Farewell to a good coach

Editor:

The City of Rio Rancho and the Parks and Recreation Department have truly suffered a major loss. Doug Parsons was widely known as an excellent coach and a great man. In a time when all too many coaches are overly concerned about winning, Doug took the time to actually teach his teams.

Whether on the football field or the basketball court, he coached with a passion for the game and for sharing his knowledge with “his” kids. He did all this without having a child on the team — just a love of volunteering. He never yelled or cursed at the boys and always encouraged them to perform at their highest levels.

Our son had the privilege of having Doug as a coach for four years. Our family has been touched by his generosity and the countless hours he spent doing something he loved. Doug was by far the best coach we’ve ever had. He will be greatly missed.

Rachel Garretson

Rio Rancho

Mysterious particles

Editor:

Now the windy season is back, I have a dilemma: It looks like the same dirt that blew last year from Pulte’s development at Loma Colorado.

Sheri, who works for Rio Rancho as a code enforcement officer, told me last year, “Pulte has built a block wall and a six-foot green fence and that’s all the city requires.”

She also said they put some magic coating down during final grading and that took care of the dust problem. So, what’s this brown stuff in the air on even moderately windy days? It fills our lungs, eyes, sinus cavities and house. It can’t possibly be dust from Pulte, right?

They still have at least a hundred acres left graded but not built on, but that has the magic coating on it, right? What is this brown stuff? Is it trash that I should let Waste Management dispose of? I’ve lived here for about eight years and in Farmington for 10, so New Mexico wind is nothing new to me. The last two years have been the worst of my life for sinus, eye and lung problems. I’ve called Code Enforcement, written the mayor and this newspaper. Code Enforcement blew smoke. The Mayor didn’t care enough to answer. The Observer did print my letter last fall.

Will I live through this? Of course, but I will vote against all city construction starting this Tuesday (3/10). My next vote for mayor will be for anyone but Swisstack. With that off my chest, I feel much better. I think I’ll go sweep brown stuff off my porch.

Michael Shannon

Rio Rancho

Self-interest behind TIDDs

Editor:

Suncal and its subsidiary, Westland Development, are spending big bucks for TV ads on the ill-conceived Tax Increment Development District (TIDD). Who is their mouthpiece?

It’s Ray Michael Baca, who was appointed executive director of the New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council less than a year ago. Naturally, he would be for the Suncal TIDD bailout. Mr. Baca was a heavy equipment salesman in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, selling backhoes, crushers, dozers, shovels, trucks, and loaders for 25 years. His former employer would benefit, and maybe he can get a job with Westland Development.

Self-interest is always a good motive for supporting the Suncal TIDD which will siphon funds from education and other more important projects in New Mexico for 28 years. It definitely will not create 11,500 new jobs in New Mexico. Let’s see what Suncal did in California — numerous bankruptcies, unpaid debts of millions of dollars to contractors and no new jobs. The state legislators need to vote no on the TIDD.

Greg Lennes

Las Cruces