posts where SandBox blocked public commentary for the sake of Lawyer and his family, comment ability on this highly political move of Hautzingers is wide open.
Cori Coffin:
"MESA COUNTY, Colo.- A CSP trooper involved in a deadly shooting may no longer be prosecuted.
Mesa County District Attorney Pete Hautzinger has filed a motion to drop all charges against Cpl. Kirk Firko.
Firko was accused, along with State Trooper Ivan Lawyer, of negligent homicide and felony trespassing in connection to the shooting death of Jason Kemp.
Earlier this month, Lawyer was acquitted of all charges relating to Kemp's death.
Firko's trial was set to begin July 16.
In the motion to dismiss, Hautzinger said, "The people conclude that there is not sufficient reasonable likelihood of a Mesa County jury being unanimously convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of defendant Firko's guilt to justify going forward with another lengthy jury trial."
The DA went on to say that even though the people believe they don't have a case against Firko, the motion to dismiss is in no way an endorsement of Firko's or Lawyer's actions and the legality of them...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
May 26, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Poverty a persistent and growing issue in Summit County"
Kathryn Corazzelli:
"....Summit Community Care Clinic executive director Sarah Vaine, a panelist at the event, said she appreciates the data, and finds it valuable and validating.
“If you're working with families that are struggling, it's hard to illustrate that it's happening,” she said. “This kind of data helps us understand where we can target some of those efforts, to discourage the disparities in health and education.”
Those disparities in health, wealth and education aren't seen by many, Vaine said, and predisposes children who end up with the shorter end of the stick with less opportunity.
Children who go to school with empty stomachs, or worried about things like their parents' financial woes, have a harder time learning and just don't do as well in class, panel member and Summit School District board member Sue Wilcox said.
“It's all related,” she said. “I'm shocked at the poverty levels and how they're growing.”
A past Summit Daily News article chronicling the high number of children who qualified for the free-and-reduced lunch program was not believed by some people Davidson talked to — they thought the numbers were wrong, he said.
“You may not be aware of what's going on in your own county,” Davidson said. “You may not see it.”
Children's Campaign president and CEO Chris Watney urged attendees to make sure the data for Summit, and all of Colorado, is well-publicized in order to spur change.
“As we reflect on this year's legislative session and prepare for election season, we believe this report will enable advocates across the state to highlight children's issues and bring this data to life,” Watney said. “Today's discussion reminded us that the numbers represent real children and families in our state, many of whom are struggling. We must continue to serve as a voice for vulnerable kids as decisions are being made that impact their lives.” (Read more of the article? Click title)
"....Summit Community Care Clinic executive director Sarah Vaine, a panelist at the event, said she appreciates the data, and finds it valuable and validating.
“If you're working with families that are struggling, it's hard to illustrate that it's happening,” she said. “This kind of data helps us understand where we can target some of those efforts, to discourage the disparities in health and education.”
Those disparities in health, wealth and education aren't seen by many, Vaine said, and predisposes children who end up with the shorter end of the stick with less opportunity.
Children who go to school with empty stomachs, or worried about things like their parents' financial woes, have a harder time learning and just don't do as well in class, panel member and Summit School District board member Sue Wilcox said.
“It's all related,” she said. “I'm shocked at the poverty levels and how they're growing.”
A past Summit Daily News article chronicling the high number of children who qualified for the free-and-reduced lunch program was not believed by some people Davidson talked to — they thought the numbers were wrong, he said.
“You may not be aware of what's going on in your own county,” Davidson said. “You may not see it.”
Children's Campaign president and CEO Chris Watney urged attendees to make sure the data for Summit, and all of Colorado, is well-publicized in order to spur change.
“As we reflect on this year's legislative session and prepare for election season, we believe this report will enable advocates across the state to highlight children's issues and bring this data to life,” Watney said. “Today's discussion reminded us that the numbers represent real children and families in our state, many of whom are struggling. We must continue to serve as a voice for vulnerable kids as decisions are being made that impact their lives.” (Read more of the article? Click title)
View the full report:To access the full 2011 KIDS COUNT in Colorado! report, visit www.coloradokids.org/data/publications/2012kidscount.html "Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Cliffhanger coaster under construction"
(See related posts and public comments here and here)
John Colson:
"....It was quite a feat getting the Cliffhanger here from Branson, Mo., where it sat idle at the Celebration City amusement park from 2009-2011, Heard said.
The Italian-made ride was new when it was erected in Branson, and ran for about five years before it was shut down for financial reasons, she explained.
Adventure Park maintenance manager Kelly Bates (known as “the master” among the park's crew) is project manager for the Cliffhanger.
Bates knew of the idled ride, and started negotiating to buy it before it was even advertised for sale, Heard said.
She said the Adventure Park was competing against Elitch Gardens in Denver and Darien Lake Theme Park near Buffalo, New York, to buy the used coaster.
The negotiations resulted in a purchase price of $375,000 for the roller coaster, Heard said. The total cost of disassembly, repairs made to the structure in Branson and to the cars in Florida, and reassembly in Glenwood Springs is expected to be about $800,000.
The Adventure Park bought 1,400 new bolts for the reassembly, including 700 special bolts, 14 inches long with metric threads, used to hold the sections of track together.
“That's 50 grand just in hardware,” she said of the bolts.
Then came the difficulty of transporting the disassembled, refurbished structure to Glenwood Springs.
Heard said it was difficult to sign up a dozen independent truckers, the number needed to ship the disassembled structure to Glenwood Springs.
The difficulty, she said, was that “there's not much return freight” for trucks to pick up once they unload in Glenwood, and an empty truck is something independent truckers try to avoid.
Instead, Heard said, the Beckleys turned to shipping brokers, who were able to find the needed trucks.
But sometimes several rigs would show up at once, both in Branson to pick up their loads and in Glenwood Springs to unload, she said, prompting a mad scramble for work crews.
“It was feast or famine,” Heard said with a wry expression.
Once the trucks arrived in Glenwood Springs, the loads had to be hauled up the mountain to the Adventure Park site.
That job went to Bates, who would meet the trucks at the gondola base and immediately lead them up Transfer Trail. He stayed mum about the steep, twisty route they were about to drive up.
“We had all these flatland truckers with no experience in mountain driving,” Heard recalled.
“A lot of them didn't quite appreciate being suckered into that,” Heard laughed. “None of them made a second trip....” (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
John Colson:
"....It was quite a feat getting the Cliffhanger here from Branson, Mo., where it sat idle at the Celebration City amusement park from 2009-2011, Heard said.
The Italian-made ride was new when it was erected in Branson, and ran for about five years before it was shut down for financial reasons, she explained.
Adventure Park maintenance manager Kelly Bates (known as “the master” among the park's crew) is project manager for the Cliffhanger.
Bates knew of the idled ride, and started negotiating to buy it before it was even advertised for sale, Heard said.
She said the Adventure Park was competing against Elitch Gardens in Denver and Darien Lake Theme Park near Buffalo, New York, to buy the used coaster.
The negotiations resulted in a purchase price of $375,000 for the roller coaster, Heard said. The total cost of disassembly, repairs made to the structure in Branson and to the cars in Florida, and reassembly in Glenwood Springs is expected to be about $800,000.
The Adventure Park bought 1,400 new bolts for the reassembly, including 700 special bolts, 14 inches long with metric threads, used to hold the sections of track together.
“That's 50 grand just in hardware,” she said of the bolts.
Then came the difficulty of transporting the disassembled, refurbished structure to Glenwood Springs.
Heard said it was difficult to sign up a dozen independent truckers, the number needed to ship the disassembled structure to Glenwood Springs.
The difficulty, she said, was that “there's not much return freight” for trucks to pick up once they unload in Glenwood, and an empty truck is something independent truckers try to avoid.
Instead, Heard said, the Beckleys turned to shipping brokers, who were able to find the needed trucks.
But sometimes several rigs would show up at once, both in Branson to pick up their loads and in Glenwood Springs to unload, she said, prompting a mad scramble for work crews.
“It was feast or famine,” Heard said with a wry expression.
Once the trucks arrived in Glenwood Springs, the loads had to be hauled up the mountain to the Adventure Park site.
That job went to Bates, who would meet the trucks at the gondola base and immediately lead them up Transfer Trail. He stayed mum about the steep, twisty route they were about to drive up.
“We had all these flatland truckers with no experience in mountain driving,” Heard recalled.
“A lot of them didn't quite appreciate being suckered into that,” Heard laughed. “None of them made a second trip....” (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Can high-priced Aspen support a low-priced lodge?"
Curtis Wackerle:
"With average hotel prices spiking 40 percent between 2003 and 2007, a recently released city of Aspen lodging study opens a window on the question of government’s role in encouraging less expensive options.
“Think of it as an existing conditions report,” said city long-range planner Jessica Garrow.
The 29-page study was based on conversations with a majority of lodge operators in Aspen, who were asked to provide their number of rooms, as well as average room sizes. The report also includes interviews with 13 operators from all sectors of Aspen’s lodging inventory. Planners are working on a second phase of the report that delves more deeply into the question of what more, if anything, the city government should do to impact the local lodging market.
Trying to beef up the lower end of the market to help attract the next generation to Aspen is a goal outlined in the latest edition of the Aspen Area Community Plan, adopted this year. City Council made studying the feasibility of such a concept a top-10 goal last summer.
With the city owning numerous properties around town, some have suggested that donating or selling the land at a reduce price to an affordable lodging developer, or providing zoning bonuses to those who do it on their own property, could be a way to make a project happen.
The report includes a history of lodging development and government policy in town from the 1960s through the last decade. It summarizes the types of lodging available in Aspen today, community desires for the bed base expressed through the Aspen Area Community Plan process and the perceived feasibility of further government action to encourage lower-priced options in the increasingly high-priced zip code.
“City government has played a wide variety of roles in Aspen’s lodging inventory over the years, ranging from the philosopher-sociologist to the market economist —and at times, financial supporter,” reads the report, produced by Garrow and city consulting planner Ben Gagnon.
Aspen lost some 27 percent of its total bed base inventory between 1994 and 2007, according to the 2008 “State of the Aspen Area” study, with a majority of the loss in the economy sector. Even with the decline in pillows, lodging tax revenues jumped 49 percent, reflecting a 40 percent increase in pricing. Second homes also are now playing a larger role in tourism accommodations...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"With average hotel prices spiking 40 percent between 2003 and 2007, a recently released city of Aspen lodging study opens a window on the question of government’s role in encouraging less expensive options.
“Think of it as an existing conditions report,” said city long-range planner Jessica Garrow.
The 29-page study was based on conversations with a majority of lodge operators in Aspen, who were asked to provide their number of rooms, as well as average room sizes. The report also includes interviews with 13 operators from all sectors of Aspen’s lodging inventory. Planners are working on a second phase of the report that delves more deeply into the question of what more, if anything, the city government should do to impact the local lodging market.
Trying to beef up the lower end of the market to help attract the next generation to Aspen is a goal outlined in the latest edition of the Aspen Area Community Plan, adopted this year. City Council made studying the feasibility of such a concept a top-10 goal last summer.
With the city owning numerous properties around town, some have suggested that donating or selling the land at a reduce price to an affordable lodging developer, or providing zoning bonuses to those who do it on their own property, could be a way to make a project happen.
The report includes a history of lodging development and government policy in town from the 1960s through the last decade. It summarizes the types of lodging available in Aspen today, community desires for the bed base expressed through the Aspen Area Community Plan process and the perceived feasibility of further government action to encourage lower-priced options in the increasingly high-priced zip code.
“City government has played a wide variety of roles in Aspen’s lodging inventory over the years, ranging from the philosopher-sociologist to the market economist —and at times, financial supporter,” reads the report, produced by Garrow and city consulting planner Ben Gagnon.
Aspen lost some 27 percent of its total bed base inventory between 1994 and 2007, according to the 2008 “State of the Aspen Area” study, with a majority of the loss in the economy sector. Even with the decline in pillows, lodging tax revenues jumped 49 percent, reflecting a 40 percent increase in pricing. Second homes also are now playing a larger role in tourism accommodations...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: KREX News 5 "Downtown Montrose Becomes New Fad"
Courtney Griffin:
"MONTROSE, Colo.- Downtown Montrose is blossoming with new events, farmer's markets and stores this summer.
Scott Shine, manager of the Downtown Development Authority, says within the last couple of months, it’s really become the place for people to be. “We've had some businesses move into the district that were operating outside of downtown that have come downtown to be a part of what's happening down here, so we think that's a positive sign.”
With vacant building signs vanishing, the downtown area is a place where people can go shopping, look for home décor and enjoy eateries.
One business owner who has been downtown for 30 years said in the past couple of years business has really picked up. “It seems to be picking up every day. We see people from out of town shopping and I’m very encouraged by the traffic that we’re seeing," said Glee Westcott, owner of Tiffany Etc.
With many new events going into the downtown area, one event in particular will be going on all summer long. Main in Motion is an event starting June 7 and brings between 3,000 and 5,000 people every Thursday, lasting until August 23....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"MONTROSE, Colo.- Downtown Montrose is blossoming with new events, farmer's markets and stores this summer.
Scott Shine, manager of the Downtown Development Authority, says within the last couple of months, it’s really become the place for people to be. “We've had some businesses move into the district that were operating outside of downtown that have come downtown to be a part of what's happening down here, so we think that's a positive sign.”
With vacant building signs vanishing, the downtown area is a place where people can go shopping, look for home décor and enjoy eateries.
One business owner who has been downtown for 30 years said in the past couple of years business has really picked up. “It seems to be picking up every day. We see people from out of town shopping and I’m very encouraged by the traffic that we’re seeing," said Glee Westcott, owner of Tiffany Etc.
With many new events going into the downtown area, one event in particular will be going on all summer long. Main in Motion is an event starting June 7 and brings between 3,000 and 5,000 people every Thursday, lasting until August 23....." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: KREX News 5 "Colorado Receives $5 Million in Grants to Keep Jobs Local"
Danielle Kreuther:
"GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The U.S. Department of Labor has provided more than $200 million in grants to help raise technical skills of U.S. workers.
Workforce officials say these grants are made with the goal of raising the skill levels of U.S. workers. The hope is that this will not only reduce the number of foreign workers being hired for high skill, high paying jobs in the U.S., but also make local businesses more competitive.
"The technology now coming out, a lot of times requires upgrading your training on a regular basis, so if we're able to provide that training, it keeps our local companies competitive," said Suzie Miller of the Mesa County Workforce Center.
The USDOL is helping foot the bill for that training by giving $5 million in grants to help train incumbent workers in Colorado.
The grants are financed by fees in occupations and industries where employers were using H-1B visas to hire foreign workers...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The U.S. Department of Labor has provided more than $200 million in grants to help raise technical skills of U.S. workers.
Workforce officials say these grants are made with the goal of raising the skill levels of U.S. workers. The hope is that this will not only reduce the number of foreign workers being hired for high skill, high paying jobs in the U.S., but also make local businesses more competitive.
"The technology now coming out, a lot of times requires upgrading your training on a regular basis, so if we're able to provide that training, it keeps our local companies competitive," said Suzie Miller of the Mesa County Workforce Center.
The USDOL is helping foot the bill for that training by giving $5 million in grants to help train incumbent workers in Colorado.
The grants are financed by fees in occupations and industries where employers were using H-1B visas to hire foreign workers...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Citizen Telegram " Natural Soda expansion could mean jobs for Rifle workers"
Mike McKibbin:
"Construction is due to start soon on a $30 million expansion of the Natural Soda sodium bicarbonate mining operation in Rio Blanco County, 50 miles northwest of Rifle.
That will mean jobs for Rifle area construction workers, and the chance of landing some of the up to 10 permanent jobs when the project is done.
Officials, including Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, May 21, to launch the expansion project.
Bob Warneke, vice president of operations at the plant, said the construction project will provide work for around 60 contractors. Many of those workers will be bused to the Natural Soda site from Rifle, Meeker and Rangely, he said...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Construction is due to start soon on a $30 million expansion of the Natural Soda sodium bicarbonate mining operation in Rio Blanco County, 50 miles northwest of Rifle.
That will mean jobs for Rifle area construction workers, and the chance of landing some of the up to 10 permanent jobs when the project is done.
Officials, including Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, May 21, to launch the expansion project.
Bob Warneke, vice president of operations at the plant, said the construction project will provide work for around 60 contractors. Many of those workers will be bused to the Natural Soda site from Rifle, Meeker and Rangely, he said...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: KREX News 5 "Durango: Then and Now"
KREX:
"DURANGO, Colo.- Durango was recently voted the sixth best small town in America by Smithsonian Magazine...." (Read more? Listen to interview? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"DURANGO, Colo.- Durango was recently voted the sixth best small town in America by Smithsonian Magazine...." (Read more? Listen to interview? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: KDNK "GarCo's New Way to Spend Oil and Gas Money"
KDNK:
"Garfield County commissioners met with Carbondale town trustees this week in part to talk about a funding program set up by the county to distribute money contributed to the county by the oil and gas industry.
KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke with commissioner Mike Samson after the meeting to find out what kind of projects these funds are meant for and about why they moved to this new system for spending oil and gas money." Click here to listen to podcast.
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Garfield County commissioners met with Carbondale town trustees this week in part to talk about a funding program set up by the county to distribute money contributed to the county by the oil and gas industry.
KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke with commissioner Mike Samson after the meeting to find out what kind of projects these funds are meant for and about why they moved to this new system for spending oil and gas money." Click here to listen to podcast.
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Friday Fotos: Waterfalls!"
All Credit Bob Berwyn (Click title):
May 25, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "Does the county love Mary Jane?"
'FCL' here:
How about that arrrogance up in Aspen? Thinking they can do anything they want with any drugs and the DEA will not come get them.
How's that working for PitCo and the City of Aspen?
Aspen Times Editorial:
"instead of deciding to leave each licensing case up to them. As Rachel Richards pointed out, the county's industry then would become politicized. The medical marijuana industry helps a lot of people in the community, and the last thing it needs is to fall victim to a highly charged atmosphere and petty public controversies —the sort that media entities and political opportunists love to get their hands on.
While we are confident that most commissioners will follow the direction the board set for itself earlier this week, we also might suggest that the county go no further than to issue licenses for a fee and pursue commonality with only what state law mandates. Some unincorporated communities in Pitkin County have expressed an interest in banning such businesses, whether dispensaries or grow houses or both, a move that would serve to pit villages and neighbors against one another — politicizing the process and further dividing the county.
The commissioners should officially approve this simple step of administrative control on licensing before July 1 and then turn away from the prospect of special zoning areas or village-by-village control of business locations. Current zoning allows for commercial and agricultural businesses, and the
marijuana-healing industry deserves the rights afforded to other U.S. small businesses.
Residents countywide should be of one mind on the issue and set another great local example for the rest of humankind. Bob Marley said it best: Let's get together and feel all right....."
(Read more/ Click title)
How about that arrrogance up in Aspen? Thinking they can do anything they want with any drugs and the DEA will not come get them.
How's that working for PitCo and the City of Aspen?
Aspen Times Editorial:
"instead of deciding to leave each licensing case up to them. As Rachel Richards pointed out, the county's industry then would become politicized. The medical marijuana industry helps a lot of people in the community, and the last thing it needs is to fall victim to a highly charged atmosphere and petty public controversies —the sort that media entities and political opportunists love to get their hands on.
While we are confident that most commissioners will follow the direction the board set for itself earlier this week, we also might suggest that the county go no further than to issue licenses for a fee and pursue commonality with only what state law mandates. Some unincorporated communities in Pitkin County have expressed an interest in banning such businesses, whether dispensaries or grow houses or both, a move that would serve to pit villages and neighbors against one another — politicizing the process and further dividing the county.
The commissioners should officially approve this simple step of administrative control on licensing before July 1 and then turn away from the prospect of special zoning areas or village-by-village control of business locations. Current zoning allows for commercial and agricultural businesses, and the
marijuana-healing industry deserves the rights afforded to other U.S. small businesses.
Residents countywide should be of one mind on the issue and set another great local example for the rest of humankind. Bob Marley said it best: Let's get together and feel all right....."
(Read more/ Click title)
SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "CBP Makes Two Large Marijuana Busts"
'FCL' here, covering for our poor 'Nanny' who fractured her wrist a few days ago.
Look at this photo! Can you believe some of the ways these cartels try to smuggle in dope to the USA??!
Click title to read about this bust.
Look at this photo! Can you believe some of the ways these cartels try to smuggle in dope to the USA??!
Click title to read about this bust.
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Letter hints at lawsuit over deputy’s firing"
Chad Abraham:
"The attorney for a longtime Pitkin County Sheriff’s deputy who was fired after she allegedly failed to report a minor traffic accident while on duty recently sent Sheriff Joe DiSalvo a letter indicating the potential for legal action.
County officials were tightlipped Tuesday about the letter’s contents concerning Ann Stephenson.
Pitkin County Attorney John Ely said he could not release the letter from Stephenson’s attorney, Todd McNamara of Denver, because it would violate the attorney-client privilege. Messages left with McNamara on Tuesday were not returned.
DiSalvo, too, declined to provide the letter.
“I’m not comfortable releasing it,” he said. “I don’t know where this is going to go.”...."
(Click title to read story)
"The attorney for a longtime Pitkin County Sheriff’s deputy who was fired after she allegedly failed to report a minor traffic accident while on duty recently sent Sheriff Joe DiSalvo a letter indicating the potential for legal action.
County officials were tightlipped Tuesday about the letter’s contents concerning Ann Stephenson.
Pitkin County Attorney John Ely said he could not release the letter from Stephenson’s attorney, Todd McNamara of Denver, because it would violate the attorney-client privilege. Messages left with McNamara on Tuesday were not returned.
DiSalvo, too, declined to provide the letter.
“I’m not comfortable releasing it,” he said. “I don’t know where this is going to go.”...."
(Click title to read story)
SandBox Blogs: Garfield Public Info "Sheriff Vallario Releases Statement Regarding ACLU Accusations "
(See related post and comments here)
'FCL':
Sheriff Vallario was recently attacked by the ACLU and CIRC over alleged deportation of domestic violence "victims". The outpouring of viral link baits from CIRC has been the worst seen on the web over anything or anyone supporting Vallario at mid-term elections. Of course the local Post Independent and Aspen Times jumped on that and have printed the usual half of the other side of the story. I say 'half' of CIRC and the ACLU story because in this case, ACLU and CIRC were fully aware that the "victims" in question were actually arrestees and the Secure Communities program/laws went into effect this week.
Here are some links to show the bias of the PI and a little bit of the viral baits. There is nothing in the PI over the press release below, so Nanny and I decided to post the release in its entirety.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/946/938/492/tell-sheriff-vallario-domestic-violence-victims-deserve-justice-not-deportation/
http://www.google.com/search?q=vallario+deports+domestic+violence+victims&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLJ_en
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120525/VALLEYNEWS/120529937/1083&ParentProfile=1074
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120523/VALLEYNEWS/120529972/1083&parentprofile=1074583
Positive and realistic related coverage:
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120524/VALLEYNEWS/120529948/1021&parentprofile=1077
(Letters from Michael Birdsley and Kathy Buettner)
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20694306/secure-communities-activated-by-ice-track-and-deport
http://www.gazette.com/articles/statewide-139123-denver-fingerprint.html
Thank you, Sheriff Vallario for the dose of reality below. More people appreciate our law enforcement here in the county more than many of us think you know:
"NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 22, 2012
In response to the lies and slanderous accusations by the ACLU, the most dangerous organization to the United States of America today, as well as the Denver Post, channel 7 news (Denver) and others who produced stories without any attempt to contact the Garfield County Sheriff for an accurate response, here is the official GCSO response:
The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office has never turned over a victim of a crime to any organization.
When a person who is under arrest enters the GCSO jail, they are a defendant, charged with crimes and are subsequently booked into jail. Part of that process is a mandated compliance with 29-29-103 CRS that “requires” the Sheriff to notify ICE of anyone they reasonably believe is not legally present in the United States and although there is a section that does not mandate notification of a Domestic Violence arrest until conviction, there is nothing in that law prohibiting the Sheriff from making that notification at the time of booking. Further, in accordance with the Colorado Open Records Act, the Custodian of Records (Sheriff) SHALL, upon request release certain information regarding inmates and their booking information. Failure to provide such information on someone arrested for DV, would also violate CORA. Therefore, the GCSO is in compliance with the law and as stated to the ACLU in a response letter, until the law is changed we will continue to operate under this practice.
At the core of this issue is the ACLU attempting to protect illegal aliens, particularly females that are arrested for DV and “might” ultimately turn out to be victims. As there are many things that “might” happen to someone charged with a crime, it is not up to the Sheriff to attempt to predict these many outcomes. It is up to the Sheriff to comply with and report to ICE conditions set forth in the statutes with respect to those arrested and incarcerated.
Sheriff Lou Vallario states, “I have always been sympathetic to victims of crimes, regardless of their immigration status. If you are a victim of a crime, you should report it and be provided all of the efforts and services available to victims of any crimes. Also, having taught Domestic Violence classes at the local Police Academy for over 10 years, I fully understand the dynamics of DV and the associated difficulties with victims reporting their abuse. This is not a singular issue for the illegal immigrant population but an issue for all victims of DV. Victims of DV are afraid to report, regardless of their immigration status. To reduce this difficult situation to concerning themselves only with the illegal immigrant population, the ACLU is ignoring the broader topic of DV throughout the state. Further, if the ACLU does not like the manner in which the law is written, why don’t they find a Legislator sympathetic to their cause and change the law? Instead, they prefer to use lies, slander and bullying tactics to try to force their will on those of us that respect the law and comply with it.”
These subversive tactics come straight out of a guide titled, “All in One Guide to Defeating ICE Hold Requests” (see attached) where they promote “attacking Sheriffs” and “driving a wedge between them and ICE”. Rest assured, the GCSO will not be bullied or intimidated into complying with what the ACLU thinks is most appropriate for our country.
Finally, the automated fingerprint notification system known as “Secure Communities” will be in effect this month in Colorado. This system, forwards ALL fingerprints produced by ALL arrestees in ALL jails to CBI where they are then forwarded to various databases, including ICE’s. Therefore, as soon as this goes into effect, the provisions of the above statue will be moot in that there will be no need to determine immigration status any longer when booking a defendant into jail. Obviously, it was important for the ACLU to raise this issue BEFORE Secure Communities for whatever their hidden agenda has in store.
Lou Vallario
Garfield County Sheriff
970-945-0453
lvallario@garcosheriff.com"
'FCL':
Sheriff Vallario was recently attacked by the ACLU and CIRC over alleged deportation of domestic violence "victims". The outpouring of viral link baits from CIRC has been the worst seen on the web over anything or anyone supporting Vallario at mid-term elections. Of course the local Post Independent and Aspen Times jumped on that and have printed the usual half of the other side of the story. I say 'half' of CIRC and the ACLU story because in this case, ACLU and CIRC were fully aware that the "victims" in question were actually arrestees and the Secure Communities program/laws went into effect this week.
Here are some links to show the bias of the PI and a little bit of the viral baits. There is nothing in the PI over the press release below, so Nanny and I decided to post the release in its entirety.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/946/938/492/tell-sheriff-vallario-domestic-violence-victims-deserve-justice-not-deportation/
http://www.google.com/search?q=vallario+deports+domestic+violence+victims&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLJ_en
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120525/VALLEYNEWS/120529937/1083&ParentProfile=1074
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120523/VALLEYNEWS/120529972/1083&parentprofile=1074583
Positive and realistic related coverage:
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120524/VALLEYNEWS/120529948/1021&parentprofile=1077
(Letters from Michael Birdsley and Kathy Buettner)
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_20694306/secure-communities-activated-by-ice-track-and-deport
http://www.gazette.com/articles/statewide-139123-denver-fingerprint.html
Thank you, Sheriff Vallario for the dose of reality below. More people appreciate our law enforcement here in the county more than many of us think you know:
"NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 22, 2012
In response to the lies and slanderous accusations by the ACLU, the most dangerous organization to the United States of America today, as well as the Denver Post, channel 7 news (Denver) and others who produced stories without any attempt to contact the Garfield County Sheriff for an accurate response, here is the official GCSO response:
The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office has never turned over a victim of a crime to any organization.
When a person who is under arrest enters the GCSO jail, they are a defendant, charged with crimes and are subsequently booked into jail. Part of that process is a mandated compliance with 29-29-103 CRS that “requires” the Sheriff to notify ICE of anyone they reasonably believe is not legally present in the United States and although there is a section that does not mandate notification of a Domestic Violence arrest until conviction, there is nothing in that law prohibiting the Sheriff from making that notification at the time of booking. Further, in accordance with the Colorado Open Records Act, the Custodian of Records (Sheriff) SHALL, upon request release certain information regarding inmates and their booking information. Failure to provide such information on someone arrested for DV, would also violate CORA. Therefore, the GCSO is in compliance with the law and as stated to the ACLU in a response letter, until the law is changed we will continue to operate under this practice.
At the core of this issue is the ACLU attempting to protect illegal aliens, particularly females that are arrested for DV and “might” ultimately turn out to be victims. As there are many things that “might” happen to someone charged with a crime, it is not up to the Sheriff to attempt to predict these many outcomes. It is up to the Sheriff to comply with and report to ICE conditions set forth in the statutes with respect to those arrested and incarcerated.
Sheriff Lou Vallario states, “I have always been sympathetic to victims of crimes, regardless of their immigration status. If you are a victim of a crime, you should report it and be provided all of the efforts and services available to victims of any crimes. Also, having taught Domestic Violence classes at the local Police Academy for over 10 years, I fully understand the dynamics of DV and the associated difficulties with victims reporting their abuse. This is not a singular issue for the illegal immigrant population but an issue for all victims of DV. Victims of DV are afraid to report, regardless of their immigration status. To reduce this difficult situation to concerning themselves only with the illegal immigrant population, the ACLU is ignoring the broader topic of DV throughout the state. Further, if the ACLU does not like the manner in which the law is written, why don’t they find a Legislator sympathetic to their cause and change the law? Instead, they prefer to use lies, slander and bullying tactics to try to force their will on those of us that respect the law and comply with it.”
These subversive tactics come straight out of a guide titled, “All in One Guide to Defeating ICE Hold Requests” (see attached) where they promote “attacking Sheriffs” and “driving a wedge between them and ICE”. Rest assured, the GCSO will not be bullied or intimidated into complying with what the ACLU thinks is most appropriate for our country.
Finally, the automated fingerprint notification system known as “Secure Communities” will be in effect this month in Colorado. This system, forwards ALL fingerprints produced by ALL arrestees in ALL jails to CBI where they are then forwarded to various databases, including ICE’s. Therefore, as soon as this goes into effect, the provisions of the above statue will be moot in that there will be no need to determine immigration status any longer when booking a defendant into jail. Obviously, it was important for the ACLU to raise this issue BEFORE Secure Communities for whatever their hidden agenda has in store.
Lou Vallario
Garfield County Sheriff
970-945-0453
lvallario@garcosheriff.com"
SandBoxBlogs: KJCT News 8 "Garfield County Combats Local Gangs"
'FCL' filling in for wounded Nanny tonight:
Great job, Garfield Sheriff! Love the interview Kim in this video.
Even that 'interesting cure-all' by fan of Garfield S.O Anita Sherman! By golly, just find some fun things for all our kids to do and the gang problems will be over!
So glad the S.O. is working so much harder than that and implementing measures that really work. Stay the course, Garfield Sheriff and TAG. Thank you for all you do!
Shannon Ballard:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo -- The Garfield county sheriff's office is combating gangs on the Western Slope.
Part of that process is educating the community in hopes of controlling the problem.
Most people wouldn’t connect gangs to small town Colorado, but the Garfield County Sheriff's Office says it's an issue that's growing.
There are at least 25 known gangs in Garfield County.
Authorities are holding several special education sessions to bring awareness to the problem.
They’re going over everything from why kids join gangs and identification, to how recent gang activity is impacting the area.
Specialists say gangs may seem like a fictional concept, but they present a very real threat locally.
“We’re not L.A., we're not Chicago,” Sergeant Kim Sill with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said.
“However, we do have a gang presence, we do have criminal activity being conducted by gangs, and it's a concern to our communities and to our county. We are going to combat it at every turn that we can.
The Sheriff's Office says the average age of gang recruitment is between eight and sixteen-years-old.
(Click title to read story and watch interviews)
Great job, Garfield Sheriff! Love the interview Kim in this video.
Even that 'interesting cure-all' by fan of Garfield S.O Anita Sherman! By golly, just find some fun things for all our kids to do and the gang problems will be over!
So glad the S.O. is working so much harder than that and implementing measures that really work. Stay the course, Garfield Sheriff and TAG. Thank you for all you do!
Shannon Ballard:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo -- The Garfield county sheriff's office is combating gangs on the Western Slope.
Part of that process is educating the community in hopes of controlling the problem.
Most people wouldn’t connect gangs to small town Colorado, but the Garfield County Sheriff's Office says it's an issue that's growing.
There are at least 25 known gangs in Garfield County.
Authorities are holding several special education sessions to bring awareness to the problem.
They’re going over everything from why kids join gangs and identification, to how recent gang activity is impacting the area.
Specialists say gangs may seem like a fictional concept, but they present a very real threat locally.
“We’re not L.A., we're not Chicago,” Sergeant Kim Sill with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said.
“However, we do have a gang presence, we do have criminal activity being conducted by gangs, and it's a concern to our communities and to our county. We are going to combat it at every turn that we can.
The Sheriff's Office says the average age of gang recruitment is between eight and sixteen-years-old.
(Click title to read story and watch interviews)
SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Leftovers …"
Credit Bob Berwyn by clicking title of post.
May 23, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Note From Nanny "Tough Breaks"
(Update from 'FCL')
'Sandbox Nanny' ended up having surgery on her wrist Thursday. I'm going to do a few posts for her this evening but then unfortunately, we are heading out camping at our house for the Memorial weekend. She should be back up and running (she thinks so, anyway...) over the weekend. Comment moderation still on global blog capture.
If not, then I'll pinch hit for her when we get back. (cue in sound of evil laughter)...because now......I have the password to access the blog!)
______________________________________________
(sighs...rolls eyes....)
Morning, everyone!
SandBox Nanny is typing one-handed today as late yesterday evening, she biffed down some concrete stairs and fractured her wrist in a couple of places.......ouch....
Blog wise, that translates out to some pinch-hitters who need to juggle schedules and holiday to help out.
Thanks for your patience.....have a great...long....relaxing and safe holiday weekend!
(....comments on a global blog comment moderation lock for now. Comment in, but they will go into hold mode until I look them over and things return to normal.)
'Sandbox Nanny' ended up having surgery on her wrist Thursday. I'm going to do a few posts for her this evening but then unfortunately, we are heading out camping at our house for the Memorial weekend. She should be back up and running (she thinks so, anyway...) over the weekend. Comment moderation still on global blog capture.
If not, then I'll pinch hit for her when we get back. (cue in sound of evil laughter)...because now......I have the password to access the blog!)
______________________________________________
(sighs...rolls eyes....)
Morning, everyone!
SandBox Nanny is typing one-handed today as late yesterday evening, she biffed down some concrete stairs and fractured her wrist in a couple of places.......ouch....
Blog wise, that translates out to some pinch-hitters who need to juggle schedules and holiday to help out.
Thanks for your patience.....have a great...long....relaxing and safe holiday weekend!
(....comments on a global blog comment moderation lock for now. Comment in, but they will go into hold mode until I look them over and things return to normal.)
May 22, 2012
SandBoxBlogs: Hot Air Blog "Egyptian poll: Romney 73, Obama 25"
'AllahPundit'
"Needless to say, as Brookings notes, this is emphatically an anti-Obama vote rather than a pro-Romney one. If even one percent of Egyptian voters are capable of picking Romney out of a line-up, I’d be surprised.
Still, an amusing result. Because I’ll bet you that a huge chunk of those who “prefer” Mitt here do so on the assumption that he’ll be more hostile to Israel than Obama is. Lots of rude awakenings in Cairo happening these days.
"Needless to say, as Brookings notes, this is emphatically an anti-Obama vote rather than a pro-Romney one. If even one percent of Egyptian voters are capable of picking Romney out of a line-up, I’d be surprised.
Still, an amusing result. Because I’ll bet you that a huge chunk of those who “prefer” Mitt here do so on the assumption that he’ll be more hostile to Israel than Obama is. Lots of rude awakenings in Cairo happening these days.
Attitudes toward the United States continue to be unfavorable (85%)."Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Asked to name the two steps by the United States that would improve the views of the US the most, 66% identified brokering Middle East peace and establishing a Palestinian state, 46% identified stopping economic and military aid to Israel, and 44% identified withdrawal of American forces from the Arabian Peninsula. Only seven percent identified withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan as one of the two top steps, 12% identified an American push to spread democracy in the Middle East, and 18% identified providing more economic assistance to the region.
Although Egyptians in the past year have been understandably preoccupied with their own political and economic situation and have not been paying as much attention to the American elections as usual, and they probably know less about the republican candidates for president, that has not prevented them from giving their opinions. Presented with a choice between President Obama and likely Republican candidate Mitt Romney, 73% said they preferred Romney, and only 25% chose Obama. It is unlikely that most Egyptians know much about Romney, and the choice is more likely to be an expression of disappointment with Obama. When Obama first came to office in 2009, even before his important speech in Cairo, Egyptian public opinion of the President was more favorable than unfavorable. This contrasted with Israeli public opinion, which was more suspicious of Obama. Since then, there has been a reversal of fortune, where in a poll we conducted in Israel last February, Israeli Jews expressed preference for Obama over all the leading Republican candidates (although his lead over Romney was within the margin of error)....." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "The Mitt you see is what you get"
Richard Cohen:
"For all of Mitt Romney’s talk of what he would do on day one in the White House — bomb Iran or was it Planned Parenthood? — there’s just as good a chance he would be tacking up two pictures on the wall. One would be of George H.W. Bush and the other of Jimmy Carter. They both became one-term presidents after they were challenged in the primaries. This is a lesson for Romney.
It is also a lesson for everyone who thinks that if Romney becomes president, he would govern from the center. This is a widely held belief, encouraged by the Romney camp itself and the supposed gaffe of Eric Fehrnstrom that the world would see a different Romney in the general election: “Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again.” This is not a gaffe, but a feint. Romney would be able to restart nothing.
In the first place, Romney would likely have a Republican House, and maybe a Senate, too. This means he has to work with a party that has just recently punished Richard Lugar for excessive moderation and is willing, at this very moment, to bring down the country’s credit rating another notch rather than budge on the debt ceiling. To Romney, who made a fortune with the clever prestidigitation of debt, this has to make no sense, but he would go along because (1) he’d have to and (2) he always does.
Congress, though, would be the least of President Romney’s troubles. The real threat to him will come from the very core of a Republican Party, which likes him little and trusts him less. The moment he shows the slightest moderate or rational tick, someone such as Rick Santorum will come barreling out of the GOP’s piney woods, screaming oaths (in Latin) and enter the 2016 Iowa caucuses that, you might remember, he won in 2012. Santorum must be itching for such a fight, having already called Romney “the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama.” That, folks, is not a fudge....."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"For all of Mitt Romney’s talk of what he would do on day one in the White House — bomb Iran or was it Planned Parenthood? — there’s just as good a chance he would be tacking up two pictures on the wall. One would be of George H.W. Bush and the other of Jimmy Carter. They both became one-term presidents after they were challenged in the primaries. This is a lesson for Romney.
It is also a lesson for everyone who thinks that if Romney becomes president, he would govern from the center. This is a widely held belief, encouraged by the Romney camp itself and the supposed gaffe of Eric Fehrnstrom that the world would see a different Romney in the general election: “Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again.” This is not a gaffe, but a feint. Romney would be able to restart nothing.
In the first place, Romney would likely have a Republican House, and maybe a Senate, too. This means he has to work with a party that has just recently punished Richard Lugar for excessive moderation and is willing, at this very moment, to bring down the country’s credit rating another notch rather than budge on the debt ceiling. To Romney, who made a fortune with the clever prestidigitation of debt, this has to make no sense, but he would go along because (1) he’d have to and (2) he always does.
Congress, though, would be the least of President Romney’s troubles. The real threat to him will come from the very core of a Republican Party, which likes him little and trusts him less. The moment he shows the slightest moderate or rational tick, someone such as Rick Santorum will come barreling out of the GOP’s piney woods, screaming oaths (in Latin) and enter the 2016 Iowa caucuses that, you might remember, he won in 2012. Santorum must be itching for such a fight, having already called Romney “the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama.” That, folks, is not a fudge....."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."
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