LEADER OF THE PACK BELEN HIGH CLASS OF ’67 Vietnam veterans remember war VHS senior Carisma Lovato takes state title Sports 9A VAL ENCIA COUNTY La Vida 1B News-Bulletin Vol. 104, No. 46 SERVING VALENCIA COUNTY SINCE 1910 WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13, 2014 Copyright © 2014, Valencia County News-Bulletin 50¢ VC reps to hold key leadership roles in the House By Julia M. Dendinger NEWS-BULLETIN STAFF WRITER [email protected] With the New Mexico House of Representatives boasting a Republican majority for the first time since Eisenhower was in office, three of the four newly selected House leaders represent Valencia County. Rep. Don Tripp (R-Socorro), was nominated to be the next Speaker of the House. Tripp was nominated by now majority floor leader Rep. Nate Gentry (R-Albuquerque). Gentry was previously the minority whip. While the caucus elects its own floor leaders, speaker nominations will be voted on by all 70 House members when the Legislature convenes for its 60-day 2015 session on Jan. 20. Tripp’s District 49 takes in the southern part of the county, coming north to Reinken Avenue in Belen. The Socorro businessman has served in the House since 1999. If Tripp goes on to be speaker, which seems likely since he received unanimous support from Sluder to resign from RC Council the 37 Republicans elected last week, he will preside over the House, which means he will be responsible for everything from scheduling what bills are heard on the floor down to assigning offices and parking spots. “It should be interesting,” Tripp said with a laugh. “It’s going to take a lot of time and it’s a tremendous honor.” Since it’s been 62 years of Democrat majority, the transition from one party to the other is proving to be a bit of a mystery. “One of the things we’re facing is there are not a lot of people around who can help us on how to make this transition — when we’re allowed to bring on staff, do training,” he said. “There has always been a sitting speaker with that continuity within the party. “We are receiving tremendous support and help from past leadership. Rep. (Ken) Martinez is a true gentleman; this is his House too. He doesn’t want to do anything but help things go forward.” Republicans will hold a 37-33 advantage in See Leadership, Page 5A UNM-VC seat opens after Sedillo resigns HONORING OUR HEROES By Clara Garcia By Julia M. Dendinger Rio Communities Tome Rio Communities City Councilor Cyndi Sluder, one of the first four councilors elected to represent the newly incorporated city, plans to resign her position by year’s end. While she announced that her resignation would be effective Dec. 1, she says she hopes to stay on until the end of the year, “if they’ll have me.” Sluder said there are some critical issues the council is working on, such as hiring a city manager and working on ongoing capital outlay funding, she would like to resolve before leaving. Her decision to resign, she says, wasn’t because she doesn’t want what’s best for Rio Communities, but rather because she wants what’s best for her family. Her husband, Steve, has See Sluder, Page 6A It was a bitter-sweet meeting of the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus advisory board last week. The Nov. 4 meeting marked the end of an era for the five-person board, as Position 4, at-large member Corrine G. Sedillo announced her resignation. “I have loved this university; I am so proud,” Sedillo said, her voice emotional. “I have enjoyed working here, what we’ve done. Our kids are going to school here, just out of school, they can come here.” Sedillo, who is in the middle of a four-year term, said she was stepping down due to health reasons. She has served on the advisory board since 2001, but has been involved in the university since its inception. NEWS-BULLETIN EDITOR [email protected] BMRC hopes to change the city’s decision NEWS-BULLETIN STAFF WRITER [email protected] Deborah Fox-News-Bulletin photo THE LOS LUNAS High School JROTC Battalion of 106 members performed a ceremony for local veterans Monday at the Willie Chavez Field. Veterans from WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam were honored and some members from recent wars, including Operations Iraqi Freedom, Desert Shield and Desert Storm were present. The guest speaker was former U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jesse Navarro. A wreath ceremony for fallen veterans included the soldier’s cross, made up of the soldier’s rifle with its muzzle buried in the ground, a helmet on top and the boots of the fallen soldier next to it. The lantern represents an eternal flame, signifying that they will always be remembered. See Sedillo, Page 7A world war ii veteran Alfredo Jaramillo opens up about serving in WWII, D-Day By Clara Garcia NEWS-BULLETIN EDITOR [email protected] Belen Even though the decision to not renew the Belen Model Railroad Club’s lease has been made, club officials are hoping city of Belen officials will change their minds and allow them to continue their display at the Harvey House Museum. City officials informed the club’s board in October that its lease wouldn’t be renewed and would have to vacate the space in the museum by Jan. 20, 2015. Jim McKelvey, the club’s president, said he believes if city officials understand what the club provides to the public, they will change their minds. McKelvey and other club members will be giving a presentation on the BMRC at the Monday, Nov. 17, city council meeting. City officials representing the Belen Harvey House will also be presenting their side of the issue. By Deborah Fox NEWS-BULLETIN STAFF WRITER [email protected] By Clara Garcia NEWS-BULLETIN EDITOR [email protected] Los Lunas Belen To hear him tell it, Alfredo Jaramillo has lived a wonderful life, filled with family, friends and community. The Belen resident, who celebrated his 90th birthday in September, will tell you he’s a Las Nutrias native, who raised a loving family, worked for nearly 30 years as a bricklayer, a member of the union for 50 years. He’s been married for 68 years to his wife, Aurora, and has raised a family of nine children. They have 27 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Throughout his life, Jaramillo has had many stories to tell, but it wasn’t until recently that he began sharing his experiences and his memories of his time in the Navy during World War II. His reasons for not talking about the war weren’t because he didn’t want to, but rather See Jaramillo, Page 7A Clara Garcia-News-Bulletin photo WORLD WAR II veteran Alfredo Jaramillo shares his memories of the war, his service and his life. Here he’s holding his certificate of honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy along with his military photo. 5333 A local developer is building new homes in the Huning Ranch subdivision on post-tension foundations that are guaranteed not to crack. Some homeowners in the Huning Ranch subdivision have filed lawsuits against builders after their homes developed structural damages after settlement of subsurface soils. In the Sagebrush subdivision, a group of 40 homeowners filed a lawsuit in 2010 against D. R. Horton, alleging the company breached homeowner warranties and performed faulty construction. Developers Scott Edeal and his nephew, Chad Zens, are working with general contractor Daryl Cordova, owner of Mile High Homes, LLC, and EXCEL Builders and Developers, LLC to build about 165 homes in Desert Sky and Wildflower subdivisions. The project is estimated to cost See Development, Page 6A See BMRC, Page 5A WEATHER New housing development planned in LL Call us: 864-4472 www.news-bulletin.com INDEX Classified ...... 4B Editorial .........2A Databank .......2A News Digest ...2A Deaths............8A La Vida .......... 1B Noticias ......... 3B Record ............8A Sports.............9A
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