IThursday, March 3, 2011 1 fr Odmtntu rtu Page 5 1 Budget ]E00attles ti,00&apos;,d up in nonsensical views Birthdays&Anniversaries Who runs our educational system, characters from the old Looney Tunes cartoons or goons? Looking at what has been happening in Wisconsin this past week I would say the latter has taken over their school sys- tem. Looking at New Mexico's system, I would say it is a toss-up between Wile E. Coyote and Yosemite Sam. Or maybe Chip and Dale. Cute but not much use for anything. Teachers in Wisconsin went on an unofficial strike last week to gather in their state capitol and protest new laws aimed at curbing union influence in hir- ing or firing teachers• Like here, they are state employees and, likehere, they are being asked to give a little more back to help pay for their benefits and future retirement. Newly-elected Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, just like our new Governor, Susana Martinez, took over a state that is broke, with no money in the bank, and has to make some unpopu- lar choices to get the state back on the right fiscal track. Unfortunately, many of those difficult choices involve state employees, their wages and benefits• f By JERRY CRABB De Baca County News Contributor Gov. Walker has a budget plan, much like Gov. Martinez' budget plan, that does not involve layoffs of teachers or other state employees• Everyone gets to keep their job - they just have to con- tribute a little more to help pay for the benefits and retirement they receive. Which is much better than most of us working in the private sector get as it is. The teachers dislike the plan so much that many schools were forced to shut down due to the lack of teachers show- ing up for work. They were in Madison, the state capitol protesting instead• And their actions helped me make up my mind as to what both governors should do, especially where education is con- cerned. I say Gov. Walker and Gov. Marti- nez, should cave in; just give up and let teachers and their unions have their way. Then, after the state budget is approved and each school district knows how much money it has to work with, let the unions and school administrators decide who gets to stay and who has to go. Wisconsin is •facing the firing 5 to 6 thousand state employees; two-thirds of them teachers. New Mexico is looking at the same problem if our state employees, including teachers, do not get the fact that the state is broke and changes have to be made to benefit all. My question to all state employees, including teachers, is which of you are willing to keep fighting a losing fight, throw your number into the lottery hat, and when the state budget is signed, whine and cry if your number is drawn and you have no job? I thought unions were about 'All for one, one for all'! It doesn't seem to work that way with state employees. And... the loser is... number 42! MARCH 3 Ronald Sena MARCH 4 Nieole Lujan Ted Ramscy Creed West Keeli West MARCH 5 Anna Dunn Marshall Elliott M&M Brian Mitchell MARCH 6 Michael Seovel M&M Leo Gallegos MARCH 7 Bert Blackwell Dub Head MARCH 8 Dick Haynes Rachel Reagan MARCH 9 .arena Sanchez Chris Steele Jordan Sena Eli Washburn M&M Ben Elliott M&M Frank Martz To have your Birthday or Anniversary printed, call the De Baca County News 575-355-2462 Silva imp::oved, families enjoy out-of-town visitors We received a report on Bobby Silva and he is a happy camper• The neck brace and the oxygen tube have been removed• He will remain at the nursing home get- ting therapy on his legs. It was said he was in good spirits and looking forward to returning to Roswell. He has enjoyed various visitors from Fort Sumner, Clovis, Albuquerque and Colo- rado. Dorothea Vaughan Snelson, 97 of Prescott, AZ, passed away Feb. 20. She had a wonderful long life• Survivors include son George and daughter Frances Thurman, both of Prescott; grand- f children and great | grandchildren, broth- L ers, Neal and Doro- thy Vaughan of Fort Sumner and George and Lela of Albuquer- que. Her husband preceed- ed her in death. She was cremated and a memo- rial service is planned for later in the spring. She requested her ashes be spread across the Vaughan Ranch south of Fort Sumner. Mary and Mike Hil- lin of Longmont, CO and daughter Michelle MELVA MARSHALL De Baca County Newl Corrsependem of Greely, CO spent last week visiting Mary's parents, Neal and Doro- thy Vaughan. Christa and Katie McClain visited with Rod and Mary McClain this week. Mary and Morgan went to Roswell Saturday and visited with Katie's sister Mia McClain for a few hours• They also got to see Shannon's boys, Tyler and Austin Har- i crow. Taylor missed the trip because of revamping one of the PNM units in Farmington where he works. The George Walker family and other fam- ily members enjoyed a get together last week- end. Those attending included Bob and Lorene Hines of La Grand; OR; Bill and Judy Walker ofAbilene, TX; Jimmy and Betty DeArmond of Amarillo, TX; Burldey Fuller of Lubbock, TX and a student at Texas See NICHE, page 6 STORAGE PLUMBING CONSTRUCTION REAL ESTATE APPLIANCES ABST RA( IT Under New Ownership 575.355.8484 We Specialize In l-lard To Close Properties, Including Farms dr Ranches! AUTOMOTIVE   : :i ., * < TI RES FARMING FINNEY FARMS INC. We Look Forward To Serving The Community! Carrying a full line of appliances by and Frigidaire and Maytag We have a complete line of auto parts & If we don't have it, WE CAN GET IT! IRuss & Son's Auto Parts I 14 E Surrmer Ave ° 355-7204 NSURANCE PRINTING STORAGE PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Minimum four consecutive insertions without change Double s7.27 a week Single s4.67 a week 575-355-2462 GREAT STORAGE! 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