In a mock divorce trial created by the University of Colorado at Boulder聮s Center of the American West, people representing Colorado聮s urban and rural areas will argue their sides complete with a bailiff and a judge on Friday, June 30, in Idalia.
The program will be held at the Route 36 Bar and Grill at 26375 U.S. Highway 36 in Idalia beginning at 8 p.m.
The mock trial will explore the complex relationship between urban and rural interests in the West. The program is presented as a divorce hearing between Sandy Greenhills West (the rural West) and Urbana Asphalt West (the urban West). It touches on many issues including water, pollution, support of and control over rural communities and the use of natural resources.
During the program, Sandy requests a divorce from Urbana, citing irreconcilable differences ranging from "failure to support" to infidelity through flirting with foreign markets.
Local participants playing witnesses in the performance include Robin Wiley, farmer/rancher and president, board of directors, Idalia Vision Foundation; Tim Krause, science and math teacher and president, board of directors, Homestead Foundation; Jim Coulter, executive vice president, First Pioneer National Bank (Wray) and president, board of directors, Yuma County Economic Development Corp.; Dennis Schiel, artist and president, board of directors, Idalia Vision Foundation.
Curt Penney, judge, Kit Carson County, will play the judge and Dessany Wiley, president, Idalia chapter of El Pomar Youth in Community Service, will play the bailiff.
The performance will include Patricia Nelson Limerick, professor of history at CU-Boulder, as Urbana Asphalt West; Dr. Charles H. Scoggin, CEO and co-founder, Sage Medical Institute Inc., Boulder, as Sandy Greenhills West; and Tamar V. Scoggin, intern, Center of the American West, CU-Boulder, as Suburbia Greenlawn West.
The mission of the Center of the American West is to explore the distinctive character and issues of the region and to help Westerners become well-informed, participating citizens in their communities.
The upcoming program in Idalia is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by CU-Boulder聮s Center of the American West and the Idalia chapter of El Pomar Youth in Community Service. For more information about the Center of the American West visit the Web site at .