ENMU-Ruidoso 2011 Summer Schedule of Classes
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www.ruidosofreepress.com TuesdAY, MAY 10, 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. 19
Play ball: Osos set to take the field By Todd Fuqua Sports Editor
Professional baseball becomes a reality today when the Ruidoso Osos – members of the Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs – begin play at White Mountain Athletic Complex. The opening ceremonies get underway at approximately 3 p.m., with the first pitch against the Roswell Invaders to be thrown at 4 p.m. “It’s exciting, but it’s nervewracking too,” said Clyde Woods, a first-year owner of the team, who has spent the last few months laying the groundwork for today’s season opener. “For most people, it’s hard to associate Ruidoso with a professional baseball team when we’re playing on a high school field. But this isn’t semi-pro. This is a 100 percent professional baseball team.” The season is a short one – 71 games for the Osos, including a few exhibition games against the New Mexico College League – which ends in the second week of August. Before the team could even take the field, lots of work had to be done to the park itself, including moving the backstop closer to home plate, installing a sprinkler system on the infield, and putting up fencing around the park. There’s still plenty more to be done, but that’s something for future seasons. Right now, it’s time to play the game.
Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press
Front row, l-r: General Manager Clyde Woods, Patrick Peyno, Joey Raubenheimer, Eddie Browne, Case Rigby, Kip Masuda, Chris Davis, Billy Robbett, Joey Scumaci, Ben Gorang. Middle row, l-r: Alex Fernandez, Chris Welborn, Drew Peterson, Leo Madrid, Manager Kevin Griffin, Sean Proni, Jerome Dunning, Stephanos Stroop, David Holcombe, Chris Juarez. Back row, l-r: Casey Kahsen, Mike DeVito, Alan Gatz, Anthony Phillips, Josue Inijuez, Erick Campos, Mike Jackson, Edgar Correa. “We hope to be able to create the atmosphere of a pro game for the fans,” Woods said. “We’ll have different events and promotions throughout the year, but everyone needs to come to these games. “I know Ruidoso is excited to have a pro team here, but they need to support it as well,” Woods added. “These first two home games will be critical. We’ll see how good we’ve done promoting this.”
Host families still needed
When it comes to small independent leagues like the Pecos League, host families may be the most important factor to its success. Unfortunately for the Ruidoso Osos, there haven’t been many homes that have opened their doors for the players. “People don’t realize how important host families are to these teams,” said Osos manager Kevin Griffin. “Theses guys aren’t here to make a lot of money, they’re here to play for a chance to chase their dream. They’re usually paid just enough to eat and play baseball.”
That doesn’t leave a lot of money for rent, meaning free housing is crucial to keeping a team afloat. The team members have been in Ruidoso the past week for spring training, paying for hotel rooms out of their own pocket – all while not knowing if they were going to make the final cut. Osos general manager Clyde Woods said the predicament faced by his team is unique in the league. “This is the only team that has no homes for these players,” Woods said. “Every other town in the league has
See HOST, pg. 2
Firefighters learn the ropes By Eddie Farrell Editor
A dozen firefighters underwent a basic class on rappelling and rope-based rescues May 3 at the Ruidoso Convention Center. On May 4, however, the classroom turned real world as the students took their lessons outdoors to a watchtower perched on the edge of a cliff near Midtown. It’s all part of basic training offered by the New Mexico Firefighters Training Academy, according to Eldon Offutt, an instructor/coordinator with the academy and a retired firefighter from the White Sands Fire Department. Working while dangling from a rope is critical training for all firefighters, Offutt said, but even more important is for the trainee to feel confident and comfortable with the task so they can move forward with a rescue procedure. Part of the training is to encourage the student to dangle horizontally off the stable platform and to release their hands
from the ropes to prove to themselves that they are securely attached to the harness and ropes. All training is done under the careful eyes and guidance of long-time professional firefighters, such as Offutt and Darryl Stuart, a fire academy instructor but also a Eddie Farrell/Ruidoso Free Press battalion chief with After practicing their basic rappelling skills indoors at the the Roswell Fire DeRuidoso Convention Center, firefighters took their training partment. outdoors by testing their training and courage off the cliff Stuart guided directly below the Lookout Tower. Jayme Vigil, a firefighter from the GalAt another station, firefight- to another firefighter, perhaps an linas Fire Department in Las Vegas, from the ground while Jerry ers learned self-rescue techniques unconscious firefighter who is no Corliss, a lieutenant with the such as hoisting themselves back position to assist him or herself, and goes through the process to Ruidoso Fire Department gave up the rappelling rope. “It’s critically important,” safely transfer the incapacitated instructions from above. Dangling straight out from a Stuart said, “should they find rappeller to the rescuer’s ropes. Training for pick offs reconvention center catwalk, Vigil themselves in a position where was encouraged to spread her no one can assist them up, for ex- quires the rappeller to dangle uparms wide, dangling strictly by ample, if they were doing a cave side down, a real courage tester. “Sometimes working upside rescue.” her safety harness. At a third station, trainees down is actually easier under “It was a little scary … a little creepy at first,” Vigil said af- learned how to do “pick offs,” or certain circumstances,” Offutt ter planting her feet firmly back a rope-to-rope rescue maneuver said. “They have to be comfortwhereby a firefighter hooks up able with the technique.” on solid ground.
Index
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . 2 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Police Reports . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 10 On the Town. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13
A property of
Village goes to Level III Fire Restrictions The village of Ruidoso has moved to Level III fire restrictions, but will allow for continued use of gas grills under limited circumstances. “With the limits on outdoor activity that are the result of the closing of the forest, the restrictions on gas grills have been modified in order of people to have some opportunity to enjoy normal outdoor activities,” the village stated in a press release. Gas grills are allowed in certain situations as listed: located on an open deck or patio; located in an open structure such as a gazebo; located on a paved or gravel area at least 10-feet in diameter; or a permanently installed grill. Other restrictions under Level III are no charcoal briquets or outdoor burning stoves on any public or private property; no outdoor smoking on public or private property; and no campfires. Fireworks are restricted by state law. The Ruidoso Fire Department said that citations for violations of fire restrictions will be issued, with no exceptions and no warnings. Because of the continued high fire risk, residents are asked to immediately turn radios to 102.3 FM if the emergency sirens are heard.
Forest to close May 12
As fire danger increases in southeastern New Mexico, Fire Management Officials with the Lincoln National Forest are making plans to close the forest for public access and use. The LNF closure order, to be signed by Forest Supervisor Robert Trujillo will go into effect, 8 a.m., May 12. “Extremely dry conditions have warranted closure of the Lincoln National Forest,” said Robert Trujillo. “While campfire and smoking restrictions have been effective in terms of minimizing the number of fires, we are at the point that we cannot afford the risk of any human-caused fires. We are not only concerned about the risk to communities and natural resources, we are also concerned about the potential difficulties evacuating recreationists from remote areas should a wildfire start. We will continue to monitor fire danger indices to ensure that our management decisions are reflecting on-the-ground needs to protect our communities” he said. Going into or being upon Lincoln National Forest lands, including campgrounds and day use pic-
See FOREST, pg. 6
Hondo Valley Iris Festival; every day in May. More info, pg. 17
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