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NEWS:
Volume 3, Number 11
February 18, 2008
February 18, 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 Presidents' Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. South wind between 5 and 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 74. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. |
| 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. |
Added air service includes Ruidoso, Midland/Odessa, El Paso
RUIDOSO - New Mexico Airlines, a subsidiary of Pacific Wings, now offers
daily air service into Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, located 15 miles
northwest of Ruidoso, from Midland/Odessa, Albuquerque and other
southern New Mexico cities. Ruidoso flights to and from El Paso are set to
begin March 1, 2008.
These new flights join New Mexico Airlines’ current offerings of daily air
service among Albuquerque, Hobbs, Carlsbad and Alamogordo; and daily
air service between those cities and Midland/Odessa and El Paso, Texas, in
addition to Ruidoso.
“We’re very lucky that this service now includes Ruidoso as a destination as
well as a stop for those traveling to other areas,” said Ruidoso’s Director of
Tourism, Steve Tally.
Flight schedules range from mid- to late-morning and early- to mid-
afternoon for convenience and flexibility. Passengers flying to and from
Midland will also benefit from non-stop service on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday evenings. Talley said flights will be around $200 round trip and can
be booked via www.newmexicoairlines.com or by calling 1-888-564-6119.
“The Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce wants to help promote the
convenience and proximity of the service to both business and consumer
travelers,” said Brad Treptow, Executive Director for the Chamber. ”This
area is positioned to benefit significantly throughout the entire year based
on the variety of attractions, activities, and events offered.”
Pacific Wings CEO Greg Kahlstorf agreed. “Ruidoso is a year-round
destination. We’re happy to bring people together in serving Ruidoso with
air service throughout the year. Our business model in New Mexico allows
us to serve rural and remote communities in a cost effective and affordable
manner.”
Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department,
welcomed the news. “The previously limited direct air service to New Mexico
from the nations’ major markets has long hampered the efforts of New
Mexico’s tourism industry to reach out to these markets effectively.
“This decision by New Mexico Airlines, joining with American Eagle’s current
offering of direct daily flights between Roswell and Dallas-Fort Worth,
means New Mexico will no longer be this country’s best-kept secret.”
Passengers staying in Ruidoso will have access to rental cars through
Enterprise Rent-a-car. Two taxi services are available as well through Alto
Taxi Service and Dollar Cab.
For more information contact Brad Treptow, Executive Director, Ruidoso
Valley Chamber of Commerce, 575-257-7395; or on the web, visit
www.newmexicoairlines.com.
73 SOS has change of command
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE - Col. Michael Plehn (left), 27th Special
Operations Group commander, passes the guidon to Lt. Col. William Wolfe
Feb.15. Colonel Wolfe was given command of the 73rd Special Operations
Squadron.
U.S. Air Force photo by A1C James R. Bell
Legion to be filmed in New Mexico
SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson announced Friday that Legion, a
supernatural action thriller starring Paul Bettany (The DaVinci Code), will be
filmed in New Mexico.
Legion marks the feature directorial debut of Scott Stewart. David
Lancaster and Michel Litvak of Bold Films will produce, with Gary Michael
Walters executive producing. Sony’s Screen Gems will distribute
domestically with Sony Pictures International worldwide.
In Legion, God loses faith in mankind and sends his Legion of Angels to
wipe out the human race for the second time. Man’s only hope lies in a
group of strangers holed-up in a desert diner.
The film will be shot in and around Santa Fe from March 31 through early
May and expects to hire approximately 134 New Mexico crew members and
433 actors, including background talent.
Since Richardson took office, over 90 major feature film and television
projects have shot in the state, adding close to $1.5 billion dollars to New
Mexico’s economy.
IRS Seeks Candidates for Advisory Committee
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is seeking candidates for
membership on the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee
(ETAAC). All applicants should submit a resume and complete an
application form for the fall vacancies. In addition, the IRS will require a
federal tax check waiver and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) check
of the best qualified applicants. The deadline for submitting applications is
Tuesday, April 1, 2008.
ETAAC provides an organized public forum for discussion of electronic tax
administration issues in support of the overriding goal that paperless filing
should be the preferred and most convenient method of filing tax and
information returns. ETAAC provides an annual report to Congress on IRS’
s progress in increasing electronic transactions.
ETAAC researches, analyzes, considers and makes recommendations on a
wide range of electronic tax administration issues. Membership on ETAAC
requires expertise in electronic tax administration, a personal commitment
of approximately 100 hours a year and a desire to help shape the
electronic tax administration system.
For additional information, please send an e-mail to etaac@irs.gov.
ETAAC was created in 1998 by the IRS Electronic Tax Administration as
required by the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (RRA 98).
Buckle Down and buckle up!
ARTESIA - During the month of February officers from the Artesia Police
Department will be continuing their efforts in making the streets of Artesia
safe for people to travel by conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation
patrols. In search for drivers who continue to make the wrong choice,
driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (including
prescription drugs).
It’s not just alcohol. Your driving skills can also be affected by:
Illegal drugs (Marijuana, Cocaine, Ecstasy, etc.); some prescription drugs;
some over-the-counter drugs, such as cold medicines. (Read the label to
see if a drug can affect your driving).
Using alcohol and any of these drugs together is even more dangerous.
Drinking and driving don’t mix. Remember, alcohol is a drug. No matter
hold old you are, drinking and driving is against the law and can be deadly.
"If you heard it once you heard it a thousand times; you drink, you drive you
loose. Use a designated driver, walk or call someone for a ride home.
Remember, your parents and friends would want you to wake them up for a
ride rather than receiving a phone call from me, telling them that you’ve
been arrested for Driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or
drugs, or in the hospital or worse, not coming home at all," said Cmdr.
Richard Martinez with the Artesia Police Department.
Safety belts (also called seat belts) are a necessity, not a matter of choice.
That goes for drivers AND passengers (including children). In the State of
New Mexico it’s the law. It’s simple: If you’re in a car, buckle up, if you fail
to do so, chances are you’ll be stopped and issued a traffic citation for this
violation by an officer from our department working overtime funded by the
New Mexico Department of Transportation working Operation Buckle Down
during the month of February and throughout the rest of the year. Keep
your sweetheart safe, by making sure they are buckled up.
The Artesia Police Department and the Department of Transportation work
in partnership to make driving safe for all travelers, by enforcing traffic laws
and raising public awareness to prevent traffic-related crashes, injuries and
fatalities.
RUIDOSO - New Mexico Airlines, a subsidiary of Pacific Wings, now offers
daily air service into Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, located 15 miles
northwest of Ruidoso, from Midland/Odessa, Albuquerque and other
southern New Mexico cities. Ruidoso flights to and from El Paso are set to
begin March 1, 2008.
These new flights join New Mexico Airlines’ current offerings of daily air
service among Albuquerque, Hobbs, Carlsbad and Alamogordo; and daily
air service between those cities and Midland/Odessa and El Paso, Texas, in
addition to Ruidoso.
“We’re very lucky that this service now includes Ruidoso as a destination as
well as a stop for those traveling to other areas,” said Ruidoso’s Director of
Tourism, Steve Tally.
Flight schedules range from mid- to late-morning and early- to mid-
afternoon for convenience and flexibility. Passengers flying to and from
Midland will also benefit from non-stop service on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday evenings. Talley said flights will be around $200 round trip and can
be booked via www.newmexicoairlines.com or by calling 1-888-564-6119.
“The Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce wants to help promote the
convenience and proximity of the service to both business and consumer
travelers,” said Brad Treptow, Executive Director for the Chamber. ”This
area is positioned to benefit significantly throughout the entire year based
on the variety of attractions, activities, and events offered.”
Pacific Wings CEO Greg Kahlstorf agreed. “Ruidoso is a year-round
destination. We’re happy to bring people together in serving Ruidoso with
air service throughout the year. Our business model in New Mexico allows
us to serve rural and remote communities in a cost effective and affordable
manner.”
Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department,
welcomed the news. “The previously limited direct air service to New Mexico
from the nations’ major markets has long hampered the efforts of New
Mexico’s tourism industry to reach out to these markets effectively.
“This decision by New Mexico Airlines, joining with American Eagle’s current
offering of direct daily flights between Roswell and Dallas-Fort Worth,
means New Mexico will no longer be this country’s best-kept secret.”
Passengers staying in Ruidoso will have access to rental cars through
Enterprise Rent-a-car. Two taxi services are available as well through Alto
Taxi Service and Dollar Cab.
For more information contact Brad Treptow, Executive Director, Ruidoso
Valley Chamber of Commerce, 575-257-7395; or on the web, visit
www.newmexicoairlines.com.
73 SOS has change of command
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE - Col. Michael Plehn (left), 27th Special
Operations Group commander, passes the guidon to Lt. Col. William Wolfe
Feb.15. Colonel Wolfe was given command of the 73rd Special Operations
Squadron.
U.S. Air Force photo by A1C James R. Bell
Legion to be filmed in New Mexico
SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson announced Friday that Legion, a
supernatural action thriller starring Paul Bettany (The DaVinci Code), will be
filmed in New Mexico.
Legion marks the feature directorial debut of Scott Stewart. David
Lancaster and Michel Litvak of Bold Films will produce, with Gary Michael
Walters executive producing. Sony’s Screen Gems will distribute
domestically with Sony Pictures International worldwide.
In Legion, God loses faith in mankind and sends his Legion of Angels to
wipe out the human race for the second time. Man’s only hope lies in a
group of strangers holed-up in a desert diner.
The film will be shot in and around Santa Fe from March 31 through early
May and expects to hire approximately 134 New Mexico crew members and
433 actors, including background talent.
Since Richardson took office, over 90 major feature film and television
projects have shot in the state, adding close to $1.5 billion dollars to New
Mexico’s economy.
IRS Seeks Candidates for Advisory Committee
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is seeking candidates for
membership on the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee
(ETAAC). All applicants should submit a resume and complete an
application form for the fall vacancies. In addition, the IRS will require a
federal tax check waiver and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) check
of the best qualified applicants. The deadline for submitting applications is
Tuesday, April 1, 2008.
ETAAC provides an organized public forum for discussion of electronic tax
administration issues in support of the overriding goal that paperless filing
should be the preferred and most convenient method of filing tax and
information returns. ETAAC provides an annual report to Congress on IRS’
s progress in increasing electronic transactions.
ETAAC researches, analyzes, considers and makes recommendations on a
wide range of electronic tax administration issues. Membership on ETAAC
requires expertise in electronic tax administration, a personal commitment
of approximately 100 hours a year and a desire to help shape the
electronic tax administration system.
For additional information, please send an e-mail to etaac@irs.gov.
ETAAC was created in 1998 by the IRS Electronic Tax Administration as
required by the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (RRA 98).
Buckle Down and buckle up!
ARTESIA - During the month of February officers from the Artesia Police
Department will be continuing their efforts in making the streets of Artesia
safe for people to travel by conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation
patrols. In search for drivers who continue to make the wrong choice,
driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (including
prescription drugs).
It’s not just alcohol. Your driving skills can also be affected by:
Illegal drugs (Marijuana, Cocaine, Ecstasy, etc.); some prescription drugs;
some over-the-counter drugs, such as cold medicines. (Read the label to
see if a drug can affect your driving).
Using alcohol and any of these drugs together is even more dangerous.
Drinking and driving don’t mix. Remember, alcohol is a drug. No matter
hold old you are, drinking and driving is against the law and can be deadly.
"If you heard it once you heard it a thousand times; you drink, you drive you
loose. Use a designated driver, walk or call someone for a ride home.
Remember, your parents and friends would want you to wake them up for a
ride rather than receiving a phone call from me, telling them that you’ve
been arrested for Driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or
drugs, or in the hospital or worse, not coming home at all," said Cmdr.
Richard Martinez with the Artesia Police Department.
Safety belts (also called seat belts) are a necessity, not a matter of choice.
That goes for drivers AND passengers (including children). In the State of
New Mexico it’s the law. It’s simple: If you’re in a car, buckle up, if you fail
to do so, chances are you’ll be stopped and issued a traffic citation for this
violation by an officer from our department working overtime funded by the
New Mexico Department of Transportation working Operation Buckle Down
during the month of February and throughout the rest of the year. Keep
your sweetheart safe, by making sure they are buckled up.
The Artesia Police Department and the Department of Transportation work
in partnership to make driving safe for all travelers, by enforcing traffic laws
and raising public awareness to prevent traffic-related crashes, injuries and
fatalities.
ENMU-R spring scholarships
ROSWELL - The ENMU-Roswell Foundation has
awarded more than $5,000 in scholarships for
the spring 2008 semester to seven deserving
students. Each received a $750 scholarship.
The students and their majors are as follows:
Douglas Catiano, Safety Engineering
Technology
Diego Gomez, Aviation Maintenance Technology
Angela Ibarra, Medical Assisting
Veronica Lucero, Pharmacy Technician
Jose Martinez, University Studies-Transfer
Karen McMahon, Human Services
Alicia Woody, Teacher Education-Transfer
For information on ENMU-Roswell Foundation
Scholarships, contact the Financial Aid office on
campus at 624-7400.
Voting by Machine Begins Feb. 13th
ARTESIA - Absentee Voting by machine for the
March 4, 2008 Regular Municipal Election will
begin on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 and
will end February 29, 2008. Voters who wish to
vote prior to Election Day may come to the City
Clerk’s Office during regular business hours (8
–5), Monday through Friday, file an application,
and cast their vote by voting machine. The City
Clerk’s Office is located in City Hall, 511 W.
Texas Ave.
The City Clerk’s office is also still accepting
applications to mail out absentee ballots. Voters
may request an application to vote 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.
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.”
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!
ROSWELL - The ENMU-Roswell Foundation has
awarded more than $5,000 in scholarships for
the spring 2008 semester to seven deserving
students. Each received a $750 scholarship.
The students and their majors are as follows:
Douglas Catiano, Safety Engineering
Technology
Diego Gomez, Aviation Maintenance Technology
Angela Ibarra, Medical Assisting
Veronica Lucero, Pharmacy Technician
Jose Martinez, University Studies-Transfer
Karen McMahon, Human Services
Alicia Woody, Teacher Education-Transfer
For information on ENMU-Roswell Foundation
Scholarships, contact the Financial Aid office on
campus at 624-7400.
Voting by Machine Begins Feb. 13th
ARTESIA - Absentee Voting by machine for the
March 4, 2008 Regular Municipal Election will
begin on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 and
will end February 29, 2008. Voters who wish to
vote prior to Election Day may come to the City
Clerk’s Office during regular business hours (8
–5), Monday through Friday, file an application,
and cast their vote by voting machine. The City
Clerk’s Office is located in City Hall, 511 W.
Texas Ave.
The City Clerk’s office is also still accepting
applications to mail out absentee ballots. Voters
may request an application to vote 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.
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.”
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!
