by Patty LaTaille
“Cancer Gene” Common in SLV
Cancer rates are abnormally high among young men and women in the SLV, and now an explanation is at hand. With recent breakthroughs in science, historical anecdotes and good timing, there may be an answer to the many deaths due to breast and other cancers each year. According to The Denver Post, “Many of the descendants of the devoutly Catholic families who settled this valley hundreds of years ago carry an inherited genetic mutation that is linked to cancer. That gene mutation is found, primarily, among Jewish families.”
The nationwide release of a book, The Wandering Gene and the Indian Princess by Jeff Wheelwright, documents the Valley’s hidden history and may help bring acceptance and change to the San Luis Valley.
“Since the genetic mutation has been documented, the awareness among physicians has grown,” said Angela Bedard, a genetic counselor and head of the oncology department at the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center in Alamosa.
“The knowledge is growing and women at younger ages are being sent for screening,” Bedard said. “All women need mammograms and cancer screening, but even among those whose family history increases their risk, there is resistance,” she said.
“We still see women of the San Luis Valley being diagnosed at later stages,” in their disease, Bedard said. “These women are just not doing the screening at rates that are needed.”
According to The Denver Post, “Cost is a factor. The San Luis Valley has some of the state’s most intractable poverty and one of its highest rates of people without insurance.” But cost isn’t the only barrier. Fear of stigma may be one reason few are being tested for the mutation. Fear of discrimination based on the results of such tests may be another.
Alleged Burglars Arrested – Stolen Goods Surface
According to The Valley Courier, “Richard Basinger, 67, and his wife, Carrie Dean, 50, were arrested and each charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief with bond set at $50,000 after stolen items were identified and recovered from their North Tracy Canyon property located off of Saguache County Road T on March 28.”
It appears that the pair was on a stealing spree, with reports of over 100 recovered items found, mainly from a rural cabin owned by Richard Slinko. The items were stolen between Nov. 2011 and Feb. 2012.
“Almost everything was stolen out of his cabin,” Saguache Sheriff Mike Norris said. “For instance: refrigerator, stove, wood burning stove, beds, bed frames, chest of drawers, tools and the list goes on and on.”
Basinger and Dean had lived in Slinko’s cabin December 2011, with his permission, after their home had burned down for the second time in recent years.
The Saguache Sheriff’s office began investigating the suspects on a hunch that people whose house had just burned down could use some new furnishings. The deputies recognized some of the stolen goods on the property and obtained a search warrant the next day.
ASC Becomes ASU
Adams State College is one signature away from becoming a university.
House Bill 12-1080 passed the Colorado Senate on April 11 and is awaiting Gov. Hickenlooper’s signature.
The bill will change the name of the school from Adams State College to Adams State University. The change will be official Aug. 7, 2012, effective with the Fall 2012 semester.
According to The Valley Courier, the college has changed names five times since it was originally founded in 1921 as an institution to prepare teachers for rural Colorado public schools. In 1925, Adams State Normal School opened and in 1929 the name was changed to Adams State Teachers College of Southern Colorado. That name was shortened to Adams State Teachers College in 1938 and was renamed Adams State College in 1946.
Now “ASU” has the ability to offer additional graduate programs and new degrees.
