Update on CherokeeThe Cherokee Municipal District is still under a court order to stop pumping water from wells No. 1 through No. 8. Here’s the latest in the water wars.The contempt of court case was delayed because the new Cherokee boardfired their attorney, Peter Susemihl. Kip Petersen, the new manager for the Cherokee district, had to certify to Judge Maes that all eight wells had stopped pumping. Seven out of the eight wells have been shut down, but one is still being pumped to provide water to Hardings Nursery. Cherokee has used its entire water allotment for the year from wells No. 1 through No. 8. Cherokee is taking the court ruling to the Supreme Court, but a date for a hearing has still not been scheduled.Meanwhile, plans for Claremont Business Park, Filing 2 are scheduled before the planning commission. Sources say the water resource for that development will come from the Kane Well, which is now full of concrete. To be continued …Speaking of lawyers:U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell, presiding over a lawsuit in Tampa, Fla., was sick of petty disagreements between lawyers in the case. The legal teams for Avista Management and Wausau Underwriters Insurance Co. couldn’t even agree on where a deposition should be held, so Presnell ordered the lawyers to meet on the courthouse steps later that month.”At that time and location, counsel shall engage in one game of ‘rock, paper, scissors’,” Presnell ordered. “The winner of this engagement shall be entitled to select the location for the … deposition.” The order brought so much media attention that the lawyers were able to agree on a location by the next day, and they begged in writing that the judge rescind the order so they wouldn’t have to play the game in front of TV cameras. The judge agreed, and lifted his order. (St Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune)Back to kindergarten boys!www.thisistrue.comCounty commissioners hard at workCommissioners proclaim “Ride to work” day for motorcyclistsCommissioners proclaim “Wear your western clothes” dayThose were actual headlines of county press releases promoting some of the pressing issues the El Paso County Board of Commissioners is dealing with these days. And there are many more of those special days that commissioners have voted on. We came up with a few of our own.”Vote on something stupid day.””Let’s work on the real issues day””We love the media day”Just an average fundraiserThe Denver Post reported that President Bush was in Colorado last week to raise money for Rick O’Donnell, the GOP candidate “vying for what’s been labeled the most competitive congressional seat in the country.”The article reads: “The president plans to attend a $1,000-a-plate luncheon at the Cherry Hills Village home of Denver businessman Charlie Gallagher and his wife, Diane.”Pictures with Bush at the July 21 event will cost attendees $4,200, and O’Donnell is expected to net at least $150,000 for his 7th District campaign.”A slew of Republican heavy hitters is invited to the luncheon, including former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, Gov. Bill Owens and … a number of prominent business leaders are also expected to attend.The Denver Post also stated that O’Donnell, the former director of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, has raised $1.2 million in his campaign, and, as the only Republican, he’s saved $856,000, “while the three Democrats running for the seat have been forced to spend money fighting one another.”Obviously, it’s a bipartisan issue; however, campaign reform, anyone? If we opened the door to a representative government, based not on money but on ethics and governing by a majority rule of the constituents, perhaps this country would not be as polarized as it is today.
