The following is a recap of local events for this time period throughout history.
Municipal Judge Frederick A “Rick” Moeller is going to have more flexibility in dealing with people guilty of driving while intoxicated (DWI). The additional flexibility is coming through the New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance just adopted by the city commission. It went into effect at the first of 1984. The added flexibility pleases him, he said, because dealing with DWI defendants is the most frustrating part of his work. The main difference, he explained, is that DWI defendants will be able to keep their driver’s licenses while going through alcohol rehabilitation. That’s a combination of options municipal judges haven’t been able to use before.
Aztec Independent Review
For an area which is desert arid most of the time, the big snowstorm Tuesday and on into Wednesday was something else. Measurements are all the way from 12 to 24 inches over the county and everyone who wielded shovels leaned to even heavier estimates. Sixteen inches was the report for Cuba and the Albuquerque Journal spoke of it as “a blizzard,” but in San Juan, without any wind, it was as the poet wrote, “Soft as the fleeces of descending snow.” School children probably benefited second best next to farmers and ranchers, for all schools of the county remained closed an extra day Wednesday, following the holiday, while roads were being opened. Only casualty, other than traffic induced, was the awning for the Warren Drapery Shop in Aztec. It broke loose under the snow load and fell to the sidewalk.
Aztec Independent Review
Aztec fell into the grip of the nation’s storms over the weekend with a six inch snow accompanied by subzero temperature that has held its grip all this week. Gas pressure dropped and school as dismissed because of insufficient gas to heat the building. In South Aztec we s-h-i-v-e-r-e-d and s-h-o-o-k and Grandma’s nose dripped like a leaky roof and we poked holes in our underwear with our goose pimples. Jay-Bee Printers were shut down two days because of insufficient gas to operate machines. Jim Eubanks, Aztec Drug, went back to coal for heat and sold us goose pimple abolisher at 25c per. We’d go south if it were not so cold down there. Mary wrapped up in an electric blanket, the temperature dropped to 18 below at midnight and the power went off. B-u-rr Poko Frio
Aztec Independent Review
As with Aztec, residents of Farmington have their community problems to solve and business and social questions to periodically discuss. The town, which must house and furnish a variety of approved entertainment for oil men and other transients, has been divided as to restoring the pool hall privilege, which was cremated some years ago with enthusiastic applause of several militant ladies and matrons sentimentally inclined to feed the ministers amply that they be physically equipped to spread the gospel throughout the entire community every day of the year. Recently the modernists and non-churchgoers of the town sympathetically fused in an effort to grant some high moral man, or men, the privilege of opening and conducting a pool hall under ordinance provision and censorship. The mayor and aldermen have officially approved, and the “town at the end of the D. & .G.” will have a real pool hall – a place for both local and transient cue devotees to enjoy cushion-table festivities.
San Juan Review
Crops of all kinds grow and mature readily in the fertile soil of the San Juan, northwestern county of New Mexico. Alfalfa is one of the leading products of the valley, many thousands of tons being produced yearly. From three to four crops are secured each season, the yield averaging about 5 tons per acre. There is always a good market for the hay at top prices, the neighboring mountain sections being the largest buyers of hay for stock pastured there in the summer months. The reservation also uses considerable hay each year, and much baled hay is shipped to outside points.
San Juan Democrat
The old bachelors of Flora Vista are congratulating themselves on 1904 being leap year. Any old maids who are contemplating marriage may apply to the one of her choice. Correspondence will be cheerfully answered in a painstaking manner.
San Juan County Index
This Week in Local History is compiled by Debi Tracy Olsen, local journalist and member of the Aztec Museum Board of Directors. The stories are pulled from newspaper archives and are reprinted as they appeared, errors and all.
