Mountain Mail Returns

By John Larson
SOCORRO – Three weeks after announcing it was closing its doors, the Mountain Mail newspaper is resuming publication – under new local management and ownership.
Jaracienda, LLC, of Socorro, purchased the newspaper as a subsidiary after publisher Thomas Guengerich ceased publication. Guengerich cited in the Sept. 10 issue that advertising had fallen, even though readership remains strong.
Jaracienda LLC is owned by the family of Socorro’s Tony Jaramillo. Overseeing the day to day operations as business manager and general public relations will be Gary Jaramillo, who said, “We are committed to continue the fair, impartial and factual reporting that has earned the Mountain Mail its respect among readers.” 
“Our primary focus will be to expand on the great community style that has always made the Mountain Mail a local favorite,” Jaramillo said. “We’re absolutely positive that this newspaper is the premiere genuine article when it comes to community newspapers in New Mexico. Its history and the many years of hard work and love put into it by previous owners, and wonderful dedicated employees, is why we are so very proud to have the privilege of keeping the Mountain Mail torch lit for all of the loyal supporters in Socorro and Catron counties.”
He said nearly all the popular features and columns will continue, with some possible new additions, geared specifically to the Socorro region.
“We are very interested in adding a Spanish language section as soon as possible and believe it will be a popular addition,” Jaramillo said. “We’ll also be adding a weekly television guide for our specific area, along with a column from award winning journalist and columnist M.J. Wilde, offering a light-hearted view and critique of movies and television shows.”
Jaramillo said another goal is to expand coverage on “local family life stories, experiences, adventures, and accomplishments from every walk of life in the wonderful communities that make the Mountain Mail a part of their lives.”
“Our philosophy is that if you keep things simple – honest – and always keep your word, everything seems to fall into place quite nicely,” Jaramillo said. “Any and all ideas from readers will be greatly appreciated and we would love to hear from our loyal readers any time. We’re so very happy to be your new newspaper neighbors.”
All previous subscribers will be credited for any issues missed and all paid subscriptions will be honored.
The newspaper, originally known as the Magdalena Mountain Mail, was first published in 1980. Valley Independent Publishing purchased the newspaper in 2002.
The new telephone number for the Mountain Mail is 575-838-5555. The fax number is 838-2808.

Mountain Mail Returns

Challengers Sweep Electric Co-op Voting In Socorro

By John Larson
SOCORRO – All three reform candidates were victorious in the Socorro Electric Cooperative’s District III election in Socorro on Saturday night. Running for re-election were longtime board members Harold Baca, Juan Gonzales and Herman Romero.
Donald Wolberg, Priscilla Mauldin and Luis Aguilar won four-year terms on the board. Mauldin had the widest margin with 59 percent of the vote in her race with Gonzales, who had served as co-op trustee for nine terms.
District III covers the city of Socorro, and is represented by six SEC Board members.
“As the results were announced, the crowded meeting hall started screaming and made enough noise to rock the building,” co-op member Charlene Wagner said.

Position 1
Don Wolberg 303
Harold Baca 278

Position 2
Priscilla Mauldin 347
Juan Gonzales 234

Position 3
Luis Aguilar 319
Herman Romero 267

District V will be holding an election of one board member Saturday, Oct. 10, in Magdalena in the Parish Hall of St. Mary Magdalena Church.
District V covers the largest area served by Socorro Electric Cooperative including Magdalena, Datil, Pie Town, Quemado, and Fence Lake, and is represented by two trustees – Jack Bruton of Datil and Charlie Wagner of Magdalena.
Wagner will be running for re-election against Godin “Dean” Otero of Magdalena, and Clark Bishop of Datil. Bruton’s seat is not up for election.
Saturday’s election starts at 4 p.m., with registration and voting, followed by a business meeting at 7 p.m.

Challengers Sweep Electric Co-op Voting In Socorro

Councilor Injured In Traffic Wreck

By John Larson
SOCORRO – Socorro City Councilor Gordy Hicks is under observation at UNM Hospital after suffering a broken leg and ribs in a traffic accident at the intersection of Frontage Road and Memory Lane Monday morning.
Hicks, riding his 2007 Yamaha Star motorcycle, was struck by a car driven by Shawn Gonzales, 19, of Socorro, who was cited for failure to yield.
Det. Richard Lopez of the Socorro City Police said Hicks was southbound on Frontage Road at about 10 a.m.
Hicks was turning from Frontage Road onto Memory Lane, which is a hairpin curve. Gonzales was traveling south on Memory Lane and apparently did not see Gordy making the left turn. He passed through the stop sign and hit the motorcycle, Lopez said.
The accident was just a few yards from Hicks’ home and business.
Mayor Dr. Ravi Bhasker made the announcement at Monday night’s City Council meeting, and all councilors voiced their concern.
“He’s had a rough six months and we’re praying that he heals up and comes back quickly,” he said.

Councilor Injured In Traffic Wreck

Catron County Heliport Opens With Magnificent Celebration

By Anne Sullivan
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.”

Catron County Heliport Opens With Magnificent Celebration

Magdalena Samaritan Center volunteers were honored last Saturday at a party hosted by the center’s board members. Board President Kelly Barnitz said up to 50 people have contributed their time, energy, and money to keep the charitable organization going. “The need is growing, but the volunteer base is growing, too, as more people become more aware,” Barnitz said. “We currently distribute 72 boxes of food twice a month to the neediest families, and give out about 100 boxes of food at the store location.” The Volunteer Appreciation Day is held once a year. Pictured (from left): Eunice Augustus, Preston Augustus, Barnitz, and Carmen Roa.

Socorro Police Make Arrest Following Drug Raid

By John Larson
Socorro police were successful in a drug raid on a private home Saturday morning.
Detective Richard Lopez said the raid at an apartment at 421 Bullock was a result of an ongoing investigation involving controlled buys and surveillance by undercover officers.
“This was the second time we’ve conducted a search warrant at the residence,” Lopez said.
Arrested for trafficking methamphetamine was Geri Lynn Jojola, 25.
According to the criminal complaint, Jojola was staying at the apartment of Angelica Vega, who was also a suspect in the investigation.
Lopez and other officers executed the search warrant at 5 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.
Jojola was found in the bedroom and was ordered to the floor, the report stated. As she moved to the floor, Lopez noted a large amount of cash fall out of a sweater pocket. A plastic baggie contained a rock crystalline-like substance also fell to the floor as she stood up.
The apartment was searched and an additional amount of methamphetamine was found in a dresser drawer. A field test at the Police Department verified that the substance was methamphetamine.
The meth and $970 in cash were locked into the evidence room, and Jojola was incarcerated at the Socorro County Detention Center. Jojola was arraigned in Magistrate Court Monday. The preliminary hearing has not been scheduled.
Vega was arrested Sept. 1 at the same residence, and charged with possession of both methamphetamine and marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, and child endangerment.
Vega’s preliminary hearing In Magistrate Court scheduled for Wednesday was continued on a request from Vega’s attorney, Katherine Renee Riley.

Socorro Police Make Arrest Following Drug Raid

Trinity Site Time Capsule Opening Disappointing

First person
By Ben Moffett

Trinity Site’s autumn open house Saturday drew an appreciative crowd as usual, this one estimated by the White Sands Missile Range public affairs office to be 3,400 – about the usual size.
Those who were on hand expecting to see the opening of the time capsule that was buried 25 years ago, Nov. 24, 1984, to dedicate the restored McDonald Ranch House, were likely disappointed. I know I was, having attended the capsule ceremony not only to view the McDonald House as it originally looked, but to help publicize it for my employer at that time, the National Park Service.
The public affairs office at WSMR said Saturday that a few pieces such as photos from the buried briefcase enclosed in a steel box were posted at the ranch house, but most of the material, including “paperwork surrounding restoration efforts and memos passed back and forth between agencies” were not posted because of time constraints and logistical problems related to their safety. Neither were the scrolls that contained the signature and/or messages of 1984 visitors posted. All will eventually be on display at the WSMR Museum’s Trinity Site exhibition, which unlike the McDonald House, is open seven days a week.
The ranch house, where the core of the bomb was assembled, was in tatters after the July 16, 1945, pre-dawn explosion of the world’s first nuclear device. The National Park Service was the primary contributor to the restoration effort, but the man who made it happen was Gen. Niles J. Fulwyler, WSMR commander, now retired, who had a passion for history.
Public Affairs officer Lisa Blevins Tuesday was good enough to provide me by telephone with the capsule comments left by Fulwyler. His note in the capsule read “(t)his has been a work of love. I hope you who are here 25 years from now enjoy what we have done. Be sure to take care of our heritage. It belongs to all of America.”
My own comment was forgettable. In fact I forgot what I had written, and was again disappointed when Blevins read it back to me. It said “I was born at nearby San Antonio and lived there when the bomb was exploded. I plan to be back for the ceremony in 25 years. Great work.” I suspect that my low profile message had to do with my not wishing to rock any boats as an employee of the cooperating agency, the park service.
The National Park Service task was to return the house to its pre-explosion 1945 condition, and according to a White Sands Missile Range biography of Fulwyler “set the stage for more frequent Trinity Site Open Houses.”
The restored house certainly added to the flavor of the Trinity Site visitor, who suddenly was able to not only learn about World War II and nuclear history but study the livestyles of ranchers on the isolated section of the northernmost stretch of Chihuahuan Desert. It was in private hands until the military bought it out, but virtually unpopulated..
Such historic items as a cistern and an a windmill-fed swimming pool at the ranch house help today’s visitors understand time and distance in the area. A crudely painted sign on the door, asking scientists who were assembling the core to “wipe your feet” before entering. Today it draws guffaws among visitors who are aware of the degree of cleanliness required in “clean rooms” of computer chip manufacturers and other high tech ventures.
White Sands Missile Range Museum director and curator Darren Court said it will be a month or more before the contents of the capsule will be available for viewing in the expanded Trinity Site space. “We’ll have the original documents in a case, and a text panel to explain the restoration and why it was done,” Court said.
I am very glad to be able to write this story. I was 45 years old on the day I signed the scroll and didn’t know if I would make it to 70, which I did in September. And I remain proud to tell anyone who will listen that I am a native of San Antonio, and one of the closest persons to the blast that brought the world into the atomic age, ended World War II, and today remains a force for good and evil that lights up the front page of newspapers on a daily basis.

Trinity Site Time Capsule Opening Disappointing

October Skies: Meteor Shower, Planets, Annual Star Party

By Jon Spargo
New Mexico Tech Astronomy Club

Brilliant Jupiter, shining at magnitude -2.6, will be at its highest point in the south just after dark. Well placed for optimum viewing through binoculars or a small telescope, its 4 Galilean moons and atmospheric bands should be a real treat for early evening viewing.
Saturn reappears in the morning sky this month. On October 13 it will pass a scant ½ degree north of Venus which will be at least 100 times brighter than the ringed planet. Although Saturn’s rings are still nearly edge on it will be hard to see them with the planet just above the horizon. By the end of the month Saturn will manage to climb to almost 20 degrees above the horizon.
Mercury will also make an early morning appearance during the first half of the month. On October 6 about 45 minutes before sunrise look for it slightly to the left and about 6 degrees below Venus.
Mars rises around midnight and its tiny orange-red disk is starting to grow larger as the Earth begins to catch up to Mars. It can be found in the constellation Gemini about 6 degrees from the bright star Pollux. As the month progresses Mars begins an eastward migration among the stars and will be found near the center of M44, the famous “Beehive Cluster” on Halloween night!
The moon was full October 4, last quarter on October 11, new on October 18 and 1st quarter on October 25. The full moon on October 4 will be this year’s “Harvest Moon” which is defined as the full moon closest to the September equinox. On October 16 a waning crescent moon will be about 6 degrees to the right of Venus about 45 minutes before sunrise.
Using the moon as your guide on this date will net you three planets with Saturn being about 3 degrees above Venus and Mercury about 8 degrees below Venus. On October 26 a waxing gibbous moon will be about 4 degrees above and the right of Jupiter.
The period of October 17 through the 25 will bring the Orionid Meteor Shower. This shower is the result of the passage of Halley’s Comet.
Even though the comet has a 76 year period the shower seems to have a peak about every 12 years. 2009 could be a good year with the peak on the night of October 20-21. This year the moon will not be a factor and rates of up to 30 meteors per hour could be visible as you look to the east between midnight and dawn.
October also brings the Enchanted Skies Star Party to Socorro. This year the event is from October 14 to 17. This year’s exciting lineup of speakers and workshops feature a keynote address by astronomer and astronaut Dr. John Grunsfeld. A veteran of five space shuttle flights Grunsfeld’s latest was his third and final flight to service the Hubble Space Telescope. The mission was a huge success as judged by recent Hubble images released by NASA. The new camera is revealing details never before seen. His address promises to be an exciting one as he will talk and show fabulous pictures about the mission.
The keynote address will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, in the third floor ballroom of the Fidel Student Center on the New Mexico Tech Campus. The event is free to the public but come early to get a good seat! Star Party T-shirts will be available and you just might get an astronaut’s autograph on one! For more information about the Enchanted Skies Star Party go to www.enchantedskies.org or call the Socorro Tourism Office at 835-8927.

October Skies: Meteor Shower, Planets, Annual Star Party

Local Newspapers Vital To Community

Magdalena Potluck
By Don Wiltshire

A Truly Free Press
It’s an honor to be back, writing under the banner of a hometown, locally owned paper. The Mountain Mail is one of the very few voices of Socorro and Catron Counties. Here we can discuss news, issues and events of importance to our corner of New Mexico. There is no “Media Giant” like Time-Warner, Gannett or Hearst looking over our shoulders to make sure that we are “in-line” with the “Corporate Agenda.”
There are issues to be discussed and battles to be fought in the near future that will impact our very survival in this area of our fragile Earth. I will never tell you what to think. All comments and suggestions are welcome so that we might honestly discuss how to proceed in the face of those who would just as soon trash our little corner of the world.
One such issue is the “water grab” out at the San Augustin Ranch LLC. The “plan” is to drain the San Augustin aquifer and give our water to Texas. This would allow Santa Fe and Albuquerque to drink a little deeper from the Rio Grande. There has been a tentative date set for an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Bear Mountain Café in Magdalena. The traditional pre-meeting pot-luck will start at 6 p.m. The meeting will have a “panel-discussion” format. Hopefully we will have state Rep. Don Tripp, attorney Bruce Frederick from the New Mexico Environmental Law Center and a hydrologist as panelists.
This is a very real threat that will simply not go away by itself. We owe it to ourselves and to our children to learn about this issue. When the time comes, we will fight for our water rights and for the water right beneath our feet. A new wrinkle in all of this is US Senate Bill 787, called the “Clean Water Restoration Act.” Is it designed to protect our nation’s waters or simply to give the Government (Big Business?) jurisdiction over our water rights? Read the bill at thomas. loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/ z?c111:s.787 and decide for yourselves.
Another date to mark on your calendars is the Socorro Electric Cooperative, District 5 election this from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the St. Mary Parish Hall on Spruce and Second Street in Magdalena. A meeting will follow at 7 p.m. This is, after all, your co-op and unlike a “Big Business,” you have a voice in how it is run.
The Magdalena Samaritan Center is continuing its Commodities Distribution on the second Monday and the last Friday of every month in the Community Center at the Magdalena Rodeo Grounds. Please bring your own boxes. Volunteers with wheel barrows or strong backs are also needed to help carry boxes to cars. If interested, please call Carman Roa at 854-2585.
The Magdalena Public Library will be having its Grand Opening - Open House at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Come experience the difference that a few hundred more square feet can make. There’s actually room to read, browse the collections and check out a book at the old train ticket window. Food, fun and books will be available.
Stock up on goodies at the Friends of Animals Bake Sale booth at the Magdalena Schools Halloween Carnival in the New Gym from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.
Following the “Health Care for All Circus”? Check out OpenSecrets.org to see who is lobbying for/against your favorite health reform bill or any bill for that matter. It makes you wonder, when Big Business cash donations speak louder than the needs of the American Citizen.
Finally, does anyone have a small, unused or inexpensive wood stove suitable for a mobile home? We have received this request and will be happy to pass on any information.
As always, if you have any Comments? Problems? Solutions? Up coming Events? Issues? Contact me at mtn_don@yahoo.com or (575) 854-3370.

Don Wiltshire lives and writes in Magdalena. His opinions do not necessarily represent the Mountain Mail.

Local Newspapers Vital To Community

Traffic Stop Reveal 648 Lbs Of Pot

By John Larson
MAGDALENA – A tip from the Arizona Highway Patrol resulted in the seizure in Magdalena last week of 648 pounds of marijuana valued at $975,000.
According to a report by Magdalena Marshal Larry Cearley, the semi was carrying the 24 plastic wrapped bundles of marijuana in a section of the tractor-trailer hidden behind several pallets of pistachios.
Cearley’s report stated that the Arizona agency had contacted New Mexico State Police to be on the look out for the white Freightliner headed east on Highway 60.
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, the truck was pulled over at about 6 p.m. at mile marker 114 east of Magdalena.
The driver, Lincoln A. Kelly, gave Cearley and State Police Officer Steve Carter permission to search the trailer, which contained pallets of pistachios “on the floor one [pallet] high six feet from the door to the middle of the trailer where it was stacked two high.”
The report stated that Cearley and Carter “counted the trailer partitions indicating there was about 10 feet in the front of the trailer that was either empty or had some boxes we could not see.”
Carter crawled to the top of the two stacked pallets and discovered 10 cardboard boxes, the report said. Packed inside those boxes were the plastic bundles containing marijuana.
Kelly was arrested and charged with possession more than 100 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute – a second degree felony.
If convicted of the charge Kelly could face up to nine years in the prison. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10 in Socorro Magistrate Court.

Traffic Stop Reveal 648 Lbs Of Pot