Today I bought a pressure tank guaranteed good and in working order for $80 and hauled it to the property. There just seems to be an overwhelming amount of work to do before I can move into the house, and everything is still held up by the New Mexico Construction Industries Division.This is just so frustrating.
And now the rains start in earnest - again.
If I wanted webbed feet I would have remained in England. I don't think I have ever seen so much rain in New Mexico before, but the forecast is for a dry winter.
As I sat on my land I looked at the Capitan Mountains to the north, and the Sierra Blanca peak, part of the Rocky Mountain Range, to the south (Sierra Blanca means "white mountain" in Spanish) and Nogal Peak between the two and wondered how long it would be before winter comes and finishing the house is virtually impossible.
I was almost tempted to start doing something in the house - just to feel like I had accomplished a little but I looked at the red tags and the threat of a $1,000 fine and remembered my dad's saying, "It's better to be a coward than a corpse."
So much has been going through my mind for the past week. I miss Oscar something terrible. There is an incredible bond between a lap dog like a miniature dachshund who never leaves your side year after year. They become part of you - an important part of you. In my minds eye I still see him jumping in the truck, or sliding under the bedclothes at night. I look at the front passenger seat in my truck and I still see his eyes focused on me.
And I have thought about my mum an awful lot. This is her home, her property, yet she can't be told what is happening for it would simply kill her. Yet time is marching on and I'm unsure if I will ever see her again. The price for this fiasco has been way too high so when I hear government paid employee's give the multiple reasons why I can't help myself renovate this trailer I simply don't buy it.
I have not been able to reach John today and we are supposed to be hauling in more pipe, and metal roof tomorrow. My nerves are shot waiting and worrying.
The recent "special election" is still causing grief with the citizens of Lincoln County and it's motivated many anti-GTR people to form a countywide boycott of all businesses that supported the "Fight Back" pro-tax campaign.
Indian casino impresses
I voted No on the tax issue. How does anybody know what the situation at the track is if the books are closed to the public.
Governor Johnson said years ago that he thought it was a mistake for racetracks to have a casino. He thought a racetrack should be a racetrack and a casino a casino, separate. I agree.
All this weeping and wailing about the track leaving because they can't compete with the Mescalero Apache Tribe Casino. Has an body ever thanked the Mescalero Tribe for running a great casino and bringing in all those gamblers? I've been to the Indian casinos and the food is terrific and the casino is beautiful except for all that ding ding noise and cigarette smoke. Do the taxpayers of Lincoln County want to say we don't approve of the beautiful and well-managed Indian casino and want to support a crappy, failing, rundown track and casino?
I have lived here nearly 70 years and I remember winning $60 the first day the racetrack opened. Lord, I thought that is really easy money. I love the racetrack and the horses. I would hate to think that the people of Ruidoso couldn't come up with some ideas of how to run a good racetrack with beautiful horses without asking for a handout.
A lot of good people in Lincoln County struggle along trying to keep their heads above water. Most don't have any high-falutin connections that will get them help from the Legislature or the county commission but they are surviving and looking forward to better days in Lincoln County. They're not saying, "Help us or we're leaving."
I have never met Mr. Hubbard, even though he and his family have made tremendous contributions to Lincoln County. Nothing personal, Mr. Hubbard, but if you need help packing you can count on me.
Walt Limacher
Hondo
Local businesses react to new GRT increase
Business people generally see an increased gross receipts tax, approved by Lincoln County voters this week, as a necessary evil.
And the consensus appeared among retailers and contractors with larger ticket items that the extra 3/16 of 1 percent business retention gross receipts tax would not send local shoppers off the mountain.
And the summer tourists will keep coming to the Ruidoso area and spending money.
Effective Jan. 1, 2011, the gross receipts tax on non-food groceries and non-medicines will be 8.6250 percent in Ruidoso, nearly the granddaddy of sales taxes in New Mexico.
The increased tax revenues will help offset the gaming tax that the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Billy the Kid Casino pays to the state.
Track officials had said they would move the facility to a more lucrative location in the state without some gaming tax relief to provide parity with tribal casinos.
Nate Dunn, owner of Bonito River Services, a heating and air conditioning outfit, said he was torn with the issue.
"I feel like it was something that we definitely needed to pass," said Dunn. "I didn't like it. I know it's going to be an increase in taxes and I'm not an advocate of that."
Dunn said the business retention gross receipts tax however is a tax that could actually help his business. He rejected the idea that some homeowners would go out of Lincoln County to purchase a furnace or air conditioner because Bonito River Services has built customer loyalty.
Brenda McCracken, a co-owner at McCracken's Home Gallery, said she really struggled with what decision to make.
"But we've got to support him (R.D. Hubbard, owner of the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Billy the Kid Casino). I've grown up here and the track has always been here. I'm happy with the decision that was made."
McCracken noted the gross receipts tax in Ruidoso is already high. When her business opened in 2003 McCracken said the tax was about 7.1 percent and now it will get closer to 9 percent.
But she said, people are used to the high tax rate and the increase would not affect someone purchasing a high-ticket item.
"Very seldom do I have someone just step back because of the tax."
Sears outlet owner Greg Stewart was emphatic that the increased tax would have no impact on sales.
"I think it's just some minimal amount," he said of the 3/16 of a cent tax increase. "Especially here in Ruidoso Downs, given the difference between Ruidoso's higher tax."
Mark Bickerton, manager of NSide Furniture in Ruidoso said he would do everything possible to keep shoppers buying locally instead of going out of the county.
"Anything to keep the town going, that's a good thing," he said of the retention of the racetrack and casino in Ruidoso Downs.
The gross receipts tax on purchases is of little concern to shoppers that come into Imports, Ect. in Midtown Ruidoso, said store owner Frank Potter.
"Dealing with the people that come through here they are tourists, primarily from Texas, from places like Dallas, San Antonio and Austin," said Potter. "They don't seem to pay much attention to it. I think the Texans are used to high sales taxes and school taxes. They're acclimated to a healthy tax."
Potter said only occasionally does someone ask about the gross receipts tax rate.
People do not lack strength, they lack will.~ Victor Hugo
