Magdalena Girls Stay Unbeaten

By John Severance

The Magdalena girls basketball team just keeps rolling.
The Lady Steers improved to 12-0 with a 66-48 win at Gallup Catholic on Jan. 16.
The Magdalena boys basketball team rebounded from a 43-30 loss at Gallup Catholic on Jan. 16 to beat Carrizozo 58-37 at home. The Steers are 9-3 overall and 2-1 in district play.
Magdalena will host Temple Baptist on Jan. 21.
The Quemado boys basketball team improved to 12-3 with an 86-44 win against Pine Hill and an 89-57 victory at Mountainair on Jan 16. The Quemado girls (5-7) lost at Pine Hill 40-22 but won at Mountainair 59-56.
Quemado will be at Hot Springs on Jan. 22 and host Mountainair Jan. 23.

Magdalena Girls Stay Unbeaten

Mountaineers Win Own Invitational

By John Severance

RESERVE – The Reserve boys basketball team took first place and the girls team finished third at the three-day Mountaineer Invitational on Jan. 16.
In the finals, the Reserve boys defeated Academia Juarez 65-51 and in the consolation finals, the Reserve girls topped 51-41.

“The kids are playing really good defense,” Reserve boys coach Stan Thompson said. “We don’t have a lot of size but we are using our speed to our advantage. We just try to put pressure on teams.”
And that pressure seems to be working.
The Mountaineers (13-1) defeated Cobre 67-44 and Santa Fe Waldorf 66-57 to get to the finals.
“We pressed them and we played man to man,” Thompson said of the Waldorf game. “They had two really good ballhandlers and one kid who shot well. We put one of our toughest defenders on him. He got his points but the rest of the kids did not. Our kids played really well.”
Tanner Lengstorf, Nolen Snyder, Scott Johnston, Trevor Kaber made the all-tournament team.
In the finals against Juarez, Snyder scored 23 points, Kaber and Mark Estrada added 12 each and Scott Johnston had 10.
“Everybody is doing their job and we are playing as a team,” Thompson said.
“We could not ask for more effort than that.”
The Reserve girls (4-10), meanwhile, defeated Cobre in the third place game 51-41.
Lorissa Estrada led the way with 30 points and Sara Baca added 10 and Mariyah Delgado added eight points.
“We did OK,” Reserve coach John Payne said.
“We have begun to shoot better and we are starting to run our offense better.
“ The girls have gained a lot of confidence and by playing well that should be a boost for us for the rest of the season and they realize they can compete.
Both Reserve teams will be at Cobre Jan. 28.

Mountaineers Win Own Invitational

Lady Warriors’ Win Streak Snapped At 10

By Nicky Romero
For the Mountain Mail

SOCORRO - The third-ranked Socorro Lady Warriors (12-5) split four basketball games last week. The loss to Santa Fe Indian School on Friday ended Socorro’s 10-game winning streak.
On Jan. 12, Socorro won at Ruidoso 50-41, leading 18-7 after one quarter and 28-19 at the half.
Ruidoso cut into the Socorro lead, trailing 44-41 in the fourth quarter. But the Lady Warriors hung on, led by Roxanne Silva, who had 10 of her game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter.
Socorro then traveled to Albuquerque to play in the Hope Christian Tournament.
Socorro opened play by thrashing No. 5 Class 2A Mora 79-48.
“We shot well, hit 55 percent from the field and 80 percent for free throws,” Socorro coach Joseph Garcia said.
Silva led the Warriors with 44 points. Kianna Gonzales added 12, Jaden Jones chipped in nine and Mayra Acosta 8.
In the semifinals, Socorro fell to No. 4 Class AAA Santa Fe Indian School 54-43.
“They have two guards, who are sisters and they just lit us up,” Garcia said.
“One lit us up for 17 points in the first quarter and the other scored nine in the second. Santa Fe was huge and we had a hard time getting the ball inside.”
With Socorro unable to get the ball inside, Santa Fe extended its lead to 14 points in the third quarter and it never looked back.
Silva had 23 points and Gonzales had 12 points on three three-pointers. Santa Fe was led by Justina Cortiz with 22 points and Jenine Cortiz with 12.
In the third place game, Socorro lost to host Hope Christian 50-46.
“You live and die by the outside,” Garcia said. “We shot 19 three-pointers. We never shoot 19 threes. We made just six of 19, which was a better percentage than our inside shooting.”
Despite the poor shooting, Socorro led 24-12 in the second quarter and led 30-28 at halftime. After three quarters, the Lady Warriors still led 43-42, but the wear of tear and four games in five days took their toll.
Hope Christian finally broke down Socorro’s press, outscoring the Lady Warriors 8-3 in the final quarter.
Foul shooting also contributed to the loss. Hope Christian made 14 of 20 free throws and Socorro converted 8 of 11 but did not shoot one in the second half.
Silva led Socorro with 24 points and Gonzalez added nine.
Socorro was scheduled to play St. Michael’s at home on Tuesday, but because of snow in Santa Fe, the game was postponed to Monday, Jan. 25.

Lady Warriors’ Win Streak Snapped At 10

Victories Prove Elusive For Socorro Boys Basketball Team

By Michael Olguin Jr.
For the Mountain Mail

SOCORRO -- With five games remaining in non-district play, the Socorro boys basketball team still is trying to find its winning ways, losing two close games on back-to-back nights last week. The Warriors fell to the Chaparral Lobos on Friday night, 54-52, followed by a loss to the Wingate Bears on Saturday night, 53-45.
The Warriors’ grueling schedule continued Thursday in the Warrior Dome as they hosted the 17-0 Mesilla Valley Son Blazers. Even though the Son Blazers are a 2A school, they are putting up 5A numbers and rolling through their season defeating each team from 2A-5A by an average of 22.8 points per game.
On Friday night, the Warriors will host 3A powerhouse Sandia Prep Sundevils. The Sundevils are currently ranked second in 3A. Sandi Prep will be the fifth top 10 team the Warriors have faced in 3A this season.
The Warriors almost dug themselves out of an early first-half hole against the Lobos (6-12) trailing 33-21 at halftime. Socorro made a run in the second half cutting the Lobo lead to 7 after three quarters 46-39. The Warriors continued to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter but fell short losing 54-52.
According to Assistant Coach Robert Mata, Socorro tied the game at 52 with a four point play by Jared Marquez.
Marquez was fouled while making a three point bucket and made his free throw to complete the four point play. After Socorro tied the game, the Lobos failed to score which gave the Warriors final possession of the game.
Kenneth DeCosta had an open look under the basket with 20 seconds to go which would have given the Warriors the lead but was unable to convert. The Lobos drove down and scored with about 15 seconds left. Socorro had one last opportunity with one second left. Erik Garcia put up the final shot which bounced off the rim.
Jared Marquez and Andrew Contreras each had 14 points to lead the Warriors.
On Saturday night in Socorro, the Warriors went up against the eighth ranked 3A Bears (9-6). Marquez was the lone scorer in the first quarter with 15 points to give Socorro a 15-9 first quarter lead.
Socorro maintained their lead with four more Warriors getting into the scoring mix which included Zach Esquivel, Michael Contreras, Ibrahim Maiga, and Andrew Contreras.
The Bears recaptured the lead after a technical foul was called on Andrew Contreras with 12 seconds left in the half. Wingate converted both free throws followed by a last second bucket to give them a 26-25 lead.
The third quarter ended up being the deciding factor in the game.
“We ended up just doing quick shots and playing their game not ours,” Assistant Coach Robert Mata said of the third quarter. “They like to run up and down and score fast break points we needed to slow it down and look for some inside buckets and we just didn’t do that.”
Socorro was only able to score three points in the third quarter, allowing the Bears to go on a 21-3 run that spanned from the end of the first half to the start of the fourth quarter.
Wingate had built up a 41-28 lead before Socorro came battling back.
Six quick points by Andrew Contreras cut the Bear lead to just four, 45-41, with 2:36 left in the game. However the Bears did not let the Warriors get any closer.
Marquez led the Warriors with 20 points followed by Andrew Contreras with 10.

Victories Prove Elusive For Socorro Boys Basketball Team

Cushman Gets 3-Year Contract

RESERVE -- Loren Cushman, Superintendent of Reserve Schools, was given a new three-year contract by the Reserve School Board on a unanimous vote.
“I’d like to thank the Reserve School Board for their continual trust,” Cushman said.
As the Superintendent for the past three years and with over15 years of school experience, Cushman said, ”I am happy to be here. We have the finest staff in the state and the best students.
”We continue to expand the curriculum of the online courses available to the students.
“We instituted this year a hands-on Agriculture Program. We have an agreement with local business-K & B Timberworks-to train students in timber management. We continue to offer to the community computer technology,” Cushman said.
Cushman has been elected to represent rural small schools before the Secretary of Schools in New Mexico.
“The coalition I represent fights hard to receive appropriate funding for our schools. In addition, our collaboration with Quemado School District has resulted in closer student/faculty interaction more than ever,” he said.

Cushman Gets 3-Year Contract

Celebrate Life As Best You Can

Luna News
By Kaye Mindar

I apologize for not submitting a column last week. It had been a long and stressful week and come deadline day it was my birthday. I had a wonderful day full of surprises and after a relaxing trip to Show Low. Yes, relaxing and unhurried. I decided I needed to make one more phone call of the day. I called my Dad.
In a twist of things I thanked him for never giving up on me, for prayers and support, and for holding my Mom so tight while she was with us. I thanked him for my birthday. I was a sick baby and caused my parents many long nights at the hospital and worries as one problem lead to the next.
I am the fifth of six children and I know that life was difficult; but also fun. I am grateful that I can finally be grateful for all that I have in my marriage, my children, my grandchildren, my education, my choices of stay at home jobs, and our home here in Luna.

Although they did not live in Luna, our love and prayers go out to the Way family at the passing of Pastor Sam Way. Our children know and love Lisa and will truly miss Sam through the 4-H and county extension programs. Also Sam was an important figure in Luna with his work and skills.

The family of Joe and Carol Laney is truly grateful for all of the well wishes and visits from “Lunatics” as Carol slipped into the final stages of her cancer. She passed away Wednesday morning. Her family truly appreciates the love that surrounds them with family and friends.

All of our love and prayers go out to Sally Hulsey as she recovers from a fall while visiting family.

Last Friday evening many friends, family and neighbors enjoyed a potluck dinner and plenty of down-home music performed by the Nicolds’ family at the Luna Community Center. These informal evenings are a true Luna style social event.

The Community Center library also holds two new books written and donated by Pat Jenks. They are available for free checkout and for more information you can contact Alberta Nicolds.

Old material in circulation at the Luna Ward Library; such as old Church magazines, Primary items and Church conference videos can be picked up at the library and are available for anyone interested until the end of February. Please contact Joyce Laney for more information and arrangements for picking items up.

Food orders are due Sunday, Jan. 24, and our first canning session of the year will be held on Friday, Feb. 26. Please contact Joyce Laney for information.

Luna’s Family History Library is opened again on Wednesday’s from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. depending on weather; you may want to call Phyllis Price ahead of time. Also there is help available after hours or as needed by contacting Phyllis Price or (me) Kaye Mindar.

“In every home, neighborhood, and community, we ought to strive for peace and never be party to stirring up contention or division.”
~M. Russell Ballard

Celebrate Life As Best You Can

Sylvia, Friend Endure Quite An Arctic Winter

Sylvia
By Anne Sullivan

“You’re late with my breakfast this morning.” Sylvia stood before me, paws on haunches, accusing.
“I know,” I said from (where else) my comfortable chair. “I simply couldn’t get going today. It’s so-o-o cold I just wanted to stay in bed.”
“You mustn’t give into to your selfish desires,” Sylvia admonished. “You need to get some discipline into your belly instead of eating all those chocolate truffles you got for Christmas. You must remember that you have responsibilities.”
“I know, I know, but the will just isn’t there.”
“It had better get there soon.” Sylvia glowered at me. “The weather man says it’s going to snow again and the wood on the porch is running low.”
“It’s all very hard.” Cowering in my comfortable chair, I defended myself, “The rest of the wood is buried in the snow and I have to dig it out piece by piece while standing precariously on I-don’t-know-what. I wish you would help.”
“It’s not in my job description,” said Sylvia very quickly. “Dogs don’t carry wood.”
“I’m sure some dogs do. If it was a deer leg, you’d carry it.”
“That’s different. You don’t seem to comprehend. I have to keep up my image of superiority here in Swingle Canyon.”
“And I don’t?”
“No, not really. You just have to see that the work gets done.”
“Which means I have to do it.” I watched Sylvia as she nodded vigorously. “So I need to carry the wood, is that it?” I questioned, knowing all too well the answer.
“If you want to keep warm, it is,” Sylvia replied with a smirk on her face. “You have that choice. Warm or cold. Then again, there are other ways of keeping warm. You could turn the thermostat way up.”
“I could if I wanted to use up all the very expensive propane,” I protested.
“It’s your choice, you see. You could spend a lot more money for propane.”
“I’m already spending a lot of money for propane. A lot more money than I used to spend, let me tell you.”
“That’s the game of choice. Up the thermostat or carry more wood for the fireplace or you could freeze.”
I groaned at the thought and said, “None of these are very attractive choices.”
“But they’re all under your control and control in life is everything. As I said, that’s the way the game is played.” A certain amount of glee glowed in Sylvia’s eyes as she explained the rules of this game.
“It’s a game I’m losing. I don’t want to do any of the above. I just want to stay under my heated throw and read the books I got for Christmas.”
“The world isn’t about what you want,” lectured Sylvia. “Listen to Steve Stucker. He says it’s going to snow again. Soon. And then the wood will be buried even deeper. Get out of that chair. It’s really nice outside. Nice and brisk. It’ll put roses into your cheeks. Come on,” she said, tugging my electric throw off my legs. “I’ll go out with you and watch you to make sure you don’t disappear into the snow. I’ll even cheer you on.”
“Bah, humbug,” I said, removing my throw from Sylvia’s teeth and returning it to my frozen legs.
“You’ve got to get a hold of yourself, my girl,” Sylvia said, having the last word as usual.

Sylvia, Friend Endure Quite An Arctic Winter

Quemado: Rural Book Mobile To Make Rounds

By Debbie Leschner
For the Mountain Mail

QUEMADO – The Rural Book Mobile will make their rounds on Tuesday Jan. 26 to the Post offices in Datil from 1 to 2 p.m., Pie Town from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. and Quemado from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. On Wednesday, Jan. 27, they will be at the Aragon post office from 9:30 to 10:30, Apache Creek store from 11 to noon and Reserve Rode Inn motel from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The Catron County Spelling Bee will be held in Reserve on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. Good luck to all those who will be participating.

The Quemado Elementary School will have a Family Math and Science Night on Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Elementary students will have various activities through out the evening.
The Quemado Boys Varsity, Junior Varsity and Girls Varsity, Junior Varsity Basketball Teams will play at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29 at home against Cliff. This is the first of the District games for Quemado.

The Quemado Senior Center Pool Tournament will be at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, January 26. Datil seniors will join Quemado seniors on Thursday, January 28 for Quilting and an afternoon of Bingo. Lunch for the week will be Monday – sweet and sour pork, Tuesday – sausage pizza, Wednesday – ham gravy with mashed potatoes, Thursday – beef fajita and Friday – tostadas. Please call the center at 773-4820 before 9 a.m. for lunch reservations.
The Senior Center Bingo Fund raiser will be the evening of Friday, Jan. 29. It will start out with an All you Can Eat Beef Stew dinner at 4:30 p.m. for $6.75. Come and play bingo at 6 pm. Cards are 25 cents each.

A New Feed Store in Quemado has opened off Hwy 60 at mile marker 33.6 next to Sierra Propane. Hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. through noon. They carry alfalfa, oat hay, corn, blocks, food for dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens and more. The phone number is 575-773- 4768.

Quemado: Rural Book Mobile To Make Rounds

Pine Leaf Boys Come To Macey

Louisiana's two-time Grammy-Nominated Pine Leaf Boys bring their own inimitable brand of Cajun music to Macey Center on Friday, Jan. 22, as part of New Mexico Tech’s Performing Arts Series.
Hailing from southwest Louisiana, the Pine Leaf Boys, known for their wild shows and thoughtful arrangements, have breathed new life into Cajun music, reviving ancient songs and bringing them to the bandstand.
Being described as, "... the link that connects the young and the old generations," and, "the best new, energetic, and fun Cajun band in a very long time," the Pine Leaf Boys play the old fashion dance hall standards while making a priority to bring many of the more obscure songs of past masters into their repertoire and play them with gusto.
The variety and energy they release evolves through their shows, bringing multi-faceted angles to Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco. Their mission is to present the awesome music of their ancestors and present the real Cajun music to the world and prove that it is still thriving and full of life.
Steeped in music since childhood and hailing from farms and towns in Cajun country, the Pine Leaf Boys have preserved the traditional Cajun sound, while allowing it to breathe and stretch with those who play it. They present their music in multiple configurations such as twin fiddle, duo accordion/fiddle, bass, drum, and foot-stomping jurés.
Wilson Savoy, Cajun accordionist, was born and raised near Eunice, Louisiana, in 1982. He began playing boogie-woogie piano at 10 years old after becoming obsessed with Louisiana-native, Jerry Lee Lewis. While in his early teens, his father gave him a homemade accordion built from the wood of a Sasaffras tree that his grandfather planted. Wilson intensely studied the styles of Amede Ardoin and Iry Lejeune, as well as his father (Marc Savoy, known well for being one of the masters of the Cajun accordion) and soon developed a style of his own, full of punch, Creole syncopation, and energy.
Fiddle player Courtney Granger was also born in Eunice, where he lives today. Master fiddler and extraordinary strong singer, Granger hails from the Balfa family lineage, which is evident in his powerful vocals and heavily Balfa-influenced fiddling. He produced his own solo CD in the mid 90s, which brought him praise from the Cajun music scene, landing him several CFMA awards.
Guitar player Jon Bertrand was raised in the thriving hub of Jeff Davis Parish that is Pine Island or Crapeauville where he began life as a cowboy. He began playing guitar and quickly became a rhythm machine, playing with Dexter Ardoin, Cory McCauley, and the Lost Bayou Ramblers.
Drummer Drew Simon was born and raised in Lafayette, and developed an interest in Cajun music in his late teens. At 18, he started playing drums and singing with his brother in a local group called Acadien. Soon after, he learned how to play the accordion, guitar, and bass, and is strictly a traditionalist, playing and singing in a style which has been described as a "simple, older, blue collared cajun."
Bassist Thomas David was also born and raised in Lafayette. By the age of eight he was playing drums alongside his father, Ken David, bassist with Jambalaya Cajun Band. At age 16, his father bought an upright bass and David immediately fell in love with the instrument, and he quickly became become a rock-solid bass player in both Cajun and Zydeco music.
The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and over, and $12 for youths 17 and under. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at NM Tech Cashier’s Office (second floor of Fidel Center), Brownbilt Western Wear, Sofia’s Kitchen, and Video Shack.
Before the concert, Tech Club – Club Macey (TCCM) holds a social in Macey from 5 to 7 p.m., with Cajon-themed snacks. TCCM is a social club for people 21 and over. There is a $5 cover charge if you are not a member of TCCM.
The concert is co-sponsored by New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union, Socorro Springs, EMRTC, KUNM 89.9 FM, New Mexico Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and Best Western.

Pine Leaf Boys Come To Macey

Rio Fest Environmental Film Fest Makes Return

The RioFest Environmental Film Festival returns to Macey Center after last year’s hiatus to present an array of films on environmental issues.
The festival will be held Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30.
Movies to be screened over the two days range from shorts to full length feature films, the festival’s executive director, Frances Deters said in a press release.
“This year’s theme is ‘Solutions,’ and we’re proud to offer a wide variety of films that can inspire people to seek solutions to the environmental problems we face,” Deters said. “Riofest seeks to empower its patrons by educating them and then providing them with opportunities to engage in sustainable practices.”
Among the 25 films scheduled, three have received critical acclaim by movie critics and the environmental movement; Food, Inc., The Music Tree and King Corn.
The two-day event takes place Jan. 29-30 at Macey Center on the New Mexico Tech campus, said Frances Deters, the film festival’s executive director.
Friday night’s feature will be Brazilian director Otavio Juliano’s The Music Tree, which had its world premiere earlier this year. The movie examines the plight of the Pernambuco tree in Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest. The wood from the Pernambuco is considered the finest for the manufacture of violin, viola and cello bows and has been used since Mozart was composing masterpieces 250 years ago. The film documents efforts to save the trees and the music that depends on it.
Saturday’s matinee will be King Corn, a 2007 documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America's most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat-and how we farm.
RioFest will screen Food, Inc as the featured film to close the festival Saturday night. The movie examines the current method of raw food production, which is largely a response to the growth of the fast food industry since the 1950s. The production of food overall has more drastically changed since that time than the several thousand years prior. Filmmaker Robert Kenner reveals shocking truths about the food we eat, where it came from and how some forward-thinking entrepreneurs are offering solutions to problems plaguing America’s food industry.
Deters said “cinema has the unique ability to engage emotions through communal relationships between individuals and communities.
“We want to expose people to those communities and healthy ways to get involved with their ideas” she said.
Other feature-length films to be shown during the weekend include Chaparri, the Seven Bears of the Sacred Mountain; The Greening of Southie; and Addicted to Plastic.
RioFest Environmental Film Festival will also be showing the hour-long 1997 movie Affluenza, and its sequel, Escape from Affluenza. The films deal with the social and environmental consequences of materialism and over-consumption, and profiles of people working for solutions to bring a better balance between people and the environment.
The festival will also include the Meatrix series of short animations. Spoofing The Matrix movies, The Meatrix is a creative and humorous approach to educating viewers about factory crop and dairy farming. The Meatrix II, Revolting and The Meatrix II ½, expand on the original’s theme, while promoting social action.
Other films focus on water, including Rio Grande, River of Connection, a documentary produced as an educational film for students by Alexis Rykken of San Antonio. Reviving a Watershed and Mixing: A Dialogue on Wastewater are two other films that focus on water-related issues.
“It’s important that we all recognize and understand the value of our limited resources and what we must do to preserve them,” Deters said.
RioFest Environmental Film Festival is a 501-3C non-profit entity established in 2007 under the fiscal sponsorship of Friends of the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Tickets for the event may be purchased by check or money order. Checks should be made to Friends of the Bosque and sent to RioFest Environmental Film Festival, Box 508, Socorro, 87801.
For more information on the RioFest Environmental Film Festival, visit the RioFest website: http://www.riofilmfest.com
Festival tickets are priced at $25 for a two-day pass and $15 for one day. Tickets for the Saturday night showing of Food Inc. are $5.

Rio Fest Environmental Film Fest Makes Return