|
FREE WEBSITE
THROUGHOUT
Welcome to Desert Journal Online, established in May 2001 in New Mexico. Our website
offers our true crime book,
Satan's Den Exposed - The David
Parker Ray Story, and poetry and photo collections,
Bombshell
Liberation and
Interference, and provides free access to
our featured columns, photos and news archives.
Directory Page
Site Map |
|
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ THESE!
|
|
2012 began in 1999
by Peter Appleseed
of the Kyyboa Tribe
Book about true revolution, civilogy and creating positive alternatives. |
|
Satan's Den Exposed
The David Parker Ray Story
True crime book about a
criminal sexual sadist and cohorts busted in kidnap, rape and sexual
torture cases in New Mexico
By the Desert Journal's award winning investigative reporting team of Bill
Johnson, Fred Mramor & David Pierre
SPECIAL OFFERS EXTENDED
CLICK
HERE
FOR DETAILS!
|
|
CLICK ON THUMB TO SEE LEO DAILEY PERFORM
HIS NEW ROCK SONG, rallytime!
ALSO, SEE OUR NEW WEB PAGE
ANTI-WAR SONGS!!!
VISIT LEO DAILEY'S NEW WEBSITE -
www.LeoDailey.com |
|
BOMBSHELL LIBERATION
&
INTERFERENCE
Poetry & Photo Collections
By Leo Dailey
NEW RELEASES OCTOBER 2006!!!
Electronic Books - $2.95 each ($2 off)
For details, click
HERE!
 |
|
 |
|
FOR FREE CLASSIFIED ADS, CLICK
HERE! |
|
Desert Journal Online
Contact Information
Bill Johnson
Editor, Publisher & Webmaster
Vic Arvizu
Honorary Web Guru
-
-
Electronic mail
-
desertjournal@hotmail.com
desertjournalonline@yahoo.com
poet@leodailey.com
-
Location
-
We are an electronic
submissions only website located in Albuquerque, NM, and have no
physical business address.
-
-
Copyright ©
2001-2008 Desert Journal Online
-
Last modified:
April 14, 2008
|
| |
|
|
|
Headline
News From Our
Nov. 29, 2002 Issue
|
|
No
easy answers to
parenting
In light of
the recent arrests for battery of two Sierra County parents who were
trying to discipline their child, or acting in self-defense, other parents
may want to know what rights they have to administer corporal punishment
to their children before a police officer, prosecutor or court deems their
actions to be battery, abuse or some other crime.
|
|
Laskay
Sr. now
charged with
murder
|
An amended
criminal complaint filed Wednesday in magistrate court now charges a
second suspect, Paul C. Laskay Sr., with the first degree murder of Betty
Wolff Bruno, 58, of T or C, last July.
|
|
City
moves forward with annexation
Truth or
Consequences city officials Monday evening moved to go forward with the
city’s plans to annex Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land extending
from current city limits to the municipal airport.
|
|
DJ’s
holiday art contest opens
to
all local high school students
The Desert
Journal’s prestigious 7th annual Holiday Greeting Card Design
Contest has opened another round to all high school students – whether
public, private or home - residing within Sierra County.
|
|
Traffic
stop nets arrest of Salem man
for alleged drugs, rape and child abuse
A state
police traffic stop of a vehicle unlawfully traveling on the shoulder of
the road resulted in a Salem man’s arrest on multiple felony counts.
|
|
Unlit
plate lamp lands motorist
in
jail for trafficking in ‘speed’
A Truth or
Consequences man was arrested last Friday at about 2 a.m. on a charge of
trafficking a controlled substance, methamphetamine or otherwise known as
“speed,” after state police stopped his Ford pickup truck at Third and
Date streets for a license plate lamp that wasn’t lit.
|
|
Hillsboro
Fire Dept. to get
$57,717
grant, says Skeen
Congressman
Joe Skeen, R-NM, announced this week two fire departments in New Mexico's
Second Congressional District have been awarded grants from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).
|
|
YCC
awards $2.5 million
in
grants for youth employment
Secretary
Beatriz Rivera announced this week the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
Commission will fund 34 natural resource conservation projects throughout
the state, including Sierra County with 21 jobs, that will employ 521 New
Mexico youth for fiscal year 2003.
|
|
World
AIDS Day this Sunday
The 15th
annual World AIDS Day will be observed around the world and in Truth or
Consequences on Sunday, Dec. l.
|
|
OBITUARIES
Notices
for Casper L. Montoya, Lena Lucile Montgomery, Harold D.
Smith & Tommy Junior McNabb.
|
|
|
|
|
|
…Goin’
South
A
flock of snow geese fly South in their winter migration. These shots of
wild birds in flight were taken at the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge
during the Festival of the Cranes last Saturday afternoon. Click on photo
for a link to more shots of the convention and flight of birds at the
bosque.
DJ
photo by Bill Johnson
|
|
 |
|
…Snow or
geese?
Both. Snow
geese make their mass ascension in the tens of thousands from a large
field at the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge during the Festival of the
Cranes last Saturday afternoon.
DJ photo by Bill
Johnson |
|
|
|
No
easy answers to
parenting
No
black and white rules
to
define acceptable methods
for
disciplining children
By
Fred Mramor
of
the Desert Journal
In
light of the recent arrests for battery of two Sierra County parents who
were trying to discipline their child, or acting in self-defense, other
parents may want to know what rights they have to administer corporal
punishment to their children before a police officer, prosecutor or court
deems their actions to be battery, abuse or some other crime.
The New Mexico
State Legislature and Supreme Court have not outlawed corporal punishment,
but some misguided people in child protective services and district
attorneys offices act as though they have, attorney Stephen G. Ryan said.
Ryan said there is
an element of subjectivity to the question, “When does corporal
punishment become battery or abuse?” but that the overriding principle
is, when in doubt, it's not against the law.
But Ryan said
police and prosecutors have turned things around so that when they are in
doubt, they will arrest and prosecute, leaving parents to prove that what
they have done is not against the law.
This process puts
people through things that shouldn't be happening but that's the way it's
going, Ryan said.
Ryan said parents
have become un-empowered for fear of criminal prosecution while
government, for fear of liability, has become afraid to leave unprotected
even those who don't need protection.
Seventh Judicial
District Attorney Clint Wellborn said that with nothing written in statues
and without case law, there are no black and white rules.
The district
attorney said police and prosecutors must decide on a case-by-case basis
whether a parent has administered normal and acceptable corporal
punishment or if he has abused his child.
"I don't know
that we could ever draw a bright line," Wellborn said, adding that
different DAs could have different ideas and that a jury ultimately can
decide if what a parent did amounts to abuse or was appropriate
discipline.
Wellborn said
prosecutors don't want to restrict parents from disciplining their
children but that they don't want to allow it to go too far.
The district
attorney said there are rumors that parents can't even spank their
children but that the rumors are not true. Wellborn said a parent may even
use a belt on their child's bottom but that any instrument can be used to
excess.
Kicking and
punching are over the line, Wellborn said, and when bruises are left on a
child, the child has been severely beaten or has to be taken to the
hospital.
Wellborn said
prosecutors will consider also a child's age and how long the punishment
went on before filing charges against a parent.
The district
attorney also recognizes the right of a person, including a parent, to
defend himself. Wellborn said prosecutors in a recent case did not file
charges when they determined that a father acted in self-defense after his
17-year-old son initiated a fistfight with him.
Noe' Lara, manager
of New Mexico Child Protective Services' Sierra and Socorro County
offices, said that before taking action against a parent, his office
employs a "risk assessment tool" that considers a child's age,
where on his body he was struck, whether the child is handicapped or has
some other special condition, and previous reports involving a child and
his family.
Lara said he
doesn't know exactly where the line is drawn between normal discipline and
battery or abuse but thinks it may be where parents leave bruises or welts
on their children. He said a parent leaving marks on his child's face
"is pretty bad."
Parents have the
indisputable right as established by English Common Law to discipline
their children, Sierra County Magistrate Tom Pestak said, but there is no
clear-cut line as to what is and is not appropriate discipline.
"There is no
easy answer," Magistrate Pestak said, adding that it would probably
come down to case law.
Pestak said the
question is somewhat subjective for police officers who have a good deal
of discretion whether to make an arrest for battery, but have less
discretion when an incident falls under the Family Violence Protection
Act.
Pestak said police
departments' usual policy is to make an arrest when one household member
strikes another, not because the law compels them to, but to protect
themselves from liability if a more serious act of violence is committed
after an officer chose not to make an arrest.
A clear response to
that statement could not be obtained from the Sierra County Sheriff's
Department.
Truth or
Consequences Police Chief Russ Peterson said police officers will make an
arrest only when they have evidence and probable cause that a subject
committed a crime.
Peterson added that
when in doubt, police will consult with the district attorney before
making an arrest. He said he is much more concerned about police being
liable for making a false arrest than for failing to make an arrest.
Magistrate Pestak
said that as a judge, he has some discretion whether to try a parent for
battery. The judge said he could dismiss a case for lack of prima facie
(apparent) evidence or could reduce a charge from a felony to a
misdemeanor.
Sometimes a parent
strikes a child, or a child strikes a parent, after the other struck
first. Pestak said that in such cases a district attorney can decide if it
was a matter of self-defense, but if that isn't clear to the prosecutor,
he may file charges and the burden will be on the defendant to prove that
he acted in self-defense.
Some school
districts in New Mexico permit the corporal punishment of students.
According to the Truth or Consequences School District's web page, three
swats with an approved wooden paddle may be applied to the buttocks of a
child for any one incident of misconduct.
The punishment will
be carried out only after an administrator has heard both sides of the
alleged event of misconduct.
School
Superintendent Dr. Bruce Hegwer said the corporal punishment policy was
developed by attorneys for the school district and is consistent with
state law. Hegwer said there have been no legal challenges to or other
problems arising from the policy.
Hegwer said also
parents may direct school officials not to administer corporal punishment
to their children and that the method of discipline is rarely used within
the T or C School District.
<<<
>>>
|
|
|
|
Laskay
Sr. now charged with murder |
|
 |
Amended
complaint
filed
Wednesday |
|
Desert
Journal Staff Report
An
amended criminal complaint filed Wednesday in magistrate court now charges
a second suspect, Paul C. Laskay Sr., with the first degree murder of
Betty Wolff Bruno, 58, of T or C, last July.
The charges
leveled against Laskay Sr., 59, of Truth or Consequences, are now
identical to the ones filed earlier against his son, Paul C. Laskay Jr.,
27, of T or C, including murder in the first degree, kidnapping,
conspiracy to commit kidnapping and tampering with evidence. Laskay Sr.
previously had been accused of only the kidnapping and conspiracy charges.
The alleged
kidnapping and murder occurred between July 23 and 24 in Sierra County,
according to the criminal complaints leveled by State Police Agent Norman
Rhoades.
Preliminary
examinations have been set for both Laskay Sr. and Jr. at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 10, in the Sierra County Magistrate Court. Both defendants
are being held in custody with no bond set.
<<<
>>> |
|
|
|
Sandhill
cranes flock together in a pre-sunset flight over the Bosque del Apache
Wildlife Refuge that was the site of last weekend’s Festival of Cranes,
where tens of thousands of cranes congregate during their southern winter
migration.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson |
|
|
|
City
moves ahead
with
annexation plans
By
Fred Mramor
of
the Desert Journal
Truth
or Consequences city officials Monday evening moved to go forward with the
city’s plans to annex Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land extending
from current city limits to the municipal airport.
BLM officials
have given their verbal agreement to the city’s annexation plans,
Commissioner Bud Stevenson said.
Annexation will
be subject to final approval by the State of New Mexico and should be
completed by fall next year, Stevenson said.
The city does not
plan to annex any privately owned land because, Mayor Jimmy Rainey said,
property owners outside city limits don’t want to be annexed.
The annexation
will add about 4,800 acres to the city’s current land area of about
8,000 acres, according to Commissioner Stevenson’s estimate.
The
post-annexation city limits will include the airport and the city’s
landfill and shooting range. These facilities are now on unincorporated
land within Sierra County owned by the city.
The city may
purchase the annexed land from the BLM at appraised value in 10 to 20
years, Mayor Rainey said.
Annexation will
cost the city next to nothing in the meantime because the land proposed
for annexation is uninhabited and will require no services or
infrastructure, the mayor said.
Commissioner
Stevenson added that the gross receipts taxes the airport currently
generates, which now go to the county rather than the city, will more than
pay for annexation costs.
T or C officials
expect to increase the city’s tax revenues even more after aviation
electronics company Peppin and York open at the airport early next year.
Other companies,
including an aviation mechanics business, have expressed an interest in
opening at the airport, Mayor Rainey said.
The city plans
also to extend the airport’s main runway so that it will accommodate
larger Lear jets carrying up to 24 passengers. The longer runway may also
attract commuter air services, the mayor said.
<<< >>> |
|
|
|
These
birds glide through the sky like B-52 Bombers on their way to a weapon’s
inspection in Iraq. But actually they’re just showing off at their
annual convention known as the Festival of the Cranes at the Bosque del
Apache Wildlife Refuge.
DJ photo by Bill
Johnson
|
|
|
|
DJ’s
holiday art contest opens
to
all local high school students
The
Desert Journal’s prestigious 7th annual Holiday Greeting Card
Design Contest has opened another round to all high school students –
whether public, private or home - residing within Sierra County.
The Desert Journal’s Christmas
supplement that features the winners’ and other contestants’ entries
has gained state honors, twice winning first place from the New Mexico
Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest in the category of
supplements and special editions for the years 1999 and 2002.
The Kentucky Press Association, the
judge of this year’s NMPA contest, scored the DJ’s supplement of
December 2001 at 95 points and commented, “Nice idea to showcase the
talent of local teens.”
Again, the Desert Journal is offering
cash prizes - $75 for first place, $50 for second and $25 for third – in
two contest divisions, hand drawn and computer drawn, in addition to
recognition of most or all entries in the special supplement.
“We hope more students participate
this year and take their chances of winning cash prizes, plus get honored
in our special Christmas supplement that is entirely dedicated to the
contest and shared with the rest of the community. This is their Christmas
gift to the world,” said DJ publisher Bill Johnson.
To enter the contest is free and it
requires only a little bit of time – or as much time as students wish to
commit - to do the art and fill out the brief entry form.
Entry forms with rules are available
from art teacher Ernie Rodgers at Hot Springs High School (you don’t
have to be one of his students to enter), the Geronimo Trails High School
office (Debby will be happy to assist), or from the Desert Journal office
at 111 N. Date St. in Truth or Consequences.
Entries must be submitted to the Desert
Journal office no later than 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, 2002. No late entries
will be accepted as judging could occur as early as Saturday, Dec. 14.
An independent judge, usually an artist
within the community, will judge the entries.
Cash awards are expected to be
presented, along with photographs of winners for inclusion in the
Christmas supplement, sometime during the school week prior to the holiday
break.
The contest supplement will be
published and included in the Desert Journal’s Dec. 20 edition.
“This contest is made possible by the
participating sponsors whose names – whether individual or business- are
attached to the entries in the supplement,” Johnson said.
“Our sponsors view the contest as a
way to showcase the talent of local teens by awarding good work with
either cash prizes and/or recognition – in that sense, every entry is a
winner,” he said.
The best of the entries in the past
have displayed great imagination and where best to tap that resource than
with our local high school students.
<<<
>>> |
|
|
|
These
four birds seem to be doing doughnuts, or playing tag, making this
photographer a bit dizzy.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson
|
|
Traffic
stop nets arrest of Salem man
for
alleged drugs, rape and child abuse
Desert
Journal Staff Report
A
state police traffic stop of a vehicle unlawfully traveling on the
shoulder of the road resulted in a Salem man’s arrest on multiple felony
counts.
A criminal
complaint filed Monday in the Sierra County Magistrate Court alleges that
Roberto Munoz, 20, of Salem, NM, possessed a large amount of marijuana
when stopped by state police on Interstate 25 at about 7:20 a.m. Saturday,
Nov. 23.
Patrolman
Peter Bowidowicz said in the statement of probable cause that after he
issued Munoz a written warning for driving on the right side of the road
and a seatbelt violation he noticed only one set of keys were in the
truck’s ignition, the airbag cover was off the mount and two female
passengers were acting extremely nervous.
The officer
also learned Munoz, the driver, was not the registered owner of the 1997
Ford F-150 truck and asked Munoz for his written consent to search the
truck - to which Munoz agreed, according to the officer’s statement.
In an echo
test, Bowidowicz found the four tires gave a smooth echo but a test of the
spare tire revealed no echo. The officer then requested a “blaster”
tool, which measures tire density, from the Border Patrol and it measured
the spare tire at a density of 86, which was well above normal and more
than three and a half times the density of the left-rear tire, which read
at only 24 density.
Becoming more
suspicious, Bowidowicz told the truck’s occupants he believed there was
something in the tire and advised them he was detaining them and the
vehicle pending further investigation.
After the
truck was taken to Teston’s Chevron in Truth or Consequences, police
found 50 bundles of marijuana in the spare tire. The Border Patrol’s
drug-sniffing dog also hit on the driver and passenger doors and rear
panels of the truck after which Bowidowicz stopped his investigation and
turned the case over to the New Mexico State Police Narcotics Division to
assist and proceed with a search warrant for the rest of the vehicle.
The truck was
then towed to the state police office and secured there along with its
contents including the 50 bundles, the officer’s statement said.
In addition,
the officer detained Munoz and his passengers including a 16-year-old girl
and Helda George, 28, as well as secured custody of a four-year-old girl
and made arrangements with the Children, Youth and Families Department for
the little girl’s immediate care, according to the statement.
Narcotics
agents arrived at the state police office at 11:20 a.m. and interviewed
the truck’s three occupants as well as took the truck to Las Cruces
where it was to be searched, according to Bowidowicz’s statement.
As the result
of the investigation, charges filed against Munoz include a count each of:
Possession of
119.1 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute;
Conspiracy to
distribute marijuana;
Tampering
with evidence in which he hid evidence;
Contributing
to the delinquency of a minor in which he exposed the 16-year-old girl to
the illegal act of distributing marijuana;
Criminal
sexual penetration of a minor in which he engaged in sexual intercourse
with the girl at the time she was 15 years old;
And child
abuse in which he exposed the four-year-old child to the danger of the
distribution of a controlled substance, according to the criminal
complaint.
The complaint
and officer’s statement were vague concerning the rape charge in the
case, but the complaint implies it was a statutory rape in which Munoz was
19 years old when he had sex with a minor more than four years younger
than him.
The child
abuse and distribution charges are third degree felonies and the rest of
the four charges are fourth degree felonies, exposing Munoz to a maximum
of 12 years in prison and fines of up to $30,000 if convicted of all six
crimes.
Magistrate
Thomas Pestak set bond for Munoz at $80,000 cash during his first
appearance in court Tuesday. A preliminary hearing for him has been set
for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in the Sierra County Magistrate Court.
<<<
>>>
|
|
|
|
Geese
glide along their trip over the bosque last weekend.
DJ Photo by Bill
Johnson
|
|
Unlit
plate lamp lands motorist
in
jail for trafficking in ‘speed’
Desert
Journal Staff Report
A
Truth or Consequences man was arrested last Friday at about 2 a.m. on a
charge of trafficking a controlled substance, methamphetamine or otherwise
known as “speed,” after state police stopped his Ford pickup truck at
Third and Date streets for a license plate lamp that wasn’t lit.
Charges
leveled Monday against Amado Fuentes, 46, of 501 N. Lucky St. in T or C,
in the Sierra County Magistrate Court include a count each of driving
under the influence of an intoxicant, first offense and a misdemeanor;
second degree trafficking; fourth-degree tampering with evidence; and
expired vehicle registration, a misdemeanor.
State police
officer Thomas Vitale said in the statement of probably cause he smelled a
strong odor of alcohol after he stopped Fuentes’ pickup truck. Fuentes
then failed a field sobriety test and was arrested.
During an
inventory of the vehicle, police found a white tin can that contained
eight small plastic bags of a white rock substance that was field tested
as methamphetamine, according to the officer’s statement.
If convicted
of all four counts, Fuentes faces a maximum prison sentence of 12years
less one day and fines of up to $16,500.
Bond of
$25,000 cash or surety was posted Monday when Fuentes also made his first
appearance on the charges in magistrate court. A preliminary hearing was
not set as of press time Thursday.
<<<
>>> |
|
|
|
Cranes
fly south after a rest at the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge south of
Socorro and San Antonio, NM.
DJ Photo by Bill
Johnson
|
|
Hillsboro
Fire Dept. to get
$57,717
grant, says Skeen
WASHINGTON,
DC - Congressman Joe Skeen, R-NM, announced this week two fire departments
in New Mexico's Second Congressional District have been awarded grants
from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire
Administration (USFA).
The
Hillsboro Fire and Rescue Department will receive $57,717 for fire
operations and fire fighter safety. And the Hidalgo County Volunteer Fire
Department in Lordsburg has been granted $25,272 for the same purposes.
"It
is so good to know that these hard-working fire departments are going to
get some much-needed funding," Skeen said.
"We
depend on these folks to be ready at a moment's notice to handle virtually
any emergency. I'm glad they are going to have more resources to help make
that possible,” Skeen said.
"This money will be a tremendous
help to these departments," Skeen added. "We all know how much
we depend on our firefighters to protect us from danger. We need to do
everything we can to help them do their jobs better and more safely."
The
grants are part of the ninth round of such awards being given to some
5,500 fire departments across the nation. The grants will continue through
the end of the calendar year.
More
than 19,000 departments applied for the funds. Fire service leaders
reviewed each application and the final recipients were chosen. More than
$360 million will be awarded nationwide.
A
new series of awards will begin in January.
<<<
>>>
|
|
YCC
awards $2.5 million
in
grants for youth employment
Sierra
County fares well,
21
youths to be employed
Secretary Beatriz
Rivera announced this week the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Commission
will fund 34 natural resource conservation projects throughout the state
that will employ 521 New Mexico youth for fiscal year 2003.
In
Sierra County, the grants were awarded as follows: City of Truth or
Consequences to employ six youths with a $47,038 grant; PowerHouse will
employ eight youths with a $84,220 grant; and Caballo Lake State Park will
employ seven youths with a $36,476 grant.
The YCC issues grants to local, state,
federal and non- profit agencies to employ young persons in public
projects that conserve New Mexico's natural resources and provide
community benefits of lasting value.
The funding for the projects is through
the governmental gross receipts tax. Grant recipients are selected by the
Commission annually through a competitive process.
"These projects provide an
excellent opportunity for youth to receive positive work experiences while
preserving and improving the state's natural resources," Secretary
Rivera said.
"We have had great success in
ensuring that the projects are awarded throughout the state. New Mexico
has benefited greatly from this program," Rivera said.
Since the inception of the program in
1992 through the first funding cycle of 2002, the commission has awarded
about $17,766,089 in grants to sponsors, employing a total of 4,933 youth
in 380 projects.
The commission is made up of the
secretaries of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, the
Children, Youth and Families Department, the Superintendent of the
Department of Education and the State Land Commissioner (or their
designees).
In addition, the commission includes
five public members appointed by the governor.
These 34 projects were funded through
the first cycle. A second funding cycle is currently taking place. The
deadline to submit an application is Dec. 18.
The Commission will meet in January to
award the grants for the second cycle.
<<< >>> |
|
|
|
With
waxed wings, Icarus melted as he flew closer to the sun. These cranes,
however, never fall from grace.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson
|
|
World
AIDS Day this Sunday
The 15th
annual World AIDS Day will be observed around the world and in Truth or
Consequences on Sunday, Dec. l.
Locally, events coordinated by the
TORCH Foundation will start at 6 p.m. at the Turtleback Center for the
Arts, 105 Main St.
TORCH, a non-profit community based
organization, has been providing support, referral and information
services to those living with HIV/AIDS, their families and friends since
1993. TORCH also is funded by the New Mexico Department of Health, Public
Health Division, to provide prevention education to the community about
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
World AIDS Day is a day to bring
messages of compassion, hope, solidarity and understanding about AIDS to
every country in the world. It emerged from the call by the World Summit
of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention in January 1988
to open channels of communication, strengthen the exchange of information
and experience, and forge a spirit of social tolerance.
Since then, World AIDS Day has received
support of the World Health Assembly, the United Nations system,
governments, communities and individuals around the world.
The observance serves as a reminder
that as the AIDS epidemic progresses, ongoing efforts to find a cure must
continue and educational efforts must include messages of compassion,
understanding and tolerance.
The theme for World AIDS Day 2002 is
"Stigma and Discrimination." Much already has been written about
people's attitudes towards HIV & AIDS.
In a recent report edited by Jenni
Fredriksson and Annabel Kanabus, the following information emphasizes the
need to address these issues:
"From the moment scientists
identified HIV and AIDS, social responses of fear, denial, stigma and
discrimination have accompanied the epidemic. Discrimination has spread
rapidly, fuelling anxiety and prejudice against the groups most affected,
as well as those living with HIV or AIDS.
“It goes without saying that HIV and
AIDS are as much about social phenomena as they are about biological and
medical concerns. Across the world the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS has
shown itself capable of triggering responses of compassion, solidarity and
support, bringing out the best in people, their families and communities.
“But the disease is also associated
with stigma, repression and discrimination, as individuals affected by HIV
have been rejected by their families, their loved ones and their
communities. This rejection holds as true in the rich countries of the
north as it does in the poorer countries of the south.
"HIV-related stigma and
discrimination remain as enormous barriers to effectively fight the HIV
and AIDS epidemic.
“Fear of discrimination often
prevents people from seeking treatment for AIDS or from admitting their
HIV status publicly.
“People with or suspected of having
HIV may be turned away from heath care services, employment, and refused
entry to foreign countries.
“In some cases, they may be evicted
from home by their families and rejected by their friends and colleagues.
The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS can extend into the next generation,
placing an emotional burden on those left behind.
"Denial goes hand in hand with
discrimination, with many people continuing to deny that HIV exists in
their communities. Today, HIV/AIDS threatens the welfare and well being of
people throughout the world.
“At the end of 2001, 40 million
people were living with HIV or AIDS and during the year 3 million died
from AIDS related illness.
“Combating the stigma and
discrimination against people who are affected by HIV/AIDS is as important
as developing the medical cures in the process of preventing and
controlling the global epidemic," the report said.
All communities are affected by the
continuing spread of AIDS. Here, in Sierra County as in other communities
in New Mexico, the spread of HIV continues, despite efforts to educate all
residents of the community on how to prevent it.
The local observance of World AIDS Day
will begin with a potluck supper, followed by a brief program including
activities that will enhance educational efforts as well as continued
support of those living with HIV/AIDS in the community.
Participants will both remember those
who have died from AIDS and celebrate those who continue to live in hope
of a cure.
This event also will climax TORCH’s
major fund raising activity of the year, with the drawing for a unique and
beautifully crafted buffet table created and donated by local artisan John
Goodro.
For more information about local World
AIDS Day activities, call TORCH Foundation at 894-9333.
<<<
>>> |
 |
|
..It's
all for the birds
There
were all of these birds. It seemed at first as if they were coming out of
Alfred Hitchkock’s horror thriller, “The Birds,” but these creatures
in the photo were driven by the Land of Enchantment’s divine nature of
peace and goodwill.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson
|
|
OBITUARIES
Casper
L. Montoya, 74, a Sierra
County native and lifelong resident of Monticello, NM, died Monday, Nov.
25, 2002, in Monticello. The rancher was born Oct. 1, 1928, in Sierra
County, NM, to Delfino and Virginia (Lucero) Montoya.
Survivors
include his wife, Sirilia Montoya of the Monticello home; two sons, Casper
Montoya Jr. and wife Veronica of Albuquerque, and Daniel Montoya and wife
Della of Monticello; his daughter, Nora Gurule and husband Dennis of Los
Lunas; three sisters, Patricia Romero of Albuquerue, Martha Romero of
Santa Fe and Rosie Padilla of Salem; his grandchildren, Daniel Montoya,
Mary Molina, Juan Montoya, Virginia Montoya, Casper Montoya III, Mike
Montoya, Mario Montoya, David Montoya and Danille Montoya; his
great-grandchildren, Brittany Molina, Mariah Montoya, Jenette Montoya,
Joshlyn Molina and Dominic D. Montoya; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation
will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today (Friday, Nov. 29) at the San Ignacio
Church in Monticello. Prayer vigil will be said at 7 p.m. today at Our
Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Truth or Consequences, where
funeral mass also will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, with
Father Don Hyatt officiating. Burial will be in the Monticello Cemetery.
Arrangements are by French Mortuary and Cremation Services in T or C;
505-894-2574.
Lena
Lucile Montgomery, 81,
of Elephant Butte, died Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002, in an auto accident in
Sierra County, NM. She was born Oct. 7, 1921, to Ernest Clenny &
Mattie Mae (Stoker) Miller. A homemaker, she was active with the Church at
the Butte and she was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies
Auxiliary.
Survivors
include her sons, Lloyd Randal & wife Cathy Kahl of Lubbock, TX, Larry
Kahl of Bend, OR, Robert & wife Lori Montgomery, Jerry Montgomery,
Allen & wife, Melanie Montgomery, all of Truth or Consequences; her
daughter, Glenda & husband Ron Wehrs of T or C; her sister, Mattye Jo
& husband Bob Cobb of Dallas, TX; her grandchildren, Kip Call, Brian
Kahl, Travis Kahl, Preston Kahl, Shay Kahl, Dustin Wehrs, Tiffany Wehrs,
Drake Wehrs, Morgan Montgomery, Grant Montgomery, Brandi Montgomery,
Tammie Montgomery; Christina Montgomery and Amber Montgomery; and numerous
nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandchild, Kerri
Call.
Cremation
took place and a memorial celebration service was held Sunday, Nov. 24, at
the Church at the Butte with Rev. Robert Rachuig officiating. Arrangements
were by French Mortuary of T or C Inc.; 505-894-2574.
Harold
D. Smith, 67, a resident
of Williamsburg the last 20 years, died Friday, Nov. 22, 2002, at his
home. He was born April 21, 1925, in Greenville, TX. The U.S. Army veteran
was a longtime businessman here, having been the former owner of Harold's
Automotive, and he was a retired commercial heating and air conditioning
installer.
Survivors
include his wife, Shirley Smith of the Williamsburg home; two sons, David
& wife Laura Smith of Dallas, TX, and Dean & wife Tammy Smith of
Dallas, TX; his step-daughter, Robin Albers of Truth or Consequences; four
grandchildren; and his brother, Billy Smith of Texas. Services were
pending as of press time Wednesday at French Mortuary of T or C Inc.
Tommy
Junior McNabb of Truth or
Consequences died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002, at the Memorial Medical Center
in Las Cruces.
He was one of
eight children born to James Theodore and Lurar Estelle (Estes) McNabb in
Nocona, Montague County, Texas. He was raised in Lubbock, TX, and moved to
Truth or Consequences in 1935. He owned and operated the McNabb Poultry
Farm on the north edge of T or C more than 55 years. He raised, processed
and shipped turkeys all over New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. He greatly
enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors
include his wife, Annabel Janet McNabb of the T or C home; his two sons,
Darryl McNabb and wife Pat of Plains, TX, and Jack Campbell and wife Vicki
of Longmont, CO; five grandchildren, Tommie, Grady, Mike, Candy and Chad;
two great-grandchildren, Spencer and Megan; his brother, James McNabb of
Socorro; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his
parents, five brothers and one sister.
Visitation will be from 9
a.m. to noon today (Friday, Nov. 29) at the Sierra Funeral Home in T or C.
Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. today in the Sierra Funeral Home
Chapel with his nephew, Rev. Steve Dean, officiating. Pallbearers will
include Jack (Leon) Campbell, Mike Campbell, Chad Campbell, Tommy Bagwell,
Bill Cavalier and Milton Teston. Concluding services and burial will
follow at Vista Memory Gardens Cemetery in T or C. Arrangements are by
Sierra Funeral Home, 507 W. McAdoo St. in T or C. |
| |
|
