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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,
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Interference, and provides free access to
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2012 began in 1999
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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
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Desert Journal Online
Contact Information
Bill Johnson
Editor, Publisher & Webmaster
Vic Arvizu
Honorary Web Guru
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Electronic mail
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desertjournal@hotmail.com
desertjournalonline@yahoo.com
poet@leodailey.com
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Location
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We are an electronic
submissions only website located in Albuquerque, NM, and have no
physical business address.
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Copyright ©
2001-2008 Desert Journal Online
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Last modified:
April 14, 2008
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…Adding
more infrastructure
Elephant
Butte Lake State Park recently installed a new concrete boat ramp at South
Monticello Point as part of a $1 million improvement project approved by
state legislature last year. The project includes a fully developed
campground, which is still under construction. But the way it looks, these
new facilities will open just in time for seasonal recreation
opportunities at the Butte this spring.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson
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The
Fra Cristobals stand majestically over Elephant Butte Lake with storm
clouds looming above the range Wednesday afternoon.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson |
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Prospective
buyer of SVH
seeks
to keep tax loophole
By
Fred Mramor
of
the Desert Journal
Currently
negotiating with the Joint Powers Commission (JPC) to purchase Sierra
Vista Hospital, Blackhawk Health Care has requested that the Sierra County
Commission pass a measure to abate the hospital’s property taxes.
The hospital has never paid property
taxes, not since it has been publicly owned by Sierra County, the City of
Truth or Consequences and the Village Williamsburg, nor when it was
privately owned under Adventist Health Systems/Sunbelt or when it was
operated as St. Ann’s Catholic Hospital, SVH Governing Board Vice Chair
Gary Whitehead said during Thursday’s commission meeting.
SVH was operated as a non-profit,
charity hospital under Adventist and St. Ann’s, Whitehead said after the
meeting.
Blackhawk of Austin, TX, on the other
hand, is a for-profit company that can choose to run SVH as a for-profit
or non-profit hospital, Whitehead said.
Whitehead said he doesn’t know which
way Blackhawk will go but that they could get the requested tax break in
any case.
Whitehead said it is legal, and not
unusual, for for-profit businesses to get a property tax abatement if it
is deemed that the business will provide an economic benefit to the
community.
Whitehead pointed to Intel in Rio
Rancho and Elite Shutters, which is expected to open in T or C, as
examples of for-profit businesses that have gotten this sort of tax break.
Blackhawk requested also that the
countywide two-mil levy be continued, with its revenues continuing to
support hospital operations, after Blackhawk has purchased SVH.
County Attorney Jim Catron said he
didn’t expect the county commissioners to decide on Thursday whether to
grant Blackhawk’s requests, and that when they do decide, the
commissioners’ answer will not be divulged to the public due to a
confidentiality agreement between Blackhawk and the JPC.
SVH Governing Board Chairman Ted Pape
said at Thursday evening’s special meeting of the JPC that all
information to be included in a sales contract between Blackhawk and the
JPC will be available to the public when the buyer and seller have reached
final agreement.
The JPC met at the request of City of
Truth or Consequences officials who wished to modify the letter of intent
to sell the hospital JPC officials signed last week.
City officials wanted the letter to
address their concerns including an assurance that no one, regardless of
ability to pay, will be turned away from the hospital and that Blackhawk
will provide the same type of care SVH currently does.
JPC officials took no action after a
long executive session but JPC Chair Sue Jackson said the letter of
intent, already signed and delivered to Blackhawk, will not be modified
but that provisions addressing the city’s concerns will be included in
the final sales contract.
Jackson said also that the JPC will
instruct its negotiating team to write Blackhawk representatives
requesting a meeting with JPC officials and the public sometime between
March 20 and 30.
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Richard
Burkhardt (top photo), General Contractor of Burkhardt Construction Co. in
Las Cruces, is smoothing freshly poured concrete Wednesday afternoon for
the foundation of a 6,300-square-foot prefabricated metal building that
will house the new Peppin & York Electronics’ facility at the Truth
or Consequences Municipal Airport. Construction on the Texas-based
aviation electronics installation and repair business’s building had
been delayed for about five days because of the wet weather last week.
This week’s drier and warmer weather made for some good make-up days,
Burkhardt said. In bottom photo, a crew member shovels dirt through rebar
to clear the fallen debris from the rain last week.
DJ photos by Bill Johnson
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Congressman
Pearce tapped to be Policy
Chair
of influential Congressional Caucus
WASHINGTON,
DC - The Executive Committee of the Western Caucus agreed unanimously on
Wednesday to appoint Congressman Steve Pearce (NM-2nd District)
Policy Chair of the Congressional Member Organization.
Congressman
Pearce takes over the position from Congressman Butch Otter (ID), who
served as Policy Chair until he was selected Vice Chair of the Western
Caucus in February.
Western
Caucus Chairman Chris Cannon said, "Steve Pearce brings to the Caucus
a fresh perspective and first-hand experience of how federal policies
dramatically affect the everyday life of Americans, especially in the
West. I am confident that in his role as Policy Chair, Steve will become a
leader on reasonable and sound resource management."
The
Western Caucus has increased its profile and influence in recent years. It
took strong positions in the 107th Congress on public lands
access, preserving private property rights, water supply and energy
development.
Congressman
Pearce will bring to the table a strong background and deep knowledge of
forest health, forest management and the endangered species act - two of
the most crucial issues in the West.
Honored
to be named Policy Chair, Pearce said, "As Policy Chairman, I'm
looking forward to working with Western Members and the House leadership
to preserve and protect our environment," Pearce said.
"We
have a moral obligation to provide clean air, clean water and healthy
forests. The greatest gift we can give the future is to give Mother Nature
with a helping hand, including sensible forest management to prevent
catastrophic forest fires. If we are sensible, we can pass along to future
generations an environment that is cleaner, safer and healthier than we
have now."
Pearce
also said that he looks forward to taking on his new position.
Pearce
has been named Assistant Majority Whip and Vice-Chair of the Water
Resources and Environment Subcommittee.
The
Western Caucus is a group of over four-dozen members of Congress committed
to protecting the interests and ideals of the West.
The
mission of the Western Caucus is to focus on common sense natural
resources, environmental, and other domestic policies. The Caucus aims to
offer a unique approach that focuses on cores American values, and helps
to ensure the most basic Constitutional rights are protected.
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The
camera slows the action of the blades on the windmill portion of a wind
warning light system on top of a hill overlooking South Monticello Point
at Elephant Butte Lake State Park Wednesday afternoon.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson |
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The
Wildlands Project Comes
to
Hidalgo County (Part 18)
A
Country Girl's Musin'
By
Judy Keeler
The New Mexico
Wilderness Alliance recently presented a 1,500-page proposal to New Mexico
State's Bureau of Land Management.
It would add about 4.5 million
acres, vastly increasing existing wilderness areas. The board of directors
for the Alliance includes many high-profile individuals: Dave Foreman,
Wildlands Project; Todd Schulke, Center for Biological Diversity; Dave
Parsons, former head of wolf reintroduction - U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service; Jim Scarantino, Republicans for Environmental Protection; and Jim
Baca, former NM State Land Commissioner, mayor of Albuquerque, and
Secretary of the Interior.
For years many of these individuals
have been inventorying our state for additional wilderness, indoctrinating
the public on the "benefits of wilderness," establishing working
relations with elected officials and litigating endangered species cases
that lend support to their efforts.
To assist them in their endeavors,
Jessica Pope, former Sierra Club activist who lobbied for additional
wilderness in Utah, has recently been named as executive director of the
Alliance.
Although the organization claims to be
a "citizen's initiative," the group has also hired several other
activists who successfully lobbied for additional wilderness in their
respective states.
Once wilderness bills were
legislatively approved, it appears they moved on to work their
"magic" on the unsuspecting citizens of our state.
Organized and well-funded, the Alliance
is a formable force. Support comes from various organizations and
businesses, including the New Mexico Sportsmen - Albuquerque; American
Planning Association, New Mexico Chapter; Animal Protection of New Mexico;
Audubon Society of New Mexico; American Lands; Center for Biological
Diversity; Defenders of Wildlife; Endangered Species Coalition; 4 Wheelers
for Wilderness; Great Old Broads for Wilderness; National BLM Wilderness
Campaign; National Environmental Trusts; National Parks and Conservation
Association; Sierra Club, Rio Grande Chapter; Sky Island Alliance;
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance; the Wildlands Project; the Wilderness
Society; Trust for Public Land; and the list goes on.
Many of these organizations do not
favor the multiple-use concept for federal lands. In fact, many are
outspoken opponents of mining, logging, grazing and recreational uses,
including hunting.
Politics creates strange bedfellows,
and it looks like this is true with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.
How odd an organization claiming to represent New Mexico's sportsmen would
align itself with the Animal Protection of New Mexico since both
organizations would appear to be in direct conflict with the other.
Following one of my articles, in which
I discussed The Nature Conservancy's land acquisition program, Michael
Robinson, Center for Biological Diversity, recently asked if I was a
"conspiracy thinker."
I explained to Robinson I did not
believe it was a conspiracy. Instead, I chose to call it a
"collaborative effort."
In the Merriam Webster Dictionary,
collaborate is defined as "to work jointly with others (as in writing
a book)"; "to cooperate with an enemy force occupying one's
country."
Indeed, the New Mexico Wilderness
Alliance appears to be just such a collaborative effort. Held together and
driven by the radical concept of "deep ecology" it appears these
organizations would like to impose a "no use" agenda, as called
for in the Wildlands Project, on the unsuspecting majority of New
Mexicans.
Let's work together to see it doesn't
happen.
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The
north wind knocks the tar out of this wind sock at the T or C Municipal
Airport Wednesday afternoon.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson
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House
bill authorizes governor
To
seize firearms in emergencies
House Bill
253, introduced by State Representative Gloria C. Vaughn, would authorize
the Governor of New Mexico to impose curfews and seize all firearms in the
event of an emergency.
The bill is being reviewed for
consideration by the House corrections oversight and justice committee,
the information technology oversight committee and the legislative health
and human services committee.
The emergency act would provide the
governor with the authority to order an evacuation during the existence of
a state of emergency.
The governor may, by proclamation,
prohibit:
(1) Any person being on the public
streets, in the public parks or at any other public place during the hours
of a curfew;
(2) Any designated number of persons
from assembling or gathering on the public streets, public parks or other
open areas, either public or private, or in any public building;
(3) The manufacture, transfer, use,
possession or transportation of any device or object designed to explode
or produce uncontained combustion;
(4) The transportation, possession or
use of combustible, flammable or explosive materials in a glass or
uncapped container of any kind, except in connection with the normal
operation of motor vehicles, normal home use or legitimate commercial use;
(5) The possession of firearms or any
other deadly weapon by a person in any place other than his place of
residence or business, except for peace officers;
(6) The sale, purchase or dispensing of
alcoholic beverages or other commodities or goods designated by the
governor;
(8) All or part of the population from
remaining in any designated area within the state if the governor deems
such action necessary for the preservation of life or necessary to aid an
emergency response, recovery or mitigation. In order to facilitate an
evacuation, the governor may prescribe travel routes, transportation modes
and assigned destinations and may provide for the availability and use of
temporary, emergency housing for evacuees;
(9) Other activities the governor
reasonably believes should be prohibited to help maintain life, property
or the public peace.
A proclamation issued pursuant to the
act would become effective immediately upon its signing by the governor,
but the governor must public notice of its contents through the public
press and other news media.
The restrictions may be imposed during
times, upon conditions, with exceptions and in areas of the state
designated by proclamation of the governor from time to time.
If passed by the full House and signed
into law by the governor, the law would become effective on July 1 this
year.
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The
Shadow Advisory
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By
Bill Johnson
Editor
of the Desert Journal
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...Sierra
County has
lots more to
offer
than
the stigma
attached to David
Ray
Some
people have been telling me that Truth or Consequences is in a state of
decay, that the trend may be irreversible, all because of the national
attention that highlights the notorious Trail of Sexual Torture case
brought on by David Parker Ray and his gang of sick sexual predators.
I say these
people are probably on their way out of town – perhaps their vacancies
will be filled by those who give a damned and who want to make a
difference.
I keep
hearing that business is doomed to fail but I personally wouldn’t stay
in business if I didn’t think there was at least a miniscule chance for
financial success. We already proved professional success with the
showering of some 30 New Mexico Press Association awards for excellence in
newspaper and website work the last six years of our seven years plus
existence.
But the
Desert Journal isn’t the only thing that is making the grade in Sierra
County. You can’t count all of the great things, never mind all of the
great people, that inhabit our community on the fingers and toes of both
hands and feet.
Pretty
soon, memories of sexual sadist David Parker Ray and his infamous toy box,
the torture chamber where he played with many of his kidnapped victims,
will fade away as they have of other notorious criminals like America’s
Most Wanted Ed Maurice Barbara of the 1980s era mining scam fame.
This
furniture salesman of the San Francisco Bay area came to Sierra County to
try his luck at digging up gold. Rather than digging, he painted gold and
sold securities in his bogus gold mine while flaunting an aura of
legitimacy, engaging the then-sheriff and a security guard in a bribery
scheme.
You
hardly ever hear talk about Barbara anymore unless you’re a prospector
who thinks that rather than dying of cancer in Florida under an alias and
then getting cremated (all according to his wife) he instead took his
millions of dollars in loot to Barbados to enjoy the rest of his life
(while his poor elderly victims starve).
David
Ray won’t have that luxury. Instead of fleeing justice, he got caught,
convicted and permanently locked up and recently died from a heart
condition. It won’t be long before people say, “David who?”
In the
meantime, let’s look at our community’s and its people’s
accomplishments and honors, starting with our retirees who always seem to
rise and shine while the rest of us sleep: for examples, Norman Allish,
87, multiple gold medallist National Senior Olympics swimmer; and Lee
Belle Johnson, (she’s gotta be getting close to 90), cowgirl poet who
recites myriads of her poems from memory and who has been nominated to the
National Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
Then
there are also the youth of the community – our pride and joy – who
excel in their endeavors to make their world a better place, whether
it’s being named to all-state band or all-state chorus, participating in
the Army JROTC, etc. We have hundreds of examples of exemplary youth who
make a difference and who make the grade.
I see
hope where nay sayers see no light at the end of the tunnel. It’s up to
all of us to make a difference if we want to see positive change.
But
there will always be those who want to drag the community down. They do
the dirty deeds by manufacturing and trafficking methamphetamine, by
murdering or raping the innocent, by whatever destructive means possible.
It’s
time we change our image for the better, strive to achieve some sense of
community pride, or else get the hell out of Dodge.
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HERE FOR MORE LINKS TO RELATED STORIES |
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…I’m
too little
VeVi
Morgan backs out of a ride down this slide as if to say, “I’m too
small for this,” during a weekend outing at Ralph Edwards Park in T or
C.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson |
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OBITUARIES
Carlos
S. Vallejos, 57, a resident of Truth or Consequences the last three years, died
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at Sierra Vista Hospital. He was born Feb. 2,
1946, in Arizona, to Isabel and Emelia Herrera Vallejos. He was a rancher.
Survivors
include his two daughters, Eleanor Romero and Isabel Vallejos, both of
Phoenix, AZ; his son, Phillip Vallejos of St. John's, AZ; his brothers,
Ernie Vallejos of Glendale, AZ, Daniel and Willie Vallejos, both of St.
John’s, AZ, Esquepulo Vallejos of Henderson, AZ, and Pat Vallejos ofMesa,
AZ; his sisters, Mary Ann Griego and Priscilla Vallejos, both of St.
John's, AZ; Mary Garcia of Grants, NM, and Lottie Rines of Springerville,
AZ; and 10 grandchildren.
A
memorial mass was celebrated Monday, March 3, at St. John the Baptist
Catholic Church in St. John's, AZ, with Rev. Chacon officiating.
Arrangements were by French Mortuary of T orC Inc.; 505-894-2574.
Vera
M. Hamerly,
89, a resident of Truth or Consequences since 1970, died Monday, March 3,
2003, at the New Mexico State Veterans Home. She was born May 6, 1913, in
Des Moines, IA, to William A. and Jessie J. Miller DeMann. She was a
retired mortgage investment banker.
She
is survived by her godson, James L. Wickstead of St. Charles, IL, and her
cousin, Susan Paperno of Westchester, PA. She was preceded in death by her
husband, Jack Hamerly, in 1984, and a cousin, Dorothy Percy.
Graveside
services will be held in the Restlawn Cemetery in El Paso, TX.
Arrangements are by French Mortuary of T or C Inc.; 505-894-2474.
Philip
W. Arnett,
81, a resident of Truth or Consequences the last two and a half years,
died Friday, Feb. 28, 2003, at the New Mexico State Veterans Home. He was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Greybull, WY, to Warren and
Mary Ruddy Arnett. The World War II veteran served in the U.S. Army. His
passion was ranching and being the best cowboy he could be and he loved to
run wild horses. He came to this area to be closer to his daughter and had
lived in New Mexico more than 20 years, his last days in T or C.
Survivors
include his daughters, Linda L. Arnett of Winston, NM, Rae Dawn Short of
Riverton, WY; his son, Kelly Arnett of Greybull, WY; six grandchildren;
and his brother, Hugh Arnett of Cody, WY. He was preceded in death by his
son, A.J. Arnett in 1999.
No local services are planned. Private interment
will be held in Wyoming. Arrangements are by French Mortuary of T or C
Inc.; 505-894-2574. |
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