For the Mountain Mail
The grand opening of the Catron County Heliport at mile marker 46 on Highway 60 between Quemado and Pie Town was indeed grand. Tuesday, Oct. 6, was cloudy and gray but neither light winds nor a few drops of rain daunted spirits or appetites of the many people who came to celebrate the occasion.
The heliport, which seemed to appear mysteriously at the side of the road and grow overnight, is one of five in New Mexico, built primarily to accommodate the many helicopter landings that might be required should a major disaster occur in the area.
Catron County Manager Bill Aymar explained the heliport’s beginnings: “Richard Allison from the Department of Transportation called and he and I discussed the need for it. The land, approximately four acres, came from the State Land Office and now it belongs to Catron County on a long-time lease. The State of New Mexico through the Department of Transportation – Aviation Divi-sion paid for the heliport.”
Cheryl Holliday, Quemado Emergency Medical Service director for the past 11 years and an ememgency medical technician for 21 years and one of the organizers of the opening events, said, “We tried to get everybody here who could be involved in a large-scale disaster: the Forest Service, Highway Department, Northern Catron County EMS and Fire Departments, Law Enforcement and Disaster Relief as well as the crew of a PHI Air Medical helicopter.”
The heliport will also be used in the transport of seriously ill or injured patients. Up until now many such patients are either transported by Quemado or Pie Town ambulances to Datil where the helicopters land in front of the firehouse or the helicopters land directly on Highway 60.
“We’ll be doing some trainings here on the safe loading of patients into helicopters,” Holliday said. “We’re so happy to have this facility after 20 years of loading in the middle of the road.”
Jerry Armstrong, Quemado fire chief and long time ambulance driver (although he rarely drives the ambulance these days so busy is he with the Fire Department and his work at J and Y Garage in Quemado) echoed Cheryl Holliday’s sentiments: “It’s a tremendous blessing to have a safe place to land a helicopter. They’ve been landing on Highway 60 blocking the traffic for hours and you never know when a semi is going to come blasting through.”
Cyndi Lee, Pie Town’s EMS Chief and instructor for the northern part of the county, said, “I just hope and pray that we never have to use it for a disaster.”
Chuck Anderson, pilot of the PHI Air Medical Astar helicopter, which landed perfectly on its H marks on the helipad, said, “It’s a great pad. It’s got pilot-controlled lighting and you could put three or four helicopters here.”
Other dignitaries in attendance included Catron County Commissioner Allen Lambert, Catron County Fire Marshal Zina McGuire and Chuck Spencer, in charge of New Mexico business operations for PHI Air Medical.
Fire and EMS departments from Quemado, Ouemado Lake, Pie Town, Wild Horse and Datil, the Forest Service and the Baptist Disaster Relief workers from across the state had their photos taken in front of the helicopter. Then, Ira Shelton, pastor and ambulance driver, gave his own blessing since he said he couldn’t find any blessing for a helicopter pad in the Bible.
Then it was time to eat. The hamburgers grilled by the Baptist Disaster Relief people were excellent as was all the food from the kitchens of the various Fire and EMS Department members.
Lorna Goforth, long time member of Quemado’s EMS and Fire Departments, constructed an enormous fabulous cake-helipad complete with toy helicopter and ambulances. What’s more, it tasted really good.
Between bites, Catron County Undersheriff Ian Fletcher summed up the occasion with, “It’s great. It’s an excellent thing to have this resource up here.”
“All we need now,” said Cheryl Holliday wistfully, “is a bathroom.”
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Great story, Anne. Just the kind of thing the new Mountain Mail needs to succeed. News that one can't find anyplace else.
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