Jury deliberatesshooter’s intentNo doubt about Rivas’ role

DISTRICT COURT

Arien Rivas

By JEFF TUCKERTHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN________________________________________

There’s no questionthat Arien Rivas killedJoshua Abeyta in July2010.

But as a Pueblo jurybegan its deliberationsFriday afternoon, PublicDefender Kelle Thomasasked the panel not toconsider the black andwhite facts of the case,but the gray areas in be-tween.

Rivas, 21, is chargedwith first-degree murderfor the shooting, whichhappened at a party inthe Meadowbrook MobileHome Park on East Colo-rado 96.

But jurors now mustdetermine whether Rivas’

level of intoxication thatnight was high enoughthat he couldn’t establisha specific intent to killAbeyta, 18.________________________________________

SEE RIVAS, 2C

Group renews its ROARCourt volley centers on Christo’s Over the River project

FEDERAL COURT

By ROBERT BOCZKIEWICZTHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN__________________________________________

DENVER — A group op-posed to artist Christo’splan to hang large fabricpanels over the ArkansasRiver and the federal agen-cy that approved theproject revived their courtfight Friday.

The group, Rags Overthe Arkansas River Inc.,and the U.S. Bureau ofLand Management took op-posing positions in new fil-ings in U.S. District Court.

The filings are a follow-up to a stay order SeniorJudge John Kane issued Ju-ly 5, temporarily halting ac-tion on the group’s lawsuitagainst the project.

The group said Friday itwants Kane to amend hisstay by prohibiting BLMfrom allowing Christo toproceed with the project

until at least 180 days aftera decision on a separatechallenge to the project.

The filing by the CanonCity-based group, knownas ROAR, states Christo in-tends for construction tostart in February. Con-

struction is expected totake 21⁄2 years.

Friday’s filing is to en-sure the group “has ade-quate time to make ourcase in federal courtagainst BLM,” said ROARspokesperson Joan Anzel-

mo.The separate challenge

is an administrative appealbeing considered by theBoard of Land Appealswithin the Interior Depart-ment, the parent agency ofBLM.

The judge on July 5 saidhe would wait for the out-come of the appeal beforedeciding ROAR’s lawsuit.

BLM, in its court filingon Friday, contends the op-position group does notneed 180 or more days toramp up in court again af-ter the appeals boardmakes its decision.

BLM stated it will giveROAR sufficient advancenotice so the group wouldhave time to ask for an in-junction to block theproject if Christo is al-lowed to proceed with theproject.__________________________________________

SEE CHRISTO, 2C

CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/FILE

The artist Christo explains his vision for Over The River, hisproposed project on the Arkansas River along U.S. 50 west ofCanon City.

Silver Queen really goldenCentenarian Elaine Eddy Ripley wins tiara

COLORADO STATE FAIR

CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/JOHN JAQUES

Elaine Eddy Ripley, 101, is the 2012 Colorado State Fair Silver Queen. She poses with her great-grandson, BrysonMosal, 14, following her crowning. She is a resident at Chateau at Sharmar Village.

By LORETTA SWORDTHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN____________________________________________________

Although she once met famedmusician and conductorLawrence Welk, Elaine Eddy Rip-ley on Friday put a new feather inher cap. Actually, it was a gem-studded tiara placed on her head.

Ripley held on to the tiara anda large trophy as a contingent ofattendants draped her shouldersin glittery cape, which also camewith being named the 2012 Colo-rado State Fair Silver Queen in aluncheon ceremony at the PuebloConvention Center.

“Oh, I love it! I love it!” the101-year-old exclaimed again andagain, between hugs and kissesfor everyone she could reach — several generations of familymembers, event emcee MarvinRead and even a reporter.

A member of the Chateau atSharmar Village in Pueblo who’sbeen a musician for most of herlife, Ripley played the piano dur-ing the talent portion of Friday’scompetition and wowed the judg-es with her wide smile and en-thusiastic responses to Read’squestions during her personal in-terview.

Ripley will be accompanied atthe Fair’s Silver Queen festivitieson Senior Citizen Day byrunners-up Sue Loomis, 92, ofHilderbrand Care Center in Can-on City; Alice Truitt, 93, of PikesPeak Care and Rehab Center inColorado Springs; Doris McCray,96, of Life Care Center in Pueblo

and Miss Congeniality MelvaQuillen, 82, of Westwood-Horizon Heights in Pueblo.

Bryson Mosal, Ripley’s 14-year-old great-grandson, trav-eled with his family from FortCollins for Friday’s festivities.He said he was confident shewould win something, and was

the first to yell out and applaudwhen her name was announcedas a winner.

“You did it, Grandma, you didit!” he exclaimed.

After posing for photographswith her later, he said he wisheshe could spend more time withRipley because “she’s so cool. I

just really like hanging out withher.”

Ripley and her court will bepart of the State Fair Parade onAug. 25, preside over Senior Citi-zen Day activities on Aug. 30 andride in the Fiesta Day Parade onSept. 2. lorettas@chieftain.com

SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2012

Cwww.chieftain.com

Council‘feelingstingy’Tight budgetmeans tighterpurse strings

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

By PETER ROPERTHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN_______________________________________________

City Council sat down togo over Pueblo’s finances onFriday, took a long look at the$5.6 million budget shortfall itexpects next year and de-clared it couldn’t afford to begenerous anymore.

“We need to get the wordout that we’re feeling stingyfrom now on,” CouncilmanChris Nicoll joked during thehalf-day work session to lookat the 2013 budget. But hewasn’t really joking.

Council didn’t make anyofficial decisions at Friday’sget-together, but there was lit-tle argument among the sevenon one point — nonprofitgroups accustomed to receiv-ing city support will need toshare in any budget cuttingdone this year. And councilwould frown on any last-minute, emergency pleas forhelp.

There were the usual head-aches — Pueblo MotorsportsPark wants $300,000 more toimprove the city’s racetrackcomplex, all in the hopes ofmaking a profit one day._______________________________________________

SEE COUNCIL, 3C

CENTER OF ATTENTIONCHIEFTAIN PHOTO/JOHN JAQUES

Cowboys and cowgirls watch the calf roping competition Friday at the 2012 National Little Britches Finals Rodeo held at the Colorado State Fair Grandstand Arena.