Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 17

Tuesday, December 16, 1997 The Arizona Republic B3 Colorado River water users to debate rules COLLECTOR 1 CAR AUCTION rUj.IAL HILLS, AZ FrL, Sat, Sim. Jan. 10, 11 Associated Press LAS VEGAS The contentious issue of water and how it's to be divided among users in California, Nevada and Arizona will be debated by Colorado River officials this' week. The Colorado River Water Users Association represents the seven states and 10 Indian tribes that draw on the river's resources. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at Thursday morning's meetingFederal and state officials are scheduled to speak Friday on issues such as Indian water rights, current treaty issues between the United States and Mexico, and coexistence among water users.

Western water officials are hopeful that Babbitt will shed some light on a series of plans, including how to provide more water for booming southern Nevada and how to get California to live within its river allocations. Nevada officials have been meeting with federal policymakers in hopes of winning approval for a plan to buy water supplies from Arizona and quench California's dependence on the Colorado. Addressing the group in Decem ber 1996, Babbitt said that it is "clear Nevada will need a regional approach to grow into the future." The question is whether the federal government, after decades of disputes over the Colorado, will initiate regulations allowing Nevada more access and restricting California's growing water appetite. "If these regulations are adopted, they will represent the biggest breakthrough on the Colorado River, in 50 years," said Pat Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. "For the first time, there could actually be some form of interstate water coop eration." Federal laws drawn up a half-century ago granted Nevada 300,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water annually, and the state currently uses about 250,000 of that allocation.

The river, which flows into Lake Mead, is southern Nevada's main source of water. Arizona was allocated 2.8 million acre-feet and used about 2.6 million in 1996. This year it plans to take its-full share and store any surplus in underground aquifers. California is expected to use 5.3 million acre-feet this year, well above the 4.4 million to which it is. entitled.

The excess comes from water not used by upstream states, including Nevada's unused allocation. An acre-foot is enough water for the typictf needs of one or two families for a year. Two years ago, Arizona lawmakers approved a plan to pump as much as 400,000 acre-feet of the state's Colorado River allocation annually to replenish aquifers. If approved by the Clinton administration, as expected, new regulations would allow Nevada to begin storing its unused water in Arizona aquifers in the coming year. 400 Cars Expected Consign Your Car Today! Same Time Same Place GOOD VIBRATIONS CAR SHOW Fountain Hills Park Show Shine, Poker Run-walk, Cruise of Champions lWo Oldies Concerts: Fri Sat Nights The Drifters The Shirells with The Monte Carlos Auction Hours: Vehicle Check-in -Jan.

8 Noon-7pm, Jan. 9 9am 9pm Auction Bidding Hours Fri. Jan. 9 5pm-10pm Sat Jan. 10 Open 8am Bidding 10am 10pm Sun.

Jan 1 1- Open 8am Bidding 10am 6pm To Consign or Enter Call 1-800-255-4485 Auction and Concert J5 Per Day Auction Eniry Fee 200 3 Buwrs fee-Terms: Cash, Castor's Check or Personal Check mih Bank Lfller of Ctiaraiiee Presented By Silver Auctions The Auction Company thai brings you Hot August Nights Lawyers debate Symington penalties LAWYERS, firm Page Bl The stiff punishment is warranted because the two-term Re MtoWKMwfei'lk 'ill 1 1 ttafrj taiW) Rstarati C4. Ill I I I 1 Vi ii btkMrtfejftnwijMisyiNMo ill I 1 111 HtrpiMto9aLttM. Ill I ill I I If iJsMwatsntot 111 I I til Ill I I i I I 1 teteW ill I I VJ il Ir IMJoirw 8w)ft(B(ffn)(Bto hi in iiifiiiiiiiirtitiiii-iiirniimiiiiiiiiiMiniiitil publican showed no remorse for his crimes and misled federal investigators about his role in the scheme during discussions before Symington's indictment in 1996, Schindler said. The government also contends Symington should have to pay more-than $20 million in restitution to his creditors, including as much as $19 million to a group of union pension funds that gave him a loan to build the failed Phoenix Mercado shopping and office center. Prosecutors also suggested Sy mington be fined $15,000.

In their response, Symington's attorneys repeated their contention that the ex-governor never caused a loss to any of his lenders. They disagreed with potential penalties contained in the report, prepared by federal probation officers, and argued that Symington did not deserve any prison time on six of the counts. For his conviction on a charge of defrauding the pension funds, Symington should receive probation, the defense said. Because the report itself is sealed, the exact possible punishment recommended under federal sentencing guidelines wasn't public information. In an interview, Schindler said probation officers agreed with prosecutors' assessment that Symington had caused his lenders a loss of $20 million to $40 million.

Symington, 52, resigned after a jury convicted him Sept. 3 after a summerlong trial. He theoretically faces hundreds of years in prison and millions of dollars in fines. However, legal experts have said they expected him to receive about an 18-month prison sentence. Symington's attorneys and prosecutors have until Jan.

9 to respond to Monday's court filings. A hearing on the final presentence report was set for Jan. 20. before Strand. DNA, blood from scene don't match DNA, from Page Bl Comier's identity.

Cornier, who has an extensive juvenile record for indecent exposure, burglary and aggravated 'assault, admitted to police that he nearly strangled both ASU students during the September attacks. But he said the sex act of the Sept. 15 incident was consensual and solicited by the victim. Cornier also denied raping the second victim on Sept. 16.

Instead, Cornier said that Wood, whose juvenile record includes burglary, theft and aggravated assault, raped the victim that night A search warrant compiled by the ASU Department of Public Safety said Cornier and Wood took turns raping the victim. Property belonging to one of the victims was found in Comier's home. Police initially said no evidence linked either teen to Yu's murder, and Cornier has denied involvement in her slaying. Though their DNA profiles did not match blood samples found at the scene of Yu's murder, Lotstein and Tempe police said investigations into the woman's murder are continuing and could still involve Cornier and Wood. "That's just one piece of evidence," Tempe police Sgt.

Toby Dyas said. "We don't want to rule him (Cornier) out yet as a suspect We'll continue to work the case and look at the evidence and see where It takes us." You've heard the horror stories about the Internet. How it's too complicated to use. How the service is erratic and unreliable. Well, now there's a better way, WEST.net.

It's easy to get on and easy to stay on. Once you're on, you'll appreciate WEST.net's capabilities, with a network that supports Mil up to 56 kbps modem speeds tor faster downloads. And unlike other services, you can count on reaching a real person, with real tech support, 24 hours a day. Just call 1-800-432-6688 today to sign up for WEST.net and, if after 30 days you're not satisfied, we'll refund your money. The Internet, made hassle-free.

You' re gonna love it. Unlimited Access Up to 56kbps CD ROM Start-up Kit Simple Installation No Hassle Log-On 24 7-Day Service GET A SECOND LINE NEXT PHONE BILL. SIGN UP BEFORE DECEMBER 17TH, AND ALSO INSTALLED FOR HALF OFF AND $10 OFF YOUR lltftXhiilifHft i'MKi- 1997 WEST. WEST'S NETWORK IS ARCHITECTED TO SUPPORT, BUT DOES NOT GUARANTEE, MODEM SPEEDS UP TO 56K USINC THE K56 FLEX PROTOCOL..