Compiled by Denise Ortega

FEBRUARY 6, 1973

SOCORRO POLICE OFFICERS Charles W. Rogers and Rudy Chavez received certificates of completion of a State Police Law Enforcement Academy held during the last week of October and the first two weeks of November 1972. During the three-week course, the officers completed study and training in Defensive Driving, Spelling and Report Writing, Implied Consent Test, Accident Investigation Project, First Aid Examination, First Aid Field Evaluation, and Physical Training and Baton Training.

STATE POLICE narcotic agent Doyle Randall supervised the burning on Sunday of 182.5 pounds of marijuana, 13.5 ounces of hashish, 1 gram of cocaine, 10 LSD pills and 2 ounces of raw opium along with 800 assorted amphetamines and “barbs which had been seized by authorities in Socorro and Sierra counties from Dec. 1, 1971, to Dec. 1, 1972.” Burning the contraband took about three hours. Street value of the marijuana was about $91,250. New Mexico law calls for the burning of marijuana and other narcotics by an authorized agent. The burning must be witnessed by two individuals.

FEBRUARY 4, 1998

SEVEN MEMBERS of Socorro’s MESA program will be serving as legislative pages in Santa Fe this session. Socorro High School senior Lissa Herrera will be a general assignment page, while Monica Boeck will be sitting on the roster, informally known as “the big-wig gallery.” Sara Shiells will be a page for Secretary of State Stephanie Gonzales. Sarracino Middle School students Roberta Pino, Jason Romero and Roberta Smill will serve as general assignment pages. Jolena Sanchez will be a legislative page for State Sen. Joe Fidel.

FEBRUARY 7, 1998

CLASSES AT SAN MIGUEL SCHOOL were dismissed early Thursday because of a noxious odor that permeated through the school. Chemicals used in a school restroom caused a minor reaction which emitted an odor that appears to have been picked up and spread through the return air system in the heater, said fire chief Bob Brunson. “There was no misuse of the chemicals,” said Brunson. “But since we couldn’t tell what was involved until we received material safety data sheets, we recommended that school be dismissed,” he said. Brunson then returned to the building at 4 p.m., double-checked the building and “cleared the school” so that classes could resume.

FEBRUARY 2, 2013

TUESDAY’S LOCKDOWN at Socorro High School was prompted by a threatening note. Socorro Police Department Chief George Van Winkle said SPD received a call at 11:39 a.m. from the school. He said a note was left by the door of a classroom indicating there was a bomb at the school. The classroom was in the portable buildings on the side of the school, not the main building. Superintendent Randall Earwood said when the handwritten note was found, the school called the Socorro Police Department, and officers conducted an investigation. Van Winkle said the incident is still under investigation. He said detectives interviewed all the students in the classroom. There were about 10. Police also determined there was no bomb after doing a thorough check of the buildings.

VALARIE (AYON) RISLEY has been serving in the United States Air Force since July 2000. She holds the rank of technical sergeant (E-6) and is an instructor at Airman Leadership school, teaching young airmen the skills to be a non-commissioned officer. Riley is serving her second tour at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Risley was awarded the 2012 Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for her squadron and will go on to compete at the next level. After her assignment is up in July, her family hopes the Risley’s will be stationed much closer to home.

Chieftain Staff Report