Ride Along in Chaparral and Oro Grande Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, 8/26/2010:

I met up with Sgt. Tarantino at the Chaparral Substation around 9:30 am. After introductions and a tour of the facility, Sgt. Tarantino went about his regular duties with me in tow.

The substation is basically new and well-planned. The holding cells, layout and work areas are far superior to those at the Sheriff's Office in Alamogordo. Chaparral has an Intoxylizer (IR8000) for measuring alcohol levels which was reported to be a major part of the department's work - that and an exploding population of dogs. Tarantino expressed a need for a fulltime Animal Control Officer.

The substation is now almost fully staffed with two and sometimes three officers on duty. It is my understanding that although this particular day was routine, the evenings and nights are when most activity occurs. Otero and Dona Ana work closely together as the community is half in each county. I was able to meet some of the Dona Ana personnel at their office. It was change of shift time so there was more activity at their location.

What was easily observable is that the Otero side has more subtandard housing and smaller lots with more "converted" mobile homes, lower standard of living. This dynamic was solidified when the town was laid out. Otero has small lots, Dona Ana has large lots and acreages and all the schools.

The locals that I saw interacting with the Sheriff's Office were friendly, appreciative and slowed down when they got the finger shake. Some of the roads have speed limit changes that defy logic simply because they are in one county or the other. Don't see why this can't be resolved easily. Also, I would like to note that the street signs in Chaparral are far superior and more numerous than Boles Acres.

The new Otero Health Clinic is not operating yet. The weeds are so high it is impossible to read the phone number on the sign. "Do as I say, not as I do!"

I arrived just in time to attend Oro Grande VFD meeting. Chief Joe Bailey and Gene Crouch removed two batteries from the pumper as I asked questions.

Chief Bailey was the Chief for Alamogordo which has an ISO of 4. He told me that Oro Grande VFD donated $100k to build the Fire Training Center on the Holloman Highway.

Oro Grande has an ISO rating of 9. They have a pumper, a tanker and a brush truck and 10-12 volunteers. They meet once a month. They can only lower their ISO if there was access to more water. They just had their state inspection and came in "in good shape". They have new bunker gear, the protective suits and equipment, which costs about $5K per unit. What Chief Bailey needs is young people to train and learn this skill.

Highlights and lowlights

August 19th Regular County Commission Meeting:
* Commissioners accepted certificate of appreciation from U.S. Census Bureau. Otero County has 68K inhabitants.
* Public hearing to discuss proposed Environmental Department for Otero County. (There will be another public hearing next month on the 16th.) As reported in part by the Daily News:

"...Tommie Herrell, who is running for the District 1 commission seat currently held by Doug Moore, was the first member of the audience to make comment after Kirby's presentation. He said in doing his research with the NMED, he found the revenue and costs to do the permitting, inspecting and enforcing were quite different than those presented during the meeting by Kirby.

Herrell called it "silly" to duplicate services to citizens that the state already provides.

Rardin said Herrell was coming in at the end of a process the county began in January, and that Herrell ran into some of the same problems the county found in the beginning..."

What was not reported in the ADN:

The Alamogordo phone book, under New Mexico government listings, shows the address of the ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT as 1015 Cuba Avenue.

The Otero County Assessor's website shows the owner of 1015 Cuba Avenue to be HERRELL, TOMMIE & JOSETTE TRUST. Can you say conflict of interest?

*Aerowest Helicopters will be hired by the county for approximately $30K to conduct coyote reduction - Pinon. (The coyotes are thick in my area. Two dogs attacked in the past week. How about where you live?)

Outside the Commission Chambers: I have visited with three rural volunteer fire departments; Burro Flats, Oro Vista and Bent. Each is unique but what they have in common is dedicated people that provide an very valuable service.

Did you know the ISO (Insurance Services Organization) rating of the department serving you affects the fire insurance rates you pay? I didn't. The lower the ISO (Class 1 to 10), the lower the rates. In the whole U.S. with a total of 44,000 departments, 62 are Class 1 and 60% are Class 9.

Burro Flats (18 +/- members) Class 9
Bent (16 +/- members) Class 9
Oro Vista (20 +/- members) Class 5

Complete ADN report at http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_15846442

Public Safety Access Point otherwise known as PSAP meeting today at 1:00 pm in the Otero County Commission chambers. Those in attendance were Commissioners Moore and Rardin, Manager Ray Backstrom, T.Makewich of Dispatch, Mike Mullikin, Otero IT, Undersheriff Sanchez, Doug Bourbon of Maintenence, Sharon Hill - Otero Commission Liaison, representatives of ASA Architects, representative of RBM - HVAC, candidates Benny House, L.C.Marshall and Janet White. The Purchasing Department was also represented. Representatives of Motorola participated via speaker phone.

Bid Lot 1: Demolition of existing interior is proceeding by employees of Otero County.

Bid Lot 2: 2057 sq.ft.rennovation of existing building for use by Dispatch (50'4" X 30'4 9/16". According to ASA, this bid will be published August 25 and again August 29, 2010. It will be due on the 13th of September and awarded by Commission vote at Regular Meeting on September 16, 2010. Watch the ADN for these bids if you are interested.

Bid Lot 3: Construction of 1641 sq.ft.garage to house SWAT vehicle and other county vehicles. Time frame not discussed.

Motorola in Mesa, Az, was not prepared to address the concerns of the commissioners but after lengthly (2 hours) discussion, the project appears to be on track.

Prior to this meeting was the RPOC meeting at Pepper's where Tommie Herrell (R), candidate for County Commission, District 1, was the speaker. It is fair to say this meeting was lightly attended. Mr. Herrell offered to buy lunch for the person who could answer a question at the end of his presentation. I was "disqualified" from participating because Mr. Herrell knew that I knew the answer. The question was, what is the county's budget? The answer is, roughly $35 Million.

I took a few notes at the RPOC meeting. I will tell you right now, with all due respect, Mr. Herrell and I are miles and miles apart in basic philosophy. L.C. Marshall (D), candidate for Otero County Commission, District 1, and I are light years away in our ideas.

Folks, this choice is going to be very easy because the candidates are being very open about what they believe. I hope and pray it remains this way throughout the campaign so that you know exactly what you are getting.

Saturday, August 14, Sandy and I attended the Restore the Constitution Rally, open carry, 8 1/2 miles north of Capitan. Alamogordo was well represented by its doers. Thanks to Dave for his photos of the event: https://cid-ac0c59d7f31cf82c.photos.live.com/play.aspx/Album%20of%20Capitan%20Rally?Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos

The speaker before me was J.D. "Will" Wilmeth, Independent and Constitutionalist candidate for Lea County Sheriff. I agreed with every single word Will said.

My address was not a campaign speech. There was no need for me to do that because Bob Wright's introduction was more than enthusiastic and communicated my character and commitment.

I addressed the need to remember who we are and the sacrifices made by those before us and our duty to pick up the torch and go forward. The attacks on our principles of freedom and responsibility are nothing new in the history of man. My quotes were "In Flander's Fields" http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm and the last few sentences of the Gettysburg Address "...-- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. "

The ADN has this to say, in part, about the rally:


Armed rally held near Capitan Alamogordo Daily News
By Marty Racine, For the Daily News
Posted: 08/15/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT


CAPITAN It wasn't the largest armed rally in U.S. history, as organizers had hoped, but an estimated 350 people attended the"Restore the Constitution Western Rally," held Saturday near Capitan.

The event, held on private land owned by Billy Weddige eight miles north of Capitan on Highway 246, coincided with an Eastern rally staged in Greensboro, N.C. It was broadcast live on at least 12 radio stations, with a feed by Ruidoso's KEDU-FM.

Supporters of various political candidates set up booths and passed out pamphlets while prominent members of both major political parties were in attendance. A Nogal-based band, the Longhorn Dance Band, entertained the crowd with county music.

At least half the attendees carried weapons, from M-16 rifles to pistols as an affirmation of the Second Amendment that gives citizens the right to keep and bear arms. But the rally reached beyond the Second Amendment in support of states' rights, enforcement of immigration laws, the Bill of Rights and other articles and amendments of the Constitution....



Be sure to take a look at the calendar on the right for upcoming events on my calendar. Onward and upward.

RESTORE THE CONSTITUTION WESTERN RALLY 2010
CAPITAN, NEW MEXICO
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14

http://rtcwesternrally.org/Home_Page.php

Old news that wasn't archived earlier. JW

EDITORIAL: 'Good old boy' network runs strong in Otero County
Thursday, July 01, 2010 4:06 PM

(Source: Alamogordo Daily News)By Alamogordo Daily News, N.M.
July 01--Congratulations on the editorial "Building deal involves shades of gray" in Sunday's Daily News. I think it will get many people to appreciate perception and its effects in a new light.

You asked, "Why didn't commission chairman Doug Moore speak out sooner?" I don't believe he would have spoken out at all without the dogged persistence of Janet White. White is an extremely knowledgeable woman in county affairs. She never misses a thing and we, in Otero County, should be proud and glad to have her vigilance and dedication working for us.

I hope the people of District 1 will give her favorable consideration in November.

Moore made some bad decisions, but it probably won't cause him any real harm since his tenure is about up on the county commission. People seem to forget about these things quickly, and with the apparent "good old boy" network at play in Otero County, Moore will rise again to run for some office or another.

My mother, who is 89, says she still thanks God regularly that none of her five children are politicians. I share her opinion.

Frank Gebbia Jr., Alamogordo


http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/4270657