Columns

Editor’s note: This is the fifth of a series of articles written on old-school athletics by Luna Community College sports performance instructor Henry Sanchez.

By Henry Sanchez
Special to the Optic

It is important to know and remember our past because it reflects where we have been, where we are today and where we are going.

Once upon a time, if you wanted to read the news in the Las Vegas Optic, you had to actually buy the paper.

Then the Internet came along and the Optic went online. Then, suddenly, the hard work of our newsroom could be read for free.

It’s a credit to the quality of our product and services (and an indication that many of our readers still prefer to read hardcopy editions) that we’ve managed to hold on tight to our subscription base.

After the 1846 occupation and annexation, New Mexico was brought under the civil law of the United States (Kearny Code), and government officials for New Mexico were immediately appointed by Gen. Kearny. Thereafter, New Mexico was governed by civil and military officials who received their appointments from Washington.  

Thus began New Mexico’s territorial period, which lasted 66 years, until our old and venerable Nuevo Mexico, long a  Spanish and Mexican province, was admitted to the Union as the 47th state in 1912.

Only a couple of weeks away from spring, we’ve gotten restless, tired of checking the weather reports to discover whether traffic’s stuck in Glorieta Pass. Newcomers to this area are often surprised that there’s actually visibility, sun and clear roads after trudging along, following a million semis crawling on I-25. We’ve stayed home more than we’re accustomed to, due to the weather, and we’ve acquired cabin fever.