Vol. 147 • No. 23 50 cents

© 2013, El Defensor Chieftain

l i n eNEWS

No street salesEl Defensor Chieftain is cur-rently not allowing children to sell papers on the street until further notice.

Looking for rodeo queen

The Wild Bunch Rodeo Association, based in Magdalena, is looking for young women between the ages of 16 and 22 to compete in the Rodeo Queen Pageant. Contact Peggy at 505-379-8839 for pag-eant application and rules. The application deadline is April 19.

Faith and science lecture tonight

“From the infinite to the sub-atomic, where do we find God?” is the subject of tonight’s Faith and Sience lecture series install-ment. The lectures are held at 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Socorro.

Community support

An enchilada dinner at the Eagles Club on Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. helps the Gonzales family, who lost their home and belongings in a fire Feb. 9.

Fishing derbySocorro Community Fishing Clinic and Derby is for boys and girls ages 3 to 17 and is from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Escondida Lake. Registration is from 7 to 8 a.m. at the lake. Each registered angler will receive door prizes. Anglers with the longest fish will receive special prizes, and there will be a draw-ing for more than 60 fishing poles.

City of Socorro Running SeriesRegistration has begun for

the Socorro Running Series beginning at 7:30 a.m. April 6, at the Plaza in Socorro. Register at www.newmexicosportson-line.com by April 4.

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WEATHER

n See Burglaries, Page 6

FIRE DANGER

n See City, Page 9

n See Pope, Page 6

Contest Drone WorkTitan Aerospace works out of hangar at

Moriarty airport bringing solar to UAVs

NEWS • PAGE 8

Special Easter coloring bookprovides winning opportunities

INSIDE

SoftballSocorro girls take wins

Tuesday in double-header

SPORTS • PAGE 12

Most burglaries drug relatedBy Laura LondonEl Defensor Chieftain Reporterllondon@dchieftain.com

SocorroThe Socorro Police Department

briefed the City Council on local bur-glaries with a PowerPoint presentation during the council’s regular meeting Monday.

SPD detective Sgt. Richard Lopez showed the council a program SPD uses that maps out where burglaries happen in the city. He directed the viewers’ atten-tion to clusters of burglaries in certain

neighborhoods, noting police can often catch one person and put a stop to the burglaries in that person’s neighborhood.

“I can’t give you an exact number of how many active burglars we have in Socorro, but ... I’d say we have less than 20,” Lopez said. “But these people are constantly out there.”

Lopez said if the burglars can be corralled, whether that means they’re in jail, in prison, on probation, on house arrest or the like, burglary incidents become less frequent. He said the issue in Socorro this year is that some burglars who have been locked up for a few years are getting out after serving their time.

“And as they slowly get out of jail, our burglary rates go up,” Lopez said.

Lopez said the police watch certain houses where drug activity is suspected, and often the neighbors around them are burglarized.

“We can tie most of our burglaries to drug use,” Lopez said.

Lopez estimated 150 to 220 burglar-ies per year happen in Socorro, and police solve about 40 percent of the cases — although there is not always a conviction. He explained it often hap-pens that police locate stolen property, but are only able to charge a person with possession of stolen property. However,

when the person is arrested, the burglar-ies in the area cease.

Lopez said the Belen area has a bur-glary problem — especially commercial burglary — which he attributed to the high rate of heroin use in that area. He noted two weeks ago, someone used a torch to cut a hole in a Sears store in Los Lunas and “hauled everything out.”

Lopez said Socorro doesn’t have commercial burglary to the same extent as Belen and Los Lunas. Commercial burglars here are generally targeting

PUTTING VOICES TO WORK

Elva K. Österreich/El Defensor ChieftainGaby Vocello guides the voices as Alan Sharples plays in preparation for a concert of the Stabat Mater by Pergolesi on Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Socorro. Practicing for the concert, above right, from the top are Liz Bustamonte, Claire Chandler and Emily Snell. This is the first concert of the 2013 Baroque Series.

New pope takes on vicar of Christ mantleBy Elva K. ÖsterreichEl Defensor Chieftain Editoreosterreich@dchieftain.com

romeOn Monday, March 4, 2013, the

cardinals convened for the General Congregations, leading to the election, on March 13, 2013, of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J. who took the name Pope Francis.

On Tuesday, Pope Francis was inau-gurated as the 266th pope at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The Vatican

said between 150,000-200,000 people attended the Mass.

“I want to ask a favor,” Francis told the world. “I want to ask you to walk together, and take care of one another. ... And don’t forget that this bishop who is far away loves you very much. Pray for me.”

The Catholic Church is unusual, said Father Andy Pavlak, leader of Socorro’s San Miguel Parish. There is a direct connection between the pope and every parish, every person in the church.

“It is a big, big deal,” Pavlek said. “He is the pastor of every church in

the world. Bishop Sheehan (Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe) too is united. He (the pope) is building the kingdom – with all the people united.”

Pavlak called the pope the “vicar of Christ” and the “successor to St. Peter.”

“He is the spiritual leader, temporal leader and secular leader of the church,” Pavlek said. “Most importantly, he is the chief shepherd as vicar of Christ.”

Pope Francis, during Tuesday’s inau-guration, said the role of the pope is to Submitted photo

Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Catholic Church.

City tried to work with county, mayor saysBy Laura LondonEl Defensor Chieftain Reporterllondon@dchieftain.com

SocorroDuring Monday’s regular meeting

of the Socorro City Council, the mayor strongly emphasized the city tried to work out an agreement with the county to perform dispatch services for the county sheriff’s department.

During the mayor’s report, Mayor Ravi Bhasker strongly objected to any

implication the city was not coopera-tive with the county on the issue of 911 dispatch services. An article published in the March 15 issue of the Chieftain reported county staff said the city was not interested in providing dispatch ser-vices for the county.

“We were cooperative,” Bhasker said. “We had everything nailed down. There was a question of costs and liabil-ity. And we actually had a memorandum put together, and then I come to find out in the newspaper that they paid $30,000

to the state police to do their dispatch.”The Socorro County Commission,

during its regular meeting March 12, approved an agreement with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety for emergency dispatch services to be pro-vided through New Mexico State Police District 11 for $33,000 per year.

Bhasker said the city wanted the county to help cover the costs of more dispatch personnel to accommodate a higher volume of calls. He said they also needed to work out the question of

liability for city police.“Because, unlike the state police, we

can’t make calls that the sheriff makes outside city limits,” Bhasker said.

Bhasker explained the city wanted some assurance that it would not be held liable for a situation where a deputy didn’t respond to a call outside city lim-its.

“We wanted some sort of reassurance that the city would not be held liable for

El Defensor Chieftain Report

Bernalillo county New Mexico State Police con-

ducted a follow-up investigation March 14 on the human body pulled from the Rio Grande near Bernardo.

Socorro County Undersheriff Les Torres said the body was dis-covered about 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27 by a woman who stopped at a bridge on U.S. 60 to look at the river. The woman spotted what appeared to be a body in a bag in the water near the bridge.

According to a news release issued Wednesday by NMSP, evidence recovered at the origi-nal scene led NMSP investiga-tors to an auto mechanic shop in Albuquerque. NMSP executed an early morning search warrant on the business to follow up on leads and to gather further evidence.

The investigation is active and ongoing at this time, and NMSP requests that anyone with infor-mation on this case contact the New Mexico State Police office in Albuquerque at 505-841-9256.

Found body linked to Abq auto shop

El Defensor Chieftainwww.dchieftain.com

S O C O R R O , N E W M E X I C O • T H U R S D A Y , M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 3

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

Community Day at New Mexico Tech features businesses, civic groups and others with information and answers to questions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the atrium at Fidel Student Services Center. For more informaiton call LaVern Robinson at 835-5616.

Socorro Community Fishing Clinic and Derby is for boys and girls ages 3 to 17 and is from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23 at Escondida Lake. Registration is from 7 to 8 a.m. at the lake. Each registered angler will receive door prizes. Anglers with longest fish will receive special prizes and there will be a drawing for more than 60 fishing poles.

Firewise workshop will be held in Magdalena on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the fire department.

Adult arts party is from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at the Bodega Burger Co. banquet room. A variety of hands-on art projects in a 21-and-over environment provides a fundraiser for the Performing Arts Series’ educational outreach activities and Community Arts Party. Tickets are $25 and include gourmet appetizers, access to projects, casino games, live music and a glass of wine.

Stabat Mater by Pergolesi, part of the 2013 Baroque Concert Series, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

City of Socorro Running Series: Registration has begun for the Socorro Running Series beginning at 7:30 a.m. April 6 at the plaza in Socorro. Register at www.newmexicosportsonline.com by April 4.

Open Mic is every Friday at 7 p.m. at Sofia’s Kitchen; 835-0022.

Live music plays every Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. at Sofia’s Kitchen; 835-0022.

Dog Starr plays at the Old Town Bistro on Friday at 7 p.m.

Blue Door/Pizza Rio the pizzaria in Bosque at 6 p.m. is hosting live music Fridays and Saturdays at 1006 Highway 116, Bosque , between Belen and Bernardo on Route 116.

Open Mic is every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Town Bistro; 838-3976.

Bingo is 7 p.m. Wednesday at the DAV Hall, 200 N. Fifth St.; 835-0843.

El Camino Real International Heritage Center, Exit 115 off Interstate 25, has free admission for New Mexico seniors 60 and older on Wednesdays. Sundays all New Mexico residents are admitted free. For more information, call 854-3600 or visit www.elcaminoreal.org.

ICAN Cooking is from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 198 Neel Ave. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays at 1014 N. California at ISD Office; 835-0610.

Midwest CAP Food Pantry is open Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m., at 904 Spring St. Senior Helpings are the first Wednesday of every month. Call Florie or Virginia at 835-0899 for information.

Peace Vigil is 4:30 p.m. Friday on the plaza. Call 835-2517 for more

2 • MARCH 21, 2013 El Defensor Chieftain www.dchieftain.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

COMMUNITY

LIVE MUSIC

Socorro County Weather

Total rainfall for 2013 throughMarch 20 is 0.00 inches.Courtesy of Dr. Kenneth Minschwaner.

SOCORRO STUMPER

Name: AlyssaAge: 10 Alyssa is a smart, outgo-

ing girl who has a wonderful imagination. She enjoys school where she is doing well in the fourth grade. This young lady enjoys baking and cook-ing and is a “girlie girl” who is also athletic and enjoys the outdoors. Some of her favor-ite foods are Italian dishes and homemade baked goods. Alyssa attends weekly therapy where she is learning to ask for the things she needs in a positive way. She enjoys being around other children, but can be competitive for attention. A strong two-parent family who can provide structure and supervision will be important for this special young lady. The family must also be will-ing to participate in ongoing

services and family therapy with Alyssa to continue to address her needs. Alyssa has two siblings with whom she would like to maintain contact.

For more information about adopting or foster-ing through the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, visit www.CYFD.org or call 1-800-432-2075.

FOSTER OR ADOPTA NEW MEXICO YOUTH

Alyssa

10 years ago

March 22, 2003

‘It’s an emotional time, but we’ll get through it’

Darla Perkins last saw her son Wesley Perkins, in early February, before he was deployed to the Persian Gulf.

Wesley, a lance corporal Marine who joined the reserves right after Sept. 11, 2001, had no qualms about going over to fight what could be a long and pro-tracted battle to rid Iraq of long-time dictator Saddam Hussein.

“He felt like that was some-thing that needed to be done,” said Perkins, who owns the Socorro H&R Block office. “It’s an emotional time for our fam-ily, but we’ll get through it.”

Darla is one of the Socorro-area parents with a son or daughter in the Persian Gulf.

She, like many others, is watching anxiously to see what happens, as the war in Iraq gets under way.

25 years ago

March 21, 1988

Plaza marker unveiledOn Thursday, about 55

people watched as a historic marker was unveiled at the Socorro Plaza.

The sign was unveiled by Jerry Stagner, vice-pres-ident of the Chamber of

Commerce and chairman of the Socorro-1992 committee. Mayor Angelo Meloro said he was “delighted to accept this monument on behalf of the city of Socorro.”

The monument, an 8-foot-high historical marker, identi-fies the plaza as Kittrell Park, named after Dr. Kittrell, an early Socorro citizen who made the water from the plaza known for its purity.

Stagner said the water was known as the purest water around, “even after it was fed to animals.”

70 years ago

March 25, 1943

Cowboy Killed in Barroom Brawl

In a barroom brawl in Magdalena early Sunday morning, Lon Henry, rider for the Muleshoe ranch, was killed. Murder charges were filed against Morgan Salome, Magdalena merchant, accord-ing to District Attorney Claron Wagnor. Henry, who was 48, leaves no family, so far as could be learned.

It is reported that the trouble started over juke box music in the Silver Bell saloon; then swung into the bar of the Hotel Aragon. It is also reported that there was a general free-for-all fight; and that Henry was killed by a blow from a water bottle.

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“OUR STUDENTS ARE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY”

NOTICE – DATE CHANGE The Magdalena Municipal Schools’ Board of Education will hold their

Business Meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. in the Library.

NOTICE: INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO NEED ANY FORM OF AUXILIARY AID TO ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING, PLEASE CONTACT THE CENTRAL OFFICE AT 575-854-8001 PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

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Ready, set ... createArts www.dchieftain.com MARCH 21, 2013 • 3

El Defensor Chieftain

Arts party artist lineup: Clay Wheel Throwing – Hanna Sullivan Clay Tile Painting – Denise ContrerasClay Easter Eggs – Yvonne MagenerCorn Husk Dolls – Nadine UlibarriCross-Stitch Bookmarks – Lisa LeeperEmbossed Tin – Bernadette BacaGourds – Allan SauterMosaic – Dona NowickiJapanese Brush Painting – Jordana GeorgeJewelry – Jill UrbanPaper Cutting – Theresa ApodacaPrinting – Laurie Taylor GreggPunched Tin – Lucy Garcia and Karen CarrejoPysanky Eggs (Ukrainian Easter eggs) – Jane ChevalierSculpture – Sharon FullingimSunglasses – Elise Renault and Gina Dello RussoTie Dye – Nicole Beaudoin, Dancing RainbowWatercolor Painting – Leon Miler Wood Door Hangers – Ramona Montoya

Silent auction items, artists, projects lined up for Saturday’s arts party for adults

By Valerie KimbleFor El Defensor Chieftain

SocorroRonna Kalish, director of

New Mexico Tech’s Performing Arts Series, is super busy these days in preparing for Saturday’s adult arts party, from 4-9 p.m. at the Bodega Burger Co. Banquet Room.

Kalish has secured a bevy of items for the silent auction and a host of volunteer artists to lead the hands-on workshops – and that kind of effort is not easy.

“There’s no way an event of this kind can happen without a whole lot of helping hands,” said Kalish. “I am so grateful to everyone who donated to the silent auction, to all of our vol-unteer artists, to our wonderful staff at PAS, and to the Bodega staff for working to help make this a successful and fun event.

“This also is an opportunity for participants to meet our local artists and to become acquainted – or, in some cases, reacquaint-ed – with some of their more recent works,” she said. “Artists are just like our local business owners – they contribute much of their time and talents to the community, and often with little recognition.”

“Best of all,” Kalish said, “The adults arts party is for a good cause — to help sup-port the PAS and its youth and community outreach programs. We’ll be happy to accept outside donations as well.”

Participants are asked to RSVP by calling (575) 835-5688, or by email at pas@admin.nmt.edu.

“Anyone can show up but we encourage participants to sign up in advance to give us an idea of how many people to expect,” she said.

The $25-per person fee includes gourmet appetizers, a glass of wine, cash bar, partici-pation in the silent auction and hands-on art projects; and other fun amenities, such as the casino games black jack, poker, wheel of fortune and roulette – and live music:

Jazz Menage, 4-5 p.m.; Jeanne Dixon and Bill Giebitz 5-6 p.m.; Roon, 6-6:45 p.m.; Doug Figgs, 6:45-7:30; Martha and Steve Cather, 7:30-8:15; and Gary Axen and Martha Cather, 8:15-9 p.m.

Auction artists and items include:

Paintings were donated by Karyn DeBont, Robert Enders, Mary Fuqua, Georgette Evans Grey, Beverly Hansen, Natasha Isenhour, Skeater Leard, B.J. Lesperance, Ramona Montoya, Estelle Roberge, Warren Smart and Jan Thomas.

Those donating photographs were Fred Anderson, Bill Giebitz, Jon Hertz, Tom Irion, Don Boyd, Tony Perreault, Catherine Stewart-Roache and Jana Svobodova.

Look for pottery by Chrysan Spreng and Ken Marek, wood-work by Olaf Heintz and Phil Norton, and jewelry by Doc’s Rocks, Bobbie Stendel, Cin’ Muse, and Jana Svobodova. Donating prints are Sharon Fullingim, Maureen Wilks, Yvonne Magener and Todd Kay, who also gave a variety of posters from Socorro Picture Framing.

Under the category of mis-cellaneous art are the follow-ing donors and items: Theresa Apodaca (paper cut), Jane Chevalier (pysanky egg), Kathe McLaren, Margaret Middleton (handwoven scarf), Dona Nowicki (stained glass), Peter Rice (pen and ink), Georgia Raymond, Elise Renault, Laurie Taylor Gregg, Rebecca Titus Taylor (recycled record mirror).

“Other silent auction items are tickets from the New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, Globalbuquerque, and a few oth-ers we’re waiting on,” Kalish said. “We also have several extremely clever and colorful gift baskets, and excursion pack-ages such as a night of lodging, hot springs soak-and-dinner in T or C, and a night of lodging in Albuquerque with dinner and a concert.”

Gourmet bite-size appetiz-ers from the Bodega Burger Company include: Beef car-paccio-thin sliced prime rib wrapped around white aspara-gus and roasted peppers; lemon and thyme roasted quail breast over a wilted spinach salad; surf and turf pineapple braised buf-falo short rib with garlic shrimp; flat bread with fig jam and prosciutto; wild boar and wild mushroom raviolis; ginger-mint lamb lollipops; basil and ricotta won tons; strawberry shortcake trifle served in martini glasses; kiwi-raspberry mousse served in champagne glasses; gourmet cheese and crackers; and anti-pasto.

Tickets are $25 and are avail-able at Performing Arts Series Office in Macey Center, 835-5688, at the Bodega Burger Company or at the door.

Submitted photoAddy Bhasker, Judy Lovelace, Stephanie DeBrine and Yvonne Magener work with artist Elise Renault at one of the tables at last years adult arts party.

A few of the artists participating in Saturday’s arts partyTheresa Apodaca

Though known primarily as an award-winning classroom teacher and thespian, Apodaca also expresses her creativity through the ancient art of paper cutting, which she has been working with since 1989. Her favorite genre is the wycinanki, whose richness in Polish folk history allows the artist to use an unlimited palette of paper colors and textures. Her work has been well received at local exhibitions, including a “Best of Show” ranking at the Socorro County Fair.

Jane ChevalierAn egg artist since 1987, Chevalier began teaching the art in

2006; since moving to New Mexico in 2009, she has expanded her repertoire. Her designs range from Ukrainian traditional to art deco, and are not usually duplicated, with the exception of Christmas and Valentine designs due to demand. Her specialty is creating designs with a Southwestern flare. Some of her original designs resemble pottery, rug designs, fetishes and beadwork.

Karyn DeBontBefore recently retiring from New Mexico Tech as its 30-year

resident landscape designer, DeBont had already turned to oil painting to fulfill a lifetime interest in fine art. Her love of plants is apparent in her work. She has found many painting locations in the area, and a regionalism has begun to emerge. After years of studio work, DeBont shifted to painting en plein air. She is a member of Plein Air Painters of New Mexico and Socorro County Arts.

Georgette Evans GreyVisitors to the 2011 California Watercolor Society’s National

Annual Exhibition may remember G.E. Grey’s “Prickly Poppy,” a transparent watercolor that went on to win the Winsor and Newton Award of Excellence at the 2012 Masterworks Show in Albuquerque. Although her work might be called nature-centric, her interests include the local environments wherever she has traveled and lived, including Socorro, where she and her husband own Vertu Gallery.

Sharon FullingimThis sculptor and carver includes as part of her daily routine

watching and listening to the comings and goings of resident and migratory birds. Whether carving or sculpting her next bronze, those lively visitors keep her entertained and inspirited. Her early artistic career was spent working in watercolors and intaglio etchings, but her passion is sculpting. Fullingim’s work is col-lected and on permanent public display worldwide.

4 • MARCH 21, 2013 www.dchieftain.com

El Defensor Chieftain

viewpoints

Letters to the Editor

Off the Easel

Co-op conspiracy needs to endEditor:

There is a conspiracy among a few of the supposed “trustees” on the board of the Socorro Electric Co-op. When people get together on a proposed action and elect to proceed with that action, that is a conspir-acy. We don’t often think in positive terms of activities defined as conspiracies. But, then, we don’t often think in positive terms about the Board of the Socorro Electric Co-op. That’s been the case for many years. The situation become volatile when the Albuquerque Journal reported our trustees were outspending every other cooperative in the state. Outspending everybody for dol-lars going into their own pockets.

For last month’s board meeting, four of the elected trustees determined they would not appear at the meeting and thereby cause a lack of quorum. This means no business can be conducted. Their selected attorney conspired along with them to not appear at the meeting. This is illegal. Violation of the Open Meetings Act. When trustees conduct planning and other co-op business, they are required to do so under the requirements of the Open Meetings Act. Their plan to, as a group, boycott the regularly scheduled board meeting is board business. They

maliciously and with forethought violated the law.

Not attending the meeting were Trustees Donald Wolberg, David Wade, Leo Cordova and Prescilla Mauldin. The attorney, paid by the co-op members, is Lorna Wiggins. No doubt, her absence in concert with the missing trustees was planned and none of the absences were announced prior to the meet-ing. No excuses phoned in nor notice given.

These un-trustees must be recalled by the members and removed from office. They’ve long given every indication they don’t plan to abide by the rules, the law, nor ethical conduct. This conspiracy illus-trates that beyond all doubt. Let’s remove them. We will start the petitions to recall them now.

Herbert MyersSocorro

Tax on packaging would help a lotEditor:

Here’s an idea:A voluntary tax that would reduce litter,

landfill usage and fossil fuel consumption along with the national debt!

The tax would apply to single use containers.

The USA has spent the last few generations

developing an ingrained dependence on single use containers. Kicking the habit will take time.

Let’s start with a tiny tax on beverage containers.

A penny tax on every beer can, Styrofoam cup and throw-away water bottle will generate huge revenue with no appre-ciable impact on sales.

Anyone can opt out simply by supplying their own reusable container.

The tax should gradually increase.A penny a year.As the price goes up, so does the incentive

to opt out. Free market economics will kick in, favoring companies catering to reusables.

There are obstacles. The immense and influential packaging industry will resist mightily. Styrofoam cup makers will even-tually have to retool to make reusable cups. New infrastructure supplying drinks in reusable containers will be needed.

The tax should not be limited to bever-age containers. Paper fast food bags can easily be replaced by reusable cloth bags, just as in grocery stores. Eventually, sham-poo, dog food and many other commodities should be available on a bring-your-own-container basis.

This idea offers a painless and sensible way to bring down the debt while steering us in a sensible direction.

Jim RuffSocorro

Adultery, who does it hurt?

A general is relieved of command because of adultery. A con-gressman is shamed and defeated in an election because of adultery. A senator decides not to run for re-election because of adultery.

Why in the world does adultery matter? What does it matter who the general is sleeping with? He can surely still deploy troops well. What does it matter whether a congressman is sleeping with one woman or seven? He can still craft laws and vote responsibly. Sure it’s interesting that she’s sleeping with him or that he’s off in a motel with another woman. Great gossip. Titillating to read. But that’s of no concern of ours.

They’re not like you and me. They think that adultery is a private matter, just between consenting adults. Perhaps it is — if they’re not lying about it. Because it’s not the sex lives of the powerful that matter. It’s the lying, the fear of exposure. And that’s because it was hidden, a source of shame, a lie.

They think that adultery is just a grown-up’s choice, a private matter, nothing of any moral consequence, or at least none of our business. They figure that they can be a good general, a good con-gressman no matter who their lover is. But they know that sleeping with someone when they’ve made a vow to a wife, or to a husband, or to a lover is cheating. It’s breaking trust. So they conceal it.

Sure, everyone does it, they say. Yes, we’re all pushed by our sexual desires. And we all make mistakes. But when we don’t own up to those mistakes, when we conceal and lie, then we show how deeply our lives are affected by our out-of-control sexual urges and desire for power.

There is a moral issue. Cheating and lying are wrong. Breaking trust is wrong. But if two people decide it’s OK for them to sleep with other people? We may have our views, but it’s their lives. It’s when one of them hides it that he or she confirms our own view that it’s wrong to break trust.

Cheating, lying, breaking trust. That’s the problem. Because they know it’s wrong. If found out there will be great hurt. They want it all — kissing and loving on the side and solid at home. But they can have only a perverted relation at home, built on lies, built on decep-tion — uncaring, unloving, unkind.

It’s the lies, the fear of being found out that’s the problem for our generals, our senators, our congressmembers, for anyone with trust, with responsibility. The senator can be manipulated — or more bluntly, blackmailed. The congressman breaks a campaign spend-ing law for his mistress while voting for more stringent penalties for those laws. The general won’t speak his mind because he’s afraid of exposure. We can’t trust them if they’re lying all day long. We can’t trust them if they’re afraid to be found out.

If a senator has four lovers and her husband is fine with that, that’s their business. If a general is brazen about his affairs, that’s no big deal for trusting his judgment. But if a president is hiding all day long, how will he be honest with us?

Vows matter — and they know it. Vows to their lovers, vows to their husbands, vows to their wives and yes, vows to us. That’s why they lie. That’s why adultery matters.

Arf, formerly known as Dr. Richard L. Epstein, is the author and publisher of books on reasoning and is head of the Advanced Reasoning Forum in Socorro.

Boy, where do I start?When I first read this opinion piece, I

wasn’t sure if it was satire or if it was a genuine reflection of somebody’s opin-ion. For the most part I still don’t, but I’m going to treat it as if it is Arf’s genuine and authentic opinion.

First off, the entire premise of this opin-ion is one that spews of liberalism. It’s drip-ping with it. How so? One word: Need. It’s a word that is to be used by somebody else who wishes to deem what another person is in need of. Arf asks if I need a gun, as if to suggest he has a say-so in what I need and don’t need. Who gave this guy the right to determine what I need and don’t need? I can jump on board the liberal bandwagon and say that Arf does not need an SUV that when put into the wrong hands can kill somebody.

How about alcohol? More people are killed by drunk drivers and/or disengaged drivers of motorized vehicles every year than are by guns. But you won’t see a Suburu with the bumper sticker right next to their Coexist bumper sticker that says “Vehicles Kill” or “Alcohol Kills.”

Some lunatic killing kids in a school with a firearm? Story of epic proportions and must not be squandered! After all they “can’t let a good crisis go to waste” as Rahm Emmanuel once said. Talk about being inconsistent. Do you care for kids or not? Then man up and show that you do by being consistent.

And what’s with the negative opinion of those who don’t trust government? Is Arf suggesting that we should trust govern-ment? Really? The same government that broke Social Security? The same govern-ment who gave us the Postal Service? His logic is that, well, if the government is all-powerful and wants to attack it’s citizens, there isn’t anything we can do about it so, dang it, don’t even try.

Don’t you dare pick up that gun and defend your or your family’s lives! You don’t need that gun! Evil doesn’t exist! Just sit back and watch your wife of 20 years be raped at the point of a handgun while you sit in the corner and watch. After all the perp might let you live. He may actu-ally apologize and say he’s sorry for what he did and he’ll never do it again and then walk out of the home never to be seen again. To Arf nobody “needs” a gun. I’d like to know what exactly I would defend my family with. A baseball bat? A pair of knit-ting needles? How’s that going to compete against a handgun?

And you have got to be kidding me with how to prevent a government from becoming too powerful. Standing in the streets with signs, are you serious? Boy, the government about came down on us but we showed ’em. We were out on the streets and they turned around and went home. Whew, that was a close one. Protesting is the adult version of a child pouting when it comes to the Left.

And this argument about blacks being one-fifth of a person? Boy, talk about igno-rance. Before you go out and say something that ignorant you should really do your homework first. Read your history book and stop using demagoguery to solidify your opinions.

Where in the Constitution does it say that we are to treat black slaves as three-fifths of a person? You mean Article

1, Section 2, Paragraph 3, which says, “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, accord-ing to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.”

We’re not safer if people carry a con-cealed weapon? Really? Where in God’s creation are you getting these statistics? It’s almost embarrassing. Hence the reason I thought this opinion piece was a joke. The idea that everyone has the right to arm themselves is a big mistake? What business is it of yours if somebody arms themselves? Does my owning a concealed weapon hurt you or your family? It doesn’t. Yet, you feel the need to remove my right to own one because you don’t like it.

“I don’t want someone at the city coun-cil meeting with a concealed weapon who decides I’m a threat of what I say.” You are suggesting that a person who has a disagreement with you is going to shoot you dead?

And how do you know how a gun makes me feel? You can express your opinion on how it makes you feel, but don’t say how it makes me feel. That’s for me to decide. I have guns and I don’t feel threatened by them at all. It’s the person on the other end of their gun threatening me that I fear, not the guns laying in my gun case at home.

Look, if you really believe all this non-sense about fear, then I would suggest you pack a bag and do our country a favor by engaging our enemies abroad and letting them know that “Guns are a great threat to your life.” Let me know how that works out for ya.

Guest ColumnBy Chris Garcia

Is Arf for real? Get rid of the guns?Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed on the Viewpoints page(s)

are not necessarily those of El Defensor Chieftain.

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They’re Not Like

Youand Me

By Arf

Letters policyEl Defensor Chieftain welcomes and encourages original

letters to the editor, especially on local topics and issues. Shorter letters, about 350 words, are preferred. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s address and telephone number (street address and phone number won’t be pub-lished). Letters may be edited for length, spelling, grammar and legal considerations, but in all cases the writer’s intent will be maintained.

MARCH 21, 2013 • 5VIEWPOINTSwww.dchieftain.com

Hardy Lew WallaceOn Sept. 29, 1878, former Civil War general

Lew Wallace arrived in Santa Fe. He looked up territorial Supreme Court Justice Samuel G. Parks and showed him documents he’d brought from Washington.

One was his presidential appointment as gov-ernor of New Mexico territory. Another was an order for the removal of Wallace’s predecessor, corrupt Gov. Samuel B. Axtell. Justice Parks read the papers and promptly swore in Wallace as the new chief executive.

President Rutherford B. Hayes had selected the no-nonsense Wallace for the job, hoping he could put an end to the turmoil in New Mexico. Besides political corruption, the notorious Lincoln County War was raging, and Apaches were terrorizing the countryside.

The new governor moved right into the his-toric Palace of the Governors. To his dismay, he discovered that the floors were packed dirt, the walls were mud-plastered and the roof leaked. But he made the best of things and a year later he brought out his young wife, Susan, from their home in Indianapolis.

While in New Mexico tending to the cares of his office, Wallace worked on his classic novel

“Ben Hur,” set in biblical times. When published, it would become one of America’s favorite best-sellers.

The versatile gover-nor was also an artist of some ability. Citizens fre-quently found him paint-ing scenes in the quaint back streets of the capital. When his wife, Susan, wrote her own book, “Land of the Pueblos,” he contributed a handsome pencil drawing of the Palace of the Governors. It has been reproduced many times.

A year after assuming his duties, Gov. Wallace, accompanied by Susan, set out to view firsthand the effects of Apache warfare in the lower territory. More than 100 settlers had already been killed, “in the most horrible man-ner,” to use the governor’s own words.

Among other victims a short time later would be Judge Hamilton C. McComas and family, personal friends of the governor, who were mas-

sacred on the road outside Silver City.

For safety on their journey, Lew and Susan rode in an Army ambu-lance surrounded by an escort armed with Winchester rifles. At a small village on the Rio Grande near Socorro, the residents turned out and greeted them with amazement.

“Had we been newly raised from the dead, they could not have shown greater awe,” he remarked. The reason was that in past days, all travelers on the roads had been slain by Apaches.

“We followed the people inside their church,” continued the governor. “Before the altar were the corpses of 16 men, women and children, some of them shockingly mutilated. In view of this butchery, it is no wonder that they consid-ered our escape a miracle.”

The Wallaces soon departed for Fort Stanton in Lincoln County, where Susan reported that a

reign of terror existed and “we held our lives at the mercy of outlaws, chief among them Billy the Kid.”

In her primitive quarters at the fort, Susan was told to close the shutters in the evening. It was feared that the Kid might try to assassinate Gov. Wallace while he worked by lamplight on a chapter of “Ben Hur.”

We should not be surprised that the refined Mrs. Wallace, accustomed to all civilized ame-nities, developed a strong distaste for life in the territory.

Her criticism found expression in a letter to their son back in Indiana:

“My dear — Gen. William Sherman was right. We should have another war with Old Mexico and make her take back New Mexico. I did not believe anything could cause me to think well of Santa Fe, but this hideous spot, Fort Stanton, does.”

Before leaving office in 1881, Gov. Wallace summed up his own view of the territory in a line often quoted today:

“Every calculation based on experience else-where fails in New Mexico.”

New Mexico

ScrapbookMarc Simmons

We all love baby animals, so I’ll cut to the chase, as they say. Most of us are aware of the importance of spaying and neutering for your pets, because for most of us, they are family mem-bers and we want to provide proper care. Most of us have seen animals neglected and abused and left to roam. We all know what happens when this goes unchecked and breeding contin-ues. Did you know 56 percent of dogs and 71 percent of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized? More cats are euthanized than dogs because they are more likely to enter a shelter without any owner identification. Spaying and neutering saves lives.

Outdoor cats may suffer from star-vation, disease, predators and other fatalities, such as being run over by cars or worse. For those who have asked if something can be done to prevent feral cat population growth without trap and kill, the answer is yes. It is TNR, which has been scientifically and socially proven to be the only method that works in the long run and saves more lives and money than the old method of euthanasia.

Common inquiries are: What is a feral cat? Feral cats are the offspring of

domestic cats that have adapted to living wild and not perished in the pro-cess. Contrary to popular belief, feral

cats can live good lives with a little help from humans. Unlike domestic pet cats, the outdoors is their home. Stats indicate over 80 percent of Americans surveyed feel TNR is the humane way to go and prefer humane treatment of feral cats outdoors.

Many cats are abandoned, dumped and homeless. These cats can usually be introduced back into a home environ-ment given a little time and understand-ing with TLC. These cats become feral in order to survive. Many die outdoors due to abuse, starvation, disease, freez-ing and predators.

Remember, always check with prop-erty owners if you are feeding/caring for cats on another’s property.

What is TNR? TNR is a humane, non-lethal

approach to management of feral cat populations. It is a management plan where healthy feral cats are humane-ly trapped, sterilized, vaccinated and returned to their habitat where they are provided long-term care.

In some cases, relocation is neces-sary, although we do not advocate it. It is always helpful and necessary for any agency and community animal organization to have a list of places willing to provide humane care and a home for a feral or semi-feral or home-less cat. If you are willing to provide a barn cat/ farm cat home please, contact

any of the following people and leave your name, phone number and brief message:

Jill Urban (Claws & Paws – foster mom/adoptions) 575-418-8696

Stephanie Mitchell (APAS and kitty foster mom) 505-480-2042

Elaine Burgess (New-Mexica TNR network) newmexicatnr@yahoo.com or 575-838-2078.

Some of you may be taking care of abandoned, homeless, feral cats already on your property in Socorro or out in the county somewhere. We commend you for your compassion and continu-ing endeavors. We also know interven-tion/help may be required to prevent your one or three kitties into turning into a “multi” kitty home or property.

Suggestions:1. Continue to feed and water any

feral cats in a given area on your prop-erty or with permission if someone else’s property, preferably in a low

noise, easy access area.2. Phone and obtain a voucher for

spay/neuter for any abandoned or feral cats you are caring for. Here in Socorro County, you may contact Zimmer Foundation at 505-466-1676 or go to Zimmer-Foundation.org. There is a phone interview and an application process to receive a voucher for spay/neuter. All approvals are strictly at the discretion of Zimmer Foundation.

3. When a voucher is approved or other arrangements made, call your local veterinarian and make the appoint-ment for sterilization in advance. Here in Socorro it is: The Ark of Socorro at 575-865-9002 or 1-888-349-3189 and Animal Haven of Socorro at 575-835-3545. The Zimmer Foundation can also help you with your beloved fam-ily feline’s spay/neuter when you meet income guidelines of $40,000 annually or less. Simply call and inquire if you have any concerns or questions.

4. Humanly trap your cats/kit-tens within a 24- to 48-hour guideline prior to the appointment with the vet. Remember, these are feral cats, not lap cats. Cover the cage with a dark towel , or any towel you have, this will help keep them calm, even in transport. Do not feed after midnight prior to the day of surgery. For humane TNR instruc-tion and hands-on help, contact New-MexicaTNR at 575-838-2078.

In order to qualify for assistance in spay/neuter for the cats you are feed-ing, you must agree to continue to feed and water cats you are currently caring for. We are not a relocation service for cats. However, when cats are in proven extreme danger, we can assist in plac-ing in the Barn Cat Farm Cat program.

5. For kittens humanely caught and in need of a foster home until adoption age, call Urban or Mitchell. Kittens, up to age 12 weeks, are more readily socialized. Remember, if a kitten has its eyes still closed, don’t touch as mom may leave them. Always leave kittens with the mother when possible until its eyes are open. Usually about age 4-weeks a kitten can eat solid kitten food. Socialized kittens stand a better chance for being adopted.

6. Opt to adopt a feral cat to take to the barn. Always contact the Socorro Animal Shelter. You can adopt feral kitties to live outside on your property. Your outbuildings will be rodent free. Always feed and water your barn and country cats. Just like us, they can’t live on air, dirt and bread alone. Spay/neuter certificates come with the adop-tion process. For information, call the Socorro Animal Shelter on the adop-tion process and certificates concerning any animal companion. The Socorro Animal Shelter and Adoption Center phone number is 838-3103.

Spring is springing and so are kittens, puppiesGuest column

By Elaine Burgess

New Mexico TNR Network,

Socorro

Church Directory

Hope Lutheran Church908 Leroy Place (Across from the NM Tech Library)

http://trak.to/hopeDivine Service: 8:00 a.m.

Socorro Unitarian Universalists

A branch of First Unitarian of AlbuquerqueEpiscopal Church Parish Hall • 908 Leroy Place

Sunday Services: 4:00 p.m. Children welcome!

For more information call 838-7113 or email redorgrn@gmail.com

SOCORRO BAPTIST TEMPLEIndependent Baptist Church

Pastor David McDaniel • 1301 South Fairgrounds Rd MBU # 2 • 835-3306Sunday School: 10 a.m. • Sunday Worship Service: 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Midweek Bible Study: Thursday 6 p.m.

Datil Baptist ChurchDatil • 575-772-5577 • Pastor Harold Jenkerson - 575-772-5156

All Ages Sunday School: 10:00 a.m.Worship: 11:00 a.m.

Ladies Bible Study: Wednesday ~ 10:00 a.m.

Calvary ChapelWorship, Fellowship, Bible Study

Pastor Frank Rodriguez • 802 Mitchell Ave. • 575-312-9276 Sunday Service ~ 10 a.m. • Wednesday Service ~ 7 p.m.

Family Christian Center"Bringing God & People Together"

Sunday 9:30 am Breakfast with Family • 10:30 am Worship CelebrationNursery (ages birth-3) • ElectriKids (ages 4-11)

Wednesday 7:00 pm Family NightNursery (ages birth-3) • Voltage Kids Club (ages 4-11)

Ready Student Ministries (ages 12-18) • Adult Interactive Bible Study Call or visit website for more information about activities for Men, Women, Single

Adults and Connect College Ministries (575) 835-0185 • www.fccsocorro.org

1016 Fowler / Highway 60 & Fowler, Socorro, NM

Magdalena Comm. ChurchMain St. at 4th, P.O. Box 265 Magdalena, NM • 575-854-2364

Rev. Laura Niles Finch • Rev. Jeffrey FinchSunday Worship Service: 11:30 a.m.

Communion is the first Sunday of the monthCircle Meeting: 9:30 a.m. first Tuesday of the month

Choir practice: 2:00 p.m. WednesdayVillage Quilters: 9:30 a.m. Second and Fourth Wednesday of the month

Round Up Dinner at Noon, fifth Sunday of the month Adult Bible Study: 2:30 p.m. Wednesday

St. Pauls United

Methodist Church1000 Goad Rd. (Southeast corner of NM Tech Campus)

575-686-0096 • Pastor Reuben ThomasCommunion ~ First and third Sundays

Worship Service ~ 10 a.m. SundayPrayer Shawl Ministry ~ 5:30 p.m.Wednesday

Bible Study ~ 6:30 p.m. Wednesday

First Baptist Church of Socorro

We are a Southern Baptist Church203 Spring Street • Pastor Charles Farmer Jr. • 575-835-0041

Morning Worship: 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. • Awana: Wednesday, 6:00 p.m.

Evening Worship: Saturday, 6:00 p.m.

Socorro ServiceS

Datil ServiceS

MagDalena ServiceS

The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

El Camino Real, across from Sedillo Park • 575-835-0570Sacrament Meeting: 9 a.m. • Sunday School: 10:20 to 11:00 a.m.

Priesthood/Relief Society/Young Men’s/Young Women’s/Primary: All meet 11:10 to noon. All Welcome!

Magdalena 1st Baptist Church575-854-2389 • Kelly Road, Magdalena, NM 87801 • Pastor Paul Holt

Sunday School: 10:00 a.m.Sunday Service: 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 p.m.www.fbcmagdalena.com

The Episcopal church of the Epiphany

908 Leroy Place • 835-1818 • Rev. Woody Peabody, Vicar Where all are welcome!

Sunday Worship Service (Eucharist) ~ 10 a.m.Sunday School ~ 10 a.m.

Sunday College Dinner ~ 5 p.m.Breakfast and Bible Study ~ Thursday, 7 a.m.

Holy Communion in Magdalena 1st and 3rd Sundays at 4 p.m. at the Community Church

Old San Miguel Mission403 El Camino Real NW, Socorro, NM 87801

Voice: 575-835-2891 • Fax: 575-835-1620Website: www.sdc.org/smiguel • E-Mail: smiguel@sdc.org

Pastor: Father Andy Pavlak

San Miguel Church Mass Schedule:Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Mass of Anticipation (Fulfills Sunday Obligation)

Sunday: 8:00 a.m. (Bi-lingual), 10:00 a.m.Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday: 5:30 p.m.; Thursday: 5:30 p.m. (Communion Service)Mission Saturdays: 7:00 p.m. Mass of Anticipation (Fulfills Sunday Obligation)

1st San Lorenzo, Polvadera • 2nd San Antonio, Mission at Luis Lopez3rd La Sagrada Familia, Lemitar • 4th San Jose, Luis Lopez • 5th San Antonio, Alamillo

St. Mary Magdalene - Magdalena: Sunday - 12:30 p.m.

St. Patrick Newman Center: 7:00 p.m. 1st Monday of the month (When Tech is in session)

The HouseNext to Days Inn • 105 Neal Avenue, Socorro, NM 87801 • 575-835-4357

Sr. Chaplin Jerry or Sr. Chaplain MichelleMonday: 10 a.m. Book of John-Kids Welcome12 p.m. Women's Healing • 6 p.m. Book of John

Tuesday: 12 p.m. Addiction ClassWed.: 10 a.m. Marriage/Family Class-Kids Welcome • 12 p.m. Marriage/Family Class

Thursday: 12 p.m. Bible OverviewFriday: 6 p.m. Addiction Class

Kids Outreach ages 4-11 1st & 3rd Friday MonthlyYouth Group Outreach ages 12-17 2nd & 4th Friday Monthly

1st Sunday of Month Women's Luncheon 3 p.m.2nd Sunday of Month Men's Dinner 3 p.m. • Biblical Counseling available by Appt.

Weekend live service available, call for service times

First Presbyterian Church

304 McCutcheon Avenue, Socorro, NM 87801 • PO Box 1155 • 575-835-0942

1stpresbyterian@qwestoffice.net • http://1stpresbyterian.qwestoffice.net

Rev. Laura Niles Finch • Rev. Jeffrey Finch

Worship service & Sunday school 9:00 am childcare providedCommunion is the first Sunday of the month

Presbyterian Women 9:30 am is the first Friday of the monthMen's Group 10:00am is the first Saturday of the month

Bible Study Wednesday 6:00 pmBible Study Thursday 10 am

Socorro Church of Christ

1001 El Camino Real • 575-835-2272 • www.socorrochurchofchrist.orgBible Study: 10 a.m. Sunday

Worship Service: 11 a.m. SundayBible Study: 7 p.m. Wednesday

The church that Jesus built (Matt 16:18)

Family Christian Center306 S. Main, Magdalena

575-835-0185 • www.fccsocorro.org"Bring God & People Together"

Worship celebration: Saturday, 5:30 p.m.Nursery

ElectriKid (ages 4-11)Ready Student Ministries (ages 12-18)

copper, he said.Lopez said a very small per-

centage of the burglaries around Socorro involve armed suspects. He said most burglaries here are crimes of opportunity in which the victim has left a door unlocked, or the burglars know when people are out of town.

Lopez said there are large burglary rings that target big stores like Walmart. They may steal $5,000 worth of merchan-dise and then sell it to someone who markets it somewhere else. He described homes set up just like a store, only stocked with stolen merchandise, where peo-ple can come in and buy things as if it were a store.

Councilor Nick Fleming asked if Socorro’s burglaries are committed mostly by minors or adults.

Lopez estimated minors are responsible for less than 10 per-cent of local burglaries, although he shared a story about some youth who cleaned out their neighbors’ house when they knew the residents were out of town.

“They had stripped the house, literally down to just the walls.

I mean, everything was gone,” Lopez said. “We found all the property in two different houses.

“They literally decorated a girlfriend’s house and their par-ents’ house with everything that came from these people’s house. It took us five pickup loads to take everything back.”

Councilor Donald Monette noted how one graph in the presentation kind of replicates unemployment rates. Lopez agreed, saying many suspects in copper thefts say they have lost their jobs in construction.

Mayor Ravi Bhasker remarked on the feelings of grief and violation victims feel no matter what is stolen. He asked about police success in recover-ing stolen property.

Lopez said most items bur-glarized are lost forever; in many cases, the goods are sold to get money for drugs. SPD Chief George Van Winkle added police often get letters from insurance companies stating the companies want any property recovered because they have already compensated the vic-tims for its loss and the property

now belongs to the insurance company.

Lopez said he goes to both pawn shops in town every month to check for burglarized proper-ty, and solves about one burglary a month that way. However, most burglars don’t pawn stolen items since they know they will leave a paper trail.

Lopez had recommendations that may help in case a person is the victim of theft:

• “Label your stuff ... every-thing I buy that has any value ... I etch ‘stolen from Richard Lopez’ on it in several places so they have to literally destroy whatever they’re stealing to cover it up.”

• Use an owner applied num-ber. Lopez explained one doesn’t necessarily need serial numbers to report stolen merchandise to the National Crime Information Center; an owner applied num-ber also works. He said he etches an owner applied number on everything he owns.

• Photograph every expensive item purchased.

• Get software that can be tracked on computers. Lopez

said police solve many cases of stolen computers with software that can “ping” where the item is being used. The feature is also available for cell phones.

• Use a safe to store valuables. Safes are heavy and inconve-nient for burglars to try to steal.

Lopez also said SPD can do vacation house checks for people who are leaving their residence for an extended time. He said people need only come to the police department and fill out a simple form to get vacation house checks.

Continued from Page 1

6 • MARCH 21, 2013 El Defensor Chieftain www.dchieftain.com

City: No agreementsomebody calling from Veguita and saying, ‘Hey, I called your dispatch. How come you didn’t get a police officer out here? We’re having a terrible time with somebody,’” Bhasker said.

Bhasker said there were no assurances the city wouldn’t be held responsible in such a case, and that was the “stick-ing point” in the conversation between the county and city about dispatch services.

City Clerk Pat Salome said in other places, dispatch is separate from police agencies and is not run by them. In Valencia County, for instance, emergency dispatch is a separate entity from any agency, and dispatches all calls for any emergency responders needed anywhere in the county. He said Socorro is somewhat unique in having dispatch run out of the police department.

Bhasker said the city meet with the county about dis-patch and was working on a memorandum of understand-ing.

“I can only tell you that we’re not that heartless ... There was some little tweaking we needed to do,” Bhasker said. “Maybe it would have cost $30,000 — it might have even cost less. I don’t know that, but that’s where we were on that — just to clarify the situation.”

Salome said during an interview Tuesday that if the city were to provide services outside city limits, then all the taxpayers who benefit from the services should con-tribute, not just city residents. He said it wasn’t a question of whether the city was willing to provide dispatch ser-vices, but how to work out the specifics of an agreement.

Salome said the county has never had its own dispatch services, and over the past year or so the state had been considering making a change that could have interrupted NMSP District 11’s ability to provide the services for the county.

“I guess the state changed their position and they’re going to continue to dispatch for the county,” Salome said.

Salome said he thought the dispatch discussion was going well between the city and county, but the discussion was under the premise that NMSP would not be doing the county’s dispatch anymore.

Salome said any government — whether city, county, state or federal — can only support services to the people who pay taxes for those services. He said a government entity can’t go too far beyond its boundaries without caus-ing harm to its constituents who are paying its taxes. He said anytime more labor and duties are added, the cost of providing that service goes up.

Salome said the county and city had talked a little bit about creating a central dispatch system — similar to dis-patch in Valencia County — that would be independent of any particular agency but dispatch for all local agencies.

“But you know, that’s a pretty big undertaking finan-cially,” Salome said.

Salome said the important thing is that everyone has 911 access, but it has to be funded fairly for all taxpayers. He said it was good for the county that they were able to work dispatch out with state police. He noted it may be the least expensive way to have the whole county served, since NMSP Distric 11 already covers the entire county and then some. For the city to provide dispatch services, they would have to expand their area and hire more people.

“It pretty much doubles our population if we go county-wide,” Salome said.

Continued from Page 1Burglaries: Police presentation looks at stats

Continued from Page 1

Pope: Francis welcomed as people’s pope

open his arms and protect all of humanity, but “especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison.”

“Today, amid so much darkness, we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others. To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love is to open up a horizon of hope, it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds.”

“The more I learn about him, the more excited I am about the choice the conclave made,” said Father Stephen Schultz, pastor

at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. “I think he will lead the church back to basics in a sense.”

Through news reports, Schultz said he learned as cardinal in Buenos Aries, Pope Francis, the first of that name, sold the man-sion designated for his use and moved into an apartment.

“He cooked his own meals, rode the bus. It was amazing to see how many people in Buenos Aires knew him,” Schultz said. “He chose Saint Francis, someone who exudes prayerfulness and humility.”

As far as the future direction of the church, Schultz said the doctrine of the church isn’t going to change because of any one pope.

“I don’t anticipate any huge changes, other than a push for more recognition of the poor and common people,” he said. “A phrase that occurred in my mind, and I have heard elsewhere, is he’s a pope of the people or the people’s pope. He won’t be taken away from his central role of leader of the people.”

Father James Marshall, pastor of San Clemente Catholic Church in Los Lunas, said he also heard reports of the new pope’s humbleness and humility.

Julia M. Dendinger, reporter with the Valencia County News-Bulletin, contributed to this report.

El Defensor Chieftain Report

SocorroBeneath the desert landscape that cov-

ers most of New Mexico lies the future of the state. Stored within cracks or between grains of sand and gravel is our most pre-cious resource – groundwater.

In recognition of the fact that most of New Mexico’s drinking water comes from groundwater, the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources is celebrat-ed National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 10 to 16.

“Groundwater is our primary source of drinking water in New Mexico. You turn on your faucet and water comes out, but people don’t always think about where it comes from,” Stacy Timmons, geologist at the bureau, said. “Without groundwater, we wouldn’t be able to live in New Mexico because there’s not enough surface water to

sustain all of us.”According to the U.S. EPA Public Water

System Inventory Data (October, 2011), New Mexico has 552 community water sys-tems using groundwater to supply water for 932,009 people.

Globally, about 99 percent of all avail-able fresh water is in the form of ground-water stored in aquifers. Groundwater is accessed by wells that are placed in water-bearing rocks beneath the land surface. In the United States, nearly 15.9 million wells serve households, cities, businesses, and agriculture.

The Bureau is a state-funded non-reg-ulatory agency that advises government, industry and citizens about issues related to geology, water resources and mining in the Land of Enchantment.

Since the early 1990s, the Bureau of Geology has been engaged in comprehen-sive studies of New Mexico’s aquifers. Initial collaborative work began with geo-

logic mapping and aquifer analysis for the Albuquerque Basin and Placitas area. The Bureau has since established the Aquifer Mapping Program to develop descriptive models of groundwater flow in important aquifers around the state.

The purpose of mapping the state’s aqui-fers is to provide critical information on the state’s groundwater. These studies improve our understanding of the geologic frame-work of aquifers, their hydrologic character-istics, water levels in the aquifers, how they change over time, and the occurrence of nat-ural contaminants. Results of these works have contributed to resource management tools such as long-term aquifer monitoring networks and conceptual and quantitative regional ground-water-flow models used by state and local water managers.

Information provided by New Mexico Tech.

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Cuentos MARCH 21, 2013 • 7 www.dchieftain.com

El Defensor Chieftain

El Defensor Chieftain reports

Once a year, Girl Scouts around the country venture into the entrepre-neurial world to learn business and financial skills and earn money to fund their Girl Scouting goals.

According to a release from Carol Ann Short, communications man-ager for New Mexico Girl Scout Trails, through “learning by earn-ing,” Girl Scouting aims to empower girls through the development of five essential skills: goal setting, money management, people skills, decision making and business ethics.

Overall, a majority of Girl Scout “Cookie Entrepreneurs” develop the five essential skills.

Learning the five essential skills has a positive impact on girls’ lives, Short said.

Girls who developed these skills were more likely to report they learned new things while sell ing cookies that will help them in school and other areas of their life than girls who did not. Overall, girls reported that selling cookies was fun and learning by earn-ing made it even more fun.

After the cookies are paid for, 55 centscents from each box goes to the troop.

Troops can be found selling cook-ies around town, mostly on the week-ends. The last day for cookie sales is March 30. In Socorro County there will be cookie sales at various loca-tions in Socorro, Magdalena and Lemitar. A nearby troop can be found by entering a zip code in the cookie locator at www.nmgirlscouts.org. The zip code for Socorro is 87801; Lemitar is 87823; and Magdalena is 87825.

El Defensor Chieftain Reports

Nine-year-old Marco Ybarra earned sev-eral state gymnastic championship titles at the March 16 meet in Albuquerque.

Ybarra is the grandson of Deacon Mike and Terry Ybarra of Polvadera and a third grader at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Rio Rancho.

He competed in the USA Gymnastics Jr. Olympics New Mexico Boys State Championship meet in Albuquerque. He com-peted in the Level 6, division for 9- and 10-year-olds. Ybarra won the state champion title in all six events: Pommel Horse, Rings, High Bar, Floor, Vault and Parallel Bars. He also won the all-around state champion title for the fourth time in a row. This win qualifies him to compete in the Region 9 Championship Meet in April.

Ybarra started gymnastics at the age of 3 and started competing at the age of 5. Since then, he’s competed in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado and Arizona while winning over 150 medals.

Ybarra trains four days a week, three hours a day, at Eagle Ridge Gymnastics in Rio Rancho. His goal is to make the USAG Jr. Olympic National team in a few years so he can travel and compete in international meets.

He then plans on making the Penn State University or Air Force Academy gymnastics team and someday qualify for the 2020 or 2024 USA Olympic Team.

Ybarra looks to 2020 Olympics

Submitted photoMarco Ybarro

Submitted photo

Marco Ybarro practices at Eagle Ridge Gymnastics in Rio Rancho.

Still time to get those cookies

Elva K. Österreich/El Defensor Chieftain

Girl Scout Cookies arrive in Socorro in February await-ing distribution to local Troops.

Michael J. Armijo II, an eighth-grader from Sarracino Middle School, is Socorro County’s 2013 Spelling Bee champion.

Armijo was among the best 35 spellers from throughout the county who gathered at the Socorro District Courthouse to com-pete for a spot in the New Mexico Spelling Bee. After battling for 19 rounds, Armijo correctly spelled “synonym” to become Socorro’s representative in the state com-petition, which only takes the first place finisher from each county.

Jorrell Mirabel, of Magdalena, and Andrew Silva, a Sarracino eigthth-grader, rounded out the top three.

Armijo, who is a varsity member of the Warriors’ soccer and track teams, as well as a Sarracino Brave basketball player, attributes his spelling success to his life-long passion for reading while admitting he does not get to spend as much time studying his spelling words, due to his schedule.

Armijo said as a Socorro County repre-sentative, he would be setting aside extra time to focus and study for the big show.

The New Mexico Spelling Bee will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday Sandia Preparatory School in Albuquerque. The New Mexico Spelling Bee champion will represent the state at the Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 30 in Washington, D.C. Michael J. Armijo II

State spelling bee Saturday

CHARMING, HISTORIC HOME FOR SALE

Please call 505-259-8332 to schedule a showing.

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Saturday, March 23, 20132 to 4 p.m.

Refreshments served

One of the first flowers of spring, the daffodil is a symbol of hope and courage. Now you can share this hope with others. Proceeds from the daffodil sales benefit hospice patients who need financial help with end-of-life care and equipment.

Daffodil bundles of 10 are $6 ~ Daffodil vase arrangements are $9.

We will be selling daffodils at the Smith’s, Post Office and Walmart Supercenter in Socorro.

To volunteer to sell daffodils or to preorder daffodils, please call Gloria Padilla at 835-8343.

www.phs.org/socorro

Daffodil Days March 21 and 22 for Socorro General Hospital Hospice Program

SGH Daffodil Days 2013 7_833 x 4.indd 1 2/14/13 3:08 PM

Legals:Mondays at 2 p.m.

Display Advertising:Mondays at 5 p.m.

Classified Advertising:Mondays at 4 p.m.

El Defensor Chieftain • 575-835-0520advertising@dchieftain.com / classifieds@dchieftain.com

New deadlines for Thursday publications

By Lee RossFor El Defensor Chieftain

It may be hard to believe, but just across from the quiet fields of tall, brown grass and cattle in Moriarty, a group of young men are producing cutting edge tech-nology that they hope could soon eclipse satellite communications.

The Titan Aerospace group, which operates out of a hangar at the Moriarty Municipal Airport, is working long hours to try and bring the costs associated with satellite communications down to earth. Or at least closer to earth.

For over a year now, the group has been working on a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as a drone, that will have about a 130 foot wingspan and fly over 13 miles above sea level for up to five years before it needs to come back down to earth and be ser-viced.

Although the prototype still has a few kinks to get through, according to the crew’s lead mechanical engineer, Daniel Cornew, it’s nothing they can’t handle.

“There’s always glitches to

work out,” he said. “Get the autopilot to work and the power train, that sort of thing. It’s a tough problem. You have to do a lot of testing on your compo-nents.”

There are currently 14 people working on the project and a few more helping hands will soon be on the way.

Titan recently received a New Mexico Economic Development Job Training Incentive Program, or JTIP, grant for $141,390. The funding will pay for sev-eral additional positions to help bring the UAV into full-scale production.

“Everyone works their tails off,” Cornew said. “JTIP is going to help us by allowing us to hire more people … (and) allow us to build more airplanes faster and better.”

The hangar they work from is already packed with wing proto-types, small solar panels, bits of electronic components, hacked up foam board, makeshift tools and lots of people who know enough about computers and automated drills to be very dan-gerous, if they chose to be.

Like most of the employees, Cornew is a relatively recent col-

lege graduate. He and the others don’t seem to mind putting in a lot of hours to build something that could be a game changer.

“We are building solar-pow-ered UAVs that will fly at 65,000 feet and stay up for years at a time. We hope to do everything satellites can do, but cheaper,” he said. “… We get paid to build airplanes, which is a preposter-ous amount of good luck.”

In fact, according to Cornew, most of the Titan crew are deep-ly fascinated with space and science. Most of them live in Moriarty, in the same house.

When they take a break from working on the UAV, they have a little electric scooter they use to cruise around the airport, or they just try and find adventures where they can.

“We tend to fly gliders and do outdoor excursions on the

weekend,” Cornew said.But really, they spend most of

their time in the hangar with the UAV, and the stuff they’ve built to help make that UAV fly.

One of those creations is actu-ally a very heavy and imposing home-made autoclave.

An autoclave subjects mate-rials to heat and pressure and, in this case, helps make light-weight materials like carbon fiber even stronger.

According to Cornew, the bulk of the autoclave is made from part of an oil and gas pipeline. The thing is welded and bolted together from vari-ous heater parts and gas tanks, a little elbow-grease and a lot of know-how.

Across from the autoclave is a room made from plastic sheets.

Stepping through the plastic curtain reveals that the room

is actually a dust-free environ-ment for building electronic components. It is where Titan employees pour over electronics diagrams and solder the little electronic brains that will help keep the UAVs airborne.

This is also where Dustin Sanders, who heads up the elec-tronics side of the operation, earns his keep.

Part of the reason Sanders landed the job is because, when he attended Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, he didn’t choose just one area to specialize in.

Sanders knows several pro-graming languages and can write a program that will tweak a solar panel to make it more efficient, he knows how to tin-ker with the guts of a computer and he’s also studied physics, astronomy and other sciences.

In fact, he said he’s applied for a job at NASA several times, and he said he would be love to leave the Earth forever to be part of a mission to Mars or to colonize the moon.

“… There are lots of people like me,” he said.

According to Cornew, there could be a few like-minded folks at the local high school, too.

“We are supporters of solar energy and solar awareness,” he said.

He said that several members of the group got their start on solar car racing teams, so Titan would like to develop a solar car program with Moriarty High School, he said.

Those kinds of skills could certainly open a few doors. The folks in Moriarty who may just be busy building the future are proof of that.

8 • MARCH 21, 2013 El Defensor Chieftain www.dchieftain.com

Aerospace group makes Moriarty home base

Final chamber music concert of season March 25 at Tech’s Macey CenterBy Valerie KimbleFor El Defensor Chieftain

SocorroAn elegant program of piano trios

and quartets is in store for concert-goers at the final Presidential Chamber Music Concert Series event of the sea-son at 7:30 p.m. March 25 at New Mexico Tech’s Macey Center.

Admission is free to all to the con-cert featuring the popular violist Willie Sucre and the Matisse Piano Trio.

“Willie has lined up an enchanting program for this final chamber music program in the current Performing Arts Series season,” said Ronna Kalish, long-time PAS director. “Audience response to the sextet program last November, which featured the piano, was very enthusiastic, so we are looking forward to a good turnout Monday night.”

Joining violist Sucre for the chamber concert are Ksenia Nosikova, piano; Katie Wolfe, violin; and Anthony Arnone, cello.

The concert opens with the three movements of Piano Trio in B-flat Major, K502 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Allegro, Largetto and Allegretto.

According to Kalish, after the string quartet, the piano trio is the most important chamber ensemble since the Classical era, evoking some of the

greatest compositions in the genre.“It’s believed that Mozart (1756 –

1791) set the standard for piano trios with five compositions written around the time he was 30,” she said.

After intermission, the quartet will perform the four movements of Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op.87 by Antonin Dvorák – Allegro con fuoco, Lento, Allegro moderato grazioso and Allegro ma non troppo.

Since Dvorák (1841 – 1904) dated his compositions, it is known that he began the Piano Quartet in E-flat Major on July 10, 1889, and completed it six weeks later. According to sources, this was a very rich time in Dvorák’s life – surrounded by his large family, Dvorák was composing steadily, and receiving accolades across Europe.

The Matisse Piano Trio was formed in 2004 by Nosikova, Wolfe and Arnone, all faculty members at the University of Iowa. While maintain-ing active solo and teaching careers, the Matisse Trio performs throughout the country, and regularly gives clinics and master classes to college and high school students.

Pianist Nosikova has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, Russia and both Americas. A graduate of the Moscow Conservatory where she received her undergraduate and master’s degrees, she earned her doctorate. from the University of Colorado. Nosikova is an associate professor of piano at the University of Iowa where she teaches an international studio of graduate and undergraduate students.

Violinist Wolfe received degrees in violin performance from Indiana

University and the Manhattan School of Music, before accepting a Fulbright Lecture Award to teach and perform in Bolivia. She taught violin, viola and chamber music at Oklahoma State University for five years and has served as associate concertmaster of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Wolfe joined the University of Iowa string faculty in 2004 and continues to enjoy a diverse career as a soloist, teacher and performer.

Cellist Arnone received his Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has taught classes in cello and conducting at Ripon College, Wis., in addition to being prin-cipal cellist of the Madison Symphony. Arnone is an assistant professor of cello at the University of Iowa School of Music, and serves on the faculty of the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, N.C., where he teaches, conducts and performs chamber and orchestral music.

Violist Sucre has been and contin-ues to be the driving force behind the “Willy Sucre & Friends” concerts. Born in La Paz, Bolivia, Sucre studied at the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica in La Paz; Colby College Chamber Music Institute in Waterville, Maine; Mannes School of Music in New York; and the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, M.D.

He was a member of the former NMSO; conductor and music direc-tor of the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra; assistant conductor and prin-cipal viola of the Canada Symphony Orchestra in Montreal; assistant con-ductor and assistant principal viola of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra; principal viola and guest conductor

of the National Symphony of Bolivia, the Chamber Orchestra of La Paz and the Albuquerque Chamber Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Sucre was

the founder of the Cuarteto Boliviano, guest violist with various chamber music ensembles, and for 10 years the violist of the Helios String Quartet.

Series ends with piano trio

Submitted photoMatisse Piano Trio: Katie Wolfe, Ksenia Nosikova and Anthony Arnone on the cello.

ENCHILADA DINNER

Friday, March 22 from 11-7 p.m.$5 a plate at the Eagles Club

Delivery available upon request575-418-1357

To benefit the Gonzales familywho lost their home & all possessions in a fire.

0001047852-01 1 2/25/2013 12:48:07 PM

Notice is hereby given by the

DEMOCRATIC PARTYOF SOCORRO COUNTY

there will be a County Meeting to be held

April 2, 2013Socorro County Court House200 Church Street, Socorro

6 p.m.

County Officers and members ofthe State Central Committee from Socorro County

will be elected at this meeting.

For further information, call Sefie Anaya at 575-518-8825or Democratic Party of New Mexico Headquarters

at 505-830-3650.

Paid Political Advertisement

NOTICE

Paid for by the Democratic Party of Socorro County, Sefie Anaya Chair

Bookkeepingand

Tax Service

New permanent location!508 N. California St.(across from Wells Fargo Bank)

Electronic filing beginsJanuary 30th

For more information contact

Wendi OteroEnrolled Agent

575-835-0963wendi@jts.cc

We’re watching you.

Stealing from newspaper racks is a CRIME.

Violators will be prosecuted to thefullest extent of the law.

El Defensor Chieftain

MARCH 21, 2013 • 9El Defensor Chieftainwww.dchieftain.com

SANCHEZ – Mike Sanchez, 58, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 16, 2013, with his loving family at his side. He was born in Socorro on April 8, 1954 to Andrew and Julia (Martinez) Sanchez. Mike was a life long resident of Socorro. He retired after 30 years of devoted service as a mechanic and mainte-nance worker for the Socorro Consolidated Schools. He was a “jack of all trades” and could fix anything. He worked hard and took pride in everything he did, from cleaning his yard, cutting and stacking the wood to working on the family farm and caring for the sheep. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Mike liked to travel and occasion-ally visit the casinos, play a game of pool or go bowling. Mike always had music on, all kinds of music, but most importantly Mike always had a song in his heart. He lived life to the fullest and was a devoted husband, father, grandfa-

ther, son, brother, uncle and friend. He loved his family more than anything. Mike is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Cecilia (Montoya) Sanchez, of Socorro; his devoted children, Michael Sanchez and wife, Charlene of Albuquerque, Victoria Mesa and husband, Richie of Tucson Ariz. and Juliette Sanchez and compan-ion, Andrew Baca of Albuquerque; his sisters, Della Sanchez; Esther Thompson and husband, Jim; Patricia North and husband, Robert and Jenny Derryberry and hus-band, Thurman; his brothers, Andrew J. “Boo-Boo” Sanchez and Andy Sanchez and wife, Patricia; and many other loving family members and close friends. Mike also enjoyed and adored his grandchildren, Marissa, Diego, Ariana and Alejandro. He was pre-ceded in death by his parents, his father, Andy Sanchez in 1975; and his mother, Julia Garcia, just a few short weeks ago, Feb. 28, 2013; his brother, Rudy Sanchez; and his

beloved granddaughter, Taylor Wright. A Holy Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 7 p.m. at the San Miguel Catholic Church, 403 El Camino Real, Socorro. The Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at 9:00 am also at the San Miguel Catholic Church with Father Andrew Pavlak as Celebrant. Interment will take place in the Lemitar cemetery. Pallbearers are Joe Montoya Jr., Nick Montoya, Anthony Montoya, Pete Montoya, Andrew J. “Boo -Boo” Sanchez, and Charlie Savedra. Honorary pallbearers are Seles Padilla, Andrew Baca, Richie Mesa, Bob Jiron, Bob North, and John Staats. To view information or leave a condolence, please visit www.dan-ielsfuneral.com Mike’s care has been entrusted to:Daniels Family Funeral Services

309 Garfield St.Socorro, NM 87801

575-835-1530

Obituaries

Deadline for obituaries is on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.El Defensor Chieftain • 575-835-0520

The BlotterSocorro County Sheriff’s DepartmentJan. 31

• A Bernardo resident report-ed that sometime between 11:30 p.m. and 12 a.m., he heard a noise outside his home. When he went outside he saw two men behind his trailer. They ran to the southwest portion of the property and met up with four more men. One of them pointed what the victim thought was a shotgun at him. He said there was also a man on the roof of the mobile home pointing two semi-automatic guns at him. The men left the property in a Suburban. No property was believed to be taken. There are no suspects.

Feb. 9• A deputy stopped a driver

for swerving about 9 p.m. and noticed the odor of alcohol com-ing from the vehicle. The deputy had the driver perform field sobriety tests and determined him unable to drive, then took him into custody for DWI.

Feb. 10• A Veguita man reported

his brother hit their sister. The deputy found the suspect at the house next door, and the suspect said he did not hit her. The sis-ter said the suspect came after her with an instrument case and then dropped it; the suspect then hit her with the pillow. The sus-pect was arrested, and his broth-er was arrested for a warrant.

Feb. 11• A deputy arrested a Socorro

man at the county misdemeanor compliance office for a valid warrant.

• A deputy served a Socorro man a bench warrant while the man was incarcerated at the Socorro County Detention Center.

Feb. 14• Socorro Electric

Cooperative employees reported a Polvadera man illegally obtain-ing electricity. One employee said he went to the home and saw the man had used nails to bypass the meter.

Feb. 20• A deputy was dispatched

to Veguita about 8 a.m. for a vicious dog. The victim’s dog had been attacked by two other dogs, which were no longer at the residence. A neighbor was ticketed for vicious dog and vac-cinations required.

Feb. 21• A Veguita woman reported

her ex-boyfriend called her sev-eral times, calling her a whore and asking where she was. She said she heard a motor in her yard, and when she looked out, she saw her ex-boyfriend ram-ming her car with his pickup several times. When she went outside to tell him to stop, he drove off. She said he then called her again and said he was on his way to her house with a gun to kill her. When the deputy spoke with the woman’s ex-boyfriend on the phone, he refused to come and meet with the deputy.

• About 2:57 p.m., a deputy was involved in a traffic crash due to snow and high wind.

Feb. 24• A Veguita man reported his

girlfriend had been beaten up by another woman who was going to stay for a few days. The dep-uty noticed bruising on the girl-friend’s left eye and marks on her left cheek. The suspect said she did not mean to hit the woman. The deputy then told the suspect to retrieve her belongings because she was no longer allowed to stay at the property. The deputy transported the suspect away and advised her not to return. She did return, so she was arrested.

Feb. 25• A Socorro man reported

a suspicious person about 8:30 a.m. He said a man in his late 50s or early 60s with white hair and glasses was in front of his home taking pictures of his teen-age daughter. He said when he confronted the white-haired sus-pect, the suspect left. The depu-ty tried contacting the suspect, a Lemitar man, but was unable to as of the time of the report.

• A deputy witnessed a vehi-cle turn on Garfield, a one-way street, headed the wrong way. The driver was ticketed.

Feb. 27• A Veguita woman reported

her horse keeps getting out and going to the next property where a horse is in heat. When she went to get her horse that day, a male juvenile threatened to shoot the horse if it came to the property again and bumped his chest against the woman’s. When the deputy spoke to the boy, he said he did not say or do what the woman reported. The boy was told to call law enforce-ment the next time the horse came to the yard.

• A deputy got a call of a pos-sible body in the Rio Grande and was told to meet the reporting party at Veguita Trading Post. The deputy then followed the reporting party to where they had seen it. The deputy then contacted state police to request the criminal division come to the scene. The responding state police officer said if it was a human body he would take over the scene. The object was confirmed to be a human body by the Veguita Volunteer Fire Department chief and the scene was turned over to state police.

• A deputy was dispatched to Veguita on the report of a per-son chasing people with an ax. The woman who reported it said the suspect was inside a mobile home and would not come out. The deputy then met with the people who were chased, who said they were chopping wood when the suspect came after them with a black rod-type weapon. The people, along with two juveniles, then left the prop-erty and went to a home on Helena. Once there, they said the suspect came and chased them around the car with an ax. The suspect was arrested on an Adult Probation Office order.

Feb. 28• A deputy traveling on

Interstate 25 noticed a black Lincoln leave the roadway sev-eral times and conducted a traf-fic stop. The driver had a sus-pended license if no interlock was on the vehicle, which it wasn’t. The driver was arrested for having no interlock on the vehicle.

March 1• A deputy traveling on

I-25 stopped a driver for fail-ure to maintain lane and found the driver had a suspended or revoked license. The driver was arrested.

• A Bosque landlord reported he came to a property to collect rent because the renters were behind and found they were no longer living there, but there were piles of trash throughout the property and several ceramic tiles were broken. The depu-ty spoke to the suspect on the phone, who said she had con-tacted the landlord to remove the trash because her truck had broken down. She said the land-lord came a few times to pick up the trash, then never came back; that was the reason for the trash piles. She also said the pellet stove broke and was never fixed, so they bought electric heaters and would pay the electric bill as soon as possible.

March 2• A deputy was called to

Veguita for animal neglect and met with the suspect. The dep-uty saw seven dogs in the yard, three of which appeared skinny. The deputy said he will return in 30 days to check on the dogs.

• A deputy traveling on Sixth Street about 5:27 p.m. saw a vehicle with a damaged windshield. When the deputy stopped the driver, he found the man’s license was suspended or revoked. The man was arrested and taken to jail.

• A deputy was dispatched to Lemitar about 10:14 p.m. regard-ing a vehicle left in the road. The vehicle was traveling north when it left the road and started sliding, then collided with a steel post, which caused it to spin out. The vehicle came to rest partial-ly in the road. The driver then left the scene with his children. No injuries were reported. The driver was arrested for DWI.

March 3• A deputy was called by

a city police officer regarding harassment. A Socorro woman reported a Lemitar woman threw something at her car and hit it on top. The deputy was unable to meet with the Lemitar woman as of the time of the report.

• A deputy met with two Socorro men about 7:18 p.m.

about an accident. The suspect failed to yield to oncoming traf-fic, hitting the victim, who was traveling north on California Street. The victim’s car then hit a fire hydrant. The suspect’s vehi-cle was driven away and the other vehicle removed by its owner, and the suspect was ticketed.

March 6• A deputy assisting the

DWI compliance office found a Socorro man with a valid war-rant and arrested him.

• A deputy stopped a Ruidoso man for speeding on Highway 380 about 9 p.m. and found the man had a suspended or revoked license. The man was arrested and taken to jail.

March 7• A deputy was dispatched

to a hit-and-run accident at Tumbleweed Equipment & Auction Co. The owner, an Edgewood man, noticed dam-age to his vehicle the day of his auction. He said there were many cars in and out all day, and he was unsure who hit his vehicle. There was damage to the driver’s side quarter panel.March 8

• A deputy was dispatched about 3:39 p.m. for an erratic driver in a U-Haul, which had struck another vehicle, causing it to go on the shoulder. The victim failed to say she was off the road and in the fence that separates I-25 and Frontage Road. The deputy saw the damage with yellow paint transfer. The victim said the offending vehicle was a yellow U-Haul, but the deputy believed it was a Penske truck. The truck was never located.

• A deputy was involved in a traffic crash about 6 p.m. on I-25.

March 9• A deputy met with a woman

at the state police office about 9:30 a.m. She complained a Socorro man sold her tires that were no good and when she went to his home to talk to him, he exited the home with a bow and slammed her driver’s side door on her leg. The deputy met with the suspect at his home, and he told the deputy he was not feeling well. He said the woman would not leave and that

she sprayed water on him. He said he exited his home with a bow, trying to give it back to her because she said the tires were no good.

• A deputy traveling on I-25 locked a speeding vehicle on radar. The deputy engaged emer-gency lights but the driver would not pull over, and still would not pull over when the deputy engaged the siren. The driver finally stopped at the Exxon in Socorro and was ticketed for speeding and obstructing/evad-ing an officer.

March 11• A man came to the Socorro

County Sheriff’s Department about 11 a.m. and filed a report on a person who was paid for services that were never com-pleted.

• A deputy was dispatched to Center Street about 2:09 p.m. for a Socorro man believed to have a valid warrant. The warrant was confirmed through the National Crime Information Center and the man was arrested.

March 12• A deputy transported two

inmates to the Los Lunas state correctional facility.

• An Albuquerque man was involved in a traffic crash due to a flat tire about 9:27 p.m. The vehicle was towed and the man checked out by an EMT. No enforcement action was taken.

• A deputy perform-ing court security arrested an Albuquerque man about 10 a.m. on a judge’s order.

• A deputy performing court security arrested a Dumas, Texas, man on a warrant about 3:02 p.m.

March 16• A deputy met with a San

Ysidro woman about a domes-tic dispute. She said a Socorro man showed up with another girl so she was going to leave. She was going to put her children in her vehicle and pushed the man away, then he hit her in the cheek, knocking her against the vehicle. Then the grandfather came out and held the man so the woman could leave.

March 9th – Abeytas (Sabinal Fire Station)March 16th – Midway Fire Station

March 23rd – Magdalena Fire StationSaturday 10 am to 2 pm

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Check out all the vendors!

Inquire about our Firewise chipper program.

Contact Ken Wolf at 835-2029 x1203

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MARCH 21, 2013 • 11El Defensor Chieftainwww.dchieftain.com

SocorroOn Friday, March 15 the boys track team com-

peted in the Roswell Rocket/Coyote Invitational track meet.

On Saturday the baseball team played Thoreau winning both games 13-0 and 8-0. On Thursday the baseball team will host Laguna Acoma at 1:30 p.m.

The boys and girls track team will be in T or C for the Mike Tooley Relays on Saturday. Then on Tuesday they will be at the Richard Moore tourna-ment in Lordsburg.

On March 25 the boys and girls golf teams will host Ruidoso.

Also on Monday the baseball team will be in Bayard to play Cobre.

On Tuesday the softball team will play Cobre in Bayard.Alamo

On March 16 the boys and girls track team competed in the Jemez Invitational Track Meet.

On Saturday they will be at the Luguna-Acoma Invitational in Casa Blanca.

Magdalena

Today the baseball team will host Hatch Valley.

The boys and girls track team will take part

in the Mike Tooley Relays in T or C on Saturday.

QuemadoOn Friday the Eagles co-ed cheer team will

attend the State Spirit Competition in Albuquerque.

BRIEFSSPORTS

12 • MARCH 21, 2013 www.dchieftain.com

El Defensor Chieftainsports

FOR THE RECORD

File photoIn the March 16 edition of El Defensor Chieftain this runner was incorrectly identified as running for Magdalena in 2012. He actually was an athlete at Alamo Navajo schools at the time.

Socorro Track & Field Schedule2013 Varsity

MARCH 23 T or C BUS LEAVES at 7:30 a.m.MARCH 28 LORDSBURG BUS LEAVES at 11 a.m.APRIL 4 ROBERTSON BUS LEAVES at 11 a.m.APRIL 11 MAGDALENA BUS LEAVES at 1:30 p.m. APRIL 15 MARILYN SEPULVEDA APRIL 20 RUIDOSO BUS LEAVES at 6 p.m. APRIL 27 HOPE CHRISTAN BUS LEAVES at 7 p.m. MAY 3 DAVE MATHIEU INVITE MAY 10 DISTRICT (SILVER) BUS LEAVES at 7 p.m. MAY 16-17 STATE BUS LEAVES THURS.

MARCH 22 SARACCINO RELAYS APRIL 5 BELEN BUS LEAVES at 1:30 p.m.APRIL 9 CARRIZOZO BUS LEAVES at 1 p.m.APRIL 16 MAGDALENA BUS LEAVES at 2 p.m.

Junior High

Lady Warriors find success at homeBy Polo C’ de BacaFor El Defensor Chieftain

SocorroComing home after playing on the road, the

Socorro softball team was 1-3 in tournament play. They had been playing without some team

members who were busy finishing out the basket-ball season. On Tuesday they swept a double-head-er in an exciting come-from-behind game against the Class 4A Belen Lady Eagles. They tied the first game at 6-6 in the seventh inning and went on to win 7-6. The Lady Warriors had also been playing catch-up for most of the second game. They trailed going into the bottom of the seventh, 16-15, but pulled it out gain for the second home win, 16-15.

The clutch hitting Socorro girls came through with last-at-bats winning hits in both games. Catcher Natalie Paz’s base hit drove in Hope Moses for the winning run in the first game. The Lady Warriors were putting the ball in play and making contact, as a good hitting team does, giving the other team lots of opportunities to make errors.

“We just got the girls some of the girls back,” Socorro High School athletic director Damien Ocampo said. “They’re now meshing nicely into the team for tonight’s game with Belen.”

Senior Socorro veteran pitcher Savannah Padilla started the first game for Socorro. She’s Socorro coach Belinda Sandoval’s go-to pitcher.

“She’s always pulled through for us,” Sandoval said. “She’s come a long way. She’s got the focus, she’s got the mental part of the picture and she got her pitches down so we’re real proud of her, she did a good job — especially in the second game, she did a lot better.”

Backup pitcher and reliever Hope Moses started the second game.

“Hope is confident,” Sandoval said. “I thought she started off OK for us.”

Moses plays the shortstop slot when not pitch-ing. Moses was relieved in the fourth inning of the second game by Padilla.

“It feels good to win at home,” Sandoval said. “It helps our spirit, it helps our confidence. They were determined to win at home. They wanted it and they got it.”

In the second game Belen scored two runs in the first inning. Socorro went ahead in the bot-tom of the second with three runs. Then Belen exploded with 10 runs in the top of the third. Belen led 12-3.

Socorro had little fireworks of their own. Six batters in a row scored seven run for Socorro to close the gap again 12-10 Belen at the end of the third. Belen then added two more in the fourth to go up 14-10.

Never-say-die Socorro came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth trailing 14-12 and held Belen scoreless in the fifth. Socorro scored three runs to take the lead 15-14. Not-to-be-denied Belen scored one run in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 15. Belen was scoreless at their next at bat and the game was tied 15-15 going into the bottom of the seventh. First up for Socorro, Mariah Zamora got a base hit then was followed by Ashley Pyke who doubled. The next batter flew out to the shortstop. Jaz William got a base hit and two runs batted in which drove in the winning run for the 15-16 Socorro victory.

“They were having fun out there,” Sandoval said “Once they adjusted to the pitching they started to make contact and then they started to have fun. And that’s what makes the difference, if they can do that, come from behind and win the ball game.”

Polo C’ de Baca/For El Defensor ChieftainSocorro catcher Natlie Paz reaches to catch the pitch in Tuesday’s game against Belen.

Chiles burn Pygmies in high heat at homeDave Wheelock NMT Rugby Director

The Chiles rugby club of New Mexico State University easily repelled a challenge at home from New Mexico Tech’s Pygmies, tallying four five-point tries in each half to come away with a resounding 63–8 victory. The Chiles more than avenged their narrow 34-31 setback in a season-opening scrim-mage in Socorro on Feb. 2.

In their defense, the Tech team was reuniting from a week apart brought on by the school’s spring break. It wasn’t long before Tech’s hopes of a successful rally were dashed by a more prepared NMSU side playing at home.

In near-record high temperatures, New Mexico State kept Tech off the scoreboard in the opening 40 minutes while running in four touchdowns. Meanwhile the Pygmies sustained costly injuries to scrum half Rick Cosentino, who received a cut above the eye, and center Ben Rosandick, whose nose gave way to an opponent’s knee in a tackle. To add to Tech’s woes, team captain Enrique Koerdell turned an ankle during the fray, limiting his effectiveness for the bulk of the match.

Tech’s eight forwards provided reli-able ball possession through numerous set

scrums, but rarely could the team man-age to sustain a running attack for more than two tackles. Cosentino, fullback Alex Malone and first-season wing Isaac Juarez managed to keep things interesting with some long runs but the team couldn’t capi-talize once they were tackled. The Chiles meanwhile employed smoother passing and recycled the ball more efficiently after tack-les to apply pressure until a defensive gap could be exploited. Veteran center Khan Muhammad had a field day with one first-half try and two more in the second chapter.

Veteran fullback Isaiah Sanchez, called upon to play center, scored NMT’s only five-pointer in the second half as he alertly ran the ball after a penalty was called against the home team. The two-point conversion kick was missed. As the half waned, lock forward Jordan Fastle came through from another penalty situation with a 35-meter kick through the uprights for three more consolation points.

Cosentino was named Man of the Match for Tech for his never-say-die efforts at the pivotal scrum half position. The Pygmies, still seeking their first formal win against two losses, will be on the road again March 30 in Colorado Springs when they take on Colorado College.

Lady Warrior golfers open season with a win at ABQ tourna mentEl Defensor Chieftain Report

The six-time defending state champs Lady Warrior golf team opened their 2013 spring season with suc-cess by winning the East Mountain tournament in Albuquerque on Monday.

There were five schools participating in the tourna-ment, and with good weather conditions, the girls were able to score well. Junior Shania Berger was individual medalist shooting 2 under par 72. Despite a few three-putts, Shania was happy with her season opening round. Senior Kristen Cline finished in second place shooting 77. After a 5 over start on the first three holes,

Cline played the next 15 holes 2 under par. Sophomore Mia Salome finished in third place with

an 84. Sophomore Chynna Pearson finished in sixth place shooting 99 and breaking 100 for the first time. Senior Mirjana Gacanich rounded out the team score, finishing with 103. Sophomore Teresa Lucero also played, shooting 121.

The Lady Warriors got their first qualifying leg for state. The team total score was 332, outdistancing the nearest school by 88 shots.

The Lady Warriors play next on March 25 to defend their title at the Seery Invitational tournament.

Submitted photoFrom left are Chynna Pearson, Mirjana Gacanich, Teresa Lucero, Mia Salome, and Kristen Cline. Sitting on the rock is Shania Berger.