The Taos News du lieu suivant : Taos, New Mexico • Page 4

Al THE fJBWS My 16,1881 a vory contra Action due Town of Taos Police have begun a long-overdue crackdown on "liquor, loitering, Uttering" violators. The arrests began this weekend, and police and town officials vow they will continue. It seems to have become local sport to sit in a shopping center parking lot, full or deserted, drink beer from a bottle and then smash the bottle on the pavement. These beer bottle babies cost consumers in terms of tire damage to their vehicles and merchants by setting up obstacle courses to get to their businesses. The breakage is so bad at Rancho Park Mall's parking lot, for example, that movie or roller rink patrons sometimes have to tiptoe their way through the broken glass to get into the building.

Such behavior, including vandalism, already has closed two forest campgrounds up Taos Canyon. Those areas are supposed to be patrolled by the Taos County Sheriff's Office, which should begin the same kind of agressive campaign against youths congregating more for destruction than for fun. The three town liquor in public, loitering and petty misdemeanors under Town of Taos statutes, punishable by up to six months in the Taos County Jail or $300 fines. Now that the town police are making ah extra tough effort to do the job, the Municipal Court should get extra tough at its job. Anybody who can afford to sit around a shopping center parking lot drinking six-pack after six-pack will not feel the pinch unless he is fined the a crack.

Maybe that will make better citizens out of the beer bottle babies. Judge's example poor District Judge Philip Baiamonte of Albuquerque taught our most unvaluable lesson last week when he slapped former UNM coach Norm Ellenberger on the wrist and let him go. A jury had convicted Ellenberger of 21 of 22 counts of fraud and filing false travel vouchers, yet the judge called the coach a victim of circumstances and awarded him a deferred sentence. Norm Ellenberger, convicted criminal, will never spend a day in jail. Such, too often, is the case with white collar crime.

If an 18-year-old Taos High School athlete stole a blocking dummy from the playing field, he would face an 18-month sentence for committing a fourth degree felony. If he stole a second item valued at over $100 (the fourth degree felony cutoff), we have little doubt that a Taos judge would send him to jail. But what Judge Baiamonte has taught is that the guy at the coach whom some of us want our youngsters to get away with it. The judge said in his non-sentencing speech that he was being asked to treat Ellenberger like mon criminal "because he got caught, not because his conduct was unacceptable." Ellenberger was convicted of 21 criminal counts; he was caught; he was found guilty; and to those who care about the dignity of sports, his conduct was unacceptable. All sports, including that on the playing fields of Taos County, suffer by the lowered expectations of Judge Baiamonte.

mu turn Groups suffer tunnel vision By PHIL BATEMAN As my great aunt Ciarabelle, of Stumphole Gap, Iowa would say, "Things are gettin' outahand." I've been a semi-serious student of human history for a good many years (if you study human history how can you be anything but semi-serious?) and have managed, until now, to avoid too many absolute, can't-see- it any-other-way conclusions. That's what we were supposed to do. During my years of getting serious enough about history to get a degree in the subject, my professors said it was a rule that we don't make Judgments. But, I just turned over another birthday last month and I think I'm old enough to break a rule or two-Including the one drilled Into we fuzzy-cheeked, fledgling apostles about judgments. may be wrong, but I recall those same professors observing, "The world has always belonged to those who are willing to take risks." Sounds kind of like a judgment to me.

BVBN NOW, thinking about that magisterial bit of logic and those who espoused It, I get the feeling those same guys would watch a sfcydiver plunge Into Mt. St. Helens while they sat on the edge sipping an "unpretentious, but full-bodied cognac" muttering, "I say, not a bad dive, but he could have opened the chute a second later and still made the landing on the caldera with plenty of room to spare." Now, if the guy had missed the caldera (a high growth of rock formed within a volcanoe's crater as it erupts), he would have landed in very hot, moist rock. The professor on the edge would be just fine-he could finish his cognac, walk down the mountain and bundle up In his garret to write a thesis on "Bravery, Food for the Masses." And the skydlver would be human fudge. Which, strange as It may seems, brings me to the rule I'm going to break about making judgments.

"Special interest groups" aren't anything new. It just seems like there are more of them in America than anywhere (or at any time In history), and that's probably because you can pretty much get away with being a "special interest" in our admittedly ragged, but still basically "free" society. We're usually tolerant enough not to Women protest deputy 'spring A copy of the following toiler, tddresnd to Sheriff Arthur Trujllto, WM sent to The Taos News for publication. We were very softy to hear that you dlsmliied aeraldlne Parsons, your only woman deputy, During tiie past two years she has been tremely helpful to both rape victims and battered women aa well as to all of the people of Taos County. Very oftert women and children who are Urns of violence have difficulty in talking to male police officers, We were pleased that a woman deputy was available to work with our groups, Deputy Parsons has always been an honest, loyal and dedicated police officer, We are dismayed that Taos County is losing such a professional person, and we are requesting that you reconsider your decision, BATTERED WOMIN'9 PRO JECT COMMUNITY AGAINST RAPE Taos Honesty paid once, will it again? Editor: Sure, 1 think honesty does pay.

You see, about a year ago on my way home from work, I noticed a big, thin box on the aide of the highway. I turned back to check it out. It was a brand new baby crib. When 1 got home 1 decided to call the radio station and report it. Just two days later a very happy mother called me.

I knew the people. She said her husband had lost the crib on his way home. When they came to pick It up, It made me feel so good, because they were so happy and thankful. The reason I am writing about this Is that on June 6 I lost my wrist watch. I think Inside And It was a very special gift to me from my kids.

You see, they spent their very last pennies to buy it for me for Mother's Day. I Just hope that if somebody finds it that they will return it to me. Because no matter how big or how small something is, it might just have a very special meaning to that person who lost it. MARIA VIGIL Arroyo Hondo Ho can you get to the ft re A copy of the following letter, addressed to district 5 way engineer Levi TruJUlo, was sent to The Taos News tor publication. Your actions in planning the present two projects started In Taos to coincide with each other (June 10 and 11 so far) is the poorest piece of planning we have ever had the privilege to witness.

Traffic in Taos under normal conditions is so bad we have real problems getting emergency equipment to fire and accident scenes, but when we have two major streets closed at the same time (without any prior notice whatsoever) the traffic pattern is such that if we have a fire in or near the Plaza it will burn to the ground before we ever get there. JAMES M. BRANDENBURG, Chief Taos Volunteer Fire Department Push for tailings clean -up Editor: I have been reading carefully the Federal Draft EIS for Remedial Action for Inactive Uranium Processing Sites (available at the Harwood) which calls for the clean-up of 25 Inactive sites around the nation. Two of these are in New Mexico, one at Shiprock and the other at Ambrosia Lake. The March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation recently he Taos News (USPS 618-840) Succesor 4e El Crepuseulo, en par el padre Antonio Jase Keith Oreeoj Genorai H'jlf i FiUtffJ i Htumf Barbara fegakfceeptof and circulftUon; Hawey cowpaiApg every TJwaday- Second postage paid at Une Office Taat.

MM- lots-, -M murder each other in large numbers due to philosophical disagreements. There sure are a lot of them, "Big Business;" "Oil;" 1 Environmentalists;" 'Teamsters; 1 "Mothers for No More Babies;" "Nader's Raiders;" "NAACP;" "La Raza" spring to mind, for example, and the list grows almost daily. I guess it's okay, this profusion of special interests, though the motives of many of them are undoubtedly open to question, but I'm a bit disturbed about the "Moral Majority" and their latest bit of tomfoolery In the matter of President Reagan's appointment of Arizona's Sandra D. O'Connor to justice of the Supreme Court. A "SPOKESMAN" came on television and pronounced that they were "disturbed" by O'Connor's voting record In the Arizona legislature (years before while serving as a state senator before she became a Court of Appeals Judge) on abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment- He then went on to proclaim that his group "might" change its mind about her if she would "sit down and discuss" with certain members (presumably Including founder Jerry Falwell) how she now feels about those matters.

Well now, "Mr- Spokesman," the good lady doesn't have to do any such thing- You see, our Constitution allows for a Supreme Court Justice appointee to be confirmed by the senate, its members elected by the people, and not "approved" by some historically one-minded organization with a particular aye to grind that equates anyone who hasn't "found Jems" with hell-fire an4 Communism- 80, since many of tbe Moral Majority's members are ao fond ol others, I'm a "Here come 4a' myself- Here's ray sentence: ooi, Lest you be ludfed. (or wufi wbat -Judgement you Judge, you itoM be aiata-" Seniors keep fires burning A copy of the following letter, addressed to the New Mexico Senior Coalition, was sent to The Taos News (or publication. Your letter just came in today. I hope it will get to you on time. I have been looking to the material you did send and since I never have attended any of the Senior Coalition meetings it will be hard for me to suggest any ideas.

But, I may say this, that I'll go along with folks 100 percent in whatever program you prepare. I like the idea of the that will be held in Glorietta in the month of 'September I will try to be there so I can learn more about our Senior Citizen's problems, there are so many. Now in regard to the material that was sent by Ms. Barbara Boiling. I spoke to our two people that represent us from Taos County in Santa Fe, or I may say, in the Legislation, in Santa Fe.

And to my Judgement they seem to have other problems that they would like to solve first. I may have been a poor judge on how they feel about our Senior Citizen's problems. Nevertheless we will not stay here. Let us keep the fires burning until we get what we want. I hope that I have answered or met your requests.

ELACIO L. JARAMILLO Taos NOTE: We have been saddened by news of the death of Elacio Jaramillo of Taos. He was District II treasurer. He will be a loss that will be felt by many. In March he wrote such a responsive letter that a copy is attached to these minutes as a Memorial to him with attention drawn to his wish: "We will not stop here.

Let us keep the fires burning." LOLO VIGIL Vice president N.M. Senior Coalition granted $25,000 to the Navajo Tribe to study the effects of exposure to radioactive ore and waste around Shiprock. A preliminary survey shows twice the number of miscarriages, still births, infant deaths, congenital or genetic malformations and childhood cancers. Tailings piles not only give off gamma radiation, they also emit dangerous radon gas and decay products which can be carried by the wind for hundreds of miles and cause lung cancer when inhaled. The clean-up of the tailings at Shiprock will be paid for by the Federal Government because it is on Indian land.

At Ambrosia Lake the government will pay 90 percent and the state 10 percent. How can this be detrimental to the uranium industry? Why is Sen. Pete Domenici about to introduce into Congress a bill which would delay the tailings clean-up for another year? If the federal government steps in and tells the state what to do, in this case it will be because our politicians are protecting big business, not their constituency. If you would like to see these tailings cleaned up now, write a letter today to: Sen. Pete Domenici, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.20510.

PHAEDRA GREENWOOD Arroyo Hondo Crippled children depend on volunteers Editor: Crippled Children's Services is a program administered by the Health Services Division of the Health and Environment Department. It is a program designed to assist families who need help In meeting the needs of their handicapped children. The services provided include Information and referral, family counseling, coordination of services for multiple handicapped Individuals an4 the purchase of medical care for elglble famlUes. In June, Taos CCS provides an Orthopedic clinic for children throughout the state of New Mexico where children with Orthopedic problems can be followed up for medical care. This year's June clinic was held June is.

in preparation (or this clinic, i as the CCS social worker (or Taos and Colfax counties, solicit volunteer nurses and other helpers to help with the organization and coordination of services on that particular day- I also solicit donations in the way ol cash and-or (ood to (eed our volunteer workers, our thopedists and our pediatricians, who on that day, because of the amount ol children they see, do not nave time to go elsewhere to eat. Those orthopedists, pediatrielanii along with Carrie Ttagley Hoapttai staff travel from tttfougbeut toe state to aaalst us wife our Taos and energies to make this years clinic a big success. These people all deserve recognition for a job well done. I would like to thank Mrs, Dora Atkins for the use of the Health Field Office facilities and her personal help in setting up prior to our clinic. Congratulations go out to Priscllla Cruz, Lydia Atencio, Chris Brennan and Bonnie Vigil, all who are Health Field Office employees.

A big applause goes out to Alice Martinez, our Taos School nurse, who (or several years has donated her time to our CCS clinics. Some of our outstanding businesses within the community who took interest in this year's project are Kentucky Fried Chicken, Safeway, Michael's Kitchen and Creamland Inc. The United Methodist Church in El Prado helped with a bag full of groceries. Thanks to Pastor David Warden. These businesses provided (ood for our staff on that day.

The community of Taos Is fortunate to have such outstanding people, who take interest In our communities' health needs (or children. would like to express our gratitude on behalf of Cripple Children devices to all these people (or Joining us in our endeavors in making our 1881 CCS clinic a success. GQNCHJTA M. MONTANO Santa Fe Ignorance resides everywhere Editor: In regards to Lorri F. Euler's letter, I'm sure I have as much, if not more, admiration and respect for your fine city as Ms.

Euier does. I visit here often and I lived very near here (or five years as a child. Rut my home state is Texas, one of the 60 states that I love (they are all Ms Euler speaks of "pride of origin." I'm afraid "pride of origin" has nothing to do with states. The Texan tourist stereotype. Uke all stereotypes, is easy to single out His enaraeteristtes are known to aU-loud, boisterous, uncultured, etc.

Rut what about the tlwuismniilfl of Texan tourists who come quietly to Taos? Toe ones who buy the art, stay at your hotels, eat at your restaurants and so on- I would probably tntok that tourism is one of the major ioTaos- What would this industry be Uke without At ibis HUM, I wouM tike to ififtpji) from ttnti £onv wte tbtir My point is, ignorant resides in people everywhere, it Is ot Untiltfd to states JOHN San Cristobal.