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Martin rides to another Rainbow Futurity win, pg. 13
What’s
happening July 27
Gabriel Iglesias at the inn of the Mountain Gods, 8 - 10 p.m. A Comedy Central regular who will have you laughing all night long with stories, parodies, characters and more ‘fl uffi ness’! www. innofthemountaingods.com
July 28-30 Mountain Wellness Experience throughout Lincoln County. Start your experience of health and wellness experience Friday at eNMu 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the fair and continue to see, feel and hear with a sampling of Tai Chi, Laughter Yoga and massage at open houses throughout Lincoln County. (575) 937-0564.
July 30 Chamber Music Festival with pianist Di Wu & the Linden String Quartet at Spencer Theater. 2 p.m., 8 p.m., check for pre-performance talk. enjoy the intimacy of a string quartet and the power of Di Wu on the piano. Plus a fundraising silent auction featuring painted violins from area artists at 5 p.m. www.spencertheater.com 1-888-818-7872
July 30-31
Zia Festival at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino. Stake races with purses totaling over $800,000 featuring all New Mexico bred thoroughbreds and quarter horses. And to celebrate “All Things New Mexico,” the grandstands will be fi lled with vendors featuring gifts, arts, food, wine and more, all made in New Mexico. www. raceruidoso.com
July 30 Cary Swinney at bottlehouse Cabins, 8 – 10 p.m. A politically & socially satirical concert under the stars. Mature audience suggested. (575) 336-1145.
Aug. 1 Ruidoso Osos Baseball, 4:05 p.m. Professional league baseball requesting even more fans to cheer on the Ruidoso Osos when they play the Las Cruces Vaqueros in Alamogordo. www.ruidosoosos.com
For more photos and the latest stories updated daily, visit
www.ruidosofreepress.com
TueSDAY, JuLY 26, 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. 30
A property of
Village disputes Eagle Creek claims By Todd Fuqua Reporter todd@ruidosofreepress.com In the wake of contention over water rights and flow levels on Eagle Creek, Randall Camp, Ruidoso public works director and Debi Lee, village manager discussed the village’s position on the matter. According to Camp, the question of wells drilled along the creek on Ski Run Road – and whether they affect the flow of the Eagle Creek some six miles to the east – is really one about property rights. “The truth of the matter is they’re trying to circumvent state law,” said Camp, referring to a protest made by the Eagle Creek Conservation Association (ECCA) to the U.S. Forest Service over expired permits to operate the wells. “All our water rights are vetted by the Office of State Engineers (OSE) and has been upheld by the Supreme Court.” “They’re using the Forest Service’s environmental assessment as a backdoor tool,” he continued. “In fact, most of the ECCA members that live down there are interlopers on the village’s
water rights. The rights date back to the 1880s, and they’ve been allowed by the county to develop along the creek in only the past 20 years.” The permits used by the village to operate the wells – which were drilled in 1985 – expired in 1995, but Camp said the village had been allowed to drill with an understanding from the Forest Service. It was only a lawsuit by ECCA against the Forest Service that forced the federal government’s hand. “They want to limit us to about 300 acre-feet per year, and right now we’re pulling about 700 acre-feet out of there,” Camp said. “That’s about a 50 percent reduction, and about 75 percent of the village’s water comes from those wells.” In a draft letter to Eagle Creek residents and property owners supplied by Lee, Smokey Bear District Ranger David Warnack writes the village has a pending application for a special use permit, and explains the OSE has recognized the wells “as being supplemental to the Village’s surface water rights with a priority dating back to as early see eAGLe CReeK, pg. 5
Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press
Randall Camp, public works director for the Village of Ruidoso, points to a map that shows what areas of Ruidoso are serviced by certain wells. The largest portion of the city - shown in green - is the area Camp says is serviced by the Eagle Creek wells.
Fort Stanton Live! A living legacy of southwest history By Eugene Heathman Reporter eugene@ruidosofreepress.com For authentic American Southwest action, look no further than what can be described as the heart of Lincoln County, Fort Stanton. The annual Fort Stanton Live! celebration held on Aug. 6 and 7 brings costumed re-enactors from the Civil War and French-Indian War eras to the fort for demonstrations, presentations, a candlelight tour, a concert and a military ball. Additionally, the event will have southwest history authors, historians dressed in clothing from the era, photographers, artists and a variety of vendors sharing crafts reminiscent of the late 1800s and other custom handiwork. Fort Stanton Executive Consultant Jay Smith said this year’s events lay the groundwork for much more than a tourist attraction. “The Fort Stanton Foundation is finalizing the development of a long-range plan which will be presented to the state for review this fall,” explained Smith. “The plan entails a comprehensive multi-use proposition that will not only enable the foundation to host more
Eugene Heathman/Ruidoso Free Press
The recently renovated Ft. Stanton Museum will literally come alive with a journey back in time as the parade grounds host civil war era encampments, demonstrations and historical exhibits Aug. 6 and 7. events and attractions but with the ultimate goal to sustain the historical development of the Fort Stanton community beyond my lifetime.” The foundation envisions hosting about
four major events each summer and hopes the imagination of visitors to Fort Stanton Live! entertain the possibility of indulging in the area’s rich and diverse history, camping, horsesee foRT sTANToN, pg. 6
Warehouse board explores Boys and Girls Club possibility
Boys and Girls Clubs in By Todd Fuqua American and described the Reporter work he’s done in his 26 todd@ruidosofreepress.com years of working with the Since it was founded, the club in Lubbock. mission of the Community “We try to create posiYouth Warehouse – located tive outcomes for kids,” Farr at 200 Church Drive in Ruexplained. “We offer them idoso – has been to service training and support in art, the youth of the area, giving homework, athletics, and them a safe and secure place offer programs for special to learn and grow outside of needs kids. school. “My children have been That mission will remain members in the program and the same, but if director Vichave worked as volunteers.” tor Montes is successful with “You’ve got to have a his latest effort, the Warestrong board to make this house will become home to work,” said Ruidoso Village the first-ever Boys and Girls Manager Debi Lee. Club chapter in Ruidoso. Following a long discus“The vision has always sion on what can be done to been to grow the youth cenSandi Aguilar/Ruidoso Free Press raise funds for a fully-functer,” Montes said. “We jug- John Farr, regional services director for Boys and Girls Club, speaks tioning Boys and Girls Club – gled the idea of being with to board members at the Community Youth Warehouse July 21 about including car raffles and child Boys and Girls Club, but the possibility of the facility becoming the site of a new club affiliate. sponsorships – the board when does that time come? I of directors on what it would take lage of Ruidoso requesting funds, voted on the question to pursue a think we are there now.” John Farr, regional service di- for the Warehouse to become an but had to find further sources of Boys and Girls Club affiliation at funding to continue the services its Monday meeting. The Ruidoso rector for the Boys and Girls Club, official Boys and Girls Club. Village Council take up the quesoffered by the Warehouse. The real impetus was money, was on hand at the Warehouse July Farr gave a brief history of tion at its next meeting Aug. 9. 21 to speak with the center’s board as Montes had gone to the Vil-
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