Archive for East Mountains
Memorial Weekend Fire Safety Reminder
by Arlene Perea, Mountainair District Ranger Station
Mountainair, NM, May 19, 2009 – Cibola National Forest officials remind everyone of the importance of responsible recreating in anticipation of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. The Mountainair Ranger District as well as the Kiowa & Rita Blanca Grasslands are the only districts currently under stage 1 fire restrictions. Although Black Kettle, Mount Taylor, Magdalena and Sandia are not under any fire restrictions, we would like to remind all forest visitors to use extreme caution to prevent any wildfires within the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands. In anticipation of the upcoming holiday, district fire and recreation personnel will continue to patrol the roads, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and other recreational facilities during the holiday weekend.
The following Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Ranger Districts remain affected by high fire danger:
MOUNTAINAIR RANGER DISTRICT, KIOWA & RITA BLANCA GRASSLANDS:
STAGE 1:
Open Campfire Restrictions:
- Campfires, charcoal grills and stove fires are prohibited on national forest lands, except in Forest Service developed camp and picnic grounds where grills are provided.
- Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed.
Smoking Restrictions:
- Smoking is allowed within an enclosed vehicle or building; a developed recreation site; or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter and free of all flammable material.
Fireworks:
- As always, fireworks are prohibited on all national forest lands.
Forest Officials would also like to remind the public to please “Be Bear Aware”. Some areas of the forest have been experiencing a high occurrence of black bear sightings. Although beautiful to look at, black bears are wild creatures that can be very dangerous if provoked. Camp and picnic grounds are heavily used over the holiday. Please remember to keep your Forests free of litter.
For further information, please contact the Cibola National Forest at 505-346-3900 or visit us on the web at www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola. You may also call the districts at:
Sandia – 505-281-3304
Mountainair – 505-847-2990
Magdalena – 575-854-2381
Mount Taylor – 505-287-8833
Kiowa & Rita Blanca – 575-374-9652
Black Kettle – 580-497-2143
Coincidence? We Think Not.
by John Weckerle
Update: I met with Wally Gordon after this article was written, and Mr. Gordon explained that the appearance of the subject material was inadvertent. The Independent printed a clarification of the source in their next edition.
We would like to point out to our readers the striking similarities between the story titled “Free concerts in Mountainair” on page 10 of the April 15, 2009 edition of The Independent and our article, “Spring Must Be Here…,” published a week earlier. We’d like to point out specifically that the similarities are very striking – as striking as striking can be. Apart from deletion of a couple of phrases and insertion of the word “concert” which was inadvertently omitted from one of our sentences, one might be tempted to think that The Independent’s article was simply lifted from NM-Central.com – without permission.
There is an old saying: “Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.” In the case of published material, however, that particular brand of flattery is illegal. We’ve sent a “cease and desist” message via e-mail to The Independent’s editor, Wally Gordon, demanding payment and an apology. We will keep our readers posted (pun intended) regarding The Independent’s response. We’re not sure whether they’re reading their e-mail today, but we think it’s a pretty good bet that they’re reading this. We’d like to suggest that The Independent be a little more careful in this regard in the future – or similarities may not be the only things striking.
Fire Restrictions To Begin In The Mountainair Ranger District Starting Monday
by John Weckerle
Stage 1 Fire restrictions will be in effect beginning Monday, March 9 at 8 a.m. Restrictions include the following:
- Open Campfire Restrictions:
- Campfires, charcoal grills and stove fires are prohibited on national forest lands, except in Forest Service developed camp and picnic grounds where grills are provided.
- Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns and heaters meeting safety specifications are allowed.
- Smoking Restrictions:
- Smoking is allowed within an enclosed vehicle or building; a developed recreation site; or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter and free of all flammable material.
- Fireworks:
- As always, fireworks are prohibited on all national forest lands.
According to Mountainair District Ranger Karen Lessard, “With the lack of precipitation this winter, we are going into restrictions earlier than ever.” Given the fact that El Nino Southern Oscillation is in a La Nina configuration, this may be the first of an increasingly strict series of restrictions. We ask that everyone please take these and future restrictions very seriously and comply with them completely to help avoid the kind of catastrophic wildfires that have plagued the area in recent years. For more information on where fires are allowed, contact the Cibola National Forest Supervisors Office at 505-346-3900 or the Mountainair Ranger District at 505-847-2990.
Gimme Shelter – Part 1
by John Weckerle
(Editor’s Note: Chuck Ring contributed substantially to this article)
In a January 22 article on outlining financial problems faced by the Moriarty-Edgewood School District, Mountain View Telegraph writer Lee Ross reports on apparent consternation among the local school board members regarding the new Estancia Valley Regional Animal Shelter proposed to be located in Edgewood’s Section 16, south of Edgewood Middle School. According to the article, Moriarty-Edgewood School Superintendent stated: “I honestly did not have any idea that this was going into place.”
Excuse me?
As pointed out by former Town Council member and animal friend Chuck Ring, the regional animal shelter has been the subject of at least 13 articles in the Telegraph alone, all but one of which mentions Section 16 as the location for the facility. One would expect that elected officials would keep abreast of issues affecting the interests of the District, and that District personnel would be scanning the news for such issues and reporting back to the school board. Further, a naming contest was held in coordination with the school district, and Ms. Couch reportedly participated directly in that effort. »» Gimme Shelter – Part 1
Fire & Emergency Response Training Coming In March
by John Weckerle
The East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association (EMIFPA) will hold its 2009 Spring Wildfire and Emergency Response Training Events from March 7 to 8, 2009 in Tijeras. Events will include a two day training”focused specifically on Initial Attack/transition to Type Three Team Organization. Each agency will be responsible for nominating their people…” EMIFPA will also work with local community members, providing a one-day training event for wildlfire preparedness, fire risk reduction around homes, and evacuation on March 7. There is room for 100 students, and nominations are due by February 6. Candidates will be notified by February 19 regarding acceptance. Community members must reserve their space with Sue Hansen of the Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District. For more information, see the event notice, and for more information on area fire training, see the EMIFPA training page.
Given the re-emergence of La Nina in the Pacific Ocean, this is likely to be a dry spring, and that means increased risk of wildfire. This training may be a good opportunity for residents unfamiliar with fire risk management to learn about strategies that may save lives and property.
Edgewood Considering Windmills Without Requiring Permits
 by John Weckerle
Tonight, with very little fanfare before the fact, the Town of Edgewood will hold public hearings on a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance to allow windmills as a permitted use in all residential areas. Towers may be up to 80 feet tall on small lots (1/2 to 1 acre) and with no limit on height on larger lots. The ordinance can be found here.
The proposed revision appears overly simplistic and indicates that inadequate consideration was given to the complex issues associated with wind turbine use in residential settings. For example, the noise requirement states that a level of 60 decibels may not be exceeded at the “closest neighboring inhabited dwelling.” In some situations, there may be many undeveloped lots between the windmill and the next inhabited dwelling, potentially rendering those lots uninhabitable and depriving the owners of the ability to build homes on them. Taken in that context, some may suspect that the windmill ordinance has a certain “anti-development” goal. Allowing wind turbines – and their associated towers, to be permitted rather than conditional uses seems to ignore the complex and varied residential configurations found within Edgewood’s rather extensive land area. »» Edgewood Considering Windmills Without Requiring Permits
Youth Job Opportunities At Wildlife West
by John Weckerle
Each summer, Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood provides employment to young people age 14 to 25 in cooperation with the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program. These jobs not only give participants the chance to earn money, but provide an opportunity to acquire a wide variety of skills and learn about the park’s animals and the ecological aspects of wildlife. The work is broad in scope: the participants may find themselves maintaining trails, guiding tours, assisting zookeepers, building habitats (in fact, the zoo has essentially been built by young people), and much more.
Recruiting for this summer’s program has begun. Applicants must send a resume and two references to the Park by March 15, 2009 to apply for employment this summer. For more information, contact the Park at (505) 281-7655.
State Proposes New Restrictions On Hunting, Fishing, Trapping
by John Weckerle
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has proposed new regulations regarding hunting, fishing, and trapping on private lands, including unposted private lands. The purpose of the regulation is to require that hunters, fishermen, and trappers have written permission from the landowner. A public meeting will be held at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History on Saturday, January 10, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A copy of the press release and draft regulation is provided here.
Debate is likely to be spirited, as it always is when private property rights are balanced against other interests. Property owners will likely argue that they have a right to quiet enjoyment of their land without the need to post it, which can be expensive and require sign maintenance and replacement. Hunters, fishermen, and trappers have already argued that the penalties are too harsh, and that they should not apply to inadvertent or unknowing trespass. »» State Proposes New Restrictions On Hunting, Fishing, Trapping
One Way Or Another — You Will Go Roundabout
by Chuck Ring (GadAbout-BlogAlot ©2008)Â
Quote Freely From the Article — Leave The Pseudonym Alone
Roundabouts, traffic circles, calming devices; call them what you will. Some of them are touted and proven as efficient traffic handlers. There is a difference between roundabouts and traffic circles, so it is beneficial to get them settled in one’s mind. Here’s a webpage that will assist in helping everyone to sort out the differences between the twoÂ
Public Service Announcement – MS Support Group Forming
by John Weckerle
We’ve received word from Donna Seagrave on the formation of the East Mountain/Estancia Valley Multiple Sclerosis Support Group. The group will provide support and socialization for people in the area who do not wish to or cannot drive to Albuquerque. Meetings will be held at the Edgewood Community Center on the second Tuesday of each month, beginning January 13, 2008 from 6-8 p.m. and will be facilitated by Donna and Jacqueline. For more information, call 281-0996.
This is great news for area residents who are dealing with the challenges posed by a difficult and not always well understood medical condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Sometimes, joining a support group, where you can share experiences and feelings with other people, is a good approach.” We wish the group the best of success and hope those in the area with MS will benefit from it.
A few MS-related links:
Bacon Fried Is Pork Applied
by Chuck Ring (GadAbout-BlogAlot ©2008)Â
Quote Freely From the Article — Leave The Pseudonym Alone
The Rio Grande Foundation (RGF) has just published their latest piggy booklet
Into Every Life, A Little Snow Must Fall…
by John Weckerle
And sometimes we get a good light show, to boot. A break in the cloud cover this morning gave us yet another spectacular sunrise to go along with our late Fall moisture (remember: winter doesn’t start officially until Sunday!). It looks as if the kids in our area will have some time to enjoy the snow – according to the KOAT school closings page, all the schools in our area are closed except for Mountainair’s schools, which are on a 2-hour delay. State offices are also closed today. According to my “more or less personalized” weather page, there’s an 80% chance of snow today and 40% chance tonight. It also says that less than half an inch of snow is to be expected – but that’s what it said yesterday, so it’s possible we could see quite a bit more today. Another storm appears to be taking aim at New Mexico, and the rest of the work week may see us getting even more. If the predictions hold true, we’ll see a return of “mud season” this weekend.
Holiday Raffle To Support Community Radio
by John Weckerle
A raffle to benefit the establishment of a new community radio station is under way! Prizes include:
- 1st – $500
- 2nd – $250
- 3rd – $100
Tickets are $1.00 or $5.00 for six tickets. The drawing will be held at the Torrance County Project Office holiday open house on December 18, 2008. For more information and to buy tickets contact Ellen Burgess, Programs Manager, at (505) 832-0332 or by e-mail at eburgess@lobo.net.
We here at NM-Central wholeheartedly and enthusiastically support this outstanding project and urge you all to do so as well, so please call Ellen and find out how to get your tickets today!
Sneaky Petes With Dirty “Feats!”
by Chuck Ring (GadAbout-BlogAlot ©2008)Â
Quote Freely From the Article — Leave The Pseudonym Alone
Have any of you noticed how your eyes have become defective. I mean, have you seen that packaging in food stores seem to be the same size, but the contents weigh less than they did perhaps a month or a few days ago? Can we lay this on a sign of the times or pure fraudulent deception? Can we just chalk it up to sophisticated packaging to allow for a more comfortable ride for the various items as they zip to their various destinations? Or, should we accept one or more of the manufacturers lame explanations (revelations) given when they are pinned to the wall?
Revelations are popping-up all over and it makes one wonder, why the deception? Wouldn’t it be proper and honest to just raise the prices? The manufacturers seem to say that the consumer will accept deception before they will accept honest increases in prices. Well, let’s view a television spot which sheds more light on the issue
That’s it, except that if you want to keep up on consumer scams, you might want to subscribe to the newsletter offered here TrappedByAMouseÂ
Alice King Passes at 78
by John Weckerle
It was a sad moment yesterday when we learned that Alice King, wife of former governor Bruce King and long-time advocate for troubled children, passed away yesterday after suffering a massive stroke Thursday.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. King several time at functions here in the area, and she was always friendly and warm in her greetings.  As a first lady, and later as a tireless advocate, she worked and fought to protect and serve New Mexico’s children. Even though she is gone, a part of her will always be there in the lives of those who have been helped by the programs she started and sponsored.
We are asking that anyone who has information on a public memorial service pass the word on to us, so that we can post the details here.