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Headline News From March 1, 2002 Issue

Ryan Duran

Accused child molester Ryan Ryan Duran Sr., 26, of Truth or Consequences, approaches the Sierra County Magistrate Court Monday morning for a preliminary examination on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual penetration of a minor child. Click photo for the details.

  Ever-vigilant area ranchers wrangled with members of the Mexican gray wolf recovery team (WRT) at an all-day meeting in Truth or Consequences Wednesday.

  Contrary to the statement “the vote to take away the money from the schools will not lower taxes, it only means the revenues will be able to be utilized elsewhere” printed in a local newspaper last week, the defeat of a school levy issue on Feb. 5 will reduce Sierra County taxes by 2 mils, according to Sierra County’s Senior Tax Assessor Wes Whitney and School Board President Steve Janos.

Las Cruces couple claims $32 M Powerball jackpot 

  Two lifelong Las Cruces residents have won the largest single prize in the nearly six-year history of the New Mexico Lottery.

Love and transformations set stage ‘On Golden Pond’

  It's Norman Thayer Jr's 80^th birthday and Chelsea, his divorced forty-something daughter and her new fiance, plus his 13-year-old son are coming to visit Norman and his wife of 50 years, Ethel, at the Thayer's summer cabin by Golden Pond.

2002 Miss Fiesta contest set April 13

  The 2002 Miss Fiesta Contest will be held Saturday, April 13.

Seven students graduate from T or C Learning Ctr.

  On Feb. 24, the T or C Learning Center hosted a special graduation exercise for seven students who completed a 16-week, 12-credit-hour program in Office Administration.

…Going to court, but not going free

Accused child molester Ryan Duran Sr., 26, of Truth or Consequences, approaches the Sierra County Magistrate Court Monday morning for a preliminary examination on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual penetration of a minor child arising from a case in June last year involving a four-year-old local girl, the second victim to come to light since T or C City Police leveled the first case against him in mid-January.

Magistrate Tom Pestak continued the hearing and rescinded the $100,000 all-cash bond set for Duran upon the defense’s argument that the 10-day rule had kicked in.

In the meantime, Deputy District Attorney June Stein, prosecuting the case, is to prepare legal briefs that will seek to allow the victimized child to testify before the court on closed circuit TV to lessen her trauma.

Rules for the district court allow videotaped dispositions but no such rules exist for the magistrate court where testimony must be given live, but the girl’s testimony could be given live through closed circuit TV if the court decides so in this case.

Earlier last month, Duran waived his preliminary hearing and he was as a result bound over to district court for trial in connection with the first case filed against him involving another four-year-old neighbor girl during an incident in Duran’s home in November last year. Charges filed in that case include second-degree kidnapping and third-degree criminal sexual contact of a minor.

Duran remains in custody of the Sierra County jail with $20,000 all-cash bond set in the first child molestation case.

Photo by Bill Johnson

County manager beats back wolf team

By Fred Mramor of the Desert Journal

Ever-vigilant area ranchers wrangled with members of the Mexican gray wolf recovery team (WRT) at an all-day meeting in Truth or Consequences Wednesday.

The meeting was intended for an inter-agency management advisory group with representation by federal, and state and county officials from New Mexico and Arizona, but, as assistant wolf recovery coordinator Colleen Buchanan said, the word got out.

Brian Kelly and other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) personnel tried to identify to ranchers and officials six new wolf release locations they are considering located outside the Gila Wilderness but were shut down by Sierra County Manager Adam Polley.

Polley said the criteria by which FWS chose the six sites - one in Sierra County - are arbitrary and capricious and that with the same criteria he could place a wolf in New York City.

Polley warned ranchers that by permitting WRT members to name the proposed sites and getting ranchers’ responses, FWS officials could say they have received public input and then proceed with their plans to release wolves at the new sites.

“You’re trying to take a shortcut and we’re not going to let you,” Polley said to the WRT members.

Kelly insisted that the sites were proposals only and that no decisions have been made.

But with relentless pressure from Polley and ranchers, Kelly finally agreed not to discuss new release sites at Wednesday’s meeting and did agree to form a task force with local officials to revise site selection criteria before proposing any new release sites.

WRT members were allowed to discuss their plans to release two pairs of wolves at established release sites in the Gila Wilderness.

Although ranchers generally objected to wolves being released anywhere on the planet, they did not object very strenuously to the release of wolves at the Gila sites.

But ranchers made it clear to WRT members that they didn’t trust them.

Laura Schneberger of the Winston area said ranchers were told two years ago that criteria for wolf release sites applied only to wilderness areas but now apply to other areas.

“Sneaky loopholes in these (wolf recovery) documents let it go further and further without public input,” Schneberger said.

Rancher and outfitter Jack Diamond pointed out that wolf recovery personnel, unlike ranchers who can lose livestock to wolves, take no financial risk in pursuing their project.

“You get your paychecks regardless, all of you with patches on your arms,” Diamond said. Diamond suggested to WRT members that they “do the right thing and quit your jobs.”

Another rancher said FWS has changed its story, first saying wolves would be placed only in Arizona and then that some would migrate to New Mexico.

“But some of the wolves migrated in trucks,” the rancher said, adding, “we can deal with the predators; wolves don’t lie, we have a problem with Fish and Wildlife [Service].”

Ranchers complained also that wolves known to kill livestock in Arizona had been moved - or relocated for management purposes - to New Mexico.

Conceding that they had made some mistakes, wolf recovery personnel defended themselves saying that they were following a process with legally approved criteria that are not “black and white” but include “relative judgments.”

Brian Kelly pointed out that FWS was forced by a lawsuit into establishing wolf populations at various locations around the United States.

Kelly said to ranchers and local officials it is their job to contact their legislators and change the laws they don’t like.

<<<   >>>

Paris Ebberts, 3, of Truth or Consequences, fires off a snowball at “Papa” during a visit at the Continental Divide in the Gila National Forest last Saturday afternoon.

Photo by Bill Johnson

Defeat of school levy will
reduce local property taxes

By Fred Mramor of the Desert Journal

Contrary to the statement “the vote to take away the money from the schools will not lower taxes, it only means the revenues will be able to be utilized elsewhere” printed in a local newspaper last week, the defeat of a school levy issue on Feb. 5 will reduce Sierra County taxes by 2 mils, according to Sierra County’s Senior Tax Assessor Wes Whitney and School Board President Steve Janos.

But as the measure is a continuation of a tax originating in 1983, its approval will not increase taxes above existing levels, Whitney and Janos said.

With a turnout of only 13.8 percent, Truth or Consequences School District voters on Feb. 5 declined to continue the levy that will expire on June 30 this year to erect and maintain school buildings, purchase computer equipment and for acquisition of other physical assets.

The T or C School Board within a week of the election moved to place the identical issue on the ballot again on April 16.

Asked why the board decided to revive the issue so quickly after voters said no, Janos this week said, “Low turnout and a poor job of us advertising our needs and what we do with the money.”

“I don’t think it’s a fair reflection of the entire population of the county and I was elected to do what I think is right, I think the money is necessary, ” Janos said.

Schools Superintendent Bruce Hegwer said various technical and legal reasons for placing the issue on the ballot on April 16 involve notification and minimum time requirements between a levy election and primary and general elections to be held this year.

Hegwer added that the school board could hold its levy election in July or August but would then lose the $300,000 the two mils generate for at least one year.

Janos of course hopes the measure will not be defeated again on April 16 but said he will vote to bring it back again if it is.

“We wouldn’t get any money for a year but I would vote to bring it back to the table because I think it’s important,” Janos said.

“If we have a major turnout in the next election and it’s still voted down, I would vote to bring it back again because I think those funds are necessary,” Janos said.

“We have a drop in enrollment so we have some major decisions to make on cutting budgets, which we will do,” Janos said, “and with $300,000 needed for basic maintenance, that will make our cutting more severe.”

“I’m afraid that with the numbers of students dropping and these funding cuts, we will cut a lot of payroll. We’ll also have to look at cutting various types of programs,” he said.

“I don’t think we have too many programs right now. I think students need extracurricular activities, band, agriculture, athletics, but those are things that will have to be cut once we get our staff in line because we still have to address reading, writing and arithmetic - those can’t be touched,” Janos said.

“By doing this (2 mil levy) we have a chance of not having to cut these programs,” Janos said.

Janos said he is cognizant of the cost of school levy elections (about $8,000 for each, according to Bruce Hegwer) when he votes to put these issues on the ballot.

“It’s an additional cost, yes, but we can do more good with the $300,000 that we’ll get and keeping the buildings current,” Janos said.

“It’s like saying, ‘Are you cognizant of the cost of your insurance and maintaining your own house?’ If you don’t spend those little costs to provide coverage, then the big disaster could happen later. And if our buildings are in such horrible repair as it is, not maintaining and repairing them doesn’t fix the problem,” Janos said.

<<<   >>>

…Racing for nuts

These two children in a race testing speed and balance carry pecans in spoons, hoping to cross the finish line first. The children’s games in the Ritch’s pecan orchard were part of the Cuchillo Pecan Festival last Saturday.

Photo by Bill Johnson

Las Cruces couple claims

$32 M Powerball jackpot

Two lifelong Las Cruces residents have won the largest single prize in the nearly six-year history of the New Mexico Lottery.

Isabell and Rafael Delgado presented the winning ticket late Friday, Feb. 22, from Wednesday night's $32 million Powerball drawing.

The pair chose the lump-sum cash option payment of nearly $17.9 million before taxes. The after-tax prize of almost $12 million is the largest single undivided prize awarded by the New Mexico Lottery, which raises money for college scholarships.

Accompanied by a dozen extended family members, Mrs. Delgado said that she was asleep during Wednesday night's drawing, and didn't check her winning numbers until a co-worker told her Thursday that the only winning ticket was sold in New Mexico.

She found the winning numbers on the Internet. "Those look like the numbers I had," she told reporters at Lottery headquarters in Albuquerque.

"I got nervous and called my husband." When she told him that she thought she had won Powerball, his response was simple: "Get real, Isabell!"

Birth dates and other numbers with family significance made up the lucky numbers, which Mrs. Delgado said she has played for several years. The winning numbers drawn at Powerball headquarters in Iowa were 19, 08, 09, 25 and 22, and the red Powerball was 11.

Mrs. Delgado described herself as just an occasional Lottery player, buying $5 worth of Powerball tickets "now and then." Technically, the jackpot was claimed only in Mrs. Delgado's name.

The couple has been married for 25 years. Mrs. Delgado works as a clerk typist for the City of Las Cruces' Benavidez Community Center, and plans to keep her job.

Mr. Delgado had been employed by Raley's Supermarket, until the California chain closed its Las Cruces stores last summer. He has since gone back to college at New Mexico State University, and now plans to finish his degree in mechanical engineering technology.

However, a more immediate plan looms. "We're going to Disneyland," Mrs. Delgado said. "I've promised my kids for years that when we had the money, or if I ever won the Lottery, I could afford to take them to Disneyland."

Her three children range in age from 16 to 29, and she also has grandchildren.

Additionally, she plans to help her children buy homes, and her husband plans to invest as much of the prize as possible so that their children and grandchildren can attend college, as well as assure the family's financial security.

Someone joked later that, even though Mr. Delgado is not eligible as a returning student for a Lottery Success Scholarship, he will be attending college with a scholarship provided by the Lottery.

Present and former co-workers used nearly identical descriptions of the Delgados in comments to both reporters and Lottery representatives: "It couldn't have happened to a nicer family."

The winning ticket was sold at Pic Quik #14, 210 E. Union in Las Cruces. That same store previously sold at least five winning Lottery tickets worth between $1,000 and $25,000, including one "Roadrunner Cash" top prize.

The store is eligible to receive a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning Powerball jackpot ticket.

Powerball jackpot winners have the option of choosing their prize as an annuity, with 25 payments over 24 years, or as a one-time lump sum.

The cash value of the Delgado's prize is $17,855,309.74. Federal taxes of 27 percent and state taxes of six percent will be withheld, leaving the Delgados with $11,963,057.53.

Although the record Lottery prize in New Mexico was a $131 million Powerball jackpot in November 2000, there were 14 winners who divided a $70.3 million cash option.  Pre-tax prizes were slightly more than $5 million apiece, with after-tax prizes of about $3.3 million.

Besides millions of prize dollars for Doña Ana County Lottery players, the county has received millions of dollars in Lottery educational benefits.

Nearly 2,000 local high school graduates have attended college with almost $5.6 million in Lottery Success Scholarships; 268 have already graduated college. New Mexico State University's main and Doña Ana Community College campuses have received almost $13.6 million in Lottery-funded tuition assistance.

And public schools in the Las Cruces, Gadsden and Hatch school districts have received more than $8 million in Lottery-funded awards for construction and repairs.

The New Mexico Lottery joined the Powerball group in October 1996, and is one of 21 participating states plus the District of Columbia. In addition to 104 $100,000 winners in New Mexico (five winning numbers but no Powerball), the $5,000 to $25,000 third prize (four winning numbers plus the Powerball) has been won here several hundred times. There was one $5,000 third prize winner in Wednesday night's drawing.

If that player had chosen the PowerPlay option, that $5,000 prize would have been quintupled to $25,000.

Overall, there were 9,192 New Mexico winning tickets Feb. 20.

Since its inception in April 1996 through the end of February, the Lottery will have turned over more than $136 million to the State of New Mexico. Of that, over $69.5 million has been earmarked for the Lottery Success Scholarship program. Another $66.5 million was used for school construction and repairs in 61 school districts.

More than 18,000 Lottery scholarship recipients have attended New Mexico public colleges and universities since the program began. All Lottery profits are now used for college scholarships.

<<<   >>>

The Cuchillo Pecan Festival on Feb. 23 was a great success, attracting hundreds of visitors to enjoy festivities with warm sunshine. “It was way above our highest expectations. We had a good crowd. We had fun. The weather was perfect and we had a good time. We sold all 400 of the pecan pies,” said Bill Ritch, whose Ritch’s Pecans & Candy Shoppe is host to the annual event held the last Saturday in February.
Photo by Bill Johnson

Love and Transformations

Set Stage ‘On Golden Pond’

By Julio Mateo

It's Norman Thayer Jr's 80^th birthday and Chelsea, his divorced forty-something daughter and her new fiance, plus his 13-year-old son are coming to visit Norman and his wife of 50 years, Ethel, at the Thayer's summer cabin by Golden Pond.

These days Norman's memory isn't what it used to be, and he's by turns angry and concerned by his increasingly frequent mental slips. This season he' s "in the market for a last hurrah," which he's convinced wil1likely be his last, he says, as he busies himself reading the want ads to look for "useful employment" as a way to "keep in touch with reality."

A master fisherman, Norman's even decided to give up fishing this year...

It's been a few decades since Chelsea spent summers at a girl's camp on the shores of Golden Pond, and eight long years since her last visit to the lake with her parents. But as Chelsea arrives with her soon-to-be-divorced fiance, Bill and his plucky teenage son, Billy, things are about to change in wonderful and unexpected ways for the Thayer family on Golden Pond…

Enjoy an exciting dinner-theatre performance of the Truth or Consequences Community Theatre's presentation of Ernest Thompson's "On Golden Pond," Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, March 8, 9, 10 and 15, 16, 17 at the T or C Civic Center’s Ralph Edwards Auditorium, 400 W. Fourth Ave.

Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Dinner-Theatre tickets by reservation only. Saturday dinners begin at 6:15 p.m., and Sunday brunches at 12:15 p.m.

Combined dinner-theatre/performance tickets: $15 adults; $14 senior citizens; $10 children 6-18.

Performance only tickets: $8, adults; $7, senior citizens; and $3, children 6-18. Children under 6 free.

Don't miss this exciting and heartwarming theatrical production of "On Golden Pond." Make your dinner theatre reservations and purchase advance tickets now at Merle Norman Cosmetics, 603 Main St., T or C; phone 894-7425.

<<<   >>>

Bill Ritch, co-owner of Ritch’s Pecans & Candy Shoppe in Cuchillo, calls the lucky names from the raffle drawing for door prizes during the Cuchillo Pecan Festival Saturday morning. This photographer, having bought a pair of tickets, was the lucky winner of a beautiful marble paperweight. Proceeds from the drawing and other festival events will benefit the New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranches.
Photo by Bill Johnson

2002 Miss Fiesta contest set April 13

The 2002 Miss Fiesta Contest will be held Saturday, April 13.

Miss Fiesta applications will be available Wednesday, March 6, at 8:15 a.m. at Geronimo Springs High School and at 8:50 a.m. in the Hot Springs High School Library.

Applications after March 6 will be available with Diana at 312 Main St.

Deadline to enter is 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 15.

Contestants must be between the ages of 16 and 21 on or  before Apri113, 2002. Contestants must have been a resident of Sierra County for at least six months immediately prior to entering the contest.

Contestant also must not be married or never been married, or must not be pregnant or given birth to a child.

For more information call Miss Fiesta Chair Esther Schwab at 743-7603 or Co-Chair Diana Luchini at 894-9880.

<<<   >>>

Arts and crafts vendors sell their goods under a canopy in the Ritch’s pecan orchard (and elsewhere not shown) during the Cuchillo Pecan Festival held last Saturday.
Photo by Bill Johnson

Seven students graduate

from T or C Learning Ctr.

On Feb. 24, the T or C Learning Center hosted a special graduation exercise for seven students who completed a 16-week, 12-credit-hour program in Office Administration.

Students learned or improved typing skills, mastered business writing and document creation using the MS-Office Professional Suite.

Additionally the class covered job search and interviewing skills, resume writing, Internet usage, and the Windows Operating System.

Western New Mexico University and the New Mexico Department of Labor, through funding provided by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), sponsored the class that met for four hours a day, five days per week for 16 weeks.

Speakers at the graduation included George Evanson, Instructor; Nadyne Gardner, Director of the T or C Learning Center; Adam Polley, County Manager; Lane Pack, Director of SCEDO; and a WIA board member.

About 50 friends and relatives of the graduates attended the graduation and reception.

Students graduating included Robert Baca, Loretta Baca, Susan Horttor, Carmen Montoya, Diana Wood, Florence Vest and Carolyn Horttor.

<<<   >>>

Delicious enchiladas and other great food was served by vendors during the Cuchillo Pecan Festival last Saturday.
Photo by Bill Johnson