Former Party Chairman Colón Visits Catron County

By Richard Torres
RESERVE – Tia Steele, vice chairwoman of the Catron County Democratic Party, said uniting people to work together for the common good of the county is one of her goals, during a recent visit to Reserve by the state party chairman.
A lifelong resident of Datil, Steele said she understands the issues facing the county and is ready to help get people together to solve them.
“Catron County faces tremendous issues. Underground water rights to economic expansion – to name a few – decisions will define this county for years. We need to work together as a community to do what is best for us,” said Gary Clauss, Catron County Democratic Party chairman.
A resident of Glenwood, Clauss said he believes understanding among county residents to work for the common good are not only doable, but vital for everyone.
Catron County has a rich and interesting history in the political arena. Betty Radvillas, secretary-treasurer, shared the following memory.
“About 10 years ago, candidates Lena Milligan and Jim Blanc received the same number of votes for an office. To break the tie, they decided to draw high card from a deck of cards. Jim won,” Radvillas said.
Rural residents historically have a unique challenge in getting their voices heard.
“In years past, we banded together. Everyone got involved. We were able to make our needs not only known but addressed. In this day and age, we need to encourage people to become part of the process. We did it once, and we can do it again,” said Bob Atwood.
“People here recognize the strengths of family values, patriotism and strong Second Amendment rights. These are strengths we all firmly believe in. By channeling these strengths into information and education awareness, we can send our messages loud and clear,” said Brian Colón, former state Democratic Party chairman, who visited Reserve recently. He is running for lieutenant governor.
At one time in his career, Colón was sponsored by state Supreme Court Justice Patricio Serna, a prominent native of Catron County.

Former Party Chairman Colón Visits Catron County

County Sets New Rules For Requesting Legislative Appropriations

Mountain Mail reports

Socorro County is making a new effort to streamline the county’s project-planning process for the future. It is the goal of the administration to ensure all constituent needs are heard while efficiently managing resources and preparing stronger grant applications, according to a press release from Socorro County Manager Delilah Walsh.
The Socorro County Board of County Commissioners took the first step toward that effort by passing a resolution regarding the county’s role as a fiscal agent for public projects.
The resolution states that Socorro County shall only act as a fiscal agent for legislative appropriations to organizations when that organization has received prior approval from the county to request a legislative appropriation.
That resolution encourages members of the public to approach the commission prior to lobbying for state and federal project funds. By ensuring all groups are working from the same plan, the county can combine efforts to be more organized and more effective, the press release stated.
With the resolution in place, Socorro County is now requesting input from the public and all local organizations regarding public projects.
Those projects will be prioritized and placed on the county’s Infrastructure Capital Improvement plan, or ICIP. The plan is the county’s roadmap for future capital outlay and will allow the administration to better prepare for grant opportunities.
The county commission would like to know which public projects are most important to community members.
People or organizations with a project that should be considered should obtain a request form from the county manager’s office. Public projects can range from road improvements to equipment purchases to new buildings and everything in between. The requests will then be distributed to the commission and heard during the board’s Sept. 8 regular meeting.
For questions or more information, call Walsh at 835-0589 or e-mail dwalsh@co.socorro.nm.us.

County Sets New Rules For Requesting Legislative Appropriations

Fire Spreads Through Sevilleta

Firefighting crews battling a 1,800-acre wildfire in the sprawling Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday had hopes of containing the blaze by late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, Aug. 6.
The fire was caused by lightning strikes and quickly spread to 400 acres, fueled by brisk winds and dry gramma grass.
According to the Socorro County Fire Marshal’s office, the fire started about 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5.
“Apparently, there were five separate lightning strikes that merged into one large fire,” said Jerry Wheeler of the fire marshal’s office. “The separate fires made it a challenge at first.”
Battling the fire were crews from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state Forestry and the Veguita Fire Department
“We were called for assistance for water support at about 5:15 p.m.,” Wheeler said. “We began coordinating with Chris Wilcox, the incident commander, and by 6:45 p.m., all the agencies were working together on the fire.”
Wheeler said the fire initially started about two miles south mile marker 173 on Highway 60.
“There were seven structures on the north side of the fire that caused some concern, but after some residents called 911, fire crews were successful in keeping the fire off private land,” he said. “The only losses so far are several ecological research sites.”
The refuge is host to the Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research Program, conducted by the University of New Mexico’s Department of Biology. The program conducts a variety of research that examines long-term changes in ecosystem attributes.
As of press time Wednesday, the fire was about 75 percent contained and had not spread beyond the refuge boundaries, although flare-ups on the eastern edge kept firefighters busy through the afternoon and evening.With temperatures hovering around 100 degrees, dust devils made fighting the fire more difficult.
“They were creating fire whirls within the burn area,” Wheeler said.
It was estimated that the total burn area may be as high as 2,000 acres before it is completely contained, Wheeler said, “but with the temperatures and the wind, it would hard to estimate reasonably.”
The blaze has been named the Black Butte Fire.

Photo caption: Firefighters work to contain the Black Butte Fire at Sevilleta on Wednesday. Photo courtesy Jerry Wheeler/Socorro County Fire Marshal's office

Fire Spreads Through Sevilleta

City Considers Allowing Cage Fights At Finley

By John Larson

SOCORRO – It’s formally known as mixed martial arts, but is commonly referred to as cage fighting, a full-contact combat sport that includes a wide array of fighting methods.
Is a city-owned facility, specifically Finley Gym, a proper venue to hold such an event? That’s the question the Socorro City Council discussed at Monday night’s meeting.
Five years after city-owned Clarke Field was denied as a venue for a mixed martial arts event, the council is revisiting its position.
In 2004, the council voted not to allow promoter Jim Burleson’s King of the Cage event the use of Clarke Field. Burleson eventually got approval from the Socorro County Fair Board to hold his event at the fairgrounds.
Local MMA trainer Bill Partridge asked the council for permission to use Finley Gym for an upcoming one-night event.
“We have always had a problem with using city property for martial arts,” Mayor Dr. Ravi Bhasker said. “But the council wants to hear your presentation. What you are planning?”
Partridge told the council he trains local fighters and he wants the community to support their hard work.
“Mixed martial arts has come a long way, and it’s not a blood sport anymore,” Partridge said. “These competitors who are training every day have learned to shake hands with their opponent afterwards and not take the fight out of the venue.”
Bhasker voiced concern over past experiences with cage fighting.
“There have been worries about fighting between rival gangs,” Bhasker said. “Fighting in the street. Fighting in the homes. Fighting in the schools. The rivalry became very aggressive.”
Partridge said he has scheduled the bouts so that all Socorro competitors will be matched against out-of-town fighters.
“Local rivalries are avoided,” he said. “You can’t do anything but shake the other guy’s hand if you lose.”
Partridge said the sport has become more accepted by the public, and is looked upon as in the category of boxing or wrestling.
“This is something the children will get involved in, and they will get involved,” he said. “This event will show them how it’s supposed to be competed.”
He said MMA fights have normally been held at the National Guard Armory.
“We prefer Finley Gym because at the armory, everybody is standing, and it’s not a comfortable event to go to,” Partridge said. “We want to have it a little more spaced out for the audience. The cage size is bigger – 18 feet – so we need a little bigger area.”
He said he would meet all requirements for safety and liability.
“Security will be present there at the venue. Anything that is needed, we would provide,” Partridge said. “We will have insurance for the crowd and combative insurance for the competitors. There will have an EMT and a ringside physician. Whatever requirements to get a license will be met on our end.”
He also said competitors are required to sign an agreement that they won’t get involved in trouble or in fights outside the gym.
“We have a chance to clean up the reputation of mixed martial arts here in Socorro,” Partridge said. “I am looking at Sept. 19 for putting on the show.”
Councilor Ernest Pargas commended Partridge on his efforts but voiced concern over any extra activities “that cause a lot of problems.”
Councilor Michael Olguin Jr. said mixed martial arts has gained some respectability recently.
“It is a growing sport,” Olguin said. “It is a professional sport, and the way things are going this is what Socorro is trying to attract. I think it will benefit the city in the long run.”
Councilor Gordy Hicks said he has attended MMA bouts but has “trouble with going toward what we’ve been trying to stay away from.”
Councilor Donald Monette said he was hesitant to have the city get involved.
“I feel like we’re going backward. In the past we’ve always been afraid of it,” Monette said. “We’ll have to get into the security issue, the rent issue. I don’t know if this is the direction we’re heading. Once the convention center is built, it would be a different issue.”
The council voted 7-1 to turn the matter over to the administration to look into feasibility and legalities. Monette cast the dissenting vote.

City Considers Allowing Cage Fights At Finley

Socorro Graduation Rate Way Above The State Average

By Mike Sievers

Socorro High School’s graduation rate for the 2007-08 school year was about 20 percent higher than the state average, according to the Public Education Department’s School Accountability Report released Friday.
Socorro Consolidated Schools Superintendent Cheryl Wilson said the report measures a “four-year cohort,” meaning it records the number of students who make it through from their freshman year to graduation. She said it doesn’t count students who go on to obtain a General Educational Development, or GED, degree, or “lost students,” whose transfers were not recorded.
“The good news is we’re doing significantly better than the state average,” Wilson said. “The bad news is one in four of our students aren’t graduating on time.”
There was no change in status for any of the schools in the Socorro school district, as four out of seven did not progress to this year’s target level of efficiency in math and reading, as measured by standardized tests. The Annual Yearly Progress report is part of the accountability report.
Socorro High School, Sarracino Middle School, Zimmerly Elementary School and Midway Elementary School failed to progress to this year’s target level of efficiency in math and reading, according to the report.
Cottonwood Valley Charter School, Parkview Elementary and San Antonio School met AYP for the second straight year. The AYP reporting is required by the No Child Left Behind Act enacted in 2001. Under the act, 100 percent of students are supposed to be proficient based on the test standards by 2014.
Socorro High was given an R-2 “restructuring” designation, while Zimmerly and Sarracino were given R-1 “restructuring” designations. CVCS, Midway, Parkview and San Antonio were designated as “progressing.”
Wilson said there are many examples of improvement, and the AYP scores don’t present any jaw-dropping news. Other tests predict the outcome of the AYP tests, which are taken in the spring.
At Socorro High, 32.2 percent of the students were proficient in math, with that number dropping to 23.4 percent among Hispanic students, who represent about 64 percent of the student body. Among economically disadvantaged students (about half the student body), just 14.6 percent were proficient in math according to the tests.
In reading, 36.4 percent were proficient, with that number dropping to 27.3 percent among Hispanic students and 23.6 percent among economically disadvantaged students.
The numbers were lower at Sarracino, where 17 percent of students tested proficient in math and 35.3 were proficient in reading. The drop in those numbers when it came to Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students was similar to that at Socorro High.
Wilson said those numbers represent an “achievement gap” that the district aims to close. She said at the third-grade level, there is no achievement gap in the district, and Hispanic students have tested better than other students at that level. Fourth grade is where the gap begins, she said.
“We’re doing a pretty darn good job of getting them started,” Wilson said.
She said special subject coaches working the classrooms will help to close that gap.
Magdalena
Magdalena High did not make its AYP goal, but is still designated as “progressing.” In math, 23.5 percent overall were proficient, while 25 percent of Hispanic and 16.7 percent of American Indian students were proficient. In reading, 29.4 percent overall were proficient, while 41.7 percent of Hispanic and 16.7 percent of American Indian students were proficient. The graduation rate was 70.8 percent.
Magdalena Middle School got an “R-1 restructuring” designation, with 16.3 percent of students proficient in math and 40.2 percent proficient in reading.
Magdalena Elementary again received an “R-2 restructuring” designation, with 40.2 percent of all students proficient in math and 43.7 percent proficient in reading.
Alamo
The Alamo School, for the second straight year, did not have its report available at the New Mexico Public Education Department’s Web site.
Reserve
Reserve High School again met its AYP goals and received a “progressing” designation, with 33.3 percent of all students proficient in math and 56.7 percent in reading. Reserve’s elementary school also met AYP and is “progressing,” with 35.5 percent proficient in math and 67.7 percent proficient in reading. Reserve High’s graduation rate was 73.2 percent.
Quemado
Quemado High School also met AYP for the second year and is “progressing,” with 35.5 percent proficient in math and 45.2 proficient in reading. The same goes for Quemado Elementary, with 40 percent proficient in math and 53.3 percent proficient in reading. The same also goes for Datil Elementary, where 30.8 percent were proficient in math and 38.5 percent were proficient in reading. Quemado High’s graduation rate was 99 percent.

Socorro Graduation Rate Way Above The State Average

Tierra De Segunda Store Is Back

By John Larson

SOCORRO – Tierra de Segunda Thrift Store reopened in its new location with a party Tuesday. With about 20 customers waiting for the doors to open at noon, Mayor Dr. Ravi Bhasker cut the ribbon and applauded the volunteers for their perseverance in finding the new home.
“We’re so happy the store has been able to remain open and continue this great service for the community,” Bhasker said. “We’ve always supported their efforts and did what we could to help. This is vital for a good part of the community.”
After the ribbon cutting, customers were treated to punch, fruit and snacks.
The thrift store has been in continual operation serving families, students and those in need since 1980, and up until last month it was located on Fisher Street.
Its new address is 913 N. California St., in the Smith’s shopping center behind Denny’s.
Susan Miller said it took 20 volunteers to move the clothes,
household items and fixtures to the new site last Saturday morning.
“We are grateful to the city for listening to our concerns and helping us find this wonderful new site,” she said. “And thanks to the community for supporting our efforts.”
Mike Fazzone, Ramon Romero and Jonathan Gallegos were the “demolition crew,” said Miller. “They helped renovate the interior of the store. We also want to thank Mike and Mona Boggs of Austin, Texas, for giving us a reasonable rental rate.”
Besides serving the public through the thrift store three days a week, the volunteer organization is an active supporter of the Good Samaritan Center-Socorro nursing home on Highway 60.
“We started out originally to help the elderly, to make donations for Good Sam’s seniors,” Lola McWhorter told the Mountain Mail in a recent interview. “Wanda Ramzel, one of the founders, helped open the store the same year Good Sam’s opened, almost 30 years ago.”
Founders of the organizations included Ramzel, Francis Senn, Florence Kottlowski and Evelyn Fite.
In addition to regular contributions to Good Sam’s, the store also donates money to support the Socorro County Senior Citizen Center, Socorro Village, Vista Montano, Meals On Wheels, C.P.A., La Vida Fields and the Disabled American Veterans.
Tierra de Segunda Thrift Store is open three days a week, noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Photo caption: Tierra de Segunda Thrift Store re-opened at 913 N. California Tuesday. Mayor Dr. Ravi Bhasker was given the honor of cutting the ribbon at the dedication. Pictured (from left): Nancy Malone, Renee Lange-Romero, Lola McWhorter, Bhasker, Betty Easley, Evelyn Fite, Susan Miller and Mary Soto. Photo by John Larson/Mountain Mail

Tierra De Segunda Store Is Back

Catron Sheriff’s Deputies Compete In Battle Of The Badges

By Richard Torres
Catron County Sheriff’s deputies Ian Fletcher and Ray Goetz recently participated in the Battle of the Badges, a fundraiser in Rio Rancho, July 26.
The event was a full-contact arena football game, a “grudge match between cops and firefighters.”
“I played most of the game as a lineman,” Fletcher said.
Goetz played nose guard. A crowd of more than 1,400 cheered on the teams in the indoor arena located at the Santa Ana Star Center.
“It was a very physical game,” Fletcher said. “This was my first time playing in such an environment. A special moment in the game came when Joe Harris Jr. entered the game. His father was slain in the line of duty, and he took his place on the team. I had a lot of fun, a few sore muscles, and I would do it again.”

Photo caption: Catron County Sheriff’s deputy Ian Fletcher (72) stands in the huddle of policemen/ football players during the Battle of the Badges, a fundraiser game between police and firefighters at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho. Courtesy photo

Catron Sheriff’s Deputies Compete In Battle Of The Badges

Skate-A-Rama Saturday

Sue Meza (left), owner of the Sonic Drive-In in Socorro, and Suzanne Barteau, assistant director of the Socorro County Chamber of Commerce, decorate skate-shaped posters for Sonic’s Skate-A-Rama that will take place starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Sedillo Park. There will be a free picnic at 5 p.m. for all participants. All proceeds will benefit Toys from Cops to Tots. The event is limited to 100 skaters. Those younger than 18 need to have a parent or guardian sign a consent form, available at Sonic. Consent forms can be submitted during registration at the event. For more information, call Sue Meza at 835-2413. Photo by Mike Sievers/Mountain Mail

Skate-A-Rama Saturday

Quemado Man Arrested By Alaskan Officials

By John Larson

A Quemado man is in danger of losing his New Mexico outfitter permit after he pled guilty to several misdemeanor violations with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Jimmy Todd Hackney, 39, of Quemado, pleaded guilty Wednes-day, July 29, to 15 misdemeanor counts of guiding without proper supervision, making a false statement on hunting license applications and hunting brown bear without a guide.
According to an article that appeared in the Anchorage Daily News, Hackney took two non-resident moose hunters on a guided tour last fall, though no registered guide was supervising. Hackney also claimed to be an Alaska resident on fish and game license applications in 2006 and 2007.
Hackney was sentenced to pay a total fine of $10,000 and restitution totaling $9,100, prosecutors said.
“The significant fine in this case, as well as the loss of hunting and guiding privileges, should get the attention of anyone who is considering violating Alaska’s big game laws,” Assistant Attorney General Andrew Peterson told the Anchorage Daily News.
A co-defendant in the case, Dennis West, 57, pleaded guilty July 23 to one count of transporting without a license and was sentenced to pay $2,000 in fines.
Hackney also had his big game guiding, hunting and trapping licenses revoked and cannot guide for five years, according to prosecutors.
A co-defendant, 57-year-old Dennis West, pleaded guilty July 23 to one count of transporting without a license and was given a $2,000 fine.
In New Mexico, Hackney has been running an outfitting business called JT International Hunting, based in Quemado.
The New Mexico Game and Fish spokeswoman, Luann Tafoya, said New Mexico has a compact with Alaska concerning outfitters.
“Hackney’s name will be entered into the compact, and his case will be reviewed by Chris Chadwick, the Revocation Manager of Game and Fish,” Tafoya said. “Then his license could be revoked here in New Mexico.”

Quemado Man Arrested By Alaskan Officials

Engagement Announcement

David and Celina Baca of Socorro announced the engagement and upcoming wedding of their granddaughter Jessica Baca to Keith Huffer.
The wedding is planned for Aug. 22, 2009, in Littleton, Colo, where the couple currently resides. Mother of the bride-to-be is Melissa Collins of El Paso.

Engagement Announcement