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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25, 2013 • W W W. R U I D O S O F R E E P R E S S . C O M • VOL. 5, NO. 38
What’s
happening September 26
Get Grounded in the Fight Against Alzheimer’s
Sacred Grounds, 2825 Sudderth Drive, 6 - 9 p.m. Food, drink and silent auction. All proceeds go to the Alzheimer’s Association for research, care and support programs. 575-937-0596.
September 27
Appliance/Tire Disposal event
All American Park in Ruidoso Downs and Lawrence Brothers IGA parking lot in Ruidoso, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free drop off recycling for old major appliances and discarded tires, coordinated by Greentree Solid Waste. No heavy equipment, tractor or large semitruck tires will be accepted. 575-378-4697.
Bret Michaels at IMG
Carrizo Canyon Rd., 8 - 10 p.m. Lead singer of Poison which sold 25 million albums and had 15 top 40 hits, including “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” “Talk Dirty to Me,” “Unskinny Bop” and many more. 575464-7777; innofthemountaingods.com.
September 28 Garage Sale
White Mountain Elementary Parking Lot, 203 White Mountain Dr., 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. Help support the school and the community. 575-937-9766.
7th Annual Tour de Ruidoso
Start and finish at the Lodge at Sierra Blanca, start is 8:10 a.m. Fundraising event to benefit a variety of local not-for-profit organizations. Century, 100 K, Nearly Flat 20 miler, and new this year a 42 mile option. www. bicycleruidoso.com/#!__tourde-ruidoso-century-ride for information.
September 29
Sierra Blanca Christian Academy Annual Gospel Sing
Flying J Ranch on Hwy 48 N., 5 - 8 p.m. An annual fundraiser for SBCA. Enjoy light refreshments, old-fashioned gospel songs and an auction for desserts. 575-630-0144; http://sbchristianacademy. org/. Free.
October 1-2
37th Annual Chuckwagons of the West Jamboree Flying J Ranch, Hwy 48 N., Alto. Join the Flying J Wranglers in welcoming Wrangler bands from other Chuckwagon stage-shows – a celebration of western music and heritage by some of the best cowboy bands in the world. Doors open at 4:30; Chuckwagon supper at 6; Music starts at 7. 1-888-458-3595; ww.flyingjranch.com/pages/ jamboree.html. Adult tickets are $40. Children 12 and under are $25.
A property of
Stoddard honored for legacy of service supporting common sense By Eugene Heathman decisions. Editor Stoddard served on eugene@ruidosofreepress. com the Village of Ruidoso’s Former councilor Jim Council since 2006. Stoddard was honored for Prior to his service on the his service to the Village Council, he served seven of Ruidoso by Mayor years as Chair of RuidoAlborn and fellow counso’s Parks & Recreation, cilors during Tuesday’s two years on the Lodger’s village council meeting. Tax Committee, three Though not present years on the Board of Refor the meeting, Stoddard gents of ENMU-Ruidoso received a plaque accomas well as a number of panied with a heaping Blue Ribbon Committees helping of gratitude for his for the Ruidoso schools. legacy of public service to One of Stoddard’s Eugene Heathman/Ruidoso Free Press help realize many of his first action items when Jim Stoddard ambitious initiatives. Stodbecoming councilor first dard’s goals as councilor were to keep water actions was to renew the initiative to construct related issues as a top priority for the Village of a river trail along the Rio Ruidoso. The quality Ruidoso; to develop the best quality of service of life project that will span from Two Rivers for the residents and visitors of Ruidoso while Park, past Eagle Drive. Crews recently com-
pleted the first phase, which includes benches, a paved multiuse path and a Sculpture Park. The second phase of the project to Eagle Drive is in the design stage. During his tenure, Stoddard strongly believed that councilors should adhere to policy decisions. He believed village councilors should not interfere with daily operations while seeking guidance from department managers and the village manager when considering decisions on village business. Stoddard graduated from University of Nebraska, in Kearney, Neb., in 1960 and received his MS in 1975 and Ed. S. in 1982. He served as a teacher and coach for 14 years and a school administrator for 14 years. In 1989, he became the Executive Director of the R.D. & Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation and has been semi-retired since 2009. Stoddard is married to Jean Stoddard and they have lived in Ruidoso since 1991. They have two children and three grandchildren in Texas and Tennessee.
Storms break for rolling thunder By Karen Boehler For the Ruidoso Free Press Monsoon rains that drenched New Mexico – including Ruidoso – the past few weeks didn’t put a damper on the Golden Aspen Rally Wednesday through Sunday. Motorcycle riders could be seen streaming in along U.S. 70 both east and west, N.M. 37 from the north and other roads big and small, heading for the newest headquarters of the annual event: the Inn of the Mountain Gods. The weather – often the biggest worry at the mostly outdoor event – was nearly perfect for the weekend. “We haven’t had the weather,” said organizer Ron Andrews. “It rained all day Monday. It rained about an hour and a half Tuesday afternoon, sprinkled (Thursday), and nothing after that.” In fact, because it rained on Thursday in 2012 and not this year, Andrews said numbers were up about 25 percent Thursday from the year before, and while final figures won’t be known for a few days, overall more than 27,000
registered riders, passengers and others just coming to check out the two-wheeled event was at least equal, if not a bit up, from last year. While most of the events at the rally were unchanged from past years, there was one big difference in the 44th annual event: the location. The spring AspenCash rally moved to the Inn of the Mountain Gods and was deemed a success, and the Golden Aspen Rally was more of the same, just bigger. “The Inn of the Mountain Gods is wonderful,” Andrews said. “The staff here goes out of their way to do whatever we need and fix whatever happens to break. And, of course, the scenery out here is just beyond belief. So it’s working out very very well.” That assessment os agreed with by See MOTORCYCLES, pg. A3
Karen Boehler/Ruidoso Free Press
A rider and passenger enjoyed the beautiful weather along Highway 70 Friday just west of Ruidoso.
Homecoming royalty
Drainage the issue in Downs council By Todd Fuqua Reporter todd@ruidosofreepress.com A routine discussion about municipal improvements open up a sore spot at Monday’s Ruidoso Downs Council meeting. Cleatus Richards, public works director for the city, explained the priorities for the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan which is required to apply for Community Block Development Grant money, pointing to a new fire substation at Dipaolo Hill as the top priority. The next highest project – which would be started in 2014 if funding is granted – would be the first phase of improvements to the water and sewer system in the Agua Fria addition, specifically around Griffith, Parker and La Canada roads. In fact, the Agua Fria addition took up the next three priority slots, with drainage improvement at Joe Welch lane in the Ruidoso Gardens addition – commonly known as “Spaghetti Flats” – was fourth on the list and wouldn’t begin work until 2015. It was that project that brought Wayne Williams to the table for comment during the public hearing. Williams, who lives in the area and has been outspoken on the subject of drainage, took Richards and the council to task for not seeing the problem from his point of view. “I showed the mayor the causes of the prob-
lems the other day, and making new drainage ditches through the property isn’t going to fix it, you have to stop it at the source,” Williams commented. “There’s an intersection there that’s uphill in all four directions. Make the people that have dug into the mountain there fix their drainage problems. I’ve been telling you this for years.” Williams went on to state Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press he was willing to file suit to David Aguirre, left, and Shaye Ventura were named keep the project from happenRuidoso’s Homecoming King and Queen during the ing as proposed by Richards, crowning ceremony at Friday’s game against West Las saying he would be doing so in Vegas at W.D. Horton Stadium. the interest of his neighbors. Richards later responded by four new vehicles for the Ruidoso Downs Police saying the source of the flooding is on National Department, which has a few cars in the shop Forest land, which is outside of the city’s jurisnow and a rapidly aging fleet. diction, thus the plan for ditches to better direct Police Chief Christopher Rupp suggested water from the area. the purchase of four Dodge Charters at about “We have to deal with the water when it $31,000 per vehicle, as they would give the city gets to us,” said Richards as Williams quietly the best value for its purchase. made comments to the contrary. Councilor Dean Holman said he hates to The Council approved the ICIP, with the understanding that the contentious street renova- deviate from a set budget, but understood that these vehicles are needed to allow the protection tion at Joe Welch Lane wouldn’t be tackled immediately. The priority plan is merely a tool with of citizens. The motion to buy four brand new vehicles which the city can show the state what it believes – which should be delivered in about four weeks is the most pressing infrastructure needs. The council also debated on the purchase of – was approved unanimously. ALTO
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