Socorro Rewind

June 27, 1974

A PROUD GRANDMOTHER brought her visiting grandson down to the Defensor Chieftain office. Derek Grandjean, age 11, came for a month’s visit in Socorro from San Francisco. He flew into Albuquerque alone-not his first time either. He is the son of Dr. Carter Grandjean of Omaha, Neb. Louie and Lenore Grandjean plan to take Derek to Nebraska for a visit in July.

LEO LUJAN examines a mannequin in a mock death scene during his full week of intensive training as a potential deputy medical investigator. The training seminar was sponsored by the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Deputy medical investigators, who replaced the old coroner system, are being chosen to serve in each of the state’s 12 judicial districts, said Dr. James Weston, chief medical officer investigator for the state.

June 26, 1999

A BOSQUE FIRE which occurred Wednesday night is being blamed on the careless use of fireworks. The fire was located between Escondida Lake and the northern most Socorro riverine park and burned about one acre. The Midway Fire Department responded with 10 volunteer firefighters along with two New Mexico State Police officers and six firefighters from the state Forestry Division. Several bottle rockets were found on the site and punks which were still burning when the firefighters arrived. The fire kept the firefighters occupied for about three hours. No one was caught in the incident.

June 30, 1999

SHE WENT FROM being named the local America’s Junior Miss to becoming the state Junior Miss. Now she is headed for nationals. Fatima De Los Angeles Gutierrez of Socorro will be representing New Mexico this week at the America’s Junior Miss scholarship pageant in Mobile, Ala. Gutierrez will participate in a choreographed dance fitness routine, talent competition and answer questions from a panel of judges to demonstrate her poise and composure and will also be judged on her academic achievement. A recent graduate of Socorro High School, Gutierrez has received several honors such as high honor roll, academic letters among a number of other academic acknowledgments. She has participated in student council, science fair, Junior Science and Humanities symposium, choir, swim team, dance team and track. Her services to the community include participating in National Honor Society community projects, Reach Out and Read for Hospitalized Children program, elementary school tutor, serving as a cardiopulmonary restitution instructor and offering free CPR classes and volunteering at the nursing home. Her career ambition is to become a pediatrician.

June 26, 2014

DEPUTIES FROM THE Socorro Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to Lemitar on a report of a swarm of bees attacking a horse and its foal. The bee attack resulted in the death of a 10-year-old mare named Show Me the Bunny and her 32-day-old foal.

Chief Deputy Ed Sweeney said when he and deputies William Armijo, Manuel Monte and A.B. Baca arrived a little after 1 p.m., the horses’ owner and neighbors had already started a smoky manure fire in the paddock to disperse the swarm.

The horses’ owner said the deputies tried to pull the mare away from the swarm but were unsuccessful. The Mare would not leave the site of her colt. Veterinarian Dave Baker from the Ark of Socorro was called to tend to the mare, but the stings were too severe by that time.