Amber and Brittany Nash of Socorro show off their snowman on the Plaza Wednesday Dec. 30. About two inches of the white stuff fell on the area which melted off early in the afternoon.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Snowman On The Plaza
Amber and Brittany Nash of Socorro show off their snowman on the Plaza Wednesday Dec. 30. About two inches of the white stuff fell on the area which melted off early in the afternoon.
OBITUARY: Dale Smith
Dale Smith
May 4, 1935 – Dec. 24, 2009
Dale M. Smith, 74, passed away Christmas Eve morning in Socorro, New Mexico, after a short bout with pneumonia. He was born in Albert City, Iowa, on May 4, 1935.
Dale was preceded in death by his father, Harold T. Smith; his mother, Edith Smith; and his brother, Harold Smith Jr.
Dale is survived by his wife of 23 years, Nancy; and son Will Smith, both of Lemitar.
Other survivors include two sons: Mark Smith and wife Debbie of San Antonio, Tex., and Gary Smith and wife Michelle of Omaha, Neb.; Four daughters: Laureen Stephenson of Council Bluffs, Ia., Dawn Cunningham and husband Paul of Omaha, Karen Curtis and husband Kevin of Lincoln, Ia., and Jackie Clark and husband Michael of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by four sisters: Carol Dyer and husband Duane of Upland, Calif., Shirley Samuels of Vallejo, Calif., Evelyn Waltenbaugh and husband Gary of Portland, Ore., and Lilly Watters and husband Curt of Santa Rosa, Calif.;
Stepchildren Rheinhold Schmitt and wife Heather of Latrobe, Penn., and Shiloh Schmitt of Greensburg, Penn.; and three grand-stepchildren.
Dale was a career serviceman in the United States Air Force, and retired after 27½ years as a Senior Master Sergeant. He served in Vietnam at Pleiku Air Base as a radio specialist.
Dale spent the last six years employed by the Mountain Mail, driving to Albuquerque every week to pick up the week’s newspaper at the printer, and bring it back to Socorro. He also delivered the paper to various locations in Socorro.
He was known by all who knew him as a warm and good-natured friend, ready to laugh and tell stories.
Dale was an avid collector of classic Hudson automobiles, and drove his ’52 Hudson in parades in Socorro and Magdalena.
He was a member of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane national car club in the Zia Chapter, based in Albuquerque, and the Western Reserve Chapter in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.
He was also a member of the Socorro Old Car Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, DAV, Retired Enlisted Association, and the Air Force Association.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 30, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Socorro. Arrangements were under the care of Steadman-Hall Funeral Home in Socorro. The family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society
Magdalena Senior Center
Vivian Torres, Rosemary Wilburn, Benny Zamora and Arthur Cisneros of the Magdalena Senior Center enjoy some holiday cake courtesy of the Mountain Mail. Paul Gutierrez recently donated $500 to the center. Gutierrez, a Magdalena native, is the New Mexico state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Programs and the director of the association of counties.
OBITUARY: Bernold Henderson
Bernold Henderson
Feb. 14, 1929 – Dec. 21, 2009
Bernold J. "Bern" Henderson, 80, passed away On Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, in Truth Or Consequences. Bern was born in Dusty, on Feb. 14, 1929, to Bart L. and Rachel E. (Ramsey) Henderson. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Carlota (Sanchez) Henderson of Magdalena; son, T.J. Henderson of Grove City, Ohio; daughters, Terrie L. Romer of Las Cruces; and Rachel I. Buford of College Station, Texas; grandchildren, J.T. Buford; Christina I. Henderson- Jimenez; Velinda Henderson- Armijo Gonzales; 2nd Lt. B.J. Buford;Trinitty Dawn Henderson; and Cindy Mae Henderson; great grandchildren, K-Von Armijo-Jimenez; Antonio (AC) Gonzales; Zackery (ZZ) Gonzales, Anissa Denae (AD) Gonzales; and Kaya Armijo-Jimenez.
Bern served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attended New Mexico Tech, and later worked as a Maintenance Super-visor for the state highway department for 23 years. He was also a Rancher.
Bern was a member of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. He cooked BBQ for the church for 11 years and also for Old Timers in which he was a life member. He was also a life member of DAV, VFW, and American Legion. Bern was in a band and played for many functions. He was proficient with 11 different instruments. Bern loved to sing, play his fiddle and banjo, hunt, and cook.
A Rosary was recited Saturday, Dec. 26, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Magdalena with a Communion Service following with Deacon Nick Keller . Burial was in the Magdalena Cemetery. Cremation arrangements were under the care of Steadman-Hall Funeral Home in Socorro.
Electric Co-op Unveils A New Four-Year Plan
By John Severance
SOCORRO -- Richard Lopez, the engineering head and operations manager for the Socorro Electric Cooperative, along with Randall Shaw of SGS Engineering, unveiled a four-year plan for the cooperative at the Board of Trustees meeting Monday night.
“We spend money to save money,” Lopez told the trustees during a Dec. 28 meeting.
Among the highlights:
• The five-year average for system losses was 8.5 percent. The recommended Rural Utility Service guideline is 8.4 percent for a system this size.
• Power outages were 237.32 minutes per customer per year. RUSe guidelines call for 300 minutes per customer per year, according to Lopez.
• In 2007, there were 8.61 percent in losses and there is a projection for 7.9 percent for 2013 if there had been no system improvements. With the proposed improvements, those losses could be 7 percent, according to Lopez.
• The co-op is taking bids for a Quemado Substation that would involve 16 miles of transmission line from Springerville, Ariz., to the New Mexico border and then 33 miles of line to the proposed substation, Lopez said.
“If all goes well, we should be in operation by the fourth quarter of 2010,” Lopez said.
• With the proposed Quemado substation and all the improvements to the system, Lopez said the projected system load would be at 49.6 percent.
“If we didn’t do any work in the next four years, we would be at the high end of our capacity,” he said.
• Lopez and his crew continually monitor the electric poles owned by the co-op. The average life span of a light pole is 35 years but with the continued maintenance the pole has additional lifespan of 10 to 15 years. “With those winds we had earlier this month, we might have lost 20 to 25 poles if we had not done that maintenance,” he said.
• The growth rate for 2008 was 1.27 percent after it was 7.86 percent. Lopez attributed the drop to the economy and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita which escalated the cost of equipment and poles.
The co-op also announced the hiring of attorney Dennis Francis, who previously worked for the co-op between 2001-2005. And contrary to previous reports, co-op president Paul Bustamante said Francis will deal with all legal matters and the organization had just one attorney and not three.
“We wanted an attorney to attend all the meetings,” Bustamante said.
In the Nov. 16 minutes, though, a motion was made and passed to employ Joanne Aguilar to counsel the SEC on issues involving contracts, employment and regulatory matters and a second motion was made and passed to utilize the services of Paul Kennedy for matters involving redistricting, bylaw and policy issues.
Wagner said nothing has come up before the board that would involve the termination of Aguilar’s and Kennedy’s services.
Wagner also asked if Aguilar and Kennedy were on retainer. Bustamante said they were not.
The board also heard a presentation from Michael Olguin of Socorro about insurance and after a motion from District V Trustee Charlie Wagner that was seconded by Milton Ulibarri, Olguin was hired to be the agent of record for the co-op.
The AON group previously consulted the co-op on its insurance issues.
During the two-hour meeting, the co-op also went into executive session at the request of accountant Kathy Torres.
Torres said she was part of a teleconference on Dec. 18 to discuss IRS Form 990. After saying who was at the meeting, she requested the co-op go into executive session with a complaint about Wagner.
The motion was passed.
Then trustee Milton Ulibarri made a motion that the people who were asked to leave should go all the way outside (to the freezing cold) and not wait in the anteroom adjacent to the Board chamber.
As members and the media left, Bustamante asked that the three incoming trustees Donald Wollberg, Priscilla Mauldin and Luis Aguilar stay.
But two minutes later, all three newly elected trustees were standing outside.
“They changed their mind,” Wollberg said.
After 20 minutes, the board reopened the meeting with no discussion of the sex discrimination charge against Wagner.
The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 12, when the three new trustees will be sworn in.
City Council Sets Fee For Water Connection Hookups
By John Larson
SOCORRO – The Socorro City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance raising water connection rates. The law sets the fees for both residential and business hookups.
The fee for a standard residential water connection will be the cost of materials and labor, plus 20 percent.
For a commercial connection, the fee will be the cost of materials and labor, plus $200.
The cost of asphalt, concrete cuts, and dewatering, if needed, also will be charged.
In a public hearing held before the vote, there were no comments from the public.
The council heard a first reading for an ordinance that will require home owners on Harold Drive, and Chaparral Loop to hook up to the city’s sewer lines. The ordinance states that if homeowners outside the city limits sign up within the next 12 months, the cost to them will be $280. After the first year, they must pay $1,000 for a connection.
For homeowners inside the city limits, the cost will be $280 during the first year; $600 the second year; and $1,000 after that.
The goal of the administration and council is that all residences and businesses within 100 feet of sewer lines to be on the wastewater system.
In other business:
The Council passed an ordinance to approved a bond measure to help pay for a wastewater project. The total cost of the project is $1.2 million. The city’s matching amount is $132,000, which will be fulfilled after 40 monthly payments of $5,400.
Christmas Food Drive
Bags were set up for the Toby Jaramillo Food Drive that was on Dec. 23 at the San Miguel Parish Center.
2009: Co-op Elections; Warriors
by John Severance
2009 was quite a year and probably one Mountain Mail readers will not forget for a long time.
The Mountain Mail staff completed an informal survey and came up with the top stories of the year.
The top five stories were:
1. Three District III incumbents getting voted out of the Socorro Electric Co-op Board elections.
2. The Socorro High School football team advancing to the state final.
3. The Mountain Mail folding but not for long.
4. Heroin/drug overdoses in Socorro and Magdalena.
5. National Guard Deployment to Iraq.
Other stories that garnered strong consideration were the Magdalena girls basketball team advancing to the state final, the opening of the Alamo Mini-Mart, the Bataan Death March Veterans Reunion, the stranded Albuquerque television crew in the San Mateo Mountains and the pay raises for Socorro’s Mayor and City Councilors.
Here is a brief recap of the top five stories.
Socorro Co-op Elections
In the Oct. 8 issue, 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 long time 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.
Socorro football
In the Dec. 10 issue, the Warriors did all they could Saturday Dec. 2 in the state championship game against Lovington. It just wasn’t quite enough as Lovington escaped with a 28-21 victory to claim its 16th Class AAA state title.
“I am proud of the kids,” Socorro coach Damien Ocampo said. “They played with a lot of effort and passion. They played hard and that was our goal. We just made too many mistakes to be a good team like that. People thought it was not going to be close.”
But it was -- it was extremely close. Check out the stats: Lovington held a 357-341 advantage in yards and a 17-16 margin in first downs. The key for the Warriors is that they were able to run the football as they gained 326 yards on the ground. “We got in a groove on offense,” Ocampo said. “We did a good job blocking up front and our running backs ran really hard.” The team had the total support of the community and brought Socorro together.
Mountain Mail
Also in the Oct. 8 issue, 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 remained 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.”
Heroin/Drug overdoses
This issue was the most tragic of 2009. There were numerous heroin and other drug busts, and two young people died because of overdoses.
It’s still a huge problem and one that is not easily solved.
National Guard Deployment
A crowd numbering in the hundreds gathered at Socorro’s Plaza Park on June 10, to meet and show support for members of the 515th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, formerly headquartered at the National Guard Armory on Highway 60.
Disabled American Veterans Chapter Commander Peter Romero opened the program from the park’s gazebo by directing the 515th’s commanding officer, Lt. Col. Ken Nava, to “bring in your troops.”
Led by SSgt. Pedro Guerrero and Spc. Gilbert Murrillo, carrying the battalion’s battle flag and guidon, the soldiers marched between lines of residents displaying homemade signs of support and holding up small American flags.
OBITUARY: Andres Vallejos
Andres Vallejos
Oct. 11, 1928 – Dec. 26, 2009
Andres Vallejos, 81, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 26, at home in Socorro. Andres was born to Andres L. Vallejos Sr. and Vivianita (Padilla) Vallejos in Polvadera, on Oct. 11, 1928.
Andres worked as a Mining Supervisor with Southwest American Minerals until he retired. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Orfelita"Fela" Vallejos of Socorro; sons, Mike L. Vallejos and wife, Marie Valles of Socorro; and Tony D. Vallejos of San Francisco, Calif.; daughters, Charlene V. Montoya and husband, Lonnie of Polvadera; Berlinda A. Vallejos and husband, William Dias of Las Vegas, Nev.; and Cora J. Tracy and husband, John also of Las Vegas; brothers, Raymond Vallejos and wife, Sefie of Socorro; Johnny Vallejos of Socorro; Manuel Vallejos of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; and Jimmy Vallejos and wife, Mary also of Socorro; sisters, Christina Garcia and husband, Joe of Taos; Susie Clubb of Kansas; and Della Celetano and husband, Joe of Riverside, Calif.; sister-in-law, Lupe Vallejos; 17 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. Andres is preceded in death by sons, Jerry Vallejos; Ronnie Vallejos; and Andy Vallejos III; daughter, Cora Jean Vallejos; brother, Isidro Vallejos; and sister, Josie Healy.
A Communion Mass is being celebrated on Thursday, December 31 at 11 a.m. at San Lorenzo Catholic Church in Polvadera with Deacon Mike Ybarra officiating.
Burial will take place in the Polvadera Cemetery. Cremation arrangements are under the care of Steadman-Hall Funeral Home, Socorro.
OBITUARY: Finch
Mrs. Finch, 81, a long time resident of Luna, Reserve and Silver City, passed away Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, in Redmond, Wash. , after a long battle with cancer.
She is survived by daughter Norma and husband, Leonard Emerson, and daughter Barbara and husband, Ricky Durham of Washington, daughter Brenda and husband, Robert Stabler of Kansas; and son, Roy Finch and wife, Donna of Texas; nine grandchildren: Terzah and husband Randy Farley of Texas, Donna and husband Matt Landes, Carol and husband Aaron Barnett and Christina Stabler all of Kansas, Sean and Rachel Durham of Washington, Matthew Maul, Amy and husband Michael Henderson of Texas, and Sarah Maul of Kentucky; Five great grandchildren in Kansas and five in Texas. Three Sister-in-laws: Jewell Derrick and Velma Russell of New Mexico and Josephine Skaggs of Texas; very dear cousins, Ramah and husband Johnnie Shaw of Nevada, Mary Pat Lansing and her brother Paul Lansing and wife Brownie of Arizona, Annell and husband Jim Bacon of Oregon, and numerous nieces, nephews, and too many dear friends to list here.
She was an active member of the Church of Christ in Reserve, and loved to study the Bible. She worked alongside her husband in the mines, operating a hoist, on the property they leased in Piños Altos.
She was an organizer and was always working to make her home more livable. She loved working with tools for carpentry projects and learned to work on vehicles when needed. She liked hunting for rocks and pine nuts with her mother and grandmother. She learned to use a chain saw from her husband and would gather her own firewood.
She enjoyed music and especially enjoyed traveling. She appreciated all types of scenery and would take many pictures. She was a genealogy expert for her family and her husband’s and created photo albums for each ancestral line for any family member who wanted one.
She enjoyed working with her two computers and would play solitaire for many hours and kept the ‘books’ for her congregation.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Finch, mother, Mildred McAllister and son, Stanley Finch. Memorial services in Reserve will be set at a later date. She will be buried next to her husband and son in the Reserve Cemetery. Honorary pall bearers will be: Van Coleman and Jeff Turner of Silver City, Tom Caddel of Santa Clara, Charlie McCarty, Dave Land, Rick Johnson and Earl Pitt of Reserve, Mark White, and Tom Collins of Arizona and Edwin Carlisle of Texas.
She is survived by daughter Norma and husband, Leonard Emerson, and daughter Barbara and husband, Ricky Durham of Washington, daughter Brenda and husband, Robert Stabler of Kansas; and son, Roy Finch and wife, Donna of Texas; nine grandchildren: Terzah and husband Randy Farley of Texas, Donna and husband Matt Landes, Carol and husband Aaron Barnett and Christina Stabler all of Kansas, Sean and Rachel Durham of Washington, Matthew Maul, Amy and husband Michael Henderson of Texas, and Sarah Maul of Kentucky; Five great grandchildren in Kansas and five in Texas. Three Sister-in-laws: Jewell Derrick and Velma Russell of New Mexico and Josephine Skaggs of Texas; very dear cousins, Ramah and husband Johnnie Shaw of Nevada, Mary Pat Lansing and her brother Paul Lansing and wife Brownie of Arizona, Annell and husband Jim Bacon of Oregon, and numerous nieces, nephews, and too many dear friends to list here.
She was an active member of the Church of Christ in Reserve, and loved to study the Bible. She worked alongside her husband in the mines, operating a hoist, on the property they leased in Piños Altos.
She was an organizer and was always working to make her home more livable. She loved working with tools for carpentry projects and learned to work on vehicles when needed. She liked hunting for rocks and pine nuts with her mother and grandmother. She learned to use a chain saw from her husband and would gather her own firewood.
She enjoyed music and especially enjoyed traveling. She appreciated all types of scenery and would take many pictures. She was a genealogy expert for her family and her husband’s and created photo albums for each ancestral line for any family member who wanted one.
She enjoyed working with her two computers and would play solitaire for many hours and kept the ‘books’ for her congregation.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Finch, mother, Mildred McAllister and son, Stanley Finch. Memorial services in Reserve will be set at a later date. She will be buried next to her husband and son in the Reserve Cemetery. Honorary pall bearers will be: Van Coleman and Jeff Turner of Silver City, Tom Caddel of Santa Clara, Charlie McCarty, Dave Land, Rick Johnson and Earl Pitt of Reserve, Mark White, and Tom Collins of Arizona and Edwin Carlisle of Texas.
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