SOCORRO – Four starters are back on offense and four are back on defense.
Coach Damien Ocampo, though, has that Warrior mentality and he is hoping to instill that in his players.
“We can be one of the top five teams in AAA in New Mexico,” Ocampo said. “But we just have so many question marks.”
The Warriors, who have been lifting and attending camps during the summer, will open camp at midnight on Aug. 9. Ocampo said there will be a scrimmage the following week at home against Academy and the Warriors open the season at home on Aug. 27 against West Las Vegas.
Socorro is coming off a magical 9-4 season where it won its second straight district championship and rode the momentum of two home playoff wins against Robertson and Raton into the state title against perennial power Lovington.
The Warriors gave Lovington all it could handle, but they gave up a touchdown in the final three minutes and fell 28-21.
On offense, the Warriors averaged 24.8 points per game and on defense, they gave up 19.1.
Offensively, the Warriors return quarterback Zach Esquivel, who led them on their playoff run before injuring his shoulder in the state title game. Esquivel is back and healthy, having played on the basketball team.
Also returning will be receiver/running back James Thornton, tight end Sam Hale, and receiver Ibrahim Maiga.
Heading the defense will be linebacker Matthew Lopez.
“He is as good as they come at the AAA level at linebacker,” Ocampo said.
Ocampo’s biggest concern, though, are his offensive and defensive lines.
Candidates for the lines include Bryce Sandoval, Julio Estrada, Abran Sarate, Leon Guerrero, Isaac Chavez, Aaron McDaniel and Jeremiah Farmer,
In all, Ocampo is hoping to have 55 to 60 players out for football. “We have to do some recruiting in our freshman class,” he said.
Ocampo, though, is optimistic the Warriors can have a good season.
“It is going to be tough especially in AAA,” Ocampo said. “We have to keep people healthy but we are also going to get after it. In the first part of camp, we will working on our base offense and base defense.
“We have so many young guys and along the lines it’s going to take time for them to come together as a unit.
“Football is the ultimate team game. You are only as strong as you weakest link. These are the most question marks we have ever had. But we also have kids who want to work hard and improve.”
A complete preview of the Warriors will appear in an upcoming edition of the Mountain Mail.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
State Runner-up Warriors Open Football Camp On Aug. 9
Rain Doesn’t Dampen Luna Rodeo
By Kaye Mindar
Once again the annual Luna 24th of July Pioneer Celebration was a huge success. Even with non-stop monsoon rains the events went on without a hitch.
Friday evening’s annual Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Luna Ward Street Fair was well attended and very fun, with something for all ages. There was a pie eating contest, a watermelon eating contest, face painting for the children, a dunking booth and musical entertainment.
Saturday morning began with a grand parade on Highway 180 with plenty of entries including Grace Derrick as this year’s Grand Marshalette; families and local youth dressed in pioneer clothing representing their pioneer ancestry with covered wagons and westward handcart companies.
Even in the rains the rodeo went from early morning barrel racing to children’s “mutton busting” and the Luna signature “wild cow ride” finale.
The night ended with a live band and dance at the Luna Community Center.
Sunday, after community volunteers cleaned up the Forest amid the aftermath, much needed naps were enjoyed by those who worked so hard in the spotlight and behind the scenes. Until next year. Luna breathes a sigh of satisfaction and relief of an event well done. Thanks to all who work so diligently each year.
Luna Community News is far too important to let disappear but sometimes life has a way of making you take a break even if you are not prepared. I wish to thank so many who showed their love, help and concerns during my recent health trials. Luna news is an important part of who we as a small town community are and it’s nice to get back on track reporting our news and events.
Luna was recently hit with a rash of health concerns and troubles and I apologize that I may have missed anyone in sending well wishes from all to Stan Thompson, Idonna Bradford and (me) who have recently returned home from hospital stays. Also Raean Harris and others who have had recent health issues to overcome here at home. Our true community spirit shines when there are those in need and Luna is a special mountain home to be, where there are many who are always there looking out for their neighbors in need.
Quote of the week:
“The way of the pioneer is always rough.”
~Harvey S. Firestone
Alamo Man, 91, Celebrates His Birthday In Style
By Nathalie NanceALAMO NAVAJO Reservation -- William J. Apachito celebrated his 91st birthday with a jackpot roping party at the Alamo UFO roping arena two weeks ago.
Not only did most of his 12 children and numerous grandchildren show up to celebrate with him, but also several roping-minded friends and their families. The Apachitos provided a big cookout, after which the roping started.
Chris Apachito was the main coordinator for the jackpot roping contest and participated in it himself as well. He also judged the kids’ dummy roping, which proved that there will be no shortage of good ropers in years to come. Augustine Apachito provided the roping steers, but couldn’t rope himself that day, because of a recent injury.
Though there was competition for the prize buckles, saddle blankets and jackets, the ropers switched horses with each other and changed the teams constantly as the event was mainly about having fun with friends and family.
“My grandfather started to put together roping here, then my father and now we do it,” said Augustine Apachito. “Besides dummy roping, we often do goat roping for the kids, too.”
The birthday boy, William Apachito, has been as a cowboy all his life, but now only rides occasionally. He has worked on the Alamo, where he was born, as well as in the Mountainair and Carrizozo areas. Once, he fell from a windmill, broke some bones and had to stay at home for a month, but other than that he seems to have been in the saddle. He often went to rodeos to rope and to ride bulls. He used to train and sell horses. He also taught his children to ride and rope, of course.
“At first he would put you on a little calf, and then they gradually got bigger and bigger,” said Augustine Apachito.
“He taught us grandchildren a lot of things, too, like how to treat animals right” said granddaughter Tia Tenorio. “I love my grandfather.”
“Yes, we want him to go on to at least 110 or 120,” said Augustine Apachito.
Roping results:
Head: 1. Brian Ganadonegro, 2. Arnold Apachito, 3. Gerald Ganadonegro, 4. Roland Mexicano. Heel: 1. Lucas Ganadonegro, 2. Pedro Apache, 3. Lester Hudson
Alamo Teacher Drives At Indy
ALAMO NAVAJO Reservation - Students of an Alamo Navajo Community School science teacher may be surprised to discover that “Mr. Beres” is also an Indianapolis race car driver.
Through a promotion from Indy Racing Experience, David Beres found himself at The Brickyard behind the wheel of an Indy Car.
“These are the cars racing on tracks like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Long Beach, California or Watkins Glenn,” Beres said. “ They are built for one thing and one thing only, and that is speed. When you drive one of these cars you go fast. Really fast.”
Beres said he was told by the organizers to be at the speedway at 1:30 p.m., July 9, but he arrived early so he “could see what was going on, and to take advantage of being able to almost freely walk around the pit area at the Speedway.”
He was able to talk to some professional drivers, get close-up views of the cars, and “feel and hear the engines,” he said.
After a couple of hours, they called his name and the names of about 10 other persons.
“We assembled in a locker room where we put on fire suits and fire proof shoes,” Beres said. “The group then went to a classroom where we were told how to start the car, how to stop the car, what to do in case of fire, and what to do in case of a flat tire.”
The main emphasis of the lecture was safety, he said. “Drive the car, enjoy the experience, but come back in one piece is what they were saying.”
His safety instructor was retired Indy car driver Davey Hamilton.
“We all had two chances at this experience,” Beres said. “The first was to drive one of the cars, and the second was to go for a ride with a professional driver. I chose to drive the car first and went for the ride immediately after.”
Beres was then given fireproof gloves, a fire proof stocking to go over his head, and a helmet.
“I felt very nervous at this point,” he said. “I thought of a quote from a professional driver: ‘When I get into the car I am getting into the jaws of a lion.’ I now saw what he meant.”
The pit crew for his car was comprised of two men checking the car – especially the tires – and two other men to help Beres get situated in the car.
“The car is built for speed first and for driver comfort second, so getting into the car is a very big job,” he said. “The first thing that you notice is that the space you will occupy is very small. In order to get in, the steering wheel is removable.
“The next thing that you notice is that you are sitting lower than the pedals. The front frame was about level with my chin. I get a good close up view of the road,” Beres said. “There was about one half inch of space between my shoulder and the cockpit, and about the same space for my helmet. The steering wheel was about three inches from my chest.”
He said the two crew men asked if he was OK. “What they were really asking me is, ‘do I want to back out and call the whole thing off’?”
He said the Indy Car seat belt system is a group of belts; two over the shoulders and one around the waist.
When the ignition switch was flipped all Beres could feel was the car vibrating
“Since I was so strapped in, I vibrated along with the car. A lead car pulled in front of me,” he said. “I was told not to pass it.
“They said do not shift and to keep the accelerator stuck to the floor board and off the brake and clutch.”
When the lead car took off, “I released the clutch and depressed the accelerator. The car is happy. It was not built to sit in the pits. It was build to go.”
The first turn at Indy was tentative, Beres said, but by the second turn he felt more confident.
“I floored the accelerator and felt myself being pushed back into the seat,” he said. “The turns are really where I felt it the most.”
To keep up with the lead car he had to go into the turns with the accelerator to the floor, and Beres said he wondered if the car would make the turn.
“The car vibrated. I am pushed sharply to the outside edge of the seat, and we made it,” he said. “We went around for three laps; two and one half miles per lap or seven and one half miles. The time goes by in a flash.”
At the end of the circuit Beres slowly returned to the pit, where the crew removed the straps.
”I couldn’t get out! My legs were Jello. I have no more strength in my arms,” he said. "I forgot to breathe in the three laps and I was suffering from oxygen deprivation.”
After the crew helped him out the crew asked him if he am ready for the ride with a professional driver. His driver was A.J. Foyt IV.
“I quickly saw that he had a much faster car. He also has the ability to shift gears,” Beres said. “We go into the turns at full throttle, and I thought we were not going to make it, but the car just turns. I remembered this is what it was made to do.”
After three laps he again needed help getting out.
“I asked how fast was I going, and was told that I was clocked at 145 miles per hour while driving and at 185 miles per hour while riding,” Beres said. “The track record is 220 miles per hour. I guess I have a new goal to shoot for.”
Substitute Teacher Orientation, Book Mobile
By Debbie Leschner
Quemado Schools will hold an orientation for anyone interested in substitute teaching for the upcoming school year. It will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
The Rural Book Mobile will be here on Tuesday, Aug. 10 by the Quemado post office at 3:45 p.m., Datil post office at 1 p.m, Pie Town post office at 2:30 p.m and Alamo Cherrytown housing at 10:30 a.m.
Quemado Senior Center Happy Belated Birthday to all the July babies; Pat Candelaria, Betty Chavez, Sara Hastetler, David Mendenhall, Marcial Montoya, Natalia Reid and Bob Smith. The center will be closed from Aug. 9-11 for spring cleaning. Lunch on Thursday is Chicken fried steak and on Friday – beef stroganoff. All seniors are welcome. Please call the center at 773-4820 before 9 a.m. to make your lunch reservations.
The Trading Post is a new store located just off Highway 32 at mile marker 3 just outside of Apache Creek. It is full of gift items, furniture, home accessories and much more. “I want it to be a place where local artisans can sell their items” says owner, Bill Whalen who recently opened the store. There are new and some gently used items all at a very reasonable price. Store hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. The phone number is (575) 533 6396. New items are brought in almost every week.
The Quemado Open Junior Rodeo will be held Saturday, Aug 7 starting at 9 a.m. and Sunday, Aug 8 at 8 a.m. at the Heritage Arena.
The event is New Mexico Junior Rodeo Association sanctioned. Anybody 19 and under may enter.
Local registration will be at the arena on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This is the first full scale rodeo to be held in Quemado since 1978.
There will also be a jackpot of mixed roping and a special calf roping to benefit Kenny McClosker and his family who was injured in a bare back riding event at a rodeo in Gallisto a few weeks ago.
Cowboy Church services will be held on Sunday at 7 a.m. at the area and a Country Dance for Saturday is pending. BBQ chuck wagon will be on hand to provide food for the event. For more information, call Ricky Chavez at 505-328-1363. The arena is located 1 mile north of J and Y gas station near the Quemado gun range.
These events are coordinated by the NM Rodeo Council to the Quemado Community Equestrian Association. The associations is non profit with a goal to promote kids in the sport of rodeo and equestrian events. Admission is $5 per car load.
The American Legion Post 82 in Reserve will meet on Saturday, Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. in the Catron County Building.
The Democratic Party Meeting will be Aug 7 at 1 p.m. at the Catron County Courthouse in Reserve. County and state candidates will be present to speak.
The Quemado Food Pantry will be on Friday, Aug 6 at the Community Center. The Datil community Presbyterian Church is taking over with the retirement of Dorothy Kalberg.
For more information, call or email Anne Schwebke at 575-772-5602 or anneschw@gilanet.com. For local contact, call the Quemado Community Center at 773-4627 and leave a message.
Havill Book Signing Scheduled For Datil Library
Author Steven F. Havill will do a talk and a book signing of his latest book, “Red, Green or Murder” at Datil’s Baldwin Cabin Public Library on Thursday, Aug. 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Havill’s popular hero, Posadas County’s former sheriff Bill Gastner and Under Sheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman once more solve a police procedural which takes place in a small town in Southwestern New Mexico. The Posadas County mysteries are very popular in Datil, an even smaller town in Southwestern New Mexico.
The next title in the Posadas series is “Double Prey”, to be released in January, 2011. “Race For the Dying”, a historical medical novel was released by St. Michael’s Press in 2009. It will be followed by a sequel, “Comes A Time For Burning”, scheduled for release in February, 2011.
Steven Havill has been writing since 1981 and full time since 2000 when he retired after 25 years of teaching secondary school in Grants and Ruidoso. He’s also worked as a reporter, editor and photographer on newspapers in New Mexico and New York.
Havill was raised in New York’s Finger Lakes region and moved to New Mexico in 1965. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New Mexico. In 2005 he received an associate’s degree in Gunsmithing. He now lives in Raton with his wife of 41 years, Kathleen.
Refreshments (sandwiches, salad and brownies) will be served. Everyone is welcome. Baldwin Cabin Public Library is located on Forest Road 100 just off Highway 60, three miles west of Datil.
Reserve Election Case Heading To An Evidentiary Hearing
RESERVE -- The Reserve election case is heading to an evidentiary hearing before Judge Matt Reynolds on Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. at the Catron County Courthouse.
Robert Caylor filed suit on April 8 after losing the Village of Reserve Trustee election by one vote to Keith Riddle.
In the election on March 2, Edward Romero and Riddle had 99 and 91 votes respectively while Caylor had 90. Richard Torres finished with 87.
In his suit, Caylor named 12 people who he claimed were not eligible to vote in the March 2 election.
Village attorney William Perkins had made a motion to throw the suit out, because he said Caylor and Tippett missed the deadline in filing a contest to the election.
But at a June 2 hearing, Reynolds ordered Village officials to produce the evidence that Riddle was certified on March 5. The affidavits, though, did not have any certification dates on them.
A summary judgment motion was then filed by the Village, but on July 27, Reynolds ruled the case would go forward by holding an evidentiary hearing.
“If they had won,” Tippett said, “the case would have been over.”
Reynolds wrote in his memorandum decision on July 29 that the intervenor did not provide the Court with a copy of the Certificate of Election referenced by the Certification of Qualification.
And what is to be expected on Aug. 25?
“It’s kind of like a mini-trial,” Tippett said. “After the evidentiary hearing, he can put Caylor in and take Riddle out. He can do it on the same day.”
If the judge does rule in favor of Caylor, it will be up to the district attorney to file charges if there was any wrongdoing by Village officials or the 12 residents who Caylor claimed were not eligible to vote in the election.
“All that stuff will be left up to the DA’s office,” Tippett said.
Caylor, meanwhile, said he could not be happier after hearing that Reynolds had scheduled an evidentiary hearing.
“I am elated,” Caylor said. “The Village is out of it. It’s me against Keith. The Village lost its intercession and Perkins is no longer involved,”
Caylor also is hoping this case will affect others in the future.
“I am hoping this case will be an opportunity for the state legislature to look at and change some of these laws that we have,” he said.
Seniors Shine At State Games
The results for all New Mexico senior athletes can be found at nmseniorolympics.org.
Local athletes included:
• Melvin Cole, San Antonio, Horseshoes, Gold, 65-69
• Larry Cowan, San Antonio, Horseshoes, Gold, 75-79, Archery Compound Release, Gold
• Ron Gilworth, Socorro, Golf, 70-74
• Steven Gonzales, San Antonio, Triathlon, Silver, 55-59
• Richardo Gutierrez, Socorro, Basketball Free Throws, Gold, 65-69; 3 Point Shooting, Bronze
• Michael Hawkes, San Antonio, Track 100m and 200m, Gold 50-54.
• Nick Silva, Socorro, Golf, Gold, 60-64
• Gene Steele, Socorro, Cycling 5k, 10K, 1 mile, Gold, 75-79
Good Theater In Magdalena
It could be today. That’s the feeling Magdalena’s London Frontier Theatre’s production of “Hard Times And Hope” evokes. No jobs, no money to spare, foreclosures; it sounds all too familiar. Faithful followers of the Lost Wife series have watched the Trotters and the Aragons of the play live through the depths of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Author Donna Todd has been recording their trials and tribulations for almost ten years. This production is a compendium of favorite scenes from the series. “About one quarter of the material is new,” says Donna Todd, who plays Gardy Trotter as well as writing and directing the production.
The vignettes are all wonderful pithy scenes, some very humorous, and they’re all well played.
The excellent music and singing of Randall Engle and Emily Johnson serve to sew the scenes together like the patchwork quilt that hangs on the Trotters’ kitchen wall. After their haunting rendition of ‘Hard Times Come Again’ at the beginning of the performance the lights come up on the kitchen where Gardy and Cass Trotter and Manny and Ruby Aragon are clustered around the staticy radio listening to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” speech at the beginning of his presidency. The closing scene returns to the radio and FDR with the “Day that will live in infamy” speech when he asks Congress “to declare a state of was between the United States of America and the Empire of Japan.”
Frank Howard, Fernando Montano and Donna Todd have donned their characters like old shoes and Joni Holt is a worthy addition as Ruby. Terry Stone is a new Mr. Gibbers while Diane Allen, Janice Brunacini and Ruth Ryan make short but meaningful appearances. Ronald Thornton does the work of three men as Stage Manager, Lighting Designer and Sound Technician. Incidentally the sound effects are great.
My only quibble is that the evening -- especially the first act -- is too long and the effect of the play would be stronger if several vignettes were omitted. It would be a tough choice as I liked them all. That said, by all means see this production. You will laugh and maybe cry, and you’ll realize that, with a little grit, ingenuity and determination, we can all survive a depression.
Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug.6 and Saturday, Aug. 7 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 8.
AYP Report: Wilson Says Socorro Schools Improving
SOCORRO – The Adequate Yearly Progress report released Tuesday by the New Mexico Public Education Department indicated that most schools across the state are doing poorly in the areas of math and reading.
But Superintendent Cheryl Wilson said Socorro’s schools are, in fact, showing improvement.
“We are thrilled with the overall results on the AYP,” Wilson said. “Most of the schools in the district narrowly missed meeting their goals.”
For instance, San Antonio Elementary was listed as ‘not met’ (goals) only because of a drop in attendance this past school year.
“The reason is because they were hit especially hard with H1N1 flu in the fall,” Wilson said. “The figures show a huge improvement in math and reading. They had amazing results.”
She said an attendance waiver has already been accepted, and the validated AYP will reflect that when it is released September 1.
“There is an appeal process,” Wilson said.
Other schools in the district looked better in some areas.
“Midway Elementary has bounced back and forth the last three years,” she said. “This year they did great in reading , but didn't quite make it in math.”
This was the first year Parkview failed to make the AYP, “by such a small number,” Wilson said. “If two more kids in the ‘economically disadvantaged’ category had been proficient in math, and one in reading they would have made it.
“Zimmerly Elementary made huge progress this year. Before they had struggled to make the AYP,” she said.
“Each subgroup made improvements over last year, and that much growth in math. If one more student in Special Ed had passed the reading test at Zimmerly they would have made the AYP.”
Sarracino Middle School showed a small growth, “but not the kind of growth that got close to the AYP.”
Wilson pointed out that only seven middle schools in the entire state are making the AYP.
“In the majority of school districts the elementary schools and the high schools are doing well, but their middle schools are not,” she said. “It could mean the tests for the middle schools are out of sync.
“In a case like ours where we had great growth, it still wasn’t enough. We need to keep working to reach that high bar,” Wilson said. “This year there will be an extra 45 minute period of math.”
Socorro High School has failed to meet its goals in the AYP for a long time, she said. “They are making the AYP in reading, but not in math.”
As with any set of numbers, statistics can be interpreted in different ways but Wilson said the “best indication for parents is how their own children are doing.”
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