MAYOR'S REPORT
DECEMBER 2003
On November 14, we lost Connie McDaniel,
one of our own, to a house fire on Aspen Road. Less then a year ago, a
boy we all called "Thunder" lost his life to a house fire just a
hundred yards from City Hall, in nearly the same manner. Both were
safely out and both went back into the burning house to get something.
Both lost their lives for that which in retrospect was something not
worth their life. Be careful this winter; be smart, be safe, be alive.
The day after the fire, Police Chief George came by my house to tell me
of the tragedy; visibly moved, he told me the cause of the fire, of the
village's quick response and of the lost of life. He paused before
leaning forward and said, "Steve, I've been around big fire
departments, departments that are paid, but I've never seen a
department work together and as hard as those men did last night." That
statement made me proud.
You need to know that your fire department pays a price each and every
time they are called out. Sometimes the price is paid in the form of
losing an evening with their family. Sometimes the price is being worn
out fighting a fire all night and getting only a few hours sleep (if
that) before going to work and struggling on the job all day. Sometimes
the price is paid when one of them gets hurt. Or sometimes, like on
this fire, they pay the price over and over in the memory of what
happened and what they saw.
I talked to some of these men and could see that the loss of life took
its toll. They tried hard not to let it show, but I heard pain laced in
their voices and in their words. I heard softly spoken words such as,
"If I had only', and "I wish I had".
Sometimes as Mayor I'm called on to speak on behalf of the people of
this village. On behalf of all of us I would tell the men of our
volunteer fire department, we thank them for their service, even if we
do not always say it. We are grateful you are willing to protect us and
our property, never asking for anything in return. We know the job is
intense, dangerous and at times painful, and you put us first before
your own comfort and safety. To the Fire Department we as a village ask
you to be safe, because you are part of us, be brave when we cannot, be
strong when we are weak, and just be our neighbor because you are good
men and we appreciate and love you for what you do. Thanks Guys.
Fire Chief Cox mentioned we all should take some time this month to
conduct a family fire drill. Instruct your children on the safest,
quickest exit from your home should it be burning. Take your children
room to room showing them the best way out. Teach them how to open a
window and pop the screen. Have a meeting place outside so no one
reenters the building to look for someone who has already safely exited
the house.
On Thanksgiving a group of our citizens cooked dinner for those who
could not. There, was a lot left over, so it was taken to Ft Stanton.
Seems their ovens were out and they were not going to get a turkey
dinner. It's hard not to believe in a guiding hand.
Last month I told you about Capitan Cares, a group of citizens, from
all walks of life, from different churches and some from no church at
all, that came together at Village Hall asking how they could help our
community this holiday season.
Capitan Cares are volunteers made up of citizens from Capitan and the
surrounding area who are attempting to see that needs of our community
do not get over looked. Capitan Cares is not attempting to replace any
efforts or agencies currently operating within the community, and they
are not in competition but only wish to accent, support, assist and
coordinate agencies in their efforts and fill in any gaps, making sure
no citizen "falls through the cracks" of our system. These folks only
want to help. They are non-partisan, non-dominational, color blind, not
bound by the village limit signs, and with a heart as big as a number 3
washtub.
The immediate focus of Capitan Cares is to identify those in our area
who are currently in need of assistance. With a focus on the coming
holiday season, please let them know of those in our community that
could use some help at this time, what ever kind of help that might be.
Our Village and these good folks do not want anyone in our community to
be left out this holiday season, especially our senior citizens and
children.
If you have a neighbor, a friend, or know someone who is struggling
this year contact Capitan Cares to make them aware of the situation.
They're soul proposes is to help lift a burden off those folks that
could use the outreach of a helping hand. Capitan Cares wants to become
that helping hand.
If you would like to volunteer to help with this effort, please call
Lonnie Lippmann at 505-354-2316 and leave your name and how you can
help or write to Capitan Cares P.O. Box 291, Capitan, New Mexico 88316.
Your tax-deductible contributions can be made out to Capitan Cares and
your contributions will be used wisely, with no administration fees,
all the money will be use to help someone in your area that needs the
help.
There are times when frustration makes me wish I was doing something
else. But when I see our fire department and Capitan Cares working for
us, I love this more then anything I have ever done, and I have had
some real adventures in this life. Thanks boss for the good times we
had this year. I look forward to the next year of near fist fights in
meetings, scrapping with the newspaper, laughing, sharing and having a
cowboy good time with you my neighbors.
Say a prayer for our troops. On behalf of the crew at Village Hall,
have a Merry Christmas.
