Letters to the Editor
Need more on candidates
Editor:
I am appealing to you for your help in explaining the meaning of how a probate judge serves in our community.
I see signs advertising various community members running for this office, whom I do not personally know, or know anything about. That is the problem.
I understand that probate has to do with closing of estates via one’s will. That is an important function and can have vast consequences to the families of the deceased.
I have also heard horror stories of wills being held up for years due to the probate process. That is the second problem.
It would seem appropriate to vote in a probate judge who will serve honestly and quickly, who has intellect and integrity.
I believe that it would be a service to the community for you to run an article about what a probate judge does, what qualifications are necessary, how much is he or she paid and how is he or she paid — from families of the probated will or from the city or county?
And some information please about each of the candidates.
And just when is this forthcoming election and for what else are we voting?
You serve a vital function in our locale. Thanks for digging out and sharing all this information.
Martha S. Hatch
Socorro
Thank you for donations
Editor:
The staff of First Born Socorro, program of Socorro General Hospital’s Healthy Family Initiatives would like to thank the community for their generous donations to our program.
The Socorro Electric Co-op donated electric outlet covers to help keep small fingers out of outlets.
Dr. (Dwayne) Beers’ dentistry office donated infant toothbrushes to help keep tiny teeth clean and healthy.
The Sheriff’s Department has offered free gun locks to prevent tragedies in the families of gun owners.
The state’s Children, Youth & Families Department donated books to help instill a love of reading in our children.
Numerous community members have donated their gently used infant and toddler items to share with our new families.
We and our clients greatly appreciate all of the help and support. If anyone is interested in donating new or gently used items to our first-time parents and their children, contact Liz or Betty at 575-835-8709. Thank you!
Liz Clabaugh
Socorro
Congratulations
to FFA team
Editor:
Congratulations to the Magdalena High School FFA team for excelling in their landscape knowledge and design by winning the state title in landscaping.
Keep up the good team work.
Cynthia Kropp
Socorro
SEC changers and affirmations
Editor:
I was really looking forward to the SEC meeting on April 17. Unfortunately I was unable to attend due to my disability.
I am all for mail-in voting to be allowed, because it would enable many people who cannot attend (meetings) for various reasons to have their voice heard.
I do not believe Charlie Wagner is the only one who represents the membership as Barbara Moore stated, and I respect her opinion.
I applaud the efforts of those who worked for change in a positive manner. My opinion of some of the past antics of some of the people wanting change is fatuous (foolish). At the meeting in 2009, I witnessed a man who was opposed to the way things were being done and left in a huff after he said some expletives to Harold Baca; that was rude and uncalled for!
I think all 11 members of the board are not evil but truly fine, decent citizens and believe they have done their best — but they are human, therefore fallible.
However, for a real fresh start, I believe the entire sitting 11-member board should resign and an election be held for the new five-member board! That way, no new board member will have opportunity to align himself or herself with an old board member. I also believe the members should be allowed to vote on the redistricting and how much power management will have as should any major change.
I would like to take this opportunity to praise the hard work of all employes of SEC, from the people who answer the phone and deal with an irate member to the people who are out in bad weather at all hours.
Jeannette B. Birner
Socorro
SEC needs a reduction
Editor:
I read with interest your coverage of the Socorro Electric Cooperative’s attorney, in which he says he has a ‘big problem’ with open meetings (El Defensor Chieftain, April 28). He needs to remember Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s recent reforms, one of which was to go over to Open Meetings (Act).
There have been no problems associated with this particular reform, and compliance with open meetings laws has allowed PEC co-op member-owners to regain trust in how directors and co-op staff manage business.
It sounds to me as if SEC attorney Dennis Francish is part of the old guard at Socorro, who is still displaying some of the very behaviors that got SEC management into trouble in the first place: secrecy, authoritarian rule and self-serving decisions.
Perhaps as well as reducing board size from 11 to five, member-owners need to consider reducing the size of the legal staff.
Lee Lawrence
Middleburg, Va.
Packages bring lots of smiles
Editor:
Dear Socorro Supporters of the 515th: I would like to thank you for the package you sent.
My name is SSG (Melissa) Kass. I am a weapon specialist for TF 515. My battalion is currently in southern Iraq.
While my mission occasionally calls for me to travel to other areas, the majority of the time I stay here on Bucca and assist the other elements preparing for patrol.
This means my shop is usually the last stop before a convoy leaves the wire. That is how your gift ended up with me.
You see, every day I stop at the chapel and pick up a care package. I put it out at my shop for the troops to plunder thru before they head out. It gives them all a chance to find entertainment, toiletries and most importantly snacks.
Let me assure you, these soldiers can plunder. Well, attack may be more accurate. They remind me of wild birds I feed at home in a way. Everyone stays several feet back watching me with a ready eye as I cut open the box. Then I walk away and a couple of privates will cautiously approach the box. It is as if they are scared to be the first ones, like I may turn around and pounce on them. Once they get their hands in the box, though, everyone else swarms. E1s to E6s start digging and grabbing whatever they can. There is an animalistic madness to it all.
Finally the convoy commander will give the signal that it is time to leave and the area will clear. I always like to go survey the damage when it is over. Random items are left lying broken or forgotten at the bottom of the box. Other elements will come by throughout the day and pick thru the scraps. If there is anything left when it is time for me to call it a night, I will leave the box out. The contractors from Uganda and Nepal are grateful for anything we give them.
I never cease enjoying the smiles on the soldiers’ faces. I wish I could share it all with you somehow. When there is time I will chat for a few minutes with them. It seems to be the custom to show off to each other what was they got. Sometimes the snacks become a meal because their mission overlapped chow hall hours.
I have been told by some your boxes are their favorite part of the day. A few elements will pool toys and hard candy to toss to the local children. A chocolate bar is a precious commodity, however, and is often eaten on the spot by whomever possesses it.
You may not receive many thank yous, it appears to be a dying courtesy, but I wanted you to know that what you do really does mean a lot to these soldiers. I have had many troops who would never receive a piece of mail if it wasn’t for people like you. Could you imagine being away from home for an entire year and not getting one letter? Even with today’s e-mail and phones I just don’t think the old-fashioned care package can be replaced.
What is more (appreciated) is your show of support.
I read an article last week in which today’s troops were criticized as having it too easy. The writer remarked that previous soldiers didn’t have armor. How interesting, I thought. I would have liked to remind the writer that we have to carry that armor.
Also we need armor because the weapons used to kill us are that much more deadly. Gone are the days of firefights and ambushes. No, today we drive around waiting to explode.
We drive up and down the same roads every day because that is what we are told to do. The enemy knows our schedules and routes. They know we drive back and forth like tin ducks at a carnival shoot-out game. They put out hidden bombs that don’t just hurt us, but instead rip our bodies to shreds.
And when our heads stop ringing and we have recovered our wounded and dead from the gnarled “armor” that was supposed to protect us — when we finish picking through the debris of a car bomb that turned a group of civilians lined up to become policemen into a fine spray of flesh and blood on a wall, a single ear on the ground or a lone shoe to be picked up to only find a foot still inside — we see no guerilla army. There is no platoon of enemy combatants to return fire on; there are no anti-aircraft guns to have bombed. There are only millions of individual people who may or may not want to kill you and a very confining set of rules of engagement. Here, hesitating may kill you, but not hesitating may lead to a military prison. Or at least that is how soldiers feel.
I wonder if that writer knows what expecting every day to be blown up can do to a person.
The good news is that Iraq is so much quieter now. I truly hope and pray it will be a successful nation in which its people can have a family and raise them in peace. I think that is what most Iraqis want, the ability to pursue happiness.
So thank you for your gift. Thank you for your support and reminding us we are not forgotten. What you have done for us is priceless. I can never repay you, but I will never forget you.
SSG Melissa Kass
N.M. National Guard