I Voted!

 

Yesterday was primary election day in New Mexico. I headed down to the Whispering Cedars Fire Station to cast my vote. I was voter number 22 according to the polling place.

It makes it easier for me to vote as New Mexico's primary election day is the same as my former state of Commiefornia, the first Tuesday of June. 

Above, the Jeep at the fire station after I arrived to vote. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Meetings On Fire Prevention and the Post Office

Above, the meetings were held in the fire station conference room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, our Whispering Cedars community held two meetings down at the fire station. The first was on fire prevention and the second was on the impending closure of the community's post office at the Flying J.

On the fire portion of the meeting, we had speakers from the U.S. Forest Service, McKinley County Fire Department and on insurance. The meeting covered fire prevention measures such as brush clearance and then on evacuation. planning.

I managed to get a few Smokey Bear items:

The second meeting pertained to the planned closure of the post office and what steps we can take to keep it open. 

Afterwards, Larry Lucier, Victor Gomez and I headed to Denny's for lunch/early dinner. 

Pipe Break Fixed

The pipe break near the fire station has been fixed. The water is back on.

There's air in the lines, but that should be resolved as time goes on. There's some rust in the water, but that's also resolving.

A big "thank-you" to the Whispering Cedars Water Association repair crew for getting on it right away.

Nandoh Munoz posted this photo on Facebook of the repairs in progress. The fire station is in the background.

 

Water Leak Near The Fire Station

Above, the water tank that feeds our end of the subdivision. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like the water will be turned off for the better part of the day today.

A water leak has sprung up near the fire station, so the water will have to be shut off while repairs are made. 

This may be the first water leak we've had on our end (green water tank) of the subdivision since I've moved here. The others have been further up the hill that is fed by the white water tank. 

I'll have to jump into the shower before the water is shut off.  

Water Board Meeting

Above, following the meeting and just before refreshments. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The annual meeting of the Whispering Cedars Water Board ended around 30 minutes ago.

The takeaway from it is that financially, the Board is in fine shape with plenty of funds to meet any emergency (such as equipment breakdowns, etc.).  

Friend Roger Slape was elected to fill one Board vacancy. He will do a fine job.

Above, the food brought in by community members. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I found that I have two votes on the Board. The number of parcels one owns determines the number of votes one has. I have two parcels of land. Interesting.

It was noted that the city of Gallup has eyes on our aquafer and may want to build a pipeline to it (Gallup is 18 miles west of Jamestown). 

Following the meeting, the attendees partook in the food that were brought in pot-luck style. It was good with a couple of dishes with a good kick to them.

Water Board Annual Meeting

Above, Whispering Cedars water association members gathered three years
ago at the community volunteer fire station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One nice thing about living in a small town rural setting is that it's easier to meet your neighbors and the directors of the local utilities.

The annual community meeting with the water board is taking place this morning down at our fire station. So, instead of our usual coffee, we'll be going to this instead.

A water board member posted:

The annual water meeting is tomorrow at the firehouse at 11:00 (Enter through the back door). The Water board will be providing chili con carne, tortillas, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, beans, pork meat, red chili and chopped green chili, a cake along with potato salad and lasagna. Please feel free to bring what you like.

This is a great way to socialize and get the straight skinny on our water service in the community.  

The Emergency Disaster Planning Meeting Was Held

Above, the Whispering Cedars Fire Station where the meeting was held. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Emergency Disaster Planning Meeting was held this morning at the Whispering Cedars Fire Station.

We were in the station's conference room, which wasn't big enough to hold everybody. Why they didn't hold it in the main section where the fire vehicles are kept is beyond me. We had a meeting there a few years ago and it worked out just fine.

The agenda wasn't exactly followed, but most everything on it were addressed by the end of the meeting.

Unfortunately, some of the speakers had a habit of giving long, detailed answers to simple questions. It was a case of "ask him the time and he'll give you the history of watch-making." Oh, well.

At least we found that no prescribed fires are planned for the area. That's comforting to hear. A prescribed burn got out of control near Santa Fe (and is still burning) and merged with another fire.

Interestingly, the juniper and pinon pines in the area usually have around 100% moisture content during normal years. Now they are in the 80s (I think 87% was stated). They need moisture to make sap to fight bark beetles.

We do have a CodeRed alert system in McKinley County. Access to it is through the county website. All one has to do is go to the website and register, which I found to be easy. I registered while at the meeting.

There are currently no evacuation plans, but those are being formulated now. As for livestock and pets, there is the possibility of using the Red Rock Park stables or the Prewitt Fairgrounds stables. They are working on that as well. The main problem is transporting the animals out of danger.

The main bone of contention was the shooting area on National Forest land. It needs to be closed for the duration of the National Forest Stage 3 fire restrictions (closure) that the rest of the Cibola National Forest is under.

One oddity of New Mexico. Fireworks are sold year-round, and not even the governor can halt sales. 

Authorities can "recommend" evacuation, but they cannot force anyone to evacuate in a disaster in New Mexico if they refuse to leave. Interesting.

I talked to one of the guest speakers after the meeting. I spoke with McKinley County Commissioner Billy Moore about freeway signs for Interstate 40. There are no signs pointing the way to Jamestown, just "Refinery". Since we don't live in "Refinery, New Mexico", we need signs for Jamestown. He gave me the contact person information at the New Mexico Department of Transportation to get freeway signs.

It was a useful meeting.

Emergency Disaster Planning Meeting Agenda

Above, the Whispering Cedars Fire Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since we have the Cibola National Forest behind our Whispering Cedars and Mesa Ridge Ranch communities, a meeting is being called today to discuss Emergency Disaster Planning at the fire station.

The agenda is as follows:

Emergency Disaster Planning Meeting

May 21, 2022

10:00 AM

Whispering Cedars Volunteer Fire Department

 Scott Williams

Guest Speakers:

  Yolanda Begay-USFS

  James Maiorano- Under Sheriff with MCSO

  Billy Moore- McKinley County Commissioners

  Adam Berry-Emergency Manager McKinley County

  Tim Berry-McKinley County Fire and EMS

   Ron Shultz-McKinley County Fire and EMS        

 We are requesting that questions be held until each speaker is finished.  At that time the floor will be open for questions and remarks for that specific speaker.  Please keep questions specific to the topics discussed.

Topics to be discussed:

What resources will be available if we have a wildfire. 

where do we go and what happens to our livestock, pets etc. 

What type of security measures can we expect from law enforcement?

Emergency evacuation plans specific for our immediate communities.

Is there a phone alert system that we can be included in?

List of things to have ready to go if an evacuation is necessary.

Gun Range west of community. 

Can fires be sparked?

Is it possible for the Forest Service to also put a wooden post for closure, restriction notices near the entrance to the gun range?

Can the gun range also be closed with the annual winter closing?

What do we do about those that chose to use the gun range in the middle of the night?

Fireworks.

Campers in lower Six Mile Canyon.

Potential campfires

Parking on grasses 

If electricity should go out, we possibly could have limited access to water.

Recommendations for our community to make it safer. 

The safety of brush cutting

Household trash burning

We would sincerely like to extend our thanks for each of our guest speakers. 

The Jamestown and surrounding communities

Dog Rescue and Six Mile Canyon

Above, the repaired section of Six Mile Canyon Road at the culvert. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning I headed out for today's drive in Six Mile Canyon. First, I went to the Flying J to check my mailbox. Along the way, near the cattle guard at the entrance to Six Mile Canyon Road, I spotted a small dark Yorkie with a service dog harness in the road approaching and dodging cars. He or she seemed lost and disoriented. I went on to the Flying J, but stopped to put a bulletin about the dog at the Jamestown Community Facebook page.

I went to the Flying J and on my return the dog was still there. After a bit of coaxing, I finally got the dog into the Jeep and proceeded a block away to the fire station. They were prepared as they have a kennel for lost animals. They did some checking and found out who the owner is. The people they contacted would contact the owner.

Above, in the valley area of Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sure enough, I received a voice mail message from Mindy Schultz of the fire station an hour later (it came in while I was in Six Mile Canyon where there's no cell coverage) stating that the owner picked up the dog. It was a female Yorkie named "Dr. Stephanie". Well, I did my "good deed" for the day.

Above, yours truly in Six Mile Canyon today. 

I went on to Six Mile Canyon Road and found that the repaired section near the culvert would be passable for "The Beast". Maybe I'll do some dry camping in Six Mile Canyon next week.

Above, the Jeep in the Six Mile Canyon valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I drove into Six Mile Canyon and saw one other vehicle, a late-model red Jeep. There was a toybox camping trailer camped at the corral just inside the gate, but I saw nobody around it.

It was about 81° outside during my drive, so it was nice and warm out. I headed to the valley area of Six Mile Canyon and hung out there for a while before heading back. 

Whispering Cedars Water Association Meeting

Above, Whispering Cedars water association members gathered today
 at the community volunteer fire station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the first time since I've moved to New Mexico, I attended a meeting of the Whispering Cedars Mutual Domestic Water Association at the community's fire station.

About 60 residents attended and the meeting.

Above, Board Member Nandoh Munoz discusses his display of photographs to a resident. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The meeting followed a printed agenda which included election of board members, officers and a review of the necessary repairs to equipment during the past year. One of the repairs was made necessary to the upper tank and well house after a lightning strike in January.

I was pleased to learn that our water (from an underground aquifer) is one of the best in the region.

The meeting also included a pot luck lunch. Board Member Nandoh Munoz had a display of photographs of different repair and construction work done during the past year.

Following the water association meeting, the fire chief gave a report on the community volunteer fire department. One of the things the chief mentioned was the new fire engine the department obtained this last summer.

Above and below, the new community fire engine. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Several of us later went outside to look over the new fire engine. It is pretty impressive.

I was able to meet several residents of our community. One recognized me from my Facebook page (image that!) and seeing me riding around on the mini bike. He is the one with a Trump flag on his fence. I mentioned that I have a Trump 2020 "No More Bullshit" flag and showed him a photo of it.

He joked, "Don't show that to my wife on Facebook! She'll want one and I'll have to put up a flagpole!"

During Q & A, I asked if we could get a better and more user-friendly water bill billing system. The one we have is confusing. They want to get a new billing program in, one that also includes payments by credit or debit cards. They can't do that now.

It was an interesting meeting and I learned a lot.

Loose Moo-Moos

Above, the view as I was driving down to the bend in the road near the fire station (right). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While heading down to the Flying J and Denny's this morning, I was met by the sight of loose cows in a field near the Whispering Cedars Fire Station.

Above, the cows near the fire station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Apparently, the cows got out of their fenced grazing area and are wandering around near the fire station.

I stopped and took a few shots.

Fortunately, there are a couple of cattle grids between the fire station and Interstate 40 so they can't get onto the freeway and be turned into hamburger.

Life Alert Test Successful

Above, the Life Alert Console I keep in the laundry room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since tomorrow will mark two months since my heart attack in Wells, Nevada, I was reminded to do my monthly test of the Life Alert system that I got afterwards.

I am pleased to report that all went well with the tests (I had to test three devices).

Since I live alone (except for Sierra), I felt it best that I get Life Alert just in case something happens. Fortunately, the local fire and paramedics are only blocks away.

Above, the Whispering Cedars fire station, it is only blocks away. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My "honorary sister's" daughter Desire is a police officer (and ex-paramedic) and her mom told me, "Des swears by the Life Alerts.  She answered tons of calls on those and said they really save lives." Sounds like a big endorsement, eh?

To get more information on Life Alert and to sign up, go here.