Trustees Select Wehrheim as Reserve Mayor

By Richard Torres
For the Mountain Mail

RESERVE -- Connie Wehrheim, Mayor Pro Tem of the Village of Reserve, was selected by the Village Trustees to be the new mayor at a special meeting held on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
Wehrheim told the audience of approximately 30 citizens that she was honored to be Mayor.
Village Trustees then appointed Richard Torres as the new trustee, and as the new Mayor Pro Tem.
Both were sworn into office by Municipal Clerk Kathy Harris.
Photo: Ed Wehrheim observes as wife Connie Wehrheim is sworn in as the new Mayor of Reserve by clerk Kathy Harris.

Trustees Select Wehrheim as Reserve Mayor

London Frontier Theatre To Enter 15th Year

London Frontier Theatre Company has become a respected fixture in Magdalena, and will be entering its 15th year of producing original plays, performed by local residents.
Theatre Director Donna Todd has announced that for the 2010 season LFTC will do fewer plays but longer runs, giving casts and crews more rehearsal time to reach higher artisitic standards, and giving audiences not only finer productions but more performance dates on which to see them.
“This season we’ll return to Lost Wife Creek for at least two shows,” Todd said in a press release. “We – and our audiences – have missed the Aragons and the Trotters, who came to life in 2001 in The Luck of Lost Wife Creek.”
For those unfamiliar with Lost Wife Creek, the series is set in Depression-era 1930’s rural New Mexico. Roosevelt’s New Deal has begun and the cast of characters share in dreams of lost gold, stardom in “talkies,” and a Spanish land grant. The realities they face include drought, a ne’er do well son, and a decrepit old flivver. Each episode of the series is a complete play.
Todd said “we’ll also be promoting ‘Lost Wife Creek’ for public television. We believe it can, and will, find its place as a television series, and attract –as it has in our theatre over the years – a large and devoted audience.
“It’s not today’s typical TV fare, with its harking back to early live-television days,” she said. “But we believe that the humor, character development, history, and immediacy of presentation will create a following in much the way ‘Lake Woebegon’ has on radio. Viewer identification, and nostalgia for a lifestyle that, while difficult, is remembered as solid and enduring. And its extreme relevance to today’s hard times.”

London Frontier Theatre To Enter 15th Year

Warriors Garner All-State Recognition

Charlie Savedra and Allen Gonzales were named first team all-state on offense and defense by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association recently.
The Warriors were well represented as Savedra made the team as a running back and a linebacker and Allen Gonzales made the team on the offensive line and defensive line.
Andrew Contreras made first team on the offensive line and Jose Alvarado was a first-team linebacker selection.
Warriors on the second team included Alvarado at tight end/slot and kick returner, and Zach Esquivel in the secondary.
Warriors on honorable mention included Esquivel at wide receiver, James Thornton at kick returner and the secondary.
Socorro made it to the state championship game where it fell to Lovington 28-21. The Warriors finished with a 10-4 record.

Warriors Garner All-State Recognition

Lady Warriors Win Title

By Nicky Romero
For the Mountain Mail

It was early Dec. 24 when the Lady Warriors returned home to Socorro. They were an extremely tired but an excited group after capturing the three-day Ben Lujan Tournament in Pojoaque.
In the finals, Socorro defeated Class 4A and fifth-ranked Espanola 54-50 to win the title for the first time since 2005. The Lady Warriors reached the finals by routing Pojoaque 56-35 in a semifinal matchup, marking the second time in two weeks they had downed the Elkettes. In the semis, Roxanne Silva had 24 points and Kianna Gonzales added 15, with four three-pointers. Brittany McDaniel added 13 points.
In the championship game against Espanola (9-3), Socorro (6-3) got off to a slow start but still managed a 10-10 tie after the first quarter. Silva got hot in the second quarter, scoring 12 points to the lead the Lady Warriors to a 29-22 halftime margin.
“We knew we were going to get off to a slow start,” Socorro coach Joseph Garcia said, “because the girls had been at the gym since noon, eight hours waiting.”
In the third quarter, Socorro had some untimely turnovers that led to easy baskets for Espanola, which took a 38-37 lead into the fourth quarter.
Espnaola built its lead in the fourth, extending the margin to seven points with 1:47 left.
Trailing by seven, Jaden Jones grabbed an offensive rebound and put the ball in with 1:28 left. Silva stole the ball and passed to Tristen Peralta, who found Samantha Sedillo for a layup.
Trailing by three points, Socorro got the ball back and Jones passed the ball to Gonzales, who hit a three-pointer with 59 seconds left. The three was Gonzales’ only points of the night and Socorro’s only three-pointer.
Socorro again regained possession and Silva put a shot that missed. Silva, though, grabbed her own rebound and scored on the putback for a 52-50 lead with 21 seconds left.
McDaniel then made a steal and passed to Sedillo for a layup with two seconds left to ice the game for the Warriors.
It was an especially sweet win for the Warriors because the game was played in front of a predominately Espanola crowd. “Our girls played real well for the whole tournament,” Garcia said.
Silva had 27 points in the title game and Jones added 13. Jones, McDaniel and Silva made the all-tournament team.

Lady Warriors Win Title

Toys From Cops To Tots

Socorro City Police delivered hundreds of toys to needy children Tuesday afternoon as part of the annual Toys From Cops To Tots campaign. Capt. Angel Garcia (right) said the department looks forward to giving back to the community every year. “We want the kids to know the police officers are here for them. All the time. Not just at Christmas,” Garcia said. “If they ever need help with any need, they shouldn’t hesitate to come to us.” Santa’s helpers also pictured (from left): Chris Carrejo, Dominique Montano, Amanda Gallegos, and Cailey Montano.

Toys From Cops To Tots

Bhasker: Socorro In Revenue Bind

By John Larson
Mountain Mail

SOCORRO - A radical drop in gross receipts tax has put the City of Socorro in a spending bind, according to comments made by Mayor Dr. Ravi Bhasker at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Bhasker said the drop was about $100,000, which the city had earmarked for retention pay for police officers, firefighters, and EMTs.
“This represents about a three million dollars drop in business,” Bhasker said. “Most comes from construction, but it also comes from retail sales.”
The proposed plan calls for adjustments in the payment of police officers, based on merit. It does not affect their basic salaries.
Merit pay will be based on time on the force, and satisfactory evaluations, and is needed to prevent a high turnover of employees, Bhasker said.
The resolution states that annual retention pay increments begin after an officer has been employed for three complete calendar years.
Those who have been on
the police force for three years
will receive an extra $50 per pay period.
After completing six years, an officer will get an extra $75 per pay period.
After completing nine years, there will be an extra $100 per pay period.
Merit pay for firefighters/ EMTs will be based on standby shift duty, certification level, and years in service. Their extra pay ranges from $120 to $180 per standby shift.
Bhasker advised the council that the resolutions not be considered until the Jan. 18 council meeting.
“I’m not opposed to the resolution, but just to making sure we have the money,” he said.
The Retention Pay resolution was based an average of GRT funds coming in December over the past five years.
“We have been very optimistic in the past,” Bhasker said. “But now we need to wait to commit ourselves until we know we have the funds.”
He said he will contact the Department of Finance and Administration. “The Tax and Revenue Department has no transparency,” Bhasker said. “We need to investigate how it dropped that much. It represents about a $3 million drop in business, sales, and construction.”
He said if “[gross receipts tax] continues to fall, I can offer some alternatives to the retention pay.”
The expected December GRT payment is from October revenues, said Councilor Donald Monette..
“What’s down is construction. Actually retail sales were up a little in October,” Monette said. “We’re now trying to get an answer from the DFA.”
Councilor Michael Olguin Jr. suggested that if the Retention Pay resolution is passed in January, that it could be worded so that the merit pay is retroactive to Jan. 1.
Other city workers receive bonus pay every year – designated salary adjustments – that is meted out over a three-month period.

Bhasker: Socorro In Revenue Bind

Electric Co-op Hires Attorney Number Three

By John Severance
Mountain Mail

SOCORRO -- The Socorro Electric Co-op called an emergency meeting Monday night and what it discussed was not entirely clear.
Trustee president Paul Bustamante called the meeting to order and Leroy Anaya moved that the co-op go straight into executive session to discuss attorneys for the co-op. The motion was immediately seconded by Herman Romero.
Trustee Charlie Wagner said, “Can we discuss this?”
Anaya responded, “It’s a personnel matter. It’s cut and dry.”
Wagner then asked, “Do we have an attorney?”
Bustamante said, “I don’t know. That’s why we are going to executive session.”
About a dozen people left the proceeding, including three incoming Trustees who were elected in October but will not take office until Jan. 1.
People gathered outside the closed door. Then co-op general manager Polo Pineda came out the door and said, “They instructed me to tell you to go all the way outside.”
One of the trustees then yelled, “Tell them to get the hell out.”
Outside, Donald Wolberg, who will be a Trustee on Jan. 1 along with Priscilla Mauldin and Luis Aguilar, was visibly upset.
“It irritates me greatly,” Wolberg said. “This is an open personnel matter.”
Wolberg made a plea to members to attend the general meeting next year.
“The annual meeting is going to be important,” Wolberg said. “It is vital for the public to show up because there are some important resolutions that have to be discussed.”
Wolberg and the two other incoming Trustees were not informed of the meeting and have been kept in the dark about the co-op’s business.
“It’s just a matter of common courtesy,” Wolberg said.
Fifteen minutes later, trustee Harold Baca walked out of the meeting.
Wagner then came out and said, “They are supposed to tell you that they are out of executive session. They passed a motion to hire another attorney.”
When asked who it was, Wagner said, “It’s a secret.”
That means the co-op now will have the services of three attorneys.
The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 28 and the new attorney is scheduled to be present.
One mystery was solved, though. According to the minutes of the Nov. 16 meeting, the board adjourned to executive session at the request of attorney Joanne Aguilar. That was the meeting that the Socorro police were called to because of an altercation between Wagner and Wade.
When the board returned to regular session, a motion was made and seconded to employ Aguilar as counsel for the SEC on issues involving contracts, employment and regulatory matters. A motion was made and passed to utilize the services of Paul Kennedy for matters involving redistricting, bylaw and policy issues.

Electric Co-op Hires Attorney Number Three

Two Socorroans Rope Way To $20,000

By John Larson
Mountain Mail

SOCORRO – Coming in at tenth place in the World Series of Team Roping is no easy feat, and garnered two Socorroans $20,000.
Dawn Tarpley and Leon Mounyo had an outstanding four round average of 39.03, only .04 second behind the ninth-place team.
The event was held Dec. 12 in the sports arena at South Post Casino and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
They began intensive practice sessions on their technique in October, getting ready for the competition.
“We’ve actually been practicing together for a total of about five years, on and off,” Tarpley said. “Leon is great at being both header and heeler, so he could go either way. I’m good as a header, but not a heeler.
“There’s a handicap in roping. The scale goes from one to 10, with 10 being the best and one being a novice. I am at a four level, “an upper novice,” and Leon is a six. Together we entered as a number 10 team,” she said.
Tarpley was born in Socorro, but was raised on a cattle ranch in Clayton.
After graduating from West Texas State, she worked as a scientist at Sandia Labs, but has always been involved on some level in rodeo activities except actual participation. She moved back to Socorro five years ago from Edgewood. “I didn’t start roping, or any kind of rodeoing, until I was 38 years old” she said.
Tarpley currently works at KMXQ radio, but is also known to many locals as a member of the band, The Westerners.
Mounyo has been roping as far back as he can remember while growing up on his family’s ranch in eastern Socorro County.
“[To be good at it] you have to practice a lot. You have to consider all the variables in team roping,” Mounyo said. “You have to know how your horse is working, make sure your horse in working good.”
He said during competition anything can go wrong.
“The variables include the speed of the calf. The length of its horns. Whether it’s going to the left or to the right,” Mounyo said. “We drew four good ones this time. I had a good win during the State Fair in August,” he said.
After splitting the $20,000 with Tarpley, Mounyo has brought his total winnings for 2009 to $28,000.
The team plans on qualifying for next year’s World Series of Roping. “I want to thank all of our sponsors,” Tarpley said. “Especially the Golden Spur Saloon in Magdalena. Darrel Pettis has been extra supportive of both my roping, and of my band, The Westerners.”

Two Socorroans Rope Way To $20,000

Local Masonic Lodge Makes $600 Donation To New Mexico Boys Ranch

By John Larson
Mountain Mail

SOCORRO – The Socorro Masonic Lodge has donated $600 to the New Mexico Boys Ranch in Bernardo.
Lodge Secretary, Gary Stendahl, said he and Representative Don Tripp presented the check to Boys Ranch Director Mike Kull at the facility Thursday, Dec. 10.
“Our lodge has tried from time to time to give money and help them out,” Stendahl said. “Money we can raise is matched by the Masonic Charities Foundation.”
“We try to real hard to be a part of the state and the local community, too,” Kull told the Mountain Mail. “Socorro is part of our community. We take the kids down there from time to time. We appreciate that support from Socorro. It means a lot to us.”
He said that Boys Ranch is not supported by the government, and relies on individual donations.
“We learned long ago that government money is very unstable money. You may get funding but that funding could be cut off,” Kull said.” The thing that makes us unique is that we don’t accept any government funding. It is supported totally by private funding.”
“We have people all the time asking us to teach them how we do that,” he said. “Rather than rely on one source of money, you could say we have thousands of sources – people, businesses, and organizations that contribute what they can. They have kept us going for 65 years.”
The ranch receives about 75 percent of its funding through individual donations, and 25 percent from civic organizations and clubs.
He said Boys Ranch provides young men with a complete education through high school, in a constructive and supportive environment.
“Most are really behind in school. We’ve also found that kids who grow up in poverty are afraid of college,” Kull said. “We have some take college courses while still in school, and as kids leave we help them get into college.”
The ranch uses a family-style living approach which helps them learn how to function as family members and develop healthy peer relationships.
“Each boy lives in a cottage with nine other boys and a married couple called Resident Advisors,” Kull said. “We don’t want anyone to replace their real families. The resident advisors are more like coaches, and take care to ensure the boys don’t worry about divided loyalties.”
“One of the biggest problems in a children’s institution like this is older kids doing something inappropriate to younger kids,” he said. “At Boys Ranch, we have a counselor the younger boys can talk to, who can take care of the situation without the older boy knowing who ‘snitched’.”
The typical resident is of junior high or high school age and lives at Boys Ranch about two and a half years, and all boys participate voluntarily.
“We have no gates. No fences. We tell them if they don’t want to come they don’t have to come,” Kull said. “If they want to come, they have to make a commitment to work on their issues.
“They are kids that for some reason cannot be at home, whether it be that their parent have been incarcerated, or there’s an alcohol or drug abuse problem at home,” he said. “A lot come to us through CYFD, which licenses us. They are recommended to us by the courts, parents, grandparents, a teacher, or church. When a child cannot live at home for whatever reason we take that child on a 24 hour basis.
“Our first goal is to get kids back home if we can,” Kull said.
Although a percentage of the alumni need additional counseling through a program in Albuquer-que, or continue on to a co-ed independent-living program at an affiliated ranch in Clovis, Kull said there are many success stories in the facility’s 65 year history.
“We had a young man who came to the ranch at five years old. He went through and graduated from high school, and continued on to college, getting his Bachelor’s degree,” he said. “He became a banker and worked for a national financial institution a number of years. Then came back, and is now president of New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation.”

Local Masonic Lodge Makes $600 Donation To New Mexico Boys Ranch

Singing Principal Of The Alamo

By Nathalie Nance
For the Mountain Mail

Before you have even had a chance to get a glimpse of the man, you will probably have heard him sing, because Dr. James Garcia, the new principal of the Alamo Navajo School, is not shy to let his baritone be heard, be it in the church choir in Socorro, in the corridor at work or on the phone with a reporter. Just like in a musical, as soon as he talks about something which reminds him of a song - off he goes.
Ever since Garcia was raised by his likewise musical mother in the little, but multicultural (the neighbor was Italian, the store keeper Polish etc), coal mining town of Trinidad, Colorado, music, languages and a curiosity for different cultures have played an essential part in his life.
“If you learn the language, you learn the heart of a culture” says Garcia, and adds that he sees himself just as much as a learner as a teacher. Consequently, as soon as he started working at the Alamo in early November, Garcia also started taking classes in Diné.
“It is very musical and a beautiful language.” says Garcia enthusiastically.
His academic achievements include a doctor’s degree in Administration and he is a senior professor of English. He is a Master Teacher from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in English, social studies, modern classical languages and Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). During his career he has worked with students from all over the world, but he spent many years teaching in Pecos, Española and Gallina, and he considers himself a native of the Hispanic culture of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Even so, he thinks that the Navajo and the Hispanic cultures are very closely intertwined. Besides academic leadership for the Alamo, Garcia would like to promote cultural awareness.
“I want all our kids to learn to read, to do mathematics and to learn about the world”, says Garcia, “but also to maintain their Diné self and be proud of it.”

Singing Principal Of The Alamo