Alamodoso Magazine April 2023 Ruidoso Version

PhotocourtesyofRomeros

Sombreros-Seeadpage154

TheMarthaCraftsQuilt

Theoldestknown QuiltinAmerica

MarthaCraftswas veryparticular,and mostespeciallyinher needlework. Thesecond childofeightborntoDr.John StaplesCrafts,Marthagrewupin awell-to-dohouseholdsupported byaneducatedfamilythatcould traceitsrootsbacktoYorkshire, England.Onabeautifulspring morning,youngMarthapickedup apieceofbrightsalmon-colored clothandbegantoproduce needleworkthatwouldlastover twocenturies.

Martha’sfamilysettledin NorthBridgewaterinwhatisnow Brockton.BorninJuly1760,the Craftswerewellrespectedinthe smallcommunity.

Martha’sfatherhadbeen destinedtobeaministerafter receivinganinheritanceof£400in orderthathe“bebroughtupto learning,andfittedfortheministry

ofthegospel.”JohnCrafts, however,foundhewasmore suitedformedicine,andassuch heprosperedinthesmallrural community.Itislikelythat Martha’smother,Elizabeth,taught herthehandiworkweseetoday.

Runningherfingersoverthe tinystitches,Marthacreated feathers,scallopsandleafdesigns. Attenstitchesperinch,thework isextremelydelicateandprecise.

Thewoolrunsthroughher handsasshepullsthestichesup throughthechintz-likefabric. Measuringalmostsevenbyeight feetsquare,thefabriciscutfrom fourpanelsofwholecloth—an extremelyexpensiveprojectinthe 18thcentury.

Aplainbackingoffsetsthe pinkinamutedgoldenhue,and whatMarthaiscreatingisapiece ofAmericanhistorythatwillbe adoredforhundredsofyears.

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Today,theworkthatwas completedbyMarthaCrafts (sometimebetween1761and 1787)isasuperbwoolquilt withprovenancetosuggestthatit isAmerica’soldestsurviving wholeclothquilt.Andwhen hundredsofmodern-dayquilters gazeduponthisworkofart,the membersoftheCantonHistorical Societywereallsmiles.Local historianPatriciaJohnson describedthequiltasbeingmade “beforetheUnitedStateswere theUnitedStates.”Andwhat amazesJohnsonthemostisthe richsymbolismandhistorythat accompaniesthiscommon householdobject.

Perhapsyouhaveaquiltthat hasbeenhandeddowna generationortwo.Manyfamilies boastaprizedandtimeworn blanketthatisdrawnuponthe coldestofNewEnglandwinters.

Inmostcases,whenwethinkof quiltswethinkofpatchwork piecesofclothbroughttogetherin amazingpatterns,withthepatches tellingstoriesofoldsuitsand shirtsorperhapsginghamdresses. Rarelyseen,however,arewhole clothquilts.Traditionally,these quiltsweremadebymoreaffluent womenwhohadmeansto purchasewideboltsoffabric, whichwouldmakeuptheentirety ofthequilt.Thebeautyisinthe stitchingthatcreatesanelaborate design.

Thehistoryofthisquiltiswell recorded,andassuchweknowit wasmadepriortoMarthaCrafts’ marriagein1786toCanton’sthird minister,theHarvard-trained ZachariahHoward.BorninNorth Bridgewaterin1758,Howard wouldhaveknowntheCraftsand likelyattendedchurchalongside DoctorCrafts.Howardenlistedas asoldierduringtheRevolutionary War,anduponhisreturnfromthe ArmyheenteredHarvardCollege. Graduatingin1784,withintwo yearstheyoungpreacherwas invitedtobecomethepastorof

theFirstParishChurchin Stoughton—inpresent-day Canton.

Asmallcardthattracesthe historyofthequiltmentionsthat thequiltwasmade“priortothe Howardmarriagein1787.”

Howardwasnamedpastoron October25,1786,andwithinfive months,withhisfuturesecure,he marriedMarthaCraftsand

AlamogordoMainStreet andAlamogordoCenterof CommerceBringtheHeatto DowntownAlamogordowith MonthlyBlockParties!

AlamogordoMainStreet andAlamogordoCenterof CommercearethrilledtoAnnounceapartnershipthatwill bringaseriesofmonthlyblock partiestothe900blockofNew YorkAvenueinDowntown Alamogordo.

Theblockpartieswilltake placeeveryfirstFridayofthe monthfromMaythrough Septemberandwillbeapartof thepopularDowntownNites eventseries.

"We'reexcitedtopartner withAlamogordoCenterof Commercetobringthis excitingeventtotheresidents ofAlamogordoandHolloman AirforceBase,"saidNolan Ojeda,ExecutiveDirector."

Theblockpartiesarea fantasticopportunityforthe communitytocometogether, socialize,andsupportthelocal businessesofNewYork Avenuebeforeconstruction begins."

Atrioofcelebritydisc jockeys,DJMajik,DJFletch

andvariouslocaltalented Deejayswillsetthetonefora Class-Asoulbluesparty.

Theeventwillrunfrom5pm -10pm,givingattendeesplenty oftimetoshopandenjoythe music,food,anddrinks.

"Wehopethattheseblock partieswilldrivetraffictothe businessesinthe800and900 blocksofNewYorkAvenue, particularlyinlightofthe upcomingMainStreetMakeover constructionproject,"said AlamogordoCenterofCommerceboardmember,Ed McDonald.

"Theconstructionproject willhaveasignificantimpacton thebusinessesinthearea,soit's importantthatwemakethemost ofthetimewehavebeforethe constructionbegins."

Theblockpartieswillalso beagreatopportunityfor residentsofAlamogordoand HollomanAirForceBaseto cometogetherandenjoyeach other'scompanyinafunand relaxedsetting.

“Webelievethattheseblock partieswillhelpbringthetwo communitiestogetherinaway thathasn'tbeendonebefore," saidAlamogordoMainStreet PresidentClaudiaLoya.

AlamogordoMainStreetand AlamogordoCenterof Commercearecommittedto makingtheseblockpartiesa hugesuccessandlookforward toseeingyouthere!

Formoreinformation,please contactAlamogordoMainStreet at575-295-8804,oremailto: Director@alamogordomainstreet.org.

Manyyearsago,whenI wasinmyprime,andenjoying asuccessfulcareerinthefood servicebusiness,mymother cametovisitme.

Onedaywewentexploring inaniceresorttown.The varietyofshopswasamazing, aswastheirinventory.

Ineachshopwevisited therewasalwayssomething thatwouldcatchoureye.

Motherwantedtobuythis pieceofjewelryorthattrinket forme.

Havingmyownmoney,it feltoddforherspendher moneyonme.Eachtime,I declinedtheofferforherto buymeanecklace,aposter,a refrigeratormagnet.

TheninthelastshopIsaw thedisappointmentonherface whenIsaid,"NoMa,Idon't needforyoutobuyme anything."

Myheartjustaboutbroke seeingthesadnessinhereyes.

ALAMOGORDO TheBeginning

Alamogordohadan unusualbeginning.Itwasa “plannedcommunity”before anyonehadcoinedtheterm.

Alamogordowasarailroad town;thebrainstormofaNew YorkentrepreneurCharles Eddy,alongwithhisbrother, JohnEddyandhisattorney, WilliamHawkins.

Bishopbecamethecompany presidentandJohnArthurwas thegeneralmanager.Thiswould betheusualarrangementfor mostoftheirfuturebusiness enterprises.CharlesBishopwas thedreamerandpromoter,while JohnArthurwastheday-to-dayoperationsperson.

TheEddybrothersnext movewastoacquirethePecos ValleyRanchinsoutheastern NewMexico,alongthePecos River.CharlesBishopspoke withformersheriffPatGarrett, whohadformulatedanirrigation planforthelandalongthe Pecos,fromtheTexasstateline toRoswell,byuseofaseriesof damsandcanals.Garrettfound

theeasternportionofLincoln Countyin1889.Thenorthern areabecameChavesCounty andthesouthernportionwas namedEddyCounty,withthe newtownofEddyasthe countyseat.

Alsoin1889,theEddy brothersrealizedtheneedfora goodattorneytorepresent them,andwerefortunate enoughtofindayounglawyer fromSilverCitynamed WilliamAshtonHawkins.This wasthebeginningofthe foundationthatmanyfuture Eddyactivitieswerebuiltupon –CharlesEddyasthedreamer, promoter,andmoneyraiser, JohnEddyasthepractical

CharlesBishopEddywas borninMilford,NewYork,in 1857.Hisfatherwasa successfulmerchantthere,and hadbecomequitewealthy.

CharlesBishopandhisbrother, JohnArthur,whowasfour yearsolder,decidedtotrytheir successinthewestand,with thehelpofanuncle,founded theEddy-BissellCattle CompanyinsouthernColorado intheearly1880Õs.Charles

CharlesBishopEddy,whocould visualizesuchaproject involvingtheEddylandalong thePecos,tobeaveryinterested party,andtheyproceededwith planstomaketheschemea reality.

ThePecosIrrigationand ImprovementCompanywas organizedwiththeusual arrangementofCharlesBishop EddyaspresidentandJohn ArthurEddyasgeneralmanager. Garrettbecameaminority stockholder.Aportionofthe PecosValleyRanchwasset asidefordevelopmentintoanew town,whichwouldbenamed Eddy.Theterritoriallegislature formedtwonewcountiesfrom

operationsmanager,and WilliamHawkinsasthelegal expertwhoshowedthemthe properwaytoaccomplishthe dreams.

CharlesBishopEddyhad convincedawealthymining manfromColorado,named JamesJohnHagerman,to investheavilyinthePecos irrigationprojectandalsohis plantoorganizearailroadline fromPecos,TexastoEddy, whichwouldlaterbeextended ontoRoswell.Despite vigorousefforts,theproject continuedtobeunsuccessful financially,andrequiredmore

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AlamogordoTrainStation (PresentlysiteofWalgreens)

andmorecapitalinorderto staysolvent.Becauseofthis, seriousconflictsarosebetween HagermanandCharlesEddy. Thetwowerebothstrong willed,andconstantlybattled overthedecisionsthathadto bemade.ByJuly1898,the PecosIrrigationand ImprovementCompanyhad beendeclaredinsolvent,and wentintoreceivershipatthat time.

CharlesBishopEddyand hisbrotherhadearlierdecided itwasintheirbestinterestto pursueotherprojects,pullout oftheirrigationsituation,and leaveitinthehandsof Hagermantoovercome.This actionleftabadtasteinthe mouthsofmanypeoplein Eddy,sinceCharlesBishophad beenthepresidentoftheEddy Bankandpresidentofthe newlyformedrailroad,in additiontohispositiononthe irrigationproject.Anelection washeld,andthenameofthe townwasofficiallychanged fromEddytoCarlsbad,its presentname.

CharlesBishopEddyhad heardofanotherpossible railroadventure.In1889,a railroadlinehadbeenstarted northwardoutofElPaso, Texas,butthecompanyhad becomeinsolvent.Followinga thoroughinvestigation,Charles BishopEddywasconvinced thatsuchalinecouldbehighly successful,withcoalandother minerals,timber,produceand cattleintheregionwaitingfor amarketinElPaso.Healso visualizedatie-inatthe northernendofthelinetothe RockIslandRailroad, providingashorterroutefrom ChicagotoElPaso.

Withhisusualflair,Charles

BishopEddywasableto convinceinvestorsfromthe Easttobacksuchanoperation financially.OnOctober28th, 1897,theElPasoand NortheasternRailroad Companywasincorporated withCharlesBishopEddyas president,JohnArthurEddyas secretaryandgeneralmanager ofconstruction,andWilliam AshtonHawkinsascounsel. OnApril13th,1898,the railroadboughttheAlamo Ranchanditswaterrightsfrom OliverLeefor$5,000,and soonsurveyorsbeganlaying outtheproposedtownof Alamogordo.Lotswere alreadybeingsoldinthenew townastherailroadreached Alamogordoat10am,June 15th,1898,withplansto continuenorthward.

Eddysetouttobuilda railroad,andthecommunities alongtheright-of-wayto supportandsustaintherailroad -Alamogordoemergedasthe largestofthesecommunities.

Eddywhohadsubstantial fundsfromEastCoastfamily investments,alongwithhis owninvestmentsin SoutheasternNewMexico intendedtobuildarailroad fromElPaso,Texastothecoal fieldsaroundDawson,New Mexico,andthenontolarger railconnectionsatLasVegas, NewMexico.

Hisrailroad,theElPaso andNortheastern,reached, AlamogordoonJune14th,1898 andthetownhaditsofficial beginning.

Onlandpurchasedfrom OliverLee,Eddyplanneda communitywhichwasto

LydiaAspen

MarenaMcMurru

MarenaMcMurry grewupinCalifornia andfellinlovewith natureintheHigh Sierras.

ShefirststartedpaintingatLangdonStudiosin Fresno,California,where shebegantolearnoil paintingtechniques.

Muchofherearly inspirationcamefrom SherryNelson,whohas writtenmanybooksabout howtopaintbirds, butterflies,andflowers.

Wildlifeartistssuchas RobertBateman,John Banovich,andJihn Seerey-LesterlaterinspiriedMcMurryandshe strivestoachievethesame degreeofrealismand capturetheessenceofanimalsastheseartistesdo.

Mostrecently,McMurryhadtheprivilegeto learnfromGraceKnox,a westernartistwhoseinput andencouragementhelp McMurrytocontinueher growingasanartist.

Youcanfindsomeof herworkatRoadrunner Emporiumlocatedat928 NewYorkStreetherein Alamogordo,aswellasat NewYorkArtandMusic locatedat1120NewYork AveAlamogordo.

featurewidethroughfareand irrigationditcheslinedwith trees.Thetreesthatseemedto thriveweretheCottonwood, whichgrewtogreatsize.

Thename“AlamoGordo” translatedfromSpanishmeans “fatcottonwood”.Therewasto beapark-TheAlamedawhichwastobelocatedalong sidethetracksthroughthe town.

Arailroadhospitalwas foundedtocarefortheworkers andothersinthetown.Later,a Baptistcollegewaslocatedin theeasternpartofAlamogordo inanareathatcametobe namestheCollegeAddition.

Alllotssoldinthetown weresoldbytheAlamogordo ImprovementCompany,owned byEddyhimself.

Afewyearsbeforethe Eddybrothersbirthedthe countyandtownofEddy (moderndayCarlsbad)inthe NewMexicoTerritory,andina curiousclashwithfrontierlife, thetownoutlawedthesaleof alcohol.Shortlythereaftera

newtownsprunguponthe edgeofEddy,calledPhenix, whichdealtalmostexclusively withthesaleofspirits.Seeing thewritingonthewall,the Eddybrotherssearchedfora newplacetostartagain,and theyfounditintheeverforgivingreachesofthe ChihuahuanDesert’sTularosa Basin.

Oneinterestingfeatureof Eddy’stown,reflectedthe prohibitionistbeliefsofEddy. Eddywantednoliquorinhis modelcommunity,thuswas borntheBlock50Ordinance. Ontheoriginalplatof Alamogordo,Block50was locatedimmediatelyacross fromEddy’sofficeatthe railroadheadquarters.

Thiswassetasideasthe onlylocationintownwhere liquorcouldbemanufactured anddispensed.

Intoeachdeedthatcame fromtheAlamogordo ImprovementCompanywasa provisionthatprohibitedliquor onsaidlot.Failuretocomply meantthatthepropertywould beforfeitedbacktothe AlamogordoImprovement Company.

Thisprovisionstayedin effectuntil1984.

TodayBlock50,Lots1-4, servesamoresoberingpurpose asthehomeoftheTularosa BasinMuseumofHistory. Whatwasoncethetown’sonly barnowhousesthemuseum’s bookstoreandgiftshop.Down thehallfromthereliesdisplays coveringNativeAmerican artifacts,fossilsdiscoveredin thelocalarea,andthehistory

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oftheearlychurchesinthe valley.

Alamogordoenjoyeda quietandsteadydevelopment. Therailroadremaineditsmajor economicbaseanditsmain reasonforbeing.

Soonafterthetown’s founding,thepopulationwas estimatedtobearound1,000

folks-BythetimeOtero Countybecameintobeingin 1899,thecitiespopulationwas about3,000.

Astherailroadcontinued itsexpansiontothenorth, thingssettleddownand Alamogordo’spopulationfor thenext30yearsremained constantbetween3,500to 4,000folks.

Majorindustryintownwas relatedtotherailroad.Crosstieswereneededastherailroad expandeditsreachnorth. Lumberforthetieswerefound inthemountainseastof Alamogordo.Tobringthelogs outofthemountainstothe millsinAlamogordo,Eddy foundedtheAlamogordoand SacramentoRailroad-19of

themosttorturousmilesofany railroadinthecountry.Ithada 5%grade,thesteepestinthe UnitedStates,a“S”shaped trestlewitha30degreecurve, thefirstsuchtrestleinthe country.

Therailroadroseinaltitude from4,300feetatthe Alamogordostationto9,000 feetattheCloudcroftstation.

TheAlamogordoand Sacramentorailroadprovideda newboomtoAlamogordowith vastamountsoftimber. Besidesthesawmill,across-tie treatmentplantalsowentinto operation.

Throughashrewd marketingprogram,thehealthgivingmountainairofthe mountainsbecame“chic”and Cloudcroftwasbornasa meccaforthoseseekingto escapethedesertheat.

Therailroadalsoprovided ashippingpointforindustries longstandinginthe SacramentoMountainsminingandranching.

Waterwasacontinuing problemfortherailroadasits steamdrivenenginesneeded anendlesssupplyoffresh waterthatwouldnotleave depositsintheboilers.Since theBasin’swellwaterwasnot acceptable,areadysourceof freshwaterwasfound50miles fromAlamogordoatBonita Lake.

Apipelineprojectnearlyas difficulttobuildastherailline toCloudcroftasconstructed.

Eddydivestedhimselfof therailroadin1905,sellingit

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toPhelps-Dodge.Thecontrolled therailroaduntil1924,sellingitto theSouthernPacificRailroad Company.

Throughthesechangesin ownership,Alamogordoremained primarilyarailroadtown,livingon theupsanddownsoftherailroad. Thingsweregenerallygood,but notalways.

TheBaptistCollege,failingto attractenoughstudents,closedits doorsin1911.Itsclosurewas partiallyoffsetbytheNewMexico SchoolfortheBlindwhichopened in1903.

Beinga“oneindustry”town haditbadmoments.Whenthe railroadsstartedtodeclinedueto thedevelopmentofthehighway system,andthe growthofthe trucking industry,Alamogordo wentintoaeconomicslumpasthe needforrailservicedecreased nationwide.

Thesawmillcontinuedto operatebutformoregeneral purposesandlessdependentonthe railroad.Lessneedforlumber meantlessneedfortherailroad linetoCloudcroftandtourists drovethemselvestothemountain towninsteadoftakingthetrain. ThelastrunontheAlamogordo andSacramentolinetoCloudcroft wasin1947.

TomCharlesTours

TomCharles,alocalinsurance andrealestatebrokerhadan abidinginterestinthegypsum dunesnineteenmileswestoftown.

Charlesstudiesthegeologyof thedunesaswellastheirhistory. Hecametotheconclusionthat theywereatreasurenotonlyof localinterest,butnationallyas well.Afterbuildinglocalsupport, andintensivelobbyingatthe nationallevel,Charleswasableto accomplishhisdreamandthe

WhiteSandswasdeclareda nationalmonumentbypresident HerbertHooveronJanuary18, 1933.

Anewindustry-tourismwasthusbornfortheBasin.

1941foundAlamogordo’s 4,000soulsdoingmoderately wellontheresidueofits economicpastanditsnewtourist industry.

Aneconomicexplosionwas abouttooccur…literally.

WiththeadventofWorldWar II,theneedforspaceforaerial bombingandgunnerytraining changedAlamogordoforever… thefactthattheareahadmiles andmilesofnothingbutmiles andmilesbecameanassetof greatvalue.

Constructiononwhatisnow HollomanAirForceBasebegan onFebruary6,1942.

Runwayswerelaidtoprovide atrainingareafortheBritish

TomCharles,waschosenas WhiteSandsMonumentsfirst custodian.

TomCharles WhiteSands ToursCar

RoyalAirForce.

NamedtheAlamogordo BombingandGunneryRange thebasequicklyhadits missionexpanded.

Aftertheyear-roundflying possibilitieswererecognized, anditsnamechangedtothe AlamogordoArmyAirField,it becameamajortrainingarea forheavybombercrews.

0Thisremainedthefields majorfunctionuntiltheendof WorldWarII,althoughrocket testingbeganatthebasein 1943.

At5:29a.m.OnJuly16, 1945thebeginningsofthe AtomicAgewasdetonated fiftymilesnorthwestof Alamogordoatwhatisnow knownastheTrinitySite wherethefirstatomicbomb wastested.

AlamogordoArmyAir Fieldwasbrieflydeactivated afterWorldWarIIbutwas soonreinstatedfortheAir Corpsrocketryprogram.38 mileswide,and64mileslong, itwastheideallocationforthe testingofrockets.

TheAlamogordoArmyAir FieldwasrenamedHolloman AirForceBaseinrecognition ofGeorgeV.Hollomanwho hadadistinguishedcareerasa scientistandAirForcepilot. HewaskilledinaB-17crash inFormosa.

OnSept.17,1902,George V.Holloman-thenamesake ofHollomanAirForceBase, wasborn.

FormanyAirmen,the namesakeoftheirbaseisn't importanttotheirmilitary careerortheirknowledgeof AirForcehistory.

However,theimpactofCol. GeorgeV.Hollomanisjustas importanttodayasitwasmore than65yearsago.

Today'sremotelypiloted aircraftandtheAirmenthat supportthemareinexistence becauseofresearchand developmentdoneby Hollomaninthelate1930s. TheMQ-9Predator,whichisa longendurance,medium altitudeRPAusedfor Storycontinuespage37

GeorgeHolloman

MarthaJones, AlamogordoMain StreetVolunteer oftheYear.

AlamogordoTownNews. com,KALHRadio.org95.1 FM,alongwithseveralcitizen leadersarehighlightingthose peopleandorganizationsthat representthebestofAlamogordoviaour“Alamogordo Proud”Campaign.IncollaborationwithAlamogordo MainStreet,werecognized their2022volunteerofthe year,MarthaJones.

MarthaJonesisarecognizedfaceonAlamogordo’s NewYorkAvenue,having beeninvolvedwiththestreet andtheAlamogordoBusiness Com-munityfordecades.

Marthawasbornand raisedinAlamogordo,a graduateofAlamogordoHigh Schoolandhasalwaysbeen communityorientedand activeinhelpingotherssince herchildhooddays.

“AlamogordoProud”

Marthahasbeenvisibleas astrongpresenceinthebusinesscommunityofNewYork AvenuesincebeginningacareeronthestreetwithFashion Bugin1973.

Fromtheresheworked withBonanzaCityfrom1973 to1984whichthenrebranded asBroadwayFashions,she continuedtherethrough1986.

Marthahadachangeof sceneryforafewyearswhen shemovedtoLubbockTexas withherhusbandforaperiod oftime.Butherheartwas alwaysinAlamogordo.

Shereturnedandshe workedinretailatthemall from1997to2005.

ItwasalwaysNewYork Avenuethatpulledatherheart. Shereturnedtothedistrict workingattheFloriston Delaware,andthenin2012to 2018sheworkedwithVintage Etc.By2012shehookedup withAliceWeinman,proprietorofVictoriaAlamogordo.

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surveillanceandreconnaissancemissions,aswellasthe MQ-1Reaper,farexceedthe modifiedFokkerC-14B Hollomanandtwocolleagues usedonAug.23,1937.

Atthattime,Capt.Holloman receivedtremendousnotoriety forflighttestingtheworld's firstfull-scaleairplanewithan automaticlandingdevice.The C-14BwithCapt.CarlCrane, RaymondStoutandHolloman aboardtookofffromWright Fieldandlandedusinga

groundradiosystemconsisting offivetransmittingbeaconsat PattersonFieldseveralmiles away.

Bycomparison,onApril24, 2001,aGlobalHawkflewnonstopfromEdwardsAirForce Base,Calif.,toaRoyal AustralianAirForcebase makinghistorybybeingthe firstpilotlessaircrafttocross thePacificOcean.

Holloman'sRPAprojectwas conductedonanextremely tightbudgetandonly succeededbecauseofhis persistenceinadaptingold equipmentnolongerneeded

Whenolderpartsand equipmentfromotherprojects weren't available,thecaptain evenusedhisownmoney topurchaseneeded equipment.

OnAug.2,1939,the37year-oldRichSquare,N.C. native,wasawardedthe DistinguishedFlyingCross fromthefuture,andonly, GeneraloftheAirForce,H.H. "Hap"ArnoldHollomanand histwocolleagueswerealso awardedtheMackayTrophy for1937forthe"most meritoriousflightoftheyear."

InthelatteryearsofWorld WarII,theworkofHolloman wasputtoatestduring OperationAphrodite-asecret programinitiatedbytheArmy AirForcesusingexplosive ladenB-17bombers.

Theultimategoalofthis operationwastoflythese bombersbyremotecontrol, afteratwo-mancrewtook

Ourallinclusiveeventvenue isdesignedforthefamilyto haveminimalstress,plentyof guidance,andprayerduring thisbestdayever!

off andbailedout,intobombresistantGermanfortifications.

However,theoverallsuccess oftheoperationwashampered bynumerousfailuressuchas poorweatherconditions, mechanicalfailuresand equipmentthatcouldn't accomplishthetaskathand.

InSept.1947,thearmyair field,whichwouldlaterbear theHollomanname,conducted oneofthefirsttestsofaradiocontrolled,propellerdriven aircraft.

Hollomanwaskilledin March1946whentheB-17he wasflyingfromShanghaito NicholsField,Manilacrashed onFormosa(Taiwan).

AlamogordoArmyAirField wasre-namedHollomanAir ForceBasebyGeneralOrder No.2,Jan.13,1948,inhis honor.

Thoughhedidn'tlivetosee hisdreamusedsuccessfullyin combat,Holloman'svisionsfor remotelypilotedflightarethe reasonsprogramslikethe PredatorandtheReaperarein existencetoday.

Tel:575-921-1677

teashedevents.wixsite.com

Whatdidthegrapesaywhenit gotcrushed?Nothing,itjustlet outalittlewine.

Iwanttobecrematedasitis mylasthopeforasmokinghot body.

Totheguywhoinventedzero, thanksfornothing.

Ihadacrazydreamlastnight! Iwasswimminginanoceanof orangesoda.Turnsoutitwas justaFantasea.

Ladies,ifhecan’tappreciate yourfruitjokes,youneedtolet thatmango.

Didyouhearaboutthe restaurantonthemoon?I heardthefoodwasgoodbutit hadnoatmosphere.

Idon’ttruststairsbecause they’realwaysupto something.

Amansuedanairline companyafteritlosthis luggage.Sadly,helosthis case.

IlostmymoodringandIdon't knowhowtofeelaboutit!

SowhatifIdon’tknowwhat apocalypsemeans?It’snotthe endoftheworld!

MysisterbetthatIcouldn’t buildacaroutofspaghetti. Youshould’veseenherface whenIdrovepasta.

Myfriend’sbakeryburned downlastnight.Nowhis businessistoast.

Ican’tbelieveIgotfiredfrom thecalendarfactory.AllIdid wastakeadayoff!

Therewasakidnappingat schoolyesterday.Don’tworry, though-hewokeup!

HowdoesMosesmakecoffee? Hebrewsit.

I'mreadingabookaboutantigravity.It'simpossibletoput down!

Whydidn'tthecatgotothe vet?Hewasfelinefine!

Appleisdesigninganew automaticcar.Butthey're havingtroubleinstalling Windows!

Mywiferefusestogotoanude beachwithme.Ithinkshe's justbeingclothes-minded!

Iwantedtotakepicturesofthe fogthismorningbutImistmy chance.IguessIcoulddewit tomorrow!

Whoisan Artist?

StorybyKathyRamsey Courtesy2nd LifeMedia

Iwouldanswer-"everyone."

Eachofuscomestothislife withasparkofpotential,the pullofcuriosity,thesensesof awareness,andthecapacityfor growth.Weareintriguedby light,color,rhythm,pattern, sound,andallthatwetouch, taste,andsmell.Weknow motion,experimentation,and imagination.Weseekpleasure andsatisfaction.Thesearethe toolsofanartist!

Childrenplayasawayof exploringpossibilities,creating stories,and“workingthings out”.Adultscarrythisforward.

Wedevelopandusetools, expressourselves,andcarve ourdefinitionsofself-esteem

andaccomplishment.Some folkswillbecomebeaconsof expertiseandexampleintheir chosenfield.

Someexpresstheirartin “making”-envisioning, planning,andbringingdesign tolife(thinkarchitects, engineers,builders,crafters.)

Somearegrowers-steeped intheexperienceofgrowing cycles,thepowerofnature, andthedesiretocreate environmentsthatnurture growth-plannersandmasters ofgardendesign-providers.

Somearehealers-deeply awareofhumanfunctioning andthesubtletiesofimbalance, opentodiagnosticand treatmentdesignsthrough

assessmentandhope.Scientists areseekingtofigurethingsout …tofindouttheinner workings.

Theartofparenting/ educatingisabout expectation…holding,loving,

settinganexample,teaching, andwideningtheworld.How creativeisthis?!!

Thosewithfaith…the knowledgeoffragilityand beliefinthedivine…creation andtheinfinite.

Theconnectors— tradespeople,businessmen,and women…thosebringinggoods andservicestocommunities foreconomiestogrow-moving thebasicsofsurvivaltothe potentialforthriving.

Thesecanallbeartforms. Somecreativesarenurtured specificallyinthedevelopment oftheircreativeskillsand becomeexpertsinfineart, music,performance,andthe literaryarts.

Formostofusthough,art ishowweliveourlives.We canbeintentionalaboutthis expressionandrecognizethat

thesamequalitiesthatguidean artmasterareourstodevelop. Thesearecuriosity,courage, experimentation,discipline, persistence,andfreedomto express.

Nexttimeyoupausefora sunset,watchyourchildat play,accomplishsomething withpleasure,worship-know youareinartistland.This includessingingintheshower, dancing,andsnappinga photo.!Iwouldevenmakea casethatsavoringacupof coffeeisartful!(Thesacred pause!)Itcomesby noticing….makingroomfor reflection,expression,and enjoyment.

Iwouldlovetosee everyonerecognizethe artfulnessintheirlives.It wouldgiveuswaystofeelless stuckorrestricted.Wewould finddeepconnectionswith othersbyseeingtheir challengesandcreative answers.Itisaboutmomentto-momentlivingwithaneye forbeautyandeffort.

Communitiesthathonor theartsaregivingtheir residentsawaytobe compassionateandexpress themselves.Itisabout appreciation.Wehaveawealth ofcreativeeffortsinourtown andweareseeingaresurgence oftheartsthatarehappening foralltoenjoy.Pleaseconsider beingapartofallthisby growingthecreativitywithin you.YOUareanartist.

DOYOU REMEMBER?

Lifeis Spectacular withArtisan RustyEaston

AlamogordoTownNews. com,KALHRadio.org95.1 FM,alongwithseveralcitizen leadersarehighlightingthose peopleandorganizationsthat representthebestofAlamogordoviaour“Alamogordo Proud”Campaign.Roadrunner EmporiumFineArts,Antiques andMoreandtheAlamodoso Magazinenominatedlocal ArtisanRustyEastonfor recognitioninthe“AlamogordoProud”Campaign.

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WhiteSands

Ms.Eastonisonewho trulyrepresents“Alamogordo Proud.”“Rusty”iswellknown andhighlyregarded,notonly forherwonderfulartisan designs,butalsoforhergreat smileandwarmdemeanor.

RustyEastonbegan paintingin1985.Thecraft shopinhersmalltowninUtah occasionallyheldaSaturday classinoils.Shesaid,“itwas great,butafterafewyearsI startedinundatingmyfamily withpaintings,soIrealizedI neededtomoveon.”

Inthemid-1990’sshewent intoanothercraftshopin Cheyene,Wyoming.Hersisterin-lawhadsometolepainting suppliesonherChristmaslist, soRustychosesometogive her.WhileRustywaspaying forherpurchases,she glancedoverandwas pleasantlysurprisedtoseea cuteChristmasbearmadeof woodanddressedinapainted onredSantaJacket,smilingat

herwitharedlipstickmarkon hischeekandholdingasign thatsaid,“Meetmeunderthe mistletoe.”Rustyimmediately fellinlovewiththebearand askedtheclerkifitwasfor sale.

Theanswerwas“no”but shecouldtakeatolepainting classandpaintoneherself.“So beganmyloveaffairwith paintingonwood,”

Rustyexplained.“Ilearned tocutoutmyownwood pieces,sandandpaintthem.In allhonesty,acrylicpaintingon woodhasbecomemyfavorite medium.Ioftenuseunusual woodslicesandcreate landscapes,wildlifeandlately, Ihavebeenexperimenting withNativeAmericanmaidens onlargerslices,”Rusty continued.

Rustyisbestknownlocally forherglasspaintingclasses andartisancreations.About20 yearsagosheclaimstohave happeneduponglasspaint.She said,“afteralotofpractice, glassandceramicpaintinghas becomemymostpopularart form.

AboutayearagoImetthe ownersoftheRoadrunner Emporium,ChrisEdwardsand ReneSepulveda,andtheyallowedmetoplaceafewitems onaconsignmentbasis.In Januaryofthisyear,Iwas offeredmyownspace.”

ReneSepulvedaexplained, “ChrisandIreallylovedthe creationsthatRustybroughtto thetable.Eachhandpainted itemwasuniqueandoneofa kind.Shetakessomuchpride inherartistry;herclasseswere

alsoalwayswellreceived,and sheissuchabreathofsunshine, sowehadtohaveherasa permanentmemberofour portfolio.”

Rustytrulylovestopaintand it’sobviousbyhertalent.She says,“paintinghasturnedoutto beanescapefromlife’s pressures.WhenIpaint landscapes,myminddriftstothe scene.Ifitsflorals,Icanalmost smellandtouchtheflowers.”

Rustycontinued;“Itaught glasspaintingforabout3yearsat theHeartoftheDesert.Ialso taughtafewclassesat Roadrunner,untillifegotinthe way.Ihopetoresumeclassesat RoadrunnerEmporiumagainin thenearfuture.

Oneofmyfavoritethingsto doistosharemyloveofpainting withotherswhowanttolearnart.

Itmakesmyheartsingtosee oneofmystudentsblossoming intoanartist,intheirownright.

Lifeifspectacular!”

Lifeisspectacularwhenwe havepeoplelikeRustyEaston sharinghertalentswithus,sheis trulyanexampleoftheprideof the“AlamogordoProud” campaign.

SheisseendailyatVictoria at913NewYorkAvenue, wherealwaysgreetspeople withasmilebutistaskOrientedtogetthejobdone.

Marthaisnotanewcomer togettingthingsdone.Shewas presidentoftheNewYork AvenueDowntownMerchants Associationfrom1984to1985. Assuchshehassigni-ficant experienceorganizing, planning,facilitatingand politickingwithavarietyof merchantsandconstituentsto getthingsdone.

Marthaasassistant managerforBonanzaCity

AccordingtoAlamogordo MainStreetExecutiveDirector NolanOjeda;“Wearethrilled toannouncethatourveryown AlamogordoMainStreets volunteeroftheyear2022is

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Marthahasbeenanintegral partofourcommunityfor manyyears,andhertireless effortshavehelpedtoimprove numerousprojectsthatmake ourtownabetterplace.She hasmadesignificantcontributionstothesuccessofevents likeDowntownNights,the NewYorkAvenueMid-week AlamogordoFarmersMarket, andChristmasonMainStreet.

Inadditiontohermany volunteerhours,Marthahasan outstandingattitudethatis infectioustothosearoundher. Shealwaysgoesaboveand beyondtoensurethateveryone involvedintheseprojectsfeels appreciatedandvalued.

Weareincrediblygrateful

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Asayoungchild,Jennifer wasfascinatedbytherocks andfossilsgiventoherbyher great-grandfather.Shewould studythecolorsandlayersof sedimentandlookforclues fromhistoriespast.Shefound joyandmagicinhavingunique piecesthatwerejusthers. Jennifercherishedthese treasuresfromtheearth,and withtime,createdanextensive collectionofherown

Herpassionspreadtoher family.Rocksandcrystalsline theirwindowsills,filltheir shelves,andoverflowjust aboutanybowlsittingout. There’snotaroomintheir housethatdoesn’thavearock init.Jennifer&Jaredaresoin aweoftheirbeauty.

RockYourHeartOutisn’t justagreatplacetofind

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gorgeous,ethically-sourced rocksandcrystals,it’sawayof life.You’llnoticeeachrockon thesitehasarecommended affirmation.Ourwordshave power.Allowtheserocksto remindyoudailytospeakyour truth.

Liveapologeticallyyou! Chaseyourpassion!Pursue yourpurpose!Thankyoufor supportingRockYourHeart Outandchoosingtoshop responsiblyandsustainability.

Youcanfindourspecimens forsaleonNewYorkStreet, hereinAlamogordoatthe LocalBodega

Haveyouever heardasnakemakea “SSSSSSSS”sound?

Whenthreatenedsome snakeswillstarthissingattheir predators.Theirhissingcanbe aloudandintimidatingsound thattellsthepredatorthatthe snakeisamoredangerousfoe thaninitiallythoughtandaren’t worththetrouble.Snakes foundhereatWhiteSands NationalParksuchaswestern coachwhips,Sonorangopher snakes,desertkingsnakes,and westernhognosesareall knownforusingthisdefensive tactic.Ifasnakehissesatyou, itmeanstheyarestressedby yourpresence,andyoushould givethemmorespaceorleave altogether.

Westerndiamondback rattlesnakesareoneofthree venomousrattlesnakesthatcan befoundatWhiteSands.They

arethelargestrattlesnakefound inNewMexicoastheyoften reach4to5feetinlength.

Famousfortheirdiamond patternalongtheirback,these snakescanalsobeeasily recognizedbytheseriesof blackandwhitebandsthat circletheirtailjustbeforethe rattle.Westerndiamondback rattlesnakeswillnotstrike withoutareason,howeverif cornered,theywilldefend themselves.Whenthreatened theywilloftencoilandrattleto

warnaggressors.Ifrattling doesn’twork,theywillstand theirgroundbyraisingtheir bodyoffthegroundina defensiveposturereadyto strike.Iftheyaregivenspace andtimetoescapetosafety, theywilloftenjustslither away.Bybeingsnakeaware whenexploringandkeeping yourdistancewhenyoudosee rattlesnakesyoucanprotect yourselfandthesnakes.

Desertmassasaugasare anothertypeofvenomous rattlesnakesfoundinthepark andonlygrowtobetween14to 18incheslong.Theword

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“massasauga”inOjibwa (Chippewalanguage)translates to“greatrivermouth.”This specieshasdistinctivedark brownbarsontheirface borderedbyathinwhitelower edgethatextendsfromeach eye.Thedesertmassasauga’s rattlehasanoticeablyhigher pitchcomparedtoother rattlesnakes.Thesesnakes prefertomoveonloosesand usingthe“sidewinding” technique.Theyareprimarily nocturnalandduringthe summerwillspendweeksata timeinundergroundburrows. Desertmassasaugaspreferto avoidhumans,soifyoucome acrossthisvenomoussnake makesuretogiveitplentyof spacesoithasanescaperoute.

Prairierattlesnakesarethe mostcommonrattlesnakein NewMexicoandhavethe

largestrangeofany rattlesnakeintheUnitedStates. Theseheavybodiedvenomous snakesgrowbetween2.5and5 feetinlengthandpreferdry areaswithmoderatevegetation. Prairierattlesnakesarenot consideredaggressive,butthey willdefendthemselvesif

threatenedorinjured.

Whensnakesencountera potentialpredator,suchas humans,oftentheirfirstand mostcommondefensive strategyistoescape.Especially ifthereisanopeningtoescape, thepredatorisfarenough away,orthereisnearbycover ofanykind.Theirshapeand sizeallowsnakestomove throughnarrowopeningsand quicklyalongflatsurfaces awayfrompotentialdanger.

Ifyouencounterasnake, makesuretogivethemplenty ofspaceandtheopportunityto escape.Nevercornerasnake, especiallyavenomoussnake, becausethentheyareforcedto resorttootherdefensivetactics

Manynon-venomous snakeshaveevolvedtomimic thebehaviororappearanceof venomoussnakestoscareaway predators.Somedothisby vibratingtheirtailsorrustling theirtailinleavestoimitatethe soundofarattlesnake'srattle. AtWhiteSands,snakessuchas Sonorangophersnakes,desert kingsnakes,desertstriped whipsnakes,andwestern coachwhipsareknownfor displayingthisbehavior.

Othersnakesflattentheir headstolooklikeapitviper's triangularshapedheadtoscare offpotentialpredators.Snakes foundintheparksuchas westernhognoses,Sonoran gophersnakes,Texasnight snakesandwesternblackneckedgartersnakesutilize thistechnique.Ifyouencounter asnakedisplayingeitherof thesebehaviors,theyaretelling youthattheyarestressedby yourpresence.It’sbestto slowlybackuptogivethe snakemoreroom..

TheFlowersof WhiteSands Nat’lPark

It’snotallwhitesandand redrockinthedesertsofthe Southwest!Desertplantsadd theirsplashesofcoloracross thedrylandscapeof bottomlandsandmesas.

Someflowersarelargeand showy:hedgehogcactussetthe tablewithclaretcups;prickly pearserveuplargeyellow flowers;soaptreeyuccasend upatallcenterpiecestalklined withlargecreamyflowers.

Inthespacesbetween whitesanddunes—the interdunalflats—theflowers aresmaller,andmaybeeven hardierthanthecactithatgrow beyondthedunesortheyuccas thatgrowupthroughthe dunes.Littlesandverbena sproutstinyclustersofpurple petals.Centuryplantsbloom brightlypink.Blazingstar shootsupitstinyfireworkof yellowonafoot-tallstalk.

Therearewildflowersin bloominnearlyeveryseason atWhiteSandsNationalPark makingitsothereisnosingle “besttime”toseethedesert wildflowers.Withinthe boundariesofthedunefield, flowersbloomlaterthanthose inthesurroundingdesert foothillsduetothepoolofcold airfromthemountainsthat settlesintothebasinatnight.

Mostwildflowersbegin bloomingaroundthemiddleof April.Themostcommonearly bloomersinthedunefield includethesandverbena, Hartweg’ssundrops,desert mentzelia,andWhiteSands

mustard.Inmid-May,theseare joinedbygypsumcentaury, whiteeveningprimrose,and greenthread.Someplantsmay continuetoproduceflowers throughoutthesummer, especiallyaftermonsoonseasonrains.Pepperweed,a white-floweredmustardthatis oftenoverlooked,grows

throughouttheresidentialarea anddunemargins.Itisthe hardiestwildflowerinthepark andisthefirstplanttobloom inthespring,usuallyaround thefirstofMarch,earlierin warmeryears.Itblooms throughoutthesummerand intothefall.Pepperweedhas beenseeninbloominthePark everymonthoftheyear.

Springiswhenallofthe smallwildflowersbeginto bloomandthegrassesand bushesbegintoturngreen. Soaptreeyuccaisthestarof thespringflowers.Itgrowstall andcaneasilybespotted throughoutthedunes.Its flowersarewhiteandhavethe

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appearanceofupside-down tulips.Anotherbigcontenderin thespringisprairiegentian. Thiswildfloweriseasiestto spotatthebeginningofthe DuneLifeNatureTrail.There isalsoawhiteversionofthe plantthatwillbloomnextto thepurpleone.

ACTUALSIZE

Itmayseemstrangeto associatefishwithadesert environment,butlongago,a largesaltlakenowknownas LakeOterooncefilledthe TularosaBasin.Whilethereis speculationastowhetherother aquaticlifelivedhereallthat timeago,onethingis certain—theonlyfishto survivethehydrologicand climaticchangesoverthelast 12,000yearsistheWhite Sandspupfish(Cyprinodon tularosa).Foundnowhereelse intheworldandlistedasa threatenedspeciesbytheNew MexicoStateGame Commission,theWhiteSands pupfishistrulyauniquelittle fish.

Thereareonlyfour populationsofWhiteSands pupfishthroughoutthe TularosaBasin.OnWhite SandsMissileRange,theyare foundinMalpaisSpring, MoundSpring,andSaltCreek. ThelastpopulationisinLost River,whichbeginson HollomanAirForceBaseand terminatesjustinsidethe northeastboundaryofWhite SandsNationalPark.

Eachsiteisamicrohabitat allitsown,rangingfromdeep spring-fedpondstocalm streams.Avarietyofplants suchassaltgrass,saltcedar, pondweed,bulrush,cattail,and

Whatisthedifference betweenaMedSpa& aSpa?Althoughbusinesses canuseeitherintheir name,aMedicalSpamust beunderthesuper-visionof aLicensedPhysicianor NursePractitioner.

Weareluckyenoughto haveourNursePractitionerin housepreformingourtreatmentsforbothmenandwomen.Weofferarelaxing, unique,andluxuriousenvironmentunlikeanywhereelsein thearea.

Whatdoesamedicalspaoffer?

� LaserHairReduction

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� AtHomeInfusions

Whocouldn’tusealittle helpwithhydrationlivingin thebeautifulSouthwest?We offeramultitudeofIVinfusionssuchasmigrainerelief, immunityboost,pre/post-surgical,liverdetox,adrenal

fatigueandmanymore.Allof ourinfusionsarecustomizable, andweuseAmericanmade vitamins,soweknowexactly whatwearegivingyou.

Whatdoesalaserdo?We haveaStellarM22Laser,we treatdark/sunspots,acneand acnescars,finelinesand wrinkles,stretchmarksand scars.Wealsoprovidelaserhair reductiontreatments,these treatmentscanbedoneonthe face,arms,legs,underarms, bikiniarea,basicallyanywhere youhaveunwantedhair.We alsooffer“facials”withour laser,theygiveyourfaceafresh look.Tone.Texture.Tighten.

LowLibido?Fatigue?Poor SleepHabits?Wecanhelp!We offerbioidenticalhormonepellet therapy.Testosteronelevels decreasewithage,andyoudon’t havetoputupwiththat.After theappropriatelabshavebeen drawn,wecalculatethepatient specificdoseoftestosterone neededforbothmenand women.Forwomenwealso insertestrogenifthelabs suggestestrogenisneeded.You aren’trequiredtofeelyouageyoungerisalwaysanoption.

Eatingrightandexerciseis alwaysrecommended,butwe alsoknowwhatisliketoworka full-timejobandmaintaina homelife.Timeisnotalways available;weareheretohelp makeyourweightlossjourneya littlelessstressful.Weoffertwo differentprogramsthathave

beentriedandtestedwith amazingresultsforboth menandwomen.

WeliketocallourinjectorDeirdreWilkerson, NursePractitioner,the “naturalresultsexpert”.Our treatmentsarecustomizable tomeettheindividualneeds ofeachclientbecausewe areallourownunique person.Ourgoalistohelp everyonefeellikethebest versionofthemselves.

Deirdrewasbornand raisedelsewherebuthas beenluckyenoughtocall theAlamogordoareahome forthelast28years.With16 yearsofhands-onmedical experience,Deirdrebringsa vastamountofexperience andknowledgetoher MedSpa.

“Iwasnotlookingfora changeincareer,butIfound itexcitingtobecomea businessownerandexpand myeducationintoadifferent field.Thisenvironmentis verypositive,andIgetto helppeoplediscoveranew confidencewithin themselves.”

Shealsoaddedthat, “beingmyownbossallows metohavemorefreedomin myscheduletospendwith mychildren,Skyler, Lynoxx,andOceayana.Iam soincrediblythankfulthatI getmoretimetocreate

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sedgesgrowalongtheiredges. Watersalinityvariesfrom locationtolocation,ranging fromfreshwaterallthewayto beingsaltierthanseawater. Despitethesedrastically differentenvironmental conditions,theWhiteSands pupfishiscapableofnotonly thrivingintheirnativehabitat butalsoquicklyadapting shouldtheyfindthemselves displacedfromone microhabitattoanother.

Asonemightimagine,the pupfishissmall.Infact,it rangesinsizefrom1.75to2.5 inchesandissomewhatshort andchunky-looking.In general,bothmalesand femaleshavelightbrownishgreyscaleswithsilvery-white bellies.Thiscolorationallows themtoblendinquitewell withtheirsurroundings.On closeinspection,however, Storycontinuespage78

TheAprilbirthstone, diamond,isthehardest naturalmaterialonEarth— 58timesharderthan anythingelsenaturally occurring.Ithaslongbeena symbolofeternallove,given asanengagementor weddingringorasan anniversarypresent.For centuries,thediamondwas thoughttopossesshealing powersandprovideclarity andbalance.Learnallabout thediamond’shistory, meaningandsymbolism!

Whilesparklingandclear diamondsarethemost recognizable,thegem comesinarangeofcolors, includingbrown,yellow,red, pink,blue,andgreen.Blue, green,andredarethe rarest.Thecolorofa diamondisdependenton theimpuritiesinthegem.

Diamondscanbe transparent,translucent,or opaque,butmostdiamonds usedasgemstonesare transparentandcolorless.

“Diamond”comesfromthe Greekword,adamas, meaninginvincibleor

unbreakable.Asyoucould guess,“adamant”also stemsfromthisword!

InSanskrit,thediamondis calledvajra,whichalso meanslightning;inHindu mythology,vajrawasthe weaponofIndra,thekingof gods.

PlinytheElder,aRoman naturalist,issaidtohave describedthegeminthis way:“Diamondisthemost valuable,notonlyof preciousstones,butofall thingsinthisworld.”

Itwasoncethoughtthata diamondcouldwardoffthe evileye,whichwassaidto causesickness,poverty, andpossiblydeath.

Inhistory,thediamond wasbelievedtohave healingpowers,actasan antidotetopoison,and provideprotectionagainst theplague.

DuringtheMiddleAges, diamondswerethoughtto cureailmentsofthepituitary glandandthebrain.

Beforetheprocessin whichdiamondsarecreated wasdiscovered,some ancientcivilizationsbelieved lightningformedthem,while othersthoughttheywerethe tearsofGod.

Inadditiontobeinga symbolofeternalloveand marriage,somethought carryingadiamondwould providestrength,beauty, andhappiness.Other potentialbenefitsincluded balance,clarity,and abundance.

Ifyoudreamofwearing diamondearrings,youwill receivegoodfinancial advice.

Thediamondisnotonlythe Aprilbirthstone,butitisalso thegemgiventocelebrate 60thand75thwedding anniversaries.

It’sbelievedthatthe infatuationfordiamonds originatedinIndia,where theywerecollectedfrom riversandstreams. Accordingtohistorians, Indiabegantradingin diamondsasfarbackasthe 4thcenturyB.C.Thegem wasoriginallyreservedfor India’smostwealthy.Soon, though,India’sdiamonds madetheirwaytoWestern Europeand,bythe1400s, becamefashionableamong Europe’shighsociety.

In300B.C.,diamondswere usedtoengraveothergems inIndia.

Thefirstdiamond engagementringwasgiven toMaryofBurgundyby ArchdukeMaximillianof Austriain1477.

TheoriginoftheblueHope diamondhasbeentraced backtoIndia’sGolconda miningareainthe1600s.It wasthensoldtoKingLouis XIVofFrance.Itcurrently canbefoundatthe SmithsonianInstitutionin Washington,D.C.

Thelargestdiamondever foundwasunearthedfrom SouthAfrica’sPremiermine in1905.Weighinginat 3,106carats,thegem producedtheCullinanI diamond,alsoknownasthe

GreatStarofAfrica.The 530caratdrop-shaped diamondissetinthe Sovereign’sScepterwith Crossandhousedwiththe otherCrownJewelsinthe TowerofLondon.CullinanII (theLesserStarofAfrica) cutfromthesamediamond isalsopartofGreatBritain’s crownjewels.

Ithaslongbeenstatedthat adiamondisagirl’sbest friend.Forhundredsof yearsdiamondshavebeen usedforengagementand weddingrings,butitisalso fashionableforeveryday wear.Thegemisusedfor necklaces,broaches,rings, andbracelets.

Itisbelievedthatthefirst engagementringthat containedadiamondwas givenin1477byArchduke MaximilianofAustriatohis fiancee,MaryofBurgundy. Today,diamondsarethe mostpopularchoiceof stoneforanengagement ring.

adultmalescanbe distinguishedfromfemalesby aniridescentbluesheenon theirbodiesandaduskyband ontheouteredgeoftheirtail fin.Adultfemales,ontheother hand,haveadarkspotatthe baseoftheirdorsalfinanda verticalstripepatternontheir sides.Theyfeedonplants, detritus,andsmallorganisms suchasmosquitolarvae.

Matingseasonforthe WhiteSandspupfishbeginsin earlyAprilandlaststhrough themonthofOctober.During thistime,bothmalesand femalesshiftintobrightcolor displaystoattractpotential mates.Inmales,whatwasa shimmeringhintofblue iridescencealongtheirbody runsabrightmetallicblue whiletheirfinsandtailturn yellow-orange.

Theirbellyshiftsfrom silver-whitetopaleorange. Femalesputonasimilar display,turningbright greenish-yellowwithbuttercoloredfins.

Whenbreeding,males establishterritoriesfor themselves,chasingoffany othermaleswhowanderacross theirborders.Theyusually matewithseveralfemalesover thecourseofaseason.Females willlayseveralclutchesof1215eggseachduringasingle season.Afterhatching,the youngfishgrowrapidly, reachingasizeof1.75inches withintheirfirstyearand slowlyincreasinginsizeas theyreachadulthood.The averagelifespanofaWhite Sandspupfishistwoyears.

Duringthelasticeage

24,000to12,000yearsago,the climatewasmuchwetter.Rain andsnowmeltcarriedgypsum intothebasinfromtheSan AndresMountainstothewest andfromtheSacramento Mountainstotheeast.The gypsumrunoffsettledina

1,600squaremilelakewenow callLakeOtero.About12,000 yearsago,astheiceageended, LakeOterobegantoevaporate, changingfromalaketoa playa,ordrylakebedthat temporarilyfillswithwater. Leftbehindwere concentrationsofselenite,the crystallineformofgypsum.

Selenitecrystalsformed beneaththeclayandsilt surfaceoftheflatandwaited forthewind,whichbeganto sweeptheareaattheendofthe iceage.Dryaircurrentscarried theclayandsiltfromthebasin andexposedtheburied crystals.Eventually,freezing andthawingbrokethelarge crystalsintoprogressively smallerchunks,finallyturning themintosand.Thetinygrains arepickedupbythewindand bouncedalonginaprocess calledsaltation.Constantly movingtothenortheast,sand grainsmovedafewinchesata time,eventuallyformingthe famouswhitedunes.

Today,afterheavyrains, waterstillsettlesina10square mileareacalledLakeLucero, wheretheprocessofdune formationcontinues.Thesoil oftheTularosaBasincontains vastamountsofgypsum-laden water.Capillaryactionforces thewaterupward.Beneaththe surfaceofLakeLucero, selenitecrystalsforminthe

TULAROSA,NEW MEXICOFREIGHTERS IN1880.

ByJoeBenSanders

In1880,theVictorioWar ragedacrosssouthernNew Mexicoandhundredsof settlerswerekilledby Victorio'sApachewarriors.

ThebravemenofTularosa knewthedangers,butstillthey freightedgoodsintothe village.ForyearsIhave searchedforandrelocatedthe oldwagonroadsleadinginto Tularosa.

Thewagonroadsledto AntonChico,FortStanton,El Paso,LasCruces,FortCraig, andParaje,belowSan Antonio.Tracesofmanyof theseearlywagonroadscan stillbeseenandtheold wateringplaces,likeTecolote WellandPinosWells,were locatedonearlyplatmapsand canbefoundandre-visited.

In1880,mostTularosans werefarmersifmaleand "keepinghouse"iffemale.Yet, someofuswouldratherriska violentdeathonalonely

wagonroadthanbeaplough boy.Thefollowingaretheones fromTularosawhomadea livingfreightinggoodsand bravingtheApachebravesand worthless,asinlazycattle stealingwhiteoutlawsband. Manyofthebravepioneer settlersworkedfortheBlazer sawmillandfreightedlumber toburgeoningElPaso,Texas. Othersbroughtcommoditiesto townsmenlikecoffee,sugar, tobacco,anddrygoods.

Thefreightersin1880

TularosawereJoseMartinez, LadisladoBorunda,Julian GallegosChaves,Perfecto Telles,EpifanioPadilla,Benito Montoya,TiburcioDuran, EduardoCadena,Emeterio Prado,RosalioMolina,?

Gonzales,MartinGonzales, Gavilán?Coninda?,Teofila? Domingo,SerapioMarcus,and JuanChavarilla.

Now,ourvillageissmall andourpastclose.Mynext doorneighbor,Richard Gutierres,oncetoldmethat Victoriokilledhisgrandfather. IverifiedthatforonSeptember 5,1880,FranciscoBacawas killedaboutwhere16thStreet andNorthFloridaStreet intersectinAlamogodo.His greatgrandfatherwas LadisladoBorundawhoison our1880list.AndRichard's wife,Eliza,whoisnow91 yearsold,toldmethather grandfatherwasBonito Montoyawhoalsofreightedin 1880.Hergrandmother, VirginiaRodriques,wasborn inTularosain1867andfed BillytheKidwhenhewas jailedinTularosa,likelyApril 26,1880,whenBillypassed throughonhiswaybackto Lincolntohang.

Taco(Bwithauthor

RebeccaMichael(T)

TACODISCOVERS TULAROSA

LocalTularosachildren’sauthorDr.RebeccaMichaelhas writtenanewchildren's’book,TacoDiscoversTularosa.Thebook, availableatmanyofthemerchantsofTularosa,isspeciallywritten fortheTularosaAnimalShelterinsupportofthepeopleof Tularosa.Alloftheprofitsfromthesaleofthebook,Taco DiscoversTularosa,willgotohelpsupporttheTularosaAnimal Shelter.

TacoisasilkyBantamchicken(thereallifepetandinspiration forthisbookofRebeccaMichael)whoescapeshiscomfortable homeonthefarmandwandersthroughthetownofTularosa discoveringTularosa’srealbusinesses,historyandlandmarks.

Alongtheway,Tacolearnsabouthope,loveandmeetsseveral otheranimals.ThebookisadedicationtothevillageofTularosa.

Seepage94forabitmorefromTacoDiscoversTularosa.

AnativeofElPaso,TX, JanePeacockstudiedartat theUniversityofTexas. Shehasbeenalifelong painterandfocuseson portraitsofpeopleofthe Borderlandaswellas landscapesofNewMexico.

Sheandherartisthusband, FrankPeacock,raisedtheirfamily inSantaFe,NewMexico.

Janehadasuccessfulcareerin publichealth,servingasPublic HealthDirectorfortheStateof NewMexico.Herpassionhas alwaysbeenissuesaffecting women,infants,andchildren.

Duringthatperiod,shewas alsoinvolvedwithagroupthat builtsmallhousesfordisadvantagedfamiliesinJuarez, Mexico.

Thisfurtherstimulatedher interestinthepeopleand landscapeoftheBorderland.She

primarilyfocusedonportraitsof childrenthatshemetonthe builds.Afterservingmigrants formanyyearsasapublichealth nutritionist,shehascreateda seriesofpaintingsportrayingthe livesofthepeopleworkingin thefieldsaroundLasCruces.

Herchilefieldpaintings usuallycarryafocusonthose harvestingproduce.

Janehasalwaysreserveda specialplaceinherheartforthe landscapeoftheSouthwest.Asa childgrowingupalongtheRio Grande,sheoftenrodehorses alongtheriver,fields,andirrigationditches.

Shehasalwaysbeen fascinatedwiththecolorsofthe mountains,thelightdisplaysof sunsets,andthecoolfertile valleysofthatarea.Then,the valleywasfilledwithfieldsof cotton,androadslinedwith cottonwoodtreesturnedgoldin theFall.

Later,uponreturning,she noticedthedisappearanceofthe beautifuloldcottonwoodsalong theditchesofheryouth.This

spurredherinterestinpreserving scenesofthepeacefulMesilla Valley.

Janenowlivesandhasher studioinPicachoHillswhere shepaintspleinairlandscape paintingsthatrelatedirectlyto thelandscape.

TheMesillaValleyreminds herofherownvalley,40years ago.Itishergoal,asanartist,to createworksthatcapturethe changinglightandbrightclear colorsandstarkcontractsofthe localSouthwesternlandscape.

Shelovespaintingoutside becauseitgivesherachanceto investigateawidevarietyof colorstrategies,textures,and changinglight,dependingonthe timeofday.

Shefindsthatthedaysthat shepaintsoutsideareindelibly placedinhermemoryaswellas hercanvas.

Sheisamemberof“PleinAir PaintersofNewMexico”and “Let’sPaintNewMexico.

ItwasabeautifulNew Mexicodaywhenthe deliverytruckstoppedat HughsFarmandRanchFeed Storeonhighway70in Tularosa.Thisfeedstorehas caredforalloftheanimals inTularosaforyears; providingqualityfoodand service.

Sittinginaspecialbox foranimalstobedelivered, satawhitesilkychickwitha groupofothers.

Hehadacrookedbeak, andjustlookeddifferent fromhisbrothersandsisters.

Lookingthroughthe holesofhisboxhecouldsee awarmbuildingwitha friendlystaffsigningforthe boxheandhisbrothersand sisterswerein.

Justaboutthetimethebox opened,thefuzzylittleguy waslookingupatakind facewhilehewasbeing pulledfromtheboxtoa warmandlightedholding box.

Thiswasabigworldfor him!

Hehadjusthatchedand wasnowsittinginalarge warmcagetwodayslater.

Hecouldseemuchbetter fromthiscageattheworld aroundhim.

Peoplewerecomingin dailywithabeepatthedoor, walkingthrough,looking especiallyathisbrothersand sisters,andleavingoneby

oneuntiltherewasonly himselfleftinthecage.

Hewasspecialbecausehe hadalongerbeakonthe bottomthanthetopandit madehimlookcute….at leastthatwastheword everyoneusedthatcamein andpointedathim.

Whatever“cute”meant.

Finally,afterthreedaysof this,hesawakindface comeinandpointathim.He wasplacedintoawarm

transportboxandwhisked outtoawhiteandblack largeboxthathummedasit moved.

Ittoolashortbitoftime untiltheboxstoppedandhe wascarriedtothehouse.He heardavoiceandsmiled.

“Oklittleguy.Thisisyour newhomeuntilyourold enoughtogointothe chickenhouseoutside.”

“Outside?”hethought. Whatdidthatmean?What

wasoutside?

Hewaspulledfromthe boxandplacedinalarge boxwitharedwarmlight andcedarshavings.There wasplentyofchickstarter foodandwater.Thiswasa greatdayindeed.

Thesuncameupandwent downthreetimesandhewas cuddlingwithastuffedteddy bear.Everydaythislarge handwouldplacefresh waterandfoodinthecage andtalktohim.Hefelt warmandsafe.

Everymorningonthefarm thefarmerwouldplayher

favoriteradiostation.The musicwouldbeblaring whiletheanimalsbobbed theirheadstothesound.

Whenthemusicstopped, theanimalswouldrecite “YourlisteningtoKALH Radio,theBasin’sVariety 95.1,VoiceoftheWildcats.

Thesunraisedand loweredforamonthandhe wasbigger.Notsofluffy,but prickly.Hisnewfeathers werecominginnowandthe lightwasabithot.Thehand wouldpickhimupand cuddlehim.Frequently,the personwouldplacehimin herlapandhewouldcuddle

andplay.

Onthisparticulardaya heavenlysmellofcorn tortillabeeftacosfilledthe littlefarmhouseonalmost anacre…….hejumpedfrom hisownerslapontothetable andsnatchedoneofthe tacosfromapaper plate…hisownerstood amazedandsaid“Okyou badbird,Ihaveanamefor younow….Taco.

Tofindoutwhathappensto Taco,stopinatoneofthe manyshopsonGranado streetinTularosaand purchaseyourowncopyof TacoDiscoversTularosa.

forMartha’sdedicationandhard work,andwelookforwardto continuingtoworkwithherto makeAlamogordoanevenbetter placetolive,work,andplay.

Congratulations,Martha,on thiswell-deservedrecognition.”

Marthahasbeeninstrumentalingettingfoodtrucks organized,coordinating entertainmentandmorefor eventssuchasthemid-week AlamogordoFarmersMarket whichreturnedtoNewYork Avenuelastyear,andwillbe comingbacktoAlamogordo’s MainStreetDistrictJunethru October2023onWednesday evenings.

Andmarkyourcalendarsfor theupcomingDowntownVintage Carnivalhostedbythe DowntownMerchantsAssociationMay13thonthe800and 900BlocksofNewYorkAvenue.

Youcancountonseeing MarthaJones’bigsmileand leadingthechargetoensure everythingissetup,andallare ontask,toprovideanothergreat dayoffunandentertainmenton Alamogordo’sNewYorkAvenue.

MarthaJonesistheperfect exampleofagreatandpositive “CommunityVolunteer”that representsthebestofAlamogordoandis“Alamogordo Proud.”

McDonaldwasmurdered,the CoghlansStorebeginningin about1875,theHoweStorein Bentinthelate1870stoearly 1880suntilhewastoo murdered,theHenryStore westofMayhill,andthe Hilton'skeptastoreofgoods ontheSacramentountilhewas murdered,also.Hmmm. Reckonitwasaviolentplace tobehereaboutsinthedecade ofthe1870s-and1880s?

Charliediedofapparent oldageabout1915or1916and wasburiedintheLaLuz camposantoandhasafine tombstonetomarkispassing. Hewaswellliked,apparently honest,andsorelymissedby thelocalcitizens,andsoheis fondlyrememberedbyusashe helpedLaLuzgrowintoanice littlecommunity.IlivedinLa Luzintheyearsspanning1987 to1991,andithasalwaysbeen afavoriteofmymothers.It shouldberemembered however,itisapeacefullittle village,andIwouldaskyou driverealslowthroughthe littlevillageandappreciateit. Itseemsfolksdrivetoofast throughthislittlevillage,and thatiswhatIheardrealoften whileinterviewingtheviejos, "slowdown".

Hewasadirectorofthe FirstNationalBankof Alamogordo,andsoitwould seemtome,hisbookkeeping abilitiesandbusinessacumen stillcontinuethroughtheages. Thisbank,FirstNationalBank ofAlamogordo,hasalways beenmyfavoritesinceSecurity BankandTrustwassoldinthe early1980s.Adios

Cloudcroft*Mayhill*HighRollsSunspot*Timberon*Pinion

OneofNorthAmerica’soldest andhighestgolfcourses,The LodgeGolfCourseisascenic golfcourseat9,000feet establishedin1899.Governed bytheScottishtraditionof playingdifferentteesand separateflagsoneachhole,this dramatic9holegolfcourse, whenplayedtwice,becomesa challenging18holeround.

Thegolfcourseisopenseven daysaweek,Aprilthrough October.Pleasecallahead forteetimes!

575-682-2098

mud,justastheydidinthe formerandlargerLakeOtero.

Athincrustofgypsumand otherminerals,includingtable saltandEpsomsalt,mayalso bedeposited.Eventually,this crustissweptupbythewind andcarriedfromthebasin, exposingmoreselenite crystals,whichbreakdownto formmoresand.Theformation ofsandatLakeLuceroand AlkaliFlatisonasmallerscale thanitwaswhenLakeOtero existed,butLakeLuceroand AlkaliFlatremaintheprimary sourceofnewdunesinWhite SandsNationalPark.

LakeLuceroisnamedafter twobrothers,JoséLuceroand FelipeLucero,whoin1897 acquiredaquarter-sectionof water-bearinglandalongthe southshoreofthelargelydry lake.Thebrothers,whoalso servedassheriffsofDoñaAna County,parlayedtheir homesteadintoa20,000-acre ranch;thearidlandcould support2,000cattle.Eventual condemnationoftheranchin 1945helpedcreatepartofthe WhiteSandsMissileRange.

FelipeLucero

memorieswiththem. Qualitytimeissoimportant, andIlovethatIcangivemy staffthesameopportunities withtheirfamiliesaswell.”

Whenyoucallorwalkinto Luxeyouwillbegreetedby LaurenandLydia.These ladieswelcomeeveryone withsmileandarethereto answeranyandall questions.Andwhenyou comeintotheMedSpa,take alookatthenewepoxy floors,thesewomenputalot ofworkintomakingthis placebeautiful.

LaurenmovedtoLaLuz in2017.Herhusband’s militarycareerbrought Laurentotheareaandwe aresothankfulforthat.

LaurenisourProject Managerandmakessure thateverythingruns smoothly.Laurenisa2011 NMSUgrad,withmultiple degreesandcertifications, andwasjustnamed AlamogordoHighSchool HeadVolleyballCoach.She hasnothesitatedmaking OteroCountyherhome.

Lydiawasbornandraised inAlamogordoandis currentlyraising3beautiful daughters.Nexttimeyouare atLuxe,askheraboutone oftheamazingvacations thatshehastakenaroundthe world.Lydiahasworkedin avarietyofmedicalsettings,

bringingallthatknowledge andexperiencewithher.

LydiaisacertifiedMedical AssistantandPhlebotomist, andcurrentlyworkingon obtainingherEMTlicense.

Wehavehadsomany wonderfulclientswalk throughourdoors,andwe areluckyenoughtocall manyofthemourfriends. Whenpeoplethinkabouta “medicalfacility”they assumebigbusiness,butwe arequitetheoppositeofthat. Weareasmall,local businessthatisheretobring

DeirdreWilkerson Director&Owner LuxeMedicalSpa

OnDec.6,NASA’sParker SolarProbebeganthe14thof24 plannedcloseapproachestothe Sun,eventuallycomingwithin5.3 millionmilesofthesolarsurface.

Theclosestapproach–called perihelion–occurredonDec.11at 8:16a.m.EST,duringwhichthe spacecrafttraveledat364,639 milesperhour–fastenoughtofly fromNewYorktoTokyoinjust overaminute.Thisisjustunder Parker’srecordspeedof364,660 mph,setonNov.21,2021.

Duringthespacecraft’s previouscloseencounterwiththe SunonSept.5,itflewthroughone ofthemostpowerfulcoronalmass ejectionsinrecordedhistory. scientistsexpectParkertofly throughandobservemoreexciting phenomenafromitsunprecedented vantagepoint.

“It’saveryexcitingtimeto haveaspacecraftflyingsocloseto theSunandobservingitsactivity,” saidNourRaouafi,ParkerSolar ProbeprojectscientistatJohns HopkinsAppliedPhysics LaboratoryinLaurel,Maryland. “Thefirstpartofthemissionwas duringthesolarcycleminimum, whenwelearnedsomuchabout therelativelyquietconditionsin thesolaratmosphere.NowParker SolarProbeembarksonarenewed

journeywheretheSunismore active.Everycloseencounter opensupnewopportunitiesto understandbetterhowtheSun worksandhowitaffectsus hereonEarthandbeyond.”

Thespacecraftenteredthe encounteringoodhealth,with allsystemsoperatingnormally. ParkerSolarProbeis scheduledtocheckbackin withmissionoperatorsatJohns HopkinsAPL–whereitwas alsodesignedandbuilt–on Dec.17.

ParkerSolarProbewas developedaspartofNASA’s LivingWithaStarprogramto exploreaspectsoftheSunEarthsystemthatdirectly affectlifeandsociety.The LivingWithaStarprogramis managedbytheagency’s GoddardSpaceFlightCenter inGreenbelt,Maryland,for NASA’sScienceMission DirectorateinWashington. APLdesigned,built,manages, andoperatesthespacecraft.

ByAshleyHume

JohnsHopkinsApplied PhysicsLaboratory

BillytheKid

Morethanacenturyafter BillytheKid’sheyday,theOld Westoutlawisstillstirringup trouble.Butthistime,the showdownpitsmayorsagainst sheriffs,andforensicscience againsttheuncertaintiesofthe grave.CouldDNAtesting resolveonceandforallwho liesburiedbeneaththeKid’s NewMexicoheadstone,or woulditmerelycastfresh doubtona122-year-old legend?

Atfirstblush,thesaga soundslikeastraightforward detectivestory:Traditionsays thatBillytheKid(a.k.a. WilliamH.Bonney,Henry McCarty,KidAntrim)was killedbySheriffPatGarrett backin1881andburiedinFort Sumner,N.M.Butin1950,a Texasmannamed“Brushy Bill”Robertsclaimedthathe wastherealBillytheKidand thatsomeoneelsehadbeen shotinhisplace.Hesaidhe hadlivedincognitofordecades butwasfinallyseekingpardon forhiscrimes.Robertsdied laterthatyear,andisnow buriedinHamilton,Texas.

Asifthatweren’t complicatedenough,therewas yetanotherclaimanttothe infamousname:JohnMiller, whodiedin1937andisburied

Sowhichstoryiscorrect?

BackinJune,twoNewMexico sheriffsandthemayorof Capitan,N.M.,proposeda 21st-centurysolution:Exhume theremainsfromallthree gravesites,andmatchtheDNA againstasampletakenfrom thebodyofBillytheKid’s mother,CatherineAntrim,who isburiedinSilverCity,N.M. Theresultswouldconfirmone ofthestories,oratleast disprovetheimpostors’claims.

“Thispartofourhistoryis somethingthatweneedto proveandstandon,”saidGary Graves,thesheriffofDeBaca County,whichencompasses FortSumner.“Otherpeoplein otherstateshavedonethiswith JesseJames.Theywantto provetheirhistory.Andif historyhastochange,sobeit.”

Butitturnsoutthatthe mysteryofBillytheKidisn’t thatsimple:Rather,ittouches uponthetwistsandturnsof OldWesthistoryaswellasthe politicsandeconomicsofthe NewWest.

Graves,alongwithLincoln CountySheriffTomSullivan andCapitanMayorSteve Sederwall,haspetitionedNew Mexico’s6thDistrictCourtfor aninjunctionallowingthemto exhumeCatherineAntrim’s remainsandextractatissue sampleforDNAtesting.They saytheonlyreputedheirof BillytheKid,self-proclaimed great-grandsonElbertGarcia, supportstherequest.Graves hasevenopenedanofficial homicideinvestigationfileon thedeathofBillytheKid

ButthemayorsofFortSumner andSilverCitysaytheywon’t letthebodiesburiedintheir townsbedisturbed

Whywouldn’tLopezand hiscounterpartinSilverCity, TerryFortenberry,wantto havethetestsdone, particularlyiftheresultscould wellbackthemainstreamview thatBillytheKidwasindeed killedandburiedintheir locale?That’swhatDeBaca CountySheriffGraves,who worksinFortSumner,is wondering.

“Thisisavery,veryhot issue,inwhichNewMexicois losingalotoftaxdollars, touristincome,”thesheriff said.“Whyarewethrowingit away?Youtakeasmalltown suchasFortSumner—weare very,very,verydependent uponourtourismbase.”

Bysolidifyingitsclaimon theBillytheKidstory,Fort SumnerandNewMexico couldgivetheirtourismtradea boost,Gravessaid.Thatangle isonereasonwhyNew MexicoGov.BillRichardson supportstheuseofDNA analysistosolvethemystery.

“Wewanttogettothe bottomofit,”Richardsonsaid inaVoiceofAmericareport. “AndifitmeansNewMexico getsalittleattention,sobeit. I’mthegovernor,Iwanttosee promotion,Iwanttosee tourismgoup.Iwanttosee peoplefascinatedbyBillythe Kid.Andthatmeansa fascinationwithNewMexico.”

Lopezandotheropponents ofthetesting,however,say there’smoretobelostthanto begained.

“Thisisanindustryforus,” Lopezsaid.“It’snodifferent fromIntel,orSandiaLabs,or KirtlandAirForceBase.It’s thatbigforus.Wedon’thave muchtoliveoffofotherthan thelegend,sowehaveto protectit.”

Theoretically,DNAtesting couldindeedshowwhich individualsarerelatedtoeach other,andwhicharenot,allon thebasisofsamplestakenfrom remains.Thetestsproposedfor Antrimandherpurported progenywouldanalyze mitochondrialDNA,whichis passeddownvirtuallyintact fromamothertoherchildren. Ifyoucanassumethatthe sampleswerecollectedfrom therightremains,today’s genetictoolscouldidentify evencentury-oldremains,as theydidinthecaseofRussia’s lastczarandhisfamily.

Theproblemis,howdoyou knowthatyou’vegottheright remains?

StorycourtesyofNBCNews

sickandcannotplay.Whatcan hedotohelpandwhowillplay withhim?ComeseeifFreddy canhelpsohisfriendscanplay onthisperfectday.Ialways lovedwritingbutformany yearsmyfocuswasonart.

IreceivedaBAdegreefrom AngeloStateUniversityin Texaswithamajorinart. Beingraisedbyanartistfather itjustseemednaturalformeto pursueanartcareer.

Pursuinganartcareerled meinmanydirections,art shows,stores,artstudy,and teachingart.

Evenso,Istilllovedto writeandtellstoriesso,when mychildrenwereborn,Ibegan totellstoriestothem.They usuallyfocusedaroundencouragingthemtodothings likebrushingtheirteeth,eating healthyorplayingnice.

Theylovedthemandwe hadmanylaughsandshared sweet,cuddlingmoments.

Asmychildrengrew,I startedforgettingthestories andattheirencouragement,I beganwritingthemdown. Then,whenmyfirstgrandson wasborn,Istartedlookingat publishingthem.

HealsobecametheinspirationfortheForestFamily Adventureserieswhichisall aboutfriendshipforallthe animalsintheforest.

Ireadthemtomygrand-

childrenandstudentsandthey lovethem.

Ialsoalwaysincludeanart lessonthatgoesalongwiththe stories.Mystudentsreallylove workingontheartprojectswhich connecttothestories.

Ilovetowritechildren’s storiesandhavestartedworking onanewseries,theFarmFamily AdventuresallaboutSuzieHen andherfarmfamilyandfriends.

WhenIamworkingona storyitisallIwanttodo.WhenI gethomefromschoolIsitfor hoursandwrite,workontheIllustrationsandbuildthestories.

Itissomuchfunandsucha greatoutletformyartisticneeds.

Ifanyonehasastory,I encouragethemtowriteitdown. Therearemanyyoutubevideos thatshowhowtowriteagood story

AFISHERMAN ISBORN

Storyby JuniorThurman Artesia,NM

Tothebestofmy memory,ithadtobeinthe latefortiesorearlyfifties. Attimeswewonderwhat makesustick.Someare borntoworkinoffices,but manylikemewerebornto enjoytheoutdoors,tohunt andfish.Myloveforfishing surfacedatayoungage,an unforgettableexperienceina farmpond.

Summervacation, visitingwithmymaternal grandparentsandrelativesin Graham,Texas,onehot summerthefamilydecided tocampoutonthebanksof

apondownedbyafriendor relative,can’trememberfor sure.

Wehadnotents,certainly nocampers,thesewerehard times,postwarand depressiondays,thecountry stillhadafewyearstogo beforetheeconomy improved.Wecarrieda coupleofmattressesand quiltstosleepoutsideonthe ground,alongwithacouple oftarpsiftheweathergot bad.GrandmaDewitthad friedupsomechickensfor meals,withpotatosalad,and, wetookalongseveralloaves ofbread,somebologna,hot dogs,thefixings,ofcourse, eggsandbaconforbreakfast, awatermelonandplentyof coffeetobebrewedonthe campfire.Agreattimeforall thekids,atthattimethere werefivechildreninmy family,alongwithmyself, twooldersistersandtwo youngerbrothers.Several cousinsandtheirparentshad alsojoinedus.

Tothebestofmy knowledge,noneofuskids hadeverbeenfishing.Papa Dewitthadbroughtplentyof canepoles,somestringand hooksforthekids.My introductiontothe fascinating“BlueGill Perch.”

Yes,thesmall,clearpond wasfullofbluegills,a hungrylot.We’dbroughtno worms,but,GrandmaDewitt baitedourhookswithcuthot dogs.

Theperchlovedem. Shewasapatientold Grandma,don’tknowhow manytimessheunwrapped ourtangledfishinglines fromoverhanginglimbs,but wekeptherbusy.

“Grandma,I’mtangled again,”we’dholler.

Yes,fishinginthatsmall farmpond,Iwas“hooked.” Thefeelingof accomplishment,luringand capturingthebluegillwas unforgettable.Athrill.No, wedidn’tsetanyrecordsfor bigfish,but,allthefishwe caughtweretreasures.

I’llneverforgetthegood timeswehadgrowingup. Thiswasoneofmy favorites.Earlyevenings afteritgotdark,we’dchase lightningbugsalongthe bank.IrememberPapa Dewitthadleftalineoutall night,thenextmorninghe hadcaughtabigcatfish. Dadhadheardamountain lionscreamduringthenight, (orsohesaid),scaringallof uswhotuckedinunderthe coversalittletighter.

Wantatakeyourkidson anenjoyablefishingtrip. Startemoutonapondfull of“Bluegills.”Heyit workedforme…….Idon’t doalotoffishingnow,but, thereweremany,many Saturday’sontheweekends whenI’dbeoutonthebanks ofthePecos,fishing.

I’mDeborahO’Connor,a publicschoolartteacherat CloudcroftMunicipal Schools.Iamalsoanartist andchildren’sbookauthor.

Irecentlypublishedmy firstchildren’sbookseries,The ForestFamilyAdventures. Thereare4booksinthisseries,

FREDDYFOXANDTHE SPECIALSPRINGDAY

FreddyFoxandhisforest friendsaresoexcitedbecause thisisaveryspecialday.He andhisfivefriendsrushdown theforestpathtojointheother forestanimalsinthe excitement.Thisisastoryof friendshipandadventureandis thefirststoryinthisseriesall aboutFreddyandhisforest familyfriends.

FREDDYFOXMEETS HARRYTHEHIGH KICKINGHEDGEHOG

Autumnhascometothe forestandthefallenleavesare makingitveryhardforFreddy Foxtopracticehisstealthy sneaking.Becauseofhisnoisy practice,hemeetsalittle,furry creaturehehasneverseen beforeanddoesnot understand.Withthisstrange meetingFreddylearnsanew skillandmakesanewfriend.

FREDDYFOX WHEREAREYOU?

TheForestFriendsare playinghideandseekbut whereisFreddyFox?Billy Bearhasfoundalltheforest friendsbutnotFreddy.Where canhebe?CantheForest Friendsfindhim?Comeand sharetheadventureasallthe ForestFriendssearchfor Freddy.

FREDDYFOX’SFRIENDS FEELSICK

Itisabeautifuldayand Freddywouldliketoplaywith hisfriends.ButFreddysoon findsthatallhisfriendsfeel

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DiscoverCarrizozo

WorldArtDayisan internationalcelebrationofthe finearts,whichwasdeclared bytheInternational AssociationofArt(IAA/ AIAP),apartnerofUNESCO, topromoteawarenessof creativeactivityworldwide. ThefirstWorldArtDaywas heldonApril15th,2012,a datechoseninhonorof LeonardodaVinci’sbirthday. Asasymbolofworldpeace, freedomofexpression, toleranceandbrotherhood,da Vinciisalsoatestamenttothe influenceoftheFineArtson otherfields.IntheUnited States,WorldArtDaywas officiallyheldforthefirsttime intheCityofLosAngeleson April15th,2015,andyearly thereafter.In2017,IAAUSA, theofficialU.S.-basedchapter oftheIAAwasformed.The AssociationfacilitatesWorld ArtDaycelebrationslocally andnationwide.

Carrizozo,NewMexico, USAjoinedintheinternational celebrationsofWORLDART DAYin2018.LiminaGallery, MalkersonGallery408andthe TularosaBasinGalleryof Photographyhosted exhibitionsandevents includingsponsoringthe creationandinstallationofa multinationalinspired sculpturewhichwasinstalled on12thStreetinCarrizozo.

2019celebrationsincluded galleryexhibitions,music performances,parties, individualartist’sprojectsand communitysupport.

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In2020,LiminaGallery hostedExpressionsofBeauty, a“virussafe”onlineexhibition tocelebratebeautyandartin honorofWorldArtDay2020.

2021celebrationsincluded4 onlineartexhibitionsanda virtualconcert.

2022WorldArtDay celebrationsincludedanonline visualartsexhibit,Artin Multiform,MalkersonGallery 408introducedusto“Kiev”in supportofUkraine,and CarrizozoMusic,Inc. sponsoredtwoperformances byBettmanandHalpin.

2023celebrationeventsarein theworks!

CarrizozoARTISTSand residentsinviteyouto celebrateWORLDARTDAY withusinCARRIZOZO, NEWMEXICO,USA…

Takenin1826or1827by JosephNicéphoreNiépce,the world’soldestsurviving photograph wascaptured usingatechniqueNiépce inventedcalledheliography, whichproducesone-of-a-kind imagesonmetalplatestreated withlight-sensitivechemicals.

Notparticularlyimpressive atfirstglance,Niépcein’sView fromtheWindowatLeGrasis agrey-huedpewterplatewith theblurredshadow-shapesof treelinesandbuildings

Tocreatehisphotograph, Niépcetreatedaheatedpewter platewithbitumenofJudea,or Syrianasphalt,anaturally occurringasphaltwithlightsensitiveproperties.

Theplatewasplacedina cameraobscurafacingouthis second-storywindow.Niépce keptthecameraopenforat leasteighthours,andpossibly aslongastwodays.

Thebitumenhardened wherethelightwasstrongest, creatinganimageofthe streetscapethatonlybecame visibleoncetheunhardened partsofasphaltwereremoved.

Artist-in-Residence MattWhite

“Thoughrealisticand rootedinthewesternclassical tradition,myfigurative sculpturesarerather expressionisticandgesturalin theirexecution.Underlying geometricstructureand anatomicalcorrectnessare contrastedbythespontaneous andaccidentaldistortionsthat occurfromfree, improvisationalprocesses. Marksofthetoolsused, depressionsoftheartist’s fingers,andotherincidental formations,remainevidentin thesurfaceofthepieces, simultaneouslyrevealingthe artist’shandwhilealso representingform.”

MattWhite'sworkcanbe viewedatGallery408in Carrizozo,NM!

ApolloPepper IsIt

TheHottestPepper?

TheApolloPepperisa hybridchilipepperthathas beenmakingheadlinesforits scorchingheatlevels.

Withthepepper-eating communitybuzzingaboutits potentialtobethehottest pepperintheworld,ithas becomeatopicofgreatinterest.

SoistheApolloPepperthe hottestpepper?

TheApolloPepperisa hybridchilipepperthathas garneredattentioninthe pepper-eatingcommunityforits potentialtobethehottest pepperintheworld.

TheApolloPepperwas createdbycrossingsomeofthe hottestpeppersintheworldand issaidtodeliverheatlevelsthat surpasseventhenotorious CarolinaReaper.

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Itisbelievedthatthe ApolloPepper,reportedly measuredatroughly3Million ScovilleHeatUnits(SHU),is about1.4timeshotterthan CarolinaReaper,which measuresinataround2.2 MillionSHU.

Theheatofchilipepperis determinedbythepresenceof capsaicin,withtheApollo Pepperbeingsaidtohavehigh levelsofthischemical compound.

Despiteitsintenseheat,the ApolloPepperhasfoundits wayintothekitchensof adventurouscooksandchili pepperenthusiasts,beingused asaspicyingredientinsauces, marinades,andrubsoreven consumedrawbythosewho canhandleitsheat.The presenceofcapsaicin determinestheheatlevelof chilipepper,andtheheatlevel ismeasuredinScovilleUnits.

Todeterminehowthe ApolloPeppercomparesto otherhotpeppersintermsof heatlevels,itisnecessaryto measuretheScovilleUnitsof eachpepper.

TheApolloPepperissaid tohaveheatlevelsthatsurpass eventheCarolinaReaper, whichhasaScovilleUnits measurementofapproximately 2.2million.

However,itisessentialto notethatheatlevelscanvary significantlyfrompepperto pepper,evenwithinthesame variety.Therefore,itisn’teasy toaccuratelycomparetheheat levelsofdifferentpeppers.

Nevertheless,theApollo

Pepperissaidtobeoneofthe hottestpeppersintheworldand anactualtestforeventhemost experiencedpepper-eaters.

Theeffectsofeatingthis peppercanrangefromintense discomforttotemporary paralysisofthemouth.

TheheatfromtheApollo Peppercanbeoverwhelmingfor someindividuals,anditis essentialtoproceedwithcaution whenconsumingit.

Thosenotaccustomedto eatinghotpeppersshouldbe especiallycareful,astheheat fromtheApolloPeppercanbe significantlygreaterthanthatof othermildchilipeppers.

Avoidingtouchingyoureyes orfaceafterhandlingthepepper isessential,ascapsaicincan causesignificantdiscomfort.

Itisrecommendedtowear gloveswhilehandlingthepepper andtoavoidtouchingyourface oreyesafterdoingso,as capsaicincancausesignificant discomfort.

Ifyouaresensitivetospicy foods,itisbesttoavoidthe ApolloPepperaltogetherorto consumeitinsmallamounts.

BeforeeatingtheApollo Pepper,itisalsoagoodideato haveacoolliquidsourcenearby tohelpalleviatetheheatif necessary.

Generally,itisalways advisabletoconsultahealthcare professionalbeforeconsuming anyfoodyouneedclarification on.

HowtoCoolYour MouthDownAfter EatingSpicyFood

So,yougotalittle overconfidentandwentwithextrahotbuffalosauceforyourwings, addedtoomanyjalapenostoyour nachosorwerewaytoogenerous withthecayennepepperwhile cookingdinner.Ormaybeyoujust hadnoideathosepeanutswere evengoingtobespicy.

Whetheronpurposeornot, we'veprobablyallbitoffmorethan wecouldchew,atleastatimeor two,whenitcomestospicyfoods.

Soisthereanythingyoucando tohelpcooldownyourmouthafter eatingspicyfood?Orwasyourfate

Asitturnsout,soothing thatfireinyourmouthstarts withunderstandingthescience behindtheburn—sinceitcan helpyouunderstandwhatto reachfor(andwhattoavoid) assoonasthatburnhits.

Youalreadyknowthat whenyourmouthisonfire,it's notreallyonfire.Itjustfeels likeitis.Butwhy?

Whilethetwomayseem unrelated,theburning sensationyoufeelwheneating somethingspicyissimilarto theburningpainyou experiencewhenyou accidentallytouchahotpan.In responsetoeach,temperaturesensitivepainreceptorsare triggered—immediately screaming,"ThisisHOT!"to yourbrain.

Sensingyourskinormouth isindanger,yourbrainsends backsensationsofpain,hoping toencourageyoutostopdoing whateveritisyou'redoing.

Inthecaseofthehotpan, thispainservesanimportant purpose—ittriggersan immediatereflextoremove yourhandbeforeitburns.

Inthecaseofahotpepper that'snotevenactuallyhot,so tospeak,thereasonisless obvious.

Hotpepperscontainan alkaline,oil-basedmolecule calledcapsaicin,which sneakilytriggersthe temperature-sensitivepain receptorsinyourmoutheven thoughthemoleculeitself doesn'tproduceheatorcause

anyrealdamage(unlessyou reallyoverdoit).

Oncecapsaicintriggersthese painreceptors,yourbrainis trickedintothinkingyourmouthis indanger—cuetheburningpain meanttoencourageyoutostop eatingwhateverspicythingyou're eating.

Thesepainreceptorsinyour mouthcanadjusttothecapsaicin's trickery,though.Ifyou overstimulatethesetemperaturesensitivereceptorsbyeatingspicy foodoftenenough,they'remore likelytobecomedesensitizedto capsaicin.Thisiswhypeoplewho eatspicyfoodfrequentlyareable tohandleitbetterthanthosewho don't—the"burningpain"is dulledforthem.

Forthosewhodon'teatspicy foodoften,theburningsensation iseithertoomuch,andyoustop eatingitaltogether,oryoutryto dulltheburnbyreachingfor somethingyouthinkmighthelp coolyourmouthdown.

So,youatethehotwings,and nowhereyouare:Frantically searchingtheinternetforsome sortofspicyfoodhack—literally anythingtoputoutthefire spreadingthroughyourmouthand keepyoufromsweatingbullets. (Related:WhyWeSweatWhen We'reHot,asWellasWhenWe're Not)

Armedwithyournew knowledgeaboutthescienceof capsaicin,herearethedo'sand dont'sofcoolingyourmouthdown aftereatingspicyfood: DOreachforsomedairy.

Manymilk-basedproductscontain aproteincalledcasein,whichcan helpbreakdownthosecapsaicin tricksters.Thinkofcaseinasa detergent—attracting, surroundingandhelpingwash awaytheoil-basedcapsaicin moleculesfloatingaroundyour mouth,similartohowsoapwashes awaygrease.Thecatchhereisthat thedairyproductyouchoosemust containcaseintohaveanychance ofcoolingyourmouthdown. Goodexamplesofmilkproducts thatcontaincaseinincludecow's milk(notalmond,coconutorsoy milk),yogurt,cottagecheeseor sourcream.

DOdrinksomethingacidic. Forthosewhoneedorwantto avoiddairy,don'tfret!You'vegot anoption,too:acid.Remember howwesaidcapsaicinisan alkalinemolecule?Balancingit withanacidcanhelpneutralize themolecule'sactivity.Thismeans drinkingoreatingsomething acidic—suchaslemonade, limeade,orangejuiceoratomatobasedfooditemordrink—may alsohelpcoolyourmouthdown. (Milkisalsoacidic,bytheway.)

DOdownsomecarbs.Starches arefillingforafewreasons,oneof whichbeingthattheytypically comewithalotofphysical volume.Thevolumethatastarchy

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foodbringscanalsobe advantageouswhileeatingspicy foodssinceitcanhelpactasa physicalbarrierbetween capsaicinandyourmouth.To putsomestarchbetweenthis sneakymoleculeandyourpain receptors,tryeatingapieceof bread,somericeoratortilla.

DON'Tassumeaglassof waterwillbeyoursalvation.If youtakenothingelseaway, leavewiththis:Because capsaicinisoil-based,drinking waterwillbasicallyjustspread thismoleculearoundyourmouth —settingoffevenmoreofyour painreceptors.Oops!Tohelp coolyourmouthdown,skipthe glassofwaterandtryoneofthe optionsaboveinstead.

DON'Texpectalcoholtodull thepain.You'veseentheoldwar movies.Beforeclosinganopen wound,onesoldierpoursalcohol onthewoundtodisinfectit.The woundedsoldierthenchugs what'sleftintheflask.People havebeenusingalcoholtodull painforalongtime.But,just knowthattheamountofalcohol ittakestoeffectivelyreducepain wayexceedstheguidelinesfor moderatealcoholuse.

Nowthatyouknowthedo's anddont'sofcoolingyourmouth downaftereatingspicyfood, maybeyouwon'tneedtohold backonthejalapenosand cayennepepperasoften.

Storycourtesyof HoustonMethodist

HeatScale

TheScovillescaleisa measureofthe'hotness'ofa chilipepperoranything derivedfromchilipeppers,i.e. hotsauce.Thescaleisactually ameasureoftheconcentration ofthechemicalcompound capsaicinwhichistheactive componentthatproducesthe heatsensationforhumans.

Thenamecapsaicincomes fromthescientific classificationofthepepper plant,atypeoffruit,that belongstothegenus Capsicum.Capsaicin(8methylN-vanillyl6nonenamide)occursnaturally inchilipepperstogetherwitha numberofverysimilar compoundsreferredto genericallyascapsaicinoids,it isthepreciserationofthese

TheScoville

capsaicinoidswhichcauses thedifferencesintastereactionto differentpepperspecies,for examplethetypicaldelayed reactiontothehabaneropepper (C.Chinese)ascomparedto otherspecies.

Thescaleortestisnamed afterWilburL.Scoville(18651942),whodevelopedthe ScovilleOrganolepticTestin 1912whileworkingattheParke Davispharmaceuticalcompany. Asoriginallydevised,asolution ofthepepperextractisdilutedin sugarwateruntilthe'heat'isno longerdetectabletoapanelof (usuallyfive)tasters;thedegree ofdilutiongivesitsmeasureon theScovillescale.

Asweetpepper,thatcontains nocapsaicinatall,hasaScoville ratingofzero(noheatdetectable evenundiluted);whereasthe hottestchilies,suchashabaneros havearatingof300,000ormore, indicatingthattheirextracthasto bediluted300,000-foldbefore thecapsaicinpresentis undetectable.Thegreatest weaknessoftheScoville OrganolepticTestisits imprecision,becauseitrelieson humansubjectivity.

Nowadays,capsaicin concentrationsaredetermined usingmorescientificmethods, typicallyHighPressureLiquid Chromatography(HPLC).The directmeasurementofcapsaicin givesmuchmoreaccurateresults thansensorymethods.

TheScovilleratingor 'hotness'offreshchiliesis obviouslydependentuponthe varietyofpepperbutevenwithin oneparticularvarietythehotness canvarygreatly,thisis

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particularlysoofthehabaneros wherea10foldvariationisnot uncommon.Factorsinfluencing theheatofafreshpepperinclude growingtemperature,hoursof sunlight,moisture,soilchemistry, andthetypeandamountof fertilizerused.Theheatofdried peppersisequallydependentupon allofthesefactorsasitwas growingplustheconditionsunder whichitwasdried.

UntilrecentlytheGuinness WorldRecordshadtheworld’s hottestchilipepperastheRed SavinaHabanero.Generallythese peppersrangefrom350,000–570,000ScovilleUnitsas comparedwithascoreof2,500–5,000forthejalapenopepper.

Therecordbreakingpepper wasproducedbyGNSSpicesInc in1994inWalnut,USand measuredat577,000Scoville units.Recentlyhoweverseveral super-hotpeppershavechallenged fortherecord.

ExpertsattheDefense ResearchLaboratoryinthearmy garrisontownofTezpurinthe North-EasternstateofAssam, claimedalocallygrownNaga Jolokiaintestingwasnearly50 percentmorepungentthanthered savinahabaneroatablistering 855,000Scovilleunits.

However,thisremained unsubstantiated.Seedsofthesame Naga-BihJolokiapepper (sometimesalsocalledtheBhut Jolokia)cultivatedatNewMexico StateUniversityhavestood-upto testingandinFebruary2007a specimenregisteringastaggering 1,001,304Scovilleheatunitswas officiallyacclaimedbythe GuinnessWorldRecordasthe newworldshottestpepper.Naga Jolokiaisnearlytwiceashotas

thepreviousholder,theRed Savina.

Thecurrenthottestpepper reportedandNo.1intherecord booksistheDragon'sBreathchili pepperdevelopedinStAsaph, Wales,inassociationwith NottinghamTrentUniversity.It hasbeentestedat2.48million scovilleunits.Restassured someoneisalreadyworkingon somethinghotter!

Update!"PepperX",bredby EdCurriethecreatorofthe famousCarolinaReaperchili,is claimedtomeasureinat3.18 millionscovilleunits!

EDITORSNOTE:PepperX ratedat3.18millionscoville units,toputintoperspective,if youhadjustonedropofPepper Xjuice,itwouldtake3.18 milliondropsofsugarwaterto dilutetoundetectableheat.3.18 milliondropsisequalto35 gallons.

BillytheKidvisitedWhite Oaksseveraltimesduringhis brieflife,ofteninvolvingrun inswiththelaw.Hehungout withagroupofroughnecks thatfrequentlystolecattle fromranchesaroundWhite Oaks.

InNovember,1880,after venturingintoWhiteOakstosell stolencattleandtostealsupplies, Billyandhisfriendswererunout oftown,withaposseofthirty meninpursuit.Thechase culminatedinastandoff.Deputy SheriffJimCarlylewaskilled whiletryingtonegotiatewiththe fugitivesandarewardwasplaced onBillytheKid’shead.However, afteranewspaperinLasVegas publishedanaccountofthe standoff,referencingBillyasthe leaderofagangofoutlaws,Billy wrotealettertoGovernorLew Wallaceofferinghisversionofthe encounter.

Billyclaimedthatheandhis friendswereinaranchhouse whenaposse,ledbyDeputy Carlyle,surroundedit.Deputy Carlyleenteredthehousealone, demandingtheysurrender.Billy askedtoseeawarrantfortheir arrestandCarlyleadmittedthathe

didn’thaveone.

Billyrefusedtosurrender andheorderedCarlyletoremain inthehousetokeeptheposse fromattacking.Thepossesent BillyanotedemandingCarlyle’s releaseandthreateningtokill Billy’sfriend,Mr.Greathouse.

DeputyCarlysleenteredthe saloonwhereBillytheKidand hisgangwerehidingtotalkwith them.InexchangeoneofBilly theKid'sgangwastaken hostagebyDeputyCarlysle's posse.

AfterDeputyCarlysledid notreturnthepossethreatened tokilltheirhostageifDeputy Carlyslewasnotreturned.A shotwasfiredandDeputy Carlysle,thinkingthepossehad justkilledtheirhostage,jumped fromthewindowofthesaloon, onlytobeshotbymembersof hisownpossewhomistookhim foroneoftheoutlaws.

Unfortunately,hisposseshot andkilledhim;however,Billy andhisfriendsescaped unscathedinthemelee.

HotelOzanne,WhiteOaks

LincolnHistoricSiteisunique inthatitmanagesmostofthe historicalbuildingsinthe communityofLincoln.Thismost widelyvisitedstatemonumentin NewMexicoispartofa communityfrozenintime—the 1870'sand1880's.Throughagift fromtheHubbardFamilyTrust, thehistoricsitenowincludes17 structuresandoutbuildings,7of whichareopenyearroundand2 moreseasonallyasmuseums. Mostofthebuildingsinthe communityarerepresentativeof theTerritorialStyleofadobe architectureintheAmerican Southwest.

Lincolnisatownmade famousbyoneofthemostviolent periodsinNewMexicohistory. Today'svisitorscanseetheOld LincolnCountyCourthousewith museumexhibitsthatrecountthe detailsoftheLincolnCountyWar andthehistoricuseofthe "House"asstore,residence, MasonicLodge,courthouse,and jail.WalkinthefootstepsofBilly theKid,PatGarrett,andother famousandinfamouscharacters oftheWildWest.Tracetheevents

of1878throughthe CourthouseandtheTunstall Store,withtheirpreserved 19th-centuryatmosphere.

Remarkably,theTunstall Storecontainsdisplaysofthe original19th-century merchandiseintheoriginal shelvingandcases!Continue yourwalkthroughhistoryby visitingElTorreón(adefensive towerbuiltbynativeNew Mexicansettlersinthe1850s), theSanJuanMissionChurch, theConvento,Dr.Woods' House,theMontañostoreand otherhistoricstructures throughoutthetown.The Anderson-FreemanVisitor's Center&Museumfeatures historicalexhibitsinatimeline startingwithAmericanIndian prehistoryandendingwiththe LincolnCountyWar.A22 minutevideoabouttheLincoln CountyWarandthe communityisshowneveryhalf hour.

Theimportanceofthis communityandthe significanceoftheBonito Valleyintheprehistoryand historyoftheTerritoryofNew Mexicoareinterpretedwithin someofthe17structuresthat compriseLincolnHistoricSite. Thesehistoricadobeandstone buildingsarepreservedasthey wereinthelate1800sand representthefactionsinvolved intheLincolnCountyWar, 1878-1881.

ThursdaythroughMonday, 10a.m.to4p.m.;closed TuesdayandWednesday

$7foradults.Freefor children16yearsandyounger. NMresidentswithIDadmitted freethefirstSundayofevery month.