A bumble bee makes a safe landing in the garden of a Socorro neighborhood this week.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Bumble Bee Landing In Socorro
A bumble bee makes a safe landing in the garden of a Socorro neighborhood this week.
Outcomes "Positve" For Alberta House
A graduation of tots and pre-schoolers was held last week at Alberta House, a part of Positive Outcomes, and named to honor Alberta Marie Jaramillo-Rivera. Prior to receiving their “diplomas” from Marguerite Casey, the children sang The Alphabet Song. The facility opened in 2007 primarily as a day care center and preschool, with Tara Jaramillo as principal. Pictured are (not in order): Early Intervention students Kyra Apache, Valaria Cheney, Everett Estrada, and Diana Trejo; and pre-school students Brian Armijo, Marissa Jacquez, Kevin McCleary, Riley Morris, and Jolena Jefferies.
Low Turnout At Primary Election
Mountain Mail Reports
Carlos Carrillo gained 28 percent of the vote and earned the Democratic nod in the race for Socorro County Probate Judge Tuesday night.
Carrillo received 468 votes, defeating Toby Jaramillo (349), Bill Bottorf (302), Cindy Rivera (286) and Richard Sanchez (285).
In the November election, Carrillo will take on Emma King (704), who defeated Ray Spurgin (565) in the Republican race for the probate judge seat.
County Clerk Rebecca Vega said everything went smoothly and that the election was “a lot slower than others.
“I can’t give you percentages because I am still working on it.”
In the Democratic county assessor race, Henry Jojola unseated incumbent Valentin Anaya with a 921-769 vote advantage. Jojola will run against Gayl Dorr, who ran unopposed on the Republican ticket.
Incumbent Philip Anaya (D) defeated Anthony Baca 210-176 and will face Amanda Gallegos in the county commissioner District 3 race. In the District 1 commissioner race, Michael Olguin and Pauline Jaramillo ran unopposed and will vie for the position in November.
Sheriff Philip Montoya will face Kenny Gonzales in November after Montoya easily won the Republican primary with a 1,007-291 vote advantage over Joseph Lopez.
In the statewide elections, Diane Denish and Susana Martinez will run for governor. Brian Colon and John Sanchez will run for lieutenant governor. Mary Herrera and Diana Duran will run for Secretary of State. Hector Balderas and Errol Chavez will run for state treasurer. Gary King and Matthew Chandler will run for attorney general.
Nationally, Harry Teague and Steve Pearce will run for the U.S. Representative District 2 seat.
Election results will be canvassed and certified on Friday at 10 a.m. in the County Annex Building.
All voting results can be found on http://www.socorrocountyvotes.com.
Garcia Retires After 20 Years As Socorro Girls Basketball Coach
By Nicky Romero
For the Mountain Mail
For the Mountain Mail
The Socorro girls basketball program has had only two coaches in the last 34 years, which speaks well to the program's consistency and success through the years. Coach Joseph Garcia has played a major part in this program since 1990. Garcia decided last week to retire as head coach after 20 years at the helm and 361 victories at the varsity level.
The Socorro basketball program is 35 years old. Joanne Davis started the program with six girls the very first year and ended with a 0-7 record. Coach Doc Stanley coached the girls the next 14 years and won 177 games.
Garcia has a total of 28 years of coaching in Socorro That includes a five-year stint at the middle-school level and three years as assistant coach at the high school.
Garcia, fondly known by some as the “Stormin Bear” never mellowed much over the years on the sidelines. To understand this nickname, all you have to do is ask rival coaches and referees that he sometime tangled with. But off the court, he was much more like a teddy bear.
“Obviously, you develop a lot of close friendships with the girls,” Garcia said. “If there is anything I'm going to miss, it's the personal relationships I had with the kids. That's been the hardest for me the last two weeks. I've been getting calls and texts from coaches around the state and old players. So that's kinda of made me feel good, but it's also made me feel sad.
“No one really knew about this coming, including my players. On the Monday that I turned the retirement letter in, I gave it to my wife Tina, who I had been hinting to the last few months, but she still didn't believe me. Twenty-eight years is a long time and next year is my last year of teaching.”
Even though he kept it a secret from his team, the current players had an inkling about his retirement from coaching.
“The way I looked at it, I didn't want to be in a lame-duck situation. I know they would have all played hard next year, but then I thought that if you don't have that one little edge over them they could be saying he's not going to be here next year anyway. I didn't want to be put in that situation.
Garcia also wanted to leave knowing the girls program was in good shape for the next head coach to take over.
“I've also wanted to get out when I thought there were a lot of kids coming back,” Garcia said. “There are nine girls returning, c-team is undefeated, eighth grade is undefeated. I didn't want to be where they said he only got out when it didn't look like he was going to have a team coming back. I also wanted to leave after coming off a 21 win season.”
“One thing that I've been real pleased with is our consistency in winning. No one can say that we weren't consistent. We averaged 18 wins a year, most of those wins coming in a 22-game schedule. And in Socorro, you don't play a lot of those games at home. We usually play two out of every three games on the road.”
Garcia's team records included nine district championships, six district runner-ups, never went to state as an “at-large” pick which he is proud of, four final fours, and two state championship runner-ups. He is also proud of having only two losing seasons in his 28 years of coaching.
Garcia could not pick a favorite team from the past, because to him they were all special. But he had to mention his very first team because of a special reason.
“I was really pleased with the very first team I had, because that was the very first year that they opened up “The Pit” for girls state basketball to play. Before that, the girls always had to play in the high school gyms in Albuquerque. So actually, we were the very first girls team to play in “The Pit”. That was special.”
Girls that played that year included his daughter, Carla Jo Garcia, Sheyna Wisdom, Lil Romero, and Melissa West, Charity Savedra, Cassandra Anaya, Irma Wagner, Melanie and Stacy Greenwood, Helen Ulibarri, and Miranda Ortega.
He is also proud of the girl's individual accomplishments thru the years: 28 girls playing in the South All-Star Game, 25 times (some multiple times) that girls made the All State Teams, and girls going to play in college and getting their degrees.
Garcia also could not pick out a favorite player, although he did have a sentimental favorite who he coached for three years in the early 90's, his daughter Carla Jo Garcia.
“I've coached hundreds of girls and they end up being almost like they're your daughters. You spend so much time with them. They have personal problems on the side. They have personal highlights. You spend a lot of time with them in the off-season too.”
There is not enough said about his unsung heroes who helped him through the years. “You also have to have a very understanding spouse. Tina missed a lot of stuff because of this, but she went to a lot of stuff without me because of this. I really appreciate all that she did. She's the one that brought up our son and daughter, Carla and Louis, because I was gone half the time.”
“All my athletic directors have always been very supportive of girls basketball. Charlie Savedra was my first one. I started with Charlie and ended with Charlie. I also had Tony Gonzales, Randy Valles, Chuck Zimmerly, and Danny Padilla. All the boy head basketball coaches since the start have been supportive and willing to share practice time and gym space with the girls.”
Last, but not least, were his loyal and hardworking assistant coaches that he really relied on and could depend on them when needed or called upon.
“To me, you are only as good as your assistant coaches and your players, obviously. The first one that spent a lot of time with me was Mario Perez. He was my assistant for 12 years. Marleen Greenwood now has been my assistant for 12 years. Greg Ezell has been with me for the last five years. Those three have been the three mainstays. They spent countless hours with me and the girls traveling to camps out-of-state and in-state. They're giving up of their time, because they don't get paid for it in the summer. That just shows their dedication to the program and to the kids.”
Garcia's main endeavors has always been teaching and coaching. But now with both of these coming to an end, he will finally take the plastic covers off his new golf set. He would like to warn everyone that he will be making his return to the golf course. He promises to follow official golf etiquitte and rules and not his own. He will continue to follow his favorite sports teams --- the Celtics, the Yankees, the Cowboys, the Lobos, and of course, the Warriors and the Lady Warriors. He also looks forward to traveling the world with his wife and spending more time with his grandkids.
“Maybe, I can be there for my grandkids, since I wasn't there half the time for my own kids. I never got to see my son play basketball in high school, because I was always out coaching my daughter. That was a trade-off. I was there with my daughter and Tina was there with Louis.”
As he fades into retirement, he remembers one of his favorite western movies and the theme song, “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”. It reminds him of the ups and downs of coaching. He goes on with life mostly remembering “The Good”.
Now he can take a seat in the stands at the “Warrior Dome” and cheer on his Lady Warriors who he helped to develop and hopefully he can watch them continue to grow.
Local Man Bound Over To District Court On Drug Charges
By John Larson
SOCORRO - A local man was bound over to District Court Thursday, May 27, on two felony charges; possession of cocaine and trafficking marijuana (his second offense).
Frank Alexander, 26, was arrested April 9 during a traffic stop on South California St.
In the criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court April 12, Socorro Police Officer Rocky Fernandez said he knew through a reliable source that Alexander had been selling narcotics from the vehicle, and a check with the National Crime Information Center showed that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest from Municipal Court.
After the car, with a female driver at the wheel, was pulled over Alexander consented to a search of the vehicle, which was conducted by Fernandez and Sgt. Richard Lopez.
The complaint said that a marijuana grinder was found on the right passenger seat, and an electronic digital scale along with a box of large plastic baggies, “indicative of trafficking narcotics,” was found in the center console.
When Lopez began to open zippered purse sitting on the driver’s seat, Alexander stated, “You cannot search the purse.”
The officers immediately discontinued the search and contacted the District Attorney’s office. They were instructed to seal the vehicle and get a search warrant.
Alexander was arrested and taken to the Socorro County Detention Center. The female driver of the vehicle was questioned and released.
After the car was towed to the police department, officers executed the search warrant, turning up several burnt marijuana roaches in the ash tray. In the zippered purse officers found two bricks of marijuana weighing 12 ounces. Also found were two cocaine bindles - envelopes made by folding a square piece of paper, often used for carrying powdered drugs such as cocaine; popular with drug traffickers because it requires no tape, glue or fasteners and does not leak when folded correctly.
Other items in the car included a glass pipe for smoking marijuana, a glass pipe for smoking methamphetamines, and a plastic container containing loose marijuana.
The complaint said the vehicle will be seized due to trafficking narcotics.
If convicted on both counts, Alexander faces three years on the marijuana trafficking charge and 18 months on the cocaine possession charge.
A trial date in District Judge Matt Reynolds’ courtroom has not yet been assigned.
Sets cell on fire
In the meantime, Alexander faces another charge stemming from an incident in which a fire was set in his cell Monday afternoon at about 5:30 p.m.
According to Socorro County Detention Center Director Evangel Maldonado, Alexander set fire to his blanket and some of his clothes shortly after speaking with guard Chris Zamora.
“He had been causing problems all day, trying to speak with female inmates, so we needed him locked down, and were getting ready to transfer him to the Department of Corrections in Los Lunas,” Maldonado said. “He had apparently smuggled in a lighter that was missed in a body cavity search. Chris had just finished speaking with him when he set the fire. Chris grabbed a fire extinguisher and was able to put it out.”
Maldonado said the Socorro Fire Department arrived shortly afterward and helped air out the building.
Also responding with another extinguisher was the detention center’s shift supervisor Tony Bowers.
County Manager Delilah Walsh said Bowers was to be commended.
“Tony took charge of evacuating the building and getting who needed to be locked down, locked down,” she said. “The damage was minimal, but Mr. Alexander will be charged for starting the fire, and financially charged for the expense of replacing what burned.”
Alexander is currently being held in Los Lunas.
Socorro Man, 25, Dies In City Pool
By John Larson
SOCORRO – A reckless stunt gone wrong at the city pool has cost the life of a young Socorro man.
Floyd Savedra Jr., 25, drowned Monday while trying to hold his breath under water. Socorro police Sgt. Richard Lopez said the accident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Memorial Day.
“It was closing time and the lifeguards were trying to get everybody out of the water. The day was over,” Lopez said. “Throughout the afternoon [Savedra] had been holding his breath under water, and the lifeguards had been telling him to ‘cut it out.’
“At one point he got into a verbal altercation with one of the lifeguards about it, and he continued to do it.”
He said, based on the investigation, Savedra was apparently wanting to impress his friends, showing how long he could hold his breath.
“At closing time he was in the shallow end of the pool, but swam over to the deep end and sat on the bottom,” Lopez said.
One of the lifeguards told one of Savedra’s friends to “swim down there and get him out.”
“The friend went down there and said Savedra gave him a thumbs up signal, and the friend went back up,” he said. “The lifeguard then went down to check for himself and found Savedra wasn’t moving.”
Savedra was pulled out of the water, and lifeguards immediately began performing CPR until EMTs arrived, but could not revive him.
“They got him to the hospital as fast as they could,” Lopez said.
The municipal pool is currently closed, and city officials are discussing how to prevent another accident from happening.
“One possibility is to have a police officer there for four hours each day,” Lopez said.
Funeral services will be held at San Miguel Catholic Church Saturday, June 5.
Attorney To Challenge Three Amendments
By John Severance
Socorro Electric Cooperative attorney Dennis Francish wants to go to court to determine which, if three bylaw amendments adopted by the members at the annual meeting in April can be challenged.
Francish drafted a letter
to Trustee president Paul Bustamante and the other trustees Wednesday night and he wanted to test the following:
• The open meetings act and inspection of public records act. Francish says it is unworkable and provides a hardship for the corporation.
• The guarantee of transparency of actions with open access to SEC books, records and audits to members for a proper, non-commercial purpose with the exception of those records which would violate the Privacy Act. Francish says this is illegal and a abuse of the membership’s rights and it is harmful to the corporation.
• Board meetings being open to member/owners being open to member/owners and representatives of the press with timely notice of the meeting advertised in monthly bill mailings and local newspapers. A section of the meeting agenda shall be reserved for member participation during which member/owners may address the Board without prior approval of the Board. Francish claims this is unreasonable with the corporation’s operations and capacity to function properly.
Francish then addressed the members in the audience, "All you people in the audience are just wanabees. You come to these meeting because you would like to be trustees - well run for a trustee seat."
Not surprisingly, the board voted to allow Francish to proceed and file the necessary paperwork to take this to court.
OBITUARY: Elma Louise Ewing
Elma Louise EwingJan. 7, 1933-May 27, 2010
Elma Louise Ewing, age 77, died on Thursday, May 27, 2010, at the Vista Care Hospice in Albuquerque, NM.Elma was born January 7, 1933 in Palmyra, NE to the late Arthur and Frieda Ransford.
She spent her childhood in Napa, CA and on February 24, 1952 she married Floyd Raymond Ewing.
Elma received her undergraduate and graduate teaching degrees from New Mexico State University. She taught elementary school and special education at several schools in Las Cruces and at White Sands Missile Range for 20 years.
She retired in 1989 and then moved to Socorro, NM in 1996.
Elma was a member of the Good Sam Club of New Mexico, The M-Mt Sams of Soccoro and Dona Ana Peppers.
Elma and her husband Floyd were the Assistant State Directors for the southwest chapters of the Good Sam Club. Elma was a member of First Baptist Church in Socorro.
Survivors include her husband Floyd, sons Eldon Ewing and his wife Martha of El Paso, TX, David Ewing and his wife Kathy of Cheyenne, WY, daughters Diane Peebles and her husband Henry of Albuquerque, NM, Jeanne Poling of Golden, CO, and her brother Robert Ransford of Gold Beach, OR . In addition, Elma is survived by seven grandchildren Services were Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at the First Baptist Church, 203 Spring Street, Socorro, NM. Relatives and friends are welcome to stay for the reception after the services.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.leukemia.org or call 1-888-773-9958).Thanks to the M-Mt Sams of Soccoro and the First Baptist Church in Socorro for their help and support.Those who wish to send condolences may do so at www.danielsfuneral.com. Services have been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services, 309 Garfield, Socorro, NM 87801, (575) 835-1530.
OBITUARY: Robert G. Stidstone
Robert G. StidstoneNov. 20, 1927-June 1, 2010
Robert G. Stidstone, 82, passed away, Tuesday, June 1, 2010 in Albuquerque, NM. Robert was born on November 20, 1927, to Wilfred L. and Marion (Popp) Stidstone in Boston, MA.
He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Patricia A. (Addoms) Stidstone of Socorro; his children, Robert Stidstone Jr. of RI; Matthew Stidstone and wife Debbie of MA; Patricia Uher and husband, Bill of Albuquerque, NM; and Thomas A. Stidstone and wife Sadie of Socorro, NM; 3 Grandchildren, Ashley; Kirsten; and Samantha; and 3 great grandchildren, Jayen; Julianne; and Jaelynn;. Robert was preceded in death by his sisters, Barbara Crowner; and Beverly Tilden; and brother, Wilfred Stidstone.
He was a resident of Socorro for over 30 years. Robert was a proud Veteran of WWII, serving with the Merchant Marines.
He retired from NRAO after 20 years.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 11:00 am at Daniels Family Funeral Services in Socorro. For those that wish to make memorial contributions may do so at New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranches, 6209 Hendrix Road, NE, 2nd floor, Albuquerque, NM 87110.
Those who wish to send condolences may do so at www.danielsfuneral.com. Services have been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services, 309 Garfield, Socorro, NM 87801, (575) 835-1530.
OBITUARY: Floyd Anthony Savedra Jr.
Floyd Anthony Savedra Jr.May 21, 1985-May 30, 2010
Floyd Anthony Savedra Jr., 25, passed away on Monday, May 31, 2010, in Socorro, NM. Floyd was born on May 21, 1985 in Socorro, NM, to Floyd A. and Margaret S. (Zamora) Savedra.
He is survived by his dedicated and loving parents, Floyd and Margaret of Socorro; His son, Floyd Anthony Savedra III ”Faster” of Socorro; his step children, Morayma Martinez of Socorro; and David Torres of Socorro; His companion, April Contreras of Socorro; one sister, Felicia N. Savedra and companion, Frankie Torres of Socorro; his paternal grandparents, Edward and Martha Savedra of Socorro; maternal grandparents, Jimmy and Barbara Zamora of Luis Lopez; his maternal great grandmother, Lillie Gonzales of Socorro; his niece, Nevaeh Torres of Socorro and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Floyd was a lifelong resident of Socorro. He graduated from Socorro High in 2003. Floyd was currently employed as a cement finisher with the family business, Edwards Construction.
A Rosary will be recited on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 9:30 am at the San Miguel Catholic Church in Socorro. A Mass of Resurrection will follow at 10:00 am with Father Andy Pavlak as Celebrant. Burial will take place in the Luis Lopez Cemetery. Those who wish to send condolences may do so at www.danielsfuneral.com. Services have been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services, 309 Garfield, Socorro, NM 8780 835-1530
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