El Paso Times from El Paso, Texas • 13

52? Section Friday. November 30. 1984 Page 1-B State order to aid NM ethanol plants CLOVIS AP) The state is required to buy at least 20 percent of its motor fuel in the form of New ethanol blends under an execu-jtive order issued Thursday by Gov. Toney Anaya. Anaya signed and discussed the order at a news conference in Clovis.

home to two operating ethanol-producing plants eight others that are not operat-ing. The governor said using ethanol-' blended fuel will improve the state's economy, reduce fuel costs for state i government and lead to cleaner air. I David Roybal, Anaya's press secre fuel extender and octane enhancer and which improves engine performance. "They'll benefit through this program that will use only ethanol fuel manufactured in New Mexico." he said. The use of ethanol-blended fuel, he added, could save the state about two cents per gallon.

Anaya credited the ethanol industry with adding 200 jobs in New Mexico and attracting more than $50 million in investment in ethanol plants. He said he will encourage all other governmental groups, including higher education and public schools, to join him in the ethanol program. He said the fuel would be available for state-owned vehicles in unleaded form and the only ethanol that will be used in the fuel must be produced in New Mexico, he said. The state's use of ethanol-blended fuel will result in demand for an additional 47,000 bushels of grain. Roybal said.

Anaya said five ethanol plants are operating in New Mexico, including two in Clovis and one each in Roswell, Por-tales and Tucumcari. Eight ethanol plants in Clovis are not operating, and three are idle in Roswell, he said. Two plants under construction in Portales are scheduled to begin production in tary said within a half hour of the signing, the board of directors of the Eastern New Mexico Telephone Cooperative approved a resolution favoring ethanol-blended fuel. Roybal said the co-op board voted to purchase at least 20 percent of its fuel needs in the form of New Mexico-produced ethanol-blended fuel He said the co-op is the first body not directly governed by Anaya to take that action. He said the co-op owns 70 to 75 vehicles.

Ethanol-blended fuel is made up of gasoline and ethanol. and Anaya said the ethanol acts as a "fuel extender and octane enhancer" in vehicle engines. 1985. More than half of the grain used to manufacture ethanol, Anaya said, is grown in New Mexico. That amounts to 14 million bushels of corn and sorghum, he said.

"New Mexico and New Mexicans are at the heart of this new prograjn which I promote enthusiastically." Anaya said in remarks prepared for the news conference. "New Mexicans will benefit from a better economy. They'll benefit from reduced carbon monoxide tailpipe emissions. They'll benefit as they move about in their automobiles that run on a A cotton-pickin' chore Board backs college projects Or V-i SANTA FE (AP) The state Board of Educational Finance approved Thursday 11 proposed new projects to be conducted by the public universities, but disagreed with its staff on the priority ranking of the programs. With the BEF endorsement, the projects will be presented to the 1985 Legislature for final authorization and funding.

If the Legislature approves all the projects, they will carry a $4.1 million price tag. Over the past several months the BEF staff has reviewed several requests from the universities for new projects. The 11 projects recommended by the staff were presented to the board Thursday in a priority ranking. The staff gave a high priority to a project to finance child day care services for graduate students at the universities. The program would appropriate $176,000 to the Human Services Department to pay for day care services for the children of 75 graduate students statewide during 1985-86.

Graduate students now are not eligible for state-funded child day care services. Jay Siebens, student body president at New Mexico Tech and a student member of the BEF, objected to the high priority given by the staff to the day care proposal and said "our pur pose is education, not social services." The project later was downgraded from fifth to 10th place on the priority list. A proposal by New Mexico Slate University to develop a high-value crops and water management program at a cost of $1.29 million next year was given seventh priority by the staff, but moved up to second priority by the board. The projects approved, in order of priority set by the BEF, were: $156,000 to the University of New Mexico for KNME-TV public television funding. Albuquerque Public Schools, a partner in KNME-TV, has announced it will no longer contribute to the support of the station and the $156,000 will make up for this funding loss.

$1.29 million for the high-value crops and water management program at NMSU. $220,500 as a state match for federal funds to finance research programs for the Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute at New Mexico Tech. $83,300 to Eastern New Mexico University as operational costs for the Blackwater Draw Museum, archeological site and natural science preserve. Please see Projects, 8B Timet photo by Joel Salcido Valley. Recent rains damaged the crop somewhat, but losses were not extensive.

Rogers has been growing cotton for 28 years. Ramon Madrid, Antonio Torres and Ramon Delgado stomp and compress the cotton to make room for more during harvesting at the Jerry Rogers farm in El Paso's Lower Gift would help ease pain Pay package waits for Anaya review lives alone. Because of a burn, she lost the fingers on her left hand and is paralyzed on her left side. She walks with a cane and works hard to maintain her interest in life. Her only daily activitiy is going to a senior citizens nutrition center, but she has told caseworkers that she is losing interest in doing that.

She says she wishes she could see more of her son. Oldster No. 46: Mrs. 66, has high blood pressure and diabetes, conditions that have reduced her pace. She lives alone and seeks to make friends wherever she can.

She has no family and. it seems, only one friend who visits her occasionally. Oldster No. 47: Mr. M.

is 83 and is losing his health. His eye sight and hearing are failing and he is becoming depressed because his memory sometimes fails him. Mr. M. and his 74-year-old wife struggle to make ends meet on the small Social Security checks.

Oldster No. 48: Mr. and Mrs. C. suffer from heart trouble and are in poor health.

They always are in need of medication and hospi- The El Paso Times Oldsters Fund is teaming up again this year with the El Paso Salvation Army to help the city's needy elderly during the holiday season. Fund organizers hope to give cash donations to 2,778 people this year. Last year, the Oldsters Fund helped 2,153 people with donations of almost $62,750. The goal this year is $68,000. All the money collected goes to the elderly.

Oldsters representatives of those to be helped by the fund will be profiled daily through Dec. 10. Checks may be mailed to: Times Oldsters Fund, The El Paso Times, P.O. Box 20, El Paso, Texas 79999 or delivered to the Times Promotion Department at 401 Mills Ave. Oldster No.

41: Mrs. 85, lives alone in an apartment complex for the elderly. Arthritis and fractured hips have left her in almost constant pain. Her income is small and her medical bills are high. She has no money left for extras.

Despite the pain, Mrs. A. has a friendly, outgoing approach to life. Since she does Contributions 8B not see her children as often as she would like, she welcomes visitors. Oldster No.

42: Mr. 94, is a widower. He feels abandoned by his children because they do not visit as often as they did before their mother died several years ago. Old age, loneliness and poverty make life difficult for Mr. G.

Oldster No. 43: Mr. C. 91, is blind. He proudly dresses every day, never forgetting the crucifix he always wears around his neck.

His health is failing but he always has a prayer and a blessing for all who visit him. Oldster No. 44: Mrs. 78, still lives in her old family home, although she is in such bad health that she can hardly walk around in the house, much less maintain it. In addition to health and financial problems, Mrs.

R. is worried about her daughter, who wants to help her mother but is too poor to do so. Caseworkers describe Mrs. R. as frightened and lonely.

Oldster No. 45: Mrs. 66, talization, which adds up to quite an expense. Oldster No. 49: Mr.

once a strong, hard working man, is now 84 and in ill health. He recently broke his hip and is confined to a wheelchair. Though he is no longer able to participate in outdoor activities, he remains cheerful. Mr. L.

lives with his elderly sister, and they help each other. Mr. L. spends much of his time playing card games and working crossword puzzles. Oldster No.

50: Mr. 82, has glaucoma and has little or no vision. He lives alone and is determined to do things for himself because he is afraid of losing his independence. He has several children but seldom sees them because they are too busy. Mr.

M. often shows symptoms of depression and he has told cases-workers that he feels he is SANTA FE AP) The Legislative Finance Committee on Thursday delayed its discussion of the salary package approved by the State Personnel Board until it is reviewed by Gov. Toney Anaya. LFC Chairman Rep. Fred Luna, D-Valencia, said the committee agreed to delay its hearing on the plan until December to give Anaya a chance to approve or modify it.

State Personnel Director Judy Basham said the pay package submitted to the LFC was the same one presented to Anaya. Lynda Sparber, assistant press secretary to Anaya, said the pay plan is being reviewed along with all other legislative requests and a final decision will not be made until after Anaya returns from an East Asia trade mission in two weeks. The pay package is a $25.5 million request that features an across-the-board $500 annual raise for all workers, increased retirement contributions by the state, productivity raises, salary upgrades for certain classifications and a preventive health incentive. The net pay raise would range from 8.38 percent for the lowest-paid workers to 4.17 percent for the highest-paid state employees, Basham said. The plan was adopted recently by the state Personnel Board, but Anaya has not stamped his approval on the measure.

The salary package includes: A $500-a-month raise for 17,288 state employees, including judicial branch and state police, for a total cost of $5.62 million. An increase in the contributions to the state pension plan from 65 percent to 80 percent, for a total cost of $3.15 million. A 4.83 percent productivity raise to reward quality work. Basham said state workers have not received any merit increase for two years. The total cost is $7.4 million.

A $250-per-employee allowance that would be used for routine physical examinations and other preventive health purposes. The money would not be given directly to the empbyee and would revert to the state if not used. The total cost is $2.7 million. Removal of the bottom step in the salary schedule for general state employees, judicial branch and state police, for a total cost of $2.45 million. Upgrading 262 classifications based on market analysis of comparable jobs, for a total cost of $4.18 million.

Mrs. Basham said 3,971 employees would be covered by the upgrade, including 2,134 women and 1,837 men. retary of state's office in Santa Fe. Casey lost by one vote to Republican Melodi Salas of Dexter. Rhoda Goodloe, Chaves County clerk, said the recount would include all precinct boxes 12 from Chaves County and one from Eddy County.

Please see Recount, 8B Ballot recount to verify win by single vote limes staff, wire reports ROSWELL The Democratic nominee who lost by one vote her bid for District 58 state Representative post has asked for a recount of ballots cast in the Nov. 6 general election. Barbara Perea Casey of Roswell filed for a recount late Wednesday afternoon in the sec Times veteran reporter had many iriends in EP, Juarez I Ramon Villalobos was hired at The Times by editor William J. Hooten. Hoo-ten described Villalobos in his book, "Fifty-Two Years a "Two young Mexican-Americans whom I promoted and encouraged on the Times have brought me much gratification.

In 1936, 1 made a reporter of Ramon Villalobos. His English might have been a little shaky, but he made up for that in native intelligence and a burning desire to be a newspaper reporter. He caught on rapidly, and he soon was covering Juarez for The Times He gained prestige rapidly in Mexico, even as far away as Chihuahua City." "He developed into one of the finest Ramon Villalobos, retired veteran reporter for The El Paso Times, died Thursday after a long illness. He was 69. Services are pending with Mission Funeral Home.

"Ramon Villalobos was one of the most interesting people I've known," said Barbara Funkhouser, editor of The Times "He was an excellent reporter and a colorful reporter. At one time or another, he covered every assignment on The Times." Villalobos' journalism career began in 1934 when he worked as copyboy for the old El Paso Herald while he attended school. He remained with The Times when the El Paso Herald was sold to Scripps-Howard Newspapers and worked as assistant librarian, librarian, reporter, church page writer and Juarez reporter until 1940. After working for KTSM radio and doing a hitch in the Army, Villalobos again worked for The Times from 1953 to 1980, and continued to write a Sunday column until 1983. "He had many friends in all walks of life in El Paso and Juarez.

He also was a friend of several presidents of Mexico." Funkhouser said. Villalobos' many assignments included coverage of the violent period in Juarez during the mid-1930s and five inaugurations of Chihuahua state governors. He interviewed five Mexican presidents. Villalobos' son Luis, current Times graphic-arts editor, was hired at the newspaper in 1963 as a copyperson. The younger Villalobos said that later, when he was a general assignments reporter, his father would help out.

"He'd look over my shoulder to see what I was doing. He would write (optional) leads for me. He would give me his own views on the story," he said. He described his father as the last of a breed of old-time newsmen who were made on the streets. The younger Villalobos also described what he called his father's best work.

A short story describing the nonchalance with which a guard at the El Paso County Courthouse replaced a picture of Richard Nixon with one of Gerald Ford after Nixon's resignation seemed to capture the mood of the country at that time, he said. Please tee Reporter, 8B Ramon Villalobos.