4-04-03 Headliners - Bosque fire contained

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Headline News From Our
April 4, 2003 Issue

Bosque fire contained

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Two houses ‘smoked’

Wildfire swept tree tops, salt cedar and other vegetation along the Rio Grande’s bosque in Arrey, keeping fire volunteers from surrounding departments busy all day Thursday.

No sheep meeting for Sierra County?

According to a government release, the State of New Mexico apparently is avoiding Sierra County for one of its stops to discuss plans to get a full blown recovery plan in place for the state endangered desert bighorn sheep.

Prescribed Rx Fire planned on Gila

The Black Range Ranger District will conduct prescribed fires starting Monday, April 8, on the Gila National Forest.

Domenici asks for funding for Camino Real Center

U.S. Senator Pete Domenici this week outlined FY2004 funding requests for area projects, including $3 million to complete the El Camino Real International Heritage Center between Las Cruces and Socorro.

Sierra & Socorro Counties choose
other ways to use and supply water

Socorro and Sierra County representatives and residents will make final choices about the future ways water should be used and supplied in the region during the last round of public meetings to be held in Socorro and Truth or Consequences in April.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Project funded to remove
fire hazard from Rio Grande

The USDA Forest Service has recently awarded a grant through the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program to the Sierra Soil & Water Conservation District in the amount of $310,000.

Two bills deserve Richardson’s veto

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has a plateful of new legislation to sign in the coming days and turn words into laws. Several bills appear helpful, particularly those aimed at improving economic opportunities for New Mexicans, or those that cut our taxes. However, at least two bills deserve his veto stamp.

Can You Get Published?

The Desert Journal has expanded its challenge “Can You Get Published?” as a result of its offer to and acceptance by Scott LaFon’s eighth grade Language I Arts class at the Truth or Consequences Middle School.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

The Shadow Advisory

By Bill Johnson, Editor

…A healthy debate

with ‘law enforcement’

OBITUARIES

Death notices for Jessie Marie Patty, Phyllis L. Wheat, George W. Rascoe & Vyrlee S. Vinyard.

...Bosque ablaze

High winds fanned embers from a "controlled" burn on a farm in Arrey, causing an out-of-control fire in the bosque along the Rio Grande.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson

Gusty winds fanned the flames to the bosque fire in Arrey Thursday, making it difficult for firefighters - including the Las Palomas volunteer in top photo - to contain and fully control. Two houses are believed to have been inflicted extensive smoke damage as seen in middle photo with the majestic Caballo Mountains in the background. In bottom photo, firefighters on the east side of the Rio Grande stand by in a smoke filled channel waiting for the fire to jump the river onto their side. Charges are pending against the owner of the farm whose laborers were burning pecan limbs from which embers apparently were whisked into the bosque’s fuel load.
DJ photos by Bill Johnson

Bosque fire contained,

two houses ‘smoked’

By Bill Johnson

of the Desert Journal

Wildfire swept tree tops, salt cedar and other vegetation along the Rio Grande’s bosque in Arrey, keeping fire volunteers from surrounding departments busy all day Thursday.

“The fire is contained and is nearly out,” said Sierra County Sheriff’s Deputy Rex Beard during a phone call late Thursday afternoon.

Firefighters from the ag communities’ Arrey-Derry Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding communities including Caballo, Las Palomas, Truth or Consequences and possibly Garfield, converged on the bosque fire.

Farm laborers had been burning the dead branches and limbs of pecan trees and embers fanned into a raging storm of fire with the help of gusty winds.

“The wind spread the embers very rapidly,” Deputy Beard said.

Beard said he will issue a criminal summons to the owner of the Lack Farm for negligent fire or similar charges that possibly could involve smoke damage to two residences.

“No houses burned,” Beard said. He said he didn’t immediately know who the owners of the “smoked” residences are and could not confirm whether one of the old farm houses belonged to, or had belonged to, longtime fire chief Richard Millard.

The deputy said that to his knowledge at least one of the residences was occupied.

The smoke from the fire could be seen all the way upstream in Truth or Consequences and Elephant Butte, where several people reported smelling smoke.

“I came out of a meeting in Elephant Butte and saw the smoke all of the way (about 25 miles) down there,” said Sheriff David Martinez, whose residence is in Arrey.

<<< >>>

Old Glory flaps freely on its new flag pole over Truth or Consequences City Hall with a brisk spring wind Monday afternoon.
Photo by Bill Johnson

No desert bighorn sheep

meeting for Sierra County?

A new advisory board to help

with recovery plans for species

Desert Journal

Staff Report

Sierra County is where the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish got stumped a decade ago when they proposed putting a herd of the sheep in the Caballo Mountains.

The protest of users who feared a wooly presence would close their mountain down to multiple uses, including mining, ranching, hiking, climbing and hunting, sent the sheep upstream.

Hundreds of county residents shut down the DGF’s and Bureau of Land Management’s plans for Sierra County and they instead planted the 40 or so sheep in the Sevilleta wildlife refuge in Socorro County.

But eventually the DGF and land baron and TV mogul Ted Turner would strike a deal to transplant about 30 sheep in the Fra Cristobals on Turner’s Armendaris Ranch in Sierra County. The Fra Cristobal sheep have ventured from time to time to the Caballos and have been known to become the meals or prey of mountain lions.

And every time Sierra County gets left out of the planning picture – for example, being denied an opportunity to be the “lead land use planning agency of the county, never mind not being given an invitation to host its own sheep meeting – all hell brakes loose.

The DGF recently sent an invitation to “Participants” inviting them to meetings in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Lordsburg and Silver City. But neither Truth or Consequences nor Sierra County are on the list of invites.

The March 20 letter by State of New Mexico DGF Director Larry Bell states:

“Dear Participant: The [NMGDF] invites you to attend a Desert Bighorn Public Information Meeting at the location of your convenience. The meetings will occur as follows:

April 14, at 7 p.m., DGF office, 3841 Midway Place NE, Albuquerque;

April 15, at 7 p.m., James H. Baxter Civic Center, 3132, E 4th St., Lordsburg;

April 16 at 7 p.m., Western NM University, Student Memorial Building - Seminar Room, Silver City;

April 17, at 7 p.m., DGF office, 566 N. Telshor Blvd., Las Cruces.

“As you are likely aware, desert bighorn sheep are listed as state endangered in New Mexico. As part of the recovery process, the Wildlife Conservation Act mandates that the Director of NMDGF appoint an advisory committee to assist in writing a recovery plan.

“The recovery plan will include management strategies to restore viable and self-sustaining populations of desert bighorn sheep in New Mexico.

“An Advisory Committee will be established at this meeting. Many of you have participated at previous desert bighorn public information meetings to provide recommendations on desert bighorn management and to assist in revising the Desert Bighorn Long Range Management Plan.

“This plan has been modified to conform to Recovery Plan requirements, and the main focus of the Advisory Committee will be continued revision of the Recovery Plan.

“Sections of the plan include biological background, social and economic analyses and mitigations, and management strategies.

“The plan will then be submitted to the State Game Commission for approval.

“Participants should come with suggestions on how to modify the current draft of the Recovery Plan which can be found on the NMDFG website at www.gmfsh.state.nm.us.

“If you would like more information, or are interested in serving on the desert bighorn advisory committee but are unable to attend this meeting, please contact Elise Goldstein, bighorn sheep biologist of my staff at (505)476-8041. We are looking forward to working with you,” Bell’s letter concluded.

Guaranteed, Sierra County will be there at the planning table if a recovery plan engages a single square inch of its jurisdiction.

<<< >>>

Roadside cross art may be found alongside River Road and the Rio Grande in Truth or Consequences where a life apparently was claimed. Coincidentally the Easter season is the time of year when local artist Don Newman makes his cross art available to the public for a price. It’s not immediately known whether this river memorial is one of his sculptured works.
DJ photo by Bill Johnson

Prescribed Rx Fire planned on Gila National Forest

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES - The Black Range Ranger District will conduct prescribed fires starting Monday, April 8, on the Gila National Forest.

The fires will continue to burn through the end of the season in accordance with the National Fire Plan and with the assistance from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The Beaverhead Rx Fire Project will take place around the compound of the Beaverhead Workstation about 85 miles northwest of Truth or Consequences.

Access to the fire area is via State Route 52 to Winston; continue west on State Road 52 to Beaverhead.

Indian Peaks Prescribed Fire is 75 miles northwest of Truth or Consequences in the Corduroy Canyon and Indian Peaks areas. Access to the fire area is via State Route 52 to Winston; continue west on State Road 52 to Corduroy Canyon.

With the onset of spring, existing weather patterns and forest fuel conditions are becoming favorable for the implementation of prescribed burn projects.

The prescribed burn will accomplish the following objectives:

Reduce the dead and down trees to help lower the risk of having a large uncontrollable fire;

Maintain the grasslands and reduce the number of pinon-juniper and small ponderosa pine trees to prevent them from taking over the grasslands;

Increase the quality of grasses and forbs by burning off the dead layer of grasses and adding nutrients to the ground;

Improve habitat conditions for a variety of wildlife species, including elk, deer, turkey, etc;

Provide a fuel break for safety and protection of the work station.

The District has developed burn plans with predefined boundaries for these projects and prescriptions for accomplishing the objectives. Recognizing that fire is the primary "tool" for treating the area, prescriptions outlined in the burn plans will be stringently adhered to.

Smoke is expected to be visible but limited. The prescription allows for 250 acres at Beaverhead, and 14,000 acres at Indian Peaks to be treated.

The smoke could settle in valleys and areas near the site. A small amount of residual smoke and burning will occur after the burn and will be checked routinely by Black Range Ranger District personnel.

By eliminating accumulations of dead material and forest debris, the chances of catastrophic fires lessen. Managing these fires under "favorable" conditions is much more preferable than the alternative of fighting a raging, uncontrollable, unwanted wildfire.

If you are planning to visit or camp in the vicinity of these prescribed fire areas, or would like more information on the National Fire Plan, contact the District Information Assistant (Julia Rivera) at the Black Range Ranger District (505) 894-6677.

<<< >>>

The architect’s drawing for the Veterans Memorial Park that will become the permanent home to the “Traveling” Vietnam Memorial Wall.
Photo courtesy of Judd Bradley

Domenici asks for funding

to support Camino Real Center

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Pete Domenici this week outlined FY2004 funding requests for area projects, including $3 million to complete the El Camino Real International Heritage Center between Las Cruces and Socorro.

Domenici, a member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, outlined requests for the Las Cruces area and asked that project funding be included in the FY2004 Interior Appropriations Bill, which the Senate and House will generate this summer.

"This $3 million request will allow the final phase of the El Camino Real center to move forward, completing the facility that will serve as a home to an array of invaluable New Mexico history. The final phase of its construction will involve completion of permanent exhibitions, audio visual requirements, desert landscaping and recreational trails," Domenici said.

Domenici underscored the importance of the center in preserving New Mexico's culture and history.

He said the center will spotlight El Camino Real and its 400 years of history as a national historic trail, extending from Mexico City to the San Juan Pueblo. The center will be located between Las Cruces and Socorro.

Other appropriations requests submitted by Domenici relevant to the Las Cruces area include:

New Mexico State University (NMSU) Water Resources Research Institute: $6 million for USGS Water Resources Research Institutes nationwide, with an additional $8 million for research at the institutes. The NMSU institute, established in 1963, has provided support for state and regional water issues for over 40 years.

Invasive Species Control: $8.99 million to detect, control and manage invasive species on public lands. Within this amount, $300,000 has been requested for the Bureau of Land Management in New Mexico to tackle the pervasive water-depleting tamarisk, salt cedar.

Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT): $250 million for PILT, including shifting the program to the Department Management account, an increase of $30 million above the current level.

<<< >>>

Sierra & Socorro Counties choose

other ways to use and supply water

The meetings will begin to wrap up the regional water planning process in the two counties.

The public is invited to the meetings to be held Thursday evening, April 17, at K-Bob's Steakhouse in Truth or Consequences, 2260 N. Date St., and Tuesday evening, April 22, in Socorro at K-Bob's Steakhouse, 1123 Frontage Road, NW.

Both evenings will begin with a "buy-your-own" dinner at 5 p.m. and follow with the meeting at 6 p.m.

Consultants for the project will summarize the pros and cons of alternative ways to use or save water so that enough exists to meet future needs.

Alternative methods were proposed and ranked by the public at previous public meetings. Top choices included such ideas as replacing exotic vegetation such as salt cedar and Russian olive with native vegetation, raising water rates, improving water reservoir management, and developing a viable water banking system.

The public meetings are the last to be held in the two-county area as part of the process to develop a regional water plan.

At the kick-off meeting in April 2002, participants developed a list of potential alternatives to current water use and demand.

At subsequent meetings participants refined the list and determined which alternatives held the most promise for ensuring a future water supply for the region. In the future, county residents will have a chance to review and comment on a draft plan before it is finalized.

The Socorro and Sierra Soil and Water Conservation Districts are undertaking the water planning process with a grant from the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission. The SWCDs have contracted with Daniel B. Stephens, a hydrology and engineering firm from Albuquerque, to develop the plan.

Aiding them are Hydrosphere, a policy analysis and engineering firm with an office in Socorro, and Sites Southwest, a planning and landscape design firm in Albuquerque.

Guiding the process is a volunteer Water Plan Steering Committee composed of a range of interested persons in both counties. These include representatives from local government, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, New Mexico Tech, the mutual domestic water users associations, the Bosque del Apache and Elephant Butte.

<<< >>>

Those on hand to share project information were Brent Tanzy, Resource Specialist for the Bureau of Reclamation; Merry Jo Fahl, District Coordinator for the Sierra Soil & Water Conservation District; Toby Richards, Fire Management Officer for the Black Range District, Gila National Forest; and Mike Gardner, Collaborative Forest Restoration Program Coordinator for the Gila National Forest.
DJ photo by Jennifer Wark

Forest restoration project funded

to remove fire hazard from river

The USDA Forest Service has recently awarded a grant through the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program to the Sierra Soil & Water Conservation District in the amount of $310,000.

This grant is to be utilized on public land to remove the high fuel hazards along the Rio Grande through the City of Truth or Consequences and the Village of Williamsburg.

The focus of the grant is to remove salt cedar plants, which is a highly volatile fuel, and to replace the plants with native riparian vegetation.

The grant is a four-year process and will begin initially on City owned land surrounding the Veteran’s Center.

Immediate plans are to remove about 37 acres of salt cedar using heavy equipment with brush hogs and then raking and mulching or hauling off the material. Re-sprouts of the plants will then be treated with an herbicide.

During the four-year process, most of the remaining plants will be treated through contracted cut-stump treatment methods, with re-vegetation to begin probably in the third and fourth years of the grant cycle.

Other lands to be treated, in addition to the city owned land, is land belonging to the Village of Williamsburg, New Mexico State Highway, New Mexico State Veterans Home Center, and Bureau of Reclamation Land, with a total of about 300 acres.

<<< >>>

Two bills deserve Richardson’s veto

By Clovis News Journal Staff

One measure would create problems for government officials trying to fulfill the new law and could lead to serious legal problems if they didn’t. It also would further limit access to what now are public records.

The other bill restricts legitimate business people from using the phone to solicit customers; however, it does exempt some groups, including – gosh, what a surprise! -- politicians.

The governor should veto House Bill 112, whose sponsor is Curry County's state representative, Republican Anna Crook; and Senate Bill 573, put forth by Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Bernalillo.

HB 112 would prevent clerks from handing out military discharge papers that veterans are encouraged to file with their county clerk in case they lose theirs. SB 573 is the so-called "no call" bill limiting telemarketing calls.

HB 112 got Crook’s backing after several veterans came to her, worried about identity theft. Theft is, sadly, a growing problem; however, the New Mexico Press Association, to which this newspaper belongs, unsuccessfully tried to amend the language because it is broadly worded, difficult for counties to enforce, and narrows what is a public record and what isn’t.

History shows that taking some public information out of the public’s view often does lead to similar efforts to privatize public data. The argument used sounds like this: “Well, you kept their information out of the spotlight and ours is just as important for the same reasons...”

HB 112 also creates problems for New Mexico’s county clerks because many veterans’ records are mingled with other records. Deputy County Clerk Connie Jo Lyman notes the records in Curry County have only been placed in a common file since January 1997, so there aren’t as many records to sort through on paper as in other counties.

But the problem is with microfilmed copies, where veterans’ records are mixed in with real estate records and such.

Paper copies can be kept private if clerks know how to find them (not always possible with the volume of paperwork on hand), but not so with filmed records. How can you cut microfilm apart to excise a document and still use the roll?

Lyman and others also fear the liability counties could face if private information is erroneously handed out. Imagine the lawsuits, or lawsuit settlements, such errors could generate. There go our tax revenues and here comes higher taxes.

Gov. Richardson knows the Round House is paved with good intention turned into bad legislation; this bill is such an example. He should veto this bill.

As to SB 573, this measure would protect us from ourselves, specifically from those irritating telemarketers who phone our homes at night and our businesses during the day, and try to make a living by asking us to buy their products.

The sponsor and its supporters obviously think we can’t hang up the phone for ourselves, either politely or not so, and only they can prevent prime-time interruptions of the unwanted kind.

However, as we pointed out, this law would be another one they wouldn’t have to follow because they gave themselves, charities and realtors special dispensation.

This newspaper joined the New Mexico Press group and fought unsuccessfully to be among those excluded from meeting the requirements.

Many subscriptions to new people in town are signed up this way, and we believe democracy is strengthened when people can learn by reading newspapers how well or poorly it works in their communities.

Some legislators favored SB 573 without any exemptions. That would have been fairer, certainly. But it would not have done away with another major flaw in this bill, and that is the $500 penalty a company faces if it telemarkets anyone who put their name on the federal no-call list.

Few businesses, particularly smaller ones, can bear that burden for long. So much for the governor’s well-intentioned push to spur the state’s economic development.

Gov. Richardson should veto this bill, or imagine the national publicity New Mexico will receive the first time a repeat offender says he or she is closing down because they can’t seem to eliminate the calls, can’t afford the fines, and can’t pay to defend themselves in a lawsuit sure to be filed by an offended parties whose asked a trial lawyer to find some deep pockets to sue.

<<< >>>

Can You Get Published?

Desert Journal expands challenge

All youths of the community – Truth or Consequences, Sierra County and New Mexico – are invited to write on any subject of their interest, whether it be the war with Iraq, home or school life, pets, friends, or whatever they so desire as long as they don’t slander or defame anyone. Articles must be typed, double-spaced and use proper language with a 250-word limit.

This youth literacy publishing project is the brainchild of local writer Chris Wortman, LaFon and Desert Journal editor Bill Johnson.

The following is the second installment of articles found publish worthy among Mr. LaFon’s students.

To Live or Die, it's up to you

By Kathryn Kiefer

The dogcatcher is working very hard. There is not enough time, not enough hours, not enough days, not enough manpower to do the job.

Our little furry friends are dying by the dozens each month. We have to do something about the slaughter.

You are probably wondering what I'm talking about. I'm talking about spaying and neutering animals.

There are not enough homes for all the animals being born. This town pound has gotten 1,353 animals in 12 months, and 70% of those animals are put to death. Only 30% have found homes alive.

On the average, 16 puppies a week are put in the pound because the owners didn't spay or neuter their pets.

If you don't want to bring you're pet to the pound, then do research on the specific animal you would want, so you can make sure you still want that kind of cat or dog.

Do research and see if that kind of animal barks a lot, if they like hunting, if they like to live in packs or alone. Also, give dogs obedience classes so you don't get mad when they don't obey you.

If you really care about your pet you should get them fixed. At the Sierra Pound (by IGA) fixing your cat is $70. If you own a dog it's $80.

If you would like to give a furry creature a home it costs $112.96; this fee includes shots, neutering or spaying, and other necessities.

If you have questions, call 894-2240 or 894-7375. Preventing a problem is easier than solving it.

<<< >>>

The Shadow Advisory

By Bill Johnson

Editor of the Desert Journal

…A healthy debate

with ‘law enforcement’

This week I received the following e-mail from an Albuquerque area resident employed in law enforcement concerning last week’s headliner, “The War at Home.” And, of course, I had to respond, to seek some understanding that if you’re American, how can you go against America! Of course the answer is politically correct by all Constitutional standards: by violating another American’s civil rights – to deprive them of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And why do police think they can exempt themselves from civility when indeed the word Freedom is worth nothing more than a heap of cheap, greasy, oily French fries (sorry for the pun, I meant Freedom fries!)

So here is the dialogue we exchanged:

…Treena Saavedra writes:

Dear editor:

I am writing in response to your headline "War at Home."

First off, I am sorry that Mrs. [Kay] Davis was injured, but in this time of War, we need to support our troops, not protest in the middle of the street.

I am a former resident of Truth or Consequences and now live outside of Albuquerque and work in law enforcement. The scene at this protest was not pretty. The protesters were aggressive with the officers who had to defend themselves.

The article was very one sided and made it sound like APD (Albuquerque Police Department) was attacking innocent people, which is not the case.

If you go to protest and get out of hand, like this protest did, you should expect the police to show up. APD did what they needed to do to get this situation under control.

If you oppose the war, that is your right as an American. Just remember that our troops are over there fighting so that you can keep that right.

Instead of making the long trip to Albuquerque to cause problems, stay home and work on making T or C a safer place to live.

/s/Treena Allen-Saavedra

Los Lunas, NM

…I write back:

Dear Mrs. Saavedra:

You did not read the article - maybe you read the headline and that was it.

Mrs. Davis was an innocent bystander. She ventured out of her car to look for her husband who was part of the demonstration. These are not violent people and they were subjected to violence on the part of police.

But that does NOT matter - Protesters are protected under the first amendment to peaceably assemble without government interference or violence.

I also have friends who are police officers in Albuquerque, some of them have been killed or nearly killed in the line of duty: John Carrillo and Steve Miller, among others.

It disheartens me that police take up a position like this - to beat Americans mercilessly. That is what our soldiers are fighting for? Americans and Iraqi freedoms? Then this is a joke!!!

You just don't get it, but I'll still be happy to run your letter to the editor because everyone has opinions and as far as I'm concerned, we're all Americans whether we dissent or not. Why not take that position when you're out on the street "keeping the peace?"

I just can't understand the fascist element at work here... Maybe you can help me understand it. I personally think it sucks. If this is Homeland Defense, then let's not have it - I feel more secure without swarms of police beating my head. Thank you!

…Mrs. Saavedra responds:

Mr. Johnson, I DID read the article, and I DO GET IT. I do believe that they have the right to free speech act.

She (Kay Davis) may have been an innocent bystander who ventured out into the crowd, the same crowd that was throwing flash bangs at the officers.

As I stated, I am sorry that she was injured, but the troops are already there and we need to support them now more than ever. She may have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Protesters are protected until they get unruly and start disrupting the peace, which is what happened. I truly believe this was a bad incident that occurred and they may be nice people.

But come on, we have people from that town (T or C) who are fighting in this war, families who are worried about their loved ones and THIS is what is on the front page of the paper (and the online paper).

I believe this is what upset me the most. I have two nephews (from T or C) who are both marines and are just waiting for the word to get sent out.

I also know several officers who have been injured or killed in the line of duty. Most of them were only doing their jobs.

When someone needs an officer they want them there NOW, but when an officer looks the wrong way everyone wants to sue. Have YOU taken a look at our judicial system lately?

The cops are the ones who are abused the most. But that is not the issue here. That is a whole other article!

At the end of the article it states that they will be back to demonstrate, I hope they get a permit!

I did not mean to hit a nerve, but I believe that we need to worry about our loved ones who are fighting this war.

…I get the last word

I can accept what you're saying and understand the problem with cops in the justice system. I too am a victim of the abuses of that system.

Cops had a solid case in a drive-by shooting of my office several years ago and the DA's Office intentionally blew the case so that the real suspect goes free and a stoolie pigeon takes the rap. What a bunch of crap.

The cops did a good job, including extracting a bullet from a wall and catching the culprits the same night of the incident.

But there was a pay off because the real suspect was a person of prominence in our community. But never mind that.

I just hope you have peace in your life - I don't look forward to peace any more after what we have done to Iraq - there's not a living soul on this planet who will know peace because of it - not in this new century.

I too call for the support of our troops, who are fighting for the very thing that you want to see destroyed - FREEDOM!!! Freedom for who? Security for who? They define the privileged class - the ones who don't go to war - and they send our young off to die.

Also, the article was fair – first, police were not wearing badges or ID so we don't know which officer to confront with the allegations.

Secondly, the victims said what the APD position was - that they denied clubbing allegations - and also reiterated the comment by the Mayor that this sort of thing wouldn't happen again. (I hope not!). So we tried to be fair.

<<< >>>

OBITUARIES

Jessie Marie Patty, 80, of Williamsburg, NM, died Thursday, March 27, 2003, at her home.

She was born Oct. 10, 1922, in Minburn, IA, to Wilbur and Flossie Andrews. She married Dwain Patty in 1947 near Minburn. She was a member of the Sunshine Valley Garden Club for years and she attended the Caballo Community Church.

Survivors include her husband, Dwain Patty of Williamsburg; her son, Gordon Patty of Reno, NV; her daughter, Marilyn McBride of Mesa, AZ; two brothers, Max Andrews of Clarion, IA, and Gene Andrews of Anita, IA; four sisters, Ruth McLaughlin of Dallas Center, IA, Elsie Crane of Burley, ID, Lois West of Peoria, AZ, and Jane Schultz of Van Meter, IA; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Edward Patty, and her parents.

Memorial services are planned for a later date. Arrangements are by Sierra Funeral Home and Sierra Crematory, 507 W. McAdoo St. in T or C; 505-894-4428.

Phyllis L. Wheat, 73, a resident of Truth or Consequences the last 21 years, died Thursday, March 27, 2003, at the Mountain View Medical Center in Las Cruces. The retired sales cashier was born April 29, 1929, in Boulder, CO, to Alanzo Lee and Florence Chambers Denham.

Survivors include her sons, Kenneth Vaughn of T or C and Tom Vaughn of Las Cruces; two grandchildren, Jesse & Steve Vaughn; two great-grandchildren; and her sister, Jean Thompson of Henderson, NV.

Cremation took place and no local services are planned. Arrangements were by French Mortuary of T or C Inc.

George Wilson Rascoe, 75, a resident of Truth or Consequences since 1992, died Saturday, March 29, 2003, at the New Mexico State Veterans Home. He was born Feb. 1, 1928, in Globe, AZ, to Vivian and Albertine Graffee Rascoe. He was a retired industrial mechanic, owning George's Industrial Engine Service, and was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served 1946-49.

Survivors include his daughter, Emily Street of Farmington; his son, John Rascoe of Galveston, TX; and his sister, Audrey Robsin of Oro Valley, AZ.

No local services will be held. Arrangements were by French Mortuary of T or C Inc.

Vyrlee S. Vinyard, 87, a resident of Truth or Consequences since 1970, died Saturday, March 29, 2003, at the Sierra Health Care Center. She was born Jan. 30, 1916, in Nisland, SD, to Park Hudson and Letta Estella Ashton Slaybaugh. The homemaker had attended the Alliance Fellowship Church in T or C and she was a member of the George Curry Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3224 Auxiliary in T or C. She also served as a Senior Companion for the local Senior Companion Program, headed by the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program at the T or C Senior Service Center.

Survivors include her son, Park Hudson Wood of Hulett, WY; three sisters, Fern F. Lohof of Buffalo, WY, Mary Ellen Fitzpatrick and Myrtle Marie Burns, both of Buffalo, WY; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Hudson Wood, in 1962; her late husband, Otho Henry Vinyard, in 1984; and her son, Vernon Earl Wood, in 1975.

Services will be held in Sundance, WY, and interment will follow in the Moore Hill Cemetery in Hulett, WY. Arrangements are by French Mortuary of T or C Inc.

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