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Ruidoso High scrimmages at Horton, pg. 14
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TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2011 • W W W . R U I D O S O F R E E P R E S S . C O M • VOL. 3, NO. 29
A property of
Future uncertain at Fort Stanton Forest to reopen, sort of Special to the Ruidoso Free Press
Editor’s Note: This is a continuation of last week’s story highlighting the history on display at Fort Stanton. Only a handful of the Fort’s original buildings remain, including the Administration Building, which now houses the Fort Stanton Museum, the Military Headquarters/Adjutant’s building, a barracks/dining hall and two sets of officer’s quarters that once housed a young West Point graduate named John J. Pershing, who went on to command all U.S. troops in WWI. It was during his service at Fort Stanton that Pershing is said to have acquired his nickname, “Black Jack,” although history is unclear as to whether the moniker was a carry-over from his West Point days or a derisive referral to Pershing’s command of colored troops, known as “Buffalo Soldiers,” during his Fort Stanton service. In fact, in many ways, history at Fort Stanton is
By Todd Fuqua Reporter
See FORT STANTON, pg. 7
Ruidoso Free Press
This church was taken apart, stone by stone, relocated and rebuilt by German internees during WWII.
Officials dispute “no- Village bails on North show” at public forum Fork water meeting Special to the Ruidoso Free Press approximately 45 minutes giv-
When the Republican Party of Lincoln County hosted a forum July 11 that was to feature Ruidoso Public Works Director Randall Camp and Eagle Creek Conservation Association member Dr. Bill Midkiff, the advertised intent was to discuss the village’s ongoing process to secure a special use permit to continue pumping underground water from beneath the North Fork of Eagle Creek. Camp, however, was a noshow – a last minute no show, according to Jack Shuster, an officer with the local political group, who said Camp begged off “due to his wife’s allergies to juniper and smoke.” As a result, Midkiff had the podium all to himself and spent
ing his side of the presentation. The issue came to a head July 12 at the Village of Ruidoso’s regular council meeting when Councilor Jim Stoddard expressed concern that no one from the village chose to participate in the previous night’s meeting. “I’m disappointed we did not have someone present,” Stoddard said. Village Manager Debi Lee responded that the village “was never notified” of the meeting and only learned of it by reading announcements published in local newspapers. By the time Camp “learned” he was to participate, Lee said, “he had already scheduled his vacation,” but “offered to address (the group) at another time.”
County Republicans opened the meeting, held at the Cree Meadows Country Club, by explaining that although he had received a commitment from Ruidoso Public Works Director Randall Camp to participate, Camp backed out at the last minute, citing his wife’s “allergies.” Shuster said he asked Camp to make another city official available for the discussion, but “none were available.” “I guess we can all figure that out,” Shuster said. Midkiff, a retired PhD, used a humorous slant – a takeoff on comedian David Letterman’s Top 10 list – to “debunk” the Top 10 “myths” being used
Special to the Ruidoso Free Press
The July 11 meeting of the Republican Party of Lincoln County was supposed to feature a presentation on the Village of Ruidoso’s Eagle Creek water issues, with representatives from both the village and the Eagle Creek Conservation Association. Instead, no village representative appeared, so ECCA representative, Dr. Bill Midkiff, had the podium all to himself and gave a short, but informative presentation on his organization’s stance in the ongoing dispute regarding the village’s pumping of groundwater from beneath the North Fork of Eagle Creek. Jack Shuster of the Lincoln
See NORTH FORK, pg. 4
Recent precipitation and moisture has prompted the National Forest Service to lower the closure order on the Lincoln National Forest to stage 3, which allows the Smokey Bear and Sacramento Ranger Districts to be opened to the public starting July 21. “The Guadalupe Ranger District will remain closed to public access and use,” said Robert Trujillo, Lincoln National Forest Supervisor. “That’s until the district receives sufficient moisture to decrease the fire danger.” Fire restrictions which will remain in place include open and charcoal fires, smoking only in an enclosed building, no welding or other torch and chainsaws will be only allowed to be used from 10 a.m. through midnight. Fireworks are always prohibited on National Forest land. Gas stoves, lanterns and space-heaters are allowed. The Forest Service reminds the public that the fire danger has decreased, but is still not completely gone. For more information on fire restrictions in the forest, call the supervisor’s office at (575)434-7200 or the Smokey Bear Ranger District office in Ruidoso at 257-4095.
Former minister indicted Governor Martinez honors local officers in embezzlement case By Patrick Jason Rodriguez Reporter
A former minister was indicted by a Lincoln County grand jury last week for allegedly embezzling more than $20,000 from area houses of worship, including the church where he spent 20 years as pastor. Kevin Krohn, 50, of Ruidoso, has been charged with embezzlement of funds from the Lincoln County Ministerial Alliance and the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Ruidoso, where he worked as a pastor from 1990 until last September. The charge is a seconddegree felony. Deputy District Attorney Reed Thompson said on Wednesday that Krohn might have actually embezzled as much $150,000 from the Lincoln County Ministerial Alliance, where Krohn also served 10 years as the organization’s treasurer. Thompson said that an accountant working on behalf of the organization verified the missing funds. Thompson said that Krohn committed the
Index
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Community Calendar. . . . . . . . . . 2 Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
embezzlement between January 2000 and September 2010. John Brown, president of the congregation at Shepherd of the Hills, said during an interview on Thursday that Krohn had left his position at the church without giving notice. He said that many members of the church had grown wary of Krohn’s behavior over an extended period of time prior to his leaving Shepherd of the Hills, though he would not go into further comment regarding such allegations. Krohn has also been charged with conspiracy to commit embezzlement between March 2006 and September 2010. No other suspects have been charged as of Wednesday afternoon, said Thompson. Krohn is represented by Angela SchneiderCook of the Bryant, Schneider-Cook Law Firm in Ruidoso. A message left with SchneiderCook seeking comment was not returned as of Friday afternoon. An arraignment for Krohn has been scheduled for July 22 in 12th District Court in Carrizozo.
By Kerry Gladden The Village of Ruidoso
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez visited the Inn of the Mountain Gods Thursday to honor a local police officer and thank firefighters for their valiant efforts recently in fighting the Swallow Fire and the Donaldson Complex Fire. The Governor presented Corporal Aaron Frost, an officer with the Ruidoso Police Department, with a bravery award for his heroic actions during the Swallow Fire. Frost was off-duty when the Swallow Fire broke out in a residential neighborhood in Ruidoso. He saw the smoke, drove to the area and saw flames approaching a home with a grandmother and her grandchildren inside. They were unaware that the fire was just behind their home, and Frost got them out of the house and away from the area unharmed. The
home soon burned to the ground. Martinez also thanked the room full of firefighters who had gathered for the event. The Governor acknowledged the many firefighting entities that have been part of the efforts in Lincoln County and around the state. “I fully realize that when we are running from fires and dangerous situations, you brave men and women are running into them. For that we thank each and everyone of you for keeping us safe,” said Governor Martinez. According to Ruidoso Village Manager, Debi Lee: “The Village of Ruidoso is pleased to be honored by Governor Martinez and joins her in recognizing the bravery and dedication of our firefighters, police officers and all of the other individuals who have courageously responded to the fires that have occurred in our area. Congratulations to all that have kept Ruidoso safe.”
Shine On! at the Spencer, July 24, pg. 16
Lincoln County . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 On the Town. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15
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