The Taos News from Taos, New Mexico • Page 1

VW The Taos 2627 EAST HI Paso MICRO Thursday, Jan. 2,1997 Taos, New Mexico Vol. XXXVIII No. 25, 4 Sections, 42 pages, Copyright 1997 1996: By Deborah Ensor The Taos News The past year in Taos County was laced with tragedy as Taosends witnessed the death of many beloved members of their community. But among the tragedies were rays of hope, the beginnings of dreams, the start of futures.

Looking over the last year in the valley, it seems like we've often taken two steps back for each step forward. But at the same time, some pretty amazing things were accomplished. Keeping in mind the good news and the bad, the staff of The Tbos News voted on what they felt were the top stories of 1996, beginning, of course, with the tragic fire that made national news this past May. Other important stories of the past year are highlighted throughout this list. bridge jumpers, school woes 1.

The Hondo Fire. When disaster and tragedy hits a community, amazing things can happen. People mourn and grieve, they get angry, frustrated. They lament, "Why us?" and they wonder how they'll ever get through it. But one of the most amazing things that happens when tragedy hits is the outpouring of community love and spirit.

On Sunday morning, May 5, the beautiful, lush Hondo Valley and the Lama Foundation caught on fire. The fire raged out of control, sweeping through more than 7,000 acres and destroying more than 33 structures and homes. Dozens were left homeless; hundreds more were evacuated. Someone was burning trash in their backyard, and with just a little carelessness, the unthinkable happened and a part of Taos County was up in flames. The thing about this terrible event, however, was that when Lama began to burn, the community began to respond.

Almost immediately, people began asking, "How can I help?" Reparations began in the community very quickly green already grows it was only ashen, people have begun to rebuild homes. Today, the fire in Lama and the outpouring of love stand as another testament to the generosity of all Taosenos. 2. Four people die jumping from Rio Grande Gorge bridge. The year of 1996 saw tragedy four times over at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge where more people leaped to their death in one year than in recent history.

On March 28, Elmer D. Parham of Fairview jumped off the southeast side of the bridge after someone had called- out to stop him. Rescue workers said family members of Parham did not know why he might have Then in August, 51-year-old Alicia Lauritzen, a counselor from Tesuquc, jumped off the bridge after crawling out about 100 yards toward the center of the bridge. Taos fire marshal Jim Fambro spoke to the psychotherapist for about 15 minutes before "she let go and said goodbye." The latest incident at the bridge was on Nov. 22 when Charlie and Kamala Sutherland, who were just recently married, jumped together.

In the days after the double suicide, family members became incensed that the media played the story out to be similar to Romeo and Juliet. "That stuff, the fantasy stuff, is a See 1996, Page A2 'Hot-dogging' claims life of beginning skier By Staci Matlock The Taos News Skiing, like any sport, is not without risk. Accidents and injuries happen. Ski schools teach about it. National skier safety codes are established to prevent it.

Ski patrollers yank people off slopes to avoid it. But sometimes, as with 28-year- old David Huff, nothing but. the skier and luck can keep' the accident from happening. Huff, a novice skier from Arlington, Texas, was skiing with friends at Ski Rio, north of Taos, Dec. 22 when he lost control and slammed into a tree.

Rolf Milke, head of Ski Rio's skier development program, was one of the staff people who worked for an hour to revive Huff until a Taos County ambulance could reach the isolated northern New Mexico resort. "It only his second day on the slopes," Milke said. "He was hot- dogging it with friends and was going too fast. He froze up, lost control and couldn't stop." Huff was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in Taos and flown to University of New Mexico Medical Center in Albuquerque. According to hospital staff, he died Dec.

24 from head and neck injuries. Ski resort staff across northern Ney? Mexico are reporting an increase in skiing injuries and are working overtime to keep skiers safe. In part it's because the snow is good, and more skiers are on the slopes. Emergency room nurses at Holy Cross Hospital estimated 10 skiers a day were coming through their doors for medical treatment. In Taos Ski Valley, Dr.

Quigley Peterson reported 30 skiing injuries Sunday (Dec. 29), ranging from sprained knees to fractures. He called the higher-than-normal skier cases coming through his clinic "Christmas madness." He said it's typical for the number of accidents and injuries to go up, as -a good snow season puts more peo- plp on the slopes at once. Angel Fire Ski Patrol director Dave Prunkard said the resort has 12 to 14 accidents a day -since Christmas Eve. Snowboarders generally suffer the sprained wrists and thumbs; skiers suffer the sprained knees and cracked heads.

Warm weather and lots of skiers on the slopes packs down the snow making it hard, Prunkard said. Despite best efforts of trail groomers at night, during the day the packed snow can lead to more cuts and abrasions during falls. Skiers need to be aware of conditions and adjust their skiing. The greateql responsibility for avoiding skiing injuries, according to ski experts, lies with the skier. Milke said half the accidents on slopes are usually from first-time skiers.

The other half are from "reckless skiers." He said there is no excuse for skiers not to know safety rules and Girl injured in Angel Fire chairlift Occident By Terrance Vestal The Taos News Deann Hobbs, 15, the Texas girl who fell from Angel Fire's Chile Express chair lift Dec. 20, was listed in good condition Monday (Dec. 30) after undergoing spinal surgery last week at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. Tina Foster, public relations manager for the hospital, said "good condition" means that vital signs are stable and in a normal range and that the patient is "conscious and comfortable." "I know she's conscious," Foster said, "but I don't know how comfortable she is." Hobbs fell 20 to 30 feet from the ski lift the day after the dedication of the resort's $3.5 million pride and joy. The.

Chile Express, the state's first high-speed detachable quad chair lift at Angel Fire Resort, was shut down after the accident but was reopened Dec. 24 after an inspection by top technical personnel from POMA of America, the lift manufacturer which is based in Grand Junction, Colo. Hobbs was rescued by the Angel Fire Resort Ski Patrol and taken to Holy Cross See INJURED, Page A3 Slip slidin' away Done Hagler Snow enthusiasts were out in force Sunday (Dec. 29), sledding al! over U.S. Hill east of Talpa.

Above, Jason Vasquez gives a big sendoff to Kymberly Lopez and Becky Lopez, who went screaming down the hill in their inner tube. Left, Chris Poole of Dixon pulls his 2- year-old son, Orion, up the hill in the bright new red sled he received for Christmas. proper slope conduct. "The National Safety Codes are hung everywhere around ski areas," Milke said. "The first step is to read them." Milke noted that at Ski Rio, all the lift tickets and ski passes even note that skiing is not a 100 percent risk-free activity.

All first-time and novice skiers are encouraged to take ski lessons which focus on slope etiquette, safety and ski control, Milke said. And he noted that despite the injuries, "percent-wise, national statistics show the accidents compared to other sports is low." Some accidents can't be avoided. But ski experts agree a little common sense and caution would go a long way to preventing most. "Ski in control and be courteous of other skiers," Prunkard said. "If you can stop before you hit something, ifs a good idea." Costilla residents face crime wave Burglaries cause small northern community to look for solutions of their own By Staci Matlock The Taos News Costilla, the tiny rural community 40 miles north of Taos, was rocked by another burglary Sunday night (Dec.

29) when thieves broke into the home of Alma and Demecio Duran, making off with more than $17,000 in cash and other goods, according to state police. A month ago, burglars broke into Joanna Crawford's ranch' home. "They broke down the French doors and stripped the place of cash, guns, jewelry and stereo equipment," Crawford said. "It amounted to about $15,000. They would have done more, but my sister came home and scared them off." A few days later, vandals broke into the Costilla Elementary School and the Durans' Conoco station, causing an unknown amount of damage and stealing some items.

The Durans own Joe's Gas and Groceries, also known as the Conoco station, and the Plaza Bar. In the last year, the Conoco has been vandalized four times. Lt. Quentin McShan of the New Mexico State Police in Taos said they believe the burglaries are related. Four suspects are being investigated in both New Mexico and Colorado, but no arrests have been made.

"It's been moving slow, slower than I want," McShan said. "But we're staying on it. This is a priority case." Costilla residents are taking matters into their own hands. Already, a petition with more than 100 signatures is circulating the community. Alma Duran said the petition, requesting recognition of the community's problems, will be sent to District Attorney John Paternoster, the sheriff's office, state police and other authorities.

"We need to show them that as a community we care, that we're trying to do something," Duran said. "We just need to let them know we need some help over here." Crawford agrees. "Everyone in the community is so frightened," she said. See CRIME, Page A3.