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Are legislators thinking what’s best for area?

Editor:

I was surprised that Sen. Michael Sanchez and Rep. Fred Luna would introduce a resolution to the legislature without first discussing it with the Los Lunas Mayor and Council. I feel this was very disrespectful.

I am also wondering if they are in fact thinking in the best interest of the citizens of Los Lunas. A resolution proposing wetlands at NM 314 and Morris Road. That is 1.5 miles south of Main Street. Do we really want a swamp, yes wetlands are a swamp, that close to the center of the town? Let along losing the BMX Park.

All these people that think wetlands are such a wonderful idea should, perhaps, have it on their land. Then they can sit and admire the species of birds it is suppose to attract as well as the odor and mosquitoes. Right?

As for Mayor Huning and his family receiving preferential treatment, I have known them for 20 years, and they have never received preferential treatment. I do keep abreast of what’s going on here in the Village.

Maybe the citizens of Los Lunas need to be reminded that two of our water wells are on parcels of land donated by the Hunings. The Village used Huning land as our landfill for as along as I can remember. Then, when the landfill was closed, 30 acres of Huning land was condemned for the transfer station. Does that sound like preferential treatment?

Citizens of Los Lunas, wake up. Get the facts and stop listening to ludicrous innuendoes.

Vivian Santistevan

Los Lunas

Idea for animal shelter

Editor:

There is a lot of controversy about what to do about the Valencia County Animal Shelter. Close it as it exists. My suggestion to propose to the residents and to the city council is this:

Why not combine two facilities?

In Los Lunas, we have a minimum security prison. My suggestion is to allow prisoners “good time” by teaching them how to groom and train animals. The animal shelter could be moved to a portion of that facility where prisoners could work with the animals, grooming and training the animals.

Those animals could then be put on the Internet for adoption. Because we will be placing for adoption well-trained, groomed dogs and cats, we can charge more for adoption.

Obviously, we will still have to screen applicants carefully. We want good homes, and I believe people from all over the state will come to our facility to adopt because our animals are groomed, socialized and trained.

We might even be able to specially train for the blind or impaired people. I think this could be a good program, not only for the prisoners, but for the animals.

The money delegated for this animal shelter that we have now could be used to pay a trainer to work with the prisoners, for shelter. I believe we would get volunteers to work with the computer program. We might even have enough money to actually consider humane euthanasia. This is not a new idea. This idea has been used in other states and works well. I hope it will be considered.

Margaret A. Bols

Los Lunas

Job well done

Editor

This is a note of thanks for the wonderful article written by Jennifer Harmon and published in the News-Bulletin’s Caliente dated Feb. 13-19, 2002. The article was entitled “Tomé author’s classic New Mexican cookbook featured at UNM book signing on Feb. 20.”

I have received numerous compliments on the article and wish to give credit to Jennifer Harmon, one of your staff writers. Ms. Harmon was thoroughly professional when she interviewed me, and it certainly shows in her well-written article.

Thank you for the acknowledgement in your newspaper.

Irene Barraza Sanchez

Tomé

Memorial completed

Editor

The last phase of the Memorial Park on Church and Main Street in Belen is being completed.

Thanks to several generous contributors, it will not only be an impressive little corner of our city for everyone to be proud of, but it will also preserve the memory of Mrs. Premia Chavez Vance and all victims of violent crimes, as well as the recent meorial for the victims of Sept. 11.

The bronze plaque on the boulder reads “One nation, indivisible. In memory of those who lost their lives. Terrorist attack on America. September 11, 2001.”

The Belen High School student council has also contributed a bronze eagle. It will be placed on top of the boulder with a plaque, which reads “United we stand.”

A special thanks to the following contributors: New Mexico Travertine, Kustom Trophy House, Romero Funeral Home, Weeping Tree Place Landscaping, Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, Belen High School Student Council, City of Belen, Bank of Belen, Manuel Lujan Insurance Agency, and Debbie Brooks, principal of La Mesa Christian School for assisting with the phrasing of the Sept. 11 plaque.

Sonny and Gloria Sanchez

Belen

STREETTALK

Q: Are you voting in next week’s municipal election? Why or why not?