The New Mexico Wrestling Hall of Fame honored Socorro’s state wrestling champions, David Gutierrez Jr., and Sasha Gonzales, by naming the duo to the 2024 Dream Team in Albuquerque on Saturday. “Two from our little town! And more on the way! Winning is an attitude. Get your kids involved; Socorro has more amazing opportunities and coaches than most people realize. Step up and show your young kids the success of David and Sasha. Teach them to believe they can also do this!” Socorro school board president Dave Hicks said via his Facebook page. “We are so proud of the successes of our youth this y ..read more

The Lady Warriors softball team is turning up the heat at just the right time. Socorro has won seven of its last five games, including a District 3-3A doubleheader against Hot Springs on Saturday. SHS 19 Hot Springs 0 Jisela Estrada’s inside-the-park home run scored three runs. The shot highlighted a 15-run first inning for the Lady Warriors as righty Abrianne Romeo tossed a one-hitter against the Lady Tigers. With enough runs for a mercy ruling after the first inning, the Lady Warriors padded their lead with four additional runs in the second inning. Lilliana Maldonado led Socorro at the plat ..read more

Some things about Socorro and its environs that just can’t be beat. I’m talking about those events and stories that don’t happen anywhere else on Earth and get handed down through the years, making up our folklore, with some reaching the level of out-and-out mythology. Take, for instance, Socorro’s fabled sheriff Elfego “El Gato” Baca, who cleaned up the county in the wild and wooly 1880s and even bragged about having stolen Pancho Villa’s favorite pistola. Another Socorro legend goes back almost 300 years, when it is said that Archangel Michael appeared over the Nuestra Senora de Socorro miss ..read more

The pending deadline of the franchise agreement between the City of Socorro and Socorro Electric Co-op was discussed at SEC’s annual member meeting on Saturday at the Macey Center. It was announced that three percent of the total co-op membership was required for a quorum. Two hundred sixty members were required for a quorum, and with only 133 present, no actions were allowed on items for the meeting. A financial report, with an unaudited balance sheet and income statement, was given to members, but no actions were taken. During his presentation, Tri-State Energy’s Vice President of Communicat ..read more

The deadline for protesting the value of property in Socorro County is fast approaching, with April 29 being the final date residents can submit a protest. Current property owners were mailed their Notice of Value at the start of the month, and each year, Socorro County Assessor Julie Griego’s office hears from residents about everything from increased values to asking for help understanding how to read the form they have been mailed. The assessor’s office fields a variety of questions and attempts to be as transparent as possible. It also tries to ensure that taxpayers are getting the exempti ..read more

A deal is likely to be forged between the City of Socorro and Socorro Electric Co-op (SEC) next month for electric services. The kicker … it won’t be long term and it won’t be in the form of an ordinance. Instead, the city indicated it was only interested in a month-to-month agreement and nothing more. SEC Director of Communications and Public Affairs Jerrid Williams was in attendance to follow up on a request for a franchise ordinance to be placed on the city council’s agenda. “We received an explanation on how the process works,” Williams said. “So I’d like to ask that the process be started ..read more

One hundred fourteen Chihuahuas were relinquished to animal rescues last Thursday from a residence in Veguita; one animal rescue has coined the event as the “Chi-pocalypse” Gail Tripp, Socorro County Emergency Manager, said on April 16, Adult Protective Services contacted them about an animal hoarding situation. Jose Gonzalez, Socorro County Animal Control, contacted the dog owners in their home and confirmed there were a large number of dogs. Tripp, realizing the magnitude of the situation, immediately began reaching out to various animal rescues across New Mexico. Espanola Humane, Photo Sub ..read more

Criminals are growing bolder on New Mexico back roads, but in Catron County this past weekend sheriff’s deputies interrupted a meth operation and arrested a felon who had been warned earlier by Border Patrol agents about smuggling individuals across the U.S. border. During the early morning hours of Sunday, April 21, a one-vehicle roll over was reported on Highway 12, just north of Reserve. Undersheriff R.D. Hays responded and during his investigation he found two syringes, with one still containing possible narcotics. Oneta Horn of Deming, the vehicle’s driver, was transported to Gila Medical ..read more

It was a case of feast or famine for Magdalena as the Steers rallied for a 6-4 win in their first District 1-1A game on Saturday against Northwest before punching out a 20-0 victory in game two against the Falcons. With two of his starters out due to injury, Magdalena coach Kyl Candelaria said earlier this season that he needed some of his younger players to step up and make things happen. His team has responded, and thanks to individual and team efforts, the Steers are 2-0 in league play. Steers 6 Falcons 4 In game one, eighth grader Paul Chavez-Lopez had a pair of RBIs, and sophomore starter ..read more

April 30, 1974 MRS. MARGARET PAXTON is as busy as she was in 1929 when she and her late husband, Walter, arrived in Socorro to take over the management of the Val Verde Hotel. Perhaps back in 1929 Mrs. Paxton might have considered herself to be middle-aged at 43. But age has never had any drawbacks to her appearance. She has always been a beautiful woman. But back 45 years ago, she probably would never have believed that on the weekend of her 88th birthday she would still be actively managing the hotel and preparing for an influx of guests due to a special weekend of events in Socorro. The Pax ..read more