Author: Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

Best selling Author and Executive Coach fitness, sports history, healthy life balance. We focus on physical, mental and spiritual fitness for a healthy lifestyle. We provide tips and offer A Social Perspective, Philosophy Political Activism for societal change as a Writer, Businessman, Lover of Life Experiences, Ambassador and Proponent of the Cultural Arts, Advocate In Exploring The Best In Humanity and the Celebration of Life Experience. Author of the Coach Robert Sepulveda Book Series and the 90 Days to a Glass Half Full Lifestyles series offered at fine independent book sellers and on amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Edwards/e/B07RPCCCWC/

Alamogordo Proud: Alamogordo High School Athletics A Look Back Title IX 1975 Girls Track and Field

Posted on by Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

Alamogordo High School was one such school system that progressively moved forward with implementation prior to the full Federal rules rollout. The first regulation stipulating the procedures for the implementation of Title IX was not released until June 1975. Some schools began interpreting and implementing Title IX prior to June of 1975.

Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments required schools to provide equal access to all school activities, including, perhaps most controversially, sports. Thus, began a transformation that has moved girls from the sidelines—cheering on the boys—onto the playing field.

Title IX’s applicability to sports has been referred to as “the most visible gender controversy of the past forty or fifty years.” Title IX brought a sea-change to sports participation through its expansion of opportunities for young girls. While millions of high school boys played sports, organized high school sports for girls was a relatively obscure activity with fewer than 300,000 girls participating the year that Title IX was passed.

In Alamogordo beginning with the 1972/73 sports season dialog about girls’ athletics at Alamogordo high and how Title IX would be implemented jumped to full swing. The goal was to transition GAA programs into interscholastic programs and sports began that migration with others to follow in subsequent years.

However, no sport garnered as much press at its launch, community hype and support as did girls track and field and cross country under the leadership of Coach Marilyn Sepulveda and in the 1974/75 season her girls brought home a state trophy.

Money or spending on girls’ athletics, of course, was a topic of a lot of dialog during this period. Prior to the passing of Title IX, girls’ sports were operated in Alamogordo by the PE department under guidance of GAA, as a club. As such the girls had to fundraise to get the equipment, uniforms etc. needed. In a discussion with Ms. Mary Sittle, who along with Ms. Margaret Rutz who assisted with coaching and GAA programs in the 60’s; each mentioned the girls would do car washes, bake sales etc. to raise funds for the girl’s athletic programs. They said, “it was not uncommon for the money raised by the girls to then be diverted by the system at the time to boys’ activities,” an unfair and unethical concern.

Margaret Rutz was so concerned about funding equity that while at the state department of education in the 1970’s, she led a state survey into spending inequity and presented it to the State Board of Education.

Aug 5th, 1973 Alamogordo Daily News Headline: “Boys Get 16 Times More than Girls”

“A Department of Education survey shows New Mexico public schools spent about 16 times as much on boys’ athletic programs as they did on girls. The survey conducted last spring was presented to the State Board of Education by Margaret Rutz (former Alamogordo High School Girls PE Director) of the department staff.

Ms. Rutz said the surveys were sent to all public junior high and high schools in the state and responses were received by 82%. She said 165 schools that responded spent $1.7 Million on boys’ interscholastic sports for 1972/73 and $119,700 on girls’ interscholastic sports. Ms. Rutz said 165 schools reported almost 27,000 boys participated in interscholastic sports and 9,700 girls.

She said the survey figures indicate $63.86 was spent on each boy participant and $18.68 for each girl participant. Intramural programs were not included in the survey.”

Regardless of the spending inequity, times were changing, and so Alamogordo High began the roll out of interscholastic girls’ sports…

Alamogordo Daily News; June 5th, 1974, Byline: Randi McGinn: “Alamogordo Girls Will Be Competing in Five Sports”

“A big step for the Alamogordo school system…and a giant leap for women’s athletes.

That statement would characterize the proposal to have Alamogordo High School girls compete interscholastic in five sports…

After a long struggle with finances and public attitudes Alamogordo is taking a big step forward with what High School Athletic Director Glen Markham believes will be one of the best female athletic programs in the state…

Ladies in 9 to 12th grade now can compete in tennis,

volleyball, gymnastics, track and basketball whereas the only interscholastic program offered to girls the previous year was gymnastics…

A good part of the program is funded by gate receipts from basketball and football. Markham anticipates the first couple years or so the community will have to get used to the idea of women athletes, and then they will get behind the girls and start supporting them like they do the boys programs.

“Then the only obstacle in the way of a successful girl’s athletics program is the women themselves. Girls have to be trained for athletics;” Markham said. “They have to be willing to give up the weekend date with Bill to play in a tournament or practice. The athletic director predicts because of this lack of teaching girls to think athletically that the junior and senior girls of next year will not be as interested or willing to participate in the program as girls who are coming up.”

He said the new program would eliminate the GAA program which had previously been serving the needs of girls in grades 9 through 12.

GAA served more as a part time athletics basis, where girls practiced a sport maybe once or twice a week and then everyone competed together on field days against other schools. This is opposed to the new program where girls would have daily scheduled practices. The meets against other schools will operate on a varsity and junior varsity system where top players will be assigned to the varsity team.

Coaches for the new interscholastic girls’ programs will assist each other but their primary roles are Francis Stirman Basketball, Marilyn Sepulveda Track & Field, Cathy Price Tennis, Marsha Fiffer Gymnastics and Kay Morgan Volleyball.”

The Alamogordo girls were determined to prove their worth their first year as an interscholastic team led by Marilyn Sepulveda. Over 60 girls signed up for the 1st Interscholastic Girls Track Team to include Houghtslin, P Patterson, J Mancillas, R Pena, P Valle, J Serna, Christy Morgan, M Crawford, Doris Sandoval, Michela Maitland, L Law, C Sandoval, Michela Maitland. Middle Row: M Bennett, J Hall, C Groce, Mary Rodgers, C DeBoo, Donna Crockett, K Guerrero, D Scroggins, D Greenwood, J Lasamana, C Bridges, D Gatton, L Busick, S Sarmiento, S Thompson, A Dennis, D Perea. Top Row: Linda Beavers Manager, C Crawford, G Van Gilder, S Hluchanek, G Steward, P Coleman, J Laseter, Jacque McCarty Manager, C Whitesell, R Fatheree, Margaret Montgomery, C Beckett, Phyllis Fouts, Yanaka Pearson, W Tucker., D Gardner, Anita Floyd, C Frederick, R Kelsey, Jan McCarty, Vickye Murray, S Turning, P Whitehead, K Furr, Carolyn Patterson, V Keller, Julia Fultz, C Fawvor, S Pearson, and R Turning.

As the 1974/75 season progressed Alamogordo and Estancia made the strongest showings in their respective divisions the media reported. Media around the state to include significant coverage from newspapers and television in Northern New Mexico were focused on the Alamogordo Tiger Girls…

  • · Connie Wagoner, Carolyn Patterson, Parla Whitehead, Julia Fultz, Alamogordo, best qualifier 440 Relay state record record 50.6, old record, 51.0
  • · Connie Wagoner, Long Jump, new record 17-3 ¾ old record 17.0
  • Julia Fultz, Alamogordo, 100 Yard Dash, 11.4 new record, old record 11.7
  • · Julia Fultz, Alamogordo, 220, 25.8 new record, old record 26.0

Portales News Tribune, NM, May 11, 1975

Headline: “Alamogordo Tigers Capture 2nd in State Track Meet, Clovis in First”

“Clovis and Estancia rolled to state titles in the Class AA and Class A girls’ state track and field championships behind powerful performances in relay events.

Alamogordo placed second behind Clovis followed by Del Norte in 3rd, Roswell in 4th and Cibola in 5th place.”

State Medalist Included:

  • Connie Wagoner, Vanessa Keller, Carrie Bridges, Parla Whitehead, 2nd Place, 880 Relay, 1:48.0
  • Connie Wagoner, Carolyn Patterson, Parla Whitehead, Julia Fultz, 3rd Place,
  • 440 Relay,50.6 Stella Thompson, 5th Place, 440, 63.1
  • Parla Whitehead, 6th Place, 440
  • Carolyn Patterson, 5th Place, 80 Hurdles ,11.5 Julia Fultz, 1st Place, 100 Yard Dash, 11.1 State Record
  • Connie Wagoner, 5th Place, 220, 26.4

o 2nd Place, 220, 25.8

o High Jump, New State Record 17-3¾

o 5th Place, Long Jump, 17-4½

  • Julia Fultz, Patterson, Chris Morgan, Parla Whitehead, 6th Place, 880 Medley

The Alamogordo Girls Track Team under the direction of Marilyn Sepulveda set records and a standard for girls and served as an example to the boys’ athletics program within Alamogordo High School. The Tiger Girls of this team were pioneers in demonstrating the potential of Title IX and demonstrated they took sports seriously under Marilyn Sepulveda’s leadership. Yes Mrs. Sepulveda still worked hard to instill the lessons of sports as means to grow self-awareness, a positive spirit and self-esteem.

An article titled “Tiger girls set a tough record for future teams to meet’‘ by Stan Green in a late May edition of the Alamogordo Daily New explained…

“Marilyn Sepulveda’s Tiger Girls set a track record this year that future Tiger Girl Teams will have trouble shooting down. The girls showed spirit, teamwork, confidence and grace. They compiled 519 points in 6 meets, racked up four 1st Place meet trophies and 2nd Place chunks of scrap iron including a 2nd Place in the New Mexico State Track Meet…”

The Alamogordo Tiger Girls Track team under its present Coach, Jason Atkinson, continues the traditions of the 1970’s in girls athletics; a tradition of winning, positivity, and teamwork, that these pioneering women accomplished. The Tiger girls of today run on the backs of history.

Today’s Tiger Girls Athletes compete with a program that was established with a strong reputation and recognition early on, and recognized statewide that it was a team; not to be underestimated.

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Changes for the Democratic Party of Otero County New Mexico, An Interview with Monica A Davalos and Brianna Martinez

Posted on by Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

A new generation of party leadership is on the horizon for the Otero County Democratic Party. The Political Climate in Otero County, New Mexico is Strongly conservative. In Otero County, New Mexico 36.0% of the people voted Democrat in the last presidential election, 61.6% voted for the Republican Party, and the remaining 2.4% voted Independent. Otero county voted Republican in every Presidential election since 2000.

Per the Federal Election Commission during the years (2018-2021), there were 3,488 contributions totaling $114,439 to the Democratic Party and liberal campaigns, averaging $33 per contribution
in Otero County, New Mexico. During that same period, there were 837 contributions totaling $229,584 to the Republican Party and conservative campaigns, averaging $274 per contribution.

What does campaign contributions in Otero County tell us? The Democratic Party had a more engaged grassroots small donor base during the 2018 to 2021 election cycles in Otero County. The Republicans of Otero County raised significantly more money by via a significantly lower number of contributors. 

Experts in political science view party campaign contributions as a gauge of party power rather concentrated to a few or more widespread. Based upon the financial contributions within Otero County, it would appear power is concentrated within the Republican party.

The Republican base in Otero County controls every elected city and county seat except for one city Commissioners seat, thus there is a stranglehold on power, with one party rule. The one-party rule is further interesting to review from a viewpoint of a family tree. 

If a family tree were drawn of who is related to who in Otero County, New Mexico and holding appointed and elected offices; the tree would show a concentration of just a few families controlling most elected offices within the County. Cousins, sisters-in-law, sisters, brothers-in-law, nephews and aunts with the responsibility of oversite of family members within the bureaucracy of Alamogordo City and Otero County Governmental bodies. 

When one looks at the larger bundling of donor dollars and direct donations supporting those campaigns of Republican insiders, one also sees the small concentration of power, and political money, pulling the strings and influencing the dialog of local government. 

Whereas the Democratic donor numbers show a higher percentage of Democrats engaged in financial support and a more broad-based level of small donor financial commitment than within the local Republican Party.

That larger donor base of the Democratic Party and higher percentage of donor engagements by the Democratic Party shows a party of small donors wanting to be engaged. Thus recent actions by the Otero County Democratic Party to restructure the party are a logical next step for the minority political party.

AlamogordoTownNews.com met with Democratic Party Chairman, Jeff Swanson today for a conversation on the state of the local party, what is it up to and what are the plans of 2023 and beyond.

Mr. Swanson explained to us that the party in collaboration with the State Democratic Party was revamping to a more grassroots approach. In Otero County that has meant that the party has drawn Wards. A ward consists of several precincts and wards were drawn to include like characteristics, such as demographics and geography. The leadership team within the party and collaborating with the state “drew what amounts to 10 wards within Otero County.”

Within each of those wards is a leadership and engagement structure, getting the party closer to the voter or more “grassroots in engagement going forward” per Mr. Swanson.

With this reorganization, the party has been engaged in restructuring, taking an inventory of its strengths and weaknesses, and crafting, a go forward blueprint, to engagement.

Now that the wards were created and approved, the party is now engaged in a 2-prong process of electing new leadership. 

Part one of the party engagement occurred this past weekend, with an election of ward chairpersons, and Central Committee Delegates for each Ward.

The elected Ward Chairs include…

  • Ward 1 – Donalyn Torres
  • Ward 2 – Raul Espino
  • Ward 3 – Joann Vullo
  • Ward 4 – Denise Lang-Browne
  • Ward 5 – Claudia Powell
  • Ward 6 – Gerardo Martinez
  • Ward 7 – Donna Swanson
  • Ward 8 – Glenn Melton
  • Ward 9 – Henry Madrid
  • Ward 10 – Arthur Alterson

The next phase of the process is to elect the Otero County Democratic County leadership and State Central Committee members. Those elections will be held March 25th by the County Central Committee members selected by the ward elections above. Each ward is represented by a chairperson and member delegates based upon a population formula of active registered Democratic Voters within that ward.

In speaking with Mr. Swanson, he expressed his appreciation to the party and the community for allowing him to serve in leadership within Otero County. He said, “now is the time to pass the baton to new leadership. It’s time for a new generation of leaders to carry forward.”

As such there are two candidates that have been nominated by the party members to potentially take the gavel from Mr. Swanson in a few weeks. The two candidates represent a younger and more diverse look to party leadership. The two candidates seeking the Otero County Democratic Party Chairperson’s role are Monica A Davalos and Brianna Martinez.

Following a similar format as we have done with the general elections in Otero County, we sent 4 questions to each of the candidates to allow them to explain either via a statement or direct answers to the 4 questions. We were seeking questions to why they were seeking their party leadership position and what were their goals if elected.

The questions submitted to each candidate were…

  • Why do you want to be chairperson?
  • You represent a new generation and perspective how will you lead differently than past leadership?
  • How will you mend fences with the fractures in the party?
  • What will be your top priority this next year?

What follows is the response from each Democratic Chair Candidate…

Monica A Davalos responded to AlamogordoTownNews.com with the following prepared statement…

“First, I congratulate Ms. Brianna Martinez on her Statement of Candidacy for Chair of the Democratic Party of Otero County (DPOC). It is refreshing to see a 21-year-old Latina. willing to step up to a large civic duty. I wish her the best. I also extend an invitation for coffee or lunch. I would like to have a chance to ask Ms. Martinez what she feels we both can do to further DPOC and discuss all the opportunities and challenges we have. before us. After all, we are all Democrats.

Next, I have some observations about how DPOC can be more receptive to all party Members.

The first time I was invited to a DPOC Zoom meeting was on Feb. 7. The current chair Mr. Jeff Swanson allowed a person who is neither a registered Democrat, nor a U.S. citizen, to help facilitate a meeting in which she verbally accosted multiple people who were Democrats. 

This meeting was quite chaotic and had no merit or substance pertaining to the current issues the Democrats face. There was no agenda, minutes, or business conducted. Many people left during the meeting. It was very discouraging.

When I announced my candidacy (Feb. 7), Mr. Swanson e-mailed all of DPOC and claimed such “a … takeover, if realized, with the populous cannabis farm lady in Tularosa as Chair, who knows nothing significant about DPNM nor has ever been to a DPOC meeting … Well the effect will be shut down opposition to the most radical Republicans here … and DPOC will likely become a dimwitted and weak faction.” I found this to be very telling given that Democrats fought so hard to legalize cannabis. And, yes, I am “the populous cannabis farm lady,” a proud cannabis producer. And I am proud of what the Democrats did for the cannabis industry and for the State of New Mexico.

My most recent observation was the March 4 Ward election. The Chaparral Ward Election was slated to begin at 6 p.m. However, the current Chair did not arrive until 6:30. The election was held on the side of the road in front of the Betty McKnight Center, which is on the Dona Ana side of the County. Questionable, isn’t it? Notice for these elections were given well in advance and there was plenty of time to arrange for the people of Chaparral to have a decent place to vote, rather than on the road at sunset.

We as Democrats have little room for mistakes, especially within our own operation. As of Jan. 31, 2022, Otero County had 9,941 people registered as Democrats compared to 16,439 Republican: 26,380 out of more than 37,000 voters. To win local elections, we need to register and turn out more Democratic voters. 

As a candidate to serve as Chair, I find it important to reach out to all of Otero County and start to reach beyond Alamogordo and involve La Luz, Chaparral, Mescalero, Bent, Tularosa, and other communities. It all begins with making contact and understanding what our surrounding areas need. We have such a diverse community of people that haven’t been invited to participate. We under-utilize our people and the power of the Democratic Party when a large part of our demographic is left out. We can and must do better for each of our neighbors.”

We then asked Ms. Brianna Martinez the same 4 questions we asked her opponent. Ms. Martinez’s response is as follows…

AlamogordoTownNews.com: Why do you want to be chairperson?

Ms. Brianna Martinez Response: “I care about the well-being of my fellow Democrats. I understand their core values, having worked within the party for years. I’d like to work to create a positive change. This is not a position I will take lightly as I don’t want this for the title, I want to be of service to the Democrats here in Otero County. I’m running in hopes that I get the opportunity to serve others and to make the achievement of the party goals a reality.

There is a lot of potential for a shift if we get involved a lot more in the community and increase our outreach. I have started to develop a plan on how to achieve this, which I will be addressing more in the future. It will take a lot of work and collaboration; however, I believe this is something that can be done, it will take a village, but we can and will do it.”

AlamogordoTownNews.com: You represent a new generation and perspective how will you lead differently than past leadership?

Ms. Brianna Martinez Response: “Because I do represent a new generation and bring a new perspective, I’m certain I will have different ways of leading than past leadership. What I will focus on is allowing everyone the opportunity to participate in a way that suits them. Our current Chairman, Jeff Swanson told me, “Learn everyone’s strong points, and allow them to use those strong points to do what they are best at and most comfortable with, everyone brings something of importance, but only if the organization empowers them”. With that, I know some have said the party needs more structure, I strongly disagree, let others come as themselves, all identities, races, genders, sexualities, ages,

ranging educational backgrounds, etc., and let them bring what they can to the table, and we can all learn and grow from each other. Let’s not just talk about being inclusive but be inclusive.

If I have the opportunity, I would like to bring a focus to the position that targets our younger Democrats in Otero County they are the ones who will be the leaders of tomorrow. I know that many of the younger and minority voters feel that on a national level that the Democratic Party is not progressive enough, or tries to appease our opposite number, the Republican Party. I will be sure, if elected as Chair, to not only uphold, but to be very clear about the importance of progressive ideas and policies, and why we do not need to accept the watering-down of Democratic values. The goal is to focus on Democratic values and getting them implemented. I will be sure that the Democratic Party of Otero County continues that message as it has for the last four years and will work diligently to make this statement better known.”

AlamogordoTownNews.com: How will you mend fences with the fractures in the party?

Ms. Brianna Martinez Response:” While I cannot force other members to mend their relationships with one another, all I can do is ask that they attempt to put all odds aside and start anew. I believe if these individuals have a true goal and passion to build the Democratic Party of Otero County and support the Democratic platform, this is not much to ask, and they should be able to do so. I personally am willing to work with everyone. However, I cannot allow the incivility of others to harm the progress and growth of the organization. It is up to individuals to behave in a civil and respectful manner as I cannot control their actions. The most I can do is lead by example, maintain order to the best of my ability and ask that individuals try to put their differences aside. The solution isn’t to ignore. the issue and hope it goes away, but to continue working for a good cause and hope others follow.

I will add, should there be any violations of the Code of Conduct, in which someone files a complaint against another member, that will be taken seriously, any-and-all members, would be held accountable if found to be in violation, no one is exempt from the consequences of their actions.”

AlamogordoTownNews.com: What will be your top priority this next year?

Ms. Brianna Martinez Response:” The top priority for the next year would be to increase voter outreach. Considering we have some very important elections coming up, I believe this is an area that needs a lot of attention. To go more in-depth, the goal would be to retain Democratic voters in Otero County, which can be done by expanding our outreach, being more visible in the community, reminding others we are here, and educating them on what values the Democratic Party holds. As mentioned earlier, I have started to develop a strategy to accomplish this goal, which I will discuss at a future time.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this interview and to introduce myself to those within the public who may not know me.”

AlamogordoTownNews.com and KALHRadio.org 95.1 FM appreciates the opportunity to engage in dialog with these two up and coming leaders within Otero County. Thank you, also to Jeff Swanson for the dialog today, and to better understand the process of change and evolution of the Democratic Party of Otero County.

Agitators or problem solvers? Does Otero County, New Mexico Need Outside Influencers to Solve Local Issues?

Posted on by Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

A Commentary on outsider Influence on Alamogordo and Otero County…

The Republican Party of Otero County is hosting a presentation by Freedom Families United founders Casey and Mykel Peterson this week. They recently bounced onto the scene with a video of Dr Kenneth Moore – Republican, the Alamogordo Public School Superintendent. The video went viral days after the announcement of a lawsuit filed by the Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts and Lorrie Black against the School Board and against Dr. Moore.

Alamogordo and Otero County over the past year has had a plethora of outside agitators invited in or just showing up to engage the local community into a tizzy of division. 

Last year, it was David Clements and the Election denier sideshow that attempted to fleece the county of funds, with nothing proven of actual local election fraud in Otero County.

However, with the citizens of Otero County New Mexico further divided by these outsiders; they profit going from city to city, with their roadshows of chaos, creating a train wreck of damage and a divided community in their wake. 

Anti-vaxxers and election fraud advocates quickly embraced Clements, with far-right Colorado podcaster Joe Oltmann creating an online fundraiser for him and calling him “a lightning rod of truth and courage.” The appeal during the peak of antivax drama brought in more than $304,000 in donations, including from donors who say they support his “election integrity” crusade. 

Clements says he is not paid for his appearances but asks for donations for travel expenses at the door.

A few weeks ago, yet again, another outside group of agitators appeared and protested in front of Alamogordo Public High School preaching religious bigotry and hate and causing a huge ruckus between what the school system and the city can do to protect the students from their speech of hate and what’s constitutes free speech. After about a week of agitating the community they left.

And now, yet again, from outside the area, we have a video drop and a presentation by another set of outsiders; Casey Peterson and his wife Mykel.

Who are these individuals that just suddenly appeared on the scene locally and why are they suddenly involved in Alamogordo Public School policy debate? 

According to an interview with Anthony Lucero on KALHRadio.org they claim to have been involved with exposing Critical Race Theory indoctrination and they attended the New Mexico State Equity Conference where Dr. Moore was speaking and was able to ask him questions. 

A question a reader should ponder? There were many superintendents and officials with many school systems attending this event and presenting…

Why was Dr. Moore selected to highlight? 

Why not highlight one of the other participants? 

Were they guided to Dr. Moore?

Did someone tip them to keep an eye on Dr. Moore? 

Given the Petersons live near Albuquerque and incorporated their business in Arizona how did Otero County in Southern New Mexico and the Alamogordo Public Schools jump onto their radar to investigate? 

What is their motivation for investigation of APS verses all the various school systems in New Mexico? 

Their organization was incorporated in Arizona and is listed in New Mexico as a foreign corporation due to out of state registration. 

After leaving Sandia Labs the couple created the Freedom Families United. Its purpose is to work “to unite pro-freedom families and educate them on the forces undermining individual liberty in New Mexico and around the nation,” per statements in previous interviews.

Per their initial filing with the New Mexico Secretary of State, “ Character Of Affairs: We are working on getting our charitable solicitations licenses (or the equivalent) in all 50 states so that we can ask for donations online. Our Website is also being built at this time. Our official launch date is TBD at this time, but anticipating an early August 2022 Launch. We have not received any donations as of this time in NM or any other state. Our board members are all voluntary. We do not have any paid employees at this time.” 

Apparently they have modeled their organization after the activist James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas, of which it supported as a contributor of videos and financially until a post they posted on Twitter Tuesday…

They have pulled support per the Twitter post above.

It appears they modeled their organization after; Activist James O’Keefe who resigned Monday morning from his position leading Project Veritas, the conservative group he founded, after clashing for weeks with his board.

In a video to Project Veritas employees, O’Keefe promised to start a new, rival organization doing similar undercover activist work.

In a statement posted Monday night responding to O’Keefe’s video, Project Veritas’s board claimed it was legally required to call a board meeting after it discovered O’Keefe committing what it described as “financial malfeasance.”

According to the statement, the board’s list of alleged misspending incurred by the nonprofit at O’Keefe’s direction included a $14,000 charter flight to meet someone who could repair his boat. Other alleged expenses included $150,000 over 18 months on private “black cars”and thousands of dollars on “DJ and other equipment.”

The board also accused O’Keefe of wasting $60,000 on “dance events.” O’Keefe, a former high school musical theater performer, has been accused in the past of spending the nonprofit’s money on his own musical interests. Last year, Project Veritas acknowledged improperly spending more than $20,000 to help O’Keefe star in a performance of the musical Oklahoma!

“Even with all of this public fallout, the Board still wants to speak with James,” the statement read, adding it wanted to “work things out.” “We did not fire him, nor do we want him to resign.”

Back to the Petersons and their mission…

The Petersons claim their first exposure to Critical Race Theory was via Sandia Labs.  In 2020, 5 years after Casey Peterson had begun working for Sandia, he discovered in his words “the cancer known as Critical Race Theory was spreading quickly throughout the organization. And this was months before anyone even knew what critical race theory was. My wife and I both immediately went to work; researching and creating a detailed video debunking this racist, sexist ideology and shining a light on what CRT was doing to our national laboratories. Months later, in August of 2020, after every other avenue had been exhausted, we blew the whistle on Sandia National Laboratories by mass emailing that video out to all 16,000 employees and contractors in their email directory. Over the next weeks, the words Critical Race Theory began to enter the political consciousness of the media and most Americans….”

Per their website biography page they claim they “suffered continued repercussions for blowing the whistle on our National Laboratories but somehow avoided being fired until February of 2022. We found ourselves fighting for our freedoms, yet again, when I refused to disclose my vaccination status to my employer, refused forced medical testing and the forced disclosure of medical test results.”

Their mission with their new work via their organization “is to revive communities and strengthen Families Nationwide, restoring the purpose, meaning, and hope of patriots. We are defenders of Life, truth and values, working together to take our Country back, and raising the next generation of lions, not sheep.”

Take Our Country, our state, our County our School System back again… 

One can interpret that statement in a variety of ways. Most Americans view themselves as patriotic, and want to live a life of purpose, meaning and hope. 

The Tea Party originated the statement in more recent decade of “take our country back,” as their phrase for trying to take the country back from “liberals, freeloaders on welfare, immigrants, minorities, and, President Obama.”

In 2015, Candidate Donald Trump used the phrase and continued to emphasize illegal immigration and border security, telling thousands of supporters that he would keep the United States secure and dominant in the global economy. “Don’t worry, we’ll take our country back,” he said.

Where did the country, our county, our state our school system go? 

Who took it there? 
How do we take it back? 

These questions are seldom asked. The slogan itself implies the answers.

But there is a silent understanding among those who insist the country, state, county or schools have to be rescued from an internal threat. 

The “outrage industry” profits and is what runs most of this dialog rather from the Clements or the Petersons and many others of their ilk. 

The outrage industry couldn’t exist and have come this far, and become this profitable, without help from mainstream politicians, who have been running against Washington, and in Southern New Mexico against, “the Governor” and Santa Fe. 

Since Ronald Reagan’s successful 1980 bid for the White House, when he famously announced that “government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.”

Verbal attacks on the government came into vogue. For his entire 42 years in the Senate, Orrin Hatch ran against Washington feeding the outrage industry in its infancy. 

More and more, Americans have come to see the government in a negative light.

These “outrage industry profiteers” also claim to be fighting the Deep State, identified as the evil control center of an ill-defined power structure within government that props up the Governor in Santa Fe and her power structure and most of Washington D.C. These profiteers thrive on stirring controversy and chaos wherever they can gain an audience. 

Once their roadshow leaves Otero County, Alamogordo, and the Alamogordo School System drama; these showboats will move along profit, and create chaos across a number of other local small rural communities, and within certain neighborhoods in the large cities across the nation. They have no vested interest in Alamogordo, Otero County, the Alamogordo Public Schools and they could care less of the havoc they created. They came, stirred the pot and made a few bucks along the way.

After those profiteers and agitators leave it’s then up to the local community leaders, political leaders, and business leaders and concerned citizens to then, have to figure out a way to rebuild fences, reestablish the norms of civil dialog, and bring the community back together again.

Alamogordo has fallen prey to these agitators again and again in recent years.

Isn’t time we work within ourselves, without outside influence and agitators and via collaboration build a community that we can all be proud of?

Inclusive, prosperous, spirited, entrepreneurial and entertaining and United for a common good – that should be the goal of all of us. We don’t need outside Influencers to divide us, we within Otero County need to build bridges to unite us.

Alamogordo Town News KALH Radio Anthony Lucero Reports Threats Against Susan Payne

Posted on by Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

The Mayor of Alamogordo Susan Payne receives threats and calls for her death as reported in a live interview with KALH Radio’s Anthony Lucero in a breaking news report.

The incidents began with tensions off the charts with protesters in front of Alamogordo High School from an extremist religious groups not from Alamogordo attempting to stir up hate and disrupting peace in front of the high school all last week.

Susan Payne as herself on her personal web page and not in any professional capacity as mayor posted a quote on Facebook clearly stating this is her personal page closed and open only to her friends and not official page.

Sunday the 15th Payne posted the following “don’t worry about the things you can’t control, sometimes you just have to pray, put it in Gods hands and leave it alone. Pray about it today and leave it alone, Amen.”

She followed it with this also applies to cop hating blue haired freaks who are desperate to be TikTok stars. Note per Anthony Lucero’s story no one was named. 

In an interview for Alamogordo Town News on KALH Radio by Anthony Lucero she explained “no one knows who I was talking about, it doesn’t matter, I didn’t put a name, assumptions were made.”

A person by the name of Jenny Buckley per KALH Radio responded via a TikTok post, “It’s telling, that she is doing a lot more to —-talk me, one of her constituents then she is to deal with the hate group…”

However Susan Payne per her statement has been keeping watching the group and asking questions both as a private citizen and via her professional capacity though actions are limited due to constitutional limitations. 

Ms. Buckley implied Susan Payne has not been seen out there once defending the kids. However KALH reports in an interview with Mrs. Payne that to be untrue. Mrs Payne was out there but chose not to post photos ops of her visit. Per Susan Payne, “I did go out there again I’m sorry I didn’t do a photo op. I didn’t know that I needed to, I assure I was there and can prove I was there long before others.”

Note per Mr. Lucero’s reporting, Buckley is not the only blue haired critic of Susan Payne from the area. 

On the plus side Buckley did identify the protesters as Cry to God Ministries which appears to be nothing more than an hate group of the facsimile of the old Westboro Baptist Church that used to protest funeral of soldiers and gays and is nothing but hate with a new coat of paint. 

Like the Westboro folks the 1st Amendment does allow these freak shows to appear free speech is not always pleasant nor tasteful speech and there are limits to what law enforcement and citizens can do to block this display of hate. 

Sadly the flood gates from this have spiraled into hate at the local level with a few radical citizens also going after and threatening Susan Payne. There is no justification for hate directed toward Ms Payne and threats and phone calls as reported in Mr Luceros story on KALH are uncalled for. Civil dialog is a must for a civil society. 

Ms Payne received several unnerving and even some threatening voice mails, one voice mail called for her execution and another called her a Nazi sympathizer. For those that don’t know Mrs Payne she was born into the Jewish faith and her family practices elements out of both Christian and Jewish traditions.

Mrs. Payne has been working hard on this issue reviewing what legally the city can do. Mrs Payne though this interview with Anthony Lucero for Alamogordo Town News on KALH Radio further explained that  she was not speaking as the mayor but as a private citizen, in her professional role daily the nonprofit she leads ensures 196 at risk children are fed weekly, she works for domestic violence victims and helps with the homeless. 

The attacks on her are a concern for her and her grandchildren’s safety. Mrs Payne has grandchildren that attend Alamogordo High School, so she certainly cares about the safety or the kids enrolled there. 

Hear the complete interview and hear a few of the hate calls and threats made to Mrs. Payne and the complete story as reported by KALHRadio.org Anthony Lucero on the Alamogordo Town News on KALH Radioedition: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qnYgevTBLPeeeMf7HxKMQ

To stay updated on live and breaking Alamogordo Town News with Anthony Lucero and information via KALHRadio.org live stream.

KALH Community Radio 95.1

KALH Community Radio 95.1

U.S. Representative Gabriel Vasquez Representing New Mexico District Sworn In? Chaos in the House

Posted on by Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

A new congressional term began Tuesday as members of the 118th Congress were set to be sworn in while questions remain over whether House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy can get enough votes to be elected speaker of the House.  

In a press release from U.S. Representative Gabriel Vasquez office and a post on his website; its confirmed that members were sworn into the United States House of Representatives January 3rd, 2023.  https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/taking-oath-office

However, constitutionally there would be a question to the legitimacy of a swearing in, if it occurred, prior to the election of a speaker. So not to pars words, so to speak, but each member at this point has taken an oath, however the official ceremonial swearing in of congress for the official record can’t officially happen without a speaker in place. 

The first official act of the House in a new Congress is to elect a speaker, and no other member of the House can be sworn in before that happens. The speaker of the House, in addition to deciding what comes to the floor for a vote, is, per the Constitution, second in line to succeed the president. The speaker is in line behind the vice president. Adding to the urgency, the chamber cannot move forward with any legislative business until a speaker is elected. No committees can be formed, no committee chairs or rules agreed upon and no legislation can move forward or any action by the House until a leader is selected.

At noon, the clerk of the House raised the gavel for the 118th Congress and call a quorum or call for the minimum number of members that must be present for business to be done.

Candidates for speaker are nominated by each party’s caucus or conference. 

On Tuesday, Democrats united placed New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ name into nomination. Republicans as expected placed Kevin McCarthy’s name into nomination.

No rule requires the nominee to be an elected member of the House, according to Article I, Section II of the Constitution. 

Prior candidates nominated for the position who were not members of the House when they were nominated include former Sec. of State Colin Powell, Georgia politician Stacy Abrams and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky.

After nominations are offered, the speaker is elected by roll call vote. A candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to become speaker. If all members of the House are present and voting, the majority is 218 votes.

If all the members are not present, it is a majority of the members present and voting who selects the speaker. If no candidate wins a majority, the roll call is repeated until a speaker is elected.

In 1849, the House was in session 19 days without being able to elect a speaker, with no candidate having received a majority of the votes cast. The House voted 59 times before it adopted a resolution that declared that the speaker could be elected by a plurality – the person who receives the most votes even if it is not a majority.

In 1856, the same thing happened except the House had 129 votes before declaring the candidate could be elected by a plurality.

Republicans faced a leadership drama as they took control of the House on Tuesday and the first of them governing the new house showed a house in disarray, upsetting moderates and many Republican donors across the nation. 

As the 118th Congress convened, the first order of business in the chamber was the election of a new speaker — and current Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is so far being stymied by a group of hardliners demanding concessions. The House voted three times for speaker and McCarthy could not garner the 218 votes required. In the third round of voting, 20 Republican lawmakers voted against McCarthy for speaker: the highest amount so far. Those votes went to Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.

In the first two rounds, 19 Republicans voted for a different candidate. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., voted for McCarthy two times before changing his vote to Jordan.

McCarthy received 202 votes in the latest round, making it the third time he’s trailed Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Democrats had already elected Jeffries to be their caucus leader in the new Congress.

To win the gavel, McCarthy needs a majority of the members-elect who are present and voting. But because the GOP holds only a five-seat advantage, a small number of defections is stopping McCarthy from gaining the office he’s long sought.

The House can conduct no other business until a speaker is chosen. For the first time in a century, the vote is requiring multiple rounds and now, multiple days.  

An interesting fact: McCarthy has so far gotten fewer votes to be speaker in each round on Tuesday than he did when the last Congress convened in 2021. In 2021, when Republicans were in the minority, McCarthy got 209 votes from every Republican voting. In the three rounds Tuesday, with voting continuing, he got 203, 203 and 202.

So, for newly elected New Mexico Representative, Gabe Vasquez; he was a part of history and got to witness history as an active participant. Today showed just how messy the art of democracy can truly be. 

8 News Stories Highlighting Growth, Advancement, Culture Change and Hope for Alamogordo’s New York Avenue

Posted on by Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

2022 has been a banner year for the New York Avenue business district and for Alamogordo MainStreet.

Alamogordo’s Main Street Business District has been the center of a lot of good news this past year with multiple stories headlining progress in revitalization, wonderful shows showcased at the Flickinger Center, public investment, private investment, and leadership. Let’s look back at the last year of positivity of New York Avenue and a look back from the past…

The pandemic took a toll on the district from 2019 to 2021 and there were many vacancies and businesses in distress. A group of merchant leaders worked in collaboration with city, state and county leaders and Alamogordo MainStreet, the nonprofit tasked with funding and marketing of the district, found its legs and began finding success in recruiting sustainable business leaders and in collaborating for street improvements.

 There are many success stories from the district and many stories have been written of those successes to drive the street forward. Below are the stories between AlamogordoTownNews.com and one from the Alamogordo Daily News that showcased the best of New York Avenue and led in readership and interest…

The changing dynamics of cultural arts and reinvention is helping fund a rebound and reinvention of New York Avenue as discussed in the AlamogordoTownNews.com articles

The Cultural Revolution of Alamogordo’s New York Avenue

https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/63822/alamogordotownnewscom-cultural-revolution-alamogordos-new-york-avenue

How Creatives are Reshaping Cities and Alamogordo’s New York Avenue
https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/126796/how-creatives-are-helping-reshape-cities

Several years of work and partnerships finally saw an announcement of payoff as an announcement of $1.9 Million in capital outlay dollars were committed to the New York Avenue district.

AlamogordoTownNews.com NMEDD Awards $1.9M in Capital Outlay to Alamogordo MainStreet – New York Avenue

https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/127950/alamogordotownnewscom-nmedd-awards-19m-capital-outlay-alamogordo

It had been almost a decade since the New York Avenue Street hosted a Farmers Market due to city ordinances which restricted public events. The new mayor Susan Payne was elected on a probusiness, pro-downtown platform and at her first commission meeting as mayor she had the city ordinance modified allowing more street fairs and events in the district thus the farmers market came back to downtown for the summer.

AlamogordoTownNews.com New York Avenue Hosted First Wednesday Night Farmers/Crafts Market 7-6-22

https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/109806/alamogordotownnewscom-new-york-avenue-hosted-first-wednesday-night

Alamogordo’s New York Avenue launched new authors and a very cool new magazine. “Meet the author events” and book signings were the buzz this summer in the district with venues of New York Avenue and at Otero Arts on Indiana Avenue. A grand quality magazine to rival New Mexico Magazine was launched off of Alamogordo’s New York Avenue, “New Mexico Influence Magazine.”

AlamogordoTownNews.com: Book launches, Authors Showcased and a New Magazine Launch all from Alamogordo’s New York Avenue…

https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/67736/alamogordotownnewscom-book-launches-authors-showcased-and-new-magazine

Historical Preservation took hold on New York Avenue with partnerships between Tularosa Basin Museum and Roadrunner Emporium at 928 New York Avenue.

Friday Night Alamogordo Learn & Celebrate History, Listen to Free Live Music, See New York Avenue Come Alive

https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/71239/friday-night-alamogordo-learn-celebrate-history-listen-free-live-music-see

New Business partnerships invested on New York Avenue and garnered significant community enthusiasm…

Renovation of Sands Theatre in Alamogordo planned

https://www.alamogordonews.com/story/news/2022/07/18/renovation-of-sands-theatre-in-alamogordo-planned/65369151007/

Change in Leadership and relocation to New York Avenue of Community Public Radio KALH 95.1 Alamogordo, New Mexico

https://2ndlifemediaalamogordo.town.news/g/alamogordo-nm/n/136907/change-leadership-community-public-radio-kalh-lp-alamogordo-new-mexico

History of Alamogordo’s New York Avenue

The New York Avenue business district of Alamogordo, New Mexico was founded in 1898 with buildings planned and erected making the street a street of commerce, banking, and fraternal orders. Initially Alamogordo’s main industry was timbering for railroad ties. The railroad founders were also eager to create a major town that would persist after the railroad was completed; they formed the Alamogordo Improvement Company to develop the area, making Alamogordo an early example of a planned community. The Alamogordo Improvement Company owned all the land, platted the streets, built the first houses and commercial buildings, donated land for a college, and placed a restrictive covenant on each deed prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, or sale of intoxicating liquor. As such New York Avenue was the main commercial zone across from the train depot on what was then Pennsylvania Avenue, (now White Sands Blvd).

New York Avenue was known for banking, the grand hotels, tasty restaurants, and shopping via mercantile stores that serviced those traveling by rail as well as the mill and lumber workers that made the Alamogordo area their home. New York Avenue was the center of commerce for Otero County and Southern, New Mexico.

The Depression hit and several government buildings in Alamogordo were constructed by the Works Progress Administration, a government program created in 1935 in response to the Great Depression. Included in that construction was the present-day Otero County Administration Building at 1101 New York Avenue, it’s a Pueblo style building originally constructed as the main U.S. Post Office in 1938. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The main entrance portico features frescoes by Peter Hurd completed in 1942. The Post Office moved out in 1961, and the building was used by a succession of Federal agencies and was known as the Federal Building and is the Otero County Commission and administration building present day.

New York Avenue transitioned into more commerce and thrived up until the 1980’s when the mall was built. After that time anchor stores like JC Penny’s and other left the district. The district struggled and moved forward. Efforts were made to revitalize such as the huge investment into converting the Sierra Theater into the modern day Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts. It was transformed and today prospers as a center for performing arts that presents a variety of entertainment for the region.

In the new century the district had many ups and downs and the businesses worked to organize and enhance marketing to get people back to the city center. 

The pandemic took a toll on the district from 2019 to 2021. But from the stories above one can see millions of dollars of investment both public on roads, sidewalks and infrastructure and private by business leaders taking a chance and moving the district forward.  A focus group is formed drafting a working plan to create a state recognized Cultural Arts and History District Designation. The Sands Theater renovations are underway and in the new year it will house a film museum, cafe, live theater and KALH 95.1 Radio. Two new galleries are planned for 1207 and 1209 New York and Zia Comics, Rad Bar and more are planned to open. Vacancies are down and investment is up significantly. Street fairs are happening, and the public is reengaging in seeing new life on Alamogordo’s New York Avenue. This summer the 800 and 900 Block will be resurfaced, new lighting and infrastructure put into place along with public art and more. 

On the surface if just driving by one might consider the district of New York Avenue to be an area of blight. Those living it daily would tell them stop by, see the new energy and positivity. Anyone who gets out of their car and walks the street can feel the history but also feel the energy of reinvention taking hold to make New York Avenue a district of cultural arts, shopping and a district of distinction. 

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Change in Leadership at Community Public Radio KALH-LP Alamogordo, New Mexico to 2nd Life media Lydia Emmanual Productions Inc

Posted on by Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

Lydia Emmanual Productions Inc and 2nd Life Media Inc announced a partnership with the non-profit Southwestern Trails Cultural Heritage Association, owner of KALH Radio 95.1 and streaming at https://kalh.org/. 

Founded by Kenneth Bass the station has a reputation for excellence in music and hard-hitting community coverage via Spectrum New via Radio Personality Anthony Lucero. KALH was named Country Station of the Year (2012) by New Music Weekly Magazine (Nashville). However, the station while country focused plays more than Country. KALH plays New Country, Hot Country, Old Country, R&R Classic Oldies, R&B, MOR, Bluegrass, Western Swing, Big Band Jazz AND MORE. The biggest variety of music available on the radio, on the web or personal digital device live from Alamogordo.

The station, while nonprofit will be operated under a management agreement with 2nd Life Media and Emmanual Lydia Productions Inc. The new board President is  Emmanuel Renteria, Vice President Rene Sepulveda and Secretary/Treasurer Lydia Renteria, with a few community at large directors under consideration. 

Chris Edwards CEO of 2nd Life Media will assume the role of General Manager with the programing support of Anthony Lucero, and contributors to programming Lydia Aspen Renteria and Emmanual Renteria and a focus on sports and fitness in partnership with Rene Sepulveda. Chris Rollerson will continue the focus on Tularosa High School Football and Basketball broadcasts.

Under the new leadership the success and family traditions of the Bass family will continue to be honored front and center as a community focused nonprofit organization committed to the local community news and information along with quality music and entertainment. Tularosa High School Sports will remain a cornerstone to the sports lineup.

No major changes are expected at this time, excepting for an investment in some infrastructure to ensure long term sustainability and new equipment to sustain the 95.1 radio broadcast as well as live streaming.

Longer term the station will place a professional studio within the Sands Theater at 1017 New York Avenue in Alamogordo’s Historic Cultural Arts District with live streaming of music and special events “live from the Sands.”

With this upgrade the station will be partnering with local students at area High Schools, New Mexico State University and Seniors Organizations; creating opportunities for student and senior created shows focused on art, culture, history, music and the stories of the Tularosa Basin and the Heritage of Southwestern New Mexico. Spectrum News is being rebranded Alamogordo Town News and will continue with radio personality Anthony Lucero at the helm or programming and content.

KALH-LP’s mission is to continue the almost 2 decade tradition as a public non-profit radio station that will entertain, inform, challenge, inspire and engage our listeners through an eclectic mix of musical, cultural, educational and community affairs programming and related activities in collaboration with Alamogordo non-profit organizations, local news sources and small business partnerships.

The vision of KALH-LP, a main street, New York Avenue focused Community Radio station is for a truly local radio station that reflects the diversity of views, news, and talent in our community. Our goal is to have as much local programming as possible, including talk and call-in shows; public and community affairs; writers, and a wide range of voices and perspectives as well as continue to provide the finest variety of Country and a variety of other music platforms. The broadcast schedule aims to:

  • Provide information, news, and dialogue in partnership with AlamogordoTownNews.com
  • Address critical local concerns, such as education, the economy, and the environment
  • Profile local culture and diversity of talent
  • Remember, preserve, and tell the stories of local history
  • Recognize the rich natural beauty and resources of the region
  • Highlight live programs and remote broadcasts as a community radio station

In 2003, under the Direction and leadership of Ken Bass the station was incorporated and applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a low-powered, FM, community radio station. The station has operated continuously since. He passed on March 27th, 2021, and he is missed everyday by his family, friends, community, and everyone at KALH Radio. The Bass family has operated the station since his death with a pride and a commitment to the community.

The Bass family made the difficult decision to resign from the board and hand leadership of the non-profit Southwestern Trails Cultural Heritage Association, owner of KALH Radio 95.1 to the Renteria’s and the Sepulveda’s to ensure its long-term sustainability as a community focused organization.

Chris Edwards spokesperson for the new board leadership said, “with the revitalization efforts of Alamogordo’s New York Avenue, the Bass family has been very supportive of our efforts to renovate downtown buildings, tell the history and KALH had a very strong relationship with our operating businesses. We feel it an honor to carry the mission of Ken Bass forward of telling the stories preserving history and restoration efforts and ensuring local news coverage. KALH-LP is another tool for us to further tell the stories of history and what makes Alamogordo the greatest community in New Mexico.”

A comment from community member and community volunteer Chez Sanchez…


”I appreciate how you clearly acknowledged Ken as the founder of the station. I don’t know if you knew him but he was a powerful person with an engaging way of drawing in his listeners to the story he was telling. His caring for our community had no bounds and he was completely unafraid of challenging local politicians and individuals when he felt they weren’t keeping our community first, well before their own selfish interests.

He is missed by all who knew him and I have great hope for how you and Anthony will move forward with Ken’s creation. I’m excited to see where this station goes from here, of course keeping Ken’s spirt to entertain, inform, and sometimes protect our community.” -Chez

For questions, sponsorship information or to volunteer or program ideas contact Chris Edwards at cedwards121788@icloud.com and reference KALH in the email header.

KALH-LP has a new transmitter that will be installed in the next few weeks in the meantime the station is streaming online and can be heard anywhere with a computer or smartphone at https://kalh.org/

Or https://station.voscast.com/5b01bba90dce3

STAY CONNECTED! SUBSCRIBE TO FREE EMAIL UPDATES FROM 2ND LIFE MEDIA ALAMOGORDOTOWNNEWS.COM

Change in Leadership at KALH-LP Radio, Alamogordo, New Mexico

Posted on by Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

Lydia Emmanual Productions Inc and 2nd Life Media Inc announced a partnership with the non-profit Southwestern Trails Cultural Heritage Association, owner of KALH Radio 95.1 and streaming at https://kalh.org/. 

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4L4FWD_0jw5wfxZ00

Founded by Kenneth Bass the station has a reputation for excellence in music and hard-hitting community coverage via Spectrum New via Radio Personality Anthony Lucero. KALH was named Country Station of the Year (2012) by New Music Weekly Magazine (Nashville). However, the station while country focused plays more than Country. KALH plays New Country, Hot Country, Old Country, R&R Classic Oldies, R&B, MOR, Bluegrass, Western Swing, Big Band Jazz AND MORE. The biggest variety of music available on the radio, on the web or personal digital device live from Alamogordo.

The station, while nonprofit will be operated under a management agreement with 2nd Life Media and Emmanual Lydia Productions Inc. Chris Edwards CEO of 2nd Life Media will assume the role of General Manager with the programing support of Anthony Lucero, and contributors to programming Lydia Aspen Renteria and Emmanual Renteria and a focus on sports and fitness in partnership with Rene Sepulveda. Chris Rollerson will continue the focus on Tularosa High School Football and Basketball broadcasts.

Under the new leadership the success and family traditions of the Bass family will continue to be honored front and center as a community focused nonprofit organization committed to the local community news and information along with quality music and entertainment. Tularosa High School Sports will remain a cornerstone to the sports lineup. 

No major changes are expected at this time, excepting for an investment in some infrastructure to ensure long term sustainability and new equipment to sustain the 95.1 radio broadcast as well as live streaming.

Longer term the station will place a professional studio within the Sands Theater at 1017 New York Avenue in Alamogordo’s Historic Cultural Arts District with live streaming of music and special events “live from the Sands.” 

With this upgrade the station will be partnering with local students at area High Schools, New Mexico State University and Seniors Organizations; creating opportunities for student and senior created shows focused on art, culture, history, music and the stories of the Tularosa Basin and the Heritage of Southwestern New Mexico. Spectrum News is being rebranded Alamogordo Town News and will continue with radio personality Anthony Lucero at the helm or programming and content.

KALH-LP’s mission is to continue the almost 2 decade tradition as a public non-profit radio station that will entertain, inform, challenge, inspire and engage our listeners through an eclectic mix of musical, cultural, educational and community affairs programming and related activities in collaboration with Alamogordo non-profit organizations, local news sources and small business partnerships.

The vision of KALH-LP, a main street, New York Avenue focused Community Radio station is for a truly local radio station that reflects the diversity of views, news, and talent in our community. Our goal is to have as much local programming as possible, including talk and call-in shows; public and community affairs; writers, and a wide range of voices and perspectives as well as continue to provide the finest variety of Country and a variety of other music platforms. The broadcast schedule aims to:

  • Provide information, news, and dialogue in partnership with AlamogordoTownNews.com
  • Address critical local concerns, such as education, the economy, and the environment
  • Profile local culture and diversity of talent
  • Remember, preserve, and tell the stories of local history
  • Recognize the rich natural beauty and resources of the region
  • Highlight live programs and remote broadcasts as a community radio station

In 2003, under the Direction and leadership of Ken Bass the station was incorporated and applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a low-powered, FM, community radio station. The station has operated continuously since. He passed on March 27th, 2021, and he is missed everyday by his family, friends, community, and everyone at KALH Radio. The Bass family has operated the station since his death with a pride and a commitment to the community. 

The Bass family made the difficult decision to resign from the board and hand leadership of the non-profit Southwestern Trails Cultural Heritage Association, owner of KALH Radio 95.1 to the Renteria’s and the Sepulveda’s to ensure its long-term sustainability as a community focused organization. 

Chris Edwards spokesperson for the new board leadership said, “with the revitalization efforts of Alamogordo’s New York Avenue, the Bass family has been very supportive of our efforts to renovate downtown buildings, tell the history and KALH had a very strong relationship with our operating businesses. We feel it an honor to carry the mission of Ken Bass forward of telling the stories preserving history and restoration efforts and ensuring local news coverage. KALH-LP is another tool for us to further tell the stories of history and what makes Alamogordo the greatest community in New Mexico.”

For questions, sponsorship information or to volunteer or program ideas contact Chris Edwards at cedwards121788@icloud.com and reference KALH in the email header.

KALH-LP has a new transmitter that will be installed in the next few weeks in the meantime the station is streaming online and can be heard anywhere with a computer or smartphone at https://kalh.org/

Or https://station.voscast.com/5b01bba90dce3

https://www.newsbreakapp.com/n/0jw5wfxZ?pd=06hHgTA5&lang=en_US&s=i16&send_time=1672194670

Stephanie DuBois V Couy Griffin, Judge Shannon Murdock ordered a Dismissal of Restraining Order Case

Posted on by Chris Edwards Author, Mentor & Executive Coach, Political Consulting

The New Mexico 12th Division court hosted the hearing today between seated Otero County appointed County Commissioner Stephanie Dubois which filed for a restraining order against Couy Griffin after a tense public comments session in the November Otero County Commission meeting. The Honorable Shannon Murdock ordered a dismissal.

Dubois said she made the order after an incident that happened during a county commission meeting on Nov. 10. During the meeting on November 10th, Griffin made comments towards Dubois during a public comment period. An argument then ensued between both parties, involving shouts and harsh words. Dubois said she was terrified over what happened and still fears for her life. “I’m just fearful. I’m 77 years old,” she said. “It was very scary that nobody protected me.”

However, the verbal quarrel wasn’t the only incident that happened to Dubois according to her in several reports with Albuquerque television stations. The restraining order however only outlined the events of that day when filed.

The hearing was virtual and not an in person hearing with a judge brought in from out of the area because all members of the local judiciary recused themselves from the case or had a full docket.

The hearing was originally scheduled for December 5th to be heard in front of the Honorable Shannon Murdock. The filing of a restraining order is a serious action by a public official on a constituent even one that is a former county commissioner. The issue locally was such a hot potato with the hearing scheduled for December 5th, 2022. The state Supreme Court appointed the Honorable Shannon Murdock to preside.

The hearing was postponed then to December 15th as Commissioner Dubois requested a continuance and Couy Griffin filed for a dismissal.

The hearing was hosted virtually today, and the judge dismissed the case. The record or minutes of the case has not yet been released to the public.

2nd Life Media and AlamogordoTownNews.com requested a comment from Commissioner DuBois but her response when we asked for comment was “No.”

We then also requested a comment from former Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, and he provided us the following statement…

“The filing of this restraining order was purely political. I did not threaten Stephanie in any way nor did I harass her. I merely expressed my opinion that I felt her appointment to the seat in which I was elected was a disgrace. And that opinion is formed by the fact that she has run for office eight times and been unsuccessful every time she has run. She is not an elected voice of Otero County but an appointed voice of the radical progressive Governor of New Mexico. We hear daily that our democracy is under attack. Not a better example of that than what has happened in Otero County. But I’m glad it’s behind me and I appreciate you for allowing me to share my side of this story.”

The case is now dismissed. Ms. Dubois will serve in her role for two more weeks and the Amy Barela will be sworn in as the newly elected commissioner for Otero County District 2.

A side note and additional commentary regarding coverage of this saga in Otero County Politics:

Our earlier reporting on the ongoing saga of the restraining order was met with harsh attacks by some members of the Otero County Democratic machine and some members of the Otero County Republican machine. Individual members of each attacked our coverage in some social media channels some making attacks very personal to the businesses we operate. Without naming names a few went as far as cyber bullying and questioned why we took sides on the issue. A few became very hostile and passionate. Social media challenges and phone calls can be interesting. We were accused by some of only viewing the issue of intimidation of Ms. DuBois from a position of privilege as white males, (the majority owner and the publisher is a Hispanic male), we were told we were insensitive and don’t understand hostility. (As members of the LBGTQ community in a conservative county we would beg to differ.) However, to reassure ourselves that we were being fair and unbiased we had our specific to this issue reviewed by a panel outside of the county for their take on our coverage. They unanimously agreed our reporting did not show bias.

The review committee surmised that:

“The AlamogordoTownNews.com allowed for each sides point of view to be heard but did offer a valid question of rather the free speech would potentially be infringed upon by a restraining order. The AlamogordoTownNews.com site also questioned inconsistencies in the statements by those involved depending upon the media outlet. It questioned if the county saw a threat and as an employer and should it have filed a restraining order as based on court precedent a route taken by other governmental bodies?”

AlamogordoTownNews.com and AlamogordoConservativeDaily.org will continue to publish stories of the public interest. It will question official positions and actions of elected and appointed representatives when it deems it of interest to the public. Most of the coverage is not political but is of community interest related to sports, business, community interest and culture.

The political coverage does garner large readership and when Couy Griffin is involved it does seem to spark community interest and hot debate locally and from across the nation.

Will Couy Griffin continue in the public political spotlight long term, or will he seek other avenues in the private sector? 

Time will tell. He will be under less of a microscope in the new year excepting for any ongoing court cases, investigations, or trials since he is no longer a public official.

The ownership and business interests of this media company also are not public officials, thus not in the public realm. They are protected by First Amendment rights and protections afforded to them via Amendment One and is supported via membership in Independent News Organizations which assist, mentor, and grow small local media companies to keep a free local press and public dialog alive and well in small rural communities.

Until the next story, let’s each have a day of positivity and prosperity during this season of caring.

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