POSTAL PATRON U.S. POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM RUIDOSO, NM 88345 PERMIT NO. 9 PRESORT STANDARD
50 cents
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June 28-30 See Zine for more details
What’s
happening June 28
Racehorse Hall of Fame induction
The best of the best are honored Friday night at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack in the Hall of Fame showcasing the horses, trainers and jockeys of this incredible sport. Dinner and drinks $150; reservations required by Wed. at the racetrack office.
June 28-30
4th Annual Art Expo
A weekend of gallery hopping presenting a variety of artists and arts. Plus music, demonstrations, and entertainment. Maps available at the Chamber of Commerce, participating galleries and the Zine. 1-877-784-3676. Free.
June 29
Family Day at the races
Ruidoso Downs Racetrack’s annual family day with food specials, family activities and the traditional stick horse races. Create a tradition with the excitement of this live sporting event. Post time is 1 p.m. Free admission and free parking.
Chef Robert Irvine
Renowned Chef Irvine demonstrates an array of summer BBQ recipes just in time for July 4th. Enjoy this delicious performance presentation at Inn of the Mountain Gods, 7 p.m. 575-464-7777, www. innofthemountaingods.com. $50.
Mama Hottie & The Sterilizers presents ‘The Jade Bracelet’
The stage is set for an evening of musical entertainment, murder and tongue-in-cheek mayhem. The Jade Bracelet is a one act play written by local, aspiring playwright, Blake Martin. Plus folk rock, bluegrass and beautiful harmonies. Benefit for the Old Dowlin Mill. The Old Mill, 7 p.m. 575-257-1090, www. olddowlinmill.org. $15.
Incendio at the Spencer
A ‘fiery’ group highlighting the Latin guitar which strums romance and power in bold rhythms including a sizzling brew of world fusion music blending flamenco, Celtic, Middle Eastern, jazz, and rock. Spencer Theater, 8 p.m. Fajita buffet, 6 p.m. $20. Performance, 8 p.m. $39 and $36. 575-336-4800, www.spencertheater.com.
June 29-30
Arts & Wellness Festival
Buddha Yoga’s first Arts & Wellness Festival in the historic Adobe Plaza. Browse handmade jewelry, ceramics, as well as bath, beauty and home décor gifts. 200 Mechem Drive, Sat. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 575-802-3013. Free.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2013 • W W W . R U I D O S O F R E E P R E S S . C O M • V OL . 5 , N O. 2 5
A property of
Alamo resident crowned Miss New Mexico 2013 Trail of crowns, next stop – the Miss America Pageant
By Eugene Heathman Editor eugene@ruidosofreepress.com Before a full house at the Spencer Theater Saturday night, Miss Otero County, Alexis Duprey was crowned Miss New Mexico. Following years of hard work and a grueling week of competition, Duprey, in her rhinestone encrusted lace bodice and floor length fuchsia evening gown descended the stairway to the stage following her back to back wins in the swimsuit and talent competition to be presented with a bouquet of roses, sash and crown adorning her as the 2013 Miss New Mexico. “I was feeling pretty good going into the home stretch but there is always that shade of doubt until my name was announced, then total elation took over,” Duprey said. Miss Kentucky Heather Renee French, crowned Miss America 2000 emceed the final event. The 2013 Miss New Mexico contest was hosted at the Spencer Theater in Alto, with 18 young ladies between the ages of 17 and 24 competing for the title of Miss New Mexico in order to further their character, charity efforts and See MISS NEW MEXICO, pg. A3
Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press
Alexis Duprey, Miss Otero County, was crowned Saturday night as Miss New Mexico for 2013. Crowning her on the stage at the Spencer Theater is 2012 Miss New Mexico Candice Bennatt. At left is Miss Outstanding Teen New Mexico Jaden Smith, who was crowned the night before.
Governor assesses Little Bear Fire recovery By Eugene Heathman Editor eugene@ruidosofreepress.com When Governor Susana Martinez was in Ruidoso last year, it was to declare the Little Bear Fire as the most destructive in New Mexico history. During a June 20 visit to Lincoln County, it was to assess the remarkable agency post-fire recovery progress made by state, local and federal agencies. With a focus on the extreme drought conditions and current forest fires burning in the state, Martinez recognizes the necessary recovery efforts to remediate the burned areas, protect watersheds and encourage the return of wildlife and recreational use to burn scarred areas. She has seen firsthand, the need for interagency cooperation in forest fire prevention through healthy forest and watershed management. The tour included South Fork, Bonito Lake, Philadelphia Canyon and Bonita Park, the sites of several home losses due to the fire. After the tour, Governor Martinez has signed an executive order declaring an emergency due to the enhanced flood potential due to vulnerable areas left by recent wildfires as well as those currently burning throughout New Mexico. She received a detailed briefing and discussed continued recovery efforts in Lincoln County, as well as state plans for future recovery efforts.
and the city of Alamogordo. “Wildfires can leave a lasting impact on During the flooding in 2012, the state of communities even after the last flames are extinguished,” Governor Martinez said. “By ap- New Mexico requested and received a grant plying the lessons learned from fires in previous See LITTLE BEAR FIRE, pg. A9 years, we can prepare our communities for what to expect after a wildRuidoso is at Level III Fire Restrictions fire and use best practices to help The village has moved to Level III which includes those areas recover well.” In June requiring all chainsaw users to have a permit prior 2012, the Little Bear Fire destroyed to use, among other restrictions. Permits are free 220 homes, 10 additional structures at the fire station, 541 Sudderth. Permits allow fire and 44,300 acres of land. Heavy personnel to be aware of village activity. flooding after the fire left many For a complete list of restrictions, visit water supplies in the area severely RuidosoFreePress.com or call 575-257-3473. contaminated. Executive Order 2013-022 will make $750,000 available to the New VOR weekly water report Mexico Department of Homeland Tanks: 74 percent full Security and Emergency ManageGrindstone Lake: 52.3 feet or ment to prepare for and to minimize 15 percent full pool the harm of potential flooding events Alto Plant production: 26.3 million gallons in fire burn areas. Grindstone Plant production: In the aftermath of the Little 10.5 million gallons Bear Fire, monsoonal rains that Cherokee Well production: 16.3 million gallons began June 22, 2012 and continued Hollywood Well production: 17.4 million gallons into mid-July caused severe run-off High School Well: .005 million gallons events causing far-reaching damage, Grindstone System: 15 percent of total production including depositing large amounts Cherokee System: 23 percent of total production of debris into Bonito Lake, as well Alto System: 62 percent of total production as causing surface water supply conTotal System volume: 70.59 million gallons tamination for the village of Ruidoso
Bonito Lake on track for a pricey restoration By Eugene Heathman Editor eugene@ruidosofreepress.com Hazardous debris and silt from rain storms immediately following the Little Bear Fire filled Bonito Lake and made the water unfit to drink. Last year, initial assessments predicted the lake; responsible for approximately 15 percent of the City of Alamogordo’s water supply, could be offline for at least a decade. During a June 20 post fire recovery tour by Governor Susana Martinez, Alamogordo Mayor Susie Galea was cautiously optimistic that Bonito Lake could be supplying water to the city again in five to seven years. At first glance, the lake looks low but deceivingly ready for service. Below its surface lurks 40 feet of silt and debris that needs to be removed, and that will be costly. “The Army Corps of Engineers will be conducting core samples in July to determine whether or not the several hundred thousand tons of hazardous silt and debris can be disposed of locally or if it needs to go outside of the county,” Galea said. The estimated cost of disposing the material is $18 million versus $24 million if the material needs to be shipped to See BONITO LAKE, pg. A8
ON CANY R E P UP
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Eugene Heathman/Ruidoso Free Press
City of Alamogordo Mayor Susie Galea consults with Governor Susana Martinez regarding the city’s plan to get Bonito Lake back in operation during the governor’s review of post Little Bear Fire recovery operations June 20.
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