Letters to the editor

What does it say about a

 

community …?

Editor:

Two things happened in Valencia County last week that really upset me and should upset every resident of this county. The first was the opening of firework stands, and the second was the closing of the recycling center in Smith’s parking lot.

While at first glance it may seem that these two events are unrelated, both involve ignorance and large backward steps.

The most serious of these two events, of course, are the fireworks. I guess that someone forgot to tell the local government that we are in a horrible drought. I know that I have seen stories every night on the local news about the wildfires that are literally consuming the southwest, and I think that the local government probably has access to the same news stories.

If not, all they have to do is look out a window at the smoke in the air, and I would like to remind them that hundreds of thousands of acres have burned in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, and the fires don’t show signs of stopping because we haven’t had enough rain.

I am writing this letter to the very distinctive sound of bottle rockets and firecrackers. For anyone who doesn’t know, bottle rockets go higher than 10 feet, are supposedly illegal this year, and have a tendency to land almost anywhere, and there are no “cleared” places in the area where I live (supposedly another of the restrictions).

I realize that the people who sell fireworks need to make a living, but at a time like this, if they won’t voluntarily find another way to do it, the government should step in and take a stand. This is basically criminal endangerment. People who start fires, intentionally or otherwise, have been prosecuted, but, here in Valencia County, the threat of a massive fire destroying property and life apparently is not as important as a handful of people making money.

The recycling center closing is not actually dangerous, but it was one thing that our village could really be proud of. I have friends from Albuquerque and

Santa Fe who were very impressed by the forward-thinking of Los Lunas and the easy access to recycling.

I know that there will still be a recycling center, but it will be inconvenient. As we all have to eat, the one at Smith’s was convenient for everyone.

I know why it is closing, but it really is a tragedy since many people may just stop recycling because of the inconvenience.

Once again, a few ignorant people who didn’t want to dispose of trash properly and found the recycling center a convenient place for dropping off things that had no business there have ruined it for everyone. It seems that ignorance goes from the bottom to the top in Valencia County.

Diana Ravenson

Los Lunas

What are they thinking?

Editor:

I was driving through our community today and was astounded at the number and size of fireworks stands that have been erected in the last week.

First, we have put our faith in our city and county governing boards to keep us safe and make decisions that benefit us and ensure our well being. How can they allow the use of fireworks, considering the extremely dry conditions in the entire southwest? How can the county afford to pay to fight fires? We’ve been told that the county is in debt.

Second, we already have the fireworks.

Just look outside your window. We haven’t seen the sun or moon in their natural state all week, due to the haze from fires in eastern Arizona. On Independence Day, let’s challenge ourselves to find a way to celebrate our patriotism without fireworks. To be a patriot means having to give something up. Let’s express our patriotism by giving up the use of fireworks this year and saving our beautiful country.

Steve Seyb

Los Lunas

Drug testing in school, OK!

Editor:

I would like to give my thoughts toward the Street Talk question, “Should drug testing be allowed in public schools?” which was in the June 29 edition of the News-Bulletin.

For illustration purpose only, if an individual was driving a U-Haul truck, which was loaded with explosives, with the intention of blowing up the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albuquerque, would we dare say that a search of that truck by a state highway patrolman would be an infringement on personal rights and freedoms?

Absolutely not, I would hope. Instead, the patrolman would be praised for apprehending a felon in an attempt to murder hundreds of innocent lives.

I feel the same way about the importance of drug testing in schools. For, in that matter, drugs are a form of a boom, but I would contend that both can be equal in damage or cause toward damage.

Drugs have no business in our schools, public or private. School is a place to improve and excel a student’s skills, but drugs will eventually corrode and tear down the very brain which takes in the information that one receives at school. Yes, I strongly believe that there should be drug testing in our schools in our war against drugs.

When one applies for employment very likely they will be drug tested. The same applies to athletes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association and the Olympics.

When one joins the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard, they can expect to take a drug test.

We have previously seen that employers, athletic sports leagues and our military strive for excellence. We should expect no less in our school system, as we are training the leaders of tomorrow.

Keep drugs out of schools. Institute drug testing.

Jim Wilburn

Belen

Against ‘under God’ in pledge

Editor:

Some people have forgotten that the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance was inserted during the McCarthy era and, at that time, had a strong aroma of the Nazi “Heil Hitler” salute.

But the real reason that I stopped reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is the “patriotic” assumption that God is always on our side — an attitude that seems to be repeating it self today.

Hazel Bickford

Los Lunas

Big thanks for Rio Valley help

Editor:

I want to thank everyone who attended the Rio Valley Festival this year and hope everyone had a great time. I would like to thank two very special women: Theresa Wall, for her singing at the opening of the event, and Margo Jaramillo, for singing our National Anthem.

Thank you News-Bulletin for your kind support and promotion of this event; it would not have been the success it was without you. Thank you.

I would especially like to thank Wayne Gallegos for helping out by being our MC. Thank you to the City of Belen for the band and the spectacular fireworks display. Thank you to Richard Baldonado and the rest of the city employees who helped set-up and then stayed late to clean-up. Thank you very much.

I would also like to thank Joe and Gloria Mocera, Don Brooks, Cassey Johnston and Judge John Pope for being our judges for the homemade-pie contest. Thank you to Wal-Mart Distribution Center for the watermelons, hamburgers and the grill, Wal-Mart Super Center for the hamburger buns, and Ricky Garcia at IGA for the pies and more buns.

Thank you to Sen. Michael Sanchez, Mayor Ronnie Torres, Councilors Terese Ulivarri, Rudy Jaramillo and Jeff Trembly; Judge John Pope and Anna Pope for cooking all the hamburgers.

A very special thank you to Rita Logan, Mary Lou Chavez, Linda Erickson, Schuyler Michael, Devin Michael, the Torres family — Ronnie, Barbara, Sabrina and Matthew — for helping with the set-up.

And a special thanks go to Russell Griego and the Lardner family — Michael, Britney and Nicole — for all their hard work. I could not have done it without you. Thanks.

Tim Lardner

Belen