Actually, as I recall at the time I wrote that, I was not intending to be sarcastic. I was looking at the situation as someone who knows that beer and boating is pretty common. In my mind, as someone familiar with Diamond Island, what was a very small & easy turn of the steering wheel resulted into a huge human disaster. I'm sorry for any pain my comments, as perceived by you, may have caused and apologize for that. As someone who has experienced the sudden death of a brother-in-law, I recall how angry his death made me, at the time.

Determining whether a forum post is straight-ahead or sarcastic is not always so easy, and a different readers can interpret the same post differently.

What else can I say here? I need to go back and reread what I said in that quoted post of mine...hold-on...

Ok...just reread it ...and can understand how it could be interpreted to be sarcastic when one considers all my other posts....however....driving a boat and driving a car are in fact very very different. Car safety is usually a matter of a couple feet, while boat safety is frequently in a wide open space with 360-degree choice of steering.....so long time habits of boating and beer are still happening probably by a good number of boaters.

I was definately not trying to make a sarcastic comment but more thinking along the lines that it is not too unusual boating activity and was just a very small steering error. Boat steering errors have happened to me plenty times, and I think "is there rocks down below"...and "hope this works out ok" and know it's very easy to go astray on Winnipesaukee.

And, I apologize for stepping on anyone's feelings here.

Thank you very much FLL!!

I have never read any of your posts as being sarcastic. I think you speak from the heart and add a lot to this forum :). More forum members should stop trying to be someone that they aren't and try to be more tolerant of opinions that don't agree with how they feel.

We all have different experiences in life as well as educational back grounds which make forums interesting at times. To stop someone from being themselves would make this a very boring forum.
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I salute you!
 

FLL, you're a big man in my eyes. It takes a real man to offer an apology. My concern about the flavor of that post was if any family members were reading it. It really should not be directed at me as I am only an aquaintance and not family. This proves to me that you are the good natured man that most of your posts portray. I have moved on.

Maybe not per this quote from the story:
She will assume senior active status and will remain eligible to sit as a judge when needed.

I often ignore or avoid the controversial topics on this (and other) forums. But this statement I cannot ignore.

As someone who maintains websites far smaller and less volitile than this one, I don't think this is a fair burden to place on Don. He did not sign up to be judge and jury (though too often, that is the job of a moderator)

It's a fine line between constructive debate and needing to serve as judge and arbitor. Don does a wonderful job on this website keeping it focused on topics related to the Lakes Region. Let's not put too much of a burden on him that he reconsiders why he's doing this!

Is this still on schedule for March 1st or has there been another delay

I did a little searching around and it appears still slated for March. If there is going to be any further delay it will not come out until the March time frame...

In reading the couple of articles I did today, I was struck by something I didn't like. It appears that the delay in January to have the trial in March was so that Ms. Blizzard could have surgery, and be allowed adequate time to recover, and that this was related to injuries suffered in the accident.

Now My question is this, at this point, I can't image any surgery she needed to under go was life threatening. Necessary well that is a different story, and it may have very well been. But the question is, could the surgery have taken place after the Trial. Now grant you by asking for the delay Ms Blizzard has waived her right to a speedy trial. But my concern is for all the other people involved and effected by this tragedy. Don't they have a right for this trial to have taken place and the issue resolved.

In short although Ms. Blizzard surgery may have been necessary, is it right to delay a trial, because of non life threatening surgery? Or is this another defense tactic, to try and put more time in between the incident and the trail so as to hopefully remove the spotlight of the incident form the trial.

LI....

The surgery my not be life threatening, however once in she is in state custody it will be the state who has to pay for the surgeries....

I would also expect one more delay... I doubt they are going to make the jury travel over the ice on the lake in March to visit the accident scene...

Woodsy

Regardless of how I might feel about certain laws on Lake Winni and how this accident happened, I have real heart felt sympathy for Ms Blizzard and her family.
I have two daughters a little older that Erica and I don’t know how I could possibly go through what her family must be going through now.

well...
 

Well...at least her family can see her, talk with her, offer support, try to comfort her...
How about the family of the girl who was killed????
My guess is that they probably would like some measure of closure. And for that, the trial must take place.

Typically, whenever a police chief, police officer, judge or state, county, or local prosecutor is asked to comment on any one individual case they have a two word reply: NO COMMENT!. And, then they say something like "let the legal process work" or "the jury has spoken" or "we look forward to a fair and impartial trial......and thankyou very much for asking."

Believe the whole premise in criminal law is it is: The people of the State of New Hampshire verses (an individual's name), and the mission of the state criminal code is to protect the public at large.

...sic...."If the glove don't fit....you must aquit!"

Perry Mason's tv school of law........ayuh!

It will happen
 

I think people are growing impatient because they are not used to the course of the law. The law/justice will happen when all things can be considered fair. Thank God for the United States of America.

BTW, course means "the path of travel" It may be long, short, circumnavigated, but eventually it gets there.

Well said.....Nothing can change the outcome of that night. The blame and trial will not change the torn hearts and spirits of this part of Winni's history.

It's probably a good idea to not prejudge a trial and assume a verdict.......you really need to let the trial take place and no doubt the blood alcohol level will be a key piece in the process......after all....Attorney James Moir's motion to have the blood alcohol level not be admitted into evidence was denied by the judge in April 2009. In today's NH legal system, the blood alcohol level number seems like it can be a very big deal.

On January 5, 2010, the www.citizen.com article by Bea Lewis refers to the April 2009 ruling with a quote from Judge Kathleen McGuire in Belknap Superior Court who ruled that the defendant "drove a boat headlong into an island at an unreasonable rate of speed was the probable cause Marine Patrol needed to believe the defendant had been drinking alcohol and that evidence of intoxication would be found in the defendant's blood."

www.citizen.com google 1/05/10

If the defendant has any brains, she'll accept a plea bargain.

I foresee a harsh sentence if she wastes the court's time and is convicted.

Oh sure...
 

Like, alcohol impairs judgment or something? :confused:

Seriously some of these posts are extremely hurtful to everyone involved. Please have some compassion. Lets wait to see what comes out of the trial before judgement is passed.

I am surprised that this thread hasn't been shut down yet.

Well said SA Meredith. The victims family wonders every day what is next for them. I know there is an upcoming birth of a grandson in the near future that will probably put a smile on their faces.:):)

Today's Monday, March 1, www.laconiadailysun.com, reports that jury selection is scheduled to start today in Belknap County Superior Court, located in Laconia, and the trial testimony is scheduled to begin next week, on Monday, March 8.

Here's one paragraph from the the center of the 15 paragraph article written by Ed Engler.

"Presumably, the foundation of the state's case against Blizzard is an analysis of the blood that was drawn from her by medical personnel shortly after the accident. Her attorney, James Moir of Concord, last year tried to have evidence excluded from the trial on the grounds the state had lacked probable cause to obtain her medical records but that pleading was rejected by the court."
.....

Today's www.citizen.com and www.concordmonitor.com also have articles and the Monitor has some new info in it that may interest readers.

From the Monitor:

"He described Shinopulos as somewhat disorientated during questioning at the hospital. And in her ruling on the blood test evidence, McGuire called Shinopulos's timing "questionable" because the ride from Governor's Island to Sleeper's Island should take only 10 minutes. "


Ten minutes??? In what? That run especially at night, should take more than 10 minutes unless you are really flying.

"The women then headed south, through a light rain,towards Sleeper Island in Alton." If the weather conditions that night can be described as light rain, then the wind storm and the damages of last week are only scattered debris and a few power outages. Shame on you Mr Engler and the editor of The Laconia Scum for such biased reporting. Just like the "anointed one". if you can't get the facts straight make something up.

It's less than 4 miles from the middle of Governers ot the middle of Sleepers. You could do it in 10 minutes at 24 MPH.

Don't know what chart you're using Dave R, maybe the one from the middle of the Wier's Times? According to my Bizer chart from the middle of Govoner's to the middle of Sleepers is almost 10 miles. Do us a favor and post when the Mischief Managed will be out so we can stay safely at the dock.

Looks like more or less 10 miles to me too
 

And for what it's worth, the +/- 5 miles from Shep Browns to my home on Mink would have taken waaaay longer than 10 minutes that night and it's an extremely familiar route with several light buoys along the way. It was raining and foggy and nearly moonless that night. Only thing that would have made conditions worse would have been high winds.

It is almost ten miles and when you factor in having to get safely past the Witches on a dark, rainy and foggy night, it would be foolish to think this trip could be made in less than 30 minutes, given the conditions. Shinopulos is way off base with a 10 minute estimate, even during the day.

R2B

Yup, I was incorrect, I was using the wrong scale. Seemed kinda short to me when I measured it, Double checked my math, but not the scale. Should be 7.75 miles.

And that is probably calculating a straight line.

I used to make a 50-55mph run in a 30' Monterey from my place on Mark to the Alton docks, it was always 30 minutes if I pushed it hard all the way. Clear conditions during the day, or clear night conditions prior to the speed limit.

Chances
 

Rocky,

I will take my chances with Dave on the lake- more so than with most people I see out there.

Agreed. Dave is always insightful on boating issues. Also, when he makes a mistake (which doesn't occur often), he is not afraid to acknowledge his error as he did here. It's too bad others on the board aren't as quick to admit to their mistakes.

Maybe if this thread was about the correct way to read a chart I wouldn't have been so critical of Dave, but considering the topic don't you think attention to facts is paramount? That's the problem with this type of arena. Somebody can post anything without having to back it up. So if your reckless with with what you choose to post for people to read, why shouldn't I doubt your judgment in other areas?

Yes because you are perfect and never make mistakes. Fod gods sake it was an error made on a CHAT forum. Dave was not sworn in under any court of law when he made the post. This is a chat forum where people post thoughts and ideas. For you to "doubt (his) judgement in other areas?" Who are you to judge anyone in area? Dave posted his thoughts and corrected them when his error was pointed out. If you have a "problem with this type of arena," then don't read it and don't post to it. Talk about riding in on your high horse and snubbing your nose at everyone. :rolleye2:

I too would rather ride with DAVE R any day because he actually displays characteristics of a GOOD pilot. One who can admit an error in judgement and correct it. Other than stubborn captains or pilots who think they are above all infallible. Those are the captains and pilots I'd be avoiding at all cost. Those are the guys that worry me.

Is it just me or does this sound eerily similar to the type of regular posts from one Turtle Boy? Must be just a coincidence??? :confused: :yawn:

I don't know exactly what point they started from on Governors Island, but let's say it's 10 miles. It was said it took them about three hours to get from Governors Island to the site of the crash. The Judge said around 10 minutes should be the norm. She's the judge, but probably misspoke, she's not on trial here. If you chart the route from the Wolf Trapp at around 11:00 PM, to GI then back towards Sleeper, in bad conditions, allowing 15 - 25 minutes or so while they were on GI, you'd have an approximate idea as to their speed of travel. Conditions probably worsened that night coming back from GI, so maybe they started real slow, especially around the Witches area. It's quite possible she thought she was in the clear later on and thought she knew exactly where she was.

All of this info will come out at the trial, so I'd not get too excited about the 10 minute remark. I know from my GPS, I can get trip info, mileage info, average speed, trace my footprints and all of that. Possibly this type of data will be presented as well.

The trial starts next week, so no need for snarly posts. Perhaps Rocky can take it up with the Judge, since it was her statement that started the math problem. :rolleye2:

Hey, no worries folks. Let's keep this on topic. I was completely wrong with my post and it was correct for rockythedog to call me out on it.

I was not offended, but I do appreciate folks sticking up for me.

I've always wondered how you get a modern 38 foot boat under the bridge at Wolfeboro to get to the Wolf Trap which is in Back Bay, in the first place. Even a GFBL (which this boat was not) ...without a windshield is fairly high off the water. I have to duck when I go under that bridge in my 20 footer without a windshield. Flag staffs down.

The only alternative is to Walk around from the Wolfeboro town docks...in cruddy weather. A bit of a hike. :look: NB

As usual, Dave, you handled it with grace and humility :)

IF quoted correctly, I think more importantly, it is the Judge that needs to review her statements. But distance aside, the conditions and the routing of that night's trip make for a interesting journey into deteriorating conditions. I would not want to make it myself.

Awesome, I've been buttonholed and outed at the same time. From day one I have closely followed this tragic accident and it's horrific consequences, reading most every post and coming away with the feeling that this is some sort of volleyball game to see which side can score the most points. Would you not agree that this is a most sensitive and critical juncture? Is it asking too much from either side to thoughtfully consider what you put out there? It will soon be up to 12 people to decide what the facts of this case are. Can you give it a break till then. Afterwords they'll be plenty of time for you all to pick apart the bones of the verdict.

I believe Governor's Island is just a reference point for non-boaters. I thought I had read (no I am not going back to look it up) that they were headed to Sleepers after playing the annual practical joke on her father at his place at Pendleton Beach. More non-boaters/non Winni users would be familiar with Governor's Island than the Pendleton Beach reference.

Jury Picked To Hear Boating Fatality Case...
 

Trial set to start Monday; http://citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...9873/0/CITIZEN

That is correct AW.