Co-op Hires BKD Firm To Look At Books

By John Severance

BKD LLP out of Springfield, Mo., is coming to town to look at the accounting books of the Socorro Electric Cooperative next Tuesday.
The co-op board, at a meeting that lasted more than four hours, accepted a letter of engagement from the accounting firm Wednesday night.
The contract states that BKD will look at the books from January 2008 to August 2010, interim general manager Richard Lopez said.
Lopez told the board that BKD required a $19,000 deposit and would do up to $38,000 worth of work.
Trustee Charlie Wagner, though, asked if the BKD needed to do some more digging, it could come back before the board for more funds. Wagner was assured that was part of the contract.
“We absolutely need to do this,” trustee Donald Wolberg said.
And the motion passed unaninimously.
While the approval of the BKD audit was noteworthy, there was other stunning news.
Catt Cobb, a rate analyst for SGS Engineering, told the trustees that while doing some preliminary work on a rate study, she found out that the co-op has been overcharging consumers over the past five years.
“The debt cost was not changed over the past five years,” Cobb said. “About $1.75 million had been collected from consumers that should not have been collected. The money has to be refunded to the consumers.”
Cobb and Lopez were in Santa Fe earlier Tuesday to meet with the Public Regulation Commission to discuss the problem.
It was decided that Lopez has to write a letter to RUS in Washington to say it needs $1.75 million from its margin to refund to customers. It’s unsure what the refund would be to consumers.
In the letter, though, Lopez also has to say that the co-op is in the midst of a rate study. And raising the rates will be a reality because the co-op has a negative margin and it is in danger of defaulting in its mortgage to the RUS. If the co-op defaults on the mortgage, the federal government takes over the co-op. RUS’ Larry McGraw says raising the rates likely will assure the co-op of making its margins for this year.

Co-op Hires BKD Firm To Look At Books

Fly-In To Attract Hundreds

By John Larson

SOCORRO – The Socorro Municipal Airport will be the setting for the third annual ‘M’ Mountain Fly-In and Aviation day this Saturday, Sept. 25. Hundreds of people from Socorro and the surrounding area are expected to attend. Last year. the show attracted close to 600 attendees.
A wide assortment of aircraft will be on display from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but visitors may want to make sure they are on the scene at 2 p.m. “The United States Air Force is bringing down an Osprey tilt rotor aircraft,” said Dave Finley of the Civil Air Patrol. “It has two engines that can be tilted straight upfor take-off, and then level for flying. It will leave around 2 p.m. and will be very exciting for the kids to see. It may also do a fly-over.”
 Another special event will happen at 8 a.m. when the first 10 people to sign up will get a free ride in a Remo Spirit aircraft.
Laura Haines, aviation consultant and pilot, has been involved with the yearly event since its inception in 2008.
“We’ll have pilots and planes from all over the state and some from surrounding states,” she said. “The vast majority will be civilian planes, but there will be a World War II vintage military plane, a T-6 Texan trainer. It can do aerobics, fly in and fly out, and will be making a low pass over the runway with a smoke generator.
“There will be a huge variety of planes to look at, vintage to homebuilt,” she said. “These people have put in a tremendous amount of work into their planes, especially the homebuilt full-sized planes and have huge pride in what they’ve built – some from kits and some from working from plans and collecting parts.”
Other aircraft include motorized gliders, commonly known as “trikes.”
“They’re like a hang glider with an engine,” Haines said. “A group of them will come in flying in formation.
“I also understand a medi-vac helicopter from PHI will be on display, too.”
At 10 a.m. up to five skydivers from a skydiving club in Belen will be making a jump.
“Bob Martin of KRQE will be flying the jump plane,” Haines said.
A $5 pancake breakfast provided by the Socorro Chile Proppers will start the day at 7 a.m. The Chile Proppers will also be cooking green chile cheeseburgers for lunch. Lunch is $5.
“Vendors selling jewelry, t-shirts and aviation memorabilia will be on hand, as well as Bill Marcy’s ‘Kiddy Hawk’ ride for the kids,” she said.
The airport’s neighbor, the Socorro Animal Shelter, will have a pet parade and adopt-a-thon throughout the day.
The Socorro chapter of the DAV will open activities with a color guard ceremony.
According to the ‘M’ Mountain Fly-In’s Facebook page, Socorro's airport history goes back nearly eight decades: A “Socorro Muni” with four dirt runways was listed in 1931. This field was 2.5 miles north of town, not the current location.By 1934, Socorro Municipal was listed in the current location south of town, with two dirt runways.
In 1941, the designation changed to "Socorro CAA 16." Both the 1941 listing and one for 1938 show three dirt runways. Listings for 1943 and 1944 show "Socorro (Aux)#4" at the current location, with two "hard" runways. The designation changed back to "Socorro Municipal" in 1945 with the end of World War II.
On May 19, 1938, pioneering female pilot Harriet Davidson, who had taken her flying lessons from Bill Cutter in Albuquerque, flew the first bag of airmail from Albuquerque to Socorro. This reportedly was a big event in town, with schools being dismissed and a large crowd gathering to see the plane.
Local residents recount seeing USAAF B-24s practicing touch-and-goes at Socorro's airport during WWII.Sometime during the 1960s, two B-36s, the giant bombers with six piston engines and four jet engines, reportedly landed at Socorro Municipal, enroute to the NM Tech boneyard. According to local residents, the wings were cut off these planes and the fuselages towed through town to NM Tech. These would be the largest planes ever to land at Socorro.
Source: www.facebook.com/pages/M-Mountain-Fly-In

Fly-In To Attract Hundreds

Gunslingers Shoot ‘Em Up

By Nathalie Nance

There was a cloud of gun smoke and constant gunfire by Old Magdalena last weekend, when 82 shooters, both men, women and youngsters, competed in the New Mexico State Championship Cowboy Action Shooting, hosted by the Magdalena Trail Drivers.
Twelve different so-called stages, like a saloon, bank and a dance hall, had been built for the purpose, to mimic a western town circa 1880’s. The shoots were acted out as scenarios familiar from western movies. What else do you do in a saloon, but shoot it up? All the shooters were carefully turned out to fit the bill, and sported names like Lawless Lori Sue, Dusty Dawg, Dollar Bill and Sassy Swede. They use live ammunition in their single action revolvers, lever action rifles and old style shotguns.
“In Cowboy Action Shooting, we’re in the entertainment business. It’s a fantasy, and just as much about having a good time as about competing,” said Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) co-founder Tex.
“We say that we’re all helping Roy, Gene and Hoppy to make the world safe for Godfearin’ families,” he added with a wink.
When prompted, he admitted his real name is Don Ormand, of Albuquerque, “but everyone knows me as Tex.”
“Typically you join because you are fascinated with the shooting. Then you get into the western lifestyle, cowboys and history and start working on costumes and to travel,” said Tex, who next hopes to go to Poland for the European Championships, Days of Truth.
Two travelers were the British competitors, Hugh Owl and Little Hoot, a.k.a. Keith and Jane Howell, who came from Dorset to Magdalena to participate for the third time.
“This is one of our favorite competitions,” they said.
They also came to see friends in Albuquerque and to visit the area.
“It’s like a bug,” said Major Frank Morgan (a.k.a. Glen Rose) from Texas about the Cowboy Action Shooting. “And we try to get everyone, even spectators, to participate, at least for one stage.”
There were many prominent local shooters as well.
For instance, Half-a-Hand Henri, who some might know as Heather Kresser, of Magdalena. She has done Cowboy Action Shooting since 1995.
“I love the people, traveling and, of course, the competition. My husband says I do very well for a girl and then I say he is doing well for an old fart,” she said and laughed, before trotting off on her signature bare feet to another stage.
As the weekend came to a close it turned out that she had done very well for a girl, indeed. Half-a-Hand Henri became the 2010 SASS New Mexico State Cowboy Action Shooting Champion in the ladies’ category, while the winner in the men’s category was Bogus Bill, a.k.a. Travis Boguss of Albuquerque.

Gunslingers Shoot ‘Em Up

Magdalena Library Board Discusses Opening

By John Larson

MAGDALENA – Mayor pro tem Diane Allen and Trustee Tommy Torres met with the Magdalena Library Board Wednesday afternoon to discuss filling the librarian position in the wake of Lucy Pino’s resignation last week.
Library Board director Donald Wiltshire told the Mountain Mail that the process may take up to three months.
“The three months includes familiarizing and training the new person once he or she is hired,” Wiltshire said. “The first step is to post the position opening, and then the reviewing of the applicants. The new director will then be trained.”
Wiltshire said it will take about a week for him to prepare a job description.
“The job entails a lot,” he said. “It takes in not only being librarian, but also Boxcar Museum curator. The person will also be writing grants, being familiar with the Inter-Library Loan system, assisting people with computer usage and training for adults as well as kids, and all the other library services.
“And basically getting familiar with what people want to read. Recommending and ordering books.”
Wiltshire said the librarian also conducts tours of the library and Boxcar Museum for tourists and visitors to the village.
“The complete job description should be posted in about a week,” he said.
In the meantime, Wiltshire will share interim librarian duties with Annie Danielson.
A discussion was also held concerning weatherization of the building, the historic Santa Fe depot.
Susan Schuhardt of Friends of the Library said members of that group will focus on putting up the storm windows, tacking down siding on the west side of the building, cleaning the gutters, and contacting the propane supplier for advise on other needed repairs.

Magdalena Library Board Discusses Opening

Co-op Talks To Community Leaders

By John Severance

The Socorro Electric Cooperative gave local businesses, school administrators and government officials a heads up last week.
The beleaguered co-op said it was going to raise its rates, possibly by February of next year, interim manager Richard Lopez said.
How big an increase?
The co-op does not know yet, but Lopez said the increase should be known in November of December after a study is done by Catt Cobb, a rate analyst for SGS Engineering.
 Lopez told the audience that the co-op missed its margins last year by $410,000. And this year, the co-op is negative in its margins and it could get worse with impending litigation expenses.
 The news of the rate increase did not sit well with mayor Ravi Bhasker, who wanted to know about the breakdown of city and county taxes as well as the franchise fees for his hotels.
The mayor also wanted to know why the co-op never offered the city a better rate for electricity during off-peak hours.
“Your business has to be accountable and I just don’t see it,” Bhasker said.
Socorro Consolidated Schools superietendent Cheryl Wilson and her counterpart at Magdalena Mike Chambers said they have absorbed budget cuts the past two years and they didn’t know how much more they could cut if there was going to be an increase in electricity rates.
Wilson summed it best when she said, “I don’t have the ability to raise the cost of public education.”
County manager Delilah Walsh also did not have much empathy when she asked what the co-op was doing to shave costs.
Lopez answered that the co-op was going to refinance some of its debts and that the trustees had a cap placed on their expenses. Last year, the co-op board had expenses of close $480,000, which exceeded what the co-op’s negative margins were.
Lopez said the co-op owed close to $30 million to RUS and Cobb said if the co-op could not make its mortgage payments, the co-op would be taken over by the federal government.
“And if that happens, the rates are going to go up even more,” Cobb said.

Co-op Talks To Community Leaders

OBITUARY: Floyd Raymond Ewing

Floyd Raymond Ewing 
(Feb. 5, 1929-Sept. 20, 2010)

Floyd Raymond Ewing, age 81, died on Monday, September 20, 2010, at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospice in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Floyd was born February 5, 1929, in Casper, Wyoming to the late parents Ralph and Hulda Ewing.  Floyd spent his childhood in Colorado and Wyoming, and on February 24, 1952, he married Elma Louise Ransford.  Floyd served in the Navy, and went to work for Packard Bell in California after his service.  Floyd continued his career as an electrical test engineer for Vought Corporation in Florida, California, and New Mexico.  He lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico, from 1964 to 1996, and worked at White Sands Missile Range for Vought Corporation for over 30 years.  He retired in 1989, and then moved to Socorro, New Mexico, in 1996.  Floyd was a member of the Good Sam Club of New Mexico, the M-Mountain Sams of Soccoro and the Dona Ana Peppers of Las Cruces.  Floyd and his late wife Elma were the Assistant State Directors for the southwest chapters of the Good Sam Club.  Floyd was a member of the First Baptist Church in Socorro.  Survivors include his sons, Eldon Ewing and his wife Martha of El Paso, TX, David Ewing and his wife Kathy of Cheyenne, WY; his daughters, Diane Peebles and her husband Henry of Albuquerque, NM, Jeanne Poling of Golden, CO; his brothers Richard Ewing of Whitewater, CO, Robert Ewing of Coeur d'Alene, ID, Danny Ewing of Alvin, TX; and his sisters Loretta Ham of Kent,WA, and Esther Nouwens of Port Orford, OR.  In addition, Floyd is survived by seven grandchildren.  Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 25, 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 Prostate Cancer Foundation at http://www.pcf.org.  Thanks to the M Mountain 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: Floyd Raymond Ewing

OBITUARY: James E. Scartaccini

James E. Scartaccini(May 7, 1950-Sept. 17, 2010)

James E Scartaccini was in an auto accident on Wednesday, September 15 and passed away on Friday, September 17.  James was born in Magdalena, NM on May 7, 1950 to Eugene and Ardell (Burkhart) Scartaccini.  He was raised in Magdalena and Golden, NM and went to high school in Moriarty, NM where he played football and was active in FFA. James’ father and uncles were silver and gold miners in Kelly, Magdalena and Golden, NM.   James grew up working in those mines from when he was just a small boy.  He collected mineral specimens as a boy and sold them to tourists in his mother’s antique shop.  Geology and mineralogy were precious subjects to him. He was highly knowledgeable in these areas. James moved his family to Gila in 1982.  Over the years he was active in mining in Southwest New Mexico and in northern Mexico.  He worked in developing and promoting many mining operations in this area.  Most recently, he was working on three mining projects that were very dear to him, The Royal John Mine, The Alhambra Mine in Grant County, and the Lone Pine Mine in Catron County. James was also a master diesel mechanic and had a used equipment sales business, Gila Equipment and Mining with his partner of 34 years.  He enjoyed buying older loaders, dozers and other equipment; repairing and then selling them.  He also enjoyed collecting antiques. James is survived by his mother, Ardell, of T or C, his siblings, Walter Scartaccini of Irvine CA, Eugene of Cliff, NM, and Genna of T or C.  He is also survived by his children: Travis Eugene Scartaccini and Donald W. Anderson of Silver City, Grace Scartaccini Runyan of Auburn WA and Tyler Chavez of Magdalena, his grandchildren Antoinette (Toni) Buster, of Ft Hood TX, Jacob Scartaccini of Las Cruces, Travis Scartaccini Jr.,  and Emma Scartaccini of Silver City. He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Scartaccini, and his son James Michael Scartaccini. James loved his many friends and business associates.  He was loved by them and will be sorely missed. The memorial was at Terrazas Funeral Chapel Wednesday.

OBITUARY: James E. Scartaccini

OBITUARY: Tasha Otero

Tasha Otero
(July 17, 1991-Sept. 21, 2010)

Tasha Otero, 19, passed away on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 in Albuquerque, NM. Tasha was born on July 17, 1991 to Albert Roy Otero and Jenny Lopez in Albuque-rque, NM. She is survived by her precious little girl, Tianna Lyana Perez; her devoted mother, Jenny Lopez of Polvadera; her devoted father, Albert Roy Otero of Polvadera; her loving brothers, Jason Otero of Magdalena; Albert Otero Jr. of Polvadera; and Isaiah Baca of Polvadera; her loving sisters, Christina Otero of Albuquerque; and Ashley Stidstone and husband, Zeke Tafoya of Socorro; her grandmother, Dolores Lopez of Luis Lopez; and  grandfather, Gabriel Padilla of Polvadera; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Tasha was preceded in death by her grandfather, Joe Lopez; and her grandmother, Libby Padilla. Tasha was a lifelong resident of Socorro. A Rosary will be recited on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 9:30 am followed by A Mass of Resurrection  at 10:00 am  at San Miguel Catholic Church with Father Andy Pavlak as Celebrant. Burial will take place in the Luis Lopez Cemetery. Pallbearers are Joe Lopez, Jerry Lopez, Pete Lopez, Donald Padilla, Chris Perez, and Kyle Phillips. 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: Tasha Otero

Newsweek Ranks Tech In Top 10

By John Larson

SOCORRO - New Mexico Tech is the nation’s tenth most desirable rural school of higher education, according to Newsweek magazine. The Socorro university is regarded as one the best technical schools in the United States, and is the only public school on the list, sharing the top 10 with the likes of nationally known colleges Dartmouth, Amherst and Bowdoin.
Tech has also made a strong showing in Newsweek’s 25 Most Desirable Small Schools, coming in at number 19 in the nation. Private schools also dominate that list, with New Mexico Tech being the sole public school.
Tech President Dan Lopez said he was appreciative of the acknowledgment.
“We are gratified to see this recognition of our dedicated faculty and staff who work hard to make sure New Mexico Tech is a great school,” Lopez said. “Being ranked by Newsweek is more than just invaluable exposure. These lists show that our instruction is second-to-none and that a degree from Tech is a valuable commodity.”
He said the publicity could benefit the university in several ways.
“It is helpful all the way around. Not only could it help enrollment, but it looks good for our sponsors of every type and description,” Lopez said. “This would be in the area of research for private companies, as well as  grants from the National Science Foundation, and various federal programs.”
The education company Kaplin conducted the research for Newsweek’s desirability rankings, which are based on admissions, test scores, endowment, student-to-faculty ratio, retention, as well as climate and the quality of facilities, housing, and dining.
According to a press release from New Mexico Tech, the “Most Desirable Small Schools” list was designed to target the universities that produce the world's best minds. This ranking was based on data about which universities' graduates go on to become Nobel laureates, MacArthur "geniuses," or Guggenheim fellows, Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Fellows and other top-notch scholars.
“If New Mexico Tech qualifies for one national ranking, that’s a feather in our cap,” Lopez said. “The fact that Tech is included in every major national ranking just shows the quality of education students receive here and the high caliber of our faculty.”

Newsweek Ranks Tech In Top 10

EDITORIAL: Stop The Bleeding

Just Thinking Out Loud
By Gary Jaramillo

Okay folks, here it is.  I’m up to here, as I’m sure everyone is, with this ongoing cheap little game the SEC board is playing.  There is a really quick way to sweep this sick game in to the disposal once and for all and avoid all of the lawsuits and courtrooms, and every other dirty little hide n go seek game that is going on in trusteeland.  We want a recall of ALL of the board members.
 That’s right.
 No more wasting time, paper, ink or brain cells on these people who don’t have a clue as to what their jobs are and are determined to cover up all of the stink bombs they’ve built in the back room somewhere.  I honestly think it’s because so much junk has been done and hidden, that none of them are quite sure where they put it – and they’re scared to death.  When do elected and appointed officials start protecting us and helping us guys?  I’m bone weary over this kind of self serving junk already.
Not one tenured trustee has stood up and condemned what is going on in all this time.  Silence can be just as damaging as bad actions, and it lends itself to condoning bad actions taken by fellow trustees. 
The Mountain Mail is being sued by these embarrassing dolts and the whole of us have been treated like strangers and people who have absolutely no say in their own futures!
I’m done – the Mountain Mail is done – and I hope all of our readers and the readers of the Defensor Chieftain are done with this freakish nightmare as well.  The D.A. is not going to do a damn thing because that would entail some work.  He says, “as far as I know, a crime has not been committed”?
Wow!
They just fired two top employees for “alleged illegal stuff Clint!”
 He also said, “it’s a company matter, and they are dealing with it,” Holy Smokes!  He can see the mushroom cloud from his office but refuses to budge.  The more things change, the more the D.A. stays the same.  It’s sickening. 
What - does everything have to be brought to this guy on a silver platter already investigated and tried, so all he has to do is copy and paste, before he’ll do anything?
That’s nothing but plain laziness, and I don’t want to hear, “we are short handed”.  That’s a lot of bull!  Which is it Clint?  No crime has been committed or we’re short handed???
If there are 5 people out there who are truly willing to sit on the SEC board to replace the current knuckle heads and let the forensic auditors do a FULL AUDIT and force the D.A. to do a FULL investigation without another goofy self appointed board committee telling them where and when they can look, call the Mountain Mail Newspaper or come in and give us your names.  It’s time for a recall.
 No more baloney folks!
 Someone’s got to take the lead and it doesn’t look like anyone is really serious about finishing this thing once and for all.  Forget the lawsuits, lies and questionable lawyers looking for a bucket of public money for their trouble. The idiotic antics stop now!  This SEC Board’s time is up and it’s our duty to sweep them out the front door.  NOW!
Pursuant to Article 5 – Section 5 of the SEC By-Laws: Any member may bring charges against a trustee of his or her district and, by filing with the Secretary such charges in writing together with a petition signed by at least 10% of the members of the trustees district, may request the removal of such trustee by reason thereof.  
There is nothing to be afraid of neighbors.  These guys aren’t scary.  They don’t have any special powers (other than convincingly acting the fool at a moment’s notice).
So ….All trustees may be removed by virtue of recall pretty quickly and without a lot mud slinging, and can be replaced at the very same time by others who are willing to step in until the next election.  I just know that won’t be a problem. Is there is anyone out there that doesn’t know that our rates will skyrocket once this mess hits the courtroom?  We’ve got to stop it now!  This minute folks!  Grab your broom and let’s get to sweeping.
Call 575-838-5555 and let us know if you are interested in serving as a replacement in the recall of your district trustee representative.  If you are interested in spearheading your petition for your district, let us know immediately.  It shouldn’t be a problem to get 10% in each district really quick.  It’s time to put up or shut up.
 You want change?  Well, here’s your opportunity.  Enough is enough!   We act now – and we act as one!

Corrections

Staff Sergeant Melissa Kass was misidentified in a story on the front page of last week’s Mountain Mail. And Dave Wheelock wrote the column on page 4 last week and not Jack Fairweather.

EDITORIAL: Stop The Bleeding