September 2002 - Mountain Times

Highlights
The Black Bears of New Mexico
Fishin’ and Finances
Page 2
Humans have been fascinated by bears from Paleolithic times to the present. All too often, however,
our interest in bears has been misinformed and
marred by paradoxical and inaccurate beliefs.
On the other hand, we tend to feel a sense of kinship
with bears, due in part with the traits we have in common: Bears stand erect on the soles of their feet, sit on
their rumps and have shoulder joints which allow free
rotation of limbs. They are omnivorous, and their diet
and digestive systems are similar to ours. Bears can
use their front paws like hands, and their eyes are
nearly aligned in a frontal plane. In addition, bears
occupy a distinct, often exalted place in folklore,
mythology, legend, and literature. They are portrayed
as both forgiving and judgmental, as bestowers of
moral instruction and as intermediaries between
A Little About the Law
Page 3
National Forest News
Page 5
Nature and Wildlife
Pages 4 - 8
History Stories
Page 9
Editorials, etc...
Page 10
...Continued on Page 6
President Bush Announces
New Healthy Forests Initiative
Community Section
Pages 11 - 14
Events and Crossword
Page 15
...And Much More!
Dying Piñons... An Epidemic
THE FORESTER’S LOG by Mary Stuever, Consulting Forester
Throughout the piñon-juniper woodlands of the
Southwest there is an epidemic of brown trees. If you
conduct a casual windshield survey as you drive through
these short- statured forests, you will soon lose count
of the number of brown trees you see. Most of these
dead or dying trees are piñon pine, but there are also
several dying junipers as well.
I first noticed a significant number of dead piñon trees
during the summer of 1996, following that year’s
drought. Again, in 2000 many more trees turned brown
as well. Neither of these years compare to the extent of
mortality we are witnessing this year. Still, I have remained relatively calm, and almost pleased to witness
this death in the forest.
There are many various causes of this mortality, the
most frequent being bark beetles (Ips) or twig beetles
mortals and woodland gods. Their popularization in
the form of cuddly teddy bears, such as Pooh, Bongo,
Yogi, and others, has created a potentially dangerous
misconception in the minds of children as well as adults.
The anthropomorphized image of the bear regularly
leads people to risk life and limb in their attempt to
befriend this powerful wild animal.
Many of us also have an abiding fear of bears. Sensational depictions of bears in movies, stories, and tall
tales misrepresent actual bear behavior. Such stories
leave us with the equally erroneous impression of the
bear’s ferocity and viciousness.
Actually, the factual information about these remarkable and admirable animals is more fascinating than all
the romantic and sensational misconceptions combined.
(Pityophthorus). The argument can be made that it is
the drought, not the insects, that is truly accountable
for this heavy tree mortality. The related drought stress
makes these trees more susceptible to insect outbreaks.
I would argue that the drought should not take the major rap for this mortality either. The real culprit is the
conditions of the woodlands, which over most of the
piñon-juniper range, is crowded with too many trees.
It is becoming a familiar tale. We have too many trees
in forests, primarily due to a long history of excluding
fire from the ecosystem. This summer, however, it has
been fascinating to watch the combination of drought
and insect outbreaks try to bring some balance to the
forest woodland. I live in the piñon-juniper belt and
for years have been watching and waiting for this phenomenon.
...Continued on Page 5
New Mexico’s Poisonous Snakes
President Bush traveled to Oregon August verely damaged forest soils and watersheds for de22, 2002 to announce his new Healthy For- cades to come.
America’s public lands have undergone radical
ests Initiative. The Bush Administration will
- Significantly step up efforts to prevent the changes during the last century due to the suppresdamage caused by catastrophic wildfires by
...Continued on page 4
reducing unnecessary regulatory obstacles that hinder active forest management, work with Congress
to pass legislation that addresses the
unhealthy forest crisis by expediting
procedures for forest thinning and
restoration projects, and fulfill the
promise of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan to ensure sustainable forest
management and appropriate timber
production.
Background on
Presidential Action
The 2002 fire season is already one
of the worst in modern history. More
than 5.9 million acres have burned
this year, an area the size of New
Hampshire and twice the annual average. This years fires have driven
tens of thousands of people from their
homes, destroyed more than 2,000
homes and structures, and caused the
deaths of 20 firefighters. These fires
have also killed hundreds of millions President George W. Bush tours the Squires Peak Fire Area in Medford,
of trees, devastated habitat, and se- Ore., with Ron Wenker of the Medford Bureau of Land Management.
by James E. Knight and Billy Tarrant, Extension Wildlife
Snakes are perhaps the most feared and hated ani- Although you wouldn’t want a poisonous snake around
mals in New Mexico, but people’s fear of snakes comes your home, snake venom can be beneficial and has been
from lack of understanding and superstition. Snakes used in developing a variety of human medicines. One
are not mysterious at all, and these fascinating crea- type of high blood pressure medicine was developed
using information based on
tures don’t deserve the anxichemicals in snake venom.
ety many people feet about
Researchers are conducting
them. Of the 46 snake spestudies using snake poisons
cies found in New Mexico,
to develop treatments for
only 8 are poisonous and poblood and heart problems.
tentially dangerous, includSnake venom is also being ining 7 species of rattlesnakes
vestigated for controlling
and a coral snake.
some types of harmful bacteThere are many benefits
ria.
from having some snakes
Some snakes are quite rare
around the yard or garden.
and are protected species.
Snakes are one of nature’s
These rare snakes are on
most efficient mousetraps,
state and federal endangered
killing and eating a variety of
and threatened species lists.
rodent pests. While snakes
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
The ridgenose rattlesnake is
will not eliminate pests, they
do help keep their numbers in check. Some harmless on the federal list while the mottled rock rattlesnake,
snakes (king snakes and coachwhips) eat other snakes, Mexican and narrowhead garter snakes, plainbelly water snake, green rat snake, and western ribbon snake
including poisonous ones.
are on New Mexico’s endangered and threatened list.
Snakes are ectotherms,
meaning they regulate their
body temperature by absorbCurtis Canyon Road, Forest Road 269, located on the Lincoln National Foring or giving off heat. Because
est near Cloudcroft, will open August 31. Lincoln National Forest enacted a
their body temperature is afroad closure order on July 16, due to the Monsoon rains that were affecting
fected by environmental temthe burned area of the Penasco Fire.
peratures and varies with surWant to beat the heat that southern New Mexico and west Texas have been
rounding conditions, snakes
experiencing? Labor Day weekend, the weekend traditionally marking the
become inactive during very
end of summer and families spending quality outdoor time together, is when
hot seasons and very cold seayou are highly encouraged to visit the Lincoln National Forest.
sons. During these periods of
Above normal temperatures have been occurring over the last couple of
inactivity, snakes may go for
weeks, and no rain is forecast through the Labor Day weekend. Please, be
several weeks without eating.
very fire safe when recreating in the forest. These dry, hot conditions are the
Because they are coldperfect time to remind everyone to be very careful with their campfires. See
blooded, snakes must rely on
the forest article on page 5 for camp and picnic ground closing dates.
their behavior to regulate their
body temperature. During the
hot part of the day, snakes
BULK RATE
move
to shaded areas, and on
US POSTAGE
cool
days
they sun themselves in
Get a subscription to this newspaper
warm open areas. Snakes often
Call toll free 1-877-987-2561 today!
Curtis Canyon Road Opens
and Forest Campground Info
PAID
CLOUDCROFT, NM
PERMIT NO. 7
...Continued on Page 7
Penasco Fire
West Nile Virus
from the Lincoln National Forest
from Robert L. Eason, DVM
The West Nile Virus is now in New Mexico! The
disease was first diagnosed in New York city only a
few years ago and the spread has been rapid and will
probably reach the west coast in the near future. The
source of the initial United States case is still a mystery. The virus is an encephalitis virus (rotavirus)
and has a typical epidemiology pattern of the other
rotavirus encephalitis infections of man and horses.
The carrier hosts are birds, especially crows, ravens,
and blue jays, which are usually found dead from
the virus. Migratory birds are instrumental in the
geographical spread of the disease. The virus is of a
August 9, 2002 — The Scott Able and Cree fires in
2000 brought first-hand experience of how devastating fire can be to mountain communities. Drought
over the last few years has provided the perfect conditions for spring winds to move wildfire through
the forest at very fast speeds. Unfortunately, even
with all the precautions taken by Forest personnel
and those who live adjacent to forests, accidents do
occur.
Fire is a natural process that occurs within National Forests, but putting the fire out is not the only
important work that happens during fires. Even while
...Continued on Page 2
...Continued on Page 8
New Head of USDA Rural
Development in New Mexico
August 20, 2002 — President George W. Bush’s newest appointee Jeff Condrey was sworn in as State Director for USDA Rural Development in New Mexico
during ceremonies on August 19, 2002 at USDA
Rural Development’s state office located at 6200
Jefferson NE in Albuquerque.
Condrey’s position as USDA Rural Development
State Director is one of five who hold a presidential
appointed position here in New Mexico.
Condrey brings to USDA Rural Development, vast
leadership experience related to rural economic and
community development issues. Until his appointment Condrey was Director of the State of New
Mexico’s Department of Finance and Administration
Local Government Division (LGD). In that position
he was responsible for supervising an agency performing statewide community development; and
budget approval/monitoring of cities, counties and
certain special districts. At any given time LGD has
approximately 1,200 active projects/grants valued
in excess of $200 million.
During his swearing in ceremony Condrey said, “I
look forward to working with the people of rural
New Mexico.” Condrey added, “Being born on the
Navajo reservation and brought up in Gallup I know
the needs rural New Mexico faces, and I’ll do my
best to help the residents of rural New Mexico.”
USDA Rural Development serves as the lead federal entity for rural development needs, and administers program assistance through three agencies:
Rural Housing Service, Rural Business - Cooperative
Service and Rural Utilities Service.
Mr. Condrey’s given the oath of office by Rita Navarrete,
USDA Rural Development’s Administrative Officer.
2
“FISHIN’ WITH CHIP”
I Just Hate It When ...
by Chip Chipman, Arizona Mountain Flyfishing
I drop the fly I am trying to tie on and can’t find it.
I just hate it when I drop my fly box into a rapidly moving stream.
I drop my net into a rapidly moving stream.
I forget my lunch.
I drop myself into a rapidly moving stream.
I forget water.
Clipping the tag ends of a surgeons knot, I instead
I forget anything.
I tear an expensive cut the tippet I just tied on.
I get caught in a thunderstorm with a graphite fly
pair of waders on
rod in one hand, a metal wading staff in the other
barbed wire.
I tear my shirt on while wearing wading shoes with the titanium spikes.
And, most of all, I just hate it when I can’t go fishing.
barbed wire.
I tear anything on
Chip Chipman is a fishing guide and lives in
barbed wire.
Nutrioso, Arizona. See “Fishin’ with Chip” on-line
I lose my forceps.
at www.azod.com.
I lose my net.
I lose anything.
I get tangled up in yards and yards of mono that
some bozo just left on the ground.
My favorite stream is littered with “sportsmen’s”
trash after a major holiday weekend.
I wash and dry my pants without removing my wal- August 12, 2002 — SBS Wood Shavings, a newly
let and my fishing license is a bunch of confetti.
formed business near Ruidoso, NM, will soon be firMy rod guides ice up.
ing up a modular biopower system, called BioMax 15.
I break a rod.
From numerous highly competitive applications across
Wood Energy
Demo Project
Advanced Detection Systems LLC
1804 Mountain View Ave
Alamogordo, NM 88310
(505) 439-1299 or [email protected]
Our Programmed Water Sensors have proven extremely accurate in locating under ground streams
and rivers for water wells. They detect only streams of flowing water that provide a consistent flow
of water the year round. Programmed Water Sensors determine the depth, gallons per minute,
and direction of channel.
We are now offering our services on a drill first, pay later basis. If you do not get the water,
you don’t have to pay. We locate a water channel; give you the approximate depth of the
water, approximate gallons per minute, and direction of the channel.
After you drill the well you can pay for the service. Our regular rate is three hundred
dollars per well site. This will help us continue to provide this service for others who are in
need of water wells.
Our services can save property owners thousands of dollars by preventing drilling of marginal,
dry, or unnecessarily deep wells. We presently serve the Otero County NM area, and would like to
expand our services to all of New Mexico, but we are retired and have only our pensions for
support, so are limited in the area we can serve.
We believe our mission is to open as many wells as possible for as many people as possible; to
help make all the deserts bloom with homes, farms, and ranches. Your payment will help us to
accomplish this mission.
We have learned there are many underground streams and rivers that flow beneath the deserts,
and all arid regions; that most of these flow through and out of the area without being utilized, and
have no connection to the underground water table. Our goal is to make the public aware of this
fact.
There is a great abundance of water in all arid and desert regions that is not being utilized,
because until now we have been unable to locate and follow these streams and rivers, or to determine the amount of flow at regular intervals. This can now be accomplished.
When local, state, and government officials realize this fact, there will be no water shortage, and
there will be no water rationing.
Dan & Gene Closser, Agents
Advanced Detection Systems LLC
the country, SBS Wood Shavings was one of seven sites
chosen to demonstrate how forest thinnings can provide energy services to rural communities and enterfirefighting efforts are underway, a Burned Area Emer- prises.
gency Rehabilitation Team (BAER) is assembled.
Recent forest fires in the West have again raised the
Known as a BAER Team, these folks assess the situa- issue that forests need to be thinned to reduce haztion, develop a plan and begin the initial rehabilita- ardous fuel loadings. What to do with this material,
tion process to the affected areas. The BAER Team when removed, is a problem. SBS Wood Shavings will
can include hydrologists, engineers, range conserva- be helping to solve this problem.
tionist, biologist, archaeologists, soil scientists and
BioMax 15 is a state-of-the-art, transportable, fully
combined geographic specialists from several areas automated, and environmentally friendly biopower
and agencies.
system that uses forest residues to produce electricity
from Attorney General Patricia Madrid
The Peñasco Fire, which burned 15,024 acres, and heat suitable for small enterprises, rural homes,
brought the BAER team together again, providing and schools. The BioMax 15 uses advanced downdraft August 26, 2002 - Attorney General Patricia Madrid process may conclude with a disciplinary hearing. The
ample time for a quick response before the monsoon gasification technology to convert the energy in wood and her Consumer Protection Division have received Division may direct payment of bond monies to comrains moved northward from Mexico. To date, 4.4 residues to a clean, gaseous fuel suitable for use by a several manufactured housing complaints against pensate injured consumers. As a result, a portion of
inches of rain have fallen on the Peñasco Fire BAER variety of generators, including automotive and indus- Bluestar Homes and Grand Homes, both formerly of Bluestar’s $25,000 consumer protection bond and
areas, but no major flooding has occurred, thanks to trial engines. Current prototypes of the BioMax line Espanola, New Mexico. In following up on the com- Grand’s separate $25,000 consumer protection bond
the work done immediately after the fire.
of biopower systems produce from 5 to 15 kW of elec- plaints, Attorney General Madrid and the state’s Manu- may be attached and awarded to injured consumers.
The Team has been monitoring rehabilitation work, tricity and up to 50 kW of useful heat.
If consumers do not file complaints by October 15,
factured Housing Division have decided to urge all
and all dams and other work are doing a great job
Glen and Sherry Barrow, owners of SBS Wood Shav- consumers who may have valid complaints against 2002, they risk the possibility that all of the bond monpreventing major flooding and mudslides. The place- ings, are excited to be part of this national wood en- those companies to promptly submit them. Refunds eys will already be allocated to other consumers. Conment of dams has helped slow the flow of water from ergy project.
or damages funds may be available to assist injured sumers should call the Manufactured Housing Divirushing through the canyons and demonstrates firstsion to ask about the complaint form and other docuconsumers.
hand how the Team’s efforts have paid off. No damage
NOTICE
The Attorney General’s Office has turned these com- mentation they may need to submit. The Division’s
to properties has occurred. Some Forest roads will
Due to missile firings on McGregor Range New
plaints over to the state’s Manufactured Housing Divi- mailing address is 725 St. Michael’s Drive, Santa Fe,
require repairs on a continuous basis until the mon- Mexico Highway 506 from US 54 to Timberon/Dell sion for investigation. The Attorney General’s Office NM 87505. The phone number is 505-827-7070,
soon rains ease up, but in no way does it hinder the City cut off will be closed on the following dates: is advising consumers to file written complaints with and the fax number is (505) 827-7074.
monitoring process.
the Manufactured Housing Division before October
September 4, from 9am - 5pm
“The BAER Team, along with the Natural Resource
15, 2002. After that date, the Division’s investigation
September 5, from 9am - 5pm
Conservation Service, New Mexico State Forestry, and
all those who have either contracted or volunteered
have implemented a project that worked,” said Mark
Cadwallader, Range Conservationist, Sacramento
Ranger District, Cloudcroft, NM.
Moisture levels have increased, allowing LNF Supervisor, Jose Martinez, to reopen the Forest and lift fire
restrictions. With the recent rains and lightening
strikes, no fires have caused any further stands to
from Charles Wagner, CFP
burn, thanks to quick response by Lincoln fire perIn recent years, state-sponsored prepaid tuition plans have played second cousin to would guarantee that such
sonnel. As always, be safe when using fire.
their younger and wildly popular 529 savings plans. While nearly every state offers a huge increases would be covered,
529 plan, fewer than 20 offer prepaid plans. But with college while investors in state-run 529 plans can
tuition increasing in leaps and bounds, and the stock market in a only hope the market will perk up.
The investment return on prepaid plans doesn’t precisely follow the average rate of
slump, prepaid plans are looking attractive to families wanting a
The Mountain Times is a monthly newspaper that covers Sun- solid-returning, lower-risk college savings vehicle.
increase in the state’s public colleges and universities. It’s a bit more complicated than
spot, Weed, Sacramento, Timberon, Cloudcroft, Mayhill, High Rolls,
Prepaid plans and college savings plans fall under the same sec- that. For example, with programs using “contract” plans in which families buy in a
Mountain Park, Pinon and the Lincoln National Forest. The Pub- tion of the federal tax code and share some of the same tax ben- lump sum or a series of payments a specified number of years of tuition (versus buying
lishers and Editors are J.J. & Kim Duckett; with various writers efits: no income restrictions on contributors, tax-free growth of “units” representing a fraction of tuition and fees), you can end up buying tuition at a
from the mountain communities. We are always looking for more earnings and tax-exemption of earnings as long as they’re spent discount or at a premium. This depends in part on your child’s age at the time you join
writers! If you are interested, call. The Advertising Sales man- on qualified education expenses. But the plans differ significantly the plan, number of credit hours eventually taken and which state institution the child
ultimately attends.
ager is Amber Walterscheid. We are now hiring additional Adver- in several ways.
The primary characteristic of prepaid plans is that they guaranThe web site www.collegesavings.com gives the example of an Alabama family buying
tising Sales people. This newspaper is published monthly by Mounth
tain Times Publications - P.O. Box 190, Timberon, New Mexico tee, in general, that your investment in the plan today will keep up a contract for their 8 grade child. If the child ultimately attends the more expensive
88350. By the way, THIS NEWSPAPER IS CURRENTLY FOR with future increases in school tuition. Until recently, only states University at Montevallo, they receive a 7 percent discount. If the child attends AlaSALE! Own a newspaper in the Sacramento Mountains, call for sponsored prepaid plans. Now some private colleges offer them. bama State University, they pay a 24 percent premium.
Predicting the precise returns up front is impossible, but an April 2002 article in the
Returns on investments in 529 college savings plans, which are
more information.
You can contact the paper with an ad, news story, or to request placed in mutual-fund type accounts, are not guaranteed. On the Journal of Financial Planning concluded that the average annual after-tax return of
other hand, you have the potential of earning more overall than prepaid tuition plans since 1991, based on a hypothetical national plan, was 6.3 pera subscription in one of the following ways cent. It returned this with one-fifth of the risk of the S&P 500.
the annual increases in state tuitions.
TOLL FREE
But return isn’t everything. College savings plans offer several advantages over preBut two factors are driving renewed attention to pre-paid plans.
1-877-987-2561
First, the decline in the stock market since March 2000 has dam- paid plans, including
IN TIMBERON
aged returns for college savings plans, just as it has hurt returns - Dollars saved in prepaid plans currently reduce federal financial aid more than dol987-2561
for mutual funds. Worse, many investment experts are predicting lars saved in 529 plans.
FAX
market returns in the next 10 to 20 years to average lower than - Prepaid plans typically restrict participation to state residents. Savings plans don’t.
- Although you can use your state’s prepaid plan for schools outside your state, the
the historical average (around 11 percent).
505-987-2330
plan is tied to your state schools’ costs, which may fall short of an out-of-state school.
Meanwhile,
college
tuition
increases,
which
had
been
running
EMAIL
- Refunds from canceled prepaid plans tend to be more restrictive, in some cases
four
to
five
percent
annually
in
recent
years
at
state
schools,
have
[email protected]
jumped dramatically. Average tuition costs at four-year public in- forgoing earnings.
WEBSITE
stitutions rose nearly eight percent for the 2001–2002 academic - Many prepaid plans limit investments to tuition and fees, whereas investments in 529
http://www.mountaintimes.net
year. More ominously, several state schools, hit hard by budget plans can cover a broader range of qualified education costs, such as housing and
Help keep us informed on what is happening in the area. In addition cuts from revenue-strapped states, have already announced tu- food.
to current events, we are interested in history, pictures, etc... deadline ition increases of 10 to 20 percent for 2002–2003. Prepaid plans - Prepaid plans often have specific enrollment periods, unlike 529 plans.
A financial planner who is
is the 20th - 25th. We are always looking for new writers and will be
knowledgeable
about your state’s
For the News, Stories and History of the Sacramento Mountains
more than happy to discuss any ideas you might have for an article or
prepaid
plan
can
help you weigh
Timberon, Sunspot, Weed, Sacramento, Mayhill, High Rolls, Mountain Park and Cloudcroft.
series in the paper.
the
critical
factors
of the plan to
Letters from readers must arrive by the 20th of the month (deadline)
The
Newspaper
you
need
to
subscribe
to
determine its potential attractivewith your name, address and phone number. All letters are the writer’s
ness compared with other college
is
the
PO
BOX
190,
TIMBERON,
NM
88350
opinion and may not reflect the opinion of this paper. Letters are subfinancing alternatives.
ject to editing for length, grammar and its worthiness of publication.
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Fire ...Continued
Attorney General Needs Consumer
Input on Bluestar and Grand Homes
FINANCES
Pre-Paid Tuition Plans Deserve
A Second Look
ABOUT THIS NEWSPAPER
Mountain Times
A Little About
THE LAW......
by Sheriff John Lee
I did an article earlier in the year about construction zones, safety zones, and some of the
changes in the law that went into effect on July
1st of this year. I want to follow up on that so
that you don’t get “blind sided” if you get
stopped by law enforcement in one of these
construction or safety zones.
At the request of law enforcement and some
of the construction companies, our legislative
body passed some new laws this year. In a nutshell, fines for traffic violations will be doubled
on violations within these areas. If the normal
fine for the violation would be $50, it will be
$100 within the construction or safety zone.
The points system for your drivers license will
not be affected.
A construction zone is defined as any area of
the roadway which is under construction and
properly posted. By properly posted, it must
have signs that indicate that a construction zone
is ahead, reduced speed limit warning signs,
signs that state that fines are doubled, and signs
that tell you when you are no longer within the
construction zone. Of course, these signs must
be posted in such a manner that gives you
enough warning and notice to comply with the
requirements. In other words, you cannot have
one sign that says, “construction zone ahead,
reduce speed and fines doubled.” They must
be set a certain distance before the construction zone, and done in sequence so that the traveling public has enough time to read them and
react. If they are not properly posted, then they
are not enforceable as construction zones, and
the normal fines for violations will be in effect.
“GIRL TALK” with Laquita Hunter
... Missing Children
BUGSCUFFLE
I am going to talk to you about a subject that is near
and dear to my heart and that is the subject of missing
children.
So many times we only think of missing children
when we hear a highly publicized story of an abducted
child; tragically there seems to be a rash of such news
stories lately.
Stories like the ones we have been hearing of late
always get our attention and they cause us to focus, if
only for a little while, on our vulnerability and especially the
vulnerability of our children.
The hard cold fact is that the problem of missing children
is not relegated to a few highly publicized cases we may hear
about every year or two. The problem of missing children is
epidemic and we all need to be aware of this and realize that
we need to become involved.
According to the figures from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children there are 438,200 children reported lost, injured or otherwise missing each year. In addition to that, 450,700 children run away from home each year.
There are 354,000 children who are abducted by a parent
of family member annually. There are 114,600 attempted
abductions by non-family members each year. These abductions were attempted, but failed.
About 100 abducted children end up murdered each year.
These are astounding and frightening facts; facts that should
wake us up and inspire us to find ways we can help. We have
a responsibility to all children, not just our own. We can
help by becoming more aware that there are many missing
children. The potential for this horrible crime to happen is
ever present. It is our responsibility to learn what, if anything, we can do to help prevent an abduction and to help
recover a missing child.
Looking for a Mature and
Somewhere at this very
Self-Motivated Person to
moment there are children who have been
Sell Newspaper Ads
taken from the security of
Perfect job for some who wants
a home where people
to suppliment existing income and
loved and cared for them
set own hours. If interested, Call
to a place that is terrifytoll free - 1-877-987-2561.
ing, with people who are
terrifying. Right now, as
Serving Timberon, Pinon, Mayhill, Weed, Sacramento and
you read this, there are
children who are crying,
Sunspot areas with propane and propane services.
and are in pain, both
physically and mentally
and who want nothing
T H E P R O P A N E C O M P A N Y
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safety, security and love.
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We are all aware of the
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dangers
of stranger ab12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234
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duction. All of us as par12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234
VENT-FREE HEATERS
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ents and grandparents
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have cautioned our chil12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234
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dren not to go with strang12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234
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ers, not to allow a stranger
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in the house, staying in a
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group when on an outing
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and all the other various
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rules that we give them for
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their safety. But, how
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many of you are aware of
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the dangers and ugliness
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of parental abduction? As
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REAT
FOR
IGH
LTITUDE
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stated earlier 354,000
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child are abducted each
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We
provide
timely
and
competitive
propane
delivery
and
year by a parent or other
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services
throughout
the
Mountain
Area,
including
family member.
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Timberon,
Weed,
Pinon,
Sacramento,
Sunspot,
and
Mayhill.
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If you are one who be12345678901234567890123456789012123456789012345678901234567890121234
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lieves
that because a child
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is
abducted
by a parent
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Please call 505-987-2365 or 1-888-441-6630
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that they are okay, they will
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if we may be of assistance.
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be safe, because after all
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they were abducted by
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TIMBERON:
505-987-2365
(Fax)
505-987-2441
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someone who loves them,
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ALEDO: 817-441-6568 or 1-888-441-6630
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then let me shed some
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SACRAMENTO/WEED AREA: 505-687-3345
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light on that subject for
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MAYHILL: 505-687-2301
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you.
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(Email)
[email protected]
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In the book “Children in
the Crossfire” the author,
Sally Abrams, interviewed
For R
OAD CL
OSUR
E and R
OAD C
ONDI
T ION
RO
CLOSUR
OSURE
RO
CONDI
ONDIT
quite a number of children who had been abducted by a parent and
were finally recovered by
W hite S
ands Missile R
ange
505-678-1178
Sands
Range
the victim parent.
McGr
egor R
ange
915-569-9280
McGregor
Range
Without exception, evNM Road Advisor
800-432-4269
ery child interviewed told
Advisoryy Hotline
here virtually the same
thing. Their lives
had been mis-
A safety zone must
be posted in the
same manner. A
safety zone is a particular section of
highway that due to
its own nature creates more of a hazard
than normal. Highway 82 is a perfect example
of what will be a safety zone. This highway by
its steepness in grade, sharp curves which you
can’t see around, and narrowness makes it
dangerous to drive on. Since there is no real
way to make the highway itself better without
huge expense, declaring it a safety zone is the
next best step. Hopefully, people who drive
that highway will pay more attention to what
they are doing, as it could get very expensive
with just a few citations. I am told that highway 82 is the first highway in the State to be
considered for declaration as a safety zone.
The area to be considered is from Cloudcroft
down to about MILEMARKER 3, which is where
the highway starts up the mountain. Once all
the traffic studies and surveys are complete,
you can expect to see signs posting it as a safety
zone. This should be coming in the very near
future, and I would suggest that you start preparing for it now.
The intent of both the construction and safety
zones is not to generate money for the State,
but to slow people down and reduce the
amount of fatality and injury accidents that
we currently have.
Personally, I think it makes good sense
to do this, but I am sure that we
will hear about it from the people
who get the tickets. Oh well, such
is life in the big city.
Romantic Fall
Fashions
by Carol Alvarado
Everyone seems to be reading
again and bookstores like Barnes and
Nobles are booming with customers.
The fashion market has its own
version of this trend with a garment
called the “poet shirt.”
These romantic blouses and shirts
are reminescent of days gone by,
made of sheer and lace fabrics that
show ruffles, jabot collars and
pleating.
Vests of velvet, damask and
embroidery are paired with soft
skirts in silk chiffon, cotton prints
and suede to complete this poetic fashion vision.
Beaded jewelry and purses, and short suede boots
complement the romantic style of Fall 2002.
Happy Shopping (and happy reading, as well)! Be
sure to attend the Garden Club Fashion Show in
Cloudcroft, Saturday, September 28, for more great
fashion trends. (call 682-3900 for ticket info.)
Carol Alvarado is the owner of THE ESTATE VINTAGE
CLOTHING BOUTIQUE in Cloudcroft.
SBA Disaster
Loan Deadline
Businesses in some New Mexico and Texas counties
have until September 9, 2002 to file applications for
low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available for businesses dependent on
farmers and ranchers sustaining crop losses due to
drought that occurred from January 1, 2001, and continuing. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible for these
SBA loans. However, nurseries that are victims of
drought disasters can apply.
Applications and further information can be obtained
by calling the SBA toll-free at 1-800-366-6303 or TDD
817-267-4688 for the hearing impaired.
3
Sacramento Energy
Rinnai
G
H
A
INFORMA
TION
INFORMAT
erable. They had lived in desperation, loneliness, and fear.
They had lived in many different places because the abducting parent kept on the run to avoid being caught. These children usually lived under assumed names and many times
their hair was dyed another color to avoid being recognized.
Sometimes they went to school, sometimes they didn’t and in
any case they were not allowed to have friends or lead a normal childhood. They had to constantly be aware of what they
said or didn’t say to someone.
It was quite common for these children to have suffered
from some form of physical abuse, and the mental and emotional abuse goes without saying. That was an automatic result. Remember that these are children who were abducted
by one parent from the other parent.
One child told Ms Abrams that he could have understood
better if a stranger had abducted him. He said you know not
to trust a stranger, but when your father (or mother) abducts you, it is hard to understand why someone you trust
and love would do this to you.
Usually when children are abducted by a parent they are
told one of two things by the abductor. They are told that the
other parent is dead or that the other parent doesn’t want
them. Children are vulnerable and especially vulnerable in
this kind of situation. They are hurt, scared and confused
and they are longing for and missing the parent they were
taken from. They are especially hurt when they are told the
other parent is dead or that they other parent no longer wants
them.
Often the abducting parent will lay the added burden of
guilt on these vulnerable children. Some abducting parents
will tell the child that not only does the victim parent not
want him, but if the other parent finds them that the abducting parent will be arrested and go to jail and it will be the
fault of the child. So, these children are warned not to call or
contact the victim parent unless they want to suffer the consequences.
In one case a little girl had been abducted by her father
and told that her mother did not want her. The child had
been told that her mother knew where she was, but chose
not to come and get her. These were vicious, hurtful lies.
The little girl missed her mother and longed to hear her
mother’s voice so much that every couple of weeks she would
dial her Mom’s phone number. When her mother answered
the phone she would hang up. Because of the lies her father
had told her, she was afraid to identify herself to her mother.
I could go on and on with these heartrending examples,
but the point is that any missing child is a tragedy. We can get
involved by taking notice of flyers of missing children that
are posted in various places of business. Stop a moment and
take a look at the pictures of the children. Read over the
information that tells who they are, how they were abducted
and from where. You never know when you might be able to
identify a child. Parentally abducted children are usually in
the middle of a normal neighborhood, but in very abnormal
circumstances. Could one be living in your neighborhood?
Prepare a folder containing current information of your
child. This folder should contain a current picture, a sheet
with personal information such as full name, nickname, date
of birth, height, weight, distinguishable markings, hair color,
eye color and any other information that might help to recover a child.
The folder should also contain fingerprints of the child,
but I will tell you that fingerprints are not likely to help recover a live child. Fingerprints help to identify bodies. This
folder should be updated yearly.
Of course, make sure that your children know their phone
number, address, and their parents full name.
When in a store such as Wal-Mart and the Code Adam alert
is enacted, be willing to tune in to what is going on. The
Code Adam alert is sounded when a child is reported missing in the store. A description of the child will be broadcast
over the speaker. Take note of the child’s description and
look around you. If you see someone fitting that description
take them to a store employee or notify an employee immediately that you have seen the child. If the child is with an
adult take note of the description of the adult and quickly
report it to store personnel. If possible keep the child and
adult in you view until help arrives. The adult could be the
kidnapper.
Parental abductions occur in families where the parents
are obviously having marriage problems. Make sure your
children understand, before it is too late, that you would never
voluntarily leave them. Imbed it in their minds that they are
never to believe anyone who might tell them that you don’t
want them or don’t love them. You can say these things without implicating your spouse or anyone else.
If you suspect that your adult child could be considering
abducting their child, please help that parent to understand
the severe, long range consequences that this action brings
upon these children, not to mention the jail time that the abducting parent would likely face.
Make no mistake in thinking that being abducted by a parent doesn’t cause permanent emotional damage to a child.
One young woman, now 32 years old, was abducted by her
father when she was 9. She and her brother did not see their
mother for many years. At 17, she ran away from her father,
but because of the fear that her father would be arrested and
it would be her fault, she wouldn’t contact her mother until
her 18th birthday. Her little brother was away from his mother
for 21 years before he was finally reunited with her. Though
both of these adult children now have a good relationship
with their mother, they each have emotional problems and
scars.
Any and every missing child is a tragedy. Over one million
children are reported missing in one form or another every
year. What has our society come to? Remember the children! Begin praying for all the children who are alive somewhere, without the parents they are longing for and for all
the parents who don’t know where there children are.
4
Healthy Forests
...Continued
sion of fires and a lack of active forest and rangeland management. In
healthy forests, low-intensity fires help rejuvenate habitat by clearing out
underbrush and small trees, leaving an open forest with strong, fireresistant, mature trees. Today, the forests and rangelands of the West
have become unnaturally dense, and ecosystems have suffered.
When coupled with seasonal droughts, these unhealthy forests are vulnerable to unnaturally severe wildfires. They are overloaded with the
fuels for fires, underbrush and small trees. A large, catastrophic fire can
release the energy equivalent of an atomic bomb and destroy, rather than
renew, our forests.
Currently, 190 million acres of public land and surrounding communities are at increased risk of extreme fires. In May, the federal government reached agreement with 17 western governors, tribal, and local
officials on a comprehensive 10-year Fire Plan implementation strategy
to reduce the threat of severe fires and promote healthy forests. This
strategy calls for active forest management, through thinning and prescribed burns, to reduce the unnatural buildup of fuels.
Current firefighting techniques are often successful, but land managers must do more to prevent these catastrophic fires. The federal government has provided record levels of support for firefighting, but efforts to tackle the root cause of these fires through active forest management are too often hindered by unnecessary procedural delays and litigation.
For example, in Oregon, federal officials identified the Squires Peak
area as a high fire risk in 1996, and began planning a project to thin
crowded trees and dense underbrush on 24,000 acres. After six years of
analysis and documentation, administrative appeals and two lawsuits,
work was allowed to begin on 430 acres of the original 24,000-acre
project. When lightning ignited the Squires Peak fire on July 13, 2002,
with only a fraction of the area thinned, the fire quickly spread to 2,800
acres. The thinned area was unharmed by the fire. In unthinned areas,
the fire killed most trees, sterilized soils and destroyed the habitat of
threatened spotted owls. The fire cost $2 million to suppress, and $1
million will be needed to rehabilitate the devastated area.
The 1994 Northwest Forest Plan, which was designed to produce a
healthy and sustainable forest economy while providing needed habitat
protection, has failed to live up to its promise due to costly delays and
unnecessary litigation. The Bush Administration will work with all interested parties, including Congress, to resolve the legal and procedural
problems that have undermined the promise of the Northwest Forest
Plan.
The Sacramento Mountain area normally incounters “imput” from two
specific environmental groups - the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity and The Forest Guardians. A news release at the top of this page
discribes how the Southwest Center is reacting, the Forest Guardians
appear to have not thought of a response yet.
Arizona Conservationists Urge Community
Protection Plan for Forest Fires
August 21, 2002 — Arizona conservationists today called on President
Bush and the Forest Service to invest $2 billion annually for the next five
years to protect communities at risk from wildfire by targeting the funds
towards thinning small trees and burning brush within a protection zone
1500 feet from homes and other buildings.
“Thinning small trees and doing controlled burning immediately next
to communities should be a top priority for safety and an area of consensus, “said Rob Smith, Southwest Representative for the Sierra Club in
Phoenix. “Arizonans support forest work near communities while saving the large old growth trees in the backcountry, according to recent
polling.”
“Science shows that the wildland-urban interface, where the forest is
closest to people and structures, is the place to really make a difference
on protecting communities from wildfire danger,” said Sharon Galbreath,
executive director of the Southwest Forest Alliance, a coalition of more
than 60 conservation organizations in Arizona and New Mexico. “According to the Forest Service, 90% of our ponderosa pine trees in the
Southwest are 12 inches or less in diameter, so there is plenty of work to
do just thinning small trees and no need to bring back a big-tree logging
program.”
“This summer’s fires provide an important opportunity to move forward with broadly supported community protection measures such as prescribed burning and small diameter
thinning,” said Brian Segee, appeals coordinator for the Center for Biological
Diversity. “Out of 244 forestry projects
currently planned in the Southwest, conservationists are opposed to only 10 all big-tree timber sales, and none dedicated to wildfire fuel reduction. Will
President Bush and the Forest Service
seize the common ground, or will they
continue to carry out destructive oldgrowth timber sales that do nothing to
reduce fire danger or protect communities?”
Conservation groups announced a
seven point plan to protect forest communities from wildfire risk today in Oregon, in advance of President Bush’s
visit to that state tomorrow.
The conservationists’ seven-point plan
announced today includes:
· Do the most important work first.
Make protection of communities from
fires the Forest Service’s Number One
Priority.
· Provide meaningful funding. This program should be a minimum of
five years and funded at $2 billion a year to go directly to fireproofing
homes and removing hazardous fuels in the Community Protection Zones
(1500 feet into the forest around a community).
· Match personnel to work. Shift Forest Service personnel skilled in
preparing brush clearing and thinning projects from backcountry, low
priority areas to the Community Protection Zones.
· Carry out immediately the vast majority of fuel reduction projects in the
Community Protection Zones that raise no significant environmental issues.
· Restore natural fires to have natural forests. Prescribed burns can
help reduce fuel buildup and restore healthy forest habitats.
· Protect our ancient and wild forest from logging and logging roads.
· Stop the attack on forest protection safeguards.
“This plan will protect our towns as well as our forests,” said Melissa
Savage, Southwestern forest fire ecologist and professor emeritus, UCLA.
“It makes sense to start protecting both people and forests by first thinning small trees that fuel destructive fires near human habitation. Safe,
prescribed burns are the key to keeping Southwestern forests from becoming bonfires.”
“If we put people first, we’ll do two things: we’ll focus people where
the people are, and we’ll put enough workers on the job to protect the people. That means tinder-reduction, not timber production, in the community protection zone,” said Roger Kennedy,
Director Emeritus of the National Museum of American History
of the Smithsonian Institution, and former Director of the National Park Service. “And it means that we have to get serious
about protecting both the people there and the people who would
have to rescue them from fires. This is the right plan.”
A wide range of environmental groups contributed to the development, ideas and information behind this policy. They include: The Sierra Club, Southwest Forest Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity, The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, American Lands, National Forest Protection Alliance, Oregon Natural Resources Council, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, The Lands Council, National Environmental Trust,
US Public Interest Research Group, World Wildlife Fund, Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, California Wilderness Coalition, Pacific
Biodiversity Institute and others.
Editor’s Note - The above news release was issued by the Sierra
Club, Southwest Forest Alliance, and Center for Biological Diversity. The release was printed as presented by these organizations, even though it states what we consider certain
“misinformations” concerning their past activities. It is good,
however, to see them supporting some form of thinning.
Endangered Species Protection Proposed for Fish
August 9 — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed adding the
Gila chub (Gila intermedia), a minnow native to southwestern streams,
to the list of species protected under the Endangered Species Act. The
chub is proposed as endangered with critical habitat along 208 miles of
spring-fed and perennial streams and headwaters in New Mexico and
Arizona.
Historically the chub was found throughout the Gila River basin in southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northeastern Sonora
Mexico. Today only 31 isolated and vulnerable populations remain.
Humans have affected southwestern riparian systems over several thousand years. By the late 1800s, watersheds were in poor condition from
uncontrolled livestock grazing, mining, expanded irrigation agriculture,
hay and timber harvesting, and fire suppression. These activities led to
such long-term habitat degradation that the impacts are still felt today.
“Although these changes took place nearly a century ago, the aquatic
ecosystem hasn’t bounced back and may never fully recover,” said H.
Dale Hall, Director of the Service’s Southwest Region. “Today, people do
a much better job of managing their livestock, but the habitat is so degraded that this once widespread southwest native fish is confined to
deep pools in the headwaters.”
The Gila chub today is found in less than 15 percent of its historic
range. The fish faces additional threats from increased groundwater
pumping, growing development pressures and competition from nonnative fish. These factors, as well as the introduction of diseases
to chubs, have contributed to the species’ decline and necessitated today’s proposal.
The Gila chub is a
small-finned, deepbodied, chunky, darkly-colored minnow adapted to low-flowing streams
subject to seasonal droughts. Males reach 6 inches and females can
exceed 8 inches in length. Gila chub are highly secretive, preferring
quiet, deeper waters, especially pools, or remaining near cover including terrestrial vegetation, boulders, and fallen logs in smaller streams,
springs, and cienegas (desert wetlands), and can survive in small artificial impoundments.
The Service has also proposed designating critical habitat for 26 of the
31 populations along seven streams. The proposed critical habitat designation includes 208 miles of these streams and includes a 300-foot
riparian zone adjacent to each side of the river. The majority of proposed critical habitat is found on Federal lands. Of the total, 122 miles
are lands managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Fifty of the miles are on tribal lands. A small portion is private
land, 17.8 miles. About 11 miles is on county land and seven on state
lands. The five populations not covered in the proposal have other protections in place that safeguard the species, or are found only in Mexico.
Areas crucial to a species survival can be left out of a critical habitat
designation if sufficient management protections are in place.
The Gila chub evolved in an environment of periodic drought and is
adapted to streams that may experience periods of low flow or drying
(i.e, intermittent streams). The stream reaches proposed as critical habitat all currently maintain, at a minimum, perennial pools considered to
be preferred habitat of the Gila chub.
By definition, critical habitat does not include developed areas that do
not provide elements necessary for the survival of the species, even though
they may lie within designated critical habitat boundaries. For example,
paved roads, dikes, levees, diversion structures, railroad tracks, railroad trestles, water diversion canals outside of natural stream channels,
cultivated agricultural land, and residential, commercial, and industrial
developments would be excluded.
www.southernnewmexico.com
Designation of critical habitat may have an impact on private landowners taking actions on their land only
if federal funding or permits are
involved. In similar situations, the
Service has found that well-managed livestock grazing does not
jeopardize an endangered species.
Management actions such as
habitat monitoring, limiting cattle
from entering riparian areas, and
range improvements have negated
adverse effects.
“We’re looking for additional scientific and commercial information
that is relevant to our proposal to
grant endangered species protection to the Gila chub, as well as economic information regarding the
critical habitat proposal,” said
Hall. “Public participation in
this information gathering is
essential to our developing
proper protection for the
fish.”
Today’s action satisfies the
terms of a court-approved
settlement agreement reached
in response to litigation by the
Center for Biological Diversity, the
Southern Appalachian Biodiversity
Project, and the California Native
Plant Society. The agreement is part
of a comprehensive settlement
agreement announced by Interior
Secretary Gale Norton and these
-George Corderconservation groups in 2001. The
PO Box 143 Timberon, NM 88350
agreement freed up funds that had
Phone 505-987-2372
Fax 505-987-2374
NM LIC # 30323
been set aside for litigation and allowed the Service to complete
work on several species in need
of federal protection, including
the Gila chub.
The Service is presently pre*
paring a draft economic analysis and a draft environmental assessment of the proposed critical habitat designation. The Ser*
*
vice will announce an extension
or reopening of the public com*
ment period when the drafts are
available. A final decision on
Call 505-556-8514 or toll free 1-800-230-1840
this listing and critical habitat
proposal will be made in July
2455-A E. Missouri Ave. Las Cruces, NM 88001
Charles J. Wagner CFP
2003.
ASPEN CO. CONSTRUCTION
Forest Report From The Sacramento Ranger District
OFFICE HOURS The Sacramento Ranger District Office, located in CAMPGROUND IMPROVEMENTS
the Village of Cloudcroft, at 61 Curlew, is open Monday - Friday 7:30am
- 4:30pm.
The Sacramento Ranger Station will resume its normal hours starting
in September. The office will no longer be open on Saturdays as during
the summer. There will continue to be weekend patrols by fire, law
enforcement, and recreation management personnel throughout the year,
as the needs dictate.
INFORMATION REQUESTS Questions regarding management practices of the Sacramento Ranger District may be addressed to: Frank
Martinez; Sacramento Ranger District: PO Box 288, Cloudcroft, NM
88317. The phone number is (505) 682-2551.
The Sacramento Ranger District is within the Lincoln National Forest.
Questions regarding management practices for the Lincoln National Forest may be addressed to: José Martinez, Forest Supervisor, Lincoln National Forest, 1101 New York Ave., Alamogordo, NM 88310. The phone
number is (505) 434-7200.
There are two websites containing visitor and forest management information regarding the Lincoln National Forest. They are:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/lincoln
http://www.fs.fed.us/largewatershedprojects
TOLL FREE FIRE DISPATCH There is now a 24-hour toll free
phone number to call and report possible wildfires. The number is 1877-695-1663.
Six campgrounds in the Cloudcroft area
have recently been improved to better serve the public. We are excited about the renovations and
invite readers to visit the following sites to see what’s
available. Family campgrounds: Silver, Saddle, and
Apache, located on State Highway
244 have been re-paved and
striped. The nature trails
have been resurfaced with
gravel. Each of the campgrounds have newly constructed wheel-chair accessible camp units and all the
restrooms have been replaced with accessible “sweet
smelling” style restrooms.
We would like to thank the
Boy Scouts from Alamogordo who did
an excellent job reconstructing one severely deteriorated campsite
in Apache Campground. The
Silver Overflow Campground
showers have been renovated
Many piñon in my neighborhood are relatively young trees. Although as well. The push-button conlarge “grandfather” size piñon are scattered throughout the neighbor- trols have been replaced with
hood, a good number of our neighborhood trees are still within “Christ- easy-to-use dials that allow the
mas Tree” criteria. I suspect that in my neighborhood, as well as many user to control the temperature
other areas in the Southwest, large numbers of piñons died during a and duration of the showers.
Upper and Lower Fir Group
several year drought in the 1950’s. Many of today’s trees have probably
Campgrounds,
also on Highestablished since then.
way
244,
reopened
earlier this
Julio Betancourt, a Tucson-based scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, suggests that the drought of the 50’s significantly disrupted the piñon- summer with completely upjuniper woodland, causing changes in nutrient and carbon cycling and graded facilities. Both sites have
shifting boundaries of vegetation communities that had been stable for a spacious pavilion with picnic
thousands of years. In many places in the Southwest, he and his col- tables and food storage lockers, large barleagues have demonstrated shifts in tree occurrence as much as 330 feet becue grills, new water hydrants, paved parking for both
(100 meters) upslope. Now, fifty years later, drought is now taking an- cars and recreational vehicles, and new accessible restrooms. Group
campfire circles with benches will be added this month. The Fir Trail
other stab at reducing the piñon population.
A friend recently showed me a pair of aerial photos of a mesa near the #122 originates from these sites for the pleasure of campers. Advanced
Jemez Mountains from 1935 and 1998. In the 1935 photo, there are reservations are required for both Upper and Lower Fir. Contact the
clearly fewer trees. The telling observation however was the white halos Ranger Station in Cloudcroft for information about making reservations.
around each tree in both photos. My friend had been out ground-truthing CAMPGROUNDS CLOSE FOR SEASON
the photos and confirmed my suspicion that each of the trees is sur- With the camping season winding
rounded by bare soil. The roots of the trees dominate available moisture down after Labor Day, Campground
and make it difficult for grasses or other plants to grow. The scary obser- Concessionaire, Recreation Resource
vation was the immense increase in this bare ground in the 1998 photo Management will begin the systemdue to an increase in the density of the trees. Not only does more bare atic closure of the campgrounds.
soil mean less grass and habitat for wildlife ranging from insects to brows- The following sites will close September 3: Pines, Deerhead, Sleepy
ers, but bare soil is also subject to erosion.
In the piñon-juniper woodlands, soil development is very slow due to Grass, Apache, and Saddle. The following sites will
the semi-arid conditions.
close October 15:
Great F ood - Crafts
In fact, much of the soil
Family Atmosphere
Silver
Overflow,
Silin these regions develver, Upper Fir,
oped 10,000 to 100,000
HOURS
Lower Fir, Aspen,
years ago when wetter cli1st Sun - Gospel Music
Black Bear, and
mates supported mixed
and Lunch - 12 to 3pm
Slide. If you are inconifer forests. The soil
terested in a group
Mon - 7:30 to 2pm
that washes off the
campground
and
Tues
- 10:30 to 2pm
hillslopes during our
Wed
- Closed
are
unable
to
remonsoon storms is, at
Thur
10:30
to 2pm
serve it through the
least from a human time
Fri
7:30
to
6pm
NRRS reservation
perspective, irreplacesystem, contact the
able. Therefore, it is easy
Sat - 7:30am to 2pm
Ranger Station and
to get concerned about
6pm to 7:30pm Supper
we will try to rethe “encroachment” of
serve it locally.
trees in this fire-excluded
DAILY
James Canyon and
landscape.
SPECIALS
Upper Karr Canyon
I have long favored acA group of dead trees from drought / beetle attack.
Campgrounds retive forest management in
Call for info on
main
open
all
year
and remain free
woodlands. I have encouraged fuel-wood cutting, thinning and chipWeekend
ping, and burning to reduce the density of trees on the landscape, and of charge.
Entertainment
Picnic Areas - Sleepy Grass Pichopefully slow the soil erosion that leaves tell-tale pedestals of plants in
the wake of rills and gullies. I have felt that if we did not take the respon- nic Area will close September 3.
sibility for adjusting the “unnatural” conditions we had created in the The Trestle Picnic Area will close
woodlands through our fire suppression policies, nature would make an
adjustment some day and we might not like the results.
Nature seems to be speaking up now in the form of drought-induced
bark beetle attacks. The jury is still out on the impacts this will have in
the woodlands. There are probably significant changes going on this
summer. Piñon may be “edited” out of the ecosystem in some drainages
and draws where the bark beetles populations explode. The occurrence
of piñon trees could even shift by hundreds of feet in elevation. Extra
fuels from dead and dying trees may accelerate fire behavior and spread
where fires do occur. Perhaps, the reduction in trees will allow grasses
and other plants to establish and hold the soil on the site.
For me, it is exciting to watch this happening right before us. We have
front row seats to this performance. Yet, when asked if I am concerned
about the number of dying trees in our woodlands, I can not respond
with a resounding “yes” or “no”. Rather, I find the “phenomenon” fascinating.
Dying... Continued
W E E D CA F E
505-687-3611
9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm
Monday thru Friday
9am to 1pm
Saturday
Article by Brad Orr
5
around November 1. The Karr Canyon Picnic Area will close around
December 1. Call the Ranger Station for exact dates.
The National Recreation Reservation Service is taking reservations for
the following Group Campgrounds:
* Aspen * Black Bear * Lower Fir
* Slide * Upper Fir
To make a reservation, call 1888-444-6777. A website is
available that allows customers
to check availability dates and
make on-line reservations.
Reservations may be made from
5 days to 1 year in advance. The
web address - www.reserveusa.com
SLASH PIT The slash pit located on Highway 244 reopened
August 16 after the fire crew
burned the slash that had accumulated from earlier in the year. The
schedule for the pit this month is
as follows: August 30 and 31 and
September 7, 13, 21, and 27.
Please remember that, due
to limited space, we can
only accept residential
slash including tree
limbs, shrubbery, and
garden waste. No lumber or
other processed materials
can be deposited. Also, we
cannot accept slash from thinning contracts. Once the pit fills, it will have to be closed
again until conditions allow us to burn the
slash. The hours are 9am to 3pm. On
the days that the slash pit is closed,
you may take slash to the La Luz landfill, free of charge.
FUELWOOD Fuelwood is now available in designated locations on the Lincoln National Forest. Please stop by the Ranger Station in Cloudcroft to obtain a
permit to gather fuelwood. The following fuelwood areas are open: Silver Overflow. Please check with the Campground Hosts at Silver Overflow before entering the fuelwood area. He/She will direct you to the
cutting area. The access is over the Little Apache Trail #124. Because
this is a trail and not ordinarily open to full-sized vehicles, we ask fuelwood
gatherers to be extra careful not to damage the trail. There is very limited room to turn around so check out the area before bringing in a
trailer. The wood is already cut and stacked! The second area available
is known as the “Burnt Wood” area, located in the Scott Able Fire. This
is dead and down wood that was charred in the fire.
New Mexico state law requires that any person cutting, removing, transporting, or selling any woody materials must have the written consent of
the owner or proof of ownership with them. The requirement is for
woody materials that are cut from public or private land.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs at Mescalero sometimes has fuelwood for
sale. Call (505) 671-4410 for information. Several sawmills and timber companies also sell firewood. Contact them directly for more information.
RECREATION EVENTS The following recreation events are authorized under special use permit.
*Mile High Motorcycle Endurance Event - September 8. Sponsor: Bobby
Stark.
*The Governor’s Run - September 15. Sponsor: Marsha Slane.
FUELS REDUCTION PROGRAM District fire personnel will be
burning ten acres of slash piles approximately three miles south of Weed
in September. This is part of the Rail Splitter Timber Sale project. Additional thinning will be completed after the existing piles are burned.
New contracts for thinning will be awarded in early September on the
Slough and Wimsatt Thinning Units. These are part of the wildlandurban interface fuels reduction project in the Cloudcroft/James Canyon
Area.
BUYING LAND? If you are purchasing land, always make sure that it
has legal access from a public road. If there is other private land between the land you are purchasing and a public road, there should be
some type of documentation that you will have access across that land.
Documentation may include an easement or documentation in the deeds.
(Forest Service personnel are not trained in legal matters - if you have
any questions, please consult a professional.) If you must cross land
administered by the Lincoln National Forest to get to your private property, i.e., your property is surrounded by Federal land and no public
road accesses it, please give us a call at the Ranger Station and speak to
Brad Orr.
HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES Many outdoor enthusiasts
visiting the Lincoln National Forest for the first time may be looking for
hunting and fishing opportunities. Many big game hunting licenses must
be applied for through a lottery system with New Mexico Department of
Game and Fish, some hunting and fishing licenses may be purchased
over the counter at various locations. Currently, the closest locations to
purchase these licenses are in Alamogordo located at “The Game Trail”,
“K-Mart”, “Mayhill Feed and Supply”, and “Wal-Mart.”
Riverside Condominiums and Retreat
in Timberon, New Mexico
1-800-289-3665
or local
987-2553
Email - [email protected] Web - www.mountaintimes.net / timberon
6
The Black Bears of New Mexico... Continued
HISTORY
Historically, both black bears and grizzlies lived in New Mexico, but
the last confirmed grizzly was killed in the 1930s. Currently our black
bear population stands at about 3,000. Why do you suppose black bears
have managed to survive while grizzlies have not?
Grizzlies are decidedly more aggressive than black bears. Since grizzlies evolved primarily on the plains where cover is scarce, they tend to
stand and fight rather than flee. They are more predatory and carnivorous than black bears. Grizzlies found easy prey when 19 th century settlers brought their cattle and sheep to New Mexico. In order to protect
the ranching industry, government bear trappers were granted unlimited
hunting and trapping privileges. This, combined with extensive conversion of habitat to grazing land, eventually drove the grizzly bear to extinction in New Mexico.
By contrast, black bears are more reclusive animals. They evolved in
the forests where flight behavior rather than confrontation proved to be
a more successful strategy in dealing with humans. As well as being
smaller and more agile than grizzly bears,
black bears have a keen sense of smell and
a herbivorous feeding preference. This allows black bears to forage in dense, hidden areas.
DESCRIPTION
The name “black bear” can be misleading. New Mexico’s black bears actually
come in a variety of color phases ranging
from black to brown, to cinnamon, red, and
blonde. No matter what the color, the black
bear is New Mexico’s state mammal!
An adult black bear can weigh up to 400
pounds, though the average male weighs
about 250 pounds. Female black bears typically weigh between 150 and 180 pounds.
Their powerful limbs each have five toes and
five short, curved claws that are used for
digging and severing. Their front feet are
about as long as they are wide, but the hind
feet are long and narrow and resemble a
human foot. Black bears have strong muscular necks and are very adept climbers.
They also have an acute sense of smell.
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Black bears’ potential lifespan extends to more than 30 years, although
in New Mexico it is considerably less. Their relatively short life is due to
loss of habitat, predation by other bears, hunting by humans, and to
bears becoming nuisances and subsequently having to be killed.
SHELTER
We’ve all seen cartoon bears entering caves to begin their long winter
sleep, but real black bears do not fit this stereotype. Black bears select
a surprisingly small den which has one or more openings. The openings
are often so narrow that an adult human would find it difficult to squeeze
through them. In New Mexico, dens are frequently located under
outcroppings of large rocks or tree roots. It is believed that small dens
are chosen for their thermal properties. Young, independent females
and males den alone and emerge as early as late March.
Black bears do not officially hibernate but enter a state of ‘torpor’ which
is a modified form of hibernation. Though drowsy and slow to react, a
mother bear can still defend herself and her cubs more effectively than
can an animal that truly hibernates. The black bear’s metabolic and
digestive processes undergo an
amazing transformation during
its stay in the den. Rather than
excreting, the black bear has
evolved the capacity to reabsorb
its waste products and convert
them into useful proteins and
other nutrients. Since urination
and defecation don’t occur,
odor is not produced. This significantly decreases the bear’s
chances of being found by
mountain lions, bobcats, or coyotes, which often prey upon
dens.
FOOD
Being omnivorous and opportunistic, the black bear has a
diet which varies according to
seasonal availability of foods. In
the spring the diet is mostly one
of fresh grasses and forbs,
young succulent shoots, roots,
insects, and carrion. In summer, young grasses, forbs, insects, berries, and fruits are primary sources of nourishment. Like humans, bears cannot convert cellulose into an absorbable form and so the mature plants and grasses of
summer cannot be properly digested. Rocks and stumps may be overturned in search of grubs, and yellow-jacket nests may be invaded. In
late August, bears begin to forage on the foods that enable them to gain
weight rapidly so they can go through the denning period without eating.
They eat a great deal of acorns, pinon nuts, and juniper berries in the fall
to store fat for the approaching winter. If necessary, they will feed on
small rodents, maggots, and anthills. True to popular belief, bears do
raid commercial beehives and extract honey, as well as the bees! An
occasional bear will take livestock. Males may kill and eat cubs. Such
behavior may not fit our image of Pooh or Smokey, but it does maintain
a balance between population and available habitat.
REPRODUCTION
The black bear is not a threatened or endangered species. However, it
is vulnerable to extinction because of its mating habits and reproductive
cycle. Breeding doesn’t begin until a bear is four or five years old, and
mating occurs only once every two years. For this reason wildlife management policies must take care to prevent over-hunting of black bears.
In New Mexico, black bears breed between mid-May and July. Gestation
takes seven to eight months. Delayed implantation of the egg enables the
female to breed in the summer and give birth in the winter. Though
fertilized, the egg remains a cluster of cells and doesn’t implant itself in
the uterine wall until mid-November. Embryos may not develop at all if
food is in short supply during the fall.
Females give birth in January or February with an average litter size of
two cubs. Newborns are about the size of a mouse and weigh just six to
eight ounces. The newborn bears are blind and helpless and purr while
they nurse. Within a month, they will weigh between two and two-and-ahalf pounds. In their play, cubs crawl about the den in circles, always
returning to their mothers rather than straying.
Mother bears provide excellent den care, and infant mortalities are
rare. By the time they venture out of the den in April or May, the cubs will
weigh six to seven pounds.
By winter, they will tip the scales at 40 - 70 pounds! Cubs are weaned
at about seven months but remain with their mother until late into their
second spring. Climbing is one of the first and most important skills the
cubs learn. Black bears can scramble up a tree with remarkable ease!
Mothers frequently send them up trees to insure their safety.
SIGN OF BEARS
You can tell that a bear has been foraging in an area by observing
overturned rocks and stumps, and torn-apart rotten trees and logs. It is
thought that bears may mark territory by chewing, scratching, and rubbing against trees and sign posts.
Look for indentations from teeth or
claws or remnants of fur on posts
and trees. Bear “trails” can be
found in solitary bear habitats, as
well as in areas of high bear density. The trails are formed because
of the black bear’s propensity to
step in its own tracks or in the
tracks of bears that have proceeded it. The result is depressions
in the foliage if the trail is used frequently; tracks may appear in the
soil as well. The most frequent indicator of bear activity is “scat,” or
fecal material. Scat content varies
from vegetative matter to acorns,
berries, or flesh / hair remains.
Taken from a special publication by NM Game and Fish.
It is shocking, but it is a fact - the majority of bear deaths are
directly attributable to our own ignorance, carelessness, laziness,
or intentional irresponsibility with food. As the human population
continues to increase and we encroach further into bear country,
we unwittingly create problems for bears and for ourselves. Black
bears have a natural fear of humans. They instinctively avoid us, but
the scent of easily obtained food is irresistible to bears, especially
during periods of food scarcity. A snack left inside a tent, unwashed
dishes at a campsite, pet food on the porch, garbage in cans, or even
a hummingbird feeder can entice a hungry bear. Normally, black
bears do not attack people unless they are cornered or injured.
However, contact with human food can radically alter bear behavior.
Black bears have been known to invade tents and smash windshields
and ice chests in search of an easy meal. The intentional baiting of
bears with food by people who want to photograph them or see them
up close is a dangerous act that often results in dire consequences.
The sad truth is that if you introduce human food to a bear, it will not
be alive much longer. If you feed a bear, you kill a bear.
The scenario unfolds like this: During the summer months, when
plants mature and become indigestible to bears, they extend their
ranges. Their keen sense of smell all too often leads them to human
food. Just one meal can transform a magnificently adapted, independent wild creature into a human-food junkie! People complain, and
conservation officers initially try to frighten the bear away with rubber bullets. If the bear is new to human food, this technique may
work. Many other approaches have been tried as well. In one town
where a bear ventured in to raid a dumpster, the community moved
the dumpster to an open meadow. The bear found the lack of protective cover too intimidating and never returned. Another town
laced their trashcans with extra-hot red chile. Ay, que picante! After
two nights, the bear had his fill of the flames! Another bear found
the sweet nectar in hummingbird feeders to be an appetizing dessert. The community simply brought the feeders in at night and
returned them in the morning. It worked!
Can’t you transplant a “problem” bear? Yes - and no. Most
“problem” bears are young bears, on their own in the world for the
first time. They don’t yet have their own territory (or they wouldn’t
be wandering, hungry, into a campground). If a yearling bear tries
to move in on another bear’s territory, it’s immediately chased away
or killed by the resident bear.
Our problem, as humans, is trying to find a place to “take” a problem bear. You can’t take it back to where it was; it has no territory
there, and other bears would kill or drive it away. You can’t drive
200 miles to another forest and just “dump” the bear; the resident
bears there will probably kill it. A relocated bear will travel vast
distances to find its way “home.” And once home, the bear will still
not have a territory, will resume its nuisance behavior at campgrounds, may get into trouble with humans, and face the last and
least desirable alternative - being destroyed.
“Couldn’t you take it to a zoo or something?” People erroneously assume that, if relocating a bear doesn’t help, it can just be
taken to a zoo. But most zoos do not need bears; they are already
overloaded with homeless bears and have neither the resources nor
the funds to take on any more. When bear territories are shrinking
and food is scarce, there simply is no place for a bear to go.
This tragic scenario doesn’t have to occur. New Mexico law (Chapter 17) prohibits the feeding of bears, both directly and indirectly.
After all, bears cannot be expected to change their habits, but with a
little effort, we can change ours.
505-434-1455
8:30am to 5:30pm
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
8:30am to 12 noon
Thursday
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New Mexico’s Poisonous Snakes
...Continued
Test Your Knowledge
About Rattlesnakes
by Ben Hanson NM Game and Fish
One of the things often heard in the Southwest during the warm summer is watch out for snakes. This is usually followed by some sage
advice about rattlesnakes and how to avoid them. Over the years, because little was known about rattlers, there have been numerous legends that people tend to accept as facts about rattlesnakes. To learn
more about rattlesnakes, let’s first take a little test.
TRUE OR FALSE?
- You can tell the age of a rattlesnake by counting its rattles.
- Rattlesnakes always rattle before they strike.
- Rattlesnakes can’t swim.
- Rattlesnakes have acute hearing.
- A rattlesnake can strike the full length of its body.
- A rope surrounding a campsite will keep rattlesnakes away.
- Anyone bitten by a rattlesnake will die.
- Newborn rattlesnakes are harmless.
Even though most of the above statements are commonly believed
about rattlesnakes, they are all false. Let’s look at some of the facts
about rattlers and maybe relieve some of the fear shrouding these reptiles.
At birth, baby rattlesnake have one button or rattle that is not exposed
until it sheds its skin the first time about ten days after birth. Tben, each
time it sheds its skin it adds another rattle. In some areas of the country
this occurs once or twice each year, but in southern areas it may be as
high as four or five times a year. In addition, few rattlesnakes are able
to keep their string of rattles intact. They often lose segments due to
normal wear and tear, so a snake with over 10 rattles is very rare even
though it may be over 20 years old.
A coiled rattlesnake may or may not “buzz” before it strikes. Why a
snake rattles is not fully understood, but they don’t always rattle. The
best guess is that buzzing is a defense mechanism that they developed to
keep from being stepped on by larger animals, such as the 100 million
bison that once roamed the plains.
Rattlesnakes, like all other snakes have dry scales, they are not slippery or slimy. Scales combined with muscular action push against the
ground to move the snake, and contrary to popular belief they can swim
and crawl easily over ropes around camps. One way to tell if a swimming snake is a rattler is to look for the rattles, it holds them above the
water when it swims.
Rattlers are pit vipers and have infrared-heat-sensing pits located between the nostrils and eyes. New studies suggest that these organs are
used to detect predators and help supply information on whether the
predator is small enough to be scared away, or big enough that the
snake would be better off retreating (like in most cases with people).
In the past it was believed that heat sensing was used basically to locate
prey, but the new study suggests this is secondary to defense. In reality
snakes trail their prey down using smell. The forked tongue goes out,
touches the ground, then retreats into little sensory holes in the roof of
the snake’s mouth so it “smells”. These are the snake’s primary tools,
because its vision is poorly developed and hearing is almost nonexistent.
Before striking, a rattlesnake normally coils into an S shape with its
head and neck pointed at the target. They can only strike a distance of
1/3 to 1/2 of their length. They open their mouth before striking and
the hypodermic like fangs swing out to inject the venom.
The venom injected is actually modified saliva that contains many digestive enzymes. Even newborn rattlers are able to inject a small amount
of venom. Venom quickly kills its prey by breaking down blood cells
and body tissues. It kills through internal bleeding by stopping blood
clotting, by shock, and kidney or respiratory failure. This may happen
quickly in small animals, but takes time in humans. That’s the reason
that, even though about 8,000 people are bitten by poisonous snakes
each year in the U.S., only 10 to 15 die. The major threat of snakebite
to people is shock. The “I’ve been bitten by a rattler so I’m going to
die.” syndrome. Remember you have a better chance of drowning in a
bathtub than dying from snakebite. The best thing to do is to keep calm
and get to a doctor. Even if it may take a long time to get to the doctor,
you are not likely to die.
Fear of rattlesnakes has really created myths and legends. Rattlers
aren’t superhuman and are not an animal to be highly feared. It is also
not necessary to kill them on sight, they have their place, just give them
some space.
7
seek out paved roads where they are attracted by the heat from the road brating the tail. If the tail is in contact with dry leaves or grass, these
surface.
snakes may be mistaken for rattlesnakes.
Because snakes have a backbone, they are classified as vertebrates.
Although you must be dangerously close, another way to identify a rattleAlthough fish, mammals, birds, and people are also vertebrates, the snake is a conspicuous sensory area known as a pit on each side of the
snake’s skeletal system is unique. Snake bones are very light and the head. The pit looks somewhat like a nostril and helps the snake locate
skeleton is very flexible. The lower jaw and skull are connected by a warm-bodied food. It is located about midway between and slightly bepiece of stretchy material
low the eye and nostril.
(ligament) that allows the
Additionally, most rattlesnakes have triangular or “spadesnake to open its mouth very
shaped” heads (wide at the back and attached to a narrow neck).
wide and move each jaw inMany other harmless snakes can flatten their heads when threatdependently. Thus, snakes
ened and may look like rattlesnakes.
can swallow prey much
New Mexico has seven species of rattlesnakes that vary in size,
larger than their head by
color, and other characteristics. The color of a rattlesnake’s
“walking” their mouth
scales often matches the environment-brown, gray, green, red,
around the food from side to
pink, or yellow.
side in a forward movement.
The rock rattlesnake occurs in isolated mountain ranges in
Snakes are specialized anisouthern New Mexico. This snake may be found in pine-oak
mals, with no legs, ears, or
forests, but mostly inhabits mountains with rugged, rocky tereyelids. There are no “walkrain. It is variable in color and may be brown-black, greenish,
Rock
Rattlesnake
ing” snakes. Often the sex oror gray. (Our Timber Rattler is usually colored in shades
gans of a snake may protrude from the anal plate area and be confused of green. There has been cases recently of dogs getting bitten
with legs.
and Dr. Eason in High Rolls has the anti-venom.)
Snakes use their forked tongue to smell, constantly flicking it to pickup
The western diamondback rattlesnake is found throughout much of
any airborne particles and odors. Once a snake detects an aroma, it New Mexico, and is the species most often seen. It lives in flat plains and
inserts its tongue into two holes on the top of its mouth, where the smells rocky canyons, from grassland deserts to pine-oak forests. The western
are interpreted by its brain. If the snake detects food and is hungry, it diamondback is one
will pursue the animal.
of the largest of all
Contrary to popular belief, snakes are not slimy; in fact, they feel dry to rattlesnake species
the touch. Snake scales and skin help retain body moisture. Snakes and the largest
shed their skin and eye coverings together.
found in New
Soon after temperatures rise in the spring, snakes come out of hiber- Mexico (up to 6 ft
nation and mate. Some snakes lay eggs in a damp protected area where long). Their color
they will hatch in about two months. Other snakes hatch eggs inside is most often graytheir bodies. Once the young have been hatched or born, parents do not brown, although
care for their offspring because they are able to take care of themselves. color often depends
All snakes are predators, and many are fussy eaters. Bullsnakes eat on the matching
Ridgenose Rattlesnake
rats, mice, and chipmunks. King snakes feed on other snakes, mice, background coloryoung birds, and bird eggs. Some small snakes, like the smooth green many New Mexico snakes have a reddish to pinkish-gray color. This,
snake, eat insects, while others (earth snakes and worm snakes) eat species has black and white rings on its tail, so it is commonly called the
earthworms, slugs, and salamanders. Toads
“coon-tail” rattlesnake.
are the favorite food of hognose snakes.
The western (prairie) rattlesnake is distributed
When people encounter a snake, they ofacross New Mexico, much of the western U.S., and
ten corner it, causing the snake to hiss
into Canada. In eastern New Mexico, it is often
loudly, open its mouth in a threatening mancalled “sand rattler” and lives in a variety of habiner, coil up, and strike at the individual-or
tats, from grassland desert to pine-oak forest. This
bluff by advancing toward the intruder.
species is generally more active after dark, exThese behaviors, intended to scare off the
cept at high altitudes. Western prairie rattlesnakes
intruder, lead to a common misconception
are often greenish-gray or pale brown, with a sethat snakes charge or attack people. In
ries of light-colored rings on the tail that darken
most cases, a snake advances only if it feels
with maturity.
threatened. Usually it crawls away if it can
The Mojave rattlesnake is found in extreme
reach cover safely. If you encounter a
southern New Mexico, although it is more comsnake, leave it alone. A snake cannot reach
mon in southern California, Nevada, Arizona and
Western (Prairie) Rattlesnake
around and grab its tail, rolling away from
Texas and is more widely distributed in the Chipredators-there are no “hoop” snakes.
huahua Desert than the Mojave Desert. It lives in desert or low grassland
habitats, often on flat terrain. The Mojave rattle-snake is often greenishgray or olive green, with a white belly. Its venom is highly potent.
RECOGNIZING POISONOUS
The black-tailed rattlesnake is distributed in southwestern and central
SNAKES IN NEW MEXICO
New Mexico. It lives mostly in rocky mountainous areas, and is found
In New Mexico, rattlesnakes are the most common poisonous snakes.
occasionally in lower desert habitats. It is often colored a greenish or
The primary way to distinguish a rattlesnake from other snakes is the
steel gray (but can be sulphur yellow or rust), with a dark brown or
presence of a rattle, a series of horny rings formed of keratin that scrape
black tail. Generally considered mild-mannered, this rattlesnake can
against each other in pulses to cause a rattling sound. The rattle begins
nonetheless be quick to rattle and raise its head. It has been seen sevwith a single, soundless button on small snakes and grows with age, a
eral feet off the ground in trees.
new segment being
The massasauga is distributed across southern, central, and eastern
added every time the
New Mexico where it occupies desert grassland, often in very sandy arsnake
sheds.
eas. This snake is relatively small (less than 4 ft long) and pale brown,
Snakes shed variand generally has pairs of spots on its head. Although not usually fatal to
ably according to
humans, bites from this species can be extremely painful.
their rate of growth
The ridgenose rattlesnake is listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and may shed sevas a threatened species in New Mexico. It inhabits only a small part of
eral times a year.
the southwestern bootheel of the state, living in pineoak woodlands, open
Thus, rattle size is
grassy hillsides, and humid canyon bottoms. Its color is reddish brown,
not a good indicator
yellowish brown, or gray. Ridgenose rattlesnakes are generally active
of exact age, as ofday or night and tend to have a mild temperament.
ten believed.
Some nonpoisonMassasauga
ous snakes, such as
bullsnakes, coachwhips, and rat
snakes, behave like rattlesnakes
when confronted. This behavior
may include hissing loudly or viYour “Home Town” Full Service Real Estate Agency.
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WILDLIFE NEWS from New Mexico Game and Fish
8
DROUGHT BRINGS BEARS OUT OF THE WOODS
ENCOUNTER A COUGAR? HOLD YOUR GROUND
FREE TRAPPER EDUCATION CLASSES OFFERED
August 1, 2002 - A female bear and her three cubs were killed last
weekend in Chama when the sow, attracted by dog food, crawled into a
kennel and was shot by the landowner. Game and Fish officers who
went to the scene destroyed the three cubs after they were mistakenly
informed that there was no place to take the young bears for rescue.
The cubs had little chance of survival on their own. The Department is
monitoring the activities of 24 Operation Bear Den orphan cubs, who
were rescued last year and raised by the Wildlife Center in Espanola,
then released last fall in the Gila and Carson national forests. That may
prove to be a suitable option for bear management in the future.
Bear visits have increased since July in northern communities as
drought conditions force them to forage far and wide for food. Chama,
Taos and Raton, in particular, have experienced a number of incidents
that highlight the need for residents and visitors to be bear aware.
“Bear incidents increased in July and we probably have dealt with at
least a dozen bears in the Raton/Springer area,” said Lief Ahlm, assistant
chief for the Northeast Area. “They’re mostly bears that are habituated
by dumpsters and backyard food - repeat offenders.”
In Chama, bears have broken into houses, jumped on car windshields
and inadvertently frightened children in their quest for human food.
“For the past two months, we have set six bear traps every night,” said
Tim Frybarger, Chama district wildlife supervisor.
Black bears – which are the only bear species that now lives in New
Mexico – normally avoid humans but may become aggressive when they
find food in association with people. Pet food, birdseed and livestock
feed should be secured in containers indoors and any spilled or leftover
food cleaned up and removed.
Barbecue grills and hummingbird feeders must be cleaned and brought
inside in the evening when bears are most active. Woodpiles stacked
near houses attract rodents, which then attract bears. Trash should be
put out the same day of collection, if possible. Ute Park and Cimarron
Canyon use bear-proof trash containers and rarely have bear encounters,
according to Don Jones, Cimarron district wildlife officer.
Never, ever feed a bear - it only takes once for a bear to learn that
humans are a source of food and to become a nuisance bear. Individuals
who create nuisance wildlife by feeding them are violating the law and
may be cited. People can prevent injury or property damage and help
keep bears wild simply by assuming personal responsibility for their
own food disposal while in bear country. “Bear Aware” brochures are
available at Game and Fish area offices and New Mexico State Parks.
August 16, 2002 - Predatory animals like cougars have finely honed
instincts that control their behavior. They don’t see joggers and mountain
bikers, they see prey.
A U.S. Forest Service employee, out for a run in the Guadalupe
Mountains about 5:30pm Friday August 9, survived a cougar encounter
unscathed because he responded correctly to a charging cat. He held
his ground, waved his arms to appear large and “roared” at the animal.
“The guy did all the right things,” said Rich Beausoleil, furbearer and
cougar biologist for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. “His
actions may have led to the good outcome.”
Nate Fuller, 20, is a forestry tech working on the cave crew for the
Lincoln National Forest near Carlsbad. His hometown is Wilson,
Wyoming, and he’s a student at Vassar in Poughkeepsie New York.
“I went for a run about 5:30 to 6 in the evening,” Fuller said.
He was running along Forest Road 201 near Dark Canyon Lookout
Tower on Forest Road 201 in the Guadalupe Mountains. Fuller said he
has been staying at the lookout tower.
“At first I thought I’d spooked a deer,” he said. “I just saw it from the
corner of my eye. By the time I finished turning it was on the side of the
road.” He estimated he first saw the cat at a distance of 10 to 20 yards
and it was 10 feet away when it reached the road.
Fuller’s response was based on what he learned about dealing with
cattle while growing up.
“I tried to bulk up and make my arms look big,” said the 5-feet-10inch, 150-pound student who volunteered three years on the Guadalupe
District of the Lincoln before being hired this year. “I grew up in
Wyoming, and if you act really scared around a cow sometimes they’ll
try to hurt you.”
Fuller also said he “let out as intimidating a roar as I could.” The
cougar trotted off into the bushes and he hasn’t seen it since.
“It was an exciting encounter, but I hope I don’t have another one like
it.” Even though the cougar didn’t attack, the Department of Game and
Fish considers this particular animal a threat to the public. A depredation
permit has been issued to take the offending lion and snares have been
set up in the area to trap it.
The area of the cougar encounter is very popular with cavers so signs
have been posted warning the public about cougars. The public also is
being advised on methods to reduce a chance encounter with a cougar
and actions to take if an attack occurs.
Anyone in cougar country should avoid jogging, hiking or walking
alone. Don’t jog, hike or walk at dusk and dawn when cougars are most
active. Keep children and pets within arms reach. Carry a sturdy walking
stick and never approach a cougar.
If you do encounter a cougar, stop and stay calm. Do not run. Follow
Nate Fuller’s actions and face the cougar. Make youself large. Open
your jacket or lift your backpack over you head to make yourself appear
larger. Back slowly away. If the cougar approaches, yell and throw
objects at it. If it attacks, fight back with anything at your disposal.
Encounters with cougars are very rare in New Mexico. If you take
these actions hopefully they will continue to stay that way.
August 23, 2002 - The Department of Game and Fish is offering free
trapper education courses to any interested person, regardless of their
level of trapping experience. Topics to be covered include: The history
of trapping, Best Management Practices, tools of the trade, trap
preparation, trap setting and ethics.
Three professional trappers are helping teach each course. They will
discuss setting different types of traps, proper trap use and they will
demonstrate how to place traps in the field. A trapper certification card
will be issued to all attendees.
The next three classes will be offered in Grants, Los Ojos and Las Cruces.
The Grants class will be held on Saturday, September 28, at 1800 Lobo
Canyon Road. The Los Ojos class will be Saturday, August 17, at the
Parkview Hatchery. The Las Cruces class will be Saturday, September
21, at Knox Hall, room 142, on the NMSU campus.
For more information contact Richard Beausoleil, Cougar / Furbearer
Biologist, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 476-8046.
West Nile Virus
...Continued
high-enough titer in the infected bird before death to infect the vector
mosquito. The infected mosquito then bites other birds and the cycle
continues.
Man and horses are hosts susceptible to the virus but are “accidental”
or “end” hosts. Horses bitten by infected mosquitoes may take 5 to 15
days to start showing symptoms of encephalitis. Mosquitoes infected by
diseased birds spread the disease to other birds, man or horses. Horses
diagnosed with the disease have a 40% or greater death rate. Humans
have much lower mortality. Mosquitoes that bite infected horses or people
will not spread the disease if it has not fed on an infected bird.
A West Nile Virus vaccine is available for horses to be administered by
licensed veterinarians. The vaccine is administered in two doses three
weeks apart and to be repeated annually.
Other encephalitis vaccines which can be given to horses annually include the Eastern, Western, Venezuelan, and St. Louis strains.
Rabies vaccination for horses in New Mexico is advisable because it is
endemic in skunks, fox, raccoons, bats, and other wild warm blood animals
I have received many questions about other animals being susceptible
to the West Nile Virus. The only reported hosts are mosquitoes, birds,
humans, and horses. Some encephalitis viruses may winter over in snake
populations.
Horses bitten by infected mosquitoes may take 5 to 15 days to start showing
symptoms of encephalitis which may be:
Stumbling or tripping
Wandering or circling
Muscle weakness or twitching
Inability to swallow
Veterinary Medical Service
Partial paralysis
in High Rolls has the West
Inability to stand up
Nile vaccine. Vaccinate your
horse today, call Dr. Eason
Loss of appetite
Fever
505-682-2645
Depression or lethargy
Convulsions
Head pressing or tilt Coma
Impaired vision
Death
The equine West Nile Virus infection control is by vaccination
and mosquito control. Drain water troughs weekly, use lights that
don’t attract mosquitoes, and keep horses in mosquito-free stalls at dusk
and dawn.
Burning, Declining
Forests in Crisis
August 1 — U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today led a bipartisan coalition
of U.S. Senators who announced their intent to aggressively pursue emergency funding and authority to alleviate the growing crisis within the national forests that are being ravaged by fire, infestations and inattention.
Domenici and his colleagues announced their intent to offer a legislation package after the August congressional recess to secure emergency
funding needed for federal firefighting and forest restoration work,
coupled with reasonable forest management language designed to allow
federal land managers to do their jobs to sustain and improve the national forests.
“Our intent is to save our forests. I have been saying that in the next
Congress we must initiate a serious and comprehensive debate on our
national forests and how they are managed. Are current policies working or not? What can, or should, be changed? Let’s take a really good
look at what we want for our national forests,” Domenici said.
“Over the past few years, I’ve seen so much of New Mexico’s forests go
up in smoke. Homes have burned, lives have been disrupted. I believe
New Mexicans and most Americans understand that the increasingly catastrophic fires we see around the nation are a signal that something is just
not right in terms of forest management,” he said.
The senators indicated that beyond trying to secure emergency funding to sustain current federal firefighting costs, they expect their effort to
provide authorization and funding to accelerate hazardous fuel reduction projects in the following critical areas: wildland urban interface;
municipal watersheds; diseased, bug infested and dying stands; and Condition Class Three lands, as defined in the National Fire Plan.
Senators joining Domenici in the Thursday announcement included:
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Frank Murkowski
(R-Alaska), Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho),
Kit Bond (R-Mo.), Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), John Ensign (R-Nev.), Mike
Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ron
Wyden (D-Ore.), Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and
Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.).
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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
The Pioneer Story of Pedro M. Rodriguez
During the Great Depression from 1936 to 1940 there was a WPA Writers’ Project which paid local authors to interview older local citizens
and then to write a report (called a “manuscript”) of each interview.
The goal was to collect and preserve oral histories of pioneers.
Edith L. Crawford of Carrizozo worked for this Project, and on August
29, 1938, she interviewed Pedro M. Rodriguez of Carrizozo. The manuscript she wrote after her interview is now archived at the Library of
Congress.
Below is her report of what Mr. Rodriguez, who was 64 years old in
1938, told her. Mr. Rodriguez said I was born in Lincoln, Lincoln County, New Mexico, on October 10,
1874, and have lived all my life in Lincoln County. My father, Jesus
Rodriguez, was born in El Paso, Old Mexico, (which is El Paso, Texas
now), but I can not remember what year he was born as he was killed
when I was about nine years old.
My mother, Francisca Sanchez, daughter of Jose Sanchez, was born in
Manzano, New Mexico. I do not know the date of her birth. She died
when I was about twelve years old, at Ruidoso, New Mexico.
Father and Mother were married in Lincoln, New Mexico, about the
year 1866, and lived there until my father was killed in 1883 by Sheriff
Amado Chavez of Lincoln. Mother then went to Ruidoso, New Mexico, to
live with my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fernando Herrera.
Father was a private in Captain William Brady’s Company A, First Regiment of Cavalry, at Fort Stanton, New Mexico. He enlisted for one year,
from October 27, 1864 to October 27, 1865. He was discharged at Fort
Sumner, New Mexico. He spent most of his time in the army fighting the
Indians, for in those days the Indians roamed all over Lincoln County,
and were always killing people and stealing cattle and horses.
My grandfather, Fernando Herrera, lived in Ruidoso (where Hollywood
is now located), and he owned about four hundred head of cattle and
run them in Turkey Canyon, which was in the Mescalero country. The
Indians had been killing the cattle for meat so my grandfather got a posse
of men together and started out to gather his cattle and bring them to the
Ruidoso, where he could watch them.
In the posse was Billy the Kid, Andres Herrera, Manuel Silva, George
Washington, and grandfather. They started out early one morning for
Turkey Canyon. When they got to Turkey Spring about half way up the
Canyon, they met Chief Kamisa and about twenty-five Indians. Kamisa
was Chief of the Mescalero Apache Indians. While the posse was talking
to Chief Kamisa the Indians formed a circle around the men and told
Kamisa to tell them they were going to kill every one of them. Billy the
Kid told the men in Spanish, to get off their horses and tighten up their
front cinches and follow him.
Billy mounted his horse with a six gun in each hand, and started
hollering and shooting as he rode toward the Indians. The rest of the
men followed, shooting as they went. They broke through the line of
Indians and not a one of the men were hurt. They gathered a few head of
cattle and took them home and put them in a corral.
The next morning Kamisa and a band of Indians came to my
grandfather’s house. Kamisa called to grandfather to come out, he wanted
to talk to him. Grandfather and Kamisa had always been pretty good
friends so grandfather went to the door and told him that if he would
butcher three beeves and give them to
the Indians, “we do you no more
harm.”
The Indians kept their promise and
never stole any more cattle. Grandfather
and Kamisa were good friends from then on. I
remember Kamisa well. He and I were good friends
and I always liked to talk to him.
The Indians killed my father’s
brother, Marcial Rodriguez. He had
gone to the house of Servanio Apodoca, who lived near Bluewater, in the
Capitan Mountains. He went there on New Year’s Eve, to hunt some game.
They got up at daybreak to go look for their horses. There was a flat
covered with Juniper trees and the limbs grew very close to the ground.
There was a spring, Ojo Agua Asule, at the foot of the Mountains on this
flat.
While the two men were crossing this flat, a band of Indians were hid
in the Juniper trees and they shot at the two men and mortally wounded
them. One was shot in the back and one was shot in one leg. They
fought the Indians all day and as it began to get dark Marcial told Servanio
to run for the arroyo and save himself, as Marcial felt he was going to
die.
Servanio made a run for the arroyo with the Indians after him, but as it
was getting dark he was able to get away from them. Servanio and Marcial
killed several of the Indians that day. Servanio walked all night long and
came out at the Robert E. Casey ranch. (This man was father of Lillie
Casey.) This ranch was about four miles north of Bluewater, New Mexico.
He told the Casey men about the Indians and that he had left Marcial
Rodriguez wounded up on the flat.
The Casey’s formed a posse and sent word up and down the Rio Bonito
for every one that could go with them to meet them at Agua Asule.
(Bluewater).
The posse left Casey’s ranch just at daybreak and went to the Sanchez
house and found the Indians had been there and taken Juanita Sanchez
Apodaca, who was the wife of Servanio, and who was about to become a
mother at the time. They took up the Indians’ trail and followed them
back through the Agua Azule Flat where they found Marcial’s body.
The Indians had cut off his right arm and scalped him before leaving
him. The posse dug a grave and buried him where he lay. (This happened about the first of January, 1874, and what was called the Agua
Azule Flat is now known as Bluewater.)
Posses from Lincoln and all up and down the river started after the
Indians and overtook them at the west end of the Capitan Mountains.
Here they had a fight with them and killed quite a few, but found that the
Apodaca woman was not with this band. Someone in the posse noticed
two squaws up on the side of the mountain and started after them. The
Apodaca woman was with them and when the two squaws saw the white
men coming they split the Apodaca woman’s head open with an axe and
made their getaway.
When the men got to the Apodaca woman she was dead and they found
that she had given birth to her baby, which was a boy. They brought the
baby to Lincoln and gave him to a woman named Tulio Garule Stanley to
care for.
9
She raised this baby and called him Jose Apodaca, who is living in
Carrizozo today. Servanio Apodaca was killed about 1875, (by the
Tejanos) while he was taking a load of wheat to Dowlin’s Mill on the
Ruidoso.
My father was so mad at the Indians for killing his brother that he
wanted to kill every Indian that he saw. He went to the Torres Ranch one
night to way-lay two Indian women that he knew could talk Spanish and
were very friendly with my father, but he hated them because they were
Indians and wanted to kill them. He had bought some new cartridges for
his six shooter form Jose Montano’s store. He waited for the women to
cross the Bonito river from the Torres Ranch to their house. He heard
them coming and drew his six shooter and pulled the trigger but no
report.
He tried the next cartridge and the next and the next and never fired a
shot. He took his six shooter and broke it all to pieces over a rock in the
river bed.
My father was a very mean man when he was drinking and was always
in some kind of trouble. He was killed by Sheriff Amado Chavez in Lincoln. He had been on a drunk for several days and was hunting for
Chavez to kill him. Chavez had arrested him and put him in jail. The jail
in those days was a deep hole dug in the ground with an adobe room
built over it. The room had one window and one door. When the prisoners were real bad they were put in the hole. The jailer had a step ladder
that he put down in the hole and put his prisoners in and then he took
the step ladder and hid it.
They did not put my father in the hole that night, he was left in the
adobe room and in some way during the night he got out and got his gun
and went hunting for Chavez. He found him at the house of Perez. Her
son, Demetrio, was with Chavez when father went to the house and
knocked on the door with his gun and asked for Amado Chavez. Demetrio
Perez opened the door just a little bit and told father that Chavez was not
there, but father stuck his boot in the crack of the door and was just
about to get into the room when Chavez shot him. He died about three
days later.
My grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fernando Herrera raised me. I have
been a janitor of the Lincoln County Courthouse for the past six years.
As told by Pedro M. Rodriguez, Carrizozo, New Mexico, aged 64 years
(in 1938).
To read more manuscripts, point your browser to http://rs6.loc.gov/
ammem/wpaintro/nmcat.html
and for more about the history of little-known and lesser-known places
in New Mexico, visit http://www.huntel.com/~artpike/
The History of Dog Canyon (Oliver Lee State Park)
from the Sacramento Mountains Museum Archives
Dog Canyon was an early day Apache stronghold. Records show that at
least five major battles between government troops and Indians took
place at this box canyon in pioneer days. It was a natural trap where
access to the Indian Camp necessitated ascending a long trail along the
edge of a 2,000 foot bluff, a mere ledge with 1,000 feet of perpendicular
wall above the trail and a similar wall below. The Indians would lure the
soldiers into the canyon, then would hurl rocks and boulders on them
from above as men and horses would go to their deaths below.
One of the first conflicts in Dog Canyon dates back to February 8, 1895
when Lt. H.M. Lazelle with 32 men was ordered by the commanding
officers at Fort Bliss to follow Indians who had stolen cattle and three
mules from San Elizario in Texas. The Indians had a three-day head
start.
Lazelles reports say, “The trail ran in an Easterly direction inclining
south near the mountains of Tornillo for 20 miles then towards the
Cornudas del Alamo for 30 miles over rough country. At noon of the
seventh day after 165 miles with untold suffering and hardships the party
reached Dog Canyon. At one point, the soldiers had a swallow of water,
the horses none. At Ojo del Alamo, 19miles west, we found water for the
horses at 11am, their first in three days.
Lazelle overtook the Indians about two and one-half miles up in Dog
Canyon; there were 30 braves, all stripped, painted and armed. They
raised a white flag and demanded a parley. Lazelle demanded the stolen
cattle, but the Indians denied any connection with them. Lazelle decided
to charge the Indians, but the Indians had received reinforcements from
above, so Lazelle and his men, sadly outnumbered, decided to withdraw
to save as many of their wounded as possible. The Indians tried to stall
withdrawal and several more of Lazelle’s men were killed.
There was great confusion when the Confederates from Texas invaded New Mexico in the Civil War period. The Indians were infuriated and began a relentless war on small white settlements. Shortly,
volunteer Negro soldiers were sent from Colorado, General Carleton
and his troops marched in from California, and the Apaches were
soon involved on every hand. Kit Carson was in charge at Fort Stanton
and Captain VanCleve with two companies of volunteers was sent to
the Mescalero country from the South by way of Hueco Tanks.
Captain VanCleve, in March of 1863 with two more companies, took
the route through Dog Canyon, surprising a big encampment of Apaches
there. About 25 Indians were killed before they could escape. Shortly
after, this group surrendered to Kit Carson at Fort Stanton with a pathetic
appeal by Gian-hah-tah, their leader:
“You are Stronger then we, we have fought you as long as
we had powder and rifles, but your weapons
are better than ours. Give us such
weapons and turn us loose and we
will fight you again. But we are
worn out, you have taken over and
now you have our Dog Canyon - do
with us as you will, but remember,
we are men and warriors.”
On one of his trips in 1878,
Captain Henry Carroll reported, “My men were suffering for water and I divided
what I had in my canteen amongst them. Never
had we felt the heat so much, several were suffering from sunstroke.
The bluffs shut off the air that was stirring and we were in a furnace. The
pack mules were ordered to follow on our trail, but convinced that they
could not overtake us by night, I ordered them back to the mouth of
Alamo Canyon.”
On a similar mission in 1861, Lt. John F. Guilfoyle recorded, “Camped
at waterhole, shoes all off the mules, compelled to use hides from dead
animals which Indians had killed to make moccasins for the mules, so
as to be able to move at all. Distance today, 16 miles.”
On June 17, 1881, just above Dog Canyon, old Chief Nane
opened one of the most illustrious battles in Indian Warfare. Over
80 years old and nearly blind, Nane came out of Mexico with 15
warriors. At the upper points of Dog Canyon he attacked a pack
train, wounded the packer, stole several animals and escaped
through the box. Soon 1,000 soldiers were after him. He fought
eight battles, and won them all - killing probably 100 men, stealing over 200 horses, kidnapping two white women and escaping
into Mexico without the loss of a single man.
Probably the most illustrious battle came on April 18, 1880
when Companies H and L of the 9th Cavalry, possibly 60 men, left
the main body of their outfit somewhere north of the present site
of Orogrande. They followed Indian tracks across the red sands
and into Dog Canyon. The Indians withdrew across the open
mesas to the last waterbed and up the winding trail. Stepby-step they retreated, the soldiers carefully fighting their
way until there was no way up the hill when rolling boulders came down upon
them. They were trapped, with neither a
way to get out or a way to fight. Men and
horses fell hundreds of feet below. Oldtimers say that most of the men were
killed or injured with broken arms and
legs crushed by the falling rocks.
Entering Dog Canyon, one follows a
fawn tracked trail along the perpendicular bluff which is hung
with cool green moss, and at
one’s feet is a tiny trickle of water playing hide and seek from
one sinkhole to another among
overhanging cottonwoods.
Memorable as the journey is,
there is deeper interest ahead
for as a surprise, in the lower canyon comes a substantial rock house
and miles of stone fence. This is
Frenchy’s place, a landmark which overlooks the Valley below.
Little is known of Frenchy, who
built the house
and the fences.
Frenchy was Frank
Rocha, a recluse
who took up land in the lower canyon and lived there
until he was assassinated in the early 1890’s for the
riches he was supposed to have - or for the water which he controlled.
In later years Oliver Lee, whose Dog Canyon ranch house still stands a
mile or two out from the canyon eventually secured title to the Dog Can1
yon water and ditched it to his holdings. The old Lee home and the Dog
Canyon water was acquired some years ago by the National Park Service
in connection with their White Sands National Monument - with a view to
eventually piping the water to the White Sands Headquarters.
THOUGHT-PROVOKING OPINIONS, EDITORIALS AND LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
10
The War
Within...
The Sign on the Church
House Door
Whatever Means
Are Available...
by John D’Aloia, Jr.
from J. Zane Walley
According to a recent assay report, twenty mil- Service just padlock and post it?” He further said
lion dollars in fine gold lies beneath the ground that he has repeatedly asked the Forest Service to
on a few acres at Jicarilla, New Mexico. Miner prove that they even own the land on which his
Jerry Fennell owns the mining claims and for about claim is located. “All they have provided is a copy
thirty years he has made a living and raised a fam- of an Executive Order signed by President
ily by panning the dry gulch and working a swim- Woodrow Wilson that indicates certain lands must
ming pool size pit behind his home with a pick be taken to connect the Lincoln National Forest to
and shovel. Fennell has no bulldozers or dump another National Forest. As best as I can detertrucks. A wheelbarrow and a gentle burro appro- mine through my research, this land may not even
belong to the Forest Service.”
priately named “Dusty” haul most of the ore.
Indeed, the title trail is incredibly convoluted.
His operation is small by design and philosophy. “I keep it that way because I don’t want to In addition to ownership by Spain, Mexico, and
disturb the land more than I have too. I just take the Republic of Texas, Jicarilla has been part of
enough gold to get by. I don’t use any chemicals three New Mexico counties over the past hundred
and durn little water.” There is no natural source years as the political borders were shifted. The
of water so Fennell has to haul in all he uses with Lincoln County Tax Assessor’s office stated: “There
is really no way to know where all the records for
an aging pickup truck.
Those days of, “just getting by,” will be over for Jicarilla are located.”
Lincoln National Forest Supervisor Jose Martinez,
Jerry if the U.S. Forest Service has its way. According to Fennell, he recently received a letter speaking from his office in Alamogordo, New
from the Lincoln National Forest office saying that Mexico, said the Forest Service didn’t know what
he will be “charged with trespass” unless he files to do about the Jicarilla Mountain Community
paperwork he says will put him out of business. Church situation. “We have the lawyers working
“Once I file the paper (a plan of operation), the on it!” he said. Asked if the Forest Service could
Forest Service will impose such a huge reclama- be mistaken about its ownership of the tiny comtion bond that I won’t be able to afford it. I have munity, Martinez stated that they were sure of their
watched them do it to my neighbors. They are all title. He further said: “…Fennell could be charged
gone now. I am the last miner in the Jicarilla if he did not file a plan of operation.”
Lincoln National Forest Ranger Jerry Hawks
Mountains.”
Miners have worked the Jicarillas for centuries stated in an interview that: “Fennell has a legal
and governments pushing them from their lands right to his claim, but is illegally occupying cabins
are not new. Spanish records show that the that are on Nation Forest Lands.” Fennell counters
Mescalero and Jicarilla Apaches dug turquoise in by producing 1999 documentation from the Ninth
the remote mountains in 1598. The Spanish, and Circuit Court of Appeals that states miners can live
on their claims if they
later the Mexicans,
can produce possesenslaved the Indians
sory title and vested
as labor to mine and
rights for structures
separate the gold
and equipment. Mr.
from the dirt in a
Fennell does have tax
wooden bowl called a
records showing he
“batea.”
has paid taxes on the
After the Republic
structures and equipof Texas defeated
ment for years.
Mexico, Texans dug
Fennell’s troubles
for the precious
have begun to attract
metal from about
public attention in
1820 to 1850. When
Lincoln County, an
the area became part
area that has seen
of the Territory of
much of its history
New Mexico, the U.S.
bulldozed by federal
Army forcibly reland agencies. Pubmoved the Apache to
lisher Ruth Hammond
reservations in 1864.
and reporter Doris
Prospecting for the
Cherry of The Lincoln
lode deposits by
County News believe
American miners bethat Jicarilla needs to
gan in the 1880s.
be saved. “The Forest
The town of Jicarilla
Fennell sits glumly on the steps of the
Service has destroyed
grew up around the
Jicarilla Mountain Community Church
too many of our hisclaims and had a
schoolhouse, a general store, and a population of toric buildings. Many of our residents have family
some three hundred during early 1930s. Jicarilla who worked and are buried there. Our newspaper is going to work to save what is left of Jicarilla.”
lasted until about 1942.
Fennell sits glumly on the steps of the Jicarilla
Today, buildings that were formerly the store,
post office, schoolhouse, and church remain. Mountain Community Church and points to the U.S.
Fennell’s home is the old general store. Accord- Forest Service padlock and sign. “For years I have
ing to Fennell, the congregation of the Jicarilla watched and cared for this building and the othMountain Community Church used the old school ers. If the Forest Service pushes me out, in a couple
house as a chapel until the U.S. Forest Service of weeks what is left of this little village will be vanpadlocked it and posted a sign reading, “ALL PER- dalized or bulldozed and burned by the feds.” He
SONS ARE PROHIBITED UNDER PENALTY OF THE pauses and looks sadly over what has been his
home for decades, clears his throat and says quiLAW FROM COMMITTING ANY TRESPASS.”
Fennell produces an envelope stuffed with well- etly, “You know, it ain’t the gold that has me reared
thumbed documents he has gathered over the past up and fighting back. It is the saving of this place
few years. “Look at this,” he says as he shows a for our kids and grandkids. I’d hate to see it derecord from the pile. “This building has been used stroyed.”
as a church since the thirties. How can the Forest
by Luther Broaddus III, America’s Country Editor, Emeritus
“The big picture is to stop ranching on the national forest, and stop people
from living in the national forest.” This ominous warning was given by a
Forest Service employee to a group of ranchers at a meeting in Silver City eight
years ago. The people who heard this were astonished to learn such a program was the official policy of the government. This statement came from a
person who had been “socializing,” and it was felt he might have been exaggerating in hopes of expanding his ego. However, the actions of the Forest
Service over recent years prove the man’s warnings to be correct, and now, an
Undersecretary of Agriculture has publicly verified this policy.
At the recent Arizona/New Mexico Coalition of County Governments meeting
in Glenwood, the audience heard a number of horror stories. They were
stories about how people had been forced out of ranching through arbitrary
decisions by Forest Service personnel that all had one goal: to put the rancher
out of business, and off their deeded lands.
In one case, a longtime Catron County rancher had his permit reduced from
over eight hundred head, to just over two hundred head. This Reserve family
has a file “three inches thick,” with directives and appeals and, reportedly, not
one reference was made to any range monitoring data. If the Forest Service is
going to cut an allotment by more than 70 percent, their decisions must be
backed up by on-site data, prepared by trained professionals with range monitoring experience... not an opinion prepared with the predetermined intent of
destroying the economic viability of the operation.
Another story was of Abbe Springs, a Socorro County ranch that had its
allotment cut from 335 head, year ‘round, to 220 head... for six months. This
would force the rancher to buy and sell every six months... an impossible
situation. In frustration, the rancher sold his deeded land to a developer.
Now, even though Socorro County has approved these deeded lands being
subdivided, the Forest Service is refusing access to any land wherein the owner
has to cross Forest Service lands. This is in direct violation of federal law and
the Forest Service’s own policy manual, which specifically authorizes “right of
way” to private land owners.
There were two federal agency speakers from Washington at the August meeting of the Arizona/New Mexico Coalition of County Governments. One was
from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the other from the Forest
Service. Both of these men prefaced their remarks by reminding the audience
they should be thankful they were now under George Bush’s administration
rather than Al Gore’s. The Forest Service representative, Mark Rey, is the
Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, and head of the Forest Service. He stated
the determination of his department was that the most significant problem in
federal lands in the Southwest was the sale of ranchers’ deeded lands to subdividers for private homes. This was having an adverse effect on clean water,
endangered species, and local wildlife.
His (USDA’s) policy is to move as quickly as possible to stop ranchers from
selling their deeded lands for homes. This was exactly the position of the
Clinton administration and an almost verbatim quote of the Silver City meeting’s
Forest Service employee, made eight years ago. Rey said he is directing all
departments to immediately stop all subdividing of private lands located within
national forests, and where they couldn’t stop it, to use “whatever means are
available” to slow it down.
This is exactly what Rey’s Forest Service underlings are doing to the developer of the Socorro County ranch’s deeded lands. After the developer satisfied
the County subdivision requirements, the Forest Service started to use “whatever means are available” to slow him down. Although the County already
approved his plan, wherein 57 percent of the subdivision was accessible by a
county-maintained road, and mostly sold out; the Forest Service is now concentrating on stopping access to the “checker boarded” lands. In this action,
the Forest Service is honoring neither New Mexico state law, which prohibits a
person from “land locking” another person; nor federal law, as described in
the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), wherein the procedure for granting rights-of-way across federal lands is specified.
The subdivider paid $25,000 for an environmental assessment, which was
prepared by a Forest Service approved contractor, only to be told: “Re-do it,”
which they did. Now, on orders from the Albuquerque office, the Magdalena
District Ranger has told the subdivider that they want to see yet another study.
This one is to be an archeological assessment of the deeded land the subdivider is keeping.
It is none of the federal government’s business what is on his private land. If
this order is allowed to stand, perhaps the next short step will be to have
selected studies, paid for by ranchers, on not only forest grazing allotments,
but also BLM and State land leases.
The point person carrying the torch and causing these problems is Sue
McHenry. She will probably get a medal from Mr. Rey for carrying out his
orders with unbridled enthusiasm. She called, with actual glee in her voice, to
tell me the subdivider was going to have to jump through one more hoop. She
must be using, as Mark Ray says, “whatever means are available,” to slow this
subdivision down.
An environmentalist has threatened the Forest Service that if they approve
the proposed exchange of easements, he will sue, and that is double bad because the new Forest Supervisor for this region is scared to death of environmentalists. He is Harvey Forsgren, the man responsible for allowing four young
people to die fighting a forest fire, rather than risk being criticized by an environmental group for using water from an endangered species critical habitat
river. Perhaps Ms. McHenry will get three medals for her efforts to stomp out
property rights: one from Mr. Rey; one from an archeological society; and one
from Mr. Forsgren.
When asked to explain his ordering the trampling of private property rights
by having the federal government interfere with the transfer of private property
between two citizens; Rey said not to worry; he was planning to get federal
funds to mitigate any economic hardship his order might cause a rancher.
How about that?
The USDA’s Forest Service uses arbitrary rules to force ranchers off their
ranches. Then they use more federal power to prohibit or make it difficult for
them to sell their private land. Finally, they use federal handouts to keep those
citizens from complaining too loudly. This type of action is the reason the two
major political parties are known in this area as Socialist Party A, and Socialist
Party B.
Although these two bureaucrats piously told everyone they should be happy
George Bush won the election, it is apparent that for all practical purposes, all
the election did was change the safety pins and leave the dirty diaper on the
baby. Arizona and New Mexico ranchers are as bad off under Bush as they
would have been under Gore. They just do not know it... yet.
What is the answer? It will not be easy or fast. Congress will need to fix it.
There must be a new law specifically granting citizens the protection of Article III courts in all matters. Today, people accused of violating the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency’s
administrative ruling, etc… are tried in Article IV courts. Article III Courts
are Constitutional courts. Article IV Courts are legislative courts wherein people
have their Constitutional protection stripped from them as they step through
the courtroom door.
If you are interested in securing a copy of the data, including Supreme Court
decisions, describing a person’s rights under Article III and Article IV courts,
send $2 with a SASE, to: Luther’s Comments, PO Box 500, Magdalena, NM
87825.
While the nation’s attention is riveted on the War
On Terrorism, business corruption, church scandals, and the kidnaping of children, another war to
subjugate American citizens goes unnoticed except
by those in the crosshairs. This war is being waged
inside our borders. The apostles of Gaia, with the
help of amoral elected officials and Quisling clerks,
are advancing their agenda, the depopulation of
large areas of the country, a.k.a. The Wildlands
Project.
You have not heard of The Wildlands Project? The
victories of its adherents do get space here and there
in the media, but never in a way that the reader
would grasp that what is described is in fact part of
a master plan to eliminate private property and herd
people into cities. A local group might be hailed as
“saving” a wetland, but not mentioned is that taking the property out of private ownership means
that one more piece of land has been lined up to
implement the eventual creation of a huge tract of
land from which humans will be banned. The Wildlands Project is real. It is being implemented by a
variety of strategies, all at odds with the historical
relationship between government and citizens and
the Constitutional rights of citizens.
The goal of The Wildlands Project is to depopulate one half of the nation and return it to its primeval state. Its disciples believe that their desired
end justifies any means, including the elimination
of freedom. Their beliefs are anti-Christian. They
believe humans are a cancer and their numbers
must be reduced. They also believe animals have
as much value as humans do. All aspects of society
must be changed to honor and worship Gaia.
The Project’s website is filled with words that on
first reading appear to be for apple pie and motherhood, but upon contemplation, the stark reality
of what is being proposed hits home. This from its
web site provides an inkling of what they have in
store for you: “The
THIS
amount of productive land used by the
PAPER’S
U.S. citizen
EDITORIAL average
today for food, water,
POLICY
fuel, habitation,
The Mountain Times clothing, transportaDOES NOT necessar- tion, and waste-manily share the viewpoints agement-is twelve
expressed on this opinacres. A large porion and editorial page,
they are the opinions and tion of this land is
views of the various writ- appropriated from
other countries.”
ers.
These articles are Read it carefully.
picked for publication The implications for
according to their current our society, our narelevance and possible tional sovereignty,
interest to our reading and our freedom are
public.
ominous.
If you have a viewpoint
The feds are atto share, or a response to
tempting
to impleone published, please
ment the Compresend it to this paper at hensive Everglades
Mountain Times
PO Box 190
Restoration Plan
Timberon, NM 88350
(CERP), a process by
which 25,000 people
[email protected]
will be forced from
their land, about 200,000 acres. Paragon
Foundation’s J. Zane Walley is an organizer of The
Sawgrass Rebellion, a peaceful but vocal group of
landowners coming together from across the country to oppose CERP. Walley wrote: “As best I can
determine, every land grabbing scheme devised by
the green feds left over from the Clinton regime
and their environmentalist cronies has been brought
to bear on the people in rural South Florida. CERP
[is] the model for future land grabs nationwide.”
In Oregon, a massive forest fire threatens to drive
the inhabitants of the Illinois Valley from their
homes. The devastation is creating an environment
to which they may never be able to return. Hemmed
in by laws that prevent reconstruction and beneficial use of their land, owners will be easy targets
for government or land trusts to buy up and kick
out. It is now predicted that the fire will burn 800
square miles of forest and will be extinguished only
when winter rains start. The fire is burning with an
uncommon intensity. Why? Because over the years,
the eco-fascists got laws enacted that prevented early
control of the fire. It is in a wilderness area which
firefighters were barred from entering. Other laws
prevent proper forest management, including the
removal of brush and the dead trees now fueling
the fire. The Wildlands Project (and the United
Nations, by no mere coincidence) maps the Illinois Valley as a region from which they want to ban
humans. In effect, the eco-fascists are, as noted by
Dr. Arthur Robinson, arsonists who will reap the
benefit of their “means justify the ends” strategy.
Government is now the willing accomplice of
those who would destroy our constitutional republic. The end of our free nation is in sight. It is in
sight, that is, unless the electorate wakes up, realizes what is happening, and takes meaningful political action at the polls to replace those who bend
their knee to Gaia and the other false gods of today’s
political scene.
Ronald Reagan nailed it: “We’ve gone astray from
first principles. We’ve lost sight of the rule that
individual freedom and ingenuity are at the very
core of everything that we’ve accomplished.
Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not
run their lives.”
Excuse me, Mr. President. Did not you mean to
say “ruin?”
(505) 434-3850
3401 N. White Sands Blvd.
Alamogordo, NM 88310-9722
mountain communities
From the Sacramento Museum and
Historical Society
More Letters From
Our Readers
New Mexico Department of Transportation
by Pat
The August meeting of the Sacramento Mountains Historical Society’s
board of directors included a covered dish supper in the home of Jim
and Kate Humburg in the Silver Cloud subdivision. The food was great,
and lots of business transpired. Four bids had been received for the
completion of sidewalks on the Museum grounds, and it was decided to
award the contract to the low bidder, Dave W. Concrete Construction, for
the work. It will be completed before the 25th Anniversary celebration in
October. It was also reported that the two displays in the main building
- the model railroad and the meadow -which were enclosed with
plexiglass, have now been painted and are complete.
In other business, it was reported that the district attorney’s office had
finally released the items that were taken in the break-in on December
21, 2001, and they were turned over to the Museum by the Cloudcroft
Police Department. Apparently, justice moves slowly, but the items are
now back on display. With the new security system now installed, they
should be well protected, and such a break-in shouldn’t be able to happen again.
The board agreed to include the booklet “Scenes of our Past from the
Camera of G.E. Miller” in the Museum’s gift shop. There are numerous
photographs of events, buildings, and families of the Sacramento Mountains dating back to the turn of the century. It should be included in the
files of all history buffs of the area. It will sell for $10, and can be picked
up during Museum hours.
The board also agreed to the purchase of a new color printer, which
will be used in conjunction with the recently purchased Dell computer,
particularly in developing color prints of the many slides in the Museum’s
archives. One printer used by two computers is very awkward and causes
considerable inconvenience. With both computers and two printers, the
transfer of information from the printed files should speed up considerably.
Plans for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Museum and Society,
to be held on the Museum grounds on Sunday, October 13th are moving
right along. Plaques for the three founders - John Mershon, Karl
Wuersching and Marie Wuersching are now being made up, and certificates of service are being printed to present to all persons who have
served as officers and
board members since
1977. The affair will
begin at 2pm and will
take place from the
Due to unforseen circumstances, the
porch of the Eddy CotLincoln Centennial, originally scheduled
tage on the Museum
for July 26, at Washington Park has been
grounds. A badpostponed. The Lincoln Leadership team
weather contingency
will meet to set a new date. The date will
has been set up to
be some time in October 2002. Forest
move everything to the
displays, etc... are still planned. We will
let you know when a new date is set.
Cloudcroft Middle
School Commons
Area if necessary. Hopefully, that shouldn’t happen at
this time of year. Invitations will be sent out about midSeptember to all members and interested parties to join
in the festivities.
It has come to my attention that our New Mexico Department of
Transportation Higher-Ups are being praised in the June, 2002 edition of ENR Magazine. They are all resigning at the end of their
terms (the Governor’s term). This is certainly ironic since the new
Governor would likely not keep them anyway. These highway offices are an appointment by the Governor or new Governor, in this
case.
It is my understanding the Secretary and his staff are being praised
for the amount of roads they have built during their tenure. He has
done this at whose expense? The taxpayers, of course. Of all of
these enormous projects that have been built during Mr. Secretary’s
regime, how many were built by New Mexico contractors? Very few
I would guess. I have been told that the contractor on the Big Eye
project is called Twin Mountain Construction. I’ve also been told
they are a subsidiary of Peter Kiewet and Sons who are one of the
largest contractors in the world.
The Big Eye Project was bid for approximately 215 million dollars. The final contract amount was reported by the newspaper at
295 million. This is an over-run of 80 million dollars. It is my
understanding that most, if not all, New Mexico contractors are small
and can’t even bid these larger contracts. Why weren’t the contracts
made smaller to employ all our New Mexico Contractors or at least
to allow more New Mexico Contractors to bid them. I also want to
know how much money is left for future projects after Mr. Secretary
leaves office?
I find it completely revolting that a 150 plus million dollar contract was given without a competitive bid to a subsidiary of Koch
Asphalt. Again, this project was not a competitively bid project. Why,
I still do not know. You would think a competitively bid contract
should benefit the taxpayers of New Mexico.
I have now heard that Mr. Secretary and his staff are going to be
employed, after their public service stint is over, by none other than
Koch Asphalt. What is wrong with this picture? I believe instead of
all the accolades and praise they should be behind bars. Once again,
though, these are only rumors at this point.
Here is one more rumor I would like to share. I have been told
(rumor) that Mr. Secretary has given directions to all of his District
Managers to get as much work, on big jobs, completed prior to his
departure from the Highway Department. This way he could leave
as the greatest Secretary the New Mexico Highway Department has
ever known. Once again, at whose expense are we making Mr. Secretary leave in a blaze of glory? What are the long-term ramifications of what he has done? We will not know for many years.
I would like to share one final rumor. There has been a “Design
Build” contract recently awarded on US 70 from Ruidoso Downs to
almost Roswell for approximately 130 million dollars. I have been
told this was the second highest bid and that the lowest bid was 109
million dollars. Why would the Department dish out an extra 21
million dollars of us taxpayers money when they have someone to
build the project for 109 million instead of 130 million? Does the
word “kickback” come to mind? How does an insurance salesman
become Secretary of Transportation and supposed Folk Hero after
all the havoc he has caused and lies he has told?
I do not know how many of us have been “BS’d”, but I could not
stand it any longer without expressing my views.
DRIPPING FAUCETS AND OTHER LEAKS
H. Valdez
Ruidoso, NM
11
CLOUDCROFT
Rand
Our major concern at the moment is that Karl Wuersching recently had
a stroke and is in the hospital in Albuquerque. We understand that he is
improving, and our hopes and prayers are that he will have recovered
enough to be able to participate in the anniversary activities.
August was a good month for the Museum as far as visitors are concerned. There were 427 people from 21 states and two foreign countries - Germany and Switzerland. September visitors, which is not a complete report yet, includes a visitor from Finland. This is a first, and now
makes the list of visitors consist of all 50 states and 38 foreign countries
from all the continents except for Antarctica. Not too shabby for a small
museum in a small mountain community!
The Museum is open to visitors on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am to 4pm and on Sunday from 1pm to 4pm. It is closed on
Wednesday and Thursday. Admission is $2 for adults and 50 cents for
children.
If you should have any questions, comments, or suggestions about the
Museum or the Historical Society, please call the Museum at (505) 6822932, or write to us at PO Box 435. Cloudcroft, NM 88317.
LINCOLN CENTENNIAL
POSTPONED
WASTE WATER
Cedar Creek Area
I am interested in any history about the Cedar
Creek area, or old ski run at the end of the road (in
Ruidoso). Literature and pictures are of the most
interest.
Kurt, [email protected]
AT 40 POUNDS PRESSURE OVER 24 HRS-
THE TIMBERLINE
in the timber
on l
odge / Community Building
timberon
lodge
Hours
Wednesday and Thursday
11:00am to 2:00pm
Friday and Saturday
11:00am to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 8:30pm
Sunday
11:00am to 3:00pm
A 1/32” LEAK WASTES 180 GALLONS
A 1/16” LEAK WASTES 690 GALLONS
A 1/8” LEAK WASTES 2,760 GALLONS
A 1/4” LEAK WASTES 11,030 GALLONS
Timberon Photos
I worked at Timberon back in 1974 selling land. I have some old
slides of the original building - of the sales lodge - Timberon at that
time. I am not sure if anyone is interested as these might be the
only copies around. I found someone recently who can convert
these slides to jpg and could put together a power point presentation
for you. It might not be “this” week but possibly in the next month.
Gene Burton
I loved living in Timberon back then and have thoughts of someday
Tile - Remodel - Building
visiting yet again. There were only 50 of us living there at the time.
987-2462
No phones, our only water was from the spring.
(505)
885-1021
I was the custodian of “Rowdy” for about a year. He was a beautiful
wolf/malmute that came with the property. I think I even have his
photos. What a dog. Most people were floored
when they walked up to the lodge and he sat
there. He looked like a wolf!
Kathleen Andersen
Carpets - Upholstry / Commercial - Residential
Seattle, Washington
Aspen Co.Carpet Care
Free Estimates
Denise Corder (505) 987-2372 / PO Box 143 * Timberon * NM 88350
Pro Shop is Open 7 Days a week
from 9am to 3pm
If you need anything call
Mary Hamill, Pro Shop Manager
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Come enjoy the “Best Food and Service”
in the Sacramento Mountains!
12
mountain communities
Mrs. Clare Baber Celebrates Her
100th Birthday
CLOUDCROFT
The Burro Street
Point of View
Pinon
from Tom Porter
Mrs. Baber was born Nettie Clare Resley while her San Francisco but after several years of the cool
mother and grandmother were on a trip from Pinon weather there, they moved to Sedona, AZ. They ento Big Spring, Texas August 11, 1902. He father and joyed life there – raising a garden and traveling to
Mother, George and Kate Resley, welcomed her as the places of interest, as well as writing and visiting her
third child in a family of nine children. Mrs. Baber daughter in Albuquerque. After his death she again
and one younger sister are all that remains of the origi- moved to Albuquerque and then to Roswell to be near
a relative, her granddaughter, who keeps in daily connal three girls and six boys.
Clare grew up in Pinon where her mother, father tact.
Having outlived three husbands - she only had one
and grandparents had homesteaded in New Mexico
in 1901. She lived many years in El Paso where she child, a daughter (now deceased) and four granddaughters, of which she is
worked in the telephone
very proud. This includes
office. While in Pinon,
Pamela Porter of Ramona,
Clare and her childhood
CA, and Teri Ashby, of Sacfriend Gertrude Baber,
ramento, CA, Judith
roamed the hills of which
Lybarger of Las Vegas, NV,
at were knee high in green
and Nancee Willis of
grass and wildflowers
Roswell, NM.
were everywhere. In the
Mrs. Baber is spry for a
falls her father and older
lady of 100. She does her
brother would take a
own cooking and selects
wagon and team to
her own groceries when
Roswell to pick apples and
she shops with her grandbring home a barrel of
daughter. She keeps up
them. Her mother dried
with the latest state and
a lot of them for pies and
national news and likes to
sauce.
eat out where they have the
After spending the WWII
hottest enchilada sauce. As
years in California, Clare
she says, “if you don’t
and her second husband
break out in a sweat when
lived many years in rural
eating Mexican food, it isn’t
Albuquerque. They had a
very hot.” Other favorite
mini farm with fruit trees,
foods are pinto beans,
a garden, and she raised
spinach, broccoli, enchilabeautiful flowers. After his
death she moved to an apartment close to her daugh- das, milk, and occasionally chicken.
All in all Mrs. Baber is doing quite well. She has
ter.
During a visit to her girlhood friend, Gertrude, in seen startling changes from wagons and teams, bugCalifornia she made contact with an old friend of her gies, and horseback riding to fast cars, super airplanes
childhood, John Baber, Gertrude’s brother. He had such as the concord, a moon walk, eradication of dislived in San Francisco for forty or more years. They eases, and advances in science.
She is looking forward to what the next few years
corresponded and were soon these youngsters in
there seventies were married. She moved with him to will bring.
by Don Vanlandingham, Editor: www.CLOUDCROFT.com
There are some aspects of life in a small village that his day... and who can
blame him? It is his
cannot be replicated in a more metropolitan area.
You can’t get a ticket for running a red light in cool, quiet respite
Cloudcroft. We don’t riot after our team wins a game. from the city where he
We don’t riot after our team loses a game (although lives; where there are millions of inhabitants and it
we may grumble a little about the bad officiating). often seems every one of them is headed for the same
expressway off-ramp at the same time.
...and there’s also the feeling of family.
“So,” he asks me as I’m checking out, “How do you
In a town the size of Cloudcroft you know just about
everybody. The feeling of belonging is strong and know when it’s time to replace your washing machine
warm. In Cloudcroft, if you pull your own weight, hoses?” I glance at Jerry. Jerry glances at me. Even
Nancy (Jerry’s cat) gives the guy a quizzical look.
you have an entire village pulling with you.
“I guess it’s when they start leaking,” I say, unable to
That feeling is often sensed by our visitors. Many
folks from Dallas or Houston and other parts are help myself. I know the guy’s a visitor. Nobody that
amazed and noticeably a little curious when observ- lives here wears Bermuda shorts and black socks. His
ing us locals waving to each other and calling each legs are in serious need of a tan. There’s little doubt
other by our first names and inquiring about each those legs have been parked under a desk for the past
year. “I like the hoses with that metal armor stuff
other’s families.
My trip to the hardware store today is a pretty good around them,” says Houston. He probably saw a
example. I walked through the creaky screen door plumber with one in his hand one time. “Those are
and Jerry the owner was behind the counter. “Hi, cool,” I said. I wasn’t trying to be rude. I just couldn’t
Don,” Jerry says. “Hey, Jer,” I sez. “I need a pair of think of anything else to say. Jerry sensed a lag in the
washing machine hoses.” “On the back wall next to communication. “Sir...” Jerry said. “...how about a
cup of coffee?” Jerry always has a pot on the hotplate.
the wall furnace,” the proprietor responds.
All this is being observed by a tourist type... the only I have been known to linger in the store for a cup or
other person in the store at the time. He is observing two. Jerry has two plastic lawn chairs situated near
our interaction like a zoo patron watching the mon- the counter. They’re often occupied with the village
Andys, Barneys, Gomers and Vanlandinghams.
keys.
I linger in the hardware store mainly in the winter.
In my mind’s imagination I can see this guy in his
cabin this morning, drinking that cup of coffee that When the snow is blowing around outside I’ll buy a 50
tastes so much better here in the mountains than it cent bolt, nut and washer and drink 2 dollars worth of
does in Houston. He asks his wife “So, what do you free coffee while telling other lingerers more than I
want to do today?” and his significant other says “I know about just about everything. It’s summertime,
think I’ll just shop along the boardwalk.” He turns to though. I can’t burn daylight. I have a leaky washing
the kids. “How ‘bout you guys?” “Can you drop us off machine hose to fix and miles to go before I rest.
But Houston is on vacation. His wife is shopping
at the miniature golf course?” Hubby says, “Sure.”
“How ‘bout you, Hon?” Wifey asks as she flips the and his kids are playing miniature golf. He settles into
pancakes. “Oh, I guess I’ll just hang out at the hard- one of the plastic lawn chairs with his cup of coffee...
his new 3-gallon gas can at his side.
ware store.”
As I’m leaving, I hear him ask Jerry, “Anybody killed
The City Slicker has picked out a 3-gallon gas can.
He’s fiddling with the lid. Jerry shows him how to by bears around here lately?” Jerry doesn’t mind. He
extend the spout. I can tell he’s stalling... hoping Andy, likes the company between customers and Nancy has
Barney, Opie and Gomer will walk in soon and make someone to stare at.
August Meeting of the Timberon Development Council
from Jackie Fioretti
The meeting was held in the Timberon Community Center at
approximately10am. President Everett Putney opened the meeting and
thanked those present for attending. Jackie Fioretti read the minutes to
the meeting in July. Nellie Spence advised a correction to the minutes
should show the check written to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission was $10.00 instead of $12.00. Nellie gave the Treasurer’s report which showed an account balance of $1,425.30.
Everett advised The Timberon Development Council sponsored a Grant
Writing Course in Cloudcroft and asked Fran Trendler to give a report.
Fran advised it was held in the Cloudcroft High School Computer Lab
and Stan Bulsterbaum was the instructor for 2½ days. The school charged
us $50.00 for the three days and the cost of the course was $145.00
each. James at the Timberline Restaurant made us sack lunches each
day. The school could accommodate a maximum of 25 and we had 11
people sign up. Six from Timberon, two from Otero County, one from
NMSU Library and the other was a resident from Otero County. One noshow made 11. Stan gave the basics of writing the different sections in a
grant. He had us search the computer for different types of grants and
had a table of reference books on grants. Connie Zipperer with the Forest Service gave us an overview on the common mistakes made when
writing grants. The course was very informative and we all received
completion certificates.
Everett advised the $15,000 Grant submitted to the Forest Service has
been put on hold due to the recent fires and the monies should be freed
up in October or November. We will concentrate our efforts on the Fire
Safe Workshop Grant. We deposited a check last week for $2,600 which
is half of the $5,200 we were granted.
Roger O’Dell reported there will be a Fire Safe Meeting on October 4th
at 10am in the Lodge which is a follow up to our meetings with McGregor
Range, Forest Service, Fire Departments, BLM, etc. in the past. Notices
have gone out and if there is anyone he missed please let him know.
Cookie McGuire gave a report on the Golf Association activities and
said there would be a meeting today at 12:15pm. TWSD had committed
to watering the greens and thanks to the recent rains they look great.
They haven’t been watering the fairways and they are in terrible shape.
Some of the native grasses, which are brown, have come back. There
are a lot of weeds, the tee boxes are pretty much dirt and we hope TWSD
will seed the fairways. In regards to the well drilling, there is a company
out of Tularosa who will be moving in their equipment today or tomorrow. Enough pledges have been called in to get started and they will drill
approximately 300 feet. One of the largest fund raisers we had was the
Thorpe Golf Memorial Tournament and fish fry. She will know more
after today’s meeting. Fran mentioned there was a meeting with Dan
Abercrombie a couple of weeks ago and perhaps he could help TWSD
purchase native grass for the fairways at a reduced price.
Everett mentioned, in our last meeting, Ruby Roberts talked about covenants and the need to upgrade and enforce covenants. We need to
address some of the modular structures that are available now and trailers were only permitted for six months etc. If we neglect this, then we all
suffer due to our property valuation. We want the community to grow
positively therefore, we need a committee of at least five persons and
Ruby volunteered to chair the committee. Howard Neighbor advised
Ruby mentioned the other day that ultimately we will need a committee
member from each unit. After discussion on this subject, the following volunteered to serve on the
committee: Howard Neighbor,
Roger O’Dell, Dick Dysart and
Everett Putney. If anyone wishes to
volunteer in the future please let
Ruby know. Roger
Welding Now Available!
All over Timberon on your job / up for the weekend camping or at your cabin - keep
in touch with a
RADIO PHONE
You can call anywhere in Timberon, with no limit on minutes.* You can’t call out of
Timberon, but you can receive long distance calls. Timberon Radio Phones can be
rented by the day, week, month, etc... For more information, call -
987-2561
Available Soon! Call for more Information.
*3 minute limit per (each) call duration. This is so not to tie up the line.
TIMBERON
asked if there was something we can do to get rid of the scrap metal and
trash on some of these properties? Nellie advised for the past two years,
Timberon had a “Clean Up Day” to get rid of scrap metal etc. which was
very successful. We didn’t have one this year. TWSD has been unsuccessful in locating someone to haul off the scrap metal. Mary Fran advised at one time the fire department would come in and inspect your
property for fire hazards. Dick Dysart advised we don’t have bonafide
fire inspectors to continue this program. Our concern is a fire starting
within Timberon. Eventually, a letter will go to all property owners concerning making Timberon a fire safe community by tree thinning and
cleaning up the property.
Charlie Bain gave an update on the tree thinning in Timberon. He has
submitted to Barbara Luna 155 acres of applications to clear the properties for the 2001/2002 budget. The 2002/2003 budget will be administered by Otero County, Ruth Hoosier, County Manager and the total budget for Otero County is $360,000. A lot of the acreage that has been
submitted does have contractors assigned to it. Those who have signed
up for applications are still being considered. The do it yourselfer’s who
were going to thin and clean their own property need to show some
action prior to December 31st. The funds are still available and we need
to continue taking applications to show we want our property cleared in
Timberon. There are approximately five families in Timberon doing thinning. Some of the contractors outside the area have not been reliable.
They are in and out and don’t get the job completed. We need to build
our own labor force within Timberon to take care of our own needs.
Everett asked if anyone knew the status of re-drilling the water well?
Charlie advised Bill Gideon said they were going to drill 1200 feet and go
below the clay bed. There was a cave in about 750 feet and there is more
water below the clay bed. This apparently is old news and no one had
any current news on this.
Pete Warren asked if there was any way we could make progress on
the runway? The last we heard, TWSD, Virgil Beagles, Sid Benson and
Ross Durant were going to meet with Otero County on this matter. Pete
advised he brings in several types of airplanes and is experienced with
the runways in Mexico. This runway is in much better shape than those
in Mexico and it just needs to be mowed and sprayed with a defoliant.
The next meeting will be Saturday, September 14th at 10am.
mountain communities
Volunteer Fire Department
The Mayhill FCE Club News
TIMBERON
by Shirley Enyeart
To bring you up to date on the Fire Department’s Moderate!” The rains have been great and we pray
June doings - Kevin Keune was named Volunteer of they will continue.
Our Volunteer of the Month for July was Arden
the Month. Timberon’s “Angel,” Karen Holland,
gave us a lovely wood carving she had done. EMS Schug. Melissa Mendenhall was accepted as a TVFD
responded to one stand-by call in June. …and we member. Our EMS responded to three calls during
received donations of $20 from Claire Lago, $40 July.
THANK YOU to the Extension Club for providing a
from Gerry McGuire, and $100 from Joy Odom.
Many thanks to all for supporting your Fire Depart- “Thank You” dinner for the Fire Department August
8th. We enjoyed it immensely and really appreciate
ment!
July and August have brought wonderful rain show- being appreciated!
ers and the Smokey Bear sign says, “Fire Danger -
Timberon Home Extension Club
TIMBERON
by Laquita Hunter
The Timberon Home Extension Club held it’s
monthly meeting on Thursday, August 15th. Seventeen members were present.
This was a program month and the club had the
special privilege of hearing Charles Wagner of Spence
Asset Management speak on financial planning, with
emphasis on planning for our children and
grandchildren’s college education. Charlie left us with
a lot of valuable information to consider.
The September meeting will include a tour of Apache
Point and Sunspot Observatories. We plan to leave
the Lodge at 8:00am on Thursday, September 19th.
Our members are asked to bring along a sack lunch.
We will conduct our business meeting and enjoy a picnic lunch while at the observatory.
We are eager to have new members join us for our
monthly meetings. We meet the 3rd Thursday of each
month at 10:15am in the Community Room at the
Lodge. Yearly dues are only $10. So, come on out
and see what we are all about.
987-2440
987-2372
Fax 987-2374
987-2462
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Burton Electric...
CSW Forms...
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Circle Cross RV Park...
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Timberon
Main Office
Nights & Holidays
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Josie’s Country Market
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Mountain Times...
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Fax 987-2330
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Mountain View Real Estate...
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- For Power Outages...
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After Hours
Maintenance
MAYHILL
by Marsha Slane
The Mayhill FCE club held it’s August meeting on osteoporosis awareness to showing respect for the flag
Wednesday, August 7 at the Community Center in to line dancing. Marsha also reminded us that the
Mayhill. Hostesses for the meeting were Marjorie FCE national convention for 2003 will be held in AlbuCurtis and Jeanette Fulton. This meeting was held querque in July and asked all members to consider
a week earlier than usual so the members could help attending. In addition to the national convention,
with the Otero County Fair the following week. Guests Marsha also spoke about the Meet the Candidates night
at the meeting were Anna Hunter and Tammy on Monday, September 16 that will be hosted by the
Otero County FCE. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
Mobley and her daughter.
Much of the business discussed at the meeting con- and will be held at the Otero County Fairgrounds.
On Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 the
cerned the upcoming County Fair. The Otero County
Association for Family and Community Education club helped the Mayhill Fire Department with their
sponsors the Home Economics department of the fair annual Enchilada Dinner. The quilt and two other items
and the Mayhill Club is responsible for the entering made by the club members was raffled off on Sunday.
and judging of items into five of the divisions. A big This year’s winner of the gorgeous quilt was Chris
thank you to Jeanette Sadler who served as the club Pate of Mayhill. The table runner was won by Joe
fair chairman this year. She worked very hard and Lippis, also of Mayhill and the Christmas tree skirt
was won by Cay Wofford of Fort Stockton, TX. Condid a wonderful job.
Marsha Slane, member of the Mayhill club and gratulations to all the winners and we hope you enjoy
New Mexico President Elect, told the club about her your prizes for many years to come.
The September meeting will be held on Wednesday,
recent trip to the national convention held in St. Louis,
MO. Many wonderful programs were held including September 11th. The program for the meeting will be
Birth Order: Effects on Leadership presented by Mary “A Trip to Italy” presented by Lee Loney. If you are
Glassman, Lessons from Rex: How Animals Help Us interested in attending this meeting or would like more
Deal with Loss and Life by Dr. Jim Kramer and many information about FCE please call Patty Posey at 505others. In addition to the programs, workshops were 687-2003.
held on 27 different topics from breast cancer and
Timberon Little Theater
A LISTING OF USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS IN TIMBERON
AirLock Log Homes...
Aspen Company...
13
If we left your business or an Important phone
number out, please contact us (Toll Free)
1-877-987-2561
(in Timberon)
505-987-2561
(fax)
505-987-2330
(Email)
[email protected]
TIMBERON
from Bob Hardesty
The Timberon Little Theater met at the Lodge Mon- a fun group. Election of officers will be conducted in
day, August l2th for the regular monthly meeting. September.
Frank Preston had jokingly remarked in the past
Mickey Hardesty, the president called the meeting
to order at 7pm and business was taken care of that we should have dancing girls for entertainment at
our meetings, so Gloria Wilson did a lively tap dance
quickly.
The group that went to Alamogordo to see “Man and she was good at it!
We rounded out the entertainment with three skits
from La Mancha” at the Flickinger, reported that it
was a fantastic performance and was enjoyed. (very, very short plays) performed without rehearsal
Timberon resident, Stan Watson was one of the sing- by Kris & Joe Wheeler, Frank Preston and Bob &
Mickey Hardesty, then came the best part - Refreshers.
A grant writing seminar presented by Stan ments! Adios Amigos!
Bulsterbaum in Cloudcroft
was attended by TLT member
Quality resale for men & women
Betty Watson. The seminar
was sponsored by the
Timberon Development
Council. The Little Theater
V intage & Estate Clothing
sponsored Betty and she re96 Little Glorietta
ported that it was a very benCloudcr
oft, New Mexico
Cloudcroft,
eficial experience.
Our dues were taken up for
next year (only $6 per year)
in case you would like to join
The Estate
Open 11-5
(505) 682-3900
Fri, Sat, Sun
[email protected]
MAP OF TIMBERON’S BUSINESSES & FACILITIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Timberon Backhoe - Earth Moving/Materials
Sacramento River Lodge - Motel Lodging
Timberon RV Park (Closed in Winter)
Riverside Condos / Retreat and Lodging
Sacramento Energy - Propane, Appliance,
Heating Sales & Service
Roberts Realty - Land/Home Sales
Sacramento Mountain Construction
Tommy McCabe - Silversmith
Timberon Mall - Gas & Grocery
The Patty Wagon - Cafe (Currently Closed)
Mountain Times - Newspaper
Timberon Realty (Currently Closed)
Josie’s Country Market
MountainView Real Estate
Dell Telephone - Timberon Office
Timberon Post Office
Timberon Fire Department
Moss Ranch - Horses (Currently Closed)
Timberon Lodge Playground
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
No
rth
En
tra
nc
e
1
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
Timberon Lodge Pool (Closed in Winter)
Timberon Water District offices, Community
Center, Library and Exercise Room
Timberline Restaurant
Mountain Millworks - Woodworking
Timberon Self Storage - Storage Rentals
Sacramento Energy Storage Site
Community Dumpster
Sierra Propane -Propane Sales, Service,
and Plumbing
Chateau de la Shay (Currently Closed)
Golf Course Rentals - Lodging
Casa Sacramento - Lodging, Kitchenettes
Timberon Golf Course - Nine Hole Golf
Course, Driving Range & Pro Shop
High Country Bar & Grill -Food and Drinks
Timberon Chapel
Timberon Memorial Park - Cemetery
Old Timberon School - Community Facility
3
Only a small portion of the over 9,000 acres
that make up Timberon is shown here.
2
4
Pou
nds
Ro
ad
Sau
kD
rive
5
16 6
15
7
ive
Dr
14
Dri
ve
9
10
13
12
11
ive
Dr
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t
n
me
cra
a
S
21
20
17
19
ive
Dr
rlin
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26
24
Air
St r
ip
ive
Pleasant Valley Dr
25
To South Entrance
Hoover Drive
33
32
31
30
Area Code
Update
New Mexico - The PRC decided in
2000 that New Mexico would need a new
area code (575) because of the dwindling availability of new numbers for tele-phones, cell phones,
pagers, and faxes.
However, because of reduced demand for new tele-phone
numbers, the PRC voted to delay implementation of the new area code
until at least June 1, 2003.
Now experts say a number-conservation program based upon rate center
consolidation, and reclaiming and sharing blocks of numbers with areas
that don’t need as many, could extend the life of the
505 area code until as late as 2014.
Texas - The PUC has issued an order that divides the
915 area code into three individual area code re-gions.
The Commission designated the El Paso area to retain the
915 area code because of its concentrated population, extensive
bilingual network and well-developed international commerce. The
rest of the cur-rent 915 area code will be divided by two northsouth boundaries. The new area code will be 432 for the cen-tral
section and 325 for the eastern section.
Current estimates predict that the 915 area code will run out of numbers in early 2004. The three-way split
approved by the PUC will prevent the need for addi-tional area codes in the three regions for an estimated 17
to 20 years.
The current schedule introduces the two new area codes April 5. 2003. All of Dell Telephone’s Texas exchanges
will remain in the 915 area code.
DELL TELEPHONE
COOPERATIVE, INC.
23
rive
oD
ent
ram
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y Driv
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Meeting all your telecommunications needs
P.O. BOX 678
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(915) 964-2352
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Trouble - 611
SERVING THE TIMBERON AREA
14
MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES
Minutes of the Timberon Water District’s Meetings
by Debbie Goss (Draft of Minutes) with Bill Gideon’s Report, and certain clarifications by the Editor
A regular meeting of the Timberon Water & Sanitation District
Board of Directors was held on August 17, at 10am in the community center. Board members present were Larry Hanson, Joan Schug,
Sid Benson and Colleen Gillmouthe. Ross Durant was absent.
Joan Schug presented a report about TWSD telephone calls made between January and June of 2002. The statement regarding over two thousand dollars in personal telephone calls is not true. She looked at all
calls costing more than fifty cents. All personal calls that she found have
The General
Manager’s Report
by Bill Gideon, TWSD General Manager
August 2002 — The spring flow is down to about 10 gallons per
minute. The recent rains apparently have not recharged the aquifer.
While it does require a certain amount of time for rainwater to precipitate down to the aquifer, I would have expected some recharge to
be apparent in our collection box by now. A rule of thumb employed
by engineers is that 10% of rainfall precipitates into the aquifer. Based
upon that, I would have expected an additional 317 acre feet of water
to be available. This should account for an additional 20 gallons per
minute at the spring. This has not been the case. We did see a rise in
available water last week, but that was apparently caused by BLM’s
meter being clogged with sediment and we were getting most of their
water. Our other wells are producing about 50 gallons per minute.
On August 14, 2002, the driller began casing the well at the Treatment Plant. He was held up for about two weeks because casing was
not available. The driller will do a pump test next week and by Wednesday afternoon should be able to report what the well is capable of
producing.
We have an application with the Water Trust Board to help fund the
Treatment Plant Well. I discussed the application with Mr. Haywood
Martin, Director of the New Mexico Environment Department, but he
could not give me any information concerning our request.
We have made a second application with the New Mexico Finance
Authority requesting $27,295 to assist in funding the preliminary
engineering report to be completed by Engineers, Inc. We should
hear something on our requests by early September.
The slash pits have become a problem. The rains have caused the
slash pits to fill with water and they have become unusable. We are
constructing an additional slash pit near the small one on London
Hunt Drive. When this is finished, we will close the lake and, between the two small slash pits, we should be able to keep up with
burning the slash. We plan to wait until we have at least two inches of
snow on the ground before attempting to burn the lake. While the
tree thinning is beneficial to Timberon, I estimate that maintaining
the two slash pits will require one man full time. We already have
one man off because of surgery, this will leave us short-handed. Since
we were not able to budget for this substantial increase in workload,
other areas of maintenance will have to be postponed.
been reimbursed. Personal telephone calls are no longer allowed and
all long distance calls are logged.
Bill Gideon stated that the NM Attorney General, NM Finance Authority, NM Environment Department and the NM Department of Finance all
have a policy of allowing personal calls as long as they are reimbursed.
The State Auditor’s Office will be investigating our telephone bills because of a complaint they have received.
Each director will comment about the response letter to the Department of Finance and Accounting in writing and these comments will be
compiled at the August 21st meeting. It was agreed that Ross’s response
was also needed. Olin McGill reported on the size and operations of
Williamsburg, NM, which Mr. Vigil said he compared to TWSD’s administrative staffing.
Virgil Beagles said that he had faxed Ross Durant’s letters and the
budget to Mr. Vigil.
Sid Benson moved to approve proposed changes to fax and copy
charges. Joan Schug seconded the motion and it passed.
Resolution 02/02-007 authorizing an application for funding to the
New Mexico Finance Authority in the amount of $27,295 passed unanimously.
Bill Gideon asked that the Board table the agreement with Engineers,
Inc. because there were issues regarding indemnification and ownership of documents.
Bill Gideon presented the General Manager’s Report. He added that
the well had bridged around 740’. He will meet on Tuesday with the well
driller and engineers to determine
how to fix the problem.
DIRECTORS REMARKS Joan
urged everyone to attend the
Wednesday meeting to hear what
Southwest Air Ambulance had to
say about serving Timberon.
Sid Benson announced that the
Senior Van would the make weekly
trip to Alamogordo on Monday instead of Tuesday next week.
OTHER REMARKS
Bobby
Postelwaite is a parliamentarian
and might consider conducting a
workshop.
Bill Daniels asked Virgil
Beagles if he would share his
agenda and solutions to make
Timberon a better place. He asked
why his solutions were costing
Timberon so much money in legal
fees?
Renata Dempsey complained
about the condition of the roads.
Bill Gideon replied that the slash
pits are consuming an exorbitant
amount of maintenance time.
TIMBERON
Otero County has delivered some cold mix which will be used to repair
Sacramento Drive.
The Lake 7 slash pit will be closed and the two on London Hunt will be
burned on a regular basis. There was some discussion about charging
to use the slash pits or someone providing a chipper.
A meeting of the board of directors of the Timberon Water
and Sanitation District was called to order on August 21, at
3pm, in the community center. Board members present were Larry
Hanson, Joan Schug and Colleen Gillmouthe. Sid Benson attended
telephonically. Ross Durant was absent.
OLD BUSINESS It was unanimously agreed that each director’s
response to the DFA letter dated July 31, 2002 would be sent to Mr. Vigil.
The Engineers, Inc. Agreement was modified to indemnify TWSD.
Engineers, Inc. is not responsible for errors and omissions over the
amount of their fee. TWSD will be co-owners of all documents generated
by the contract.
Sid Benson moved to approve the pay scale generated by the Personnel
Committee. Joan Schug seconded the pay scale and Resolution 02/03008 passed unanimously.
AGENDA REQUEST Doug Campion from Southwest Air
Ambulance gave an overview of services for medical emergencies in
Timberon. They will send a helicopter within forty five to fifty minutes.
If they cannot send a helicopter, they will call MAST to respond. Only
the patient will be allowed in the helicopter.
“The Other Side of the Coin”, What’s Really Going On!
from Sid Benson, TWSD Board Director
I become more dismayed as each day passes by. There are people, some trying to manipulate this community will not be able to influence those who
well intentioned and some who are not, who are doing their best, or worst, direct the way we do business. Remember how we prevailed over attempts
to manipulate the way TWSD operates. Citizens of Timberon and officials in to take the money for the new road? We can, as a community, help our
Santa Fe are being given information that includes innuendo and half-truths, community thrive and not stagnate or be controlled by any individual.
and in some instances total misinformation.
Let us consider some of the misinformation;
This information is often considered the truth, as not everyone has the —-At the July meeting there was a statement made that personal phone calls
time, means, or even know where to validate all they hear or read. There had been made on TWSD phones that may be as much as $2,000. That is
are those who take what certain people say as the truth, “He seems to be pretty much impossible when the entire long distance charges for months of
rich and owns a lot of property, so he must know what he’s saying”. Not January through June was less than $680. The person that made this statealways so, and statements therein made are to advance a personal agenda. ment contacted the Department of Financial Administration and complained
This agenda is guised as, “In the public interest” or “For the best of Timberon” as well as giving them the same misinformation. For this persons efforts,
yet in actuality is for personal gain.
TWSD is now required to take further steps in its daily work which increases
I believe that the majority of people in Timberon are intelligent thinking the workload of the very positions this individual, as well as others, are
people and are not misled by factions who are trying to split, and control the trying to eliminate. I do not condone the private use of district phones for
community. However people in Santa Fe and other places who are not aware two reasons, the distraction from duties as well as possible costs of the call.
of the shenanigans perpetrated by these individuals, have little other infor- This person also lodged a complaint with the Otero County Sheriff’s Office
mation to go by, so tend to accept what they are told. The old adage “The after steps were taken by the General Manager to stop the previously acsqueaky wheel gets the grease”, certainly applies here. It is extremely im- cepted practice.
portant that each of you express your concerns to those in Santa Fe who —-Disruptions of the work place with demands for information immedidetermine how TWSD manages your business.
ately is another tactic the same individual has used so he could criticize the
It is in the communities best interest for each and every citizen to contact work force for their inability to comply. Again this adds to the workload for
the State Attorney Generals Office and Department of Financial Administra- the very office staff which this individual, and others have disagreed with the
tion (Local Government Division) with letters, phone calls, and faxes sup- need for. The freedom of information act does not give immediate access to
porting TWSD’s Board and objecting to allowing this type of behavior to materials, but gives a reasonable length of time for compliance. If we are
continue. If enough support is shown for your board of directors and the ever to reduce the need for the work force we have, we need to not create
way they are conducting the districts business, the less attention that will be additional work for them.
paid to the communities detractors.
—-Statutes have been cited at meetings, which were not applicable to the
If each person who has called me or spoken to me with concerns about rhetoric of the individual. Citing statutes is a tactic used to create the idea
what has been happening in Timberon will do as I suggest, the group that is that the individual is knowledgeable, when in fact he or she may not be. It is
done with the probability that some people will be tempted to believe their
statements. We must all use our God given ability to
think for ourselves and not always take everything at
face value.
—-It was brought to my attention that I was circulating a petition to remove a board member. This is a
total untruth. I signed a petition before I was appointed
to the board, and felt I had that right since I had voted
for that person. If I had known I would be appointed
to the board I would have declined to sign because of
the position not because I disagreed with the petition.
—-Someone called an elderly lady in Canada repreInez Preston passed away on July 21st in Alamogordo, New
senting themselves as a Timberon Official asking about
Mexico. She was a resident of Timberon for approximately 18
phone calls to her from a TWSD Office phone. The
years.
person made statements to this elderly person giving
She is survived by her husband Frank, two sons, Ron and Gary
her the impression that Ms. Goss was going to jail for
living in the Los Angeles area, and one daughter, Yvonne, who
making the calls. This caused her great distress. I
resides in the Philippines.
know
personally that Ms. Goss has been assisting this
Inez was born in Germany during the month of July, 1924.
lady with financial affairs for at least eight years. I
She was drafted by the German Air Force at age 16, reaching the
questioned Ms. Goss about the calls months ago and
rank of Corporal before the end of the war. When the war was
was assured that TWSD was being reimbursed for the
over she came to the United States.
calls. The person who made this call is lucky that he
Her love for Timberon was deep and abiding.
did not cause this older person, who has a heart condition, to have a heart attack. Irresponsible actions
such as this in hopes of causing distrust in our employees by some “National Enquirer type Expose”
In Memory of
Inez Miller Preston
TIMBERON
could possibly have caused the hospitalization or death of this older lady.
There are more such instances I have knowledge of in just the short time
I have been on the board. So many in fact that at times it becomes disheartening.
It seems to me that there is an orchestrated effort by some members of our
community to create distrust in our employees and elected or appointed
board members. What is their reason? Only one comes to mind. We are in
the process of being sued. If the community is divided and an aura of dissension exists, that makes the litigation more valid. For the continued well
being of our community we need to make a united stand. Show the rest of
the state and world what a great place Timberon is, and Timberonians are.
United we stand, divided we could fall, into heaven knows what.
Keep your spirits up, there are changes in the wind.
Western
Bar & Cafe
The Staff at the Western
would like to thank all the
Tourists and Locals for a
great Summer Season.
Come check out our posters
for upcoming events this Fall.
We’ll be waiting for you!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Once again, thanks from the entire staff at the Western.
Breakfast 6am to 11am
Lunch & Dinner 11am to 9pm
505-682-2445
Located on Burro Steet in Cloudcroft
VFW Post in Cloudcroft Area?
It has been proposed to start a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in the
Cloudcroft area.
If you are a past veteran and would be interested in starting a post to
cover the Cloudcroft, High Rolls, Timberon, and Mayhill areas please
call Paul “Viggy” Vigneault at 505-682-2932 (work) or 505-687-2899
(home).
There are 16 members of the VFW Post in Alamogordo that reside in
the Cloudcroft area. If a post opened in the Cloudcroft area, that would
save a lot of driving for those members. Thank you for your consideration!
CLOUDCROFT
MOUNTAIN EVENTS
Weed / Sacramento
SEPTEMBER 1
SEPTEMBER 1
*Gospel Sunday, Music and Lunch
at the Weed Cafe. Call 687-3611.
*Labor Day Fiesta Burro Ave. Sidewalk sales, entertainment, games &
a piñata bash for the kids.
*“Puttin’ on the Lips” at 7pm in the
Lodge.
* Lions Club Scramble at the Golf
Course, 987-2260.
*Breakfast Club at the Weed Cafe.
Call 687-3611 or 687-3742 for info.
SEPTEMBER 3
*Quilting Class 2pm at the Weed
Cafe. Call 687-3611 for info.
SEPTEMBER 9
*Breakfast Club at the Weed Cafe.
Call 687-3611 or 687-3742 for info.
SEPTEMBER 10
*Quilting Class 2pm at the Weed
Cafe. Call 687-3611 for info.
SEPTEMBER 14
SEPTEMBER 2
*Labor Day Fiesta Burro Ave. Sidewalk sales, entertainment, games &
a piñata bash for the kids.
SEPTEMBER 14
Club Championship Golf Tournament at The Lodge (505) 682-2566.
SEPTEMBER 15
*Club Championship Golf Tournament at The Lodge (505) 682-2566.
*Governor’s Run/Walk (505) 6822733.
*Jr. Daugherty and Dinner at the
Weed Cafe. Call 687-3611 or 6873742 for info.
SEPTEMBER 19
SEPTEMBER 21
SEPTEMBER 20
*Dinner and Music at the Weed Cafe.
Call 687-3611 or 687-3742 for info.
*Annual Lodge Golf Invitational at
The Lodge (505) 682-2566.
SEPTEMBER 28
*Dinner and Music at the Weed Cafe.
Call 687-3611 or 687-3742 for info.
WEED COMMUNITY
LIBRARY
Open Tuesday from 10am to 3pm
A very special “THANK YOU” to
Aurora Archuleta, Riverside
Condos in Timberon, for making this honeymoon a truly special and
memorable experience!
th
Timberon
SEPTEMBER 1
SEPTEMBER 2
Picture taken at Mountain Photo
in Cloudcroft, New Mexico
Cloudcroft
15
Mile High
Motorcycle Endurance
September 8
On August 9 , 2002, Amber Duckett of Timberon New Mexico was married to James Walterscheid of Carlsbad
New Mexico. A small ceremony took place in Alamogordo New Mexico, where they were joined together by
Judge Ted McCutcheon. The ceremony was followed by a honeymoon at the Riverside Condos in Timberon.
Amber is the daughter of JJ and Kim Duckett of Timberon, New Mexico. James is the son of Steve and Monica
Walterscheid of Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Staging at 3M Snowplay Area
James and Amber are currently living in Denver, Colorado. May they have a long and happy life together.
Permian Basin
Motorcycle Assoc.
*Annual Lodge Golf Invitational at
The Lodge (505) 682-2566.
SEPTEMBER 21
*Lumberjack Days (chainsaw & axe
competitions) in Zenith Park (505)
682-2733.
SEPTEMBER 28
*Aspencade Tours (fall foliage at its
best) (505) 682-2733.
*Garden Club Fashion Show for
more great fashion trends. Call 6823900 for ticket info.
SEPTEMBER 29
*Aspencade Tours (fall foliage at its
best) (505) 682-2733.
*Cloudcroft Dance Theater Golf
Tournament at The Lodge (505)
682-2566.
TO BE ANNOUNCED
*Mountain Garden Club Style ShowMiddle School (505) 687-2765.
*Governor’s Dinner at The Lodge
(505) 682-2566 or 800 395-6343.
SEPTEMBER 14
*Timberon Development meets at
10am in the Lodge.
SEPTEMBER 19
*Home Extension Club meets in the
Timberon Lodge annex.
SEPTEMBER 21
*Timberon Water District meeting at
the Lodge annex, 9am. (505) 9872250.
SEPTEMBER 25
*Timberon Water District meeting at
the Lodge annex, 3pm. (505) 9872250.
EVERY SATURDAY
*Lions Club Bingo in the Lodge.
*Rim Riders play every Friday in the
Lodge.
TIMBERON CHAPEL
*Bible Study / Service every Wednesday at 6PM.
*Sunday School at 9:45 AM / Service at 11:00 AM every Sunday .
LIBRARY
Smith Memorial Library is open:
Mon & Wed 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Fridays 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturdays 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
TIMBERON’S
ROBIN HOOD DAYS
will not be held this year!
OCTOBER 5 & 6
*Octoberfest Juried Art Show (505)
682-2733.
*Aspencade Tours (505) 682-2733.
QUILT SHOW
Saturday Oct. 5, 9am-5pm and Sunday
Oct. 6, 10am-4pm, at the Otero County
Fair-grounds, White Sands Blvd. and
Fairgrounds Rd., Alamogordo, NM. We
will have quilts, demonstrations, door
prizes, a gift boutique and vendor mall.
There will also be a special display of
quilts and wearable art inspired by the
Southwest by J. Michele Watts of Roswell,
NM. Admission is $2.00 per person.
Email [email protected] or call
Joyce Jenkins at 505-443-0507 or Melissa
McIntire at 505-437-6488.
To get the events of the
area in the community
calendar, call 987-2561
in Timberon and toll free
1-877-987-2561 if you
live in other parts of the
Sacramento Mountains.
If your community is
not listed this month on
the calendar it doesn’t
mean we don’t cover it,
just that no events were
reported this time! Let
us know what is going
on in tyhe Mountains!
What’s Happening Down in Alamogordo!
SEPTEMBER 6
*White Sands Star Party, White Sands Nat’l Monument - telescope viewing, constellation talks, kids programs & more - for info call 479-6124 or the
ISHF at 437-2840 or 877-333-6589.
SEPTEMBER 7
*White Sands Star Party, White Sands Nat’l Monument - telescope viewing, constellation talks, kids programs & more - for info call 479-6124 or the
ISHF at 437-2840 or 877-333-6589.
*Cowboy Action Shooting Match, hosted by Otero Practical Shooting Assoc.,
sign up 8am, Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range, La Luz, for info call
Carol 437-6405.
*Racing at Sertoma Speedway, gates open 6 pm, racing begins at dusk,
for info call the track 585-8662 or Max Dale 439-6421, or visit their website
www.sertomaspeedway.com.
SEPTEMBER 8
*White Sands Star Party, White Sands Nat’l Monument - telescope viewing, constellation talks, kids programs & more - for info call 479-6124 or the
ISHF at 437-2840 or 877-333-6589.
SEPTEMBER 14
*Racing at Sertoma Speedway, gates open 6 pm, racing begins at dusk,
for info call the track 585-8662 or Max Dale 439-6421, or visit their website
www.sertomaspeedway.com.
SEPTEMBER 15
*Racing at Sertoma Speedway, Mud Bogs, gates open 10am, for info call
the track 585-8662 or Max Dale 439-6421, visit their web site
www.sertomaspeedway.com
SOLUTION TO LAST MONTH’S CRYPTIC QUOTE
SEPTEMBER 20
*Moonlight Bicycle Ride, 8pm, White Sands Nat’l Monument, special fees
apply, advance registration required, call 479-6124 or 505-679-2599, visit
their web site www.nps.gov/whsa
SEPTEMBER 21
*2nd Annual “Toast Yer Tailfeathers Hot Wing Cook-Off” at Alameda Park,
for info call Monica Brown 437-7120.
*Riders In The Sky, 7:30pm, $20 adults/$15 children, Flickinger Center
437-2202, www.zianet.com/flickinger
*2nd Annual Enchanted Jazz & Blues Festival, 1-9pm, Alameda Park Zoo,
$10 per person, ages 10 & under free, for info call 437-1755.
*Racing at Sertoma Speedway, gates open 6pm, racing begins at dusk, for
info call the track 585-8662 or Max Dale 439-6421, or visit their website
www.sertomaspeedway.com.
*Model Rocket Launch, 9am, Veterans Memorial Park, for info call Hugh
Malcolm 434-5441 or visit their web site www.alamorocketry.org
*Action Shooting Match, hosted by Otero Practical Shooting Assoc., sign
up 8am, Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range, La Luz, for info call Butch
Rials 437-3663 or Becky Lane 437-8238.
*Eleventh Annual White Sands Hot Air Balloon Invitational, over 80 balloons,
White Sands Nat’l Monument, for info call 437-6120.
SOLUTION TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD
SEPTEMBER 22
Send in your own words and clues - we’ll make
a puzzle from them and give you the credit!
*Eleventh Annual White Sands Hot Air Balloon Invitational, over 80 balloons,
White Sands Nat’l Monument, for info call 437-6120.
*Practical Pistol Match, hosted by Otero Practical Shooting Assoc., sign
up 8am, Sidney Paul Gordon Shooting Range, La Luz, for info call Don
Bednorz 437-6107 or Becky Lane 437-8238.
*Holloman AFB Air Show - featuring the Thunderbirds, FREE admission,
static displays, for more info contact the 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Office at 572-5406 or visit their website www.hollomanairshow.com
THE MOUNTAIN TRADING POST - CLASSIFIED SECTION
MISCELLANEOUS
RENTALS
SERVICES
ITEMS FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE
REAL ESTATE
FIREWOOD FOR SALE
Mostly Ponderosa Pine - mostly
fresh cut and uncured. Long sections and shorter pieces, unsplit. $25
a pick-up load. You come and get it
in Timberon. We have a bunch and
will have even more!
Call 505-987-2561.
---------------------------------------------$1,000 REWARD
There is a $1,000 reward offered
for information leading to the arrest
and conviction of the person, or persons, who cut the fence on Circle
Cross Ranch.
Call 505-987-2651 or 505-987-2652.
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HOUSE FOR RENT
(the old Roseborrough place)
2 Bedroom - Completely Furnished
- $75 a day - Special Weekly and
Monthly Rates Available. Contact
Mary Hamill @ 505-987-2537.
----------------------------------------------OFFICE or
RETAIL SPACE
Available in Roberts Realty building - good location, Downtown
Timberon. For Information Call 1888-441-6630.
WINDOW WASHING
BY ST.CLAIR
Residential - Commercial
“BIG or SMALL - WE DO IT ALL”
For a free estimate, please call
James or Barbara at 505-682-7519
(leave message)
-----------------------------------------------
PIANO FOR SALE
Kimball Stinnet Piano, 1969, Excellent condition. $1,800.
Call 505-439-0472
---------------------------------------------NEW WATER HEATER
New 50 gallon propane hot water
heater $250. If interested call 505-623-0134
----------------------------------------------REFRIGERATOR
Combination Propane/Electric, Explorer, 14.4 cu.ft. (freezer & refrigerator) Model GRQ15. Call 505-4572241.
---------------------------------------------VAN FOR SALE
1987 Dodge Van, good mechanical condition, AC. $1,200.
Call 505-439-0472
----------------------------------------------
LOT FOR SALE
1 acre in Timberon - Lot 37. Blk
78, Unit 7. Call 505-624-2175, Ask
for Roger.
----------------------------------------------TIMBERON LOT
WANTED
Will pay up to $1,000. If interested
please email me with size, unit, block
& lot # at [email protected]
Also interested in a Mobile home,
fixer uppe’s fine (that can be moved)
or a Travel trailer. 915-595-4312.
----------------------------------------------
TIMBER ON LOTS
1/2 acre - Lot 4, Blk 10, GC3 $3,500. Also 1/2 acre lots - Lot 7,
Blk 7, GC1 -- Lot 5, Blk 130, T14 -Lot 18, Blk 109, T10. Offers Considered. Terms. 505-869-6585 (Billy
Jones)
----------------------------------------------FOR SALE
MOUNTAIN RETREAT
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OWN A
NEWSPAPER
IN THE
MOUNTAINS
FOR SALE
1987 OLDS
$1,500.00
Call 505-987-2561
FREE
INDIAN MEDICINE
CARD READING
Nawassa Lightfoot. Timberon, New
Mexico. 987-2558.
Donations willingly accepted!
The Trading Post
Gets Results!
This newspaper is for sale.
Own a growing, and profitable,
paper in the Sacramento
Mountains.
Technical support and
website included.
For more information, call toll
free 1-877-987-2561.
----------------------------------------------CLOUDCROFT
Antique wood burning cook stoves
for sale. Large selection. Will deliver.
Please call toll free (866)965-2319.
Ask for Jimmy with High Plains Pet
Foods or leave message.
---------------------------------------------1996 SOUTHWIND
MOTOR HOME
34’ Wide Body, 460 Ford Fully
Equiped - Plus Many Extra Features.
Exellent Condition
Only 29,000 Miles
Price $38,500
Call 505-585-4163.
CONCRETE & MATERIALS
Transit Mix - Sand - Gravel, located
between Highway 82 and 130 in
Cloudcroft. Call 505-682-2309.
Looking for a Mature and
Self-Motivated Person to
Sell Newspaper Ads
Perfect job for some who wants
to suppliment existing income and
set own hours. If you are interested and would like more info,
contact this paper -
HELP WANTED
Call toll free - 1-877-987-2561
or Email - [email protected]
THE TRADING POST CLASSIFIED FORM
Classified ads (up to 30 words and 1 photo) are free to subscribers. Non-subscribers pay $5.00 for
up to 30 words and 10 cents for each additional word. Photos are an additional $1.00 and a SASE
is required if you want the photo returned. All payments for classifieds must be made in advance the ad will run until you stop it.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
NAME: _________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________________
CITY: __________________________________________________________________
STATE: __________________________________ ZIP: __________________________
Send your check to Mountain Times, PO Box 190, Timberon, NM 88350
Looking for a Mature and
Self-Motivated Person to
Sell Newspaper Ads
Perfect job for some who wants to
suppliment existing income and set
own hours. If you are interested and
would like more info, contact this
paper Call toll free - 1-877-987-2561
or Email - [email protected]
ITEMS WANTED
PONDEROSA PINES
Wanted 1 - 20 Ponderosa Pines,
12” or larger. Any Condition. W ill Buy
or Barter - Can Remove, Individual.
Call in August, 682-4106.
FOR SALE
IN TIMBERON
Doublewide 28x60 Lancer on
approx 1/2 acre lot, magnificent view,
rock fireplace, 3 bedroom, 2 full bath,
attached deck, shed, free standing
deck, double carport and shed.
Contact 505-987-2358 or 505-4430902.
---------------------------------------------FOR RENT
IN HIGH ROLLS
4 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Laundry
Room, $700/month, $700 down, Call
Michelle Gilbreath at Re/Max Alamogordo 505-437-0914. Pets OK
with NR Deposit - Beautiful View,
1.17 Acres, Well, Septic and Shed.
----------------------------------------------TIMBER ON LOT
FOR SALE
Sacramento #3, Blk 10, Lot 7. 1.13
acres. Electricty at rear / water
nearby. NE exposure, excellent
view. $8,400. R. Niehaus, 241 Hollywood Dr. Edinburg, TX 78539.
956-381-5960.
----------------------------------------------MOBILE HOME
FOR SALE
NMSU Students & Parents 16X70
2/2 Palmharbor Energymiser, 2X6
walls, plywood floors, newer carpet,
ceramic kitchen counters, hardboard
skirting, in park around corner from
campus, 3K under book. Call 505523-5856.
----------------------------------------------LOT FOR SALE
Retired and unable to use lot for
enjoying Timberon. Lot 9, Unit 14,
Section 123 - located on east side
of property with a wonderful view of
the surrounding mountains from
7200 foot elevation. Water meter on
lot. Would negotiate from appaised
$3500 valuation.
FC Williamson, 1114 N Thomas,
Carlsbad NM 88220. Phone 505885-4558.
4 bdrm, 2 full bth, Den, Kitchen dining room, Living room combo, Cathedral ceilings, Sky lights, Central
heat, Forced air wood burning fireplace, Double wide mobile home,
Furniture and appliances are negotiable. 2 one-half acre lots, Shop and
storage buildings, Commercial grade
metal roofs, Front and rear covered
porches, Concrete sidewalks and
rear entry parking slab. In Timberon,
New Mexico.
Call 505-987-2573 / 361-5800802.
----------------------------------------------LOT FOR SALE
In Timberon, Very reasonably
priced. Call 505-832-6045.
----------------------------------------------MOUNTAIN CABIN
FOR RENT
Large screened porch, high deck
in rear, 2 bedrooms (king and
queen), fireplace, VCR. Modern,
attractive, fully equiped. $75 @
night, $420 @ week. 915-550-3406.
----------------------------------------------HOME FOR SALE
Mobile Home For sale in Timberon,
NM. 14x60 Palm Harbor, nicely furnished, new deck, woodburning
stove, sitting on approximately 5/8
acre with beautiful view. $28,000
o.b.o. Call 505-987-2512 or Email:
[email protected]
INTERNET
NM WANDERINGS
About little-known and lesser -known
places http://www.huntel.com/~artpike/
MAP OF THE SOUTHERN SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS
This map of the Sacramento Mountains is just meant as a general guide. It is not a complete map of all the roads on the mountain. The Forest Service office in Alamogordo (505-434-7200) and the Sacramento Ranger District
in Cloudcroft (505-682-2551) have a very good map of roads and trails that they will sell you. If you have a road that you think should be added to this map, call us at 505-987-2561 or tollfree at 1-877-987-2561. We will be adding
roads to this map periodically.
LEGEND
Paved Road
Dirt Road
12.....
13.....
N
W
E
S
1.....
2.....
3.....
4.....
5.....
6.....
7.....
8.....
9.....
10.....
Timberon
Sunspot
Pinon
Weed
Sacramento
Mayhill
Cloudcroft
Bug Scuffle
High Rolls
Mountain Park
ROADS
FYI - When you go around the
mountain, travel with a full tank
of gas. With the exception of
Allsups in Cloudcroft, most of
the mountain community’s gas
stations keep set hours. In
Timberon you can only get gas
from 12 to 3pm.
1.....
US Highway 82
A paved all-weather road that goes off
to the Alamogordo area on the left and
towards Artesia on the right of map.
2.....
Forest Road 339
Haynes Canyon.
3.....
Forest Road 162
La Luz Canyon.
4.....
5.....
Forest Road 183
State Highway 244
A paved all-weather road that goes
through the Mescalero Indian Reservation and on into Ruidoso.
6.....
Forest Road 405
Dry Canyon.
7.....
Forest Road 90
West Side Road, truck suggested.
8.....
Forest Road 63
Karr Canyon, closed in winter.
9.....
10.....
11.....
McGregor Range
Pierce Canyon
Apache Canyon
Forest Road 175
Sixteen Springs.
State Highway 130
Cox Canyon, paved, all-weather.
14.....
COMMUNITIES
Forest Road 228
Three Mile Canyon, shown in part.
Forest Road 269
Curtis Canyon.
15.....
Forest Road 247
Russia Canyon.
16.....
Forest Highway 6365
Sunspot Highway, paved, all-weather.
17.....
Forest Road 164
Rio Penasco.
18.....
Forest Road 169
Wills Canyon.
19.....
Forest Road 257
Hay Canyon.
20.....
State Highway 24
Paved, all-weather road that goes past
Pinon, through Duncan, towards Artesia.
21.....
Forest Road 64
Agua Chiquita, good dirt road.
22.....
Forest Road 238
Perk Canyon.
23.....
Forest Road 382
Seep Canyon.
24.....
Forest Road 255
Jim Lewis Canyon.
25.....
Forest Road 460
Scott Able Canyon.
26.....
Forest Road 537
Sacramento River Road, Good allweather dirt road.
27.....
State Road 506
Part is paved and rest is dirt, comes
out by Oro Grande.
28.....
Forest Road 171
Perk Canyon.
Call the paper to update various road
descriptions and conditions.
This map is in the process of changing in layout soon, hopefully making it
easier to use!