A Big Test Awaits Warriors

By John Severance

SOCORRO – Socorro football coach Damien Ocampo said he and his Warriors learned a valuable lesson last year.
“Last year, we were good,” Ocampo said after practice Nov. 23 in preparation for the Nov. 28 Class AAA semifinal clash with Raton at home. “We were a good solid team and we ran into St. Michael’s.
“You know what the difference in the game was? St. Michael’s had a whole new offense that we were not prepared for. It taught us a lesson. Be prepared for everything.”
And that’s the mindset that Ocampo and the third-seeded Warriors (8-3), who are coming off a 7-3 victory against Las Vegas-Robertson, have for Raton on Saturday.
The second-seeded Tigers (10-1) run a spread offense, operated by quarterback Dustin Walton, who is being recruited by Division I schools.
Raton also features a pair of speedy running backs in Malachi Morphew and Matthew Mendez.
Morphew scored three times in the 35-28 victory against St. Michael’s on Nov. 21, including a 79-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Walton on a flea-flicker. Mendez, meanwhile, ran for 108 yards.
“Malachi Morphew, I think he has about 19 or 20 touchdowns for us now this year,” Raton coach Brock Walton told the Santa Fe New Mexican. “He is the best player in the state that nobody knows about and we like it that way.”
Once again, it will be up to the Socorro defense to try and stop Raton.
But Ocampo knows the offense has to do its part as well.
“We have to score with them to stay in the game,” Ocampo said. “They have everything. Their offense is more complex than most colleges that run the spread. They are well-rounded on offense and defense. They might be darn near impossible to stop. Fans that come to the game are going to see an exciting brand of football.”
People, though, have been underestimating Socorro all year and that’s the way Ocampo likes it.
He is proud of what his team has accomplished so far and he is especially proud of the way the community has backed the Warriors, who stymied Robertson time and time again in the state quarterfinal game.
“These kids are really working hard and we’ve got some great football players,” Ocampo said. “We hang our hat on hard work. We have good numbers on the team and it takes a special person to play football at Socorro. We ask a lot out of them.
“To be in this situation is pretty special for the team and the community.”
Ocampo said the Warriors last made it to the final four in 2006. And Socorro last won a state title in 1977.
The Warriors have been battling injuries all season but they have kept battling.
“What was our record,” Ocampo asked the reporter.
The reporter replied: “8-3.”
Ocampo said: “You know we only had two guys on offense who have started in every game and only three guys on defense that have started in every game. We have been the walking wounded since the first week but we keep battling and I am so proud of them for overcoming all thse obstacles. We were picked to finish third in our district and now we are in the final four in the state.”
Socorro finished 3-0 in district play and it marked just the second time in school history that the Warriors had been undefeated in district play for two years in a row. The last time came in 1996 and 1997.
And guess who the quarterback was?
Ocampo.
But now Ocampo is the coach and what does he think of his Warriors’ chances?
“I like to think if we play well, we have a shot.”
And that’s all you can ask.

Photo by Gary Jaramillo.The Socorro defense comes up big against Las Vegas-Robertson.

A Big Test Awaits Warriors

Holiday Festivities Abound In Socorro

By John Larson

SOCORRO – The City of Socorro is kicking off the holiday season this Saturday with three events geared toward the family – a posole cook-off, a tortilla making contest, and the popular Candy Cane Electric Light Parade.
For those who will be at Warrior Stadium to see Socorro play Raton in the state semifinals will still have time to take part in the day’s activities in town.
The annual Posole Cook-Off runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tourism Director Deborah Dean said the posole will be cooked on site in the tent on the Socorro Plaza. There are two categories: Traditional (with pork) and non-traditional (with green chile, chicken or other ingredients). There will be cash prizes of $200, $100, and $50.
“The public will be able to purchase five tickets for five samples for $5 following the parade to sample the posole,” Dean said. “They will also receive one special ticket to deposit in a jar at each table for the parade’s People’s Choice Award. “
The City is also sponsoring a new tortilla making contest to be held in conjunction with the Posole Cook-off, Dean said.
“The contest will begin at 1 p.m. in the tent on the Socorro Plaza, and awards will be given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners.
“This is expected to be a fun event with contestants working in teams of two or three people and will be judged in the three categories,” she said.
The categories are quickest Time; quality of tortillas (all the same size, same thickness, and consistently round) and taste. There is a $5 entry fee per team.
The big finale to the day is the Christmas Candy Cane Electric Light Parade.
“Locals come out in all their colors and lights to the most exciting parade of the year,” Dean said.
This year's theme is “Tinsel Town.”
Parade entrants will begin assembling at 5 p.m. at Sedillo Park. The parade starts at 6 p.m. at Francisco de Avondo and will end at the Plaza.
Dean encouraged everyone to sample the posole at the Plaza Social following the parade.
“This gives people a chance to visit with Santa Claus, and then get to go in and enjoy posole and vote for the parade Peoples Choice Award,” she said.
Other parade awards include Best Presentation Of The Theme "Tinsel Town”; and Best Illuminated (Best Use Of Lights).
In conjunction with the City’s events, the Capitol Bar is holding its Fourth Annual Toy Run. Businesses are donating gift certificates that will be given away.
Bikers from Socorro and the surrounding area will leave the Cap at 1 p.m. and ride to the Golden Spur in Magdalena, returning to Socorro at 4 p.m., where they will be available to have children get a picture taken with Santa – possibly on a Harley.
A mariachi band will also be performing inside beginning at 5 p.m. Admission to the Capitol Bar during the event is $5, or a toy.
The bikers will then take part in the parade. Last year 22 bikers participated in this event that collects toys for the various organizations in town.
Next Friday will be the annual Luminarias on the Plaza, the Art Crawl, and the lighting of the community Christmas tree.

Holiday Festivities Abound In Socorro

Tech Student Knows All About Big Cats

By John Larson

SOCORRO – The care of injured and sick bobcats and tigers was the topic of discussion in a seminar given by New Mexico Tech biology student Candace Cotter Monday, Nov. 16.
The seminar in Jones Annex was titled “Bob the Blind Bobcat,” and detailed what Cotter had learned about big cats in captivity.
Cotter, a 2007 Socorro High School graduate, spent part of August and September as an intern at Tiger Creek Wildlife refuge in Tyler, Texas. In May and June that she spent several weeks at a monkey sanctuary in South Africa.
“Some people call me that crazy cat lady around here,” she said.
Cotter feels her studies in genetics in the Biology Department at Tech provides a good foundation for her work with animals.
“I began considering going on to a veterinary school after I graduate from Tech,” Cotter said. “My major here is Biology, which is a good route for that. I found out about the internship at Tiger Creek and applied for it last spring.”
Cotter said most big cats in captivity are in private homes and, through ignorance or indifference, end up being mistreated.
“People want cubs because they are cute, but after a few months they get too big and aren’t cute anymore and people want to get rid of them,” Cotter said. “Two of the tigers I worked with at Tiger Creek were once owned by Michael Jackson. They called and said they were bringing them because he didn’t want them anymore.”
She said there is big demand worldwide for black market cats, strongly suggests against private ownership. “What happens is that most cats in private homes are improperly documented, and most owners have no idea how to take care of them if they are injured or become sick,” Cotter said. “In some states it is not legal to have a big cat as a house pet and people won’t take them to a vet.”
She said she help treat cats with diverse medical conditions, both congenital and human caused. Some of the privately owned cats suffered from malnutrition, scarring on paws from concrete floors, and general abuse. She said she cared for a bobcat at Tiger Creek with a spinal cord injury that “had been a housecat for several years,” and a three legged cougar that had its leg shattered from a dart gun.”
“Inbreeding, which is common with cats being sold to private owners, is a big cause of medical problems,” Cotter said. “We had cats with severe hip dysplasia, crossed eyes, weak immune systems, abnormalities, and birth defects.”
“There are only two to three thousand tigers left in the wild today,” she said. “One reason is that they are losing their habitat because of human population increase. Another reason is the poaching of tigers for their skins, and medicinal concoctions.”
She said a common misconception is that big cats are quick to attack. “They never attack out of aggression. As much as people fear tigers, tigers have fear for themselves,” Cotter said. “They will attack out of protection. Protection for their cubs, for example.”
She said cats like to wrestle around with each other, and will do that with a human.
“Play is important, and people will mistake play behavior for an attack,” Cotter said.
Part of her responsibilities at the refuge was feeding the cats.
“In the wild a tiger will eat up to 80 pounds at one time, then eat again in two days or so,” she said. “We fed them 10 to 20 pounds twice a day, so their eating is more regular.”

Photo: Candace Cotter at Tiger Creek Wildlife refuge with Piffer as the tiger was getting an upper GI for his digestive problems. Cotter feels her studies in genetics provides a good foundation for her work with animals especially the big cats.
Courtesy of Candace Cotter

Tech Student Knows All About Big Cats

Scientists Resume Tapping Into ‘M’ Mountain Reservoir

By John Larson

SOCORRO – Geoscientists at New Mexico Tech are to resume a project that was put on hold in 2006 to tap into a reservoir of hot water deep beneath the base of ‘M’ Mountain.
The project was first funded five years ago.
In 2004, the late Tech geochemistry professor David Norman and geophysics professor Harold J. Tobin were jointly awarded a $503,172 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Resource Exploration and Definition (GRED) III program. The purpose was to conduct research and exploratory drilling to accurately evaluate the geothermal potential in the previously designated “Known Geothermal Resource Area,” which surrounds ‘M’ Mountain.
After months of boring several exploratory sites along the base of ‘M’ Mountain, technicians began drilling in earnest Nov. 17, 2006 in a search for hot water.
The drilling operation ran into problems before reaching the 200 foot level in December, 2006, and the scientists spent the next several months solving those problems.
Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Mark Person, who is leading the operation, said there is conclusive evidence that the project could provide reliable source of geothermal energy – in the form of extremely hot water - that would provide the university with an efficient, inexpensive heating and cooling system.
He said he is looking for water temperatures ranging from 60 to 90 degrees centigrade (140 to 194 degrees Fahrenheit).
“Chemical geothermometers indicate a range of 50 to 113 degrees centigrade [122 to 235 Fahrenheit] at the fifteen hundred foot level,” Person said.
Person is working closely with James C. Witcher of Witcher and Associates, a geothermal consulting firm in Las Cruces.
“Water heated by geothermal waters through a heat exchanger would circulate around campus through a pre-existing hot-water loop, providing space heating for most of the university’s buildings,” Person said. “This would require geothermal waters of at least 150 degree Fahrenheit.”
The super-heated water can be used to power turbines.
A site was chosen above a large fracture on the front of ‘M’ Mountain several hundred feet above Socorro. The light generated by powerful halogen lamps can be seen every night in Socorro as the drilling goes on night and day.
According to a press release, as ground water seeps into the earth on the San Agustin Plains surrounding Magdalena, the water descends as far as three kilometers below the surface – and heating up as it descends. Distinct geologic formations beneath ‘M’ Mountain push the heated water back toward the surface.
“We’re drilling on the bull’s eye of a heat flow anomaly at Woods Tunnel,” Person said in the release. “It’s really exciting. A lot of faculty members are donating some of their time to this project because we believe in helping New Mexico Tech ‘go green.’ Plus, we can save the university – and the state – about $800,000 in cost every year.”
The new federal appropriation will pay for the infrastructure (pipes, pumps and heat exchangers) to transport the hot water 2.1 miles from the base of the mountain to the heat exchanger at Facilities Management.
Person said this phase of the project is exciting; the drilling will answer many questions about the potential for geothermal energy. At 300 feet, the drillers have encountered fractured rock and the well is producing 1,000 gallons per minute. Person said the project’s success depends in large part on finding similarly fractured rock at deeper depths. Fractured rock allows heated water to easily flow to the well consistently over time.
“Fractured rock makes it hard to drill,” Person said. “But it’s what we want to see.”

Scientists Resume Tapping Into ‘M’ Mountain Reservoir

New Mexico Tech biology student Sean Chester accepts a donation to the Tri-Beta sponsored food drive Tuesday in the Atrium at Fidel Center. Chester said all non-perishable donations will be turned over to The Storehouse in Socorro to help that agency keep up with the heavy demand for food this time of year.

Photo by John Larson

Village May Apply For Block Grant

By John Larson

MAGDALENA – The Village Board of Trustees Monday night moved forward on a plan to apply for a grant to pave the southern portion of Pine Street.
In discussing the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for next year, two of the top three items fall under the state legislature for funding; the Municipal Complex Phase II, and improvements on the community center at the rodeo grounds.
“Those are pretty much out of the question, since the governor has frozen all projects,” Mayor Jim Wolfe said. “The one item we might get money for is the paving of Pine Street.”
The $450,000 project would be funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), if approved by that federal agency.
Village Clerk Rita Broaddus said the application must be submitted by Dec. 15.
“This means the board will have to have two public hearings before final approval by the Board,” she explained. “The South Central Council of Governments did not let us know until last week that we would qualify for a new CDBG grant, which is why we have so little time. Normally we would start the process in September or October.”
The purpose of the South Central Council of Governments is to assist local governments in applying for grants, which includes the timely scheduling of public hearings.
“We haven’t heard from the COG people. They’re the ones who are supposed to help us get grants,” she said.
Broaddus said she will try to schedule two special public hearings for the next couple of weeks, and that public notices will be posted announcing the hearings.
Mayor Jim Wolfe proposed that the two hearings could be held in two days.
“Have one at night and one during the day,” Wolfe said. “If we can get everything done before the 15th of December we should have a good chance of getting this. It basically is a shovel ready project.”
Trustee Jack Fairweather said that although the time is tight, “I think we should give it a shot.”
The project would pave Pine from Fourth Street down to the dorms, Broaddus said.

In other business:

The Board passed the municipal election resolution. Election day will be Mar. 2, 2010, when voters will choose two Trustees and Mayor. All three positions are for four year terms. Voting will be held at the Fire Station. Those wishing to run for any of the positions must file their candidacy at Village Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

With one dissenting vote from Fairweather, the Board approved the naming of Arthur Rauschenberg to be the next Fire Chief. Current Chief Tim O’Neill indicated to the board via email that he must step down because of several out of town commitments. Fairweather said that his no vote did not “in any way” reflect his support for Rauschenberg, but that he had a problem with naming a new chief without a formal resignation from O’Neill.

Marshal Larry Cearley requested that the board approve the sale of three police cars. The board approved the sale of the vehicles, which will go out for bid - an $800 minimum bid for the 2001 Crown Victoria; A $1,000 minimum bid for the 2003 Ford Expedition (involved in a rollover); and a $900 bid for the 2000 4WD Ford Explorer.

Village May Apply For Block Grant

EDITORIAL: Support Your Warriors Saturday Afternoon

By John Severance, Editor

Nothing unites a community like a high school football team playing in the state playoffs. And you know it’s a big game when you are playing on Thanksgiving weekend.
I have only been here for about a month, but I can tell the community of Socorro does need not any help in supporting its Warriors.
So when Socorro takes the field at 1 p.m. Saturday against Raton in the Class AAA state semifinals at Warrior Stadium, go to the game, have fun and root on your team.
Declamation proclamation
I had the pleasure of attending the declamation by Socorro elementary school students last week.
I have nothing but admiration for those children who spent probably countless hours memorizing those poems and then reciting them without any cue cards in front of a big audience.
The top three finishers in four different categories – humorous prose and poetry, and serious prose and poetry – will compete with the winners from Magdalena on Dec. 3 at the Consolidated Schools Central Office in Socorro.
Happy Turkey Day
I’ll be the first to admit that it has been a rough year. I found out firsthand what it was like to be unemployed after spending more than 25 years in the newspaper experience on the East Coast.
In a way, the break was good because I was able to clear my head and figure out what I wanted to do with my life.
But it also was completely stressful and I am sure there are some of you out there who know what I am talking about.
So the first thank you has to go to Gary for giving me a job.
I would like to send out Thanksgiving wishes to all of our devoted readers and advertisers. Without you, there would not be a Mountain Mail. Best wishes also go out to my colleagues here and my hard-working contributors out in Catron County. A special thanks go out to my longtime girlfriend Jill in Santa Fe, my dad and stepmom in Maine, my sister in Baltimore and the Nances out at the Field Ranch.
Happy Thanksgiving.
John Severance can be reached at 575 838-5555 or you can email him at mountainmaileditor@yahoo.com

EDITORIAL: Support Your Warriors Saturday Afternoon

LETTER: Glad You’re Back

To the editor:
I am very pleased that you are keeping the Mountain Mail alive. There are times when it is important to have a local news source. But even when nothing important is happening, I enjoy the community news “features” on interesting people and worthwhile activities. I also am pleased to see Anne Sullivan’s “Sylvia” column continue.
With all the best wishes for your continued endeavors.

Sincerely,
Uncle River
Pie Town

LETTER: Glad You’re Back

LETTER: Questioning The Socorro Co-op

To the editor
Question: Why should the Socorro Electric Cooperative (that word cooperative is quite a joke) meet twice a month to accomplish nothing? Shouldn’t one be sufficient?
Question: The Christmas party the board is planning for itself: Is my money paying for that, open bar and all, and I’m not invited?
Question: Why aren’t the newly elected board members allowed to take their positions on the board immediately, responding to the will of the electorate, rather than having to wait until January.
Question: Why do we accept such irrational behavior?

Ruth White
Socorro

LETTER: Questioning The Socorro Co-op

LETTER: Board Needs To Be Watched

To the editor
My husband and I were absolutely thrilled to read your opinion piece about SEC in last week's paper. It had looked to us as though neither paper was reporting on the true state of affairs for fear of offending the Co-op, and never receiving any more advertising dollars. They seem to have it pretty well established that you're not going to receive any more any way. Why should they need to advertise at all? It isn't like they have any competition.
But you are oh, so right that the board needs to be watched. I have attended several meetings, and the behavior of this board is appalling.
Thanks for attending the meetings, and thanks for caring.
See you there!
Audrie Clifford
Socorro

LETTER: Board Needs To Be Watched