Booking It For Bikes

Jeanne Griffith of the Socorro Public Library announced the winners of bicycles being given away to the kids who read the most books for the summer reading program. She said 6,500 reading logs were turned in, representing 30,530 “books.” In the teenage category 32,040 pages were read. Ray Vandervoort of Socorro Masonic Lodge #9 was on hand to award the bikes. Pictured: (from left): Griffith; 7-11 age winner Nikia Bailey; Vandervoort; under 6 winners McKayla Fassett and Addisyn Fassett (tie). Not pictured, 12 and up winner Courtney Hidalgo.
Photo by John Larson.

Booking It For Bikes

Two Face Breaking, Entering Charges

By John Larson

MAGDALENA - Two area men are scheduled to make their first appearances in Magistrate Court Wednesday, Aug. 11, in connection with a breaking and entering in Magdalena.
Joshua Peralta, 19, whose address is listed as being in Alamogordo, faces five felony charges, including breaking and entering; aggravated burglary; forgery; credit card theft; and accessory to larceny.
Juan Gutierrez, 24, of Magdalena, is charged with breaking and entering; aggravated burglary; larceny; and theft of a credit card.
In the criminal complaint, Deputy Marshal Terry Flannigan said he got wind of the case when Peralta attempted to cash a $280 check at Trail’s End Market. The owner of the business became suspicious, and after checking with the family of the victim, Harmon Dawson, the Marshal’s office was called.
An investigation by Flannigan revealed that Peralta had broken into the victim’s residence and stole a book of blank checks.
“Peralta advised us that he and Juan Gutierrez had broken into Dawson’s house on July 2 by breaking out a back window,” the complaint said. “Peralta told us they took a book of checks and he took one check and Gutierrez took the rest of the book for himself.
“Peralta also advised us that Gutierrez gave him a gun that was found in the house and Peralta stated he threw it to the ground.”
The complaint said the two left the house by the side door and left it unlocked, and that no guns were taken when they left.
“Peralta stated he did not go back to the house after they left, but he was not sure if Gutierrez had [gone] back or not,” the complaint said.
Also taken from the home was a credit card, a 31 Cal Pistol Revolver 5 shot,a Ball and Cap Black Powder Western Boot Gun, a Double Barrel 20 Gauge shotgun, and a .22 Luger pistol.
Marshal Larry Cearley told the Mountain Mail another Magdalena man, Monroe Monte, was found guilty of larceny in connection with the theft on July 14 of one floor jack and one set heavy duty jumper cables from the residence of Louis Latasa. Monte was sentenced July 18 to 30 days in the Socorro County Detention Center, and ordered to pay $300 reimbursement by Magdalena Municipal Judge Robert Serna.

Two Face Breaking, Entering Charges

Firefighter Training In Full Gear

By John Larson

SOCORRO - The New Mexico Firefighters Academy in Socorro is hosting its 55th Annual Firefighters Training School this week with firefighters from 60 fire departments from around the state taking courses to improve their firefighting and rescue skills.
Director Reyes Romero said this year an emphasis will be put on training for volunteer firefighters.
He said 80 percent of all fire departments in the state are volunteer.
Although the academy holds classes year-round, the annual event encompasses more intensive training.
During the training week firefighters learn to deal with structural firefighting, which includes residential, business, and warehouse type fires.
The structural training building is made of concrete with doors and windows of steel, and is segmented to represent an apartment, a retail business, and a warehouse setting. Refrigerators, stoves, and even an elevator shaft are used to re-create the behavior or different types of blazes.
Fires are created with stacks of wooden pallets.
Romero said an instructor is present at all times, and there's at least one instructor to every five firemen during training.
“No one goes into the structure without an instructor,” Romero said.
He said firefighters have intensive training on how to deal with any type of incident, and they are graded on their actions.
He added that the firefighter enters a situation with three priorities.
“First, the safety of the firefighter, second, the rescue of victims, and third, the protection of property,” Romero said. “This applies to every situation, whether it's a structure fire, vehicle extraction, or an LPG situation.”
“If the firefighter is injured, there's no way he will be able to pull someone out of a fire, so his or her safety comes first. The protection of property always comes after the first two.”
Another part of the training area is dedicated to liquefied petroleum gas fires.
Romero said putting out an LPG fire requires teamwork and coordination.
“A fire a propane tank is particularly dangerous,” he said. “Most of those fires are from a loose valve. The goal is not to put out the fire, but to turn off the tank's valve.”
He said three firefighters must work together, two with their hoses on the 'fogger' setting to push the flame back, and the third to reach in and shut off the valve.
“The third man has only an eighth of an inch leeway between the valve and the fire,” Romero said. “That's why there had to be coordination.”
All LPG blazes require teamwork, he said.
In the case of a fire at a refinery at least three water streams are needed.
“Those are the most complicated to deal with,” he said.
Firefighters are also tested on something a little more common – vehicle crashes and the extraction of occupants.
Among other things, firefighters are graded on their technique with the equipment, teamwork, and the time it takes.
“There's something we call 'the golden hour',” one instructor said. “That's the time most crucial for the patient. It's the time it takes from when the crash is reported, to getting the team dispatched, to getting the patient transported to a trauma center. We strive to keep that time to under sixty minutes.”
The most modern cars can present a variety of dangers, and the fire academy has to keep up with the latest vehicle technology. Hybrid cars are particularly problematic in a crash.
“Hybrid cars carry up to 600 volts of electricity,” he said. “We have to know how to deal with that without frying ourselves.
“If the Jaws of Life, or other extraction tool, cuts into an electric circuit it could blow up the generator powering the tool, and at worst, electrocute the firefighter.”
An open house is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 7.
Romero said the general public is invited to come to the Academy for demonstrations on firefighting techniques, “and a barbecue provided by the City of Socorro.”

Picture: A firefighter prepares to attack a car fire at the New Mexico Firefighters Training Academy Wednesday.

Photo by John Larson

Firefighter Training In Full Gear

Magdalena Looks At Feasibility Of Youth Council

By John Larson

MAGDALENA – A small group of concerned Magdalena students and adults met in Village Hall Saturday morning, July 31, to look at the feasibility and possibilities of a Youth Council.
Village Board Trustees Barbara Baca, Carmen Torres and Tommy Torres, Mayor Sandy Julian and Clerk Rita Broaddus discussed ideas brought up by Magdalena students Nathan Martel and Martin Harris.
Teacher Sharon Harris and resident Sayward Harris were also present.
The roundtable discussion was inspired by Senate Memorial Bill 34, which encourages communities in New Mexico to form youth advisory boards and councils at the local level.
The bill stated that there is a “need for youth to participate in the governance system of their communities on all matters affecting young people, such as building healthier communities, combating violence, conducting public forums and advising on your-appropriate substance abuse programming.”
According to the bill, the youth council would be expected to work on such issues as curfews, cruising, truancy, skateboard parks, underage drinking and “youth space” programming.
Martin Harris, a Magdalena High School sophomore, first suggested priorities for the student-run commission, including open communication between youth and school.
“Some coordinated activities for youth could include learning CPR and First Aid, basketball and pool tournaments, guitar lessons, and programs to and Juan Gutierrez had broken into Dawson’s house on July 2 by breaking out a back window,” the complaint said. “Peralta told us they took a book of checks and he took one check and Gutierrez took the rest of the book for himself.
“Peralta also advised us that Gutierrez gave him a gun that was found in the house and Peralta stated he threw it to the ground.”
The complaint said the two left the house by the side door and left it unlocked, and that no guns were taken when they left.
“Peralta stated he did not go back to the house after they left, but he was not sure if Gutierrez had [gone] back or not,” the complaint said.
Also taken from the home was a credit card, a 31 Cal Pistol Revolver 5 shot,a Ball and Cap Black Powder Western Boot Gun, a Double Barrel 20 Gauge shotgun, and a .22 Luger pistol.
Marshal Larry Cearley told the Mountain Mail another Magdalena man, Monroe Monte, was found guilty of larceny in connection with the theft on July 14 of one floor jack and one set heavy duty jumper cables from the residence of Louis Latasa. Monte was sentenced July 18 to 30 days in the Socorro County Detention Center, and ordered to pay $300 reimbursement by Magdalena Municipal Judge Robert Serna.

Magdalena Looks At Feasibility Of Youth Council

Letters To Myscie: A Western Love Story By Suzanne E. Smith

First of a series

Letters to Myscie, A Western Love Story is also a story of the love of the west. Not all of us are from this area. My great grandparents certainly weren’t. They were Yankees; “Northerners” unaccustomed to the ways of the west, and specifically the southwest. Love brought them here, and kept them here.
It was quite a few years ago that I started this project. I have had several kind and intelligent persons read it over. It has been reviewed and edited, marked up, and changes suggested, until I almost felt defeated by my own creation. However, for the last decade, I have been living in the home of my great grandparents, and I feel that I have genuiely become a part of their past lives, as they have my present. I thank the Mountain Mail for providing me the opportunity to share this fun story with you.
Suzanne E. Smith

Chapter 1
The West is always referred to as having been “won”. Conrad Hilton, who comes from our area, remembered a little poem to inspire him all of his life, of which the last line reads, "A man who wins, is a man who tries". Those who remembered J.E. Smith had recalled that he was "loved, hated, feared and revered; respected" In traceing his life, I have found that the western frontier country made him a little “hard” by the time he died in 1935. Oh, but as a young man, what spirit and grace didn't give to him, "trying" certainly did.
Joseph Edward Smith was born in Abington, Massachusetts on September 27, 1858. Ten years before his birth, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, and New Mexico became a U.S. Territory. The treaty guaranteed to Mexican inhabitants, preservation of the land, their customs, culture and many freedoms. But as with many U.S. Treaties, a promise made was not always a promise kept.
The conflict with, and hatred of, the “Americans” who intruded would have softened some by the time “Joe” arrived in New Mexico in 1883. As a child growing up on the Eastern coast, I am sure he had no idea that the Spanish West would eventually impact his life.
We don't have a lot of information about his childhood, and with his children all gone now, it is his grandchildren, and memoirs of his son Avery that provide some detail. Avery very thoroughly traced the Smith family tree back to the pilgrims; English decent, both sides.
Knowing your “roots” is wonderful, but thanks to the “love of a woman” we have been given a personal account of daily activities, feelings, desires, and dreams of people long passed, in a time when an important part of America was being settled.
J.E. worked for a Boston newspaper after high school in '76. He was an educated man (two years at M.I.T. from '77-'79), and apparently intelligent. During the time he studied Engineering, New Mexico was becoming a territory of adventure. Hostile Indian raids had been curtailed, allowing natives and new comers alike, a chance to finally settle into agriculture and commerce. Spanish settlements began to dot the landscape, as the people now felt safe and permanent, knowing they no longer would have to flee from their homes and Ranchos. The wealth of minerals had been discovered, and the Land Offices were doing a booming business. Soon would come the railroad, leading to a whole new relm of possiblities.
In 1879, J.E. Smith’s father’s business failed and he was forced to drop out of college. He ventured west to the Chicago area, and worked as a photographer for two years after that.
His work was portraiture mostly, but he also traveled to photograph special events. It was on one of those occasions that J.E. Smith met and became interested in a “special” girl.Mary Ann Elizabeth "Myscie" (pronounced Missie) was born in Darlington Wisconsin on January 8, 1863, and lived there until she came west. Through the love letters saved by her, we are able to become personally acquainted with a devoted and courageous young man, in love with an equally fine woman, and the New Mexico Territory!

Darlington-Wis.
Wednesday Evening 8:30
Jan 3rd, '83
Dear Myscie,
Last evening after I left you at the door I came directly here to the gallery and sat myself about writing you a long letter. This morning I took the same letter tore open the envelope, read over, and then put it in the stove, while tonight I find myself doing a similar act as last evening with possibly a sequel to follow it, like the previous.
I am home sick to-night Myscie! and I must do something to put away the "don't care" and selfish feeling that has come over me since tea time---I could find no better mood than that of writing--and no better drift than to talk to you for a little while for you have been in my thoughts all day long. Will, Jule, and Mr. Langford have all gone up to Mrs. Deckers this evening so you see, I have no one to disturb me in my “blues” at all.
Supper over I sat down and visited with Mrs. Hopkins for a little while after they had all gone-but this did not content me somehow. I felt so uneasy all the while so about 8:00- I put on my coat and started off. As I came by the house I could hear you playing on the piano-I stoped,[sic] leaned over the fence and listened to you. I could see you playing -could see someone standing by you. Oh how I fought with myself to go in-------Then someone, I could hear coming down the side-walk, reminded me that I had best be moving on before they came too near, and I started off over here to this old, dreary, lonesome hole that I see enough of in day-time without seeking its shelter for consolation and comfort evenings.
After getting warm I started on this letter -with nothing to say-no point in view and no special thing to say-just simply to be talking to you. How I wish I was visiting with you Myscie in that nice cosy[sic] and warm library room over there at the house, instead of here; there in the big chair reading to you or drawn up to the bright fire visiting & talking with you. What really truly happy evenings I have passed there.
Such volumes of things are running through my mind. Oh! dear; I can't write--I can't think-I can't-------I am going to stop Myscie. If I ever send you this letter, burn it up after reading –
but probably it will share the same fate as last night-
Your loving friend "Joe" Good night.
Myscie and Joe were avid “church goers”, and Myscie was musically inclined. Later in life they would donate land and other items to Churches in Socorro. In Darlington, Myscie was the pianist for the choir of the Methodist Epiphany Church. She also had a burning desire to study music at one of the great schools in the east.
Jan-6-83 Saturday Evening 8 ock

Dear Myscie,
I am not feeling well at all this evening, and if I am feeling no better to-morrow forenoon I will not be at church in the morning. I will try and come in the evening if I feel half decent. The choir will get on very well without me---I guess you must do for both of us, Myscie. Have them sing just which anthem you think they can do best in the morning and charge them to be sure and come to the church at six o'ck Sunday Evening to reherse[sic]. I will be there I think and will call for you if you go Myscie, I want to spend the evening with you, Sunday Evening after church, may I? If I see you at church, answer me there if you do not see me, or have askt[sic] to answer me before then. Hoping everything will go off smoothly in the morning. I will trust it all to you. How much I would like to see you Myscie just at this minute---Good night xxxx, I must carry this down to James now.
Your true friend, Joe.

For nearly two months, J.E. Smith courted Myscie Driver. His “friendly” letters changed in nature by the time he left for the New Mexico Territory. Accom-panied by Myscie's cousin Jim Leighton, his great adventure begins and the letters take on a more serious tone. It is almost embarrassing to read the letters, because of the passion.
Certainly, feelings held by two people in love is a private thing, but because the letters are more like a continuing saga full of history, they must be shared. Truly, the uncertainties of the journey, the outcome of his arrival, and the test of time were determining factors in how this story unfolds.

Join us next week, as Joe and Jim travel by train to Socorro.

Letter to Myscie, a Western Love Story written by Suzanne Smith, All rights reserved.

Letters To Myscie: A Western Love Story By Suzanne E. Smith

Chamber Exhibit

Bonnie Reiter poses with an exhibit featuring lobby boards from 10 past productions of Socorro Community Theater. It is the August exhibit at the Socorro Chamber of Commerce. The boards – created by Karin Forte – feature photographs of cast members from plays such as Noises Off, The Mousetrap, Moon Over Buffalo, Fools, Rumours, The Foreigner, Red Herring, The Importance of Being Ernest, and Pecos Bill and Slue Foot Sue Meet the Dirty Dan Gang. Auditions for the next production, The Odd Couple, are scheduled for Aug. 30-31 at Garcia Opera House. Bonnie Reiter of Socorro Community Theater.
Photo by John Larson

Chamber Exhibit

Mexican Gray Wolf May Be Reclassified

Mountain Mail reports

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering reclassifying the Mexican gray wolf to protect its endangered species classification. Currently, the Mexican gray wolf is listed as endangered within a broader species-level listing of gray wolves.
Based on the review of petitions from the Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians and The Rewilding Institute, asking the agency to list the Mexican wolf as an endangered subspecies and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act, it was determined the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information and that petitioned action warrants further review.
If the Mexican wolf is reclassified as an endangered subspecies it would remain protected under the Endangered Species Act regardless of any changes to the listing status of the other gray wolves in the rest of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife spokesman Tom Buckley said the current 10(j) population in the Gila will remain listed as experimental, nonessential, while the Service conducts a status review, and “the Mexican wolf would remain protected as an endangered species.
“The exception would be any wolf that may wander in from Mexico or other areas into the [Gila] recovery area,” Buckley said.
“We are requesting all existing scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the Mexican wolf,” he said. “All information must be received by the agency on or before October 4, 2010.”
Based on the status review, the Service will issue a 12-month finding on the petitions, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted.

Mexican Gray Wolf May Be Reclassified

Watch For Meteor Shower Next Week

August Skies
By Jon Spargo
New Mexico Tech Astronomy Club

Before we dive into the planet parade I thought I’d spend time talking about the Perseid Meteor Shower. This year’s shower will take place on the 11th through the 13th and we will have excellent viewing conditions since there will be no moonlight to interfere.
The Perseid shower usually lasts for several days. This year the peak is predicted to occur in the early morning hours of the night of the 12th-13th. The best viewing time will be from about 11 pm on the 12th until sunrise on the 13th. However, the predicted peak should not be set in stone, as the nights before and after the peak may also produce some decent numbers of meteors.
If you are lucky enough to find a really dark site you may be able to see as many as 100 meteors per hour during the peak. The best way to watch is from a reclining chair and by looking straight up or toward the northeast along the radiant from which the meteors will come. In other words, find the darkest patch of sky and stare at it! If you are in a cool place remember to have some warm clothes. If in a ‘buggy’ place, don’t forget insect repellant!
Our planetary gathering in the west will continue during most of the month with some interesting combinations of positions. As the month progresses they’ll draw closer to the western horizon and disappear in the sunset afterglow.
Venus will continue to outshine everybody and actually brighten a bit reaching magnitude -4.6 by the end of the month. Mercury will also be barely visible from the 1st through the middle of the month. However it will spend most of that time very close to the western horizon and hard to find by naked eye. Binoculars will be the preferred way to find this tiny planet.
Saturn and Mars begin the month shining above and to the left of Venus. As the month progresses Venus will pass below both of these planets and by the 31st Venus will be within 1 degree of the bright star Spica (in Virgo) and Spica, Mars and Venus should form a new grouping that should last into September.
Jupiter and Uranus will rise together at about 10:30 p.m. daylight time at the beginning of the month and by 8:30 p.m. at the end of the month. During this time the gap between Jupiter and Uranus will close to less than two degrees. If you look just west of Jupiter with a small telescope or a good pair of binoculars, you should be able to pick out the tiny blue orb of Uranus. At magnitude -2.9 Jupiter will be a very fine sight to behold in a small telescope.

Watch For Meteor Shower Next Week

OBITUARY: Ethyle May (Beattie) Farnum

Ethyle May (Beattie) Farnum
April 16, 1918-July 30, 2010

Ethyle May (Beattie) Farnum, 92, passed away on Friday, July 30, 2010 in Albuquerque, NM. Ethyle was born on April 16, 1918 in Greenwich, NY to Madison Stewart and Phoebe Alvira (Brown) Beattie.
She is survived by her loving sons, Ralph E. Farnum III of Albuquerque; David J. Farnum and wife, Cathy also of Albuquerque; and Robert A. Farnum and companion Lisa Arnold of Socorro.
Ethyle grew up in Salem, NY and was a resident of Socorro since 1989, after moving from Bennington, VT. She was a member of Socorro Garden Club and also a lifetime member of Mayflower Society. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Socorro and of the Socorro General Hospital Auxiliary.
Ethyle was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ralph E. Farnum Jr., whom she married on June 12, 1948 in Glens Falls, NY. He preceded her in death on September 24, 2003 after 54 years of marriage; Ethyle is also preceded by her loving parents, and her sister, Marion Grace Beattie.
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, August 6, 2010 at 3 p.m. at the Daniels Family Funeral Services Chapel in Socorro, NM with Pastor Erwin de Graaff officiating. Interment will take place in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Enfield, NH at a later date.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Socorro General Hospital Chapel Fund or Charity of Choice. 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: Ethyle May (Beattie) Farnum

OBITUARY: Robert A. Torres

Robert A. Torres
Sept. 14, 1925-Aug. 1, 2010

Robert A. Torres, 84, passed away on Sunday, August 1, 2010, at his home in Socorro, NM. Robert was born on September 14, 1925 in Socorro to Eduardo and Luicita (Avila) Torres.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Evangeline “Vangie” (Baca) Torres of Socorro, married June 1, 1951 in Truth or Consequences, NM; his devoted children, Rodney W. Torres of Socorro; Ronaele W. Mata of Socorro; and Roslyn W. Gifford of Hackette Town, NJ; Five loving grandchildren, Brandy Demark and husband, Brent; Danielle Briseno; Robert Mata; Eloisa Romero and husband, Jason; and Felicia Casendino and husband Robert; 4 great grandchildren, Lexington Demark; Shannon Briseno; Taylei Romero; and Kelly Briseno; and many nieces and nephews.
Robert was a lifetime resident of Socorro. He was a proud Veteran of World War II serving with the US Navy and was a Public Educator for Socorro Consolidated Schools for 38 years. Robert was a devoted member of the Harwood Methodist Church in Socorro, past president of the Anti-Baca Club, and American Legion Armijo Post 64.
Robert was preceded in death by his beloved sisters, Josie; Adelina; Tommy; and Maria. A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 3 p­.m. at the Harwood Methodist Church in Socorro, NM with Pastor Raquel Mull and Mr. Allen Bell officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that any memorial contributions be made to Harwood Methodist Church, c/o Wells Fargo Bank. 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 A. Torres