Racing action from Ruidoso Downs, pg. 15
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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 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. 26
A property of
Alamo native crowned Miss New Mexico Ruidoso’s Shelby Rist named first runner-up By Eddie Farrell Editor
Sarina Turnbull, a 24-year-old from Alamogordo, was crowned Miss New Mexico 2011 Saturday at the Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts. Miss Ruidoso Shelby Rist was named first runner-up. Second runner-up was Miss Land of Enchantment Courtney Ferguson; Third runner-up was Miss San Miguel County Carin Malm; and Fourth runnerup was Miss Otero County Stacey Ware. Fifteen-year-old Nicolette Young of Las Cruces was named Miss New
Eddie Farrell/Ruidoso Free Press
Above, Sarina Turnbull, Miss New Mexico 2011, receives her crown from Miss New Mexico 2010 Madison Tabet. At left, Miss Las Cruces Outstanding Teen Nicolette Young was named Miss New Mexico Outstanding Teen Saturday at the Spencer Theater Mexico Outstanding Teen 2011. Miss Duke City Outstanding Teen Natalie Benson was named First runner-up; Miss Doña Ana County Out-
standing Teen Jacqueline Cai-Mohammed was Second runner-up; Miss Alamogordo Outstanding Teen Sarah Saldano was Third runner-up; and Miss Route 66 Outstanding
Teen Alexa Vavruska was Fourth runner-up. Turnbull, a New Mexico State University student, will receive a total of $32,484 in scholarship opportunities and a number
Transients are seasonal residents of Ruidoso By Eddie Farrell
Eddie Farrell/Ruidoso Free Press
Editor
A person sitting in this chair could easily see the rear rooms of the Travelodge motel. The chair is surrounded by trash and other evidence indicative of a homeless encampment.
Ruidoso’s homeless population may be small, but it’s as predictable as the weather. And, small or not, people who are forced to live in the bushes and groves around the village can be responsible for an inordinate amount of trouble and costs. Officials have yet to positively state it was a transient that is to blame for the June 16 Swallow Fire, which burned nine homes and charred ten acres, but they have determined the fire was started near what is being called a “homeless encampment” in the wooded area
See TRANSIENTS, pg. 6
Proper thinning helped reduce Swallow Fire fuel By Eddie Farrell Editor
Dick Cook, director of the Village of Ruidoso’s Forestry Department, is quick to praise the work of area firefighters in stopping last week’s Swallow Fire. But even with nine homes lost, and 10 acres charred, Cook
said the damage likely would have been much worse if most of the homes in the afflicted Pinecliff addition were not villagecertified to ensure they were properly thinned of trees and adequately maintained to reduce the fuel that fed the fast-moving fire.
See FIRE FUEL, pg. 5 Eddie Farrell/Ruidoso Free Press
This home, located in the Pinecliff addition, is an example of how firewood should be properly distanced from a home.
Charges filed in Carrizozo High School shooting
By Eddie Farrell Editor
CARRIZOZO — A 15-yearold Carrizozo youth faces felony and misdemeanor weapons charges after a rifle he brought onto the campus of Carrizozo High School June 16 accidently discharged, wounding three oth-
er youths. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the teen, Nicolas J. Chavez, had a Winchester .243 bolt-action rifle in the back seat of his 1999 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck while parked at the Carrizozo High School football field at approximately 8:15 p.m.
Index
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . 2 Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Chavez told deputies he reached into the backseat of the truck to place the rifle onto the floorboard and as he did so, the rifle discharged. The bullet, according to the report, went through the passenger’s side door of the truck, apparently fragmenting into shrapnel and hitting three other youths
On the Town. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Police Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15
– all members of the same family. Christopher Marshall Ventura, 17, was reportedly struck by a bullet fragment in the leg and his brother, Garrison B. Ventura, 12, was struck in the stomach. The Ventura brothers are the
See SHOOTING, pg. 8
of other gifts, as well as the opportunity to compete in the 2012 Miss America Pageant. Turnbull also captured
See MISS NM, pg. 16
Village sees lights for ballfield By Todd Fuqua Sports Editor
Since the Ruidoso Osos professional baseball team signed a two-year lease with the Village of Ruidoso to use White Mountain Athletic Complex as its home ballpark, the question has been raised – will there be lights at the field? But the question has been before the public since the field was first built in 1997. That’s according to former Parks and Recreation director – and current village councilor – Rifle Salas. “As far as keeping the Osos here, I’ve heard positive things about what they’re doing, but I haven’t heard many in the community say that much about them,” Salas said. “Whether they stay or not, it doesn’t matter to me that much. The Osos aren’t really the priority here, the high school is.” Salas presented information at the most recent Village Lodgers’ Tax Committee meeting, detailing a line item in the committee’s budget which was meant specifically for lights at the complex. The line item came about as the result of a .75 percent increase to the village’s lodger’s tax, with 12.5 percent of that increase going to the Parks and Recreation Department. Salas – the department director at the time – consulted with the Parks and Rec Commission,
See LIGHTS, pg. 5
Fourth of July celebrations & events, pg. 17
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