The Taos News from Taos, New Mexico • Page 1

The Taos News 'Taos, New Mexico-Thursday, June 30,1988 Vol. XXXIX No. 50, Two Sections 32 pages 500 2 movies filming in Taos By Dick Behnke Staff Writer Taos is playing host to has hardly even turned its head. Two motion picture companies began filming separate movies here last week and Taosenos got not only a chance to see some well-known movie stars, but also got a chance to earn money as extras. Brother Productions Inc.

shot scenes for "Twins," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, while Backtrack Productions was shooting "Backtrack," starring Dennis Hopper and Jody Foster. Hopper also directs. Spokespeople said each production is using up to 40 people a day as extras. "Backtrack" is being shot mainly on the Ranches de Taos Plaza and inside the old Cortez movie theater that Hopper owns. The theater has been renovated and is now a gallery and Hopper's home-away- from-Hollywood.

"Twins," shot around Taos, including locations at the Sun God Motel, the Mabel Dodge house and the gas 'station on the Valdez rim, ended its shooting schedule Monday (June 27) and moved to the Santa Fe area. "Twins" is a comedy in which Schwarzenegger and DeVito play (believe it or not), twin brothers separated at birth. Their reunion is volatile and often hysterical. "Backtrack" is an "action- thriller," said publicist Susan Senk. The basic plot for the movie finds a murder witness (Foster) fleeing for her life, only to unwittingly fall in love with her would-be assassin (Hopper).

Most of the actors and ac- Please see MOVIE, Page A-2 Director-actor Dennis Hopper pauses a moment before the 48-foot Zozobra at the Ranches Plaza as he briefs cast, crew and extras prior to shooting a scene of his movie "Backtrack." Five cameras, 20 extras, 35 erry crew members and members of the Taos Voluntary Fire Department and sheriffs office were on hand 11 hours to shoot what may become a five-minute scene for the movie. July 4th events Taosenos will have their own fireworks show, and Angel Fire will combine its independence celebration with a birthday party for the town, incorporated two years ago. Indendence Day celebrations: The Optimist Club will host live music, food booths and fireworks at Anaya Field. Events begin at 6 p.m.; fireworks at sundown. River: Four days of festivities include a tennis tournament Saturday and Sunday (July 2-3) and a weekend of square dancing, kite making and a staged bank robbery at Frye's Old Town.

The Red River Jubilee is scheduled to perform at the Alpine Theater and a melodrama is planned at the Mineshaft Theater. A parade is set for Monday (July 4) at 9 a.m. Nest: The annual Fourth of July parade will begin at 1 p.m. on Main Street. The Seventh Annual Fireman's Barbecue, sponsored by the Eagle Nest Volunteer Fire Department, will roast from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Fireworks are scheduled to explode at sundown over Eagle Nest Lake. Fire: This town is celebrating not only America's independence, but its second birthday as well. The town is hosting a five-kilometer fun run and walk Monday (July 4). There will also be tennis and horseshoe tournaments, fire engine rides, kite building, a greased pole climp, greased pig contest, cooking contest, live music, fly-casting contest, and a fireworks show as the big finale at sundown. All events will take place at Olympic Park.

THe Taos News will remain open Monday (July 4) with regular deadlines. Rodriguez to Plains meet Page Rodriguez got an okay Tuesday (June 28) from board members of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative on his request to attend Plains Electric's annual meeting Aug. 17. His attendance, though, still hangs on a vote by the Plains board. Local board members voted 5-3 in favor of Rodriguez's request to attend the meeting with a guest, after a long discussion about whether Plains will allow co-op members at the meeting, and the proper procedure for presenting a petition with 1,200 names asking for open board meetings at Plains.

Rodriguez said he intends to present the petition signed by Kit Carson members. Board president Carlos Cisneros asked Rodriguez to name his guest before the vote, and Rodriguez named reporter Judy Romero-Oak of The Taos News, who covers the local co-op. Board members voting against Rodriguez's request were Roland Diefenthaler, Robert Coca and Malaquias Rael. After the vote Coca said the only reason he voted against it was that he hasn't seen the petition and doesn't know what is in it. Diefenthaler said during the meeting that he doesn't think members should attend meetings because of the confidential information discussed in monthly meetings.

Rael said he thinks reports of Kit Carson's representative (board member Chris Mondragon) are enough information for the public, and opposes The Taos News attending. "I haven't seen any professionality in this newspaper," he said. Rael is the former Kit Carson representative on the Plains board, and he said The Taos News never did many stories on his reports. He said if a newspaper representative was included in the request he didn't think it would be approved. "I don't see anything wrong with (Rodriguez's request)," said Cisneros.

"It's Plains that is wrong for not opening the meetings to the public." Heavy storms bring jobs, woes More than 1.5 inches of rain in 10 days has left farmers and roofers happy. Extension agent Rey Torres said the rain's timing has been ideal because alfalfa was several weeks late and farmers had not yet made their first cutting. The rains have averted acequia squabbles, including one in the Des Montes, Arroyo Hondo, Valdez area where low runoff had led to the resumption of a 50-year debate over water priorities. "It's not a problem now," said a Des Montes rancher. 'There's enough water for everyone." Edna Sturtcman of the Lilac Shoppe said heavy moisture now could mean more pesky bugs later.

"For now we're Sturtc- man said. "Let's hope the clouds blow this eastward." The midwest and southern states are suffering a drought, which means high alfalfa prices for commercial growers (up 20 percent) and lower prices for cattle (down 10-20 percent at the La Junta sales ring). Downpours Friday (June 24) and Saturday (June 25) rained out at least a half dozen sports events, flooded storm drains and caused some comic relief: a fireworks vendor cut off from Paseo Sur by water posted a sign reading, "Swim on over for good deals." Taos Community Auditorium's roof, recently repaired, did not leak, but moisture did lead to condensation, which caused the roof to leak on arts patron Grace Parr at the weekend string quartet concert. Torres thinks the weather outlook is promising. He predicts fanners will be able to retain the early moisture, July will feature traditional afternoon thundershowers and New Mexico will not suffer a drought.

Twining seeks new permit ByLynzMWebb Staff Writer A permit that would allow more treated sewage in the Rio Hondo has downstream residents of the Taos Ski Valley protesting to the Environmental Protection Agency. A new five-year permit before the EPA would allow the Twining Sanitation District to increase its discharge from 95,000 gallons a day to an unlimited amount. An EPA public hearing at Kachina Lodge Friday (June 24) drew about 100 people. The face-off pitted the sanitation district and Taos Ski Valley property owners against their downstream neighbors. Twining officials explained to the crowd that more gallons per day down the river does not mean higher concentrations of restricted constituents like suspended solids, ammonia-nitrogen, phosphorus and fecal coliform bacteria.

It Please sot TWINING, A-2 Police still seeking Oakeley murderer Albuquerque police are continuing their investigation into the stabbing death of Althea N. Oakeley, 21, of Taos who was attending the University of New Mexico. Oakeley, a 1984 graduate of Taos High School, died during surgery at UNM Hospital from numerous stab wounds to the torso, said Albuquerque police spokeswoman Mary Molina Mescall. According to Mescall, at least three people heard Oake- ley's shouts for help at about 8:42 p.m. June 22.

"One person actually saw the offender," Mescall said. "We got some pretty detailed information." Despite having a description and a police artist's drawing of the suspect, no one has yet been arrested. Mescall said Oakeley, a 1985 Taos Fiestas princess, was attending a "get-together" along with her brother and her boyfriend just before the incident. "She got mad about something and left by herself," Mescall said. "This apparently was not unusual (leaving by herself).

We believe she was walking home when the incident occurred." Oakeley was stabbed at 1320 Buena Vista, S.E. She lived at 1907 Buena Vista S.E., both in the university area. "The witnesses said they heard her scream and looked out into the street," Mescall said. "Then they heard her say Tve been stabbed' and she collapsed." The one witness who clearly saw the suspect said he was a Hispanic male, 20-24 years old, five feet seven to five feet nine inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, medium build with dark brown, short hair combed to the side. When last seen he was wearing a white T-shirt, faded blue jeans and white tennis sneakers with a black stripe down the side.

Mescall said all witnesses and Oakeley's brother and boyfriend had been questioned extensively but no further information came to light. "It may simply be a case of a woman walking at that time of night getting assaulted," Mescall said. She said the investigation was continuing and police were actively working on the case. "At some point it may be turned over to Crimestoppers," she said. Oakeley was buried Saturday (June 25) at the Rael Cemetery following services at Our Lady of Sorrows Church at Arroyo Hondo.

LONG HAUL: Jerry Mar tinez of Velarde was the winer of the gruelling 26.2- mile Taos Marathon but Taoseno James Branch was the first across the finish line and got a hug from his wife as he took the 13.1- mile Half-marathon. Please see Page A-6. Copyright 1988 El Crepusculo, Inc. Anuncios A-9 Arts B-4 Business A-5 Calendar B-10 El Crepusculo A-16 Favor Contra A-4 Horoscope B-14 Legal notices A-14 Letters Obituaries A-15 People A-8 Real estate A-13 Regional news A-7 Sports A-6 Television B-ll Want ads A-ll Weather High in Taos was 87 degrees June 21, 22 and 23, low temperature was 48 degrees Saturday (June 25). The National Weather Service forecasts widely scattered afternoon and evening thundershowers today (June 30) with showers becoming isolated by Saturday (July 2), temperatures near to slightly below seasonal nor- mals..