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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, Bombshell Liberation and Interference, and provides free access to our featured columns, photos and news archives.











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Satan's Den Exposed
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Last modified: April 14, 2008

Headline News From May 31, 2002 Issue

Judge affirms DA’s firing of Peterson 
on an appeal; dismissed with prejudice  

  Deposed District Attorney's Office Investigator Russ Peterson, unhappy with media exposure on the eve of his election bid for a county commission seat, says he’ll file for a new appeal... He denies allegations of breaching confidentiality in a murder case and of telling lies to his boss about it.

David Ray dies after three years 
served of 224-year prison term  

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Sarah Andregg

  Sarah Andregg last Friday plead guilty to charges of disposing of stolen property over $2,500, a third degree felony, and misdemeanor tampering with evidence.

Primary election this Tuesday

  Sierra County voters will have difficult choices to make as their political parties nominate candidates for local, state and federal offices during the primary elections this Tuesday, June 4. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Flat Stanley visits Truth or Consequences

  Schools around the country are implementing an innovative Social Studies program.

T or C Schools receive more than 
half million dollars in Title 1 Funds 

  U.S. Senator Pete Domenici last week reported a dozen school districts in southern New Mexico will receive more than $15.4 million in Title I federal education funding - including $508,903 to the Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools District.

…Flat Stanley visits T or C

  Heidi LeTourneau, the administrator of the Truth or Consequences-Sierra County Chamber of Commerce, gives some information to Flat Stanley to share with students in Dubuque, Iowa. Scroll down to see more photos of Flat Stanley's visit.
Photo Series Courtesy of Lil and Harry Chesser

…Use extra caution while walking the beaches

Paris Ebberts, 3, of T or C stumbles upon these rocks and broken glass on the beach of the Dirt Dam day use area at Elephant Butte Lake during the Memorial Day holiday last Monday. As the lake recedes during this summer’s drought, it might be wise for visitors to use extra precaution by wearing shoes or sandals, especially in the water where they can’t see that well. Old aluminum or tin cans, glass shards and other sharp objects, which tend to bury themselves under the sand over time with jagged edges close to the surface, certainly can turn a nice outing at the lake into a hospital visit with stitches and a big bill. Just ask Paris’ mother!
DJ Photos by Bill Johnson

Judge affirms DA’s firing of Peterson

Former DA’s Office investigator’s

appeal dismissed with prejudice

Russ Peterson, unhappy with media exposure on the eve of his election bid for a county commission seat, says he’ll seek new appeal.

By Fred Mramor of the Desert Journal

“The District Attorney proved by a preponderance of the evidence that Peterson lied about his contacts with Horner and was also untruthful in his accounts of comments he made to Horner,” Administrative Law Judge R. Scott Summerfield found upon hearing Russell L. Peterson’s appeal to the State Personnel Board after Peterson was fired as an investigator with the Seventh Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Truth or Consequences eight months ago.

Summerfield found also that the district attorney proved that Peterson’s actions in contacting investigative reporter Mark Horner, discussing an on-going investigation that he had been twice directed not to discuss with the media, and then denying that he had initiated any contact himself, violated the highest professional ethics and loyalty prescribed by the New Mexico District Attorney’s personnel manual.

Summerfield on May 22 ruled that Peterson’s termination from the DA’s office is affirmed and that his appeal is dismissed with prejudice, meaning that Peterson can appeal the judge’s decision.

Peterson, now the Truth or Consequences Police Department’s acting chief and a candidate for the Sierra County Board of Commissioners, was dismissed from his investigator’s position with the DA’s office last October on grounds that he leaked information to a reporter regarding last year’s David Johnson homicide case in violation of direct orders from his supervisor and that he lied about having done so.

No specific description of the information Peterson allegedly leaked to Channel 4 investigative reporter Mark Horner was included in the Statement of the Case, Summary of the Evidence or other documents attached to the judge’s decision except that Peterson allegedly told Horner, who is said to have been Peterson’s friend, that T or C Police were “screwing up” the homicide investigation.

Besides verbal orders not to discuss on-going investigations with the media, the DA’s office in their decision to dismiss Peterson cited provisions of the New Mexico District Attorney’s personnel manual including Title 10, Chapter 4, Part 1, Rule 13.11, “Statements critical of others or their agencies will be made only if these are verifiable and constructive in purpose, and made in a personal capacity.”

District Attorney Clint Wellborn on Wednesday said that it may not be far off to interpret the provision as an if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all rule.

Because Peterson may appeal the decision upholding his dismissal, Wellborn declined to say how the information Peterson allegedly leaked was sensitive or damaging to the homicide investigation except to say that it involved what was then an on-going investigation.

Wellborn in the Summary of Evidence attached to the Decision did, however, state that the DA’s office needs to maintain good working relations and communications with the 14 police agencies within his district.

Wellborn declined to say if he knew for a fact that Peterson initiated contact with the reporter or if it was the other way around but rested on statements attached to Judge Summerfield’s decision.

In an Oct. 17 Final Decision Regarding Disciplinary Action, Wellborn stated that Deputy District Attorney June Stein informed him that T or C Police Sgt. Jessie Harzewski had contacted her and said that reporter Mark Horner had called and was asking specific questions about the Johnson homicide investigation.

Harzewski said, according to Wellborn’s statements, Horner said he had heard that the TCPD “screwed up the case” and had information that State Police were called out initially in the investigation and were turned back an hour later.

Horner admitted to Harzewski that Peterson contacted him and provided him with information about the case, according to Wellborn’s statement.

In short, Wellborn said that Stein said that Harzewki said that Horner said Peterson provided him with information regarding the murder investigation.

Sgt. Harzewski testified in Peterson’s hearing that she received a call from Horner referring to State Police being turned away from the murder investigation, the Summary of Evidence states. Harzewski said only she, June Stein and Peterson would have known that State Police were turned away from the investigation, according to the Summary.

Harzewski referred Horner to Stein and then notified Stein about Horner’s inquiry and her suspicion of Peterson as the probable source of information, the Summary states.

Stein testified that Peterson was upset on the night of the Johnson murder and made a comment to the effect that he wanted to “drop a dime” to an investigative reporter in Albuquerque about how the T or C Police Department was screwing up the investigation, according to the Summary.

Stein said Horner later asserted that he heard T or C Police had “screwed up” the investigation, the same expression Peterson is said to have used the night the Johnson murder was discovered, according to the Summary.

The Summary states Horner called Peterson at his office twice on Aug. 15 and that Peterson placed two calls from his office to Horner the following day. Wellborn discounted the suggestion that investigators make and receive many calls and perhaps Peterson just forgot about these.

Peterson on Aug. 16 sent e-mail to Stein in which he stated that his contacts with Horner regarding his concerns about the investigation had slipped his mind, the Summary states.

Horner did not testify at Peterson’s hearing but his letter to Peterson’s attorney in which Horner confirmed Peterson’s comment using the term “screwy” to describe the murder investigation was submitted as evidence at the hearing.

Horner’s Oct. 3 letter further stated that at least one other person he spoke with expressed concern about the murder investigation and that Horner found the same concern expressed on an Internet web site.

Horner said also the story never aired because someone at the DA’s office urged him not to run the story until the investigation was completed for fear of jeopardizing the investigation.

Peterson in his testimony denied having used the term screwy or screwed up but that he said he had had “concerns” about the investigation, according to the Summary of Evidence. In Peterson’s view, he did not release any information about on-going investigations, the Summary states.

Peterson on Wednesday said he will appeal the decision affirming his dismissal from the DA’ office and will seek any compensation due him for what he called his wrongful termination. He said he did not tell Horner the investigation was screwy or screwed up.

Peterson said there were a lot of things that didn’t come out in his first appeal that will have to come out in a second hearing. Peterson declined to say what those things are for fear of jeopardizing his appeal.

Peterson said also it appears that someone, by passing a copy of the decision to affirm his dismissal and related documents to the Desert Journal, is trying to prevent him from pursuing his appeal and turning it all into a media, rather than court, issue. He said no one but he, the district attorney’s office and the court should have a copy of the order and other documents until he has been fully exonerated or found in fault and that it shouldn’t be a media issue until then.

Peterson complained that a newspaper knew his appeal had been denied before he did and said, “If I’m deprived a fair and impartial hearing because of something that’s leaked to the press that prevents a very sacred thing of an appeal, I’ll have to follow the avenues of getting that corrected also.”

Peterson said Sgt. Jessie Anglin (formerly Harzewski) is an officer in good standing with the T or C Police Department and that he will not retaliate against her in any way for reporting to the DA’s office her conversations with a reporter suggesting that Peterson had spoken with the press about an on-going investigation and that he questioned the PD’s handling of the investigation.

“She was just relaying what she was told,” Peterson said.

Anglin on Wednesday said she’s not sure whether she can comment as to whether she believes Peterson revealed information to a reporter about the Johnson murder investigation.

“I don’t know where I can comment and where I cannot without getting myself in deeper water at our department because I’m in a pretty tough position as it is,” Anglin said. Anglin said she would consult with her attorney before saying anything more.

<<<   >>>

David Parker Ray (right) makes his last show in court last September when District Judge Kevin Sweazea sentenced him to 224 years in prison. In photo, Ray and his attorney Lee McMillan (left) listen to the expert testimony of FBI agent Mary Ellen O’Toole (not shown) who testified that criminal sexual sadists like Ray should never be allowed to walk the streets again to protect society. Ray had spent nearly three years and two months behind bars since his arrest in March 1999 and before his death last Tuesday night.
DJ File Photo by Bill Johnson

David Ray dies after three years

served of his 224-year prison term

“Satan has a place for you. I hope you burn in hell forever,” said Bertha Vigil, grandmother of one of Ray’s sexual torture victims.

Desert Journal Staff Report

Rape and kidnapping victim Cynthia Vigil’s grandmother’s wish may come true. Unless, of course, David Ray really repented and came clean with God.

David Parker Ray, sentenced to 224 years in prison last September after his conviction on numerous offenses involving the abduction and sexual torture of three young women at his Elephant Butte Lake home, died Tuesday night, May 28, at the prison in Hobbs, NM.

Ray, 62, had been credited with two and a half years of jail time served since his sentencing to prison eight months ago.

Ray and his accomplice, Cindy Hendi, were arrested in March 1999 after his very last victim, Cynthia Vigil, escaped his home donned in only a collar and chain.

A Torrance County jury convicted Ray for his crimes against Kelly Van Cleave, formerly of Truth or Consequences, in 1996. He later pled guilty to charges involving two other victims, the late Angie Montano of T or C and Cynthia Vigil of Albuquerque, in 1999.

FBI agent Mary Ellen O’Toole had testified at Ray’s sentencing hearing that examination of Ray’s home, the trailer he had converted into his infamous “toy box” and the sexual paraphernalia and drawings found there suggested that Ray was a “criminal sexual sadist.”

Ray’s toy box and custom equipment were extremely impressive in terms of sexual sadism, potential lethality and the time, money and effort it took to keep them a secret, the FBI said.

Ray’s victims and the victims’ family members had made their wishes known to the court and to Ray before the judge pronounced sentence last September.

Kelly (Van Cleave) Garrett said she wanted Ray to live a for a long time and suffer in prison where she hoped he would be controlled and used in the same manner that she and Ray’s other victims had.

Loretta Romero, Angie Montano’s mother, said her daughter had a good heart but had lost all respect, lost her smile, lost everything because of David Ray. Mrs. Romero said she was here for Angie (who had died from pneumonia after her case came to light) and her two little boys whose lives Ray had ruined.

Mrs. Romero said she felt sorry for David Ray, that she forgives him and that her daughter would forgive him. But Angie’s mother said she will never forget.

Less forgiving was Cynthia Vigil’s grandmother, Bertha Vigil. Mrs. Vigil told Ray he was a poor excuse for a human being and asked him how he would like for her to do to his daughter what he had done to Cynthia.

Bertha Vigil said her granddaughter has nightmares every night and that Ray had ruined not only her life but those of her whole family. Cynthia’s grandmother said she prays Ray will suffer every day for the rest of his life.

“Satan has a place for you. I hope you burn in hell forever,” Mrs. Vigil said.

“I bare scars outside and inside that will never heal,” Cynthia Vigil said. She said no punishment is equal to the agony she has suffered.

Vigil said she is afraid of being tied down and helpless, of the dark and of going out alone. Cynthia Vigil, crying, said she hoped David Ray would spend the rest of his life between four walls and suffer the way he made her suffer.

“This monster should never be allowed to walk the streets again,” said prosecuting attorney Jim Yontz during Ray’s sentencing. “There should be no light at the end of the tunnel and he should realize that a cell will be his home for the rest of his life and that he will leave only in a box.”

Ray reportedly died in his cell at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Prison officials said they didn’t immediately know his cause of death but suspected it was from a known heart condition that he often complained about while in custody and received treatment for on taxpayers’ account.

He is survived by his daughter, Glenda Jean “Jessy” Ray, who was sentenced last year to five years on probation for her role in the 1996 rape case.

Ray had told the court that no one but his attorney had heard his side. Ray said many lies and distortions were told in his case.

Ray said he had entered into a plea agreement to effect his daughter’s release. Jessy Ray was Ray’s accomplice in the abduction and sexual torture of Kelly Van Cleave.

Ray had said the two and a half years in confinement since his arrest had allowed him to reflect, read his Bible and “get right with God.” Ray said he has put his life in His hands and that he can’t change the past but can only be sorry.

<<<   >>>

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Sarah Andregg cops a plea

Sarah Andregg

DJ File Photo

Desert Journal Staff Report

Sarah Andregg last Friday plead guilty to charges of disposing of stolen property over $2,500, a third degree felony, and misdemeanor tampering with evidence.

The plea agreement, in which two fourth degree felonies were dismissed, comes on the heels of the guilty plea entered earlier this month by her brother, Sam Andregg, in connection with the stabbing death of David Johnson, 47, at his home at 500 N. Riverside Drive in Truth or Consequences on April 21, 2001.

Sam Andregg, 25, plead guilty on May 2 to second degree murder and awaits sentencing in district court.

Sarah Andregg, 24, admitted to helping her older brother dispose of Johnson’s vehicle, an Isuzu Trooper, after Sam Andregg stabbed Johnson, a former attorney and the owner of Ceramics Plus on Main Street, 43 times after Johnson allegedly made sexual advances towards Sam. A pilot later found Johnson’s vehicle in a ravine off Interstate 25 a few miles north of town.

District Judge Kevin Sweazea ordered a pre-sentencing report from adult probation before he sentences Sarah Andregg at his discretion.

She faces up to three years in prison on the disposal charge and up to 364 days on the misdemeanor conviction. Brother Sam’s exposure amounts to a total of 22.5 years in prison.

Judge Sweazea ordered that the siblings be sentenced on the same day, pending the diagnostic evaluations and pre-sentencing reports.

They were arrested last September after five months of investigation.

<<<   >>>

Primary election this Tuesday

Desert Journal Staff Report

Sierra County voters will have difficult choices to make as their political parties nominate candidates for local, state and federal offices during the primary elections this Tuesday, June 4. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The candidates will appear as follows on the ballot with “D” representing the Democratic Party’s candidates and “R” the Republican Party.

U.S. Senate: D – Gloria Tristani, Francesca Lobato and Don E. Durham (write-in). R – Pete V. Domenici and Orlin G. Cole (write-in).

U.S. Representative, District 2: D – Ruben A. Smith, John Arthur Smith. R – Steve Pearce, Phelps Anderson, Edward R. Tinsley, Leo Martinez and C. Earl Greer.

Governor: D – Bill Richardson and Benjamin E. Nalley (write-in). R – John A Sanchez, Walter D. Bradley, Gilbert S. Baca, Robert M. Burpo.

Lt. Governor: D – Diane D. Denish and Jerry Sandel. R – Rod Adair, Judy Vanderstar Russell and William F. Davis.

Secretary of State: D – Rebecca D. Vigil-Giron. R – Sharon Clahchischilliage.

State Auditor: D – Domingo P. Martinez. R – Tom Benavides.

State Treasurer: D – Robert E. Vigil and Jan Goodwin. R – Ken Sanchez.

Attorney General: D – Patricia Madrid. R – Rob Perry.

Commissioner of Public Lands: D – Art E. Trujillo, Cisco McSorley and Tom Mills. R – Patrick H. Lyons and Rick J. Lopez.

Judge of the Court of Appeals: D –Manuel Tijerina. R – Roderick T. Kennedy.

State Representative, District 38: D – Gary L. Whitehead. R – Dianne Hamilton.

Public Lands Commissioner, District 5: D – Tony Schaefer, Jack L. Valencia Jr. and E. Shirley Baca. R – Harold “Chub” Foreman.

District Judge, 7^th Judicial District, Division 3: R – Kevin R. Sweazea.

Magistrate Judge: D – Daniel G. Mena. R – Thomas G. Pestak and Greg Spain.

County Commissioner, District 1: D – Abel B. Armijo. R – Alvin J. Campbell and James M. Coslin.

County Commissioner, District 2: D – Russell Peterson. R – Richard A. Millard and Christopher F. Wortman.

County Assessor: D – Isabel Salazar, Michael A. Torres, Ronald R. Alleman. R – Keith W. Whitney.

County Sheriff: D – Roy B. Bagwell and Ronald D. Brown. R – William J. Kerin, Terry L. Byers, David Martinez and Joe Edward Baca Jr.

Probate Judge: D – Ivan Padilla. R – Josie M. Zamora.

For more information on where to vote, call the Sierra County Clerk’s Office at 894-2840 or see the legal notice on the election proclamation.

<<<   >>>

T or C Mayor Jim Rainey (left) and City Commissioner Everett Banister give Flat Stanley (center) a key to the city for the duration of his visit on behalf of Iowa school children.
Photo Series courtesy of Lil and Harry Chesser

Flat Stanley visits Truth or Consequences

By Harry & Lilyen Chesser

Schools around the country are implementing an innovative Social Studies program.

Flat Stanley, a children's story book character, will be helping them learn about map skills, their state, our country and the seven continents. In this program, a Flat Stanley paper doll is mailed out to various places they want to learn about.

Flat Stanley arrived at the home of Lilyen and Harry Chesser here in T or C with a request for a postcard containing information about the Southwest; New Mexico in particular.

He was sent by a grade school in Dubuque, Iowa.

The Chessers have taken Flat Stanley around the area showing him many unique aspects of this area documenting his experiences with a digital camera. Local notables photographed with Flat Stanley include T or C Mayor Jim Rainey, Commissioner Everett Banister, and Heidi LeTourneau, the Chamber of Commerce Administrator, to name a few.

The Chessers report that the responses from these, and others they visited, were very warm, enthusiastic and supportive. They have prepared a package containing a small chile ristra from Hatch, pictures and trinkets from White Sands, along with many photos and historical information from the T or C area.

The Chessers feel rewarded to have been able to participate in this way in the education of youngsters in other areas about New Mexico.

The following is their story:

Flat Stanley's Visit to New Mexico

What a pleasant surprise was waiting for us when we returned home to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

A school in Dubuque, Iowa, had sent Flat Stanley for a visit. He was sure happy to get out of that envelope and see the sun again.

He was one month in the envelope waiting for us to come home and let him out. As we live in our motor home and just visit here from time to time, a friend lives in our house and if we are going to be a long time away will send our mail to us.

If we had known Flat Stanley was here we would have been here sooner. I'd like to tell you some of the things he saw and did while visiting with us.

The town of Truth or Consequences, or as some people call it, T or C, is in the state of New Mexico. Did you know that New Mexico was one of the 50 United States? Well, it is. It became the 48^th state in 1912. Many people still believe that it is part of Mexico, but it isn't.

One of the first things Flat Stanley did was to go through the Border Patrol checkpoint and saw them checking cars and trucks with dogs that can really smell illegal drugs. They also check for people that have crossed the border illegally.

There is a picture of this checkpoint and if you look real hard you can see the dog, his handler, and some of the guards.

Another thing he did was to visit the Chamber of Commerce here in Truth or Consequences. Here he was given much information about the area. Included in that information is the story of how Truth or Consequences got its name.

Also included were some postcards, one of them with a picture of the butte (a hill) that is shaped like the upper half of an elephant and sits in the middle of Elephant Butte Lake. The lake is the reservoir behind Elephant Butte Dam. It is a very popular place for boating, water skiing, and fishing.

Flat Stanley got magazines of different places to go in the state. Since he did not have much time he had to quickly choose what he wanted to see. He wanted to see everything but time said he could only do a few things.

There is a picture of Heidi LeTourneau, the Chamber of Commerce Administrator, present-ing him with that information.

There is also a picture of Flat Stanley signing the guest book. He had a lot of fun getting all that neat stuff to share with his friends back home.

Flat Stanley was interested in what kind of law enforcement would be available while he was here. We took him to visit the police department and introduced him.

There is a picture of the desk officer welcoming Flat Stanley and assuring him that if he had any kind of problem, large or small, that policemen were willing and able to help. He told flat Stanley that policemen everywhere are friends to all kids and any time any kid needed help with anything they should find a policeman to talk to; they are their friends.

We then traveled to Hatch, which is about 40 miles from T or C. It is considered to be the chile capitol of the world.

We visited the store of Eliseo Flores who owns and operates the farms where the chilies are grown. In the store were many varieties of ristras. A ristra is a string of chilies as they are hung up to dry. They are very attractive so are often used as decorations here in the Southwest.

He also saw the famous Rio Grand and pecan nut orchards as well as fields of peppers just starting to grow.

Flat Stanley found out how they harvest pecans; do you know how they do it? Well they have big machines that go into the orchard and shake the trees until all the pecans fall down, then they go back into the field and gather them up to sell to stores all over America.

There is a picture of Eliseo Flores selling a small ristra to Flat Sam.

Next Flat Stanley took a trip to the White Sands National Monument which is about 100 miles from T or C. White Sands is a fascinating place. The sand is not actually sand at all but gypsum, a form of salt. It is, however, as white as snow.

It is believed that many, many years ago the area was covered by the Gulf of Mexico and when the water dried up, this huge deposit of gypsum was left. If my memory is correct, the deposit of gypsum dunes is about 20 miles wide and 75 miles long. Oh yes, we have several pictures of the White Sands.

This package that Flat Stanley is returning in contains some small packets of white sand for him to share with his friends. It is not legal to gather sand from inside the park, so you must gather it from outside of the park.

What would happen if everyone who visited the park took a little sand home with them? The time would come when there would be no more white sand for people to see, would there?

We also stopped in the gift shop at White Sands and got some prickly pear cactus candy for Flat Stanley to share with his friends and family. Did you know that candy could be made from cactus fruit? Well, it can be done and the candy is very good.

We also have enclosed a prickly pear, which is the fruit that the candy is made from. You have to cook it and add sugar.  You will also see a picture of the fruit on the cactus, and Flat Stanley is right in the middle of a prickly pear cactus patch. He also saw the flowers; he said they looked very pretty.

After some time, Flat Stanley got to meet the mayor, Jim Rainey, of Truth or Consequences and one of his commissioners, Everett Banister. As you can imagine, the mayor is a very busy person and, in fact, was out of town on business during most of Flat Stanley's visit. We finally did get to meet him and get a picture.

The mayor was very pleased to meet Flat Stanley and introduced him to the commissioner. He hoped Flat Stanley had a wonderful time and that he and  his friends will come and visit New Mexico and be sure to stop by and see him and T or C in the future.

We took Flat Stanley to visit the editor, Bill Johnson, of the local newspaper which is named The Desert Journal. He said he would like to put an article in the paper about Flat Stanley's visit to New Mexico.

Unfortunately, we did not have the camera with us that day so we did not get a picture of them. The editor is out of town this week so the edition with this article will not be ready to go in this box.

We will try to send a copy of it when it is printed.

So, time is running out and Flat Stanley must get back to school before the term is over so we had to get him packed up and on the way home. We could have had him visit us a year and we still would not have had time to show him everything.

The Southwest, even though it is a desert, is a fascinating place and even beautiful in its own way.

Flat Stanley, thank you for visiting us.

<<<   >>>

Flat Stanley meets the famous Apache Indian chief Geronimo. Photo Series by Lil and Harry Chesser

T or C Schools receive more than

half million dollars in Title 1 Funds

A dozen school districts

in southwest NM get $15M

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Pete Domenici last week reported a dozen school districts in southern New Mexico will receive more than $15.4 million in Title I federal education funding - including $508,903 to the Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools District - to help bolster education services to disadvantaged and underachieving students in the region.

The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education.

Overall, New Mexico school districts will receive $166.2 million in Title I funding for the 2002-03 school year.

"Title I is an extremely important funding source for virtually every school district in New Mexico. They are key to helping more students excel in school,” Domenici said. These federal resources will help advance services in schools throughout southern New Mexico to improve the education of children at risk of not meeting challenging academic standards, especially children from low-income families," he said.

The following 12 southern New Mexico school districts will receive: Las Cruces Public Schools, $5.64 million; Gadsden Independent Schools, $4.18 million; Deming Public Schools, $1.88 million; Cobre Consolidated Schools, $670,000; Hatch Valley Municipal Schools, $607,678; Truth or Consequences Schools, $508,903; Magdalena Municipal Schools, $404,656; Lordsburg Municipal Schools, $341,771; Silver City Consolidated Schools, $337,167; Reserve Independent Schools, $113,439; Quemado Independent Schools, $60,967; Animas Public Schools, $30,514.

In New Mexico, the Title I program serves in 88 of 89 school districts. The majority of these programs are in-school programs focusing on remediation and enrichment in the areas of language arts, reading and math.

The federal Title I program, authorized through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, authorizes federal aid to local educational agencies (LEAs) for the education of disadvantaged children.

Title I grants provide supplementary educational and related services to low-achieving children attending schools with relatively high concentrations of pupils from low-income families in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

Title I is the largest federal elementary and secondary education assistance program.

Through the newly-enacted No Child Left Behind Act to reauthorize the ESEA, Domenici was successful in gaining approval for three amendments in the ESEA of 1965 that: make permanent his 1994 demonstration grant program to support character education programs; expand mental health services in the schools; and, establish centers to assist school districts in recruiting and retaining teachers.

Through the ESEA, New Mexico will receive roughly $240 million this year, which includes funding for Title 1 for disadvantaged students, Impact Aid, Special Education, and Title I for disadvantaged students.

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Youngsters enjoy a raft ride on Elephant Butte Lake during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Photo by Bill Johnson