The Socorro Warriors baseball team will play as a No. 7 seed in the 2010 NM State Baseball Championship Tournament and will host Ruidoso on Friday, May 7 starting at 4 p.m.
Coach Alan Edmonson said, “Ruidoso is a very good ball club. They're definitely better than a ten spot. They've had some kids missing for various reasons, so there's a good possibility that they win their district. I feel like in terms of athleticism and baseball players they're definitely one of the one of the better four or five teams in the state. We will definitely will have our hands full come Friday night.”
Socorro ended the regular season in second place in District 3-3A. Ruidoso (13-10, 10-6) finished in third place in District 4-3A.
If Socorro wins, it will travel to Rio Rancho to play in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday, May 13 at 2 p.m. They will play the winner of No. 15 Robertson vs. No. 2 Bloomfield.
Socorro (14-11, 7-2) completed its regular season with a doubleheader sweep of the Hot Springs Tigers on April 30 and a five-game winning streak.
The Warriors won the games 9-4 and 12-5.
Edmonson said, “I am pleased to come out with two wins. We've won six out of the last seven games. We're playing much better baseball than we were at the middle of the season. Going into playoffs, this is the time you want to be playing your best baseball.”
Six Warrior seniors also played their last regular season home games. They were Kenneth DeCosta, Jonathan Dibartolomeo, Brandon Garcia, Irving Gomez, Justus Jaramillo, and Charles Savedra.
In the first game, Hot Springs (7-11, 1-8) took its only lead of the game 1-0 in the first inning. After giving up this one run on a cold and windy day, starting pitcher Michael Chavez warmed up and allowed only three more runs the rest of the game.
Socorro quickly got back the lead in their part of the first. Chavez doubled to right-center field. Jaramillo singled to right field to bring in Chavez and tie the game. Jaramillo later scored on a steal and on a throwing error to third base to take the lead.
The Warriors added a run in the second for a 3-1 lead. Hot Springs came back and tied the game with two runs in the third.
Socorro took the lead back in the fifth on a double to left-center field by Freddy Martinez who brought in two runs. Decosta singled to center field to score Martinez and give Socorro a 6-3 lead.
In the second game, Hot Springs again took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Warriors scored two of their own on an RBI single by starting pitcher Charlie Savedra. Jaramillo ran home on a throwing error to center field.
Ibrahim Maiga added a run in the second for a 3-1 lead. Hot Springs tied the game in the third.
Socorro took the lead for the final time in the third with Jaramillo scoring on a passed ball. Zack Binger hit a double to right-center for the other RBI of the inning and a 5-3 lead.
Socorro's big inning was in the fifth where they scored five more runs. Savedra pitched a full six innings for the win. Martinez came in for relief duties in the seventh.
“I'm pleased with everyone's performance today,” said Edmonson. “We hit the ball pretty good. My pitchers threw well---Michael and Charlie. My catcher Justin Padilla was outstanding. He's just improved as the season has gone on. Every week we've noticed he's got a little bit better.”
Friday, May 7, 2010
Warriors Go To State Tourney
Thursday, May 6, 2010
515th Comes Home
After being deployed to Iraq over 10 months ago, the New Mexico National Guard 515th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion returned home Wednesday, May 5. The two bus loads of soldiers, on their way to the battalion’s New Mexico headquarters in Belen, passed through Socorro with a police escort down California Street at about 3:30 p.m. Vietnam veterans on motorcycles also joined the procession. Dozens of well wishers lining the street waved to the returning troops and held signs of gratitude for their service. The battalion left for Iraq on June 22, 2009. The 515th includes Socorroans Ernest Archuleta, Donnie Braught, David Buczala, Pedro Guerrero, Manuel Lopez, Gilbert Murillo, Patrick Murillo and Chris Van Winkle. An official Welcome Home event was held later Wednesday afternoon at the Calvary Church in Belen.
Socorro Students Injured In Rollover
Four Socorro High students and Future Farmers of America instructor Bryan Mitchell were injured in a car accident Tuesday morning just outside of Tucumcari on Interstate 40.
The crash occurred at 6:45 a.m. on Interstate 40 near Mile Marker 330, outside of Tucumcari, State Police Capt. Jimmy Glascock told the Quay County Sun.
According to Glascock, Mitchell, 48, was eastbound when the 2005 Ford Excursion he was driving traveled into the median. Glascock said Mitchell overcorrected and the vehicle rolled, coming to rest in the eastbound lanes. Mitchell received a citation for careless driving. The newspaper reported he told officers he swerved to avoid hitting a coyote in the road. The five were on their way to Oklahoma City to take part in a FFA national competition. The Socorro team was going to compete in the pasture and range category.
Socorro Schools Superitendent Cheryl Wilson did not have many details, but said “all the kids and teacher are safe with minor injuries. I am just thrilled everybody is OK.”
Wilson said she heard about the accident after receiving a phone call at 7:30 a.m. and the five returned to Socorro Tuesday night.
Picture: This is the photo of the vehicle taken by a cell phone at the scene. Courtesy photo
Attorney: SEC Trustees Can Live By Old Rules
SOCORRO – Passing resolutions and making bylaw changes are one thing.
But implementing them is a totally different animal.
Just ask the Socorro Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees.
“You can vote in all the resolutions you want,” trustee Donald Wolberg said at the regularly scheduled meeting April 28. “But there is always the problem of implementation.”
Attorney Dennis Francish believes the trustees can live by the old rules until their terms run out.
Francish said that since the trustees were elected under an old set of rules, they apply until the end of the term. That means Francish is counseling the trustees to ignore the $10,000 spending limit and go about as business as usual.
Trustees Milton Ulibarri and Leroy Anaya asked what rules they were living by since they had made plans to make trips for cooperative business.
Anaya was traveling to Washington this week for a National Rural Electric Cooperative Association legislative session and Ulibarri was planning a June trip to Ruidoso as a NRECA delegate at the state convention.
Francish told the board that they were “grandfathered” in under the old rules when they were elected.
Trustee Prescilla Mauldin asked “what about the $10,000 limit? Isn’t that the wishes of the members?
Francish used such legal terms as “course of conduct” and "implied consent." He said those legal arguments could exclude the trustees from the new bylaw and that they should be compensated at the same rate as when they started.
Since the board still had a 1967 resolution on the books which allowed trustees to receive insurance benefits, Francish said there was no violation of the trustees exceeding the new limit.
“If you pay more than $10,000, you are not violating anything,” Francish said.
In fact, the attorney went on to say that the members anything,” Francish said.
In fact, the attorney went on to say that the members made a mistake when they voted to change the bylaw regarding trustee spending. He said the money spent is part of doing company business.
“What do you want to do?” Francish asked. “Do you want to stop doing company business? You can’t stop doing business. You will hurt the company.”
The attorney did say, though, if the members insisted on the trustees living by the new rules, it likely would end up in court.
"There's no easy answer and that's where the courts come in and answer the question,” Francish said.
In other business:
• The board passed resolutions and signed all the necessary paperwork that allows the SEC to get a $24 million loan from the USDA Rural Development Association.
• Bustamante said there would be time set aside at the May meeting for members to address the board.
• Francish requested a resolution that was passed by the board that stated the SEC was aware that the attorney also represented another co-op (the Continental Divide). The attorney said if there was ever a conflict of interest, he would recuse himself.
• Co-op general manager Polo Pineda said a number of customers have come into the office and asked if rates are going to come down because of the recent propositions that were passed by the members in April. Pineda said that is quite the contrary and he will be asking for a rate increase in the coming months.
• The board approved a $300 donation to a Belen youth football team.
Tripp To Sponsor Legislation
State Representative Don Tripp announced last week that he will introduce legislation to change the state statute that prevents mail-in ballots for the Electric Co-Ops district meetings.
“The district meetings are where the Co-op trustees are elected and there are many folks, particularly in the outlying districts, that just can’t get to the meetings to vote in person. Now that the membership has voted to amend the co-op by-laws to allow mail-in voting and that the Trustees have accepted the changes it is my job as your State Representative to propose the legislation needed at the state level.”
Tripp went on to say that, “The co-op manager Polo Pineda brought it up to the PRC Commissioner at his last town meeting but there has been nothing proposed at the legislative level, so I will carry it forward. Everyone should have the opportunity to have their voice heard in our elections and particularly in co-op districts one and five that can only be made practical by allowing mail-in voting. We allow it in our governmental elections so it just makes sense to allow it in the co-op elections also.
“I commend the co-op members on their willingness to get involved in the voting process and the Trustees and management of the Co-Op for their cooperation. It is my hope that the necessary legislative changes will take place at the next session, empowering all the members in the management of their co-op.”
Last Chapter: Fite Recalls Life On The Homestead
The following is the 5th and final part of an Oral History interview with homesteader Evelyn Fite. The interview was conducted by Bureau of Land Management Archaeologist Brenda Wilkinson in 2009.
Evelyn: 
“The wind would blow, oohhh. We had a screened – two adobe rooms, and Mr. Fernandez built it. He was an old Spaniard, and he worked in the coal mines, and he saved his money and he homesteaded that place. And he bought a cow, and then he’d save his money and he had a partner, Mr. Olguin. So they went partners and bought a little piece of land there, and they accumulated some cattle. And he was a fine old gentleman, and Dean and I used to go see him. Spoke Castilian Spanish, had blue eyes. And he was such a gentleman, and he lived in those two adobe rooms and, well, we’d have to go by there with cattle when we’d bring ‘em to town and finally he wanted to sell out. So Dean could buy him out, but he couldn’t get his partner. He had to buy his partner out too. And I think he wanted twenty five hundred dollars.
Now that doesn’t seem like much now, but back then land wasn’t worth a lot of money, and see, mostly it’s BLM land, all you’re buying is that little piece of patented land that they’re on.
So Dean went to Albuquerque and got some - two thousand, five hundred dollars in five dollar bills and one dollar bills - a whole bag full of bills. And I figured, at that time he went up there and he bought a car. And he sent me home in that car and he was following me and I had that bag of money and I was so worried about it. I’d had to learn to drive when I went to the ranch, I hadn’t driven a car.
Anyhow, he took that little bag of money and he went down to this little adobe house on the river there at San Antonio and this old couple lived there. And, well they weren’t old, but they’d - you know - worked hard all their life. And he had that money out on the floor, and they finally agreed they’d take that. He took that money, built the bar down here. It was off-limits to the CCC boys because they had - they had women in the back and everything. He made more money on that bar than we ever made on that ranch. Trust me. Every time we’d drive by there Dean said ‘look at that.’
You know where the railroad track is? It was just across the track on the right. Yeah, I think they called it the 85. Not many people went in there, it was a little rowdy. Then later on it got so’s it was OK.
But they wouldn’t let the CCC boys go there. Anyhow, they had 300 boys from Brooklyn and put ‘em in that CCC camp. And they had never been off of pavement in their life. And they’d talk ‘dese’ and ‘dem’ and ‘doze’ and they were terrified. They just knew there were snakes gonna get ‘em and coyotes were gonna get ‘em. They were an absolute delight, ‘cause they were totally different than anybody I’d ever been around. But they had instructors. They were our friends. They had an educational advisor, Mr. Bulger was his name. He’d try to teach ‘em how to type. CCC camps were wonderful. Saved so many boys lives, taught ‘em how to use their hands, and, a whole different world to them. And taught ‘em how to write, and how to, you know, kind of like army life. And they learned to type, and they had three square meals a day.
And they’d send $22 home to their families, which saved their families’ lives. I’m talkin’ ‘bout $22. Doesn’t seem like much now - people go down and sit in a restaurant now and spend $22 without battin’ an eyelash, but that was a lot of money then. And it would BUY something.
Anyhow, they had hired men who badly needed jobs, to take care of these guys. To cook for ‘em and teach ‘em and take ‘em out in the field to teach ‘em how to work. So they had a whole crew hired, like Obama would imagine he’d like to do now you know, but we don’t have that same kind of situation. And they’d stay, how long was it, two years? I’ve forgotten, but there were CCC camps all over the country. Oh, they built sidewalks and had a fountain, and they had a recreation room, and they had a pool hall. Three hundred of ‘em. And Mr. Bulger, he educated ‘em. He was telling me the story, he was teaching ‘em about you didn’t steal and you know, some moral things in life.”
Government Programs Evelyn:
“Well, to old timers and people that were raised in open country, they resented all that. But I’ve always recognized what land management means to this country, ‘cause they were ruining it. They - just destroyin’ it. That area where we bought that ranch had been sheeped out and stuff, and I lived there. It was 50 years before that sand hill got enough grass, bushes on it and brush - 50 years - to make a showing. ‘Cause that used to be a really bare sand hill. But gradually over the years, with land management….It’s a fragile country. You cannot do that. I’m a land management fan. Some of it I think was kind of poorly handled, but it still was the right idea. Generally speaking it was a fine idea.”
Evelyn: “Before that time, any time a calf or a cow got an open wound or something, the flies would lay eggs in there and there’d be worms in there, screw worms. Yeah, so you couldn’t brand or dehorn. You branded early, or you waited until after it frosted, because if you didn’t , well then they’d get screw worms. And on that river they could get screw worms, if they’d get scratched you know, and get a bloody place, and you had to ride all the time you know and watch for it. ‘Cause it would kill cattle. They’d just eat the - see in the Civil War they used screw worms to clean out wounds. They’d have these flies to lay eggs on these wounds and they’d clean all the dead flesh out of it and they’d take the flies out and that wound would heal.
But if you have it on an animal and they run out of dead flesh they keep on eating. So they developed this sterile fly program, which was WONDERFUL. See, you had screw worms all the way in Florida, all the way through the south, and Texas, and all the way to South America, and Mexico. Lost lots of cattle to screw worms. Couldn’t have Hereford cattle at all. ‘Cause they were too fragile. And they started dropping those sterile flies, pretty soon we had no more screw worms. Oh, it was a wonderful program. And uh, particularly for people who live in the south. And on that river, deer would get ‘em and, anything that had a bloody spot would get screw worms and it would kill it.
It took a few years. And every time after that, gradually, if you’d find an animal with screw worms, they’d give you a little bottle with an address on it, and you’d mail it in, and the location, and they’d come drop a few more of those sterile flies. And I haven’t heard of screw worms in a long time.
And SCS - we built dirt tanks, and did erosion work, and Dean bought a Caterpillar and helped some people, get rid of the cedar trees, you know. I didn’t care for that program (chaining).”
Picture: Evelyn: “That looks like Dean. He’s showing off. He always acted silly when you were trying to take a picture. That was a long time ago. I look pretty young there.” Photo courtesy of Evelyn Fite
State Looks To Replace Illegal Cesspools
The Environmental Dept. will administer the program by recruiting and screening indigent households, issuing price agreements with licensed construction contractors, and by permitting, overseeing and inspecting the construction work.
“Improper septic systems create public health hazards by polluting water supply wells and by allowing sewage to pond on the ground’s surface,” said Environment Secretary and Natural Resource Trustee Ron Curry in a press release. “This project will make a dent in the number of improper septic systems that threaten the health of our citizens. The project will also provide work to the construction contractors who will be selected through a competitive bidding process.”
The project area also includes Sandoval and Valencia Counties.
Applicants who are within 150 percent of the 2009 Poverty Guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will qualify as indigent and will be eligible for assistance. Eligible applicants will be provided with assistance on a first-come, first-serve basis until depletion of the funds. Application forms for this project can be found on the NMED website at: http://www.nmenv.state. nm.us/fod/LiquidWaste/documents/MRGB.Indigent.Program.pdf.
Sheriff's Blotter
Mar. 15
A vehicle was southbound on Interstate 25 at mile marker 183 when the driver dozed off at 11:50 a.m. The vehicle exited the roadway and into the median. He overcorrected and exited the roadway off the west shoulder and rolled over. There was extensive damage to the vehicle.
Mar. 16
A Socorro woman reported at 8:30 a.m. that her vehicle had been hit, damaging the rear bumper and left side. The driver of the unknown vehicle had failed to report striking her car. No suspects on the hit-and-run.
A Mountainair woman reported at 5 p.m. that unknown suspects had caused damage to the gate and lock on her property. The lock had been cut and the gate was bent when they attempted to enter the property. No suspects at time of report.
A man on Lopezville Road reported at 6:23 p.m. that an unknown suspect entered his residence and took audio/visual equipment and food from therein. The front door to his residence had been pried open.
A man in Veguita reported at 10 p.m. that damage had been done to his camper trailer. Two windows had been broken out, one with a brick and another with a blunt object. Blood was located outside one window indicating the suspect possibly attempted to open the window. He believes he knows the identity of the suspect.
Mar. 18
A Socorro man reported at 1 p.m. that he was driving north on Hope Farm Road behind another vehicle. He stated the driver of the other vehicle pulled over and gave him a signal to pass. When he attempted to pass the other vehicle came back into his lane and he struck it. His vehicle had damage to the right front fender. The officer did not meet with the suspect driver or see the suspect’s vehicle.
Mar. 21
A Las Cruces woman was northbound on Interstate 25 at mile marker 136 when her vehicle exited the roadway and rolled over at 4 p.m. She stated she did not know why she lost control of her car and remembers nothing of the crash. The vehicle was towed from the scene and no enforcement action was taken.
An Escondida man reported at 5 p.m. that vicious dogs have chased him and other bikers in the area. He stated that the suspect’s dog chased him, almost causing him to fall from his bike. The officer observed the dog chase after vehicles and other bicyclists. The dog’s owner was issued an animal control citation.
Mar. 22
An officer learned at 6:40 p.m. that a woman with warrants for her arrest was at an address in Lemitar. She was arrested and taken to the Socorro County Detention Center.
A Veguita woman reported at 9 p.m. that someone had possibly stolen her cell phone. She said she lost the phone a couple of days prior and then noticed a charge on her phone bill after she found it missing. No suspects at time of report.
Mar. 27
A complainant in Veguita reported at noon that unknown suspects entered a storage unit on Campos Road and took seven breaker boxes, copper wire, and attempted to take a water tank. Entry was made by prying the front door open. He said he is taking care of the unit for the owner in Missouri.
Mar. 29
A San Antonio man reported at 10 a.m. that another man damaged a corner post marking his property. The corner post was two railroad ties with a board connecting them. The middle board had been knocked off by the suspect when he was moving dirt in the area. He agreed to repair the damage.
Sheriff's Blotter
Mar. 15
A vehicle was southbound on Interstate 25 at mile marker 183 when the driver dozed off at 11:50 a.m. The vehicle exited the roadway and into the median. He overcorrected and exited the roadway off the west shoulder and rolled over. There was extensive damage to the vehicle.
Mar. 16
A Socorro woman reported at 8:30 a.m. that her vehicle had been hit, damaging the rear bumper and left side. The driver of the unknown vehicle had failed to report striking her car. No suspects on the hit-and-run.
A Mountainair woman reported at 5 p.m. that unknown suspects had caused damage to the gate and lock on her property. The lock had been cut and the gate was bent when they attempted to enter the property. No suspects at time of report.
A man on Lopezville Road reported at 6:23 p.m. that an unknown suspect entered his residence and took audio/visual equipment and food from therein. The front door to his residence had been pried open.
A man in Veguita reported at 10 p.m. that damage had been done to his camper trailer. Two windows had been broken out, one with a brick and another with a blunt object. Blood was located outside one window indicating the suspect possibly attempted to open the window. He believes he knows the identity of the suspect.
Mar. 18
A Socorro man reported at 1 p.m. that he was driving north on Hope Farm Road behind another vehicle. He stated the driver of the other vehicle pulled over and gave him a signal to pass. When he attempted to pass the other vehicle came back into his lane and he struck it. His vehicle had damage to the right front fender. The officer did not meet with the suspect driver or see the suspect’s vehicle.
Mar. 21
A Las Cruces woman was northbound on Interstate 25 at mile marker 136 when her vehicle exited the roadway and rolled over at 4 p.m. She stated she did not know why she lost control of her car and remembers nothing of the crash. The vehicle was towed from the scene and no enforcement action was taken.
An Escondida man reported at 5 p.m. that vicious dogs have chased him and other bikers in the area. He stated that the suspect’s dog chased him, almost causing him to fall from his bike. The officer observed the dog chase after vehicles and other bicyclists. The dog’s owner was issued an animal control citation.
Mar. 22
An officer learned at 6:40 p.m. that a woman with warrants for her arrest was at an address in Lemitar. She was arrested and taken to the Socorro County Detention Center.
A Veguita woman reported at 9 p.m. that someone had possibly stolen her cell phone. She said she lost the phone a couple of days prior and then noticed a charge on her phone bill after she found it missing. No suspects at time of report.
Mar. 27
A complainant in Veguita reported at noon that unknown suspects entered a storage unit on Campos Road and took seven breaker boxes, copper wire, and attempted to take a water tank. Entry was made by prying the front door open. He said he is taking care of the unit for the owner in Missouri.
Mar. 29
A San Antonio man reported at 10 a.m. that another man damaged a corner post marking his property. The corner post was two railroad ties with a board connecting them. The middle board had been knocked off by the suspect when he was moving dirt in the area. He agreed to repair the damage.
Socorro To Receive Infrastructure Funding
Socorro will receive a $1.5 million grant and a $515,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Development Agency. The funds will be used to extend distribution lines and lift stations.
“This investment in Socorro will benefit residents who are not yet served by the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure. It is a tremendous investment in the people – and the future – of Socorro,” Bingaman said.
The grant will not have to be repaid; the loan will be repaid over 40 years at an interest rate of 2.5 percent.
Last year, the USDA made a similar investment in Socorro’s water/wastewater infrastructure when it awarded the city a $1.08 million grant and a $132,000 loan. Bingaman was in Socorro in February to celebrate that announcement. Socorro was also awarded a $75,000 grant this year from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“Infrastructure projects like this have long-lasting, important benefits right here at home in New Mexico,” Teague said. “By expanding utility access and resources, the city of Socorro will be better able to service area residents while creating much needed jobs in the community.”
USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development fosters growth in homeownership, finances business development and supports the creation of critical community and technology infrastructure.
LULAC Director Posthumously Honored
Helen Gonzales was born and raised in Socorro, attended Mt. Carmel Catholic School for eight years and graduated from Socorro High School. For many years, she was actively involved with LULAC. She served as president of the Las Cruces council and as a board member of SER-Jobs For Progress, Inc., while also attending New Mexico State University and raising a family.
Gonzales became the Deputy State Director, and then was elected and served two terms as state director. While state director, Helen enjoyed the challenges of the position and worked tirelessly to ensure that the office was run in an efficient, honest and professional manner. She obtained funding from various state and national corporations to fund the office, publish the NM LULAC magazine, set up numerous job fairs, career seminars etc.
She served on the National board of directors of LULAC National Education Service Center and traveled throughout the United States and frequently to Washington, D.C., to meet with national LULAC leaders on issues affecting minorities, many times at her own expense.
Helen Gonzales died in November, 2002. Her husband, Ernest Gonzales, accepted the award on behalf of his late wife.
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