Opinion

Last month, when President Obama signed into law the furthest-reaching land protection in 15 years, he did it in the name of Theodore Roosevelt. In 1908, President Roosevelt established 150 national forests as America’s legacy for future generations.

Here in New Mexico, Roosevelt’s vision created the Carson, Cibola, Lincoln, Santa Fe and Gila national forests. A century later, those forests and others like them still stand, because Americans enthusiastically embraced our heritage lands and pushed back when special interests threatened them.

As usual, we’re seeing that local argument between those who say film productions have greatly benefitted the community’s economy and those who say they haven’t.

Both sides have their good points, but I sure would like to bat down one criticism of movie projects in the Meadow City.

Copenhagen, DENMARK — Two weeks in Scandinavia, for a vacation and the baptism of grand-daughter Ellen Vestergaard Trujillo, mark our third trip here. We took a side trip to Stockholm, Sweden, the farthest east we’ve ever been, and though we have a better feel of the turf both in Stockholm and Copenhagen, we have much to learn.

Let me explain:

When a police officer does a bad thing, it shocks the public and rightfully so.

Certain rights are guaranteed to our citizens through amendments to the Constitution and those rights should never be infringed upon by law enforcement officers acting under color of law.

I used to live around Bernal, right at the foot of Starvation Peak. Cleofes Ortiz was my landlord, friend and neighbor. I lived there for several years in the ‘70s, had owned property in the area and was currently hoping to find a nice parcel to build a passive solar adobe. My wife and I looked at a few properties in the Blanchard area and would have bought a charming eight-acre site we like until we learned of the proposed wind farm in Rowe Mesa.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK — What exactly is an expiration date? Much after the fact, I pondered that question following a hassling by a usually-friendly staff of customs-passport inspectors at the airport in Copenhagen, Denmark.

This is our third trip here. Our passports, acquired in June 1999, show proof of our visits to this area twice before, in 2006, 2008 and this year. The policy is for each visitor landing at Kastrup International to furnish proof of residency.

Last week in this space, we encouraged authorities to seek an independent investigation into allegations against Las Vegas police Officer Martin Salazar.

Unbeknownst to us, District Attorney Richard Flores had already decided to do just that. We commend him for taking this step.

Earlier this year, three jailers at the San Miguel County Detention Center reported that Salazar had threatened to hurt a woman he had taken into custody, 52-year-old Bernadette Varela. Other jailers filed reports indicating that Varela alleged she had been injured by Salazar.

On behalf of the Mora Chamber of Commerce, I would like to thank the many volunteers who assisted on April 25 for the Mora County Clean-up Day.

The success would not have been possible had it not been for the hard work of those involved. Thank you to the 120-plus individuals who cleaned up the roadways, ditches, yards and arroyos. Special thanks to Russell’s, New Mexico Department of Transportation, Community First Bank, Bank of Mora, Mora County, Daniels Ranch, Herzog Environmental, Allsups and the Buena Vista Volunteer Fire Department.

Orta Vez, Mil Gracias!

We have a 17-year-old boy who ran away recently. He was picked up by your police department in Las Vegas, N.M. He wanted to come home, and the police department helped get him back to us safely. We are very grateful to all who helped in this and wish to thank someone. That was a very hard time waiting, but the way (you handled it) and the contact we had with Las Vegas PD was so helpful. Thank your city for this.

Pat Harris

West Monroe, La.