SOCORRO – The special legislative session called by Governor Bill Richardson to solve the state’s budget shortfall – sans tax increases - should be wrapping up by the end of the week.
Socorro’s Representative in the House, Republican Don Tripp, told the Mountain Mail that although the session could go a maximum of 30 days, progress is moving quickly to take care of the $200 million deficit.
“Any kind of increases in taxes has been defeated in committee,” Tripp said. “New representatives from Albuquerque introduced bills to raise taxes, including tobacco taxes and gross receipts taxes, but under the Governor’s proclamation new tax increases or salary cuts are not allowed, but just to work with the deficit.”
Senator Howie Morales, Democrat for the 28th District, said the proclamation is too focused, and doesn’t give legislators enough leeway.
“The biggest discussion in committee has been the limited and narrow scope of the Governor’s proclamation,” Morales said. “I feel that if we’re going to address the problem in a productive manner we need to have all the options. It’s such a limited proclamation, and many bills brought forth are not germane and die in committee.”
“I thought that from the beginning,” he said. “I truly believe the legislature should have the right to discuss all resources.
Morales said the state spends $50,000 each day the legislature is in session, and he feels committees should not “spend time on bills that would be vetoed anyway.”
He said three issues in discussion in the Senate were finding non-recurring expenditures, dealing with not reducing salaries, and recurring expenses.
“We’re looking at a lot of the governor’s appointees, and about 60 vacancies that don’t have to be filled,” Morale said.
According to Tripp, members of the House are also discussing the same issue – Gov. Richardson’s appointees.
“It’s the sentiment of many of the legislators that the governor should be looking at some of his unauthorized hires,” Tripp said.
“Our big concern is that we don’t want to get the state in a position where their checks are no good,” Tripp said. “So we’re also looking at next year, and Fiscal Year 2011. If we don’t start cutting from recurring expenses, the hole will get deeper and deeper - if we use only one time, non-recurring money for the deficit.”
Tripp, a member of the Legislative Finance Committee, said the deficit could rise to $650 million by July 2010, the beginning of the next fiscal year.
“We’ve already swept $108 million from various commissions and departments, and put it into the general fund. These are funds that have built up over the years and have not been used. That bill passed the house,” he said. “This is just one time money, so it won’t help next year’s deficit.”
Tripp said education may take a small cut, but not so much as to affect the teaching of students.
“One of the positive things in education is to give teacher more time to teach than be bureaucrats. There is some extra testing that goes on that can be reduced,” he said. “It’s believed that teachers can use tests that are already part of the curriculum.”
Morales said he has conferred with Socorro and Catron superintendents, and understands the needs of the local school systems.
“I’ve been speaking with Dr. (Cheryl) Wilson and she has been very helpful in letting me know how Socorro Consolidated Schools could deal with any financial alternatives. The same goes for Mike Chambers in Magdalena and Bill Green in Quemado,” Morales said. “The support and communication has been very good.”
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tax Increases Not On Horizon
Councilors: Police Oversight Ordinance ‘Fair And Balanced’
SOCORRO - The Socorro City Council took one more step in putting into law the process for citizens to voice their concerns over police officers’ conduct.
With Mayor Dr. Ravi Bhasker absent, Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Donald Monette said the ordinance to create A Police Oversight Commission was a long time coming. “Councilors Mary Ann Chavez-Lopez, Michael Olguin Jr., and Peter Romero have spent long hours on the wording and legality of the law,” Monette said.
City Clerk Pat Salome said a public hearing will be held before the final vote during the Nov. 16 council meeting.
“The committee has been working on this probably nine months now, looking at similar ordinances in Albuquerque, and have already had a couple of public input meetings,” Salome said.
“What we like about this is that there is confidence in both directions, where everybody feels like they have the best of both worlds,” Councilor Chuck Zimmerly said.
Salome said the ordinance was based on Standard Operating Procedures.
“This gives an opportunity for the public to have a third party review of things that occur out in the field,” Salome said. “It doesn’t take any powers away from the mayor or the police chief, but gives the public a chance to voice their concerns about the police department.
He explained that police officers are trained to follow standard operating procedures.
“This is not just about officers’ actions, but also if policies are being followed.” Salome said.
“It’s a communication tool for the department and the public,” Monette said. “This will come up for the final time not at the next meeting, but the one after that. The public hearing will be two meetings from tonight.”
In other business:
The council approved a request to lease a five-acre parcel of land in the industrial park area to Blue Collar Construction, a road paving company. “We do asphalt maintenance and repairs all over the state,” said Kim Massey-Dimshz, a partner in Blue Collar Construction. “We plan on having a building here, which will be our base of operations during the off season.” She said there would be employment opportunities for part-time and highly skilled positions with the company. Blue Collar’s Tracy Turner said the business would begin building as soon as the mayor signs the resolution. He said Chamber of Commerce Director Terry Tadano was instrumental in the move to Socorro.
Tourism Director Deborah Dean told the council that SocorroFest drew up to 2,000 people to Plaza Park. “It was a huge success,” Dean said. “We had a lot of people that came from out-of-town. I think many were spillovers from the Balloon Fiesta.”
Mountain Mail Welcomes New Editor In Chief
By John Severance
I’ve always wanted to do this.
I’ve always wanted to be an editor of a small weekly newspaper and run the show.
With more than 25 years of newspaper experience, working in such places as State College, Pa., Lexington, Ky., Naples, Fla., and West Palm Beach, Fla., (twice), I know how to put out a quality product. I just didn’t get the chance to call the shots.
Now I do.
But I need your help. I need you to flood my email box (mountainmaileditor@ yahoo.com) or call the office with story and feature ideas.
If you see me, I want you to introduce yourself.
Most of my experience is in sports but I am not worried about it. Words are words.
The contents of a community newspaper should serve two purposes. Newspapers should write about the people and the issues that face them. That’s what I hope to accomplish with the Mountain Mail.
Don’t hold it against me but I am not a native New Mexican.
I grew up in Northern Virginia and my father was a foreign service officer. Growing up, we did stints in Japan and India. It was in India where I caught the journalism bug. I was instrumental in starting a middle school newspaper and my first assignment was a news conference with former presidential candidate George McGovern.
I graduated from West Springfield High School in Virginia in 1981 where I was editor of the school paper. I went to Penn State because I wanted to go to a school that had a good football team — seriously.
I finally graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism and I liked it so much in Happy Valley that I lived there for 10 more years working for a publication devoted to Penn State sports and the town newspaper called the Centre Daily Times. I guess
I moved to Florida in 1996 because I could not stand the cold and landed a job in Naples as an assistant sports editor. I worked there for three years and moved to West Palm Beach for the first of my two stints with the Palm Beach Post, which also happened to have one of the top sports sections in the country.
It was in West Palm Beach that my girlfriend and I got into the thoroughbred breeding business. We were so into it that we decided to move to Kentucky, which probably is the center of the horse racing world.
From 2003 to late 2005, we raised our horses outside of Lexington while I worked for the city newspaper. At the time, we thought our breeding business was a bust.
Early 2006, I moved back to Florida because the Post offered me more money and my girlfriend moved to Santa Fe to be with her elderly mom.
In 2008, the economic woes hit the Post and the newspaper was offering buyouts. I had always wanted to move out here so I did not hesitate.
I thought to myself that I never wanted to get back in the journalism business because I was so burned out.
But after 14 months, I knew what I wanted to do – I had to get back into journalism. I loved taking care of our horses and breeding business turned out well after about six years.
One of the horses we bred is one of the top hunter-jumpers in New Mexico and will be competing in Tucson this week. And one of the others made it to the racetrack where he turned out to be a stakes winner.
So that’s probably entirely too much information about me. What’s important now is that we can make the Mountain Mail the best newspaper it can be and be a publication that the citizens of Socorro and Catron County can be proud of.
I will eagerly be awaiting your input.
Sheriff's Blotter
Sept. 21
An officer was dispatched to a residence in Polvadera where a man was intoxicated. The man stated he was on house arrest and that he had consumed numerous containers of beer. He also acknowledged that he cut off the ankle bracelet that was placed on him by Probation and Parole. He was arrested and taken to the detention center.
• An officer assisted another officer at a traffic stop on NW Frontage Road at 11:50 p.m. It was learned the driver was wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Municipal Court. She was placed under arrest and transported to the Socorro County Detention Center.
Sept. 22
A man on Midway Road in Polvadera reported at 4:30 p.m. that his handgun has turned up missing. He said he had a social gathering at his house and one of the party guests remained in the residence while others were outside. He gave the name of the possible suspect, who was not located at time of report.
Sept. 23
A woman in Veguita reported at 2 p.m. that she had been burglarized and that numerous items had been stolen from her residence and a shed on the property. She and the officer followed tracks leading into the neighbor’s yard, which the woman said belonged to her sister-in-law and nephew. No one answered a knock on the door, but the officer remained in the area, eventually seeing the nephew leave the residence. When approached, the nephew tried to run away. He was stopped but denied any involvement in the burglary. The victim contacted the officer and said she did not want to pursue the case any further and did not want to file charges.
• A Bosque woman reported that a burglar entered her residence and stole prescription medication and other items. Entry was possibly made through a west side window. No suspects at time of report.
Sept. 25
A woman on Calle del Sol in Socorro reported at 11:20 a.m. that she found that someone used her debit card without her knowledge or permission to purchase equipment from Dish Network. A name was given by the victim but that person had no knowledge of the purchase and did not know the woman.
• An officer was dispatched to a verbal domestic dispute at a residence on San Lorenzo Road in Veguita at 4:05 p.m. The suspect was found to have an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was incarcerated at Socorro County Detention Center.
Sept. 28
A Magdalena couple reported at 2 p.m. that they had opened a bank account, but when they went to make a withdrawal found that their balance was over $4,000 short. They received a record of transactions and noticed that withdrawals from their account were made over the past three months at different ATMs in the Socorro area. They stated they never received an ATM card or a PIN. The officer contacted the banks and requested photos from their ATMs. The information was forwarded to the Sheriff’s Department.
• A woman in Veguita reported at 6:15 p.m. that a neighbor’s dog came running onto her property and chased her calves. She showed photographs of the dog on the property and next to a kennel where a calf was kept. The neighbor was contacted, who said he had the dog chained up and pledged not let it get out of the yard again.
Sept. 29
While on patrol at 6:33 p.m. an officer came into contact with six individuals on a ditch bank in San Acacia. It was learned the subjects were undocumented Mexican nationals. The vehicle with them was towed and the subjects were transported away by INS officers.
• A Bosque man reported at 9:30 p.m. that a man has been missing from the residence for almost a week. He said that the man was last seen working at his job at Lowe’s grocery store in Belen. He said the man called his residence on Sept. 24. The missing man was paid on Sept. 23 and has not returned to work. His name was entered into NCIC.
Oct. 2
A Belen man reported at 10 a.m. that his tractor had been damaged by persons unknown. He stated his employees were out in one of his fields in Veguita, and a white pickup drove up. His employees greeted the occupants of the vehicle and, in return, they displayed their middle finger. The employees responded with a similar gesture, and possibly one of the pickup occupants broke the windshield of the man’s tractor with a rock. No further information was available on the pickup.
Tech Miners To Take Center Stage
SOCORRO - Socorro loves its parades, and this weekend New Mexico Tech students get their turn again by hosting the 49ers Parade as part of the annual 49ers Celebration and Alumni Homecoming.
The parade’s theme is “NMT Superstar!” and features entries from civic groups, organizations, and businesses both local and statewide. This year’s Grand Marshals are Dr. Eileen Comstock and Warren Marts.
Eileen and Warren, both New Mexico Tech alumni, are a couple well-known to Socorro audiences as supporters of New Mexico Tech’s Music Program and participants in Tech musical activities. Comstock directed Fiddler on the Roof and her husband directed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Over the years, they have sung in choruses and played in orchestras on countless occasions.
Comstock also directs the Socorro Community Concert Band, which has occasionally been offered as a Tech Community College Class. Most recently, they contributed to a fund to purchase a piano for the music program.
According to organizers, 49ers weekend is a School of Mines tradition in Socorro going back at least 70 years.
The three-day celebration focuses on activities primarily for returning alumni and current students, but there are a few events open to the public.
At 4:30 p.m. Friday, the current Pygmies take on the “Ancestors” in the Black and Blue Rugby Match on the Tech Athletic Field. Following the match is the annual Rugby Football Club dinner at the Capitol Bar at 6:30 p.m. Contact Coach Dave Wheelock for reservations at 835-5854.
Following the parade on Saturday is the annual soccer game pitting the current Miners against Miners alumni at 2 p.m. on the athletic field.
A discussion on the collapse of the World Trade Center towers is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in the third-floor ballroom of Joseph A. Fidel Center. Author of the book 9/11: Blueprint for Truth, The Architecture of Destruction, Richard Gage of the American Institute of Architects, and Kathleen McGrade, a 1979 alumna in metallurgical engineering with give the 30-minute presentation.
David Thomas, class of ‘77, ‘79, and ‘80, will give a 30-minute response. Both talks will be followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session.
For the industrious - and physically fit - the ‘M’ Mountain Run to “Paint the M” is Sunday morning. Runners are to meet in the ERMTC parking lot at 9 a.m. Registration is required by noon Friday in Brown Hall’s room 200 or by email to ltripp@admin.nmt.edu. The first 20 people or teams to reach the M with a bag of lime wins $50. Anyone 18 and older may take part in the run, but to qualify for a prize, the participant must be enrolled as an New Mexico Tech student in good standing. Hamburgers and soft drinks will be served at the top of the mountain.
Wrapping each day of events is one of the most popular parties of the year – the original Vigilante Band playing Thursday through Saturday nights at the Capitol Bar.
The Vigilantes was formed in 1975 by seven New Mexico Tech students, and reforms every year for the 49ers celebration.
Vigilantes will play from 9 p.m. till “late,” at the Cap.
The city’s tourism director, Deborah Dean, said Socorro Transportation will be offering free rides within the city limits during 49ers Weekend on Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.
The van will stop at the Plaza at 10 p.m., then at Ranchers and along California Street at 10:30 p.m. and will continue these half hour stops until 2 a.m.
“So please designate a driver or let us drive you home,” Dean said.
New Mexico Tech President Dan Lopez speaks before the crowd attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new addition to the John M. and Esther L. Kelly Building on Olive Lane. Lopez said the addition adds badly needed laboratory and office space for the Petroleum Recovery and Research Center (PRRC). Tech Regent Ann Murphy Daily and Chamber of Commerce Director Terry Tadano also made remarks. The Center has more than $10 million in current research projects, plus the 10 year, $160 million carbon sequestration project. New Mexico Tech is the lead agency in the Southwest Consortium for Carbon Sequestration.
Photo by John Larson
OPINION: Trying To Pull Back The Curtain of Time
By Don Wiltshire
I’ve been working my way through the Dark Mountain Project’s suggested reading list. This is a group of writers in England who are trying to “question the stories that underpin our failing civilization, to craft new ones for the age ahead and to write clearly and honestly about our true place in the world.
One book in particular has struck a cord with me: Thursbitch by Alan Garner. It’s a fairly light, science-fiction type book that has two groups of people, one present day, one distant past, dealing with the Mythos of a section of land in England. The distant past (or is it distant future?) group builds its society, rituals and lives around the inherent “story of the land.” The present day people, for the most part, tend to ignore what the earth is telling them.
That got me thinking of the story of OUR land. Stroll on up to the mountains around here and read part of the story for yourselves. Bands of limestone from an inland sea-bed, sandstone, shale, lava, all laid down one on top of the other, on up to our layer which will include plastic water bottles and beer cans.
The story of our land would also include the giant predators of the past, herds of Buffalo, the Ancient Ones and the not-so-ancient ones. Listen, look, feel and learn. The Earth never stops telling us its story. The Earth’s story also includes chapters on “eating to survive.” Some animals sip nectar, some munch on leaves or grass, while others eat those lower on the food chain.
Humans also fall somewhere in-between as sippers, browsers or carnivores. Where are you on the food chain?
Like it or not, WE are about to be devoured by the San Augustin Ranch LLC. They have decided that they have the right to drink up ALL of the water in these here parts. Circle Nov. 10 on your calendars.
The Bear Mountain Café in Magdalena will host a potluck at 6:00 p.m.. and an informative meeting at 7:00 to discuss this imminent danger. Tentative speakers include State Representative Don Tripp, State Senator Howie Morales, Hydrologist Frank Titus and Attorney Bruce Frederick.
This same situation is being repeated around the world as corporations are preparing to gobble up the resources which constitute the “commons” for local communities. Eat or be eaten. Fight for the environment in our little corner of the World!
Find more stories of our Earth at the newly expanded Magdalena Public Library. Stories of our Southwest are now housed in the former Village Trustee’s room, the passenger waiting room of the old Santa Fe Railroad depot. An Open House is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24th.
Come visit and find the stories of our Earth that interest you.
Noteworthy
And finally, if you love animals, whether they be sippers, browsers or carnivores, stop by the Friends of Animals Bake Sale booth at the Magdalena Schools’ Halloween Carnival. It will be held in the new gym on Thursday, Oct.29 from 4-7 p.m.
It also will be a good opportunity to find out what stories of our Earth our children are being told.
As always, if you have any comments? Problems? Solutions? Up coming Events? Issues? Contact me at mtn_don@yahoo.com or (575) 854-3370.
Trucker Caught With Pot Headed To District Court
SOCORRO – The preliminary hearing for Lincoln A. Kelly, arrested Sept. 29 in Magdalena for transporting almost $1 million worth of marijuana in a semi, was held Wednesday in Magistrate Court. Judge Jim Naranjo bound the case over to District Court.
Deputy District Attorney Ricardo Perry is prosecuting the case. Kelly was arrested by after being notified by Arizona Highway Patrol to be on the look out for the White Freightliner semi following a lead car, a 2000 Mercedes Benz. The semi was pulled over on Highway 60 in Magdalena. The bundles of marijuana were found behind several pallets of pistachios.
Marshal Larry Cearley learned that the 648 pounds of pot was being transported to New Jersey and New York.
The driver of the lead car, Derrick A. Singh of Ft. Lauder-dale, Fla., and recently released from the Arizona Corrections Dept. for money laundering and controlled substance charges, was questioned and released by New Mexico State Police.
Kelly faces one count of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute (more than 100 pounds), a class three felony. If convicted he could be spending the next three years in prison.
Troupe Celebrates Dia de Los Muertos
The Day of the Dead festivities start Thursday at noon when there will be arts and crafts workshops for families to enjoy on the school holiday.
From noon to 3 p.m., the community is invited to Macey Center for an afternoon of fun activities led by arts educators from the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Families may create traditional arts and crafts, learn about the history of the holiday, be creative at hands-on art stations, and view ofrendas by artists, honoring families and individuals. A video on the history of the Day of the Dead may also be viewed. The workshop is free, but an RSVP is required at 835-5688 or pas@admin.nmt.edu.
Next, from 5 to 7 p.m., Tech Club-Club Macey members will enjoy a social gathering, featuring snacks of posole, natillas (Mexican pudding) and seven-layer dip. The video on the history of Day of the Dead will also be shown. Tech Club-Club Macey is a social club for people 21 and over. There is a $5 cover charge if you are not a member.
A performance by Sol y Canto is at 7:30 p.m. on Macey’s main stage. Sponsored by the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the concert is only $6 for adults and free for ages 17 and under.
Sol y Canto is a Pan-Latin ensemble led by Puerto Rican/Argentine singer and bongo player Rosi Amador and New Mexican guitarist and composer Brian Amador. The nationally-touring and Boston Music Award winning band is known for making their music accessible to Spanish and non-Spanish speaking audiences of all ages.
Featuring Rosi’s crystalline voice, Brian’s lush Spanish guitar, and virtuoso musicians from Uruguay, Perú, Panamá and Argentina on piano, winds, bass, and percussion, the sextet has established a reputation for their quirky original compositions that address matters of the heart, social and global aspiration, and for their unique and driving interpretations of contemporary Latin music.
Since 1994, Sol y Canto has brought audiences to their feet from the Kennedy Center to the White House, the California World Music Festival to Boston’s Symphony Hall, Puerto Rico’s Museo de Arte to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Boston Globe hails them “sublime ambassadors of the Pan-Latin tradition” and their many accolades include Best of Boston for Latin rhythms by Boston Magazine and Outstanding Latin Act by the Boston Music Awards.
Canto y Sol’s newest release (a Parents Choice Award winner), Twice as Many Friends/El Doble de Amigos, features a fun and celebratory collection of bilingual children’s songs for singing, dancing and learning.
Tickets for the concert are $6 for adults and free 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.
Admission is free to full-time New Mexico Tech students – those taking at least six hours and showing a valid ID. Students should pick up their tickets in advance at the Tech Bookstore.
Marshal's Blotter
Sept. 29
Officers from Magdalena and New Mexico State Police pulled over at 6:50 p.m. a semi at mile marker 114 after receiving a tip the truck had drugs inside the trailer. The driver was arrested with 648 pounds of marijuana.
Sept. 30
An officer took a report at 4:50 p.m. where a dish was stolen from a residence on Pine Street. Dish Network was contacted. The case is open pending leads.
Oct. 3
• An officer stopped a vehicle on Highway 169 at 6:50 p.m. where the driver was arrested for DWI. A passenger in the vehicle was arrested on an outstanding warrant from the Magdalena Municipal Court.
• Officers were called at 10 p.m. to a residence on North Chestnut. A male subject was passed out on the front porch. He was arrested on five outstanding arrest warrants from Magdalena Municipal Court and Socorro Magistrate Court.
Oct. 6
An officer assisted at 9 a.m. in apprehending a fugitive in Texas for murder. The female suspect was tracked with the help from a county deputy from Tom Green County, Texas.
Oct. 8
An officer was called at 10:45 a.m. to the Magdalena Schools where two females had marijuana in their possession. The two juveniles were released to their parents and the case was turned over to Juvenile Probation and Parole and suspended from school pending a hearing.
• An officer was called at 1:40 p.m. to mile marker 0.5 on Highway 169 where a male subject was passed out and intoxicated. The subject was taken to the Socorro County Jail after he was released from Socorro General Hospital. He was charged with Public Nuisance.
• An officer took a report where a male subject was struck in the head with a blunt instrument. The victim is currently in a coma and his right side is paralyzed. The case is open pending further leads.
Oct. 9
An officer was called at 10 p.m. to a residence on Tenth Street which was on fire. The fire consumed a van, two trucks, a motor home and a trailer. The fire was arson and is currently being investigated
Oct. 10
An officer assisted the Magdalena fire Department in a brush fire behind the Wells Fargo Bank at 1:30 p.m. The fire was human caused and was put out after a quick response.
• Officers were called at 2:30 p.m. to a residence on Kelly Road where a male and female was involved in a domestic battery. The two were separated and charges are pending.
• Officers from Magdalena, New Mexico State Police, and New Mexico Game and Fish began a check point at 4 p.m. on Highway 60 at mile maker 112. 237 vehicles were checked in three hours and 30 citations were issued for traffic violations and illegal wood.
• Officers were called at 6:30 p.m. to the old airport where two people were shooting at deer out of season. A reward is being offered in connection with the crime.
Oct. 13
Officers found two females that ditched school. One female ran from officers and was apprehended at about 3:45 p.m. This is the same female that ran away from home and spent the night near the Marshal’s Office on the roof.
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