The task is to divide the Socorro Electric Cooperative’s 11,400-square mile coverage area into five equal districts.
“It’s not as easy as you might think,” said Donald Wolberg, who headed the board of trustees’ survey committee.
Wolberg was going to present his plan last month, but the meeting never got the past the pledge of allegiance because of disagreements over the Open Meetings Act and the presence of a camera recorder in the room.
The co-op trustees took on the task because it wanted to save money. A professional survey company would have cost upwards of $200,000, general manager Polo Pineda said.
The coverage area is bigger than nine states including Hawaii, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island and the District Columbia.
“It’s about the size of Maryland,” Wolberg said. “Plus there is 3,500 miles of line and more than 40,000 poles.”
There are approximately 10,000 members and districts have to be divided into five equal ones of 2,000 each.
The plan calls for Socorro to be split into two districts. Wolberg said the tentative boundary would be Otero Road and School of Mines.
Wolberg said District 1 would include northern Socorro County and a southern section of Valencia County. District 2 would be the northern part of Socorro up to San Acacia. District 3 would be southern Socorro and south. District 4 would include San Antonio, and also Magdalena and Alamo. District 5 would be everything west of Magdalena to the Arizona border.
The plan takes into consideration adding 440 people to District 1, 1,285 to District 2 and 1,355 to District 4 while subtracting 2,175 from District 3 and 690 from District 5.
Wolberg said the task was tough because the committee also consisting of trustees Leroy Anaya, Leo Cordova, Dave Wade, Jack Bruton and Paul Bustamante had other factors to consider.
“What do we do with ranches that are owned by one person but have several meters on the property?” Wolberg said. “The same can be said for business owners, state entities, federal entities, city entities, Department of Defense entities. There may be a legal issue with members and media. Right now, it based on members.”
Wolberg also said he is looking for more input from members.
“This is just one scenario,” Wolberg said. “We are open to all suggestions from members. The membership also is going to have to vote on it.”
The subject came up again at the July 28 meeting and trustee Charlie Wagner voiced his opposition, saying it violated Article 5, Section 2 of the co-op bylaws.
“If we don’t obey the bylaws, it would subject us all to dismissal,” Wagner said.
Wagner said the board has to appoint a survey committee of members who are not interested in running as a trustee so there would be no conflict of interest. “We should also consult with a consultant,” he said.
Wolberg said, “This didn’t cost anybody anything.”
Meanwhile, the maps of the redistricting plan have been hanging in an office at the co-op building for the past two months.
Friday, August 13, 2010
A Look At The Co-op Redistricting Plan
New Judge In Electric Co-op Case
SOCORRO – Another judge has been recused and another judge has been reassigned in the Socorro Electric Cooperative’s lawsuit against unnamed member/owners, member Charlene West, the Mountain Mail, et. al.
Last week, attorney Lee Deschamps, on behalf of client Charlie Wagner, recused William Sanchez.
Two weeks ago, Deschamps, on behalf of West, recused Valencia County judge John W. Pope.
In the meantime, Sandoval County judge George Eichwald has been assigned the case.
The change of venue hearing for Aug. 10 at the Valencia County Courthouse in Los Lunas was postponed.
Socorro attorneys Thomas A. Fitch and Polly Ann Tausch had filed a motion to request a change of venue and and Pope was to hear the case.
No hearing has been scheduled.
When asked if the hearing was still on, Fitch said, “I don’t know.”
Deschamps, meanwhile, made an entries of appearance for West, Charlie and Charlene Wagner of Magdalena and Alvin Hickox of San Antonio.
Socorro attorney John Gerbracht made a limited entry of appearance and made a motion to quash the service by publication.
Co-op attorney Dennis Francish responded to Fitch’s and Tausch’s motion as well as Gerbracht with a motion of his own.
In a six-page motion, Francish made his legal arguments concerning:
1. This Court has proper personal jurisdiction over defendants.
2. Venue is proper in Valencia County’s 13th Judicial District.
3. Both process and service of process were proper.
4. Defendants have not brought a proper claim for dismissal under Rule 1-0012(B)(6),
In conclusion, Francish wrote that each of the defenses contained in the entry of special appearance must fail and requests the defendant file an answer within 10 days from the date of the denial of the defenses.
Also, a special meeting of the trustees was called for Friday, Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m. The only item on the agenda was personnel matters, which would be talked about in executive session.
Since the meeting will be held in executive session, it is unlikely the public will be allowed to attend.
And in the co-op’s other lawsuit against West, William A. Sanchez of Valencia County has been assisgned as the new judge in the case.
Last month, judges Matthew Reynolds, Edmund Kase and Kevin Sweazea were all recused.
Community Yard Sale Scheduled for Aug. 21
Residents will be able to have space to sell their yard sale items for only $5.
In addition to fresh local produce at the Farmers Market, there will be arts and crafts, and food vendors in the park, and entertainment.
According to Tourism Director Deborah Dean the Community Yard Sale, sponsored by the City of Socorro, will include entertainment in the gazebo and plenty of treasures and bargains galore. Socorro businesses are also encouraged to open up their doors and actively participate by holding Sidewalk Sales throughout town.
The city wide sale is a part of the Keep Socorro Beautiful Campaign to encourage locals to clean out their closets, garages, and yards before the end of the summer.
“This is your opportunity to let the community know what you do, what services you provide, how people get involved with your group or organization and how one would become a volunteer,” Dean said. “If you would like to set up an informational booth representing your organization there are free booth spaces available. You provide your own table, chairs and handouts.”
Set-up begins at 7 a.m.
Food vendor fees are $25.
There is no vendor fee for non-profit informational booths.
Vendor forms available at the Socorro Heritage and Visitors center, 217 Fisher, or online at www.socorronm.gov. For more information call 835-8927
Two Arrested On Cocaine Charges
SOCORRO - A raid on a residence on Tafoya Lane resulted in the arrest of two Socorro men on four narcotics charges, three of them felonies. John Giles, 22, and Joel Martinez, 25, were arraigned Monday on one count each of trafficking cocaine, manufacturing crack cocaine, conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Socorro Police Officer Rocky Fernandez said the raid was the result of a series of controlled buys from the suspects.
According to the criminal complaint, Fernandez served a search warrant on the residence at about 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, along with other city police officers and Socorro County Sheriff deputies.
“When no one answered the door after repeated knocks we opened the front door, announcing that we were the police and had a warrant to search the premises,” Fernandez said. “Joel Martinez and his cousin John Giles were in the kitchen eating a hotdog and were in the process of manufacturing crack cocaine.”
He said the two men were so surprised at seeing the police come in they dropped a cocaine mixture on the kitchen floor, “along with a half-eaten hotdog.”
“It was a mess,” Fernandez said.
The cocaine was cleaned off the floor, and about one ounce was collected in a jar, Fernandez said.
Evidence collected at the scene also included approximately one ounce of powdered cocaine, various baggies with cocaine residue, an electronic scale, a rolled up one dollar bill with cocaine residue, a cell phone with text messages indicative of cocaine transactions, and two handguns, one with the serial numbers filed off.
An amount of powdered cocaine cut into a line ready for inhalation was also seized.
Preliminary hearings in Magistrate Court for John Giles and Joel Martinez will be at 9 a.m. on August 18.
They are each being held on $100,000 cash or surety bond.
Man Faces Meth Charges
Another suspected drug dealer was arrested Saturday, July 14 for possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell.
The case against Daniel Pacheco, 42, of Socorro - involving two narcotics felonies and one misdemeanor, including trafficking methamphetamine, possession of prescription medication and drug paraphernalia - was bound over to District Court July 22.
According to the criminal complaint, Socorro Police Officer Rocky Fernandez received a tip that Pacheco was seen at a gas station on California Street with a methamphetamine pipe, which violated his conditions of release on a previous conviction.
Fernandez and Sgt. Richard Lopez questioned Pacheco, and during a routine pat-down Lopez found a meth pipe with residue in Pacheco’s pocket. He was then arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Continuing the pat-down, Fernandez found a baggie which contained 16 small foil bindles in another pocket.
A bindle is a normal method for selling a single dosage of narcotics such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine.
“I asked [him] what was in the baggie and he told me he did not know but had found the baggie on the ground,” Fernandez stated in the complaint.
Pacheco was incarcerated at the Socorro County Detention center after processing at the Police Department.
His case goes before a jury in District Court on Nov. 1.
Feral Hogs On The Loose In Socorro County
Justin Stevenson of the USDA likens them to a four-legged fire ant.
Feral hogs have been spotted in the San Antonio and Socorro area along the Rio Grande and in Stevenson’s eyes, they are public enemy number one.
“They are very clever and very smart,” Stevenson said. “We have five traps out in the area. The density is low and it is going to take some time. It is almost a no-win situation. It’s almost impossible to totally eradicate the feral hog.”
Despite the traps having been set, no hogs have taken the bait – yet.
The Rio Grande Valley is the perfect place for the feral hog.
There is a lot of food with plenty of corn fields and alfalfa fields in the valley There is a continuous water source. And the Bosque is so thick, there are plenty of places for the hogs to hide.
Stevenson said most of the hogs are nocturnal.
“It would not be uncommon for a farmer to wake up in the morning and have his 10-acre alfalfa field in ruins,” Stevenson said.
But Stevenson also had a word of warning.
He is telling hunters if they see a pack of eight or 10 hogs not to shoot at them.
“They might get two or three, but the others will get away and become that much smarter,” Stevenson said.
So what’s the best thing to do if you see a feral hog?
Stevenson said try and take a photo of it and contact the USDA at 505 346-2640.
Stevenson said somebody released the feral hog for hunting purposes.
“We are guessing they were released somewhere between Escondida and San Antonio,” Stevenson said. “They like to migrate north and south up and down the river.”
According to Stevenson, the hogs are a cross between the domesticated pig and a European breed. And with the ideal living conditions for the hogs, one can be assured they also will reproduce at an alarming rate, Stevenson said.
As of now, Stevenson has no idea how many feral hogs are out there.
“We are evaluating the situation and trying to get as many eyes and ears out there looking for them,” Stevenson said.
Sylvia And The Fine Art Of Diversion Channeling
By Anne Sullivan
“Oh no!” I shrieked after surveying the damage that the latest storm had wrought to what was once my lawn.
Hearing my cry Sylvia woke from her cat nap and ran over to ask, “What’s the matter,
boss?”
“Just look at that,” I complained. “The water rushed down the mountain again and washed away the diversion channel I made for it and now there’s silt all over everything. I don’t know if I’ll be able to dig another channel before the next big rain, which will probably be tonight.”
“Wow!” exclaimed Sylvia after she’d taken in the full extent of the destruction.
“Now who am I going to get on a Sunday to do the digging?”
Sylvia was all sympathy. “Don’t you worry, boss. Gordo and I will do it. There’s no use you paying some outsider to dig when you can pay us.”
“You and Gordo? Can you dig a diversion channel that long? It’s got to get the water over to the arroyo.”
“Can we dig? Just watch us.” Sylvia put one paw to her mouth and whistled. Gordo came running up, bouncing with the joy of being wanted for once.
Sylvia barked at Gordo, who mewed in understanding, before investigating the yard. “Where do you want the channel, boss?” she asked, tail wagging with excitement.
“Right here,” I said, drawing a line with a stick in the silt covering the tufts of grass that now passed for a lawn.
Gordo followed Sylvia and they were both digging, dirt and silt and broken wildflowers flying, when I went into the house to fortify myself with a cup of comforting tea.
After a breakfast of oatmeal cookies and tea, I made several phone calls and settled down to the unpleasant task of paying bills.
It must have been an hour or two later that I was occupied in taking a wee nap when Sylvia knocked at the door.
“All done, boss,” she said when I opened it. “When do we get our money?”
“After I’ve inspected the job,” I said, going outside with Sylvia. Gordo was proudly standing beside a humungous mysterious hole covering more than half of the yard.
“Oh, no! Good heavens! Sylvia! Gordo! What have you done?!”
“Just what you asked, boss. We dug a diversion channel so the water would drain away.”
“But…but…my line. I drew you a line to follow.”
“Oh, yeah, we followed your line and then we dug a little more for good measure. We wanted you to be sure to get your money’s worth.”
“Are you both crazy?! Where are you trying to divert the water to? You’ve made the hole so big and so deep the only place the water will go is to the basement – if the house had a basement.”
“I try so hard,” Sylvia sniffed, “and still everything I do is wrong. It’s not fair. I thought,” she mumbled through tears, “we were doing such a good job and you’d be really pleased.”
“Well, it’s certainly a thorough job. I now have the biggest mudhole in Catron County.”
“Well, that’s something, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s something all right,” I said, shaking my head.
I could see Gordo, who had run off at the first sign of trouble, jumping between wildflowers across the parking lot which was mercifully still intact. When he realized I was watching him, he bounded over to me and dropped something at my feet.
“He wants you to pick it up,” said Sylvia. “It’s from both of us.”
For the third time that day I was overcome. But this time pleasantly. “Flowers,” I said, picking them up and smelling them. “Tall blue lupines and red Indian paintbrush and those lavender things I never know the name of. It’s a lovely bouquet.”
“It’s a peace offering,” said Sylvia who had stopped crying. “We’re sorry you’re not satisfied with our work. You won’t have to pay us till we’ve fixed it up.”
“Thank you for the beautiful flowers,” I said as I carried the bouquet into the house. Again I sniffed them and was immediately attacked by a bout of sneezing and coughing.
“Bless you,” said Sylvia and Gordo meowed.
Quemado Schools Open Monday
By Debbie Leschner
Quemado Schools will begin on Monday, Aug. 16. Some new faces this year in high school are Donald Goodman, High School Science; Steven Myers, High School Math; Margaret Ferranti and Frannie Parker, High School Education Assistants. In the elementary grades, welcome Rebecca Hendricks, Education Assistant.
The Men's Fellowship Breakfast will be held Saturday, Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. in the Cowboy Church located off Highway 32 near Quemado. All menchants in the Quemado and outlying areas are invited to come. For more information call 575 772-2568.
The Quemado Senior Center Activities for the week include a pool tournament on Tuesday, August 17 beginning at 8 a.m., bingo and quilting on Thursday.
Lunch for Monday is Rolled cheese enchiladas, Tuesday – Pizza, Wednesday – Chef Salad, Thursday - Chicken and dressing and Friday – Burger on a bun. All seniors are welcome. Call the center at 773-4820 before 9 a.m. to make your lunch reservations. On Saturday, August 21, an all you can eat Pancake breakfast from 7:30 till 11:30 a.m. Everyone is invited. You get all the bacon, eggs, pancake you can eat and a drink for $6.50.
The Western New Mexico Veterans Group will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, August 19 in the Veterans' Hall located at the corner of Baca and Church Street in Quemado. A potluck with an Italian theme begins at 6 p.m. with a meeting to follow. All veterans and their families are welcome. For more information contact Commander Rick Sharp 733-4350.
Reserve Grad Joins Albuquerque Firm
Mountain Mail ReportsStuart R. Jaramillo, President of Premier Wealth Group, would like to Welcome Joey Snyder as an Associate in their Albuquerque Offices.
“Joey has great people skills and is excited to return to the New Mexico area and give back to the smaller communities by providing our services” Jaramillo said.
Joey is the son of Pam and Clay Snyder; brother of Allyn and Nolen Snyder. Raised in Reserve, Joey was a three sport athlete in basketball, football, and track. He graduated from Reserve High School in 2006 and then attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA, playing varsity football and track for four years, and varsity basketball for one year. He graduated Grinnell College in May, 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics.
In the four years he spent in Iowa, he began to grow great appreciation for the state of New Mexico. He worked hard to set up job interviews in New Mexico starting in October of 2009. After a long process, Joey found exactly what he was looking for in a career, by signing on with Premier Wealth Group, an agency of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY.
Snyder’s business goal as a Financial Representative is to develop strong relationships with his clients through his ability to successfully provide them with strategies to help them achieve wealth accumulation and financial security.
“I am very excited to be working for such a great company and being able to come back home after four years in ‘cold Iowa.’ Most of all, being given the tools and training to give back to the community and state I truly care about,” Snyder said.
Herbal Vet Workshop Scheduled For Magdalena
MAGDALENA – When a medical or veterinary emergency arises in a rural setting such as our wide open spaces of Socorro or Catron counties, knowing first aid make a big difference in the healing.
There will be a workshop from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21 at the High Country Lodge to help people learn how herbal first aid for both animals and people.
The class, sponsored by The Grizz Project, is given by Judyth Shamosh, Ph.D., a medical herbalist with over 30 years experience.
“Most first aid boxes are just a lot of band aids, tapes and aspirin, but nothing really to do anything other than bandaging,” Shamosh said.
She said attendees will be able to learn what to do to stabilize situations such as snake bites; shock and hemorrhaging; cuts, wounds or burns; and insect bites and stings, among others.
“We emphasize that this is not a replacement for a doctor or conventional medicine,” Shamosh said. “What we’re advocating is that we can actually treat many minor emergencies with herbal remedies, especially when you live far from immediate medical or veterinary help.”
Shamosh, a part time resident of Magdalena, also runs Greenfingers Herbal Medical Clinic in Phoenix, and has been treating patients with herbal remedies for many years.
“I’ve used these remedies on my horses, even treating severe ulcers using herbal medicine,” she said. “A good example happened just this morning here in Magdalena. My dog had a bad dog fight. I put together some herbs in a salve I had.”
She said the remedy stopped the bleeding and “the wound didn’t look so angry.”
The same remedies work well on people, she said.
“They can learn stuff they never thought of asking about,” Shamosh said.
To register for the class contact Ann Bending at 505-681-7918, or email alawtonbending@ yahoo.com.
The cost is $20 for Grizz Project members; $25 for non members.
Time To Go Back To School
By Kaye Mindar
Monday was a day of celebration (mostly for parents) and new goals being set as many of our Luna youth returned to Reserve Schools for the 2010-2011 school year. Kayli Laney is Luna’s only senior this year and there were no new kindergarten students. There is an Internet page to keep track of the school calendar and events at www.reserve.k12.nm.us
Our Luna Valley 4-H and Cloverbud members are busy preparing for the upcoming Catron County Fair August 26-28. If you are interested in donating to the buyer’s club please contact Joyce Laney before the fair.
A funeral service was held last Saturday at the Luna L.D.S. Church for Amy Hatch. Amy was the Granddaughter of Vernon Laney, Daughter of Linda Laney and niece of Joe Vernon Laney. Our love and prayers go out to her family and extended family.
Luna Volunteer Fire Department will hold officer elections for the department members to vote on a new Fire Chief at the end of the month. We would like to thank Charles Moyers for the time he has put in serving our community as Fire Chief.
A multi-state concealed weapons class will be held September 3 and 4 at the Community Center. For Registration and added Information please contact Joyce Laney by Sept. 1
Navopache Electric Coop has made a decision to remove all of our linemen from Catron County. Besides the inconvenience of losing the customer/business office in Reserve, this may affect all of us in a potentially dangerous and negative way. For more information you can contact Navopache Electric Coop or Jennifer Swenson of Reserve.
There will only be 4 more canning sessions held this year at the Luna Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They are scheduled for Thur. Sept. 2; Fri. Oct. 1 and 29 and Friday Dec. 3 2011 canning dates are to be announced. Raw honey orders are being taken now through Aug. 22. Please contact Joyce Laney for orders and more information.
If names and dates on a page aren’t enough for your efforts, prove your documented lineage and join a society to show your heritage and possibly to help your children, grandchildren and extended family members; by becoming a living part of the many events, special programs and even college scholarships that they offer.
Some societies that you can join are as prominent as The Mayflower Society, Daughters of the Revolution, the New Mexico Genealogical Society and The Daughters of The Utah Pioneers; while there are others for the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the General Society of the War of 1812.
A good way to find what you’re looking for is to do an Internet search for the event adding the word “descendants”. You will find a whole new world opened to you with as much information and benefits as there are reasons to join.
Quote of the week:
“Let your heart make your decisions - it does not get as confused as your head.”
~ Saara Lawliet
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