Semi-longshot wins Ruidoso Futurity, pg. 13
POSTAL PATRON U.S. POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM RUIDOSO, NM 88345 PERMIT NO. 9 PRESORT STANDARD
50 cents
For more photos and the latest stories updated daily, visit
www.ruidosofreepress.com
TuesdAY, JuNe 14, 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. 24
A property of
Report: Teens bound, smothered Miranda By Patrick Jason Rodriguez Reporter
Ruidoso Councilor Don Williams dies at 73 By Eddie Farrell Editor
“A man of great integrity,” “totally devoted to the community,” a “quality guy,” and simply “a good man,” was among the many testaments offered at the passing of Ruidoso Village Councilor and former Lincoln County Commissioner Don Williams June 8. Williams reportedly suffered a heart attack while traveling home from a heart procedure in Albuquerque. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Williams was 73 years old. Ruidoso Police Chief Joe Magill said Williams “apparently suffered some type of medical episode” en route home, and his wife, Misty, drove to the Ruidoso Police station, where 911 was called. “He was transported to Lincoln County Medical Center where he passed,” Magill said. Williams was nearing completion of his second term on the village council, but had also served, simultaneously, one term on the Lincoln County Commission before being defeated in the 2010 primary by current Commissioner Mark Doth. “I’m just heartbroken,” said
See WILLIAMS, pg. 4
Two teenage girls accused of murdering their foster mother at her home entered not guilty pleas during their arraignment Friday in Children’s Court in Carrizozo. Judge Karen Parson ordered Alexis Shields of Mescalero and Desiree Linares of Roswell, both 15, to be held at the Chaves County Juvenile Detention Center in Roswell. The girls are facing nine counts each, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, kidnapping, motor vehicle theft, larceny and tampering with evidence. The body of 53-year-old Evelyn Miranda was discovered by Lincoln County sheriff’s deputies inside the bedroom of her residence at 117 Whitecat Rd. in San Patricio early June 8. Shields and Linares were not at the scene when deputies arrived. Also miss-
ing was a gray 2007 Honda Odyssey registered to Miranda. Shields and Linares were arrested at a residence in Carlsbad that same night. Deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, the Eddy County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Marshals contributed in the capture. The Honda Odyssey was recovered June 9 in Roswell by the Roswell Police Department. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Shields placed Miranda in a chokehold while Linares bound the victim’s hands and feet with an electrical cord. Shields then placed a pillow over Miranda’s face and held it down until the victim stopped breathing, according to the affidavit. Shields and Linares had only been in Miranda’s care for a few weeks, said Lincoln County Undersheriff Robert Shepperd. Miranda was a lifelong resident of the
Hondo Valley. She operated a beauty salon in the area. Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Diana Martwick has filed petitions charging Shields and Linares as “serious youthful offenders.” The two girls could be tried as adults. In an unrelated case, one of the girls had recently been charged for battery, according to Shepperd. Miranda had many friends in the Hondo Valley and residents are traumatized by what happened to her, said Shepperd. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call early Wednesday morning due to an unresponsive knock on the front door to Miranda’s house by a neighbor who had heard some noises, said Shepperd. Shortly after, Deputies Pat Montes and Johnny Parker and Sgt. Ken Cramer of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the residence to discover the victim’s body in a bedroom, said Shepperd.
Lodger’s Tax to increase funding for police overtime rience, an outlay of $5,955 to pay for additional staffing and Editor overtime for the Golden Aspen The Ruidoso Police DeMotorcycle Rally planned for partment will receive an addiSeptember. tional reimbursement from the Special events, Magill said, Lodger’s Tax Committee to offclearly benefited the overall set the cost of police overtime Ruidoso economy, and he was fully in support of such activities. “But I’m here to show you the other By Patrick Jason Rodriguez side of the coin,” Magill said. “We’re Reporter looking at protectWith a little less than two years left in his term as mayor of Caring property and life rizozo, Mike Petty announced his resignation Friday morning during a during these events special meeting. as well as the health Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Vega will assume the role as acting mayor and welfare of the until the Board of Trustees appoints a replacement to serve out the repeople.” maining 21 months of Petty’s term. In 2010, Magill Petty was sworn in March 8, 2010. He defeated Manny Hernandez said his department in the 2010 municipal elections, 254-154 votes. paid nearly $4,000 Petty’s decision came as a surprise to Vega. in overtime patrol“(Petty) got up and said that he was mentally and physically tired,” ling Oktoberfest, not said Vega. “He said no more, he said no less.” counting having an An attempt to reach Petty for comment on Friday afternoon was officer struck by a unsuccessful. vehicle during the There will be a town council meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Vega event. says the trustees will most likely choose a successor to Petty at the meetThose costs did ing. not include court ap-
By Eddie Farrell
necessitated by special events. Chief Joe Magill told the panel June 9 that his department had incurred $2,707 in overtime providing essential services during the recent AspenCash Motorcycle Rally and projected, based on past years’ expe-
Carrizozo mayor calls it quits
Chief Joe Magill pearances by officers appearing in relation to charges and citations issued during special events; appearances Magill said are routinely classified as overtime per department policy. “I know these events benefit the village, but for us, it’s a lot of overtime. It’s important for us to take care of our visitors and to keep them safe, but for us, that takes officers.” Chairwoman Cindi Clay-
See OVERTIME, pg. 4
Wrangle away at
Flying J
By Eddie Farrell Editor
For 30 years now, James and Cindy Hobbs have been dishing out ample portions of chuckwagon dinners, traditional cowboy music, homespun humor and a folksy, friendly helping of just plain fun at the Flying J Ranch in Ruidoso. Eddie Farrell/Ruidoso Free Press Proof of success comes every summer as guests, many of whom are multiple repeat visi- The Flying J Wranglers – from left to right, Corinna Ripple, James Hobbs, Cindy Hobbs, Roy Black, tors, and frequently with a new grandchild in Randy Jones and Greg Meeks. tow, are greeted by name by James and a new generation is introduced to the Circle J experience. on Main Street, and is the guy dishing out a steaming Chuckwagon Association of America. It doesn’t take long for a first-time visitor to be- pile of pintos onto a tin plate, and by golly, is a guitar A life-long musician, Hobbs, armed with a business gin questioning if either the eyesight is going bad or player in the band as well. degree, built the Circle J, which has the appearance Hobbs has managed to hire several sets of identical Hobbs calls it a family operation, and indeed, of an old Hollywood western movie set, with working triplets and quadruplets to staff the operation. many of the players have been involved with the sea- gift shops, pony rides, Wild West street performances By the end of the evening, however, one realizes sonal attraction for 10 years or more. and a 600-seat dinner theater that is frequently packed, that the gentleman that helped park cars in the parkHobbs said he started the Flying J in 1982 afing lot is, in fact, one of the bad guys in the shootout ter learning of similar operations that now form the See FLYING J, pg. 12
Index
Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . 2 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Police Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 On the Town. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15
Taste of Spencer summer fundraiser this Saturday, pg. 7
RICHARD LOVERIN is Ruidoso/Lincoln County’s
#1 Top Producing Agent for 2010.
What are you waiting for? Call The Loverin Team today whether you are buying or selling! Statistics obtained from Ruidoso Multiple Listing Service.
(575) 258-5008
REAL ESTATE TEAM SDC, REALTORS®
(575) 257-5111 ext. 117 307 Mechem Dr, Ruidoso, NM
Find Ruidoso’s #1 REAL ESTATE TEAM at: www.ruidosorealestate.com