The INSIDE: Election Independent Information Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2020 • Vol. 22, No. 44 50¢ Judge issues writ to remove mayor Edgewood’s legal battle with CORE continues By Leota Harriman cial election to change Edgewood's form voting on issues, and that Rael's law firm Last-Minute of government. That election was held “is effectively representing the interests As The Independent went to press, Aug. 24, with voters approving, by a wide of Mr. Bassett at public expense and Voting Info Judge Maria Sanchez Gagne issued a margin, the change from the council- without necessary approval.” “writ of execution” against Edgewood mayor format to commission-manager. The motion also says Rael has a con- By Felecia Pohl Mayor John Bassett, which orders the An opinion by the Attorney General flict of interest. Santa Fe County Sheriff or a deputy “to says that Edgewood's governing body A hearing was held Oct. 27, on a If your absentee ballot arrives remove Defendant John Bassett from his will remain in its current council-mayor motion by Rael on behalf of the town, to the County Clerk’s Office after office as Mayor for the Town of configuration while it plans for the tran- seeking to have the default judgment and 7 p.m. on Election Day, your bal- Edgewood” on Nov. 4. sition to commission-manager, at which summary judgment Vigil had entered lot won’t be counted under New It's the latest in the legal battle over point five commission seats will be up for against Bassett set aside. Mexico law. the governing body in Edgewood, led by election, in November, 2021, with the Instead, she issued a writ of execution The recommended deadline a group called CORE, for Citizens for an newly seated commissioners coming into for Bassett's removal from office. from the U.S. Postal Service to Open and Responsible Edgewood. office in January, 2022. According to an Order for Partial send absentee ballots by mail has A lawsuit brought by Tom McGill, On Oct. 28, the day before the judge Summary Judgment, Bassett “willfully passed, which means if you still Jerry Powers and the late Howard issued the writ of execution, two town violated the Nepotism Ordinance,” is have your ballot, you should Calkins against the mayor and governing councilors, Sherry Abraham and Audrey “deemed guilty of malfeasance in office,” return it in person to a polling sta- body seeks to compel the town council to Jaramillo, filed a motion in the case seek- and subject to “dismissal and removal tion. remove Bassett and pursue legal action ing to intervene and prevent Rael from from office as mayor” and “subject to In the 2016 general election, against him. filing any further pleadings on behalf of punishment for a misdemeanor criminal 804,073 ballots were cast in New “We are at a loss to understand how the town, saying in their pro se motion, offense” due to violation of the ordi- Mexico, and as of Oct. 29, 660,763 the judge would sign something clearly “There has … been no action taken by the nance. ballots had been cast early or not applicable in this case,” said Marcus Commission/City Council of Town of An Order for Default Judgment says absentee, according to Secretary Rael, whose law firm is under contract to Edgewood which validly authorizes the “judgment by default is entered against of State data. represent the town of Edgewood. Rael [Rael's law firm] to enter its appearance Defendant John Bassett” on counts In 2016, 71,925 ballots were said that means he represents the inter- on behalf of Edgewood in these proceed- including fraud. cast in Santa Fe County, and as of ests of the town and all of the members of ings or otherwise file proceedings on The order also includes a writ of man- Oct. 29, 2020, 62,127 ballots were its governing body, which means the behalf of Edgewood.” damus against the governing body of the already cast. town councilors and the mayor. The motion also says that because town which would compel it to take legal McGill and Powers created CORE, Bassett “has been removed as Mayor of action against Bassett. See LAST-MINUTE VOTING, page 11 which successfully petitioned for a spe- Edgewood” that he is prohibited from See JUDGE ISSUES WRIT, page 11 The Independent wins 13 awards in newspaper contest By Felecia Pohl winning 13 awards in the annual contest. gories, including best obituary page, best Association at its annual meeting. This year the journalism contest had classified advertising section, best web Harriman and James Reader won sec- The New Mexico Press Association’s over 1,100 entries from newspapers advertisement, obituary news, general ond place against all weeklies in the best 112th annual Better Newspaper Contest around New Mexico, divided into large news photo, news writing, and design website category; and along with with Awards Ceremony was cancelled due to and small daily and weekly categories. and typography. reporter Felecia Pohl second place in the Covid, but the results were streamed vir- The Independent's editor Leota In addition, Harriman was elected to tually via Zoom, with The Independent Harriman won first place in seven cate- her second term as president of the Press See AWARDS, page 11 Forum looks to EVEDA for guidance on renewables By Felecia Pohl Powering New Mexico asked the direc- and Roosevelt counties in particular, Powering New Mexico. “”I just wanted tor of the Estancia Valley Economic because of the construction projects to talk to you a little bit about your At a meeting of economic develop- Development Association, “How do we going on the wind projects in those experience with that and how you ment associations statewide on how to replicate your success?” counties, are seeing increases in their think we can continue to replicate that expand renewable energy develop- “One bright spot in a recent report gross receipts for this year,” said ment, the executive director of spoke to the fact that both Torrance Jessie Hunt, executive director of See EVEDA, page 12 2 • Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2020 THE INDEPENDENT’S JUST FOR FUNZIES PAGE Online at edgewood.news
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ACROSS 37. Neckline styles 24. Casual shirt, for 1. One used for an 38. Usurer (2) short experiment (2) DOWN 25. Know-__; wise guy 26. Mr. __; nearsighted 8. Paper Mate 1. Eccentric old cartoon fellow products fellow 29. Songbird 9. __ __ avail; use- 2. Takes apart 30. __-negative; rare lessly 3. Suffix for fever or 10. Misleading clues blood type amateur 31. “Judge not, lest __ (2) 4. Gillette razor 14. TV clown of old be judged” 5. Luau dish 15. Soothing drink 34. Age 6. __ tube; pool toy 16. Wide shoe letters 35. Wife to Mickey, Artie 7. “__ __ it, Rover!”; 17. Busy as __ __ & Frank “Fetch!” 18. Line of travel: 8. Investigation Prior Week’s Solution abbr. 19. His and __ 11. Spielberg’s 1982 20. Stroll creature 24. Allen or Curry 12. Prefix for pay or 27. Actor Morales view 28. Letter from Greece 13. Behold 29. “No __, Jose!” 14. Word of disgust 32. Surrounded by 20. Dennis or 33. Enthusiastic person Sigourney (2) 21. __ __ as a lamb 36. Handed-down 22. Wild animal dens history 23. Youngster Online at edgewood.news Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2020 • 3 Wild Things: Darkling beetle (Eleodes obscurus) By James Taulman
There are about 400,000 species of beetles, which make up 25% of all existing animal species. The larva of the darkling beetle is referred to as a “false wireworm.” Wireworm larvae, named for their long slender form, are in a different beetle family. The dark- ling false wireworm grubs have longer legs and antennae than wireworms. Darkling beetles are members of the Tenebrionidae family and larvae feed on plant matter, including roots, stems, and seeds. They may cause damage to crops. Females lay up to 100 eggs in soft soil in spring and produce a second batch of eggs later in sum- mer. The grub larvae are called meal- worms, though they are not true worms. Larvae pupate for about 2 weeks, emerging as adult beetles. Adult beetles are scavengers, also feed- ing on seeds and other plant matter. Adults can live several years. This is the most common beetle I see along trails in the East Mountains. It is a fast moving beetle, about 1-1/2 inches in length and totally black. Adults do not fly. The outer wings (elytra) are thick and fused, forming a protective armor. Most other beetle species are able to fly and in those cases the thick- ened elytra are raised and held above the second membranous pair of wings which unfold and are used to create lift and thrust. Flying beetles also spread the legs in flight and move them to ini- tiate turns. The Eleodes darkling beetle is com- monly seen in a vertical posture with the tip of the head near the ground and the body extending upward, in a kind of headstand. The posture is thought to aid dispersal of defensive chemicals from the end of the abdomen, rather than to represent the beetle eating something on the ground, which is what it appears to be doing. The unpleasant smell of the pheromones results in the name “stink bug” or “stink beetle” sometimes being applied to this insect. Mealworm larvae and adults are eaten by a variety of predators, includ- ing birds, reptiles, and small mammals. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization encourages human consumption of some insect groups, including mealworms. Insects provide protein, vitamins, and miner- als on par with those nutrients found in fish and meat. The UN states that insects are regularly consumed as food in some 36 African countries, 23 coun- tries in the Americas, 29 in Asia, and 11 like peanuts and can replace nuts in almost limitless, so they say. Dried ecologist who enjoys exploring New European countries. Mealworm cookies, cakes, and other desserts. mealworms contain 53% protein, 28% Mexico's natural areas and observing care.org states that dry roasted meal- Since roasted worms are brittle, they fats and 6% f iber. the state's diverse wildlife. His research worms can be salted or dipped in can also be ground and mixed with Photos taken in the Cibola National publications can be accessed at chocolate and eaten as a snack, sprin- flour and baked into muffins, pan- forest and Albuquerque Open Space area researchgate.net, searching for James kled on salads, and added to soup. The cakes, or bread. The different ways at Oak Flats using a Nikon P900 camera. F. Taulman; and wildlife videos are on roasted mealworms allegedly taste a lot these insects can be added to recipes is James Taulman is a retired wildlife YouTube, under James Taulman. 4 • Oct. 30 - Nov. 5, 2020 VOTER INFORMATION Online at edgewood.news
2020 General Election VOTE EARLY n response to the ongoing CO - 9 pu lic health crisis, the Santa Fe County Clerk encourages all voters to vote y a sentee allot an avoi in-person voting for the 2020 eneral lection. et, there are options on how to vote in Santa Fe County.