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Volume 3, Number 5
February 7, 2008
February 7, 2008
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Special weather information
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
| THE WEATHER BOX www.eddycountyskywarn.blogspot.com Strong west to northwest winds of 35 to 45 mph with a few gusts near 60 mph will affect the higher elevations of the Davis Mountains this morning. Windy and dry conditions will keep fire danger elevated across the Guadalupe and Davis mountains and the adjacent Eddy and Culberson County Plains this afternoon. Today: Sunny, with a high near 62. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. West wind between 10 and 15 mph. Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 69. West wind around 5 mph becoming south. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. |
| The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow. The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines. |
Emergency Management meeting
ARTESIA - Eddy County Emergency Management is holding "Open House"
Meetings for community discussion of the wildfire protection planning
process. The community is invited to attend, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008: 7:00
to 8:30 p.m. at the Artesia Center 612 N. 8th Street.
White Sands Film Festival Honors Latino Filmmakers
Festival Dates: March 16-22, 2008
ALAMOGORDO - For its fourth year, the White Sands International Film
Festival has dedicated two days during the 2008 program to honor Latino
contributions in cinema.
Attending the festival are critically acclaimed Mexican Filmmakers, Arturo
Ripstein and Alejandro Gomez Monteverde.
Arturo Ripstein is widely considered Mexico’s greatest and most celebrated
contemporary filmmaker with over 31 wins, 10 nominations, and having
directed over 30 films. After working for years with cinematic genius Luis
Buñuel, Ripstein is perhaps the main director to have inherited the master’s
mantle. In 1997 Ripstein received the National Prize for Arts and Sciences,
one of Mexico’s highest honors. Although European critics and audiences
have enthusiastically received his films, Ripstein remains relatively unknown
to American audiences. The WSIFF plans to help repair that unfortunate
oversight. Arturo will receive the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Originally screened at Cannes, Ripstein’s film La Reina de la Noche (The
Queen of the Night) will appear onscreen in Alamogordo’s new Allen
Theatre complex March 18th, 2008.
Alejandro Gomez Monteverde launched onto the film seen with his critically
acclaimed film Bella. In 2004 Alejandro partnered with actor/producer
Eduardo Verástegui and Sean Wolfington to make Bella and to form
Metanoia Films, a company committed to projects that entertain engage
and inspire.
In September, The Smithsonian Latino Center presented Bella’s filmmakers
with the “Legacy Award” for their film Bella at its annual Smithsonian Con
Sabor! gala. In addition to winning awards around the world including the
prestigious People's Choice Award at Toronto Festival, Alejandro was
invited to the White House to receive an award from the Department of
Citizenship and to attend the state of the Union address with the first lady,
Laura Bush, because of his example as a new citizen making positive
contributions to the country.
Alejandro will present Bella at Alamogordo’s new Allen Theatre complex
March 19th 2008.
Edward James Olmos selected Bella to open the LA Latino International
Film Festival and said: “It is one of the most impressive landmark films to
open our festival in 10 years. It captures the heart and makes you think. It
is one of the best films to come out in a long time.”
Stimulus package failure
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman Wednesday expressed
disappointment that an economic stimulus package that would have sent
refund checks to millions of Americans, including seniors and veterans, was
defeated. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Bingaman
helped craft the bill.
The legislation would have taken steps to immediately bolster the economy
in New Mexico and across the country. The bill, which needed 60 votes to
pass but received 58, would have done the following:
* Give a $500 rebate to Americans with $3,000 of qualifying income to
report on his/her 2007 tax return, including millions of seniors living on
Social Security. Rebates would be doubled for married couples filing
jointly. (The rebate would be phased out at a rate of five percent of
adjusted gross income for single filers making more than $150,000
annually, and for married couples making more than $300,000 annually.)
And it would give families an additional $300 for each child under age 17.
* Provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to all states;
states with highest rates of unemployment would get a total of 26 weeks of
unemployment benefits.
* Provided $1 billion in additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program – an initiative that helps Americans defray the cost of
the heating and cooling bills.
There were also provisions to assist businesses that are losing money in
this economic downturn. And there were provisions that extend tax credits
for renewable energy production and energy efficient construction.
Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee, helped write these provisions last year; they were narrowly
defeated.
“This bill was designed to have an immediate impact on our ailing economy,
unlike the bill passed by the House of Representatives,” Bingaman said.
“I’m disappointed that it fell two votes shy of the 60 needed to pass.”
Bill to restore forests & ecosystems introduced
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici Tuesday
introduced legislation aimed at undertaking large-scale national forest
restoration projects with an eye toward reducing wildfires, restoring
ecosystems and creating jobs. The two senators are the chairman and
ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee.
The measure, called the Forest Landscape Restoration Act of 2008,
authorizes $40 million annually for landscape-scale forest restoration
projects that cover 50,000 acres or more. Competitive grants would be
awarded to restoration projects that are developed in collaboration with
local communities. Eligible projects must be in need of ecosystem
restoration, utilize the best-available science, encourage the use of
restoration byproducts such as woody biomass, and be located primarily on
National Forest System land.
“This bill offers a unique approach to conducting comprehensive ecosystem
restoration at a landscape scale. We’re now spending billions of dollars a
year trying to suppress wildland fires, and this bill will help us get a better
handle on controlling those costs. It also will help to make the restoration
economy a reality by encouraging the use of restoration byproducts.
Healthier forest ecosystems and communities will result.” Bingaman said.
“Every year, we see millions of acres of land destroyed by forest fires.
These fires far outpace our ability to treat land. Too often they threaten
homes and communities, and ultimately result in millions of tons of carbon
dioxide and other pollutants added to our atmosphere. This bill is another
step in our efforts to increase treatments to federal lands in order to
decrease the intensity of wildfires. I look forward to working together with
my fellow cosponsors to get this bill adopted,” Domenici said.
Conceptually, this bill is similar to the Community Forest Restoration Act,
legislation Bingaman wrote and Domenici supported. As a result of the
measure, which was enacted in 2007, millions of dollars have been invested
in small-scale forest restoration projects in New Mexico. This legislation,
developed by the New Mexico lawmakers with California Senator Dianne
Feinstein, would allow the state to compete for much bigger grants and
treat significantly larger pieces of land.
The Forest Landscape Restoration Act of 2008 was referred to the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee. A hearing on the bill will be
scheduled for spring.
Domenici's final addres to NM legislature
SANTA FE – Below is the text of U.S. Senator Pete Domenici’s prepared
remarks for his address to a joint session of the New Mexico Legislature.
The speech is Domenici’s last as a U.S. Senator to the Legislature.
Domenici, first elected in 1972, announced his retirement last October and
will conclude his Senate career in January 2009.
Address to the New Mexico Legislature
"As I look around today, I see many familiar faces, and many new ones. I
also miss many old friends—like Ben Altamirano, Ike Smalley, Jack Stahl,
John Irick and Billy McKibben, my old UNM alum, Raymond Sanchez, Eddie
Lopez, Jack Daniels, Mack Easley, and some of my closest friends, Gene
Cinelli, Joe Skeen and Colin McMillan. Some have passed on and some
have gone back into the private sector. All of them, and more, have helped
during my Senate career, and I thank them and you.
"As I look back from the first time I addressed the Legislature on February
25, 1973, I am struck by how much has changed and how much progress
we have made. That has been the most enjoyable part of my job—doing
real things that make a real difference in people’s lives.
"Let me tell you a little story that some of you have heard before.
"Almost 20 years ago, I spoke at the annual meeting of the New Mexico
Electric Cooperatives down in Ruidoso. After I finished speaking, two ladies
came up, tugged on my coat and began thanking me profusely. I asked
them what I had done to earn such thanks. They explained that because of
my support for rural electrification, they had reliable electric power for the
first time.
"So, they decided to give me a present—an old galvanized washboard!
They no longer needed it to wash by hand. They had electricity at long
last. I still have that old washboard, with a photograph of Christina Rael
and Amandita Aragon, displayed in my office.
"That story sums up what being your United States Senator has meant to
me—working for people, making real and steady progress, day by day.
"How lucky I have been. I have seen our state grow more prosperous, gain
a million more citizens, and become more important than ever in providing
energy for Americans. I have seen a million additional acres put into
wilderness. I have seen the expansion of our national laboratories and
military installations. I have seen more small businesses created than ever
before.
"Instead of a state where unemployment almost always exceeded the
national average, we now live in a state in which unemployment has been
lower than average for several years. Yes, we still have unacceptable
pockets of poverty, and we have so much work yet to do in educating our
youth for the challenges of a truly global economy. But, we have made
progress.
"I am proud to have been part of that progress. When I started in the
Senate, we had no large scale wind farms in eastern New Mexico. Now, we
have one near House that provided electricity for yesterday’s Super Bowl
Game! And, one of the reasons wind energy is on the rise in New Mexico is
the large number of incentives we’ve put into law through national energy
bills that I have been proud to author.
"New Mexico’s oil and gas industries are booming, providing hundreds of
millions of dollars for education and other state needs. The natural gas
boom is due, in part, to deregulation legislation we passed during the
Carter Administration; and, part of the incredible expansion of the ethanol
industry is a direct result of energy legislation I helped author and that
President Bush signed into law.
"In the 30 years in between those two acts, we passed additional energy
legislation expanding alternative energy sources and the use of nuclear
energy.
"The uranium enrichment plant being build in Lea County will be the first
such facility built in this country in 50 years, and WIPP near Carlsbad is a
terrific success as the nation’s only waste repository.
"In virtually all areas of energy production, New Mexico plays an important
role in addressing America’s energy security and moving us to a “Brighter
Tomorrow.”
"Energy isn’t the only area where the nation looks to New Mexico. We are
also advancing the nation’s security with several major facilities that we
have helped grow, and in two cases, saved from closure—Cannon and
Kirtland Air Force Bases.
"Let me talk for a moment about the state’s two nuclear laboratories, since
their future has been widely debated in the media.
"Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs are national treasures. They have
unrivaled knowledge and experience. Some think that what our labs, and
our nation, needs is a fundamental change in the mission of the labs.
During the past decade, both labs are doing more and more non-weapons
work. Our labs are, and will continue, changing to accommodate new
challenges.
"But, don’t make any mistake here. The labs are critical to this nation’s
international security. They are critical to detecting weapons of mass
destruction. They are critical to responding to nuclear emergencies
anywhere in the world. They must ensure that our weapons stockpile
serves as an effective deterrent against the spread of nuclear weapons to
dangerous regimes. Without an effective umbrella, it is inevitable that more
countries, like Iran and North Korea, might develop their own nuclear
weapons programs in response to threats from North Korea and Iran.
"To suggest that the labs’ weapons and nuclear missions are no longer
necessary is a profound misinterpretation of the international security
situation.
"I have worked on nonproliferation, and I can tell you how important the labs
are in this work. Some of you wish we could reduce our nuclear weapons
stockpiles. The fact is that within five years, we will have thousands fewer
warheads in our stockpile—a level we have not since the Eisenhower Era.
In short, our labs have been critical to our efforts to reduce our stockpile,
and the weapons-grade fuel from these warheads is being used as fuel in
nuclear power plants.
"So, I am proud of my work to increase the scope of the labs’ work, and the
number of employees who work in the labs. Today, LANL employs more
than 11,200 workers and there are more than 9,300 at Sandia. Working
with specialists from the labs has allowed me to play a large role in this
nation’s weapons policy and in our nonproliferation efforts throughout the
world. New Mexico, once again, has a crucial role in America’s strength.
"The security of our nation is also being improved by a little project I helped
get started in Artesia. When we dreamed up the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center almost 20 years ago, we hoped that it would become a
premier facility for training all kinds of federal law enforcement officials.
FLETC is realizing that dream. It is full, and it is a primary reason why
Artesia and the surrounding area are experiencing such excellent economic
growth.
"I see other wonderful areas of progress in our state. The federal tech
transfer law we passed almost 20 years ago is bearing fruit through
business growth in the technology arena. With your help, we have been
able to introduce and grow the Character Counts education program in our
public schools. Our state is stronger for this program.
"We have impacted in a very positive way the water needs of this state. I’m
glad to have helped small communities get new water wells, and I hope our
work on the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow dilemma will become a template for
other states to use.
"Of all the groups I have had the opportunity to work with, none has
changed more than the Indians of our state. One of the most important
reasons, of course, has been the spread of Indian gaming. This has
brought a new prosperity to many of the tribes and pueblos of our state.
Yet, we still have work to do. Water disputes, lack of employment, and the
scourge of diabetes remain serious problems to our Indian neighbors. I am
proud of the work we have done so far, and I hope that you all will work with
the new congressional delegation next year to continue it.
"I also want to thank you here who helped New Mexico pass and implement
a mental health parity law. This is a special project to me. We were
successful at passing a very good mental health parity bill in the Senate
last year, and are working with the House of Representatives to get a bill to
the President before the end of this Congress. New Mexico can be proud
of setting a national example in this arena.
"When I go to Valles Caldera, the Rio Grande bosque, the Snowy River
formation at Fort Stanton Cave; or when I look at the Sandia Mountains,
protected by wilderness designation, and the Bosque del Apache, I am
happy that I could be part of saving that heritage for future generations.
Many of you have been partners in that effort and I thank you.
"In the 36 years I’ve worked for our state and our nation, I’ve learned three
things:
1. government is essential to many fundamental functions of society;
2. that we have a deep responsibility to those who elect us to pursue the
best policies, free of ideology; and,
3. that we are in danger of losing our ability to move forward as a nation
because of destructive, personality-driven, partisan politics.
"Let me leave you with this warning. American democracy is in trouble
unless we put aside political extremes and work toward our common goals.
It is tragic when ideological politics block progress. It has been said, “Never
let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” As I have legislated this past 36
years, my goal has been to move New Mexico and this nation forward.
"I am not naïve. I know as well as you do that no one person has any
monopoly on perfection—neither does any party, nor any philosophy, no
matter how fervently held. I have been willing to compromise in order to
move three steps toward our goals, rather than stubbornly insist on “my
way or the highway.”
"All of you in this chamber face the same pressures.
"Extremes in both parties put enormous pressure on policymakers who are
trying to find common ground and produce good legislation. And, the
extreme positions are used ruthlessly in partisan campaigns.
"You know, I don’t hesitate to call Governor Richardson, or Senator
Bingaman, or many of you, when I want to talk about an initiative for our
state. I don’t regard you as liberals or conservatives, but as fellow leaders
trying to do your best. We must put aside these simplistic labels, and the
politics of character assassination that are too prominent today.
"Look at some of the challenges ahead: water, education, health care, job
creation. We can meet these enormous challenges if we pull together,
once again, a centrist coalition that shuns political extremes and focuses on
common ground.
"I close today with my heartfelt thanks to you and all New Mexicans for the
high honor of serving you for so many years. I cannot imagine that I could
have spent my life more productively or honorably than as your United
States Senator.
"Thank you."
Holly quarterly conference call scheduled
DALLAS – Holly Corporation (NYSE: HOC) plans to announce results for
the quarter ended December 31, 2007 on February 19, 2008, before the
opening of trading on the NYSE. The company has scheduled a conference
call on February 19, 2008 at 10:00AM EST to discuss financial results.
Listeners may access this call by dialing (888) 548-4639. The ID# for this
call is 31093355. For those who would like to listen to this call via the
internet, you may access the call at:
http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=45093
Additionally, listeners may replay this call approximately two hours after the
call concludes by dialing (800) 642-1687. This audio archive will be
available through March 5, 2008.
Holly Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an independent
petroleum refiner and marketer that produces high value light products
such as gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel. Holly operates through its
subsidiaries an 85,000 barrels per day (“bpd”) refinery located in Artesia,
New Mexico, and a 26,000 bpd refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. Holly also
owns a 45% interest (including the general partner interest) in Holly Energy
Partners, L.P. (NYSE “HEP”), which through subsidiaries owns or leases
approximately 1,700 miles of petroleum product pipelines in Texas, New
Mexico and Oklahoma and petroleum product terminals in several
Southwest and Rocky Mountain states.
ARTESIA - Eddy County Emergency Management is holding "Open House"
Meetings for community discussion of the wildfire protection planning
process. The community is invited to attend, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008: 7:00
to 8:30 p.m. at the Artesia Center 612 N. 8th Street.
White Sands Film Festival Honors Latino Filmmakers
Festival Dates: March 16-22, 2008
ALAMOGORDO - For its fourth year, the White Sands International Film
Festival has dedicated two days during the 2008 program to honor Latino
contributions in cinema.
Attending the festival are critically acclaimed Mexican Filmmakers, Arturo
Ripstein and Alejandro Gomez Monteverde.
Arturo Ripstein is widely considered Mexico’s greatest and most celebrated
contemporary filmmaker with over 31 wins, 10 nominations, and having
directed over 30 films. After working for years with cinematic genius Luis
Buñuel, Ripstein is perhaps the main director to have inherited the master’s
mantle. In 1997 Ripstein received the National Prize for Arts and Sciences,
one of Mexico’s highest honors. Although European critics and audiences
have enthusiastically received his films, Ripstein remains relatively unknown
to American audiences. The WSIFF plans to help repair that unfortunate
oversight. Arturo will receive the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Originally screened at Cannes, Ripstein’s film La Reina de la Noche (The
Queen of the Night) will appear onscreen in Alamogordo’s new Allen
Theatre complex March 18th, 2008.
Alejandro Gomez Monteverde launched onto the film seen with his critically
acclaimed film Bella. In 2004 Alejandro partnered with actor/producer
Eduardo Verástegui and Sean Wolfington to make Bella and to form
Metanoia Films, a company committed to projects that entertain engage
and inspire.
In September, The Smithsonian Latino Center presented Bella’s filmmakers
with the “Legacy Award” for their film Bella at its annual Smithsonian Con
Sabor! gala. In addition to winning awards around the world including the
prestigious People's Choice Award at Toronto Festival, Alejandro was
invited to the White House to receive an award from the Department of
Citizenship and to attend the state of the Union address with the first lady,
Laura Bush, because of his example as a new citizen making positive
contributions to the country.
Alejandro will present Bella at Alamogordo’s new Allen Theatre complex
March 19th 2008.
Edward James Olmos selected Bella to open the LA Latino International
Film Festival and said: “It is one of the most impressive landmark films to
open our festival in 10 years. It captures the heart and makes you think. It
is one of the best films to come out in a long time.”
Stimulus package failure
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman Wednesday expressed
disappointment that an economic stimulus package that would have sent
refund checks to millions of Americans, including seniors and veterans, was
defeated. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Bingaman
helped craft the bill.
The legislation would have taken steps to immediately bolster the economy
in New Mexico and across the country. The bill, which needed 60 votes to
pass but received 58, would have done the following:
* Give a $500 rebate to Americans with $3,000 of qualifying income to
report on his/her 2007 tax return, including millions of seniors living on
Social Security. Rebates would be doubled for married couples filing
jointly. (The rebate would be phased out at a rate of five percent of
adjusted gross income for single filers making more than $150,000
annually, and for married couples making more than $300,000 annually.)
And it would give families an additional $300 for each child under age 17.
* Provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to all states;
states with highest rates of unemployment would get a total of 26 weeks of
unemployment benefits.
* Provided $1 billion in additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program – an initiative that helps Americans defray the cost of
the heating and cooling bills.
There were also provisions to assist businesses that are losing money in
this economic downturn. And there were provisions that extend tax credits
for renewable energy production and energy efficient construction.
Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee, helped write these provisions last year; they were narrowly
defeated.
“This bill was designed to have an immediate impact on our ailing economy,
unlike the bill passed by the House of Representatives,” Bingaman said.
“I’m disappointed that it fell two votes shy of the 60 needed to pass.”
Bill to restore forests & ecosystems introduced
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici Tuesday
introduced legislation aimed at undertaking large-scale national forest
restoration projects with an eye toward reducing wildfires, restoring
ecosystems and creating jobs. The two senators are the chairman and
ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee.
The measure, called the Forest Landscape Restoration Act of 2008,
authorizes $40 million annually for landscape-scale forest restoration
projects that cover 50,000 acres or more. Competitive grants would be
awarded to restoration projects that are developed in collaboration with
local communities. Eligible projects must be in need of ecosystem
restoration, utilize the best-available science, encourage the use of
restoration byproducts such as woody biomass, and be located primarily on
National Forest System land.
“This bill offers a unique approach to conducting comprehensive ecosystem
restoration at a landscape scale. We’re now spending billions of dollars a
year trying to suppress wildland fires, and this bill will help us get a better
handle on controlling those costs. It also will help to make the restoration
economy a reality by encouraging the use of restoration byproducts.
Healthier forest ecosystems and communities will result.” Bingaman said.
“Every year, we see millions of acres of land destroyed by forest fires.
These fires far outpace our ability to treat land. Too often they threaten
homes and communities, and ultimately result in millions of tons of carbon
dioxide and other pollutants added to our atmosphere. This bill is another
step in our efforts to increase treatments to federal lands in order to
decrease the intensity of wildfires. I look forward to working together with
my fellow cosponsors to get this bill adopted,” Domenici said.
Conceptually, this bill is similar to the Community Forest Restoration Act,
legislation Bingaman wrote and Domenici supported. As a result of the
measure, which was enacted in 2007, millions of dollars have been invested
in small-scale forest restoration projects in New Mexico. This legislation,
developed by the New Mexico lawmakers with California Senator Dianne
Feinstein, would allow the state to compete for much bigger grants and
treat significantly larger pieces of land.
The Forest Landscape Restoration Act of 2008 was referred to the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee. A hearing on the bill will be
scheduled for spring.
Domenici's final addres to NM legislature
SANTA FE – Below is the text of U.S. Senator Pete Domenici’s prepared
remarks for his address to a joint session of the New Mexico Legislature.
The speech is Domenici’s last as a U.S. Senator to the Legislature.
Domenici, first elected in 1972, announced his retirement last October and
will conclude his Senate career in January 2009.
Address to the New Mexico Legislature
"As I look around today, I see many familiar faces, and many new ones. I
also miss many old friends—like Ben Altamirano, Ike Smalley, Jack Stahl,
John Irick and Billy McKibben, my old UNM alum, Raymond Sanchez, Eddie
Lopez, Jack Daniels, Mack Easley, and some of my closest friends, Gene
Cinelli, Joe Skeen and Colin McMillan. Some have passed on and some
have gone back into the private sector. All of them, and more, have helped
during my Senate career, and I thank them and you.
"As I look back from the first time I addressed the Legislature on February
25, 1973, I am struck by how much has changed and how much progress
we have made. That has been the most enjoyable part of my job—doing
real things that make a real difference in people’s lives.
"Let me tell you a little story that some of you have heard before.
"Almost 20 years ago, I spoke at the annual meeting of the New Mexico
Electric Cooperatives down in Ruidoso. After I finished speaking, two ladies
came up, tugged on my coat and began thanking me profusely. I asked
them what I had done to earn such thanks. They explained that because of
my support for rural electrification, they had reliable electric power for the
first time.
"So, they decided to give me a present—an old galvanized washboard!
They no longer needed it to wash by hand. They had electricity at long
last. I still have that old washboard, with a photograph of Christina Rael
and Amandita Aragon, displayed in my office.
"That story sums up what being your United States Senator has meant to
me—working for people, making real and steady progress, day by day.
"How lucky I have been. I have seen our state grow more prosperous, gain
a million more citizens, and become more important than ever in providing
energy for Americans. I have seen a million additional acres put into
wilderness. I have seen the expansion of our national laboratories and
military installations. I have seen more small businesses created than ever
before.
"Instead of a state where unemployment almost always exceeded the
national average, we now live in a state in which unemployment has been
lower than average for several years. Yes, we still have unacceptable
pockets of poverty, and we have so much work yet to do in educating our
youth for the challenges of a truly global economy. But, we have made
progress.
"I am proud to have been part of that progress. When I started in the
Senate, we had no large scale wind farms in eastern New Mexico. Now, we
have one near House that provided electricity for yesterday’s Super Bowl
Game! And, one of the reasons wind energy is on the rise in New Mexico is
the large number of incentives we’ve put into law through national energy
bills that I have been proud to author.
"New Mexico’s oil and gas industries are booming, providing hundreds of
millions of dollars for education and other state needs. The natural gas
boom is due, in part, to deregulation legislation we passed during the
Carter Administration; and, part of the incredible expansion of the ethanol
industry is a direct result of energy legislation I helped author and that
President Bush signed into law.
"In the 30 years in between those two acts, we passed additional energy
legislation expanding alternative energy sources and the use of nuclear
energy.
"The uranium enrichment plant being build in Lea County will be the first
such facility built in this country in 50 years, and WIPP near Carlsbad is a
terrific success as the nation’s only waste repository.
"In virtually all areas of energy production, New Mexico plays an important
role in addressing America’s energy security and moving us to a “Brighter
Tomorrow.”
"Energy isn’t the only area where the nation looks to New Mexico. We are
also advancing the nation’s security with several major facilities that we
have helped grow, and in two cases, saved from closure—Cannon and
Kirtland Air Force Bases.
"Let me talk for a moment about the state’s two nuclear laboratories, since
their future has been widely debated in the media.
"Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs are national treasures. They have
unrivaled knowledge and experience. Some think that what our labs, and
our nation, needs is a fundamental change in the mission of the labs.
During the past decade, both labs are doing more and more non-weapons
work. Our labs are, and will continue, changing to accommodate new
challenges.
"But, don’t make any mistake here. The labs are critical to this nation’s
international security. They are critical to detecting weapons of mass
destruction. They are critical to responding to nuclear emergencies
anywhere in the world. They must ensure that our weapons stockpile
serves as an effective deterrent against the spread of nuclear weapons to
dangerous regimes. Without an effective umbrella, it is inevitable that more
countries, like Iran and North Korea, might develop their own nuclear
weapons programs in response to threats from North Korea and Iran.
"To suggest that the labs’ weapons and nuclear missions are no longer
necessary is a profound misinterpretation of the international security
situation.
"I have worked on nonproliferation, and I can tell you how important the labs
are in this work. Some of you wish we could reduce our nuclear weapons
stockpiles. The fact is that within five years, we will have thousands fewer
warheads in our stockpile—a level we have not since the Eisenhower Era.
In short, our labs have been critical to our efforts to reduce our stockpile,
and the weapons-grade fuel from these warheads is being used as fuel in
nuclear power plants.
"So, I am proud of my work to increase the scope of the labs’ work, and the
number of employees who work in the labs. Today, LANL employs more
than 11,200 workers and there are more than 9,300 at Sandia. Working
with specialists from the labs has allowed me to play a large role in this
nation’s weapons policy and in our nonproliferation efforts throughout the
world. New Mexico, once again, has a crucial role in America’s strength.
"The security of our nation is also being improved by a little project I helped
get started in Artesia. When we dreamed up the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center almost 20 years ago, we hoped that it would become a
premier facility for training all kinds of federal law enforcement officials.
FLETC is realizing that dream. It is full, and it is a primary reason why
Artesia and the surrounding area are experiencing such excellent economic
growth.
"I see other wonderful areas of progress in our state. The federal tech
transfer law we passed almost 20 years ago is bearing fruit through
business growth in the technology arena. With your help, we have been
able to introduce and grow the Character Counts education program in our
public schools. Our state is stronger for this program.
"We have impacted in a very positive way the water needs of this state. I’m
glad to have helped small communities get new water wells, and I hope our
work on the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow dilemma will become a template for
other states to use.
"Of all the groups I have had the opportunity to work with, none has
changed more than the Indians of our state. One of the most important
reasons, of course, has been the spread of Indian gaming. This has
brought a new prosperity to many of the tribes and pueblos of our state.
Yet, we still have work to do. Water disputes, lack of employment, and the
scourge of diabetes remain serious problems to our Indian neighbors. I am
proud of the work we have done so far, and I hope that you all will work with
the new congressional delegation next year to continue it.
"I also want to thank you here who helped New Mexico pass and implement
a mental health parity law. This is a special project to me. We were
successful at passing a very good mental health parity bill in the Senate
last year, and are working with the House of Representatives to get a bill to
the President before the end of this Congress. New Mexico can be proud
of setting a national example in this arena.
"When I go to Valles Caldera, the Rio Grande bosque, the Snowy River
formation at Fort Stanton Cave; or when I look at the Sandia Mountains,
protected by wilderness designation, and the Bosque del Apache, I am
happy that I could be part of saving that heritage for future generations.
Many of you have been partners in that effort and I thank you.
"In the 36 years I’ve worked for our state and our nation, I’ve learned three
things:
1. government is essential to many fundamental functions of society;
2. that we have a deep responsibility to those who elect us to pursue the
best policies, free of ideology; and,
3. that we are in danger of losing our ability to move forward as a nation
because of destructive, personality-driven, partisan politics.
"Let me leave you with this warning. American democracy is in trouble
unless we put aside political extremes and work toward our common goals.
It is tragic when ideological politics block progress. It has been said, “Never
let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” As I have legislated this past 36
years, my goal has been to move New Mexico and this nation forward.
"I am not naïve. I know as well as you do that no one person has any
monopoly on perfection—neither does any party, nor any philosophy, no
matter how fervently held. I have been willing to compromise in order to
move three steps toward our goals, rather than stubbornly insist on “my
way or the highway.”
"All of you in this chamber face the same pressures.
"Extremes in both parties put enormous pressure on policymakers who are
trying to find common ground and produce good legislation. And, the
extreme positions are used ruthlessly in partisan campaigns.
"You know, I don’t hesitate to call Governor Richardson, or Senator
Bingaman, or many of you, when I want to talk about an initiative for our
state. I don’t regard you as liberals or conservatives, but as fellow leaders
trying to do your best. We must put aside these simplistic labels, and the
politics of character assassination that are too prominent today.
"Look at some of the challenges ahead: water, education, health care, job
creation. We can meet these enormous challenges if we pull together,
once again, a centrist coalition that shuns political extremes and focuses on
common ground.
"I close today with my heartfelt thanks to you and all New Mexicans for the
high honor of serving you for so many years. I cannot imagine that I could
have spent my life more productively or honorably than as your United
States Senator.
"Thank you."
Holly quarterly conference call scheduled
DALLAS – Holly Corporation (NYSE: HOC) plans to announce results for
the quarter ended December 31, 2007 on February 19, 2008, before the
opening of trading on the NYSE. The company has scheduled a conference
call on February 19, 2008 at 10:00AM EST to discuss financial results.
Listeners may access this call by dialing (888) 548-4639. The ID# for this
call is 31093355. For those who would like to listen to this call via the
internet, you may access the call at:
http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=45093
Additionally, listeners may replay this call approximately two hours after the
call concludes by dialing (800) 642-1687. This audio archive will be
available through March 5, 2008.
Holly Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an independent
petroleum refiner and marketer that produces high value light products
such as gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel. Holly operates through its
subsidiaries an 85,000 barrels per day (“bpd”) refinery located in Artesia,
New Mexico, and a 26,000 bpd refinery in Woods Cross, Utah. Holly also
owns a 45% interest (including the general partner interest) in Holly Energy
Partners, L.P. (NYSE “HEP”), which through subsidiaries owns or leases
approximately 1,700 miles of petroleum product pipelines in Texas, New
Mexico and Oklahoma and petroleum product terminals in several
Southwest and Rocky Mountain states.
Final program of Key Ingredients
The Artesia Historical Museum & Art Center is
getting ready to present “Food & The Arts”, a
community program for everyone, on Saturday
February 9th at 2:00-4:00 pm in the Museum’s
Art Annex gallery at 503 West Richardson Ave.
in Artesia.
“Food & The Arts” is our 4th and last public
program in connection with our Smithsonian
“Key Ingredients” exhibit, and will give visitors a
chance to not only check out our exhibit but to
learn about a variety of food-related crafts that
combine practicality with artistic expression.
Many of today’s popular home and kitchen
decorations began as practical and convenient
ways to store food, and have evolved over the
years into art forms. How many of us have
decorative baskets, chile ristras, garlic braids,
and herb bundles on display in our kitchens?
We’ll also have toy patterns, quilt blocks, and
embroidery patterns from the 1930s—many
flour and sugar bags used to come with these
patterns printed on them so that Depression-era
families could recycle these bags into something
useful once the contents were used up.
(Remember the beautiful vintage heirloom quilts
made from flour bags displayed in the annual
Artesia Quilters Guild shows every year?) Local
artiste Lisa Frederick will be demonstrating
these arts and others, and hands-on
demonstrations and lessons will be offered.
As always, we’ll have refreshments for everyone
as well as a selection of recipes and handouts
from our previous programs. Everyone is invited
to attend—for more information call (575) 748-
2390 or visit www.artesiamuseum.org.
Eastern hosting operas
PORTALES—The Department of Music at
Eastern New Mexico University in Portales is
presenting "Managers, Mediums and Magic": An
Evening of One Act Operas at 7 p.m. on Friday-
Saturday, Feb.15–16, and 2 p.m. on Sunday,
Feb. 17, in Buchanan Hall in the Music Building.
The features include Mozart's "The
Impressario," a story of a theater manager who
has the opportunity to produce one last opera
before he retires; "The Medium" by Menotti, a
story of a psychic; and "Bastien and Bastienna,"
also by Mozart, about the story of the "magic"
that reunites two lovers.
The feature includes performances by Virginia
Slater from Portales/Lubbock, Holly Prince from
Albuquerque, Qianyu Wang from Sichuan,
China, Kaili Liu from Henan, China, SiSi Sun
from Sichuan, China, CiCi Chen from Heilong
Jiang, China, Zhu Shifang from Sichuan, China,
Xinrui Li from Sichuan, China, Kevin Simmons
from Hobbs, Jessye Marquez from Hobbs,
Janice Pacheco from Muleshoe, Derek Gilmour
from Albuquerque, Orlando Shelly from
Portales, Richard McNeill from Grants, Veronica
Valdez-Kent from Canyon, Gerardo Gomez from
Muleshoe and Jenny Gheer from Ruidoso.
Tickets will be available in the music office
(Room 115) in the Music Building beginning
Monday, Feb. 11, and at the door one hour
before the performances. Ticket prices are $8
General Admission, $7 Senior Citizen, $6 pre-
college student, and $5 with an ENMU Student
ID.
Richardson orders release of funds
SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson has
ordered the release of $20.5 million in state
funding to help pay for higher education
maintenance projects across the state. The
Governor released the funding, which is on top
of another $20.5 million released July 1, 2007,
after receiving assurances from the Attorney
General’s Office that the funding is legal.
“I am pleased that we are finally able to invest
this money in our colleges and universities,
without further legal delays,” Governor
Richardson said.
The Legislature passed $41 million for higher
education maintenance projects, known as
deferred maintenance, during the 2007 session.
But Governor Richardson vetoed language in
the budget that would have split the $41 million
so that half was distributed through an
established formula and the other half was
spread out according to a recent study of facility
needs. The Governor’s veto meant that the
entire $41 million was distributed through the
formula.
Some legislators questioned the legality of the
Governor’s veto of the language. But after
reassurances from Attorney General King that
the veto was appropriate, Governor Richardson
directed the Higher Education Department to
release the final $20.5 million to colleges and
universities.
Gutierrez Canyon Expanded
BERNALILLO, NM -- The Trust for Public Land
(TPL) and Mayor Martin J. Chávez announced
the protection of 400 acres in Gutierrez Canyon.
Located just off the Turquoise Trail in Cedar
Crest, this property will expand recreational
opportunities for area visitors. It will provide
miles of new hiking and equestrian trails easily
accessible from the National Scenic Byway. Its
protection more than doubles the size of
Gutierrez Canyon Open Space.
"This property connects Gutierrez Canyon Open
Space with the Turquoise Trail, opening a local
treasure to Cedar Crest residents and visitors
alike. Just 15 miles from Albuquerque, this 400-
acre property offers visitors an opportunity to
get out of their cars and enjoy the rugged
beauty of New Mexico's landscape. It includes
great trails for hiking and horseback riding, and
will allow for the creation of a trailhead and
parking area just off the highway," said Jenny
Parks, state director for The Trust for Public
Land.
"I am very pleased that today the City of
Albuquerque will be adding 420 acres of Open
Space to the City's current Public Open Space
Network," said Mayor Martin J. Chávez. "I want
to thank and commend the Milne Family for their
safe keeping of the property, that is essentially
in pristine condition; and now entrusting the City
and the public with its management as an Open
Space and Wildlife Preserve. From day one, I
pledged the City's willingness to take on the
long term management of the property and to
insure that it remains protected for all future
generations of people and animals.
Albuquerque has one of the top Open Space
Programs in the Nation and today we just made
it better."
The property is accessed by a small strip of
land just south of the Cedar Springs post office.
It is surrounded on the north and east sides by
residential development, and abuts Gutierrez
Canyon Open Space on the south. Its protection
brings the total acreage of Gutierrez Canyon
Open Space to 700 acres, and creates the first
public access from N.M. 14, the Turquoise Trail.
The property offers hikers and equestrians
impressive views from its high ground, and
includes oak filled side canyons. Residential
development was a very real threat in this
scenic part of Cedar Springs, but decisive
action from community activists and local and
state government ensured its conservation as
open space.
The $2.2 million purchase was funded by the
City of Albuquerque, capital outlays from the
New Mexico legislature, and New Mexico Land,
Wildlife, and Clean Energy funds. Key support
was provided by Governor Bill Richardson,
Senator Sue Wilson Beffort, Senator Kent
Cravens, Representative Kathy McCoy,
Representative Mimi Stewart, Albuquerque
Mayor Martin Chavez, and Albuquerque
Councilors Isaac Benton and Martin Heinrich.
The Trust for Public Land, established in 1972,
specializes in conservation real estate, applying
its expertise in negotiations, public finance, and
law to protect land for people to enjoy as parks,
greenways, community gardens, urban
playgrounds, and wilderness. TPL has
protected more than 2 million acres across the
country and in New Mexico, TPL has helped
protect over 140,000 acres.
Roswell art on display
PORTALES—The Department of Art at Eastern
New Mexico University in Portales is presenting
the "Just Down the Road: Imported Art from
Roswell" exhibit from 5-7 p.m. through
Wednesday, Feb 6, in the Runnels Gallery in
the Golden Library on the Portales campus.
The exhibit includes work from 15 artists from
the Roswell area, including work by Sue Wink
who has public art located around the ENMU
campus.
"The show is composed of a wide variety of
media ranging from ceramics and painting to
animation and video," says Mollie Oblinger,
assistant professor of art.
Admission is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Susan Pippin at
575.562.2778.
Living Treasure nominees sought
ARTESIA - The Artesia Historical Museum & Art
Center Foundation needs your input! The
Foundation sponsors the Museum’s Living
Treasures awards ceremony & reception each
year, which honors one man & one woman in
Artesia who have made a difference in all of our
lives—whether it’s by preserving our town’s
history, volunteerism, good deeds, or by
contributing towards our quality of life in their
own way. The one thing all of our past honorees
have had in common is their modesty; therefore
we would like to ask all of you here in town to let
us know who you think is worthy of recognizing
as this year’s Living Treasures. If you have a
person in mind to nominate, please take a
moment to write down their name and your
reasons why you feel this person deserves
recognition and drop it by the Artesia Historical
Museum & Art Center by the end of February
2008, or mail it to us at 505 West Richardson
Ave., Artesia 88210. Thank you for caring about
our local unsung heroes!
Absentee Voting Begins Tuesday
ARTESIA - Absentee voting for the March 4,
2008 Regular Municipal Election will begin on
January 29, 2008 and will end February 29,
2008. Voters wishing to vote Absentee must
request an application to vote by absentee by
calling the City Clerk’s Office at 746-2122 or
email at cityclerk@artesianm.com. The
application will be mailed to your address.
Area students academy-bound
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici
announced the names of three high school
students in Southeast New Mexico who he plans
to nominate for potential admission to one of the
United States military service academies this fall.
Nominees were selected on the
recommendation of Domenici’s Academy Review
Board, following an intense interview and
assessment process that considered their
academic, athletic, extracurricular, and
leadership abilities. Domenici is nominating a
total of 50 New Mexico high school seniors for
possible admission to the academies.
“These students represent some of the finest
young people New Mexico has to offer, and I’m
impressed by their demonstrated ability and
leadership,” said Domenici. “I’m sure they will
represent New Mexico well as they apply for
admittance to these top-notch institutions, and I
commend their desire to work hard as they
serve the United States.”
The following Southeast New Mexico-area
students were nominated by Domenici:
U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs,
Colo.
* Marcus Alvidrez of Carlsbad, Carlsbad High
School
U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.
* Taylor Harris of Roswell, Goddard High School
* Zachariah Owens of Eunice, Eunice High
School
Domenici looking for summer interns
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici
announced Friday that his Washington D.C.
office is now accepting applications from
qualified students for its summer 2008
internship program.
The summer internship program will take place
in two six-week sessions, the first running from
May to July, and the second from July to
August. Priority is given to applicants who are
either New Mexico residents or attending school
in the state. Applications must be postmarked
by March 3.
“I’ve employed interns from a wide range of
backgrounds and experiences looking to gain
first-hand knowledge of Washington D.C. and
the federal government,” said Domenici. “Time
in Washington helps benefits many students’
overall education and opens the door to
countless opportunities after they graduate. I
encourage all interested and qualified
candidates to apply.”
Interns will gain first-hand experience in all parts
of Domenici’s office including the constituent
services, legislative and communication
portions. Applications are available on
Domenici’s website and can be accessed at http:
//www.domenici.senate.gov in the “Student’s
Corner” section. For more information about
the program and intern responsibilities, email
internships@domenici.senate.gov or call (202)
224-6621.
Eligible applicants must have completed at least
one year of study at a higher learning
institution. Students from all majors, including
those outside of history/political science, are
encouraged to apply.
Past Domenici interns come from a variety of
schools and academic backgrounds. Past
interns have included students from New Mexico
State University, the University of New Mexico,
Eastern New Mexico University, the University of
Texas at El Paso, Notre Dame University and
Occidental College.
Domenici is New Mexico’s longest serving U.S.
Senator. He is ranking member of the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee and
holds senior membership positions on the
Budget Committee and the Appropriations
Committee. He is also a member of the
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee.
The Artesia Historical Museum & Art Center is
getting ready to present “Food & The Arts”, a
community program for everyone, on Saturday
February 9th at 2:00-4:00 pm in the Museum’s
Art Annex gallery at 503 West Richardson Ave.
in Artesia.
“Food & The Arts” is our 4th and last public
program in connection with our Smithsonian
“Key Ingredients” exhibit, and will give visitors a
chance to not only check out our exhibit but to
learn about a variety of food-related crafts that
combine practicality with artistic expression.
Many of today’s popular home and kitchen
decorations began as practical and convenient
ways to store food, and have evolved over the
years into art forms. How many of us have
decorative baskets, chile ristras, garlic braids,
and herb bundles on display in our kitchens?
We’ll also have toy patterns, quilt blocks, and
embroidery patterns from the 1930s—many
flour and sugar bags used to come with these
patterns printed on them so that Depression-era
families could recycle these bags into something
useful once the contents were used up.
(Remember the beautiful vintage heirloom quilts
made from flour bags displayed in the annual
Artesia Quilters Guild shows every year?) Local
artiste Lisa Frederick will be demonstrating
these arts and others, and hands-on
demonstrations and lessons will be offered.
As always, we’ll have refreshments for everyone
as well as a selection of recipes and handouts
from our previous programs. Everyone is invited
to attend—for more information call (575) 748-
2390 or visit www.artesiamuseum.org.
Eastern hosting operas
PORTALES—The Department of Music at
Eastern New Mexico University in Portales is
presenting "Managers, Mediums and Magic": An
Evening of One Act Operas at 7 p.m. on Friday-
Saturday, Feb.15–16, and 2 p.m. on Sunday,
Feb. 17, in Buchanan Hall in the Music Building.
The features include Mozart's "The
Impressario," a story of a theater manager who
has the opportunity to produce one last opera
before he retires; "The Medium" by Menotti, a
story of a psychic; and "Bastien and Bastienna,"
also by Mozart, about the story of the "magic"
that reunites two lovers.
The feature includes performances by Virginia
Slater from Portales/Lubbock, Holly Prince from
Albuquerque, Qianyu Wang from Sichuan,
China, Kaili Liu from Henan, China, SiSi Sun
from Sichuan, China, CiCi Chen from Heilong
Jiang, China, Zhu Shifang from Sichuan, China,
Xinrui Li from Sichuan, China, Kevin Simmons
from Hobbs, Jessye Marquez from Hobbs,
Janice Pacheco from Muleshoe, Derek Gilmour
from Albuquerque, Orlando Shelly from
Portales, Richard McNeill from Grants, Veronica
Valdez-Kent from Canyon, Gerardo Gomez from
Muleshoe and Jenny Gheer from Ruidoso.
Tickets will be available in the music office
(Room 115) in the Music Building beginning
Monday, Feb. 11, and at the door one hour
before the performances. Ticket prices are $8
General Admission, $7 Senior Citizen, $6 pre-
college student, and $5 with an ENMU Student
ID.
Richardson orders release of funds
SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson has
ordered the release of $20.5 million in state
funding to help pay for higher education
maintenance projects across the state. The
Governor released the funding, which is on top
of another $20.5 million released July 1, 2007,
after receiving assurances from the Attorney
General’s Office that the funding is legal.
“I am pleased that we are finally able to invest
this money in our colleges and universities,
without further legal delays,” Governor
Richardson said.
The Legislature passed $41 million for higher
education maintenance projects, known as
deferred maintenance, during the 2007 session.
But Governor Richardson vetoed language in
the budget that would have split the $41 million
so that half was distributed through an
established formula and the other half was
spread out according to a recent study of facility
needs. The Governor’s veto meant that the
entire $41 million was distributed through the
formula.
Some legislators questioned the legality of the
Governor’s veto of the language. But after
reassurances from Attorney General King that
the veto was appropriate, Governor Richardson
directed the Higher Education Department to
release the final $20.5 million to colleges and
universities.
Gutierrez Canyon Expanded
BERNALILLO, NM -- The Trust for Public Land
(TPL) and Mayor Martin J. Chávez announced
the protection of 400 acres in Gutierrez Canyon.
Located just off the Turquoise Trail in Cedar
Crest, this property will expand recreational
opportunities for area visitors. It will provide
miles of new hiking and equestrian trails easily
accessible from the National Scenic Byway. Its
protection more than doubles the size of
Gutierrez Canyon Open Space.
"This property connects Gutierrez Canyon Open
Space with the Turquoise Trail, opening a local
treasure to Cedar Crest residents and visitors
alike. Just 15 miles from Albuquerque, this 400-
acre property offers visitors an opportunity to
get out of their cars and enjoy the rugged
beauty of New Mexico's landscape. It includes
great trails for hiking and horseback riding, and
will allow for the creation of a trailhead and
parking area just off the highway," said Jenny
Parks, state director for The Trust for Public
Land.
"I am very pleased that today the City of
Albuquerque will be adding 420 acres of Open
Space to the City's current Public Open Space
Network," said Mayor Martin J. Chávez. "I want
to thank and commend the Milne Family for their
safe keeping of the property, that is essentially
in pristine condition; and now entrusting the City
and the public with its management as an Open
Space and Wildlife Preserve. From day one, I
pledged the City's willingness to take on the
long term management of the property and to
insure that it remains protected for all future
generations of people and animals.
Albuquerque has one of the top Open Space
Programs in the Nation and today we just made
it better."
The property is accessed by a small strip of
land just south of the Cedar Springs post office.
It is surrounded on the north and east sides by
residential development, and abuts Gutierrez
Canyon Open Space on the south. Its protection
brings the total acreage of Gutierrez Canyon
Open Space to 700 acres, and creates the first
public access from N.M. 14, the Turquoise Trail.
The property offers hikers and equestrians
impressive views from its high ground, and
includes oak filled side canyons. Residential
development was a very real threat in this
scenic part of Cedar Springs, but decisive
action from community activists and local and
state government ensured its conservation as
open space.
The $2.2 million purchase was funded by the
City of Albuquerque, capital outlays from the
New Mexico legislature, and New Mexico Land,
Wildlife, and Clean Energy funds. Key support
was provided by Governor Bill Richardson,
Senator Sue Wilson Beffort, Senator Kent
Cravens, Representative Kathy McCoy,
Representative Mimi Stewart, Albuquerque
Mayor Martin Chavez, and Albuquerque
Councilors Isaac Benton and Martin Heinrich.
The Trust for Public Land, established in 1972,
specializes in conservation real estate, applying
its expertise in negotiations, public finance, and
law to protect land for people to enjoy as parks,
greenways, community gardens, urban
playgrounds, and wilderness. TPL has
protected more than 2 million acres across the
country and in New Mexico, TPL has helped
protect over 140,000 acres.
Roswell art on display
PORTALES—The Department of Art at Eastern
New Mexico University in Portales is presenting
the "Just Down the Road: Imported Art from
Roswell" exhibit from 5-7 p.m. through
Wednesday, Feb 6, in the Runnels Gallery in
the Golden Library on the Portales campus.
The exhibit includes work from 15 artists from
the Roswell area, including work by Sue Wink
who has public art located around the ENMU
campus.
"The show is composed of a wide variety of
media ranging from ceramics and painting to
animation and video," says Mollie Oblinger,
assistant professor of art.
Admission is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Susan Pippin at
575.562.2778.
Living Treasure nominees sought
ARTESIA - The Artesia Historical Museum & Art
Center Foundation needs your input! The
Foundation sponsors the Museum’s Living
Treasures awards ceremony & reception each
year, which honors one man & one woman in
Artesia who have made a difference in all of our
lives—whether it’s by preserving our town’s
history, volunteerism, good deeds, or by
contributing towards our quality of life in their
own way. The one thing all of our past honorees
have had in common is their modesty; therefore
we would like to ask all of you here in town to let
us know who you think is worthy of recognizing
as this year’s Living Treasures. If you have a
person in mind to nominate, please take a
moment to write down their name and your
reasons why you feel this person deserves
recognition and drop it by the Artesia Historical
Museum & Art Center by the end of February
2008, or mail it to us at 505 West Richardson
Ave., Artesia 88210. Thank you for caring about
our local unsung heroes!
Absentee Voting Begins Tuesday
ARTESIA - Absentee voting for the March 4,
2008 Regular Municipal Election will begin on
January 29, 2008 and will end February 29,
2008. Voters wishing to vote Absentee must
request an application to vote by absentee by
calling the City Clerk’s Office at 746-2122 or
email at cityclerk@artesianm.com. The
application will be mailed to your address.
Area students academy-bound
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici
announced the names of three high school
students in Southeast New Mexico who he plans
to nominate for potential admission to one of the
United States military service academies this fall.
Nominees were selected on the
recommendation of Domenici’s Academy Review
Board, following an intense interview and
assessment process that considered their
academic, athletic, extracurricular, and
leadership abilities. Domenici is nominating a
total of 50 New Mexico high school seniors for
possible admission to the academies.
“These students represent some of the finest
young people New Mexico has to offer, and I’m
impressed by their demonstrated ability and
leadership,” said Domenici. “I’m sure they will
represent New Mexico well as they apply for
admittance to these top-notch institutions, and I
commend their desire to work hard as they
serve the United States.”
The following Southeast New Mexico-area
students were nominated by Domenici:
U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs,
Colo.
* Marcus Alvidrez of Carlsbad, Carlsbad High
School
U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.
* Taylor Harris of Roswell, Goddard High School
* Zachariah Owens of Eunice, Eunice High
School
Domenici looking for summer interns
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici
announced Friday that his Washington D.C.
office is now accepting applications from
qualified students for its summer 2008
internship program.
The summer internship program will take place
in two six-week sessions, the first running from
May to July, and the second from July to
August. Priority is given to applicants who are
either New Mexico residents or attending school
in the state. Applications must be postmarked
by March 3.
“I’ve employed interns from a wide range of
backgrounds and experiences looking to gain
first-hand knowledge of Washington D.C. and
the federal government,” said Domenici. “Time
in Washington helps benefits many students’
overall education and opens the door to
countless opportunities after they graduate. I
encourage all interested and qualified
candidates to apply.”
Interns will gain first-hand experience in all parts
of Domenici’s office including the constituent
services, legislative and communication
portions. Applications are available on
Domenici’s website and can be accessed at http:
//www.domenici.senate.gov in the “Student’s
Corner” section. For more information about
the program and intern responsibilities, email
internships@domenici.senate.gov or call (202)
224-6621.
Eligible applicants must have completed at least
one year of study at a higher learning
institution. Students from all majors, including
those outside of history/political science, are
encouraged to apply.
Past Domenici interns come from a variety of
schools and academic backgrounds. Past
interns have included students from New Mexico
State University, the University of New Mexico,
Eastern New Mexico University, the University of
Texas at El Paso, Notre Dame University and
Occidental College.
Domenici is New Mexico’s longest serving U.S.
Senator. He is ranking member of the Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee and
holds senior membership positions on the
Budget Committee and the Appropriations
Committee. He is also a member of the
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee.