People For Preserving Our Western Heritage

Letter from James Scarantino, past Chairman of the Coalition for New Mexico Wilderness: "Underlying the problems with the Dona Ana County wilderness campaign is the fact that the persons ultimately calling the shots, behind the screen of a legitimate-seeming coalition and local organizers, hail from the most radical wing of the environmental movement. They include persons who founded and participated in EarthFirst, the nation's first eco-terrorist group. ... That is not the sort of mindset that makes legislation possible, and helps explain why the wilderness community has produced so little new wilderness legislation in New Mexico over the past two decades." (03/13/08)

Letter from Bob Jones, Otero County Rancher, President, Paragon Foundation, Past President, NM Cattle Growers Association. "The legislation is unique and innovative in its approach and comes from the public and the ranchers faced with the possibility of enormously more restrictive land designations in the presence of a growing community opposed to such restrictions. It has huge implications for Dona Ana County, but it doesn't stop there. ... The concept offers hope to those who are impacted and hope to those who believe that certain land characteristics need more specific management or protection." (01/24/08)

From a letter documenting the results of the January La Union Soil and Water Conservation District board meeting: “The La Union SWCD board voted unanimously to rescind their support for the 2006 resolution developed by The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.” Additionally: “The La Union SWCD board members unanimously voted to support “People for Preserving Our Western Heritage” and their Dona Ana County Planned Growth, Open Space, and Rangeland Preservation Act of 2008.” (01/11/08)

Letter from Ernie Torrez, Sandoval County rancher "The failed attempt of a few years ago by NMWA at wilderness designation in the Cabezon/ San Luis area is still fresh in our minds. Back then it became clear to everyone that the negative impact outweighed any forecasted positive outcome of wilderness designation. Tactics and statements by the wilderness advocates dismissed the impact and severity of restrictions regarding roads and other rights-of-way local residents have used for centuries to access areas of traditional use. The job creation forecast was bogus with no factual or historical data from other similar wilderness areas made available. ... The village councils of Corrales and San Ysidro did not endorse nor support wilderness designation." (01/07/08)

Letter from Billy Prewitt and Becky Biggs, Outfitters in the Corralitos, Las Uvas and Robledo areas. "To our knowledge, there is only one naturally occurring permanent water source on the west side of the Mesilla Valley from the Rio Grande to the county line. There are several seasonal seeps, but they are not permanent in that they are reliant on periods of rainfall to appear. All other waters, all of them, are there because ranchers have been involved in placing them and maintaining them. We rely on these waters in this business and we know the significance of these waters to wildlife and livestock alike. ... The Rangeland Preservation Area seeks to maintain these open spaces into perpetuity. It allows the ranchers to manage these waters, and it attempts to maintain a tie to the social fabric that these lands have today. Give this a close look. Remember, in the eyes of the visitor to our lands, wilderness and open space are one and the same. Why not do something that has in mind the perpetuation of the true stewards of these lands?" (01/07/08)

Letter from I. Miley Gonzales, New Mexico Department of Agriculture Director/Secretary, stating their support of the Dona Ana County Planned Growth, Open Space and Rangeland Preservation Act of 2008. "The proposed land designations, Special Preservation Area (SPA) and Rangeland Preservation Area (RPA), provide for protection of Dona Ana County's natural resources while also ensuring that multiple use and proper management of federal lands is not restricted." (01/05/08)

Letter from a group of Mesilla farmers: "As a group we endorse this effort. We support the rancher group position and their concept of Rangeland Preservation Areas, we strongly support the idea of halting the attrition to our farmland, and we believe that local control of the end result of this effort should have priority over outside interests." (12/05/07)

Letter of endorsement from Bruce McAbee, Farm Credit of New Mexico. "It is our belief that the legislation, when adopted by Congress, will provide for the conseration, protection and enhancement of recreation, wildlife, livestock grazing, and scenic values; conserve and protect the open spaces and unique resources within specific areas; accommodate the long term planned population and economic growth in Dona Ana County; and that such legislation will allow for effective law enforcement and Homeland Security activities." (added 12/05/07)

Letter from Phil Harvey, Valley Car Wash, LLC. "There are viable alternatives to wilderness that do not have the far-reaching ramifications of federal wilderness designation, and will still protect open space. ... The draft legislation submitted by the PFPWH has many benefits above and beyond what wilderness designation would accomplish. First, this bill legislatively eliminates the development and disposal of the lands, thus protecting open space and views. At the same time, law enforcement and border patrol will have meaningful and effective access, allowing National Security to be elevated to a prescribed character of the land designation. Positive and productive use of the lands will be allowed, while allowing proactive conservation efforts for rangeland and wildlife, and ranchers will be allowed to continue their operations. Instead of arbitrary, emotion-driven wilderness designations, science-based conservation measures will be implemented, blending stewardship with permanent retention of open space. Private property rights will be protected, access to existing roads will be preserved, irresponsible off-road vehicle use will be prohibited, and hunters, horseback riders, and other recreationists will have access to the areas. This bill also allows the community benefit of flood control devices and early warning systems, as well as the improvement and expansion of water conservation, water distribution, water capture, and water recovery projects. Livestock’s importance in wildlife habitat will be recognized, allowing ranchers to continue their practices that enhance and promote wildlife." (added 11/29/07)

Letter from Mesilla Valley farmer Miguel Lucero. "As I have learned about the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and their founding members and alliance organizations, I know full well their historical stance on cattle on federal lands and I am worried. ... Cattle have long been the salvation of what little wildlife we have..."

Letter from I.G. Prieto, Mesilla Valley farmer. "Since we are surrounded by federal lands, residential development has come at the expense of farm land. Values have gone up to the point that housing looks a lot more enticing than farming. ... We are self reliant people who ask nothing of you and expect less, but we would like to know that somehow young farmers will have a place in this country and are at least respected for their desire to pursue a dying American art form. When I think of the young man who burns from within to farm and the young man who burns within to create a man made legacy of this wilderness lunacy, I am saddened."

Letter from Dona Ana County Undersheriff Chuck Franco. "I am the Undersheriff of Dona Ana County and I have strong convictions that wilderness created anywhere along the Mexican border is a threat to our national security." (added 11/28/07)

Letter from Jerry G. Schickedanz, Dean Emeritus, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, New Mexico State University. "... increased unnecessary regulations will be mandated with the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance proposal.", "The proposed Dona Ana County Planned Growth, Open Space and Rangeland Preservation Area Act is a common sense production agriculture friendly proposal that will allow controlled access and use for the lands in question. It will provide the necessary protection and orderly disposal of land that local citizens feel is important." (added 11/28/07)

Letter from Terry & Jodi Denning. (added 11/27/07)

Letter from Steve Wilmeth, rancher, Kathy Wilmeth, ranch wife and grandmother. (added 11/26/07)

Letter from Matthew Lee, Entomology Consultants LLC, and Stephanie Lee, co-owner of Entomology Consultants LLC and daughter of a rancher. (added 11/26/07)

Letter from Terrell Shelley, Grant County rancher. "'We will maintain the high ground in our steadfast belief that this land must have stewards that are committed to the long run. We arrived here before the Forest Service and we have prevailed, but 'where wilderness, land management agencies, environmental groups, and ranchers collide, ranchers (one by one) lose.' It’s a fact." (added 11/22/07)

Letter from the Mesilla Valley Sportsman's Alliance (MVSA), representing over 700 hunters and recreationalists in Dona Ana County, expressing strong opposition to the proposed wilderness designation, and expressing support for the Dona Ana County Planned Growth, Open Space and Rangeland Preservation Area Act. (added 11/20/07)

Letter from the New Mexico Cattlegrowers Association supporting the Dona Ana County Planned Growth, Open Space and Rangeland Preservation Area Act proposal. (added 11/21/07)

Letter from the Krenz Ranch on the Arizona Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness Area – HR 3287. (added 11/20/07)

Editorial "Observations on the Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness Proposal" by Zack Taylor. Mr. Taylor has a degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida, and worked for the Border Patrol from 1976 to 2003. He worked alien and drug smuggler traffic in the proposed Wilderness area from 1988-2003. He states: "When the access road through Peck Canyon was closed to vehicle traffic, the drug traffic increased. When the vehicle access through Circulo Sombrero was closed the violence and the drug traffic further increased to the point that Tubac is now becoming world famous as a place where old west style killings are taking place today. This is no coincidence and from my experience is directly related to the lack of access to the area. Does Tubac want to be known as the Tombstone of the twenty first century?" "To further restrict lawful access to this area will, from my experience, increase the drug and alien smuggling in the area and escalate the level of violence throughout. As Mrs. Lowell so correctly pointed out it is not now safe to go afield unarmed in this area. The armed smugglers are already prevalent in the area. Lock it up and they will take control." (added 11/02/07)

Dona Ana County Planned Growth, Open Space and Rangeland Preservation Act is endorsed and supported by the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers. "The National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers (NAFBPO) supports your initiative to insure Homeland Security access to areas on or near international borders. As you know, national security issues are properly among our nation's highest priorities." (added 10/26/07)

Email correspondence from Bob Alexander, Certified Professional in Rangeland Management and retired BLM Rangeland Management Specialist in response to the recent Las Cruces Bulletin article by Todd Dickson titled "Retired BLM Official says ranchers can live with wilderness". Mr. Alexander provides helpful insight into the complexities of ranching within areas with federal wilderness designation. He states "With a wilderness designation, many tools that are often needed for ranching in harmony with nature may be limited; firefighting, shrub control, erosion control structures, roads or trails, fences and pipelines come to mind." and "it may not be possible for a rancher to take action on unforeseen emergencies within the critical period." He concludes by stating "There may be exceptions, but I can not imagine that the typical ranching experience and enterprise will improved by wilderness designation." (added 10/15/07)

Letter from Mark Salopek, Dona Ana County Rancher and Farmer, and another letter from Benny Salopek, also a Dona Ana County Rancher and Farmer. Mark Salopek states "...the only truth in the issues is the environmental one. The one that this group (NMWA) is financed to the tune of $630,000 per year in grants and donations for the sole purpose of creating wilderness, the one that the founders of NMWA are now the pushers of the Rewilding effort to displace people for wildlife corridors from Canada to Mexico, and the one that writes seriously that the human 'virus' has already overrun its natural carrying capacity on this earth. How can you in all seriousness even consider this argument and these people?" Benny Salopek writes "What was once a valid intention [designating wilderness areas] will become an ever increasing joke as the real long term agenda of this group who is pushing this is uncovered and displayed. Shame on any community leader or congressional representative who is being lead through this maize of events by the likes of Earth First!ers, ALFers and ELFers. There people are fundamentally against our way of life and we take great exception to that. ... Take a stand on property rights, take a stand on the social fabric of what is left of an agricultural industry, and demonstrate to your constituencies that the separations of power in our system recognize the individual and his plight." (added 10/02/07)

The National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers has prepared a document which expresses their concern about proposed wilderness areas. Current government employees face many organizational and political pressures which can heavily influence what they are able to say and put in writing. Retired employees are not bound by those constraints and are at liberty to speak freely. In their cover letter, Mr. Kent Lundgren, Chairman, states "The purpose of this document is to bring attention to the fallacy, and danger, of efforts underway to further deny Federal Law Enforcement Officers (Border Patrol Agents), access to areas necessary to defend our southern borders by granting additional "wilderness area" designations. Our southern border is today more vulnerable to terrorist activities than at any other time in our National history. This is not the time to consider additional designations as 'wilderness'. It may be appropriate at this time for our Country to repeal some previously approved wilderness designations to insure the best possible chance for success in ongoing security activities."

Their document, titled "WILDERNESS, BORDER PATROL, AND NATIONAL SECURITY", contains some very significant information. In this document, they state "This effort to create a wilderness designation for a large portion of our southern border did not originate from citizens of New Mexico and Arizona. It originated from the NMWA and Sky Island Alliance. These groups share genesis and past board membership from the environmental movement, Earth First!. The father of Earth First!, Dave Foreman., is the founder of NMWA. It was Mr. Foreman who wrote the book “Ecodefense; A Field Guide to Monkey Wrenching.” These are the folks who promoted the spiking of trees, the burning of high end condominiums, the destruction of new cars on parking lots, and the sinking of whaling ships." (Note: NMWA is the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance) They go on to state "The Tumacacori Highlands of Arizona, and the Potrillo Mountains and Broad Canyon portion of the New Mexico proposal are not just idealistic areas where “earth and its community of life are undisturbed by man”. If they become wilderness, they will be heralded not only by those who believe wilderness designation should be made at any cost, but equally by human smugglers, drug runners, and those committed to the destruction of our country." The document references an interview by the El Paso Times in August with Michael McConnell, Director of National Intelligence. For a summary of that interview, click here. (added 09/14/07)

In a bold move on August 16, 2007, The Board of Trustees of the Village of Hatch unanimously voted to rescind the Village of Hatch Resolution No. 669, which supported the NMWA proposals. In the letter from Mayor Judd L. Nordyke, he states "In the past weeks, the Board of Trustees has learned that the information they had at the time the resolution was adopted did not give them all they needed to make an informed decision." And from the Meeting Minutes, from Trustee Sment: "What they presented to us at that time has proven to be only half true and there has since been plenty of opposition to supporting their request. He feels it is in the best interest of the Village Trustees to rescind Resolution No. 669 which was passed at that time." (added 09/06/07)

Letter from Village of Hatch Trustees Dave Sment and Lloyd Burns. Last week, the Village of Hatch has unanimously rescinded their support for the proposed wilderness. In this letter, the trustees state "The issue of importance today is the emerging awareness of who is behind this effort.", in reference to Mr. Dave Foreman, founder of the environmental group Earth First, and one of the founders of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. The 2005 IRS Form 990 for NMWA listed Mr. Foreman on the Board of Directors. The 2006 Form 990 is not yet available. Mr. Foreman was a featured speaker at the 2006 New Mexico Wilderness Conference, sponsored by NMWA, on Nov. 11, 2006 in Santa Fe, and an article by Mr. Foreman was published in the Spring 2007 NMWA newsletter. (added 8/22/07)
Note: The blogsite referenced in this letter has been discontinued, but Mr. Scarantino graciously gave us permission to reproduce his writings about the wilderness proposals in Dona Ana County on this website. For more information on Dave Foreman, see Wikipedia, or view the sites on a Google search.

Statement made by Jodi Denning at the Anthony listening session held by Congressman Pearce, August 15. (added 8/21/07)

Letter from Steve Brown, President of the Bank of the Rio Grande in Las Cruces. Mr. Brown states "Based on the likely reduction and/or elimination of grazing within proposed wilderness areas I am very concerned that designating areas in Dona Ana County as wilderness would have serious repercussions to local ranchers and potentially banks that have relied on the ranches as collateral. ... During the recent stakeholder meetings there was little time spent on the identification and disposal process of federal lands. This issue could have a more profound affect on real estate values within the county than the wilderness aspect and is worthy of separate discussion and should not be tied to any wilderness legislation." (added 08/17/07)

Letter from Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, Diocese of Las Cruces. (added 08/16/07)

Letter from John Chappell, former NMSU Extension Agent. (added 08/10/07)

Letter from Larry Hooper, well service business owner and rancher. (added 08/09/07)

Statement from Mark Cox, local rancher, for the Hearing held August 7 with Congressman Steve Pearce in Las Cruces. (added 08/09/07)

Letter from Jim Summers, local resident. (added 08/08/07)

Letter from Max Pruitt and Dale Hopkins, Dona Ana County ranchers. (added 08/03/07)

Letters from Bruce McAbee, President and CEO of Farm Credit of New Mexico, to Senator Domenici, Senator Bingaman, Congressman Pearce, Representative Udall and Representative Wilson.

Letter from Charles Dickerson, owner of Dickerson's Barn. (added 07/25/07)

Letter from Bobby Rankin, Ph.D. Dr. Rankin retired after 39 years at NMSU, serving as head of NMSU Animal and Range Sciences department for 15 years. Some selected quotes from Dr. Rankin's letter include: "I have heard or read about most of the reasons on both sides of the wilderness issue, and in my opinion, a wilderness designation of the areas in question would be a big mistake. It would not even serve the desires of the pro-wilderness group, and it would be a disaster for the ranches involved." ... "I love the wildernesses we already have and believe that the proposed areas in Dona Ana County do not qualify for wilderness designation and would make a mockery of the Wilderness Act. These areas have already been studied for years for potential wilderness designation, but none meet the criteria outlined in the Wilderness Act." ... "It appears that many who advocate for a Dona Ana County Wilderness don’t understand that the restrictions regarding use of wilderness would keep most people out of it." and "I speak as a concerned citizen who is well acquainted with environmental issues and the stewardship of our rangeland being provided by our ranchers. I don’t want to see the criteria for “Wilderness” changed, just because poorly informed citizens see an opportunity to use such designation to accomplish some of their desires. The proposed areas should be considered separately and protected by the most appropriate means available for each site.". (added 07/23/07)

Letter from rancher Frank Holguin. Mr. Holguin has a family heritage in ranching in this area that dates back many generations, and owns an allotment in the Robledos. He states "...my family and I are very aware of what happens when an area is designated Wilderness, regardless of what is being said. Ranchers are not permitted to make new livestock grazing improvements such as the construction of new fences and watering tanks, and are also restricted as to when and how current improvements are maintained. ... We have no hope at all in getting this done in a Wilderness creation." and "... we are also concerned the general public is not well educated of the significance to their personal life when an area is designed wilderness. People embrace the idea of preservation, but fail to understand how Wilderness will really impact their personal access to and use of the area. The real story is being framed in a method that is patronizing and misleading." (added 07/23/07)

People For Preserving Our Western Heritage Statement on Behalf of Members in response to wilderness and NCA proposals. (added 07/21/07)

Statement by Tom Mobley for the Press Conference held at the Farm Bureau on 07/18/07. (added 07/19/07)

Statement by Tom Cooper for the Press Conference held at the Farm Bureau on 07/18/07. (added 07/19/07)

Letter from Bill Rice, retired Deputy Chief of both the United States Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Bill served the USDA for over 32 years in a succession of capacities. Twenty of those years were spent in Washington, D.C. including three years on the staff of the Secretary of Agriculture. Bill states "Each designation is a new Act of Congress and each has specific requirements that have made the administration and management of that area extremely difficult. There is such an absence of consistency that Forest Service policy (and BLM and Park Service as well) is essentially rewritten for that particular designation.". He also states "The Dona Ana situation is really very complex. There is already a retirement of several thousand sections of land for government use, and there is a very real issue of national security along the Mexican border. As a now retired, private citizen who has roots in that area for nearly 125 years, I, too, would love to see the Organs preserved along with the open space that makes southwestern New Mexico special. The wilderness creation, however, is a divisive designation that has a better alternative for those on both sides of the equation that must both administer and live with the results.". (added 07/18/07)

Letter from Dusty Hunt, Grant County rancher. Dusty states "We believe that what is happening in Dona Ana County will eventually affect all of us on public lands where the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance has inventoried wilderness candidates. We ask that you review this issue very carefully. Our livelihood and future are affected by your actions." (added 07/18/07)

Letter from Pat Hunt, Grant County rancher. Pat states "We are proud to be Southwest New Mexico ranchers and we worry about what is going on in your county with this effort to create wilderness.". (added 07/18/07)

Letter from Bob Alexander, Certified Professional in Rangeland Management and retired BLM Rangeland Management Specialist, to Representative Pearce. Senator Domenici and Senator Bingaman. He states "It is now recognized by rangeland ecological science that rangelands often go through thresholds and they will not return to the historic vegetation conditions without significant physical management actions." and "Keeping areas that do not have the historic vegetation out of designated Wilderness and Wilderness Study Area status is necessary because it is likely that applying the required herbicides and mechanical practices will not be allowed in areas designated as Wilderness or Wilderness Study Areas. Thus, the areas that are not in the historic vegetation condition would be doomed to remain without historic vegetation if put under Wilderness or Wildemess Study Area designation". (added 07/17/07)

Letter from Steve Wilmeth, Dona Ana County rancher, to Representative Pearce, and a separate letter to Senator Domenici. (added 07/12/07)

Transcript of a presentation by Tom Mobley to the Dona Ana County Commission made on 07/10/07. This statement outlines the reasons why the county's endorsement of wilderness is premature at this time. (added 07/11/07)

Letter from Steve Jones, expressing concerns about the proposed Wilderness. (added 7/9/07) Note: The original, signed copy of this letter was sent directly to Congressman Pearce. Mr. Jones provided an electronic copy for our website.

Letter from Gary Schlothauer, expressing concerns about the proposed Wilderness. (added 7/7/07)

Letter from David Wortham, owner of Caliche's frozen custard stores, expressing concerns about the proposed Wilderness. (added 7/7/07)

Letter from Dan Lowry, expressing concerns about the proposed Wilderness. (added 7/7/07)

Letter from Smokey Blanton, expressing concerns about the proposed Wilderness. (added 7/7/07)

Letter from Richard Hays, retired Chief of Air Operations for the Border Patrol, describing the threats on the Border Patrol and other law enforcement agencies. (added 6/27/07)

Letter from Sheriff Todd Garrison and Undersheriff Chuck Franco expressing their concerns about the negative impacts of any wilderness designations on law enforcement and homeland security. (added 6/27/07)

Letter from the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Posse stating their concerns about the reduced access for law abiding citizens and law enforcement to the proposed wilderness areas and the opportunities it will create for drug runners and coyotes and the negative impact it will have on search and rescue operations. (added 6/27/07)

Letter from Jim Hill, former ranch owner and current owner of Hill Equipment, stating his concerns about access to the proposed wilderness areas as well as the negative economic impacts. (added 6/27/07)

Letter from Antonio Trujillo Ortega, owner of Mesilla Valley Feeds, stating his concerns about the impacts of the proposed wilderness designations. (added 6/27/07)

Letter from Gary Esslinger on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Elephant Butte Irrigation District to Karen Perez, identifying unresolved issues related to water management in Dona Ana County.

Letter from Gary Esslinger on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Elephant Butte Irrigation District. This letter expresses serious concerns about the proposed wilderness designations of lands which will be needed to provide flood control and reliable capture of runoff water. In his conclusion, Mr. Esslinger states "We urge everyone else to take into consideration the dynamics of protecting future watershed resources without imposing such restrictions in these designated wilderness areas that the water resources cannot be used appropriately."

Letter from John Bigbee. John is a rancher, served in the New Mexico House of Representatives, and worked in the State Land office.

Letter (via email) from Al Porter, Executive Vice President of Farm Credit of New Mexico.

Letter by the New Mexico Cattlegrowers Association on Proposed Wilderness Designations in Dona Ana County.

Letter by Charles Glover on Proposed Wilderness Designations in Dona Ana County.

Letter by Greg Carrasco on Proposed Wilderness Designations in Dona Ana County.

Letter by Terry & Jodi Denning on Proposed Wilderness Designations in Dona Ana County.

Letter to the Editor by Phillip VanVeen expressing concerns about limited access on areas with Wilderness designation.

Statement from Dudley Williams, rancher, for the designation and use of the West Portrillo Mountains area.

Outline of Frank DuBois' comments to 12/12/06 Regional Land Management Planning Committee Meeting

Letter (email) from Tom Mobley to Nathan Small regarding an editorial published in the Las Cruces Sun News. 12/14/06

Letter from Rebecca Campbell, Gila Hot Springs Ranch outfitter outlining wilderness impacts to her family owned and operated business 12/02/06

Statement from the Rancher Stakeholder Group to the City Workgroup Meeting by Tom Mobley 11/30/06

Las Cruces Sun-News Guest Editorial on Wilderness issues by Tom Mobley 11/26/06

Does Our Ranch Meet Wilderness Criteria? by Tom Cooper. 11/22/06

Letter written by Randell Major, a rancher in the El Malpais NCA who was eventually forced to sell his ranch as a result of government agency pressure related to Wilderness designations. 11/16/06

Comments by rancher Tom Cooper and a letter written by Leigh Isaacks on regional land management issues, Wilderness and public lands.

"Gila National Forest Hearing History of Livestock Grazing Testimony" by NMSU professor Dr. John Fowler to the "Public Land Grazing Task Force" dated June 15, 2000. This writing documents how grazing cuts have been more severe in Wilderness than on comparable multiple use allotments. Even allotments under multiple use that were located adjacent to Wilderness areas had more cuts than allotments located further away from Wilderness areas.

Editorial letter submitted by Dale & Sara Hopkins to the Las Cruces Sun News Editor. 11/16/06

Statement by local rancher Mark Cox 10/31/06

Preliminary position statement submitted to the City of Las Cruces by Tom Mobley. 10/30/06

Submissions from our group to the City of Las Cruces as public input for the "Regional Land Management: A Community Response" project.

Comments by rancher Tom Cooper on regional land management issues, Wilderness and public lands. 10/27/06

Statement at Radium Springs public hearing by Tom Mobley. 10/19/06

Statement by Tom Mobley for stakeholder meeting at City Council Chambers. 9/26/06