Compiled by Denise Ortega

 AUGUST 15, 1972

A BLACK COW on the highway at night caused a collision, which resulted in the death of a passenger in a 1961 Ford Falcon van. The accident occurred two miles south of Luis Lopez on State Road 1. Impact crushed the front passenger side of the van against the victim. Death was caused by internal injuries and blood clot. While seatbelts were not in use, it was the opinion of the investigating office that they would not have prevented this fatality.

FAIR STORE

  • J.B. Stetson Hat
  • 3” Brim $20.00
  • 3.5” Brim $22.50

AUGUST 17, 1972

A WELL KNOWN man in Socorro and Catron counties, Herbert H. Ross Sr., died Wednesday morning after a sudden illness. A resident of Socorro for 42 years, he was owner of the Ross Electric Company in which he and his sons were associated, their father active in business until recently. The Ross home on Sixth Street is a landmark. Many groups of school children have been given the privilege of touring it and seeing Mr. Ross’s fine collection of rocks, Indian and Spanish relics. Mr. Ross himself took an active interest in the community and in city governmental affairs.

AUGUST 13, 1997

ROBBERY SENTENCING. A woman involved in a gas station/convenience store robbery was sentenced August in District Court to three years’ probation. The woman pleaded guilty to robbery, a third-degree felony. As part of her suspended sentence, she must enter a residential treatment program and pay restitution to the victims. Until she is accepted into a program, she will remain in the Socorro County jail. She and three other people were arrested and charged with robbing John’s Texaco, 1202 Highway 85, in late December 1995.

BUCKLE DOWN. A record number of child restraint citations were issued during the special Operation Buckle Down blitz July 18-27. Police officers throughout New Mexico wrote 706 tickets for violations of the state child restraint law and an additional 2,306 citations for lack of seat belts. The child restraint citations were 23.4 percent of the total, the highest ever. Fines for violations of the child restraint and seat belt law vary according to jurisdiction, but motorists can expect to pay from $25 to more than $70.

40TH ANNIVERSARY. On Sunday, Aug. 17, Hal and Carmen Quinn of Socorro will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Harold Quinn and the former Carmen Rosas were married in Fontana, California. They moved to Socorro in the 1960s. Quinn managed the Socorro Rasco store before the couple purchased Brownbilt’s Western Wear, which they continue to operate.

AUGUST 11, 2012

SENTENCING FOR SEVILLETA FIRE. The man who started the Sevilleta fire in April of last year was sentenced to two years of probation at the district courthouse in Socorro. The man was convicted of one count of leaving a fire, a felony, and one count of liability for causing the fire on 2,700 acres of private land, and 90 acres of state forest land near Bosque del Apache. The man and his father were cutting apart an old bulldozer in the area when sparks from this activity caused the surrounding grass to catch on fire. They had been putting little fires caused by the sparks out with water. However, the pair eventually ran out of water and the fire got out of hand. The two men then left the scene.

AUGUST 15, 2012

TRIATHLON. The City of Lakes Triathlon was held in Santa Rosa over the weekend and several Socorro residents competed. The USA Triathlon event was comprised of an 800-meter open water swim in Twin Lake, a 20-kilometer bike ride through hilly terrain and a five-kilometer run. Socorro High School cross country coach Steven Montoya finished in seventh place with an overall time of 1:06:04, and William Kessler came in 11th, finishing the course in 1:07:11.

El Defensor Chieftain