1951
2/10/51 The Village water department reminded residents that thawing of frozen water pipes was “a courtesy and not a real function of this department.” Thawing of the main water lines and lines up to the meter would be handled by the department at no charge. Any thawing done inside the house would be charged at the rates of “$6 for the first hour and $5 for each successive hour.” They also reminded residents that the grading of private roads and driveways was not the responsibility of the village either.
1976
2/19/76 The Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce was unable to come to a decision on the status of the fall motorcycle rally. Organizers of the event had said that they would cancel it over concerns about security. Well-known Western singer Ray Reed proposed a “Mule-O-Rama” to replace it, with an All-American Mule Futurity race, fiddling contest and old-time dance competition. Reed had seen a similar event in Bishop, California. The proposal was unanimously supported.
In other news, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson were scheduled to play summer concerts at the Chaparral convention center in Ruidoso Downs.
2001 2/2/01 State Representative Ben Rios of Las Cruces “asked the state lawmakers to consider a pardon for the infamous Kid who roamed the hills around the historic settlement of Lincoln and drew his gun as a ‘Regulator’ on the side of John Tunstall during the Lincoln County War of 1878.” A spokesperson for Governor Gary Johnson’s office said that pardons are intended to restore a person’s civil rights and that “it’s too late for Billy.” Lincoln County Sheriff Tom Sullivan called it “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” He continued, “As far as I’m concerned, Billy was nothing but a glorified cop killer…I have a real problem with that.”