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News Local News Reporter's Notebook published Jan. 7, 2012
Reporter's Notebook published Jan. 7, 2012
Shackled with negative image in courtPre-trial court hearings come in many shades. Attorneys argue about what evidence should be allowed, if the court case has been saturated by publicity, whether charges fit the alleged crime and — in cases where the defendant is incarcerated — ways to soften his image and change how the jury may perceive him. During a pre-trial hearing for a Pelican Bay State Prison inmate, defense attorney George Mavris sought this week to limit ways his client would stand out, considering he was going to be shackled to a metal chair that looks much different than the soft-padded seats the attorneys have. Mavris argued for his client not to have handcuffs placed on him during the trial, have a drape placed on his chair and to shorten his ankle-chains — “so he doesn’t sound like the ghost of Christmas past walking in.” Judge William Follett ruled in Mavris’ favor and ordered that all four chairs have drapes to look more similar. The back of the inmate’s chair will still stand about a foot shorter, however. Perceptions. — Anthony Skeens Fairgrounds pushed as venueWith the loss of state funding, the Del Norte County Fairgrounds is looking for new money. “We need to create more money so we have more money coming through,” said fair manager Randy Hatfield. Hatfield would like to remind the community that the fairgrounds could be the location of your next event, whether that be a dance, party, meeting, sporting event, festival, and most other things one could dream up. The local roller derby and indoor soccer teams that use the facility frequently have helped the fair, as well as the indoor farmer’s market. “We’d like to see buildings used every weekend,” Hatfield said. “Just give us a call and we can help.” —Adam Spencer Teen makes half-court shotA half-court shot got the crowd pumped up during halftime of the Del Norte High boys varsity basketball game Wednesday night. Two names from a raffle ticket fundraiser were called to attempt a halfcourt shot. While a few raffle participants the past several years have made the shot, they have been few and far between. The first person up missed the difficult shot. For the second shot, Humberto Cortez stepped to the halfcourt line. With his friends cheering him on, Cortez, a freshman at the school, turned, heaved the ball from halfcourt and watched as it went in to the cheers of the fans. “Great job,” public announcer Roger Gitlin told Cortez. “That was a 4-pointer.” Cortez had his choice of a number of gifts provided by area businesses. Things also went well for the Warriors, as they defeated St. Bernard’s of Eureka 52-43. —Bill Choy Importance of fatherhoodThe Yurok Tribe’s Fatherhood Project with Head Start has a video on YouTube emphasizing the importance of a father in a child’s early years. The video features images of local boys and girls spending time with their fathers at the Head Start in Klamath and around the area. “The project is to emphasize those small things that make a world of difference in children’s lives and a child’s development, both boys and girls — that is what the Fatherhood Project is all about with the Yurok Tribe’s Head Start program,” Jim McQuillen, the tribe’s education director, says in the video. The project encourages fathers to spend time with their children in the first years of their life and help them with their early development. The Yurok Tribe’s education staff explains in the video that the relationship between children and their parents can help with their emotional, cognitive and social skills. See the video at youtube.com/ watch?v=gymp3odATQ0 or search for “Yurok Tribe Fatherhood Project” on YouTube. —Kelley Atherton Santa’s Workshop on videoAlso on YouTube is a video documenting Rural Human Services’ Santa’s Workshop program. The video made by Rose Munger, an Americorps VISTA volunteer working at RHS, shows volunteers wrapping gifts that the community donated at Santa’s Workshop that was on H Street to the sounds of a Christmas song. “One of the things we want to accomplish is that all children who are in need get something at Christmastime — we don’t turn anyone away,” Ron Phillips “head elf” in charge of Santa’s Workshop, says in the video. The program provided Christmas presents to 1,300 children from 600 families in Del Norte County. See the video at youtube.com/ watch?v=FRuV6H4KQ2c. —Kelley Atherton |
