Rural Torrance County, A Giant Country Dog Park?

Does all of this open land in Torrance County create a giant country dog park? What prompted this post was a brief conversation along one of our county roads. Seeing a vehicle on the side of the road and with the driver walking away from the vehicle, I assumed they were having trouble so I stopped to offer assistance. The driver indicated that they had let their dogs out to exercise. I explained that there were cattle all around to which the driver commented they were aware of that which is why they selected their exercise locations very carefully. Not more than a quarter of a mile away, was cattle gathered at a drink tank. Carefully selected location? 
Those who are new to the area and new to rural living may misunderstand what all of this open space is all about and possibly have no understanding of the ramification of allowing their dogs to roam about freely. I ask that those folks please consider the following;

1. Private property – the open space you allow your dogs to run on is owned by someone other than yourself. Their yard is just bigger than yours and is primarily used for agricultural production. Would you allow your local rancher to drop off their cattle in your yard?

2. Trespass – because this land is not yours, your animals are trespassing while roaming so in effect you are trespassing. If you want to allow your dogs to roam freely, please have the courtesy to find out who owns the land and at least ask their permission – don’t assume it’s a go just because you don’t see any livestock.

3. Right to Shoot – New Mexico statute allows for the shooting of animals, including dogs that endanger livestock. You may not believe that your pets pose a threat, but as a cattle owner, I can tell you that dogs will cause cattle to run. At a minimum, your dog could run my cattle through fences which will cost me time and money to gather my herd and repair fence, or at a maximum cause my cattle to run themselves to death which would be a significant financial loss for my family. Trust me, ranchers would prefer not to shoot any dog but they will do so to protect their livestock.

4. Natural Dangers – were you aware that your dogs could be bitten by rabid wild life, be attacked or eaten by coyotes, bears, mountain lions or other predatory species in the area, that your dogs could become infected with lice and other vermin that could carry plague back to your home just by coming into contact with native species?

5. Man Made Dangers – were you aware that some land owners will set traps and poison bates for coyotes, that your dogs could be attacked and possibly killed by dogs owned by the land owners on which your animals are trespassing on?

No, rural Torrance County and all of that beautiful open land is not a giant dog park it belongs to your neighbors so please be a good neighbor, respect the private property of others and keep your dogs safe by leashing them and walking them if appropriate areas.

Torrance County Staffer's T-Mobile Woes

The Torrance County Commission voted in the recent past to seek lower cost cell phone service for county employees and elected officials.  Even though a local business entered into the bidding, the Commission decided that T-Mobile would be the most cost effective.  General discussion at the meeting indicates T-Mobile just isn't working as promise. 

Depending on T-Mobiles actions, Torrance County may go out for more bids from vendors.  Commissioner's discussion and decision in the video captured at the regular night meeting of the Torrance County Commission Wednesday, August 24, 2011. 

WANTED: HOUSE CLEANER

Need some one to clean a house in Mountainair for a move in ASAP. Carpets, general cleaning, if interested, call 505-847-2220 reply to this post or email me at George@WhisperingRange.com

Thanks.

Lost Dog Follow Up

Update on the Lost Dog post . . . "Baby" showed up late Tuesday night and is home with his owner Hamilton Montgomery safe and sound.  Rumor has it that Baby was tracking a good sent and just lost track of the time - lol.  Glad to hear a happy ending to a scary time for Baby's family!

Mountainair Farm & Garden Market Opening Day May 5

Count down has started for the Mountainair Farm & Garden Market opening, Thursday May 5, Cinco de Mayo, so we're planning on some Latin themed food and music to celebrate this exciting day!

We're trying to get an approximate tally of those planning to be vendors at the opening (fresh produce, plants, home-made art/crafts, one-time event permitted prepared food, organization with an informational booth). Our headliner will be Mary Childers unveiling a new food offering from Alpine Alley! Don't miss this opportunity to get in on the fun!


Contact Kristine Lauritsen  mountainairfarmgarden@gmail.com, or
Rebecca Lueras by phone: 505. 847-0973

Check out the farmers market web site and Facebook page at:
   
  http://mountainairfarmgardenmarket.blogspot.com/

  http://www.facebook.com/MountainairFarmGardenMarket?sk=wall

Reminder: Gardening Workshop April 5, 2011

Announcement: Gardening Workshop Series -Presents !


"VEGETABLE GARDENING"

Presentation by:
Gene Winn, County Extension Agent-Agriculture, NMSU-Torrance County Extension Office

April 5th - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Mountainair High School - Library, 901 West 3rd St

*Library is located at north end of school - follow "Gardening Workshop" signs

Mountainair Chamber Meets April 5, 2011

The April meeting of the Mountainair Chamber of Commerce will be held Tue, Apr 5, 11:30am at Alpine Alley. If you want to phone your order in ahead of time, call Scott and Mary at 847-2478. There is a lot to report from the MountainairBeautiful project. It should be an interesting meeting. See you there.

Gardening Workshop Series - Vegetable Gardening!

Announcement: Gardening Workshop Series -Presents !


"VEGETABLE GARDENING"

Presentation by: Gene Winn, County Extension Agent-Agriculture,
NMSU-Torrance County Extension Office
April 5th - 6:00 p.m.

Location: Mountainair High School - Library, 901 West 3rd St

*Library is located at north end of school - follow "Gardening Workshop" signs

Mountainair Ranger District Opening Roads This Week

Mountainair, NM, March 22, 2011: The Mountainair Ranger District will be reopening various roads that have been under winter closures. The roads to be opened include FR 275, FR 422, FR 253 and FR 245 up to New Canyon Campground. Roads to remain closed include FR 321 and FR 245 from New Canyon Campground to Capilla Peak. The road leading to Comanche trailhead on the West side of the Manzano Mountains also remains under a private closure until easement issues can be finalized.

Mountainair Ranger District fire personnel would like to remind everyone that conditions throughout the district remain dry. Fire Danger is currently listed as HIGH trending toward VERY HIGH. There are currently no restrictions in place but everyone is reminded to take extra precautions and follow some basic fire safety rules:

• Make sure that you can have a campfire—obey and cooperate with all fire bans, restrictions and closures;
• If campfires are allowed, use an existing fire ring or clear a campfire site down to bare soil;
• Build a ring out of rocks. Keep the fire under four feet in diameter with no less than a ten foot clearance around it;
• Build the fire away from overhanging branches, steep slopes and dry grass;
• Keep a bucket of water and a shovel near the campfire;
• When putting a campfire out, drown it with water, stir the fire with dirt and more water until all the fuel is cold to the touch. Never leave a fire until it is out cold.
• If you do not have water, use dirt. Mix enough dirt or sand with the embers. Continue adding and stirring until all material is cool. Remember: Do NOT bury the fire as the fire will continue to smolder and could catch roots on fire that will eventually get to the surface and start a wildfire.

For road closure information or for any other issues, please contact the
Mountainair Ranger District at 505-847-2990.

Thanks - Arlene
Follow us on TWITTER: CIBOLA_NF

Website: http://fs.usda.gov/cibola

*#*#*#*#*#**#*#*#*#*#*#*#**#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Arlene T. Perea

Recreation Tech.

Mountainair Ranger District

P.O. Box 69

Mountainair, NM 87036

(O) 505-847-2990

(F) 505-847-2238

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Manzano Mountain Art Council - Sweet Retreat

Manzano Mountain Art Council wants you and your ideas at our Sweet Retreat!
(Click Here For PDF Flyer)
Complimentary Desserts, Coffee/Tea, Exciting Announcements, & Raffle

Saturday, February 19, 2011
Alpine Alley Cafe, Mountainaiar, NM
1:00 pm until done :)

Raffle: 

Chances to win one of 3 Beautiful works of art by Celest Simon, Tomas Wolff, and Anne Ravenstone. 
Art work is on display at B Street Market.
Raffle Tickets are available for $5 each or 5 tickects for $20 and can be purchased at Cibola Arts Gallery, B Street Market and at the retreat.

Mountainair Chamber of Commerce - Meeting At Jerry's Ancient Cities, Mountainair, NM

The Chamber will hold its February meeting at Alpine Alley on Tuesday, February 1, 2011
at 11:30.   Mayor Riley will be our guest speaker. He will cover the town's financial status as well
as what's going on in the departments and future plans.

As usual, if you know what you want for lunch, call Jerry's Ancient Cities a head of time at 505-847-2368.  See you there!

Save Money On Your Phone and Television Services with Higher Speed Internet

Higher Speed Internet service are always looking for ways to complement and expand service to their customers.  Compare your current long distance phone rates and television services you have now with the packages Higher Speed can offer you.  Also, they are now providers for live VIDEO PHONE!  How cool is that!

Visit the following link for more information:

http://higherspeed.shopacnrep.com/
Services for both home and business!

Tell them George suggested you check their services out!

A Cleansing Prayer

I received the following prayer from a dear friend in email this morning and wanted to share.

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

Mountainair Economic Development - Business Survey

What can Mountainair's existing business do to earn your business?  What new business would you like to invite to Mountainair?  It our community and we need to tell the powers that be where we want this community to go - share your opinion by participating in the survey!

Are You Tough Enough To Wear Pink?

Torrance County is TOUGH ENOUGH TO WEAR PINK!



The County Commission are asking for everyone in Torrance County to wear pink on Wednesday October 27th, 2010 to show support of breast cancer treatment, research and awareness. Are you tough enough to wear pink?

Get Your Absentee Voter Applications On Line - Torrance County

At last, Torrance County is moving forward into the modern era by offering more services on line.  If you would like to vote Absentee you can now down load the application form from the Torrance County Clerks office via the counties web site (Click Here For The Application).

Of course, for those that prefer hard mail, you can call the Torrance County Clerks office at:

505-246-4735  Monday - Thursday  7:30am - 5:30pm

CLICK HERE FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION PRESS RELEASE FOR FULL INFORMATION

Absentee & In Person Voting is only open during regular office hours (listed above).
Absentee & In Person Early Voting begins October 5, 2010 and ends October 29, 2010.

ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR HAND DELIVERED BY
OCTOBER 29, 2010 by 5:OOpm

EARLY VOTING ENDS ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2010 AT 6:00pm

Vote at Home or Early Vote In Person 

Either way Get Out & Vote!

PRC scrutinizes Mountainair pipeline safety waiver « New Mexico Independent

PRC scrutinizes Mountainair pipeline safety waiver « New Mexico Independent

". . . Mountainair is a potential problem. I suggested we look into the fittings and whether they’re robust. We also heard that the Pipeline Safety Bureau has identified and addressed leaks in the (Mountainair) system that were not connected to these polyethylene fittings.”

I believe that some of the gas pipelines were upgraded in Mountainair when John Romero was Mayor, however, like town water and sewer lines, portions of the Town's infrastructure is outdated, undersized, and needs replaced. Given income levels in the community, Mountainair would be hard pressed to find funding to upgrade the town's infrastructure without financial assistance.

Perhaps Mountainair should consider a local sales tax and/or special assessment of property holders in Mountainair in order to at least come up with matching monies for grants as well as to minimize loans for infrastructure improvement.  Mountainair will be hard pressed to entice new business and industry to town unless it can improve the infrastructure. Without these vital improvements, Mountainair will simply not grow.

Fly Back In Time to the Old West - Estancia, NM

Estancia, NM

Excerpt from SWAviator.com

Fly Back In Time to the Old West

Estancia, New Mexico

By Bill Dolson It’s hard to imagine that sleepy little Estancia, New Mexico, population 1700, was once a rival to the City of Albuquerque. At the turn of the 19th century, the Mayor of Estancia made a bet with the Mayor of Albuquerque that Estancia would grow to be the greater city.

Very nice write up on Estancia, New Mexico - Check it out - CLICK HERE!

Manzano Mountain Gun Club - Raffle Results

Congratulations to the winners of the Manzano Mountain Gun Clubs 2010 Hunters 5 Rifle Raffle!

Bill Randolph of Capitan, NM won the Remington 700 SPS 30-06 with Leupold Scope
Shirley Steinbock, (no town given), won the Weatherby Vanguard .243 Youth/Lady Model
David Haven of Texas, won the Thompson/Center Omega In-Line .50 cal
Tanner Dunlap,k (no town given), won the Marlin 30-30 Model 336 Lever action
John McKibben, (no town given) wont the Remington 870 Pump Shotgun in 12 gauge

Awards for top raffle ticket sales:

     Alvie McKibben - $100.00 prize
     Lonnie Greene - $50.00 prize.

Proceeds from the raffle added another $1,700.00 to the shooting range development fund. 

Manzano Mountain Gun Club - Hunting Firearms Raffle

The Manzano Mountain Gun Club will draw the winning raffle tickets for five quality hunting weapons. 
(Click Here For Flyer) Drawing to be held at the gun clubs September meeting.  For a copy of the news letter Click Here.  Septembers meeting will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2010, 6 pm at Ancient Cities Cafe in Mountainair, New Mexico.  Go to the meeting or check out the clubs web site, either way great information and who knows, you may even want to join the club!

Raffle drawing at 6:30 pm. If you don't have your raffle tickets yet, now would be when to purchase them! (Well, at that meeting would be the latest moment!) This raffle features five quality hunting weapons. I'm attaching that flier too, so you can see for yourself.

Only 500 tickets available and can be purchased for $10.00 per ticket or $25.00 for three tickets.
For more information or to purchase your raffle tickets please contact: 

Robert Chung or Jim Greene