Ruidoso Downs Withdraws Its Application to Move

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010 VOL. 2, NO. 44 50 cents Ruidoso Downs withdraws INSIDE: its application to move Ruidoso beats Portales, By Todd Fuqua ture passed the Business Tax pg. 21 Editor Retention Bill, which would t is now truly offi cial: Ruidoso Downs raise the gross receipts tax Race Track is staying put. to pay for tax relief for the I The New Mexico Racing Com- track. mission accepted the track’s withdrawl of Lincoln County voters its bid to move to Las Cruces at its regular approved the 3/16th of one meeting on Thursday, fulfi lling track owner percent tax increase in Sep- R.D. Hubbard’s promise to keep the track tember. in the Ruidoso area. “We’re very apprecia- “The signifi cance of this is that Hub- tive of the people of Lincoln bard and the track’s ownership are doing County,” said Jean Stoddard, exactly what they said they’d do,” said acting general manager of Bruce Rimbo, vice president of the track. the track. “The race track The Commission’s decision is the end belongs in Ruidoso, and we result of a process fi rst set in motion in No- look forward to our next race File Photo vember 2009 when the track fi rst applied to meet starting May 27, 2011.” Fans crowd the stands at Ruidoso Downs Race move. That application came after attempts While the gross receipts Track during Labor Day weekend. Tens of thou- sands of people crammed into the grandstand to secure tax parity from the State Legis- tax increase was approved for the running of the All American derby and fu- lature. by voters, Rimbo said the at- turity, a sight that will continue in Ruidoso as the tempt to achieve tax parity Mescalero The concern is the compact between State Racing Commission has accepted the track’s the state and Native American casinos through the Legislature will withdrawl of its application to move to Las Cruces. becomes “Skynyrd which allows Native American casinos to continue. nation” for a time, be taxed on a sliding scale based on how “We’ll have to start by educating voters Ruidoso would be a detriment as well. pg. 15 much revenue they generate. and the Legislature about the importance of “If the track moves, it would hurt Ruidoso Downs is one of the smallest this issue,” Rimbo said. “We hope to get tourism badly, as the state would lose out Why people vote, casinos in the state in terms of revenue, and support from the people so that this tax can on gross receipts and property taxes that pg. 7 faces competition from two casinos – the go away.” wouldn’t be collected,” Rimbo said. “The Inn of the Mountain Gods and the Highway Rimbo said legislators have been reluc- state is a partner in all of that. If they were 70 Travel Center. tant to pass tax parity because of the pos- to give up some tax relief on an ongoing Rather than allow race track casinos sible loss of tax revenue in a bad economy, business, the net result would still be good to pay tax on a sliding scale, the Legisla- but claimed the loss of the race track from for the state.” Village and Stevens joins editorial staff he Ruidoso Free Press Press Association and Hearst RVeDC partner is proud to announce Newspapers. He has also TJeff Stevens as its been recognized for commu- newest editor. Todd Fuqua nity service journalism by The food is good at for economic will become the paper’s full- the NAACP and the Texas Ruidoso schools, time sports editor. State Teachers Association. pg. 10 development Jeff Stevens has been a This will be a homecom- By Eugene Heathman reporter and editor for more ing of sorts for the roving re- Index Reporter than 15 years. He started his porter, who lived in Ruidoso uring last Tuesday’s Ruidoso career in Plainview, Texas as for three years and met his Business . 13 Village Council Meeting, Vil- a general assignments report- wife here. Classifi eds. 20 lage Councilors adopted a er, later serving the Plainview “My wife and I are very Editorial. 6 D Daily Herald as agricultural excited to be returning to Ru- resolution recognizing the Ruidoso Jeff Stevens Education . 10 Valley Economic Development Cor- editor, education reporter and idoso,” Stevens said. “And Events Calendar . 17 poration as the sole authority for eco- weekend editor. we’re especially excited to On the Town. 14 nomic development activities. Stevens has served in almost every ca- be involved with the Free Press.” Police Reports . 8 The RVEDC is striving to have pacity of the newspaper business including Fuqua said he’s excited about Stevens’ editor, reporter, design and pagination and hiring, and looks forward to being able to Sports. 21 the Village of Ruidoso included as an elite member of the New Mexico Cer- even short stints in the sales department. serve Ruidoso’s readers as a sports editor. tifi ed Communities Initiative. In 2001, he founded a short-lived weekly “Sports is something I’ve always Richard Aguilar, Executive Direc- paper he later closed for personal reasons. wanted to write about, and to get the op- tor of the Ruidoso Valley Economic He has worked at newspapers in Texas, portunity to write about it full time is a Development Corporation commends New Mexico, Arkansas and Utah. Stevens dream come true,” Fuqua said. “I hope Continued pg. 5 has received awards for reporting, feature give Ruidoso readers the complete sports writing and column writing from the Texas coverage they deserve.” YOUR HOME COULD BE HERE! For a FREE MARKET ANALYSIS of your home, REAL ESTATE TEAM CALL: 575-258-5008! (575) 257-5111 ext. 117 SDC, REALTORS® 307 Mechem Dr, Ruidoso, NM (575) 258-5008 Find Ruidoso’s #1 REAL ESTATE TEAM at: www.ruidosorealestate.com 2 Ruidoso Free Press November 2, 2010 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Banking on Halloween Humane Society cookbook run parade beginning Sudderth Drive and You can help your Lincoln County Highway 70 at noon. The toy parade will Humane Society by sending your favor- run to the circle at the entrance to the Up- ite recipes of any category. The society per Canyon and return to The Quarters in is compiling a cookbook of your favor- Midtown. ites for a fund raiser. Include your name Live music will be performed by the and a story to go with the recipe, if it has Homegrown Boyz. There is a $3 dona- one. tion at the door, with all proceeds to go to The book will publish mid-2011. “Santa’s Helpers.” For more information, Submit recipes to [email protected]. or to make a donation, call 336-4629. County planning meeting Zumba fi tness class The Lincoln County Planning com- A regular Zumba fi tness class is be- mission will hold its regular meeting Nov. ing taught Mondays from 6-7 p.m. at the 3 at 1 p.m. in the Lincoln County annex at Community Youth Center Warehouse, 115 Kansas City Rd. in Ruidoso. 200 Church Dr. For more information, call 630-0318 or 808-3267. Democratic meeting Anime club The Democratic Party of Lincoln The Capitan anime club meets Thurs- County will meet Nov. 4 at 5:30 p.m. for a Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press days from 4:15-5:30 p.m. in the Capitan volunteer appreciation dinner at 618 Sud- employees at City Bank Ruidoso got into the Halloween spirit Friday, Public Library, located at 101 E. 2nd St. derth Dr. The public is invited to attend oct. 29. Dressed up for the day were (l-r) Norma Blazer, Patricia Chat- in Capitan. For more information, contact and honor Lincoln County residents who neuf, Sara Griego, Caroline Baker, Maylene Bellon, Donna Ashby, eliza- Keenan Darden at 973-8046. helped during the election. beth Blue (and friend Blue II) and Sheila Lambert. For more information, call chairper- Christmas Jubilee son Maria Quintana at 937-8394. The Ruidoso Valley Greeters pres- a.m. on the fourth Monday of each month, Party dinner meetings are held at 6 p.m. Tea for two ents the 24th annual Christmas Jubilee, January through November. Meetings are on the second Monday of each month, featuring 80 local merchants and a food held at Cree Meadows Country Club. January through November, also at Cree The seventh annual “Tea for Two court, at the Ruidoso Convention Center Those wishing to attend are asked to Meadows Country Club. or Just for You” has been scheduled for Nov. 12-14. Hours are Friday, noon-6 RSVP for lunch. For more information, If you are interested in attending, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. The tea, sponsored by p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday call Karen at 336-1360. please RSVP to the Republican Party of- the Presbyterian Women of First Pres- 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Lincoln County Republican fi ce at 258-2750. byterian Ruidoso, is an afternoon of fun Activities for children include story and fellowship. The special program will telling and visits with Santa on Saturday The local forecast is brought to you by: be a presentation of “There’s Something from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday from About Mary.” Ladies from several lo- 12:30-3 p.m. cal churches will portray Mary as she Admission is $1, with children 12 dealt with her role as the mother of Je- and under getting in for free. For more sus. Special music will be presented by information, call 336-8206 or 336-7632.

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