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A few students from Mescalero Apache High School’s wind energy class, had the unique opportunity to climb a wind tower.

With supervision and loads of safety equipment, the students worked up the courage to climb.

Mr. Raynor, wind energy teacher, looked on proudly as the students climbed with excitement.

Planning the trip to Mesaland Community College didn’t come easily as planners had to postpone several times due to COVID-19 even though the trip was scheduled before the pandemic.

Nonetheless, wind energy students like Madisyn Yuzos, Lani Cojo, Kaylan Ahidley and Caydence Palmer all earned college credit as they participated in the trip.

This is the second year of the program at MAHS and the trip was a huge success with the students.

With hopes of more students being able to participate in trips just like this one, Mr. Raynor thanks Region IX and their partners for a successful visit.

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The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. Sexual assault by definition is any intentional sexual contact, characterized by use of force, physical threat or abuse of authority, or when the victim does not or cannot consent. Sexual assault includes rape, nonconsensual sodomy (oral or anal sex), indecent assault (unwanted, inappropriate sexual contact or fondling), or any attempts to commit these acts.

Consent is not given when a person uses force, threat of force, coercion, or when the victim is asleep, incapacitated, or unconscious.

• Consent will not be deemed or construed to mean the failure by the victim to offer physical resistance.

• Consent is NOT the absence of NO; it IS the presence of YES

Sexual assault is a crime, one of the most heinous crimes committed against another human being. One of the greatest myths regarding sexual assault is that it is a crime of passion, when in fact; it is a crime of aggression. A sexual assault perpetrator acquires his or her gratification through the power and control that they are able to exercise over their victim, and not by the sexual act itself.

The typical rapist:

• Plans and premeditates his attacks
• Uses multiple strategies to make his victim vulnerable, i.e. gains victim’s trust, acts like the “nice guy”
• Uses alcohol deliberately…. as a weapon …. to his advantage

Predators are skilled at sensing fearfulness, especially in someone who has been victimized before. He will violate your personal space by standing too close and if he sees fear on one’s face (common in someone who has a history of trauma/abuse) he knows he can dominate you. But, if one exhibits anger or that of being turned off by his advances, he will sense that you are someone he cannot push around, and more often than not, he will back off.

Sexual assault prevention is EVERYONES responsibility!

We all need to work together as a community to put an end to sexual violence.

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RUIDOSO, NM – Apr. 9, 2021 — The Smokey Bear Ranger District on the Lincoln National Forest plans to conduct a prescribed burn near Baca Campground starting Monday, April 12, 2021, as conditions allow.

The prescribed fire located south of Forest Service Road 57 and southwest of Baca Campground will remove an accumulation of woody debris on the forest floor which can contribute to high-intensity wildfire. Fire crews will be on scene from the beginning of ignitions until there is no longer a threat of escape from the project boundaries.

Prescribed burning provides many benefits and is essential to maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. It provides habitat diversity, recycles plant nutrients into the soil, and encourages new growth for various plants which improves forage for animals. Prescribed burning also reduces the threat of large-scale wildfire impacts by removing excess wood on the forest floor and removes ladder fuels which can cause wildfires to climb to the tops of trees and spread.

Smoke may be visible along Rd 57, Rd C0002 and possibly from Lincoln, NM, along Hwy 380. Although smoke from prescribed fire can be a nuisance, it is usually for a shorter time and considerably less smoke than wildfires produce.

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New report will be issued on Mondays and include weekend data

Santa Fe–The New Mexico Department of Health on Friday announced that it will no longer release a daily COVID-19 case count report on Saturdays and Sundays. Instead, the state will provide a consolidated weekend report on Mondays. Day-by-day breakdowns of case counts for Saturday and Sunday will no longer be available.

Note: DOH has also shifted the time frame covered by its daily Epidemiology and Response Division reports – which include the daily case count press release. Instead of reporting from noon to noon the following day, these reports will now cover the period of midnight to midnight the following day. This change took effect today, April 9, and covers the case count press release issued early this afternoon.

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BIA Mescalero Agency Acting Chief of Police, Joe Keel recently recognized Lt. Justin Apachito, SA Collin Pilcher, Conservation Officer Ryan Martinez and Conservation Officer James Oree Peralto for their professionalism and dedication to fellow Law Enforcement Officers and the citizens they serve.

They displayed a tremendous amount of proficiency in their duties as they apprehended a violent armed suspect under the influence of amphetamines.

All officers are being nominated for the Meritorious Service Award for their heroic and unselfish actions.

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Also being recognized is BIA Police Officer James Satterfield for exhibiting such professionalism and dedication to fellow Law Enforcement Officers and the citizens he serves throughout several occasions.

His remarkable knowledge and conduct lead him to save the lives of several individuals who were suffering from potentially fatal conditions such as overdoses, blood loss and strangulation.

For this heroic and unselfish acts, Police Officer James Satterfield is being nominated for the BIA OJS Life Saving Award.

Each officer’s display of commitment and loyalty speaks volumes of their expertise and their commitment to the membership of the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

They have all brought integrity to their career by expressing their readiness to face challenges ahead of them.

The Mescalero Apache Tribe applauds each officer for their exceptional efforts in protecting and serving our people, thank you.

Congratulations to all officers!

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As of April 8, 2021:

*Includes testing by IHS & NMDOH

**New cases: 4 (since 3-23-21) (average of 0.25 cases/day)

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SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health on Wednesday announced the updated statewide COVID-19 map for the two-week period beginning April 7, with 20 New Mexico counties at the Turquoise Level and three at the Green Level, at which there are fewer restrictions on commercial and day-to-day activities amid decreased virus risk. The majority of the state’s counties are now at or approaching the least restrictive levels.

Ten counties are at the Yellow Level as of March 24. None are at the Red Level, signifying the highest risk.

Twelve counties advanced to a less restrictive level since the most recent biweekly map update: Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, Eddy, Harding, Lincoln, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Taos and Torrance. Three counties, meanwhile, regressed to the Yellow Level; San Juan and Hidalgo regressed from Turquoise to Yellow, and Guadalupe regressed from Green to Yellow.

Even as New Mexico rapidly vaccinates eligible populations with all available supply, it is important that New Mexicans still seek out COVID-19 tests if they feel symptomatic, if they have traveled, if they have spent time unmasked in the company of others — particularly non-household members and particularly indoors. Getting tested not only helps slow the spread; it helps counties maintain their risk levels and advance to less restrictive levels when the viral risk in the community is sufficiently reduced. Please seek out COVID-19 testing at togethernm.org.

The state’s county-by-county system uses key health metrics – the per-capita daily incidence of new COVID-19 cases and average COVID-19 test positivity within county borders – to determine the level of public health risk and requirement for each county. A county that meets one criterion may operate at the Yellow Level; a county that meets both may operate at the Green Level. A county that has met both for two consecutive biweekly map updates may operate at the Turquoise Level.

Counties that met both of the health metric thresholds for two consecutive biweekly map updates and may operate at the Turquoise Level as of April 7 are: Catron, Chaves, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Quay and Union.

Counties that met both of the health metric thresholds and may operate at the Green Level as of April 7 are: Cibola, Harding and San Miguel.

Counties that met one of the health metric thresholds and may operate at the Yellow Level as of April 7 are: Bernalillo, Dona Ana, Grant, Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Luna, Otero, Sandoval, San Juan and Valencia.

Counties that met neither of the health metric thresholds and must operate at the Red Level are: none.

The color-coded tier system – Red Level, Yellow Level, Green Level and Turquoise Level – enables counties to shed restrictions and provide local communities the flexibility to operate more day-to-day activities as soon as public health data show the virus is retreating within their borders.

The public health order, the red-to-green framework and frequently asked questions are all available at cv.nmhealth.org/redtogreen, where New Mexicans can also view the test positivity rate and new case incidence for each county.

The categories and definitions for each risk level are available below and available at cv.nmhealth.org/redtogreen.

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Categories and definitions within the public health order:

Essential businesses (non-retail): These are any business or nonprofit entity falling within one or more of the following categories:

• Health care operations including hospitals, walk-in-care health facilities, pharmacies, medical wholesale and distribution, home health care workers or aides for the elderly, emergency dental facilities, nursing homes, residential health care facilities, research facilities, congregate care facilities, intermediate care facilities for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, supportive living homes, home health care providers, drug and alcohol recovery support services, and medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers;
• Homeless shelters, food banks, and other services providing care to indigent or needy populations;
• Childcare facilities;
• Farms, ranches, and other food cultivation, processing, or packaging operations;
• Infrastructure operations including, but not limited to, public works construction, commercial and residential construction and maintenance, self-storage facilities, airport operations, public transportation, airlines, taxis, private transportation providers, transportation network companies, water, gas, electrical, oil drilling, oil refining, natural resources extraction or mining operations, nuclear material research and enrichment, those attendant to the repair and construction of roads and highways, gas stations, solid waste collection and removal, trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal, sewer, data and internet providers, data centers, technology support operations, and telecommunications systems;
• Manufacturing operations involved in food processing, manufacturing agents, chemicals, fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, sanitary products, household paper products, microelectronics/semiconductor, primary metals manufacturers, electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturers, and transportation equipment manufacturers;
• Services necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences or essential businesses including security services, towing services, custodial services, plumbers, electricians, and other skilled trades;
• Veterinary and livestock services, animal shelters and facilities providing pet adoption, daycare, or boarding services;
• Media services;
• Utilities, including their contractors, suppliers, and supportive operations, engaged in power generation, fuel supply and transmission, water and wastewater supply;
• Crematoriums, funeral homes and cemeteries;
• Banks, credit unions, insurance providers, payroll services, brokerage services, and investment management firms;
• Businesses providing mailing and shipping services;
• Laboratories and defense and national security-related operations supporting the United States government, a contractor to the United States government, or any federal entity;
• Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, but only where necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities; and
• Logistics, and also businesses that store, transport, or deliver groceries, food, materials, goods or services directly to residences, retailers, government institutions, or essential businesses.

Essential retail spaces: These include grocery stores, supermarkets, food banks, farmers’ markets and vendors who sell food, convenience stores, and other businesses that generate more than one-third of their revenue from the sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet food, animal feed or supplies, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other consumable food and drink products; automobile repair facilities, bike repair facilities, and retailers who generate the majority of their revenue from the sale of automobile or bike repair products; hardware stores; laundromats; and dry cleaner services.

Food and drink establishments: These are restaurants, breweries, wineries, distillers, cafes, coffee shops, or other similar establishments that offer food or drink.

Close-contact businesses: These are barbershops, hair salons, tattoo parlors, nail salons, spas, massage therapy services, esthetician clinics and tanning salons.

Recreational facilities: These are any publicly or privately owned facility typically or actually used for recreational activities capable of bringing persons within close proximity of one another, including aquariums, amusement parks, arcades, basketball courts, baseball fields, bowling alleys, botanical gardens, family entertainment centers, football fields, go-kart courses, golf courses, ice-skating rinks, museums with interactive displays or exhibits, miniature golf courses, ski areas, soccer fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, youth programs, guided raft tours, guided balloon tours and zoos.

Bars and clubs: These are any business that typically or actually generates more than half of its revenue from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption — including adult entertainment venues, nightclubs, and dance clubs, regardless of the source of their revenue.

Large entertainment venues: These are as any publicly or privately owned venue typically or actually used to host large audiences for the purposes of entertainment or amusement, including racetracks, concert venues, movie theaters, performance venues, professional sports venues and theaters.

Houses of worship: These are any church, synagogue, mosque, or other gathering space where persons congregate to exercise their religious beliefs.

Places of lodging: These are hotels, motels, RV parks, and short-term vacation rentals.

Mass gatherings: These are any public gathering, private gathering, organized event, ceremony, parade, funeral, or any other grouping that brings together a specified number of individuals in a single room or connected space, confined outdoor space, or open outdoor space. “Mass gatherings” also include coordinated events in which individuals gather in vehicles. “Mass gatherings” do not include the presence of any number of individuals where those individuals regularly reside. “Mass gathering” does not include individuals who are public officials or public employees in the course and scope of their employment.

**All other businesses: These are any entities that are not identified explicitly as an “essential business,” “house of worship,” “recreational facility,” “large entertainment venue,” “food and drink establishment,” “bars or clubs” or “place of lodging”.” Examples would include non-essential retail spaces like a clothing store, a gym, a group fitness class or a personal training service, among others.

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For more information on the Mescalero Child Welfare & Family Services click here.

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