April 18, 1974
SOCORRO MOTORS conducted its annual After Easter Sale and offered the folling special prices:
1967 GMC $1,295
1969 Chevrolet $1,695
1972 Pontiac Grand Ville $2, 995
1973 Buick Century $3,295
197Buick Estate Wagon $4,695

April 23, 1974
A CAPRICIOUS DUST DEVIL descended without warning on two mobile homes and in a matter of seconds lifted 20 feet steel beams nailed into cement and a patio roof high over a utility pole and slammed them into a home across the street. Inches away was a small portable grill left untouched. Even a tablecloth on a patio table was not blown off. No one was in either home. The heavy wind struck Friday near the Zimmerman cement plant north of Socorro.

BILLY CUELLAR, who during the 1973-74 basketball season became Socorro’s all-time leading point producer, was named to the All-District team, plus an honorable mention on the All-State AAA team. He was also nominated to the prep All-American Basketball team sponsored by Coach and Athletic magazine. He received a personalized certificate in recognition of his selection. His accomplishments, including his complete athletic record, will be presented in the 1973-74 edition of Prep All-American Basketball magazine.

April 21, 1999
MCDONALDS is the Socorro County Chamber of Commerce’s “Business of the Month.” Susan Martinez, the chamber’s executive director, this week said McDonald’s was chosen because of its many contributions and participation in community events. Under the ownership of Jim Ransom, the Socorro McDonalds has been continuously supportive of the community. Ransom started as a crew member in Albuquerque in 1973. In April 1993, he purchased the Socorro and the Truth or Consequences McDonalds. In Socorro, McDonald’s has 53 employees, nine of them in managerial positions. Ransom and his family live in Socorro. He divides his work time between the Truth or Consequences and Socorro restaurants. He still finds time to be involved in community events and be active in the First Baptist Church.

April 25, 1999
THE SOCORRO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT has three new sets of wheels to work with. Sheriff Felix Saavedra said the new cars arrved about two weeks ago and cost the department about $18,000 each. As more patrol units are added to the fleet, Saavedra said he hopes each deputy will have a unit. “We’re trying to assign an individual officer to each car to be responsible for the maintenance, “ he said. The three deputies who got new vehicles were Joe Tafoya, Shorty Vaiza, and David Marquez. Socorro Police Chief Johnnie Trujillo said new cars should be on the way for the city Police Department as well.

April 24, 2014
THE SOCORRO HIGH SCHOOL boys’ golf team won the Leroy Gooch Invitational golf tournament, topping 18 other teams in Ruidoso. This marks the Warriors’ fourth tournament win in a row this spring, following wins at Seery in Socorro, the Great 8 in Ruidoso and the Hot Springs Invite at Elephant Butte. The Leroy Gooch tournament was played in cold, windy and snowy conditions as the Warriors overcame a 10-shot deficit after the first day to the New Mexico Military Institute Colts. The Warriors shot team scores of 317 and 312 at the Cree Meadows and Links at Sierra Blanca golf courses and ended up winning the tournament by six shots over the Hobbs Eagles and the Colts. Sophomore Sean Moor won the individual portion of the tournament, topping more than 90 other golfers, with scores of 79-71; he bested senior golfer Nick Gillihan of Las Cruces High, who had scores of 72-79. Moore’s score of 71 also earned him his final leg for the state tournament and qualified him individually for the high school finale. Other scores for the Warriors were Ricky Silva with 80-78, Isaiah Anaya with 81-80, Will Benson with 85-83, Levi Romero with 77-92, and Dennis Woods with 83-87.

Denise Ortega