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Headline News From Oct. 25, 2002 Issue

Man arrested for burglary, beating & theft 

  A Caballo man allegedly entered into an Austin Avenue residence in Truth or Consequences Monday afternoon demanding money and after the resident denied owing any debt the man kicked him on the face and stole $30 cash, apparently to spend on a drinking binge.

District 38 race heats up 

  Candidates for the New Mexico State Legislature’s 38^th District Dianne Hamilton (R-Silver City) and Gary Whitehead (D-Truth or Consequences) met Tuesday evening in a debate.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Rio Grande Project going dry 

  The end of the irrigation season on Oct. 11 marked Elephant Butte Reservoir at its lowest storage level in 23 years.  

Desert Journal enters 21^st Century

  Lightning, thunder, power failures and the beast failed to prevent another technological advance in Sierra County last week.  

VALOR Telecom announces $3M in local network improvement projects

  VALOR Telecom announced Wednesday the completion of an initiative that is now making high-speed broadband Internet access available locally and the beginning of new projects for modernizing the company's network infrastructure in Sierra County.

The Wildlands Project comes to Hidalgo County 

  The Wildlands Project’s Master Plan consists of an 87-page document, originally published in Wild Earth in1992.  

OBITUARIES

  Notices for Charles L. Muma, Adelbert Richard "Dick" Sutter & James R. Fitzgerald Sr.

…Simply Halloweird

The 2^nd annual Haunted House presented by Halloweird Productions, A TORC Production, will feature spooks and Sci-Fi spoofs like “Star Wars” and “Aliens” with themes focused on alien and human interactions. Four presentations are planned at the Haunted House, sponsored by the City of Truth or Consequences and numerous merchants, at the old downtown T or C Fire Hall, 201 S. Date St. Three nights of Halloweird fun are planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 26, 30 and 31. The cost is $3 for adults and $2 for kids.

DJ photo by Bill Johnson

...Don’t get caught by this dude, he’s bad

An alien lurks among the fog and rubble at the Halloweird Haunted House at the old T or C Fire Hall. The presentations on the nights of Oct. 26, 30 and 31 will feature many surprises, including animated electronics, crawling brains, baby in a bottle, Bloody Mary, mad doctors, a computer-controlled Star Gate, two men in black and a lot more spooky weirdness. Proceeds from the event will be used for next year’s haunted house.

DJ photo by Bill Johnson

Man arrested for burglary, beating & theft

Desert Journal Staff Report

A Caballo man allegedly entered into an Austin Avenue residence in Truth or Consequences Monday afternoon demanding money and after the resident denied owing any debt the man kicked him on the face and stole $30 cash, apparently to spend on a drinking binge.

Detective Thomas Schalkofski of the T or C Police Department filed the criminal complaint Tuesday in the Sierra County Magistrate Court.

Charges leveled against Patrick G. Jordan, 32, of Caballo, include a count each of aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, larceny under $100 and tampering with evidence.

The burglary and tampering charges are second and fourth degree felonies, respectively, and the battery and theft charges are misdemeanors.

At about 4:24p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the residence of Charles Pearson at 217 Austin Ave. to investigate an alleged strong-arm robbery.

Pearson identified his assailant and told police he left in a brown Dodge pickup. The victim reported Jordan was wearing steel toed biker boots with a spur attached to one of the boots.

At about 4:32 p.m., Officer McAlister found and followed the vehicle westbound on Austin and stopped it in front of 315 Austin a mere block away from the victim’s home.

Police said Jordan was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Linnie Ferguson and that Jordan did indeed don a spur on one of his boots.

Police then arrested Jordan but could not find the money he allegedly stole from Pearson’s home. Police said they searched for the $30 on Jordan’s person and in the vehicle.

According to Pearson, he had just got out of the bathroom when he walked into his living room and noticed Jordan was standing inside his doorway. Pearson then sat down and Jordan asked him for $100 that Pearson purportedly owed him, according to the detective’s statement of probable cause.

After Pearson denied owing Jordan any amount of money, Jordan allegedly kicked Pearson on the left side of his face with the steel toed boot. Jordan then reached inside Pearson’s right tube sock and took a $20 and two $5 bills. Jordan then left the victim’s home, the detective’s statement said.

Pearson told police that Jordan had been advising him of the $100 debt since Oct. 16. The victim said he also has witnessed Jordan telling other people that they owed him money when he was drinking and needed more money for alcohol.

Pearson said he never had any problems with Jordan before the incident and that he certainly does not owe him any money, according to Det. Schalkofski’s statement.

Bond for Jordan was set at $16,000 cash surety. The magistrate court set his preliminary hearing for 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 28.

<<<   >>>

…An island no more

Elephant Butte, that majestic rock in the middle of Elephant Butte Lake, is no longer an island surrounded entirely by water as proven by this photo taken Wednesday afternoon. Due to drought, the lake’s water level has receded to the point that it is at its lowest elevation since 1979. Witnesses said they noticed Elephant Butte, which is shown only partly as the landmass coming off the left-center bank of the photo, was linked up with the eastern shoreline two weeks ago (Oct. 11) when the Bureau of Reclamation reported the lake’s storage was only at one seventh of its capacity.

DJ Photo by Bill Johnson  

District 38 race heats up

By Fred Mramor of the Desert Journal

Candidates for the New Mexico State Legislature’s 38^th District Dianne Hamilton (R-Silver City) and Gary Whitehead (D-Truth or Consequences) met Tuesday evening in a debate sponsored by the T or C/Sierra County Chamber of Commerce at the Ralph Edwards Civic Auditorium.

Hamilton defends record,

seeks a third term 

Seeking her third term in New Mexico’s House of Representatives, Hamilton said her experience in Santa Fe, her life experience, her ability to relate to constituents, her being a full-time legislator who is otherwise retired, and her availability to constituents makes her the better candidate.

Hamilton said she is running for reelection to see business started in the legislature come to fruition, with work left to be done regarding small business, drug decriminalization and cock fighting legislation.

Hamilton said she is running on a simple platform of reducing taxes and improving education, which she said is the most important issue to New Mexico voters.

Hamilton said she has been fighting the last four years for better teacher pay to attract the best teachers. She proposed establishing a State Department of Education with a secretary in the governor’s cabinet.

Hamilton said she has pledged not to raise taxes and pointed out that New Mexico has the nation’s second highest state income tax rates but is one of the poorest states.

Hamilton said high taxes discourage businesses from coming to NM. Neighboring states with lower or no income tax are flourishing while NM drops further behind, she said.

Hamilton said cities and counties “live and die” on gross receipts taxes (GRT). She said she supports the elimination of GRT on food and medical services but that it has to be phased in “so no one hurts.”

She said lost revenues would have to be replaced somehow and that government fat and pork should be reduced.

Hamilton declared she is an environmentalist - in the same way everyone else is, that she wants clean air and water - but that “the silvery minnow shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way of our lives.”

Hamilton said she gets very upset when people are cut out of the picture and asked, “Who is the wilderness to be kept pristine for, animals?” She said land is for human beings who must be good stewards and that there must be room for logging, ranching and mining.

Asked what she has done for Sierra County, Hamilton said she procured $425,000 worth of sanitation equipment for the City of Truth or Consequences, $40,000 for a water system in Cuchillo and $14,000 in playground equipment for Williamsburg.

Hamilton said Sierra County’s greatest problems is the same one facing much of rural America: old, crumbling infrastructure, which she said has been maintained in a patchwork fashion and can’t be jerry-rigged anymore.

Hamilton said wastewater facilities are desperately needed but she doesn’t know if the State Legislature will provide necessary funding and that it may have to come from the federal government.

<<<   >>>

Whitehead would bring

county representation 

Former Sierra County Commissioner and County Manager Gary Whitehead said that with him running for the State Legislature, voters will have the opportunity to elect the first representative from Sierra County in 12 years.

He said he has the energy and willingness to serve.

Whitehead said public service is the highest honor one can achieve. He said his experiences with the public in county government, and as a small business owner and dedicated family man, provide him the tools that will make him an effective legislator.

Whitehead said he wants to end four years of gridlock in Santa Fe where capital outlays have been held hostage to other issues.

His wife having been a teacher for 20 years, Whitehead too recognized the importance of education. He said schools must have good teachers and that “we need to recognize New Mexico’s many good students.”

Whitehead said he wants to work toward providing better salaries for educators, reducing class sizes and improving Sierra County’s standing in New Mexico with respect to education.

Whitehead said he wants also to repair old infrastructure and replace old books and computers, get parents more actively involved in their children’s education and provide better opportunities for vocational training as well as college.

Whitehead said taxation is as significant an issue as education. He said he wants to make sure tax reduction is at the local level.

He said he would be cautious and thinks that tax reductions must be across the board. He said he doesn’t want the poor to take up the burden.

Whitehead said he would support reducing gross receipts taxes for medical services but that he doesn’t want to damage municipalities that rely heavily on food taxes.

Whitehead said he’s a realist rather than an environmentalist. He said he supports public land use but that public land must be taken care of for all to enjoy.

He said the human factor is important, but no less important than environmental factors. He said people are getting the message and environmentalists are making concessions.

Whitehead cited his bringing professionalism to county government, improving roads, constructing local community centers and saving Sierra Vista Hospital as his contributions after being elected to two terms as a county commissioner.

Whitehead agreed with Hamilton that Sierra County’s aging infrastructure is a significant concern but more important is “finding Sierra County’s identity.” He said county residents must decide what kind of business they want for their community.

Whitehead said work must be done on Sierra County’s state parks. He said also steps must be taken to increase the county’s tourism industry and enhance its agricultural market.

<<<   >>>

A shadow of the hill reflects parallel on the shallow surface waters of the Rio Grande as viewed about a mile downstream of Elephant Butte Dam Wednesday afternoon.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson  

The measuring stick in the Rio Grande just downstream of Elephant Butte Dam shows just a trickle of water is being released, indicating the end of the irrigation season for the Rio Grande Project.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson  

Rio Grande Project going dry

EB Lake’s storage at lowest level since 1979;

farmers stand to lose on 2003 water allocation

The end of the irrigation season on Oct. 11 marked Elephant Butte Reservoir at its lowest storage level in 23 years.

The lake’s water level receded to the point that Elephant Butte is no longer an island.

But the real hard hitting news is the Bureau of Reclamation’s expectation that the 2003 winter runoff from Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado most likely will not support a full allocation of irrigation water for farmers downstream in the Rio Grande Project of southern New Mexico and West Texas. In fact, the Bureau expects farmers to receive only a third of their allocation next year.

The Bureau of Reclamation on Oct. 11 closed the gates at Caballo Dam, ending releases for the 2002 irrigation season for the Rio Grande Project.

The Elephant Butte Irrigation District in southern New Mexico and El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 in far west Texas diverted the remaining water supply in the Rio Grande from Caballo Dam to El Paso, TX, from Oct. 11 to 17 completing their irrigation seasons respectively. Mexico completed its irrigation season on Sept. 15.

Releases from Elephant Butte Dam were discontinued on Oct. 10.

Initial releases for the 2002 irrigation season from Caballo Reservoir began Feb. 19 with a full irrigation supply allocated. About 800,000 acre-feet has been released from storage as of Oct. 11 for the Rio Grande Project’s New Mexico and Texas irrigation districts and, internationally, for Mexico.

On Oct. 11, Elephant Butte Reservoir reached its lowest storage level of the year at 280,620 acre-feet. That storage level represents 14% of a full reservoir (1,998,358 acre-feet capacity). This is the lowest storage level at Elephant Butte Reservoir since February 1979.

The reservoir began 2002 with a storage level of 898,020 acre-feet. The sharp drop in storage water at Elephant Butte Reservoir this year (nearly 45 foot drop in lake level) was due to a very low spring runoff resulting from poor snow-pack conditions in the mountains of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, and a dry summer and fall resulting in below normal precipitation from the area's monsoon season.

The 2002 spring runoff at the San Marcial gauging stations on the Rio Grande (just upstream of Elephant Butte Reservoir) was only 62,000 acre-feet (March-July), which is 11% of the long-term average of 573,000 acre-feet. That is the sixth lowest runoff since flow records began at the San Marcial stations in 1895 more than 107 years ago.

In recent years, from 1996 to 2002, six of the seven years have been below average runoff into Elephant Butte Reservoir with 1996, 2000 and 2002 being well below average runoff.

The area’s monsoon season (typically July to September) for 2000, 2001 and 2002 has been dry with below normal precipitation for the last three years.

All of these climatic events have resulted in a severe drought for the entire upper Rio Grande Basin.

With unusually low storage levels at Elephant Butte and Caballo Reservoirs, the prospects for a full supply for irrigation for the Rio Grande Project water users for 2003 are not good.

The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is projecting end of year storage levels at Elephant Butte Reservoir to be only 311,000 acre-feet (16% of full), and at Caballo Reservoir to be only 40,000 acre-feet (18% of full).

The end of year combined storage amount of 351,000 acre-feet is not enough to allocate a full irrigation supply to the Rio Grande Project water users to start the 2003 irrigation season, according to the BOR.

BOR says it needs at least an average runoff at the San Marcial stations of 573,000 acre-feet next spring to allocate a full irrigation supply for the Rio Grande Project water users.

From 1980 to 2002, Reclamation has had enough storage water in Elephant Butte and Caballo Reservoirs at the beginning of each irrigation season to allocate a full supply to the Rio Grande Project water users.

However, 2003 will be the first year in 24 years that farmers will have to depend solely on the spring runoff into Elephant Butte Reservoir to make their water supply for the upcoming irrigation season.

As dry conditions persist in the upper Rio Grande Basin, the prospects for an average runoff next spring are not good.

Dry soil conditions in the mountains of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado usually means a less efficient snow-pack runoff in the spring as more of the snowmelt soaks into the high country soil.

With the chances increasing that the Rio Grande Project may be faced with a less than full supply for irrigation next year, BOR continues to coordinate with the Rio Grande Project water users to discuss the operations of the Rio Grande Project for 2003 if the water users are faced with a less than full supply for irrigation.

People having comments or questions concerning the Rio Grande Project water supply may call Filiberto Cortez, Manager of Reclamation's El Paso Field Division, at (915) 534-6301.

<<<   >>>

Drought is evident with the high water marks on surrounding hills and the lake’s low water level as shown at Elephant Butte Dam Wednesday afternoon.
DJ Photo by Bill Johnson

Desert Journal enters 21^st Century

1^st in county to print electronically

Lightning, thunder, power failures and the beast failed to prevent another technological advance in Sierra County last week.

The Desert Journal became Truth or Consequences’ and the county’s first general circulation newspaper to ever produce in its entirety by electronic means – meaning all production work, layout and design were done on the computer and the final product sent via the internet to the printer in Las Cruces for imaging and printing.

The Sierra County Sentinel produces its color pages electronically, but printer limitations for bigger broadsheet publications prevent it from being fully electronic for the time being.

“We were on a collision course with time to get this done before November when a rate increase will go into effect for the old way of doing things,” said Desert Journal Publisher Bill Johnson.

“The new method is also a little more expensive but with it comes an excellent printing quality that we noticed immediately upon seeing last Friday’s (Oct. 18) issue of the Desert Journal hot off the press,” Johnson said.

“No more cut and paste, no more paper waste,” Johnson said with glee about the new way of producing the Desert Journal, this issue being the second fully electronically produced newspaper.

“We should never be afraid of new technologies that make our jobs a little easier and thus more efficient; yet improve the overall image of the product. This is a big plus for us and our readers and we look forward to the unlimited opportunities that come with such technological advances,” Johnson said.

“I’ve heard people say Sierra County is 50 years behind the times. Now we can say the Desert Journal is caught up as far as the local newspaper industry is concerned,” he said.

<<<   >>>

…New trail system along the Rio

A new trail, complete with gravel and wood siding, may be found at the state park on the Rio Grande just downstream of Elephant Butte Dam.

DJ photo by Bill Johnson

VALOR Telecom announces $3 million

in local network improvement projects

High-speed broadband internet technology also deployed

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES - VALOR Telecom announced Wednesday the completion of an initiative that is now making high-speed broadband Internet access available locally and the beginning of new projects for modernizing the company's network infrastructure in Sierra County.

"Altogether, these projects represent more than $3 million in new investments designed to bring telecom services up to par with many major metropolitan areas around the country," said D.F. 'Duffy' Swan, vice president of Policy & Law.

VALOR Telecom began operations in Sierra County two years ago when it took over the GTE service areas in New Mexico.

"Our first local initiative was to bring in a wide range of calling features, such as call waiting, call forwarding, three-way calling, and speed dialing to the local calling areas, while our second project brought in caller identification and voice mail services," Swan said.

"Just recently, we completed our deployment of DSL (digital subscriber line) high-speed broadband Internet access in Truth or Consequences and Elephant Butte and, after months of planning, engineering and network enhancements, we're pleased to offer this highly sought-after capability," he added.

VALOR's latest project involves the installation of new call-processing equipment in the T or C and Elephant Butte switches. "This will increase our call-carrying capacity and provide us with a new network-management system in the Sierra County areas we serve," Swan said.

VALOR will begin installation of the new switch equipment, manufactured by Siemens, in mid-November, with completion anticipated to be in late March or early April.

With the network enhancements, Swan said new software could be deployed quickly, "which will reduce our costs and allow us to easily add new services and features as they become available."

In addition to the new switching equipment, VALOR plans to deploy fiber optics technology between Truth or Consequences and the radio tower in Engle.

"This also will increase our capacity considerably and give us the ability to provide scalable and upgradeable broadband capabilities for government offices, the university, medical centers and schools," Swan said.

With the deployment of DSL in the T or C and Elephant Butte areas, VALOR has completed a project it began a year ago to bring the technology to 10 communities statewide.

DSL provides Internet users much higher Internet speeds, up to 50 times faster than dial-up service, and the ability to use the Internet and the phone over the same line at the same time.

"We're proud of this accomplishment because it was identified as a high priority by our customers when we started doing business here two years ago," Swan said.

With DSL, there are no dial-up delays getting on the Internet and downloads that used to take minutes and hours now take only seconds to complete, Swan said. These include heavy graphics files, large documents, software, photos and e-mail attachments.

"Also, DSL easily accommodates interactive multimedia applications, such as distance learning and telemedicine," Swan said.

The DSL options available on the VALOR network range in price from $30 to $295 a month, depending on speeds required, which range from 384 kilobits per second to 1.5 megabits per second.

VALOR offers the new technology option directly to customers and through an association with ZiaNet, a leading New Mexico Internet services provider.

VALOR Telecom reached its second anniversary in New Mexico on Sept. 1.

The privately held company started operations in 2000 after acquiring nearly 300 mainly rural telephone service areas in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas from GTE (now Verizon).

In New Mexico, VALOR has grown from about 80 employees to nearly 340 in numerous skilled positions, and it operates four retail stores in Española, Carlsbad, Hobbs and Ruidoso.

The company located two of its three service centers in Española and Carlsbad that serve customers in all three states.

VALOR also serves the New Mexico communities of Abiquiu, Alto, Caballo, Animas, Canjilon, Capitan, Carlsbad, Carlsbad Caverns, Chama, Dixon, Dulce, El Rito, Española, Eunice, Gallina, Hillsboro, Hobbs, Jal, Jemez Springs, Lindrith, Loving, Lovington, Lybrook, Ojo Caliente, Ruidoso Downs, San Ysidro, Tierra Amarilla, Truches, Vallecitos and Velarde.

<<<   >>>

...Going down and we’re not talking elevators

The Damsite Marina at Elephant Butte Lake, even though in deeper waters, has faced much the same situation this year with bumping bottom and has had to shift like the other two marinas at the lake as the result of receding water levels. In the background is Elephant Butte and one can see how much the water has dropped by looking at the high water mark or lighter discoloration at the base of the Butte.

DJ photo by Bill Johnson

The Wildlands Project

Comes to Hidalgo County

(Part 5)

- Conservation Biology -

http://stage.conbio.net/ConBio/Who_We_Are_EN.asp?SnID=811666082

A Country Girl’s Musin’

By Judy Keeler

The Wildlands Project’s Master Plan consists of an 87-page document, originally published in Wild Earth in1992.

Within these pages are found the essential elements with which to build a “biological preserve.” The chapter discussing this reserve design is entitled “The Wildlands Project: Land Conservation Strategy” by Reed F. Noss.

Dave Foreman, Howie Wolke and Bart Koehler actually laid the foundation for this concept in the early 1980s. Published in the June 1983 issue of Earth First!, and again in Foreman’s 1991 book, “Confessions of an Eco-Warrior,” the concept continues to be honed over time.

Normal scientific findings usually begin with a theory, or hypothesis. The scientist’s job is to prove the hypothesis using acceptable standards to reach an unbiased conclusion. These standards include gathering facts, analyzing data, comparing information with a control group, testing the hypothesis, then reaching a conclusion.

On the other hand, conservation biology does not operate using standard scientific guidelines. In the author’s own words, the Plan is “largely untested,” a theory yet proven.

It has, however, been embraced by both academia and the media from Seattle, WA, and Stanford, CA, to Orona, ME, and Orlando, FL. Incorporated in 1986, the Society of Conservation Biology claims membership of 10,000 people and institutions.

Reed    Noss   openly   acknowledges, “The ideas and words presented [in the Wildlands Project’s Master Plan] are part of a continually evolving text.”

According to Noss’ biography, he is a consultant in ecology and conservation biology, half time research scientist at the University of Idaho’s College of Forestry, and a research associate at Stanford University’s Center for Conservation Biology. He holds a PhD in wildlife ecology from the University of Florida.

His most recent stint has been to serve as a paid consultant to the Department of Interior, hired during Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt’s term. It is interesting to note here, the Bureau of Land Management’s Rangeland Reform ’94, birthed through a great deal of controversy during Secretary Babbitt’s administration, adopts, almost word for word, Noss’ recommendations for maintaining biological diversity.

As expressed in the Master Plan, in order to maintain biological diversity one must maintain ecological and evolutionary processes such as “disturbance regime, hydrological process, nutrient cycle and biotic interaction.”

Conservation biologists also believe large carnivores and ungulates require large expanses of land in order to breed and expand. For a minimum viable population of 1,000 large predators, an area of 242 million acres would be required for grizzly bears, 200 million acres for wolverines, and 100 million acres for wolves.

The reserve design would consist of core reserves, connecting corridors and two buffer zones. Core reserves would be managed as roadless areas, within which all roads would be closed, “free from industrial use.”

The “inner buffer zone would be strictly protected” while the “outer zones would allow a wider range of compatible human uses.” Outside the outer buffer  area  would  be  an  area  Noss re- fers to as the “matrix.”

Initially this matrix would consist of the land surrounding the reserve. However, according to Noss, the matrix would exist only “in the first stages of a wilderness recovery project.”

Eventually, the wilderness network would be expanded to “dominate a region and thus would itself constitute the matrix, with human habitations being the islands.”

As noted in an issue of Science - June 25, 1993 - the long-term goal of the Wildlands Project “is nothing less than a transformation of America from a place where 4.7 percent of the land is wilderness to an archipelago of human-inhabited islands surrounded” by wilderness.

Noss suggests in the Master Plan, “At least half of the land area of the 48 conterminous [contiguous?] states should be encompassed in core reserves and inner corridors zones within the next few decades.” That is assuming, of course, that “most of the other 50% is managed intelligently as buffer zone.”

Although this appears to be a very ambitious plan, it does not go far enough for a few Wildland proponents. Some have called for as much as 89% of our nation’s land mass to be set aside in these reserves - set apart from human activities.

For supporters and affiliates of the Wildlands Project, Noss also discusses how to select a reserve site and draw boundaries; how large a core reserve should be; how a core reserve should be managed; the primary functions of a “multiple-use zone”; the primary functions of corridors; and design and management criteria.

Under “restorative management” techniques, he suggests: replanting with native species; thinning of fire-suppressed stands of forest types; reintroduction of fire; road closures; control or (where  possible)  elimination  of  exotic species (including livestock); and reintroduction of large carnivores.

The Wildlands Projects’ Master Plan also calls for reserves to be managed by nongovernmental organizations like the Nature Conservancy.

Dave Foreman even suggests “Nature Conservancy staff should be plugged in so that gaps in reserve networks can become priorities for acquisition.”

Noss continues, “Sympathetic agency personnel should be recruited [to bring together] professional ecologists and other scientists who understand the local ecosystem and wildlife as well as the principles of conservation biology,” and “grass-roots conservation activists who understand the mechanics of public land management” to help design the preserves.

A few years ago, I heard the president of a local ranching organization say, “Conservation biology was the only pure science.”

He contended the science used by land grant universities to improve rangeland “had been compromised because it was funded by the ranching community.”

I  felt  the  rancher  was  very  naïve to believe organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society and Sierra Club are truly altruistic, unbiased and their science un-compromised.

I’m not alone in questioning conservation biology’s unbiased science. Bi-ologists around the continent question whether there is really any science to support the Wildlands Project.

Richard Hobbs, author of The Role of Corridors in Conservation: Solution or Bandwagon?, strongly implies the theory that ‘natural corridors’ enhances the free movement of species between reserves is on shaky ground. This concept, “along with other principles of reserve design, have been quoted in policy documents and textbooks, despite being supported by few empirical data at the time, and being subject to considerable debate since.”

Other scientists have been even more challenging, preferring to call it pseudo-science.

Next week: The Wildlands Project - Dave Foreman Related articles - The Wildlands Project: www.thewildlandsprojectrevealed.org Diplomatic Immunity for the Sierra Club: www.citizenreviewonline.org/august_2002/diplomatic.htm.

<<<   >>>

OBITUARIES

Charles L. Muma, 68, formerly of Truth or Consequences, died Oct. 15, 2002, at his home in Albuquerque. He was born March 7, 1934, in Lincoln, NE, to George Joseph and Ester E. (Lee) Muma. He was a retired 20-year railroad engineer with the Burlington Northern Railroad. The Korean Conflict veteran also retired from the U.S. Army.

Survivors include his two sons, Ty Muma of Parker, CO, and Lee Muma of Chadron, NE; five grandchildren; his two sisters, Georgia Vonora of Iowa and Mary Ann Speerman of Nebraska; and his two brothers, Richard Muma and Jay Muma, both of Nebraska.

Private interment will be held at the Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO. Arrangements are by French Mortuary & Cremation Services of T or C; 505-894-2574.

Adelbert Richard “Dick” Sutter, 77, of Williamsburg, died Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002, at his home.

He was born May 2, 1925, in Lakewood, OH, to Albert John and Catherine Margaret (Hanrahan) Sutter. He was among a dozen siblings in the Sutter household. He married Margaret Lee and they raised a son. He collected animated stuffed animals and toys with which he enjoyed entertaining visitors at his home. He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau.

Survivors include his two brothers, John Farrell Sutter and wife Gigi of Lakewood, OH, and Robert Gerald Sutter and wife Tita of Fort Meyers, FL; his sister, Catherine Margaret Gehring and husband Donald of Scottsdale, AZ; several nieces and nephews; and numerous friends he made during his 20 years plus in Sierra County. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Lee Sutter; his son, Adelbert R. Sutter Jr.; his parents; six brothers, Albert, Paul, Francis, Eugene, William and Edward; his sister, Rosemary; and his dear friend, Agnes M. Florence, in September 2001.

A devoted Catholic, he took great pride in his church's choir. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church for the purchase of a new organ.

Prayer vigil was held Sunday, Oct. 20, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church with Rev. Sean Garrity officiating. Mass of the resurrection was celebrated Monday, Oct. 21, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church with Rev. Art Roberts officiating. Vernal Trujillo played organ while the Church Choir sang some of Dick's favorite hymns. A memorial mass will be celebrated Nov. 15 at St. Matthias Catholic Church in Lakewood, OH, with his nephew, Rev. Raymond Sutter, officiating. Arrangements were by Sierra Funeral Home, 507 W. McAdoo St. in Truth or Consequences.

James Randolph Fitzgerald Sr., 61, a former longtime resident of Truth or Consequences, died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2002, at Hospice House in Odessa, TX. He was born May 25, 1941, in Fort Worth, TX, to Thomas R. Fitzgerald and Goldie Bell White. He married Illa G. Eaves on July 16, 1960, in Snyder, TX.

He had served as director of Sierra County’s ambulance service before it was privatized more than a decade ago and he also served as the coordinator and director of the Sierra County Emergency Management Office. As such, he was an instructor for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for nine years, retiring 10 years ago. Fitzgerald served at the pleasure of the county commission and he often was assigned numerous outside duties, including grant writer for many of the county’s projects or needs. He also had been employed as an insurance salesman, an oil roustabout, service station attendant and truck driver, distributing for companies such as Prices.

He enjoyed art, hunting, camping, gambling, politics, fishing, football, baseball, basketball and track, and he collected ducks. He coached boxing for Golden Gloves more than 15 years, and was a “star” Boy Scout and Scoutmaster for several years. He was a member of the Jaycees in Andrews, TX, and Lovington, NM, and the Kiwanis, Odd Fellows and Moose Lodge in T or C. He also was a member of the Community of Christ Church. He was a foster parent for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Illa G. Fitzgerald; his father; his daughters, Nina Xan Simonson & husband Jeff of Mesa, AZ, Gina Ann Thomas and husband Paul of T or C, Robina Esquivel and husband John of San Marcos, TX; his son, James Randolph Fitzgerald Jr. and wife Dalia of El Paso, TX; his sisters, Nadine Sellers and husband Don of Granbury, TX, and Lenora Nelson and husband Luke of Denver City, TX; his grandchildren, James R. Fitzgerald III of El Paso, TX, Robert J., Chad T. and Shelby L. Simonson of Mesa, AZ, David Fitzgerald of Tucson, AZ, JJ Esquivel of San Marcos, TX, Ashley G. Fitzgerald of Kermit, TX, Daryl H. Thomas of T or C, and William Gobel of El Paso, TX; his great-granddaughter, Paris Novell Fitzgerald of El Paso, TX; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother; his mother-in-law, Nina Eavess; his brother-in-law, Robert Stark; and his granddaughter, Charlotte Ann Thomas.

Services were held Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Sunset Memorial Chapel in Odessa, TX, with Rev. Woody Alley officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice House of Odessa, TX. Pallbearers were James R. Fitzgerald III, Robert J. Simonson, David F. Fitzgerald, Chad T. Simonson, JJ Esquivel, Johnny Nelson, Chris Nelson, Joel Fitzgerald, James Gavin, Jessie Rivera, Bobbie Gutierrez, Robert Gutierrez and Andrew Flores. Arrangements were by Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Odessa, TX.

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