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TuesdAY, AuG. 7, 2012 • w w w . r u i d o s o f r e e p r e s s . c o M • VOL. 4, NO. 32
What’s
happening Aug. 7
Purple Heart Day
We salute our Purple Heart recipients.
Aug. 7-11
Lincoln County Fair in Capitan
Don’t miss the Fair! The tradition, the history and the fun. Indoor exhibits of art, flowers, photography and quilting. Outdoor programs with steers, sheep, goats and pigs. Buyers dinner and livestock sale is on Friday Lincoln County Fairgrounds, 5th St. and highway 48, Capitan, 575-648-2311. Free.
Aug. 10-12 EcoFest
Come share and learn knowledge, ideas, and skills about sustainable building, gardening, and living. Friday night – music. Saturday – expo and workshops. Sunday – free county wide tour of sustainable practices and goods. Wingfield Park. www. ecoservants.org, 575-808-1204. $40
Aug. 10-13
Aspen Cup Saturday at Ruidoso Downs
Racing runs Friday through Monday with the top threeyear-old Thoroughbred fillies in the Aspen Cup on saturday and the 870-yard stars racing in the Master Salls Handicap on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Post time 1 p.m. Free.
Aug. 11
John Anderson with special guest Morgan Frazier at the Spencer
Anderson has charted more than 40 singles on the Billboard country music charts and five No. 1 hits including “straight Tequila Night,” “swingin’” and “seminole Wind.” Morgan Frazier is a gifted 18-year-old singer and songwriter from the oil fields of Texas, whose journey to Nashville’s Music Row has turned heads throughout the industry. Spencer Theater, Alto. www.spencertheater.com, 575-336-4800. Pre-show buffet $20, 2 p.m. tickets $63 and $66; 8 p.m. tickets $66 and $69.
Matt Mason live in concert at Cree Meadows CC
Come and enjoy the fajita bar and then stay and see winner of CMT’s Next superstar, Matt Mason-Warner Music Nashville Recording Artist at Cree Meadows Country Club, 301 Country Club dr. 8 p.m. This concert is a Little Bear Fire benefit. www.mattmasonmusic.com, 575-257-2733. $20
Aug. 12
Sundays Under the Stars
Live music is by suzie Weber & The Mixx and the movie after sunset is “Beauty and the Beast.” Bring your favorite chair or blanket and enjoy live music and a movie. Inn of the Mountain Gods. 6 p.m. www. innofthemountaingods.com, 575-464-7777. Free.
A property of
Long-awaited river trail becomes reality bronze artwork will be presented,” she said. Renowned western By Eugene Heathman artist Gordon Snidow of Ruidoso donated the first piece of artwork Editor for the sculpture park. Friends of the Rio Ruidoso River Trails eugene@ruidosofreepress.com For more than 30 years, the dream of a river trail system through will work on developing a program for the sustainability of the trail through art shows and other activities. Joan Dale Hubbard of Ruidoso has been just that, a dream. On Thursday, the byways committee member Laura Doth announced the award of a $556,419 grant The Hubbard Foundation has been extremely supportive since the through the national byways program funded with federal transporta- project’s inception, Doth said. see riVer trAiL, pg 3 tion money. The Ruidoso River Trail project is now a reality. With groundbreaking expected in approximately one month, the Ruidoso River Trail project will be incorporated as part of the Billy the Kid Scenic By-Way and will be scheduled into three phases. The river trail and other public green space concepts are no stranger to nearly every community in the Rocky Mountain region. Places like Durango, Steamboat Springs, Loveland and metropolitan areas of Colorado incorporate green space trail systems to lessen the impact of density and preserve wildlife habitats while offering the public a source of convenient outdoor recreation opportunities. “Phase one of the village river trail project will be constructed completely on land owned by the Village of Ruidoso,” Doth said. The first phase of the project will begin with Two Rivers Park and end at a location behind McGary’s Art studio. The Parks and Recreation board enlisted Loris and Associates from Lafayette, Colo. to design the trail network. Loris and Associates was hired for their history of experience with developing public green space and trail systems throughout the region. One key component of phase one is the development of an interactive sculpture garden near Two Rivers Park. Artwork for the garden will be Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press sold to help provide supplemental funding for Members of the UNM football team warm up with high kick drills during the trail system enhancements. The River Trail will first day of practice at White Mountain Athletic Complex. The Lobos are in also provide abundant opportunities for commuRuidoso for the third year in a row to run through fall practice, and will pracnity partnerships. tice daily starting at 10 a.m. All practices are open to the public. See story on “We have 100 percent of the design compage 13. pleted on the Two Rivers Park area where the
Lobo workout
Upper Canyon protection, Ruidoso style
Jon Crunk, independent insurBy Sue Hutchison ance agent and FWC member, Reporter states he’s seeing mainline insursuehutch@valornet.com ance companies not allowing any Ruidoso’s fire station No. new business to be generated in 3 is about to get a face lift and Lincoln County. Being top in the become staffed 24/7. “Right now nation for wildfire risk, Lincoln we have a four to six minute County presents a hazard for response time in Ruidoso for underwriters to assume. Stoddard 90 percent of our calls,” states states, “We live in a forest and Harlan Vincent, Ruidoso’s Actneed to have help to create defening Fire Chief. With a change in sibility. We need to change our ordesignation for the station, “we’ll dinances to require more thinning have two firefighters staffed at Sue Hutchison/Ruidoso Free Press on municipal and private lands.” fire station three all the time.” Stoddard hopes new ordinances Because of budgetary issues, Fire Station No. 3 in Upper Canyon. will encourage property owners No. 3 was about to be put on the to assume responsibility in creating defenchopping block. With $243,000 of state funds By designating station No. 3 as a main station, state funds increase to $285,000. sible space and becoming firewise. A former being reduced to $195,000, Vincent and Councilor Jim Stoddard, co-chair of educator, Stoddard recognizes the value of his team needed to make decisions. Many the Village Forestry Working Committee continuing to instruct Ruidoso’s citizens of residual concerns have surfaced in the wake fire information and protection. of the Little Bear fire, making previous focus couldn’t agree more. His committee is in the process of determining which recommendaVincent says he knows the position Rupoints shift. Upper Canyon area of Ruidoso is an area tions to make to the village council regarding idoso’s finest find themselves and he’s proud ordinance changes to improve Ruidoso. “We of his team of firefighters. With 24 hours a of grave concern for firefighters. With one want to have a gold star to show insurance month of mandatory training in areas such as entrance/exit strategy, fire safety is paracompanies,” says Stoddard who’s heard that hazardous materials, swift water rescue, high mount. Vincent knows the danger: “If fire insurance companies are giving Lincoln angle rescue, fire safety, and medical concomes down the Upper Canyon, the town could go up in smoke in four hours.” Protect- County a hard look before continuing to offer cerns, his team is ready to roll at a moment’s see stAtioN No. 3, pg 17 underwriting to residents. ing the canyon has been at the top of his list.
Weed Warriors battling thistle invasion
By Eugene Heathman With contributions from K.G. Beck, Colorado State University The Village of Ruidoso Parks and Recreation Department is offering free vinegar to residents to help control the proliferation of musk thistle in the area. Musk thistle is an aggressive weed of foreign origin that occurs in pastures, rangeland, roadsides and non-crop areas. Musk thistle is a prolific seed producer. One plant can set up to 20,000 seeds. Seeds germinate and establish plants in open pastures
and other degraded areas such as burn scars from wild-land fires A volunteer group, known as the Weed Warriors, has battled the musk thistle for more than 11 years. The Weed Warriors is an extension of the Keep Ruidoso Beautiful committee. “So many people helped during the last 11 years. Thank you for every thistle that you picked, sprayed, pulled or dug. We have made real progress in controlling the musk thistle here in Ruidoso as well as certain areas of Lincoln County,” said Carolyn Felder. Felder is an
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outgoing weed warrior who is relocating to Ogden Utah. Taking Felders place at the helm of the Weed Warrior project is Pat Greener. “If you know of an owner that is overwhelmed by their thistle infestation, and if they are willing to work side by side, the Weed Warriors would consider helping them - as we have done for many years,” said Greener. Keep Ruidoso Beautiful is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful which was founded in 1999. Keep Ruidoso Beautiful hosts several events each year
including the Bank Challenge Cleanup, the Aussie Treasure/ Trash Swap and the Ruidoso River cleanup. Ellen Bizzell of Keep Ruidoso Beautiful and lifelong resident of the area recognize the need to continually battle the spread of musk thistle. “This is a very important effort and the program is operating with just a few volunteers, we need more help to effectively stay ahead of this problem,” Bizzell said. For information, free vinegar or to volunteer call 575-257-5030.
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