Las Cruces Sun-News from Las Cruces, New Mexico • Page 8

Plge g-Sun-News-Us Graces. New Mexico-Sunday, December I. 1974 Some Merchants Blind To State Laws, Dog Duo--More Than Pets A i Guide Dogs Matt Ami Cindy Await Instructions I Sun-Newc Staff Writer Malt and Cindy are two local animals for whom all the "No Pets Allowed" signs on the windows of various public places do not apply. Matt and Cindy are guide dogs for the blind--and the law recognizes them as being much more than jusl pets. Because guide dogs are few in this part of the country and because local mer- 'chants.

are apparently unaware of laws regarding such animals, Matt and Cindy-along with their blind owners--have been illegally denied access to local firms on several occasions. "Most of the time," explained Malt's owner, Al Payne of Gadsden, "people just don't understand who we are. "We don't want to cause anybody any problems and usually when we explain what our dogs are and what the law says, they are willing to cooperate. But a few have been very rude." Cindy's owner is Nancy Ryan who lives in Las Cruces. Like Payne, she has had problems recently in taking Cindy into local stores.

"On two occasions in particular," she said, "I was asked to get out of department stores in no uncertain terms. One manager was very abusive but the other manager was very apologetic when he realized that the law allowed Cindy to be there." New Mexico's law which applies lo guide dogs says, "no person shall debar a guide dog that is trained by a recognized guide dog school to lead a blind person in any place of public accommodation such as restaurants, hospitals, hotels, stores, carriers or any place of public entertainment such as theatres or swimming pools provided that such dog is safely muzzled." Violation of the law is a misdemeanor and anyone guilty of breaking the law is subject to a $25 fine. The law makes special exception to such extraordinary animals, because to the blind person, they represent sight. Matt and Cindy allow Payne and Mrs. Ryan freedom of movement without dependence upon other people.

"With Cindy," Mrs. Ryan, said "I don't feel like I have a handicap. I want to make my own way, a'nd when I go somewhere, I just want to be treated like a normal person." Besides Cindy and Matt, Mrs. Ryan and Payne say they know of only two other guide dogs in the entire state. But they think that the animals will soon become more numerous.

"There are many blind people here," Payne said "and the only reason they don't have guide dogs is because they don't know the dogs are available. I was blind for a long time before I found out in a newspaper article written about Mrs. Ryan and her dog that I could get a guide dog of my own." The guide dogs, which are rigidly trained and very intelligent animals, are given to blind persons free of charge by several guide dog schools in the U.S. Training the blind person to use the dog is also free of charge. The dogs are trained so that when they are in harness, they do nothing but guide Iheir master safety, recognize potentially dangerous situations and lead their masters away from them.

They will not bark, nor will they bite. In training, both dog and master are confronted with every conceivable situation to know how to handle it when it rises unexpectedly. Matt and Cindy are trained to accompany their owners everywhere. They lie quietly under the pew each Sunday in church. Matt rides under the seat when Payne takes a bus from Gadsden to Las Cruces and back several times each week.

Cindy guides Mrs. Ryan through a local Sec DOCS, I'age 16 A First: Italian Missile Firings Scheduled Special To The Sun-News For the first time in history, Italian Army Iroop units are scheduled to fire missiles at White Sands Missile Range this week. A six-round series of annual service practice firings of the Lance, the medium-range artillery weapon system, is planned. Four rounds have been scheduled for Thursday, with two rounds sel for Friday. According to WSMR officials, the firing series will be a milestone in the program of deployment and use of Ihe Lance, a rugged and highly mobile sys- lem designed for support of ground combat units.

Operational since November 1972, the Lance has been fired 46 times at WSMR during the past Iwo years by U.S. Army units that have been equipped with the Lance. A i of I a i a soldiers, about 120 strong, is scheduled lo arrive today at Orogrande Range Camp, in the southeastern corner of WSMR. Traveling in a motor convoy, the troops are coming from Ft. Sill, where they have INTEREST RATES DOWN 41 MILLION AVAILABLE MINIMUM For Apartments, Nursing Homes, Warehouses, Motels, Mobil Home Parks, SHOPPING CENTERS, Improved and unimproved real estate.

EQUIPMENT LOANS FOR OIL WELLS, Interim construction money, Lease backs, Participation loans, FRANCHISE CONTRACTS Oil, Gas and mining loans Restaurants. RETAIL SHOPS OF EVERY TYPE. And x-large residential projects of every kind. WE HAVE PLACED MILLIONS IN COMMERCIAL LOANS AND WE CAN PROVE IT. WRITE OR TO 2917 LOS CRUCES, N.M.

88001 TELEPHONE 1-505-522-0626 I PAN PLACEMENTS been undergoing training for six months at Ihe U.S. Army Artillery Center and School. The firings will serve as grad- a i exercises for the Italians, who will return to Italy to man Lance batteries. Logistical support for the firings will be provided by a U.S. unit from Ft.

Sill, the 1st Battalion, 12th Field Artillery, and by Ft. Bliss, units that Ex-Offender Discussion Set Monday "Prisons Therapy and Opportunity," is the topic of a public forum to be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the agricultural auditorium on New Mexico Slate University campus. Sponsored by the College of Santa Fe under a grant from the New Mexico. Humanities, Council, the forum is the third in a statewide series on the subject of career opportunities for ex- offenders.

operate Orogrande Range Camp. Providing technical support and serving as range sponsor will be the Lance project office in the Materiel Test Division of WSMR Army Missile Test and Evaluation Directorate. Scoring the firing units will be umpires from Italy and from the U.S. Army Field Artillery Missile Systems Evaluation Group based at Ft. Sill.

On hand in advisory roles will be representatives of the U.S. Army Missile Command headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, and the LTV Aerospace Warren, prime contractor for Lance missiles. The WSMR Range Control Division announced that road blocks will be set on U.S. Highway 70, between WSMR and White Sands National Monument for short periods during the firings. The Lance missiles, which have a range of up to 75 miles, will be programmed to impact in the northern part of WSMR.

Development testing of the Lance began 10 years ago. The Lance replaced Ihe Honest John rocket and the Sergeant guided missile. The Lance is the first U.S. Army missile to utilize a prepackaged, storable liquid propellant. The weapon system utilizes a self-propelled launcher.

The missile employs a simplified inertial guidance system and is capable of operating in any weather conditions. Weighing 3,300 pounds at launch, the Lance is 20 feet long and 22 inches in diameter. It may be armed with a conventional or nuclear warhead. AL PAYNE AND his "seeing eye" dog Matt are shown walking through a Las Cnices neighborhood. Payne lives in Gadsden and rides the bus with Matt In'Las Cruces several times a week.

(Murphcy) United Way Weekly Report DISTRICT SCOUT Executive Don Burrows (left) presented an American flag Tuesday at the Mission Inn to Lions Club President T. "Bud" Richards (center) and Capt. Ramon Pync of the Salvation Army. The flag is in memory of the Van liurcn, Lions Club, and was presented on behalf of the Bov Scouts of America. OPEN DAILY 9-10; SUNDAY 10-7 Prolong Keeps the needles on the tree.

1.38 Come in and select from a beautiful assortment of plantation grown SCOTCH PINES! City's Fund Goal Now Within Reach New pledges received this week have boosted the United Way Campaign to $173,000, fund officials reported this weekend. The new total represents 96 per cent of the $180,000 goal set for this fall's drive, they noted. In announcing this week's standings, Stan Smith, campaign chairman, cited Harry Coyne of Mountain Bell and Malcolm Burdett of Stahmann Farms for their individual efforts in soliciting their respective firms. Under their leadership, both firms have set new employe contribution records this year, Smith said. Contributions from the employes at Mountain Bell were 10.5 per cent higher than last year while the per capita gift from the Stahman employes increased from $6.70 to $9.50 this year.

The goal of $180,000 is "now in sight," Smith said. He additionallyrequested those citizens of Dona Ana County who desire to contribute but have not yet been contacted to mail their donations to the United Way office, P.O. Box 1347, Las Cruces, or call 524-7561 and a volunteer will contact them. Be careful with fire: There are babes in the woods. Get In and Get OUT with "HIRE" Education Class Schedule Secretarial January 6, 1975 24 36 weeks Electronics January 13, 1975 48 weeks Radio TV Tech Dental Assisting January 13,1975 40 weeks Medkal Office Assisting January 27, 1975 40 weeks Medical Laboratory Assisting January 20, 1975 52 weeks Las Cruces Community College Locally Owned Private College 430 Main Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001 Ph.

505-523-9550 NEW MEXICO STATE DEFT. OP EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL VA APPROVED- AN EQUAL'OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION.