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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #16
July 14, 2000
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Dear Subscriber:

Your response to our newsletter and Cloudcroft.com has been very
uplifting. It makes writing it and sending it out something we
look forward to each week. Your comments and suggestions are
always welcome.

NEW - Not sure how best to get to Cloudcroft? Our new Cloudcroft 
Route Planner will suggest a travel route, and also calculate the
distance and estimated travel time! To try this free planner, 
just click on Route Planner on our General Information Page.

http://www.cloudcroft.com/info.htm

Don Vanlandingham
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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
2. VILLAGE POLITICS
3. INSIDE THE SHOP -- LOG HOMES OF CLOUDCROFT
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- I-MAX DOME THEATER
5. Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ON-LINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
6. COMING EVENTS
7. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
8. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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Still raining. Still not complaining. Rain showers just about
every day in the Sacramentos. The result has been the complete
re-establishment of business as usual in National Forest
recreational areas. No special restrictions on the use of any
of the facilities. The only downside is it is often too wet to
get out and do much. Highs are in the mid-70s on clear and sun-
shiny days. Around 15 degrees cooler during cloudy and rainy
periods. Bring your ponchos and light jackets to thoroughly
enjoy the rainy season in Cloudcroft.
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VILLAGE POLITICS
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Despite the near disastrous results of prescribed burning near
Los Alamos in May, the National Forest Service has decided to
resume the process in light of changing weather conditions.
Burns during the month of July around Cloudcroft include one near
the Sunspot Observatory, Rock Tank Draw near Mayhill, Hornbuckle,
West of Highway 244 about a half mile from Cloudcroft and another
near Sunspot. The purpose of all burns is to thin the overgrown
forest to prevent catastrophic and uncontrolled fires. Some smoke
may be seen from populated areas as a result of the controlled
burns.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- LOG HOMES OF CLOUDCROFT
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Combining today with yesterday! The solid construction of a log
home using old time craftsmanship combined with state of the art
technology. Use one of our floor plans or design your own. Email
us for more information at: vaughtac@pvtnetworks.net
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- I-MAX DOME THEATER
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The Tombaugh I-MAX Dome Theater is a popular part of the Space
Museum in Alamogordo, just 30 minutes from Cloudcroft.
Now featured at the theater: "Wildfire" and "Hail Columbia".
The I-MAX theater features special high speed films shown on a
multi-screen format and backed by a high-tech sound system. As
much like "being there" as it gets. Call the theater for show
times.
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Q AND A -- BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ON-LINE READERS WANT TO KNOW
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Q - There seems to be a larger number of wildlife killed along
the highways near Cloudcroft recently.

A - The "Road Kill Ratio" has crept up in recent years. The
number of animals killed along roadways normally corresponds with
the population of wildlife in the area and there has been an
increase in the wildlife population in recent years. While
vehicle-wildlife accidents are sad and regrettable, there is
little that can be done about the problem. Trying to avoid
hitting an animal in the roadway can lead to a much more serious
accident involving human injury or death, so experts advise
motorists not to take drastic or heroic measures to avoid
wildlife. Be aware, however, that if one deer crosses the road
in front of you, the chances are excellent that others may follow.
Obeying speed limits and highway signs can obviously save wildlife
and human life.
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COMING EVENTS
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July 13, 14 and July 21, 22 -- Melodrama. Cloudcroft Light Opera
Company (CLOC). Open Air Pavilion. Zenith Park.

July 15, 16 -- July Jamboree. Crafts, food, horseshoe tournament.
Zenith Park.

July 15 thru 17 -- Cloudcroft school reunion. Call 682 2098 for
more information.

July 22 -- Chili Cook-off. Ski Cloudcroft. Call 682 2733 for
details.

August 3 thru 6 -- Gathering of Circles. For more information
see http://www.jps.net/trvlnell/goc/

August 13 thru 16 -- Otero County Fair. Alamogordo.

August 18 thru 20 -- Singing in the Clouds. Spiritual singing.
High School Cafeteria.

August 20 -- Governor's 10K run.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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Dear Newsletter:

We were given your web page during the Scot Able Fire and it was 
wonderful to be able to keep up with what was going on in the 
mountains. You really did a great job with hour by hour of what 
was happening. My husband and I really appreciate all the info 
you have provided us. While we were not able to get up to the 
mountains and help with some volunteer work, we understand that 
everyone really pulled together and everything was appreciated.

Again we want to thank you for you great coverage of everything 
happening, keep up the good work.

Thanks so much,

Charles & Sandra White
Kerrville, Tx
Second home;
Cloudcroft, NM

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Hello in Cloudcroft.

Yes, we enjoyed the 4th of July very much. We spent the Holidays 
in Cloudcroft, N.M. We walked the old Tram Railroad all the way 
around to the trestle at the Highway. We visited the Scott Able 
Fire site, Ruidoso, Alamogordo, Sunspot, plus several other 
areas. Our favorite is Cloudcroft. We discovered the area in 1991, 
and have enjoyed it ever since. It is a beautiful place as are all 
the Rocky Mountain areas. Hope to see Cloudcroft again.

Thanks for your hospitality.

Wayne and Edna Baggs
Pickens, Okla.

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Dear Newsletter:

Got an e-mail from a friend today who mentioned the Scott Abel 
Fire. Here in Houston we had heard much of Los Alamos but nothing 
at all about the Cloudcroft area.

Found your site this evening and read every word on the fire. 
Thanks for the "blow-by-blow" coverage. I grew up spending every 
summer in a camping program at Scott Abel. Those formative years 
shaped life-long values for me and my family. I treasure the 
memories and scant few pictures I have of my annual trip from the 
desert of El Paso to the cool forests.

What about the 4-H camp itself where the fire apparently 
originated? Does (did) it still exist? I assume it, too, was 
destroyed, but no mention of it was made in your coverage. I would 
love to see pictures, although it would probably give me nightmares!

Thanks for your good work. I'll look forward to visiting your web 
site frequently and once again becoming a resident of the area in 
only four more years.

Richard F Martin
Houston

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Dear Newsletter:

Say that is fast service. I just applied for a "free subscription" 
and 15 minutes later I received an answer that I was subscribed, 
and Newsletter #15. Wilda and I are normally Summer residents of 
the Cloudcroft area. We have a trailer @ Chalet Camper Village. 
We have missed this season because of illness, but hope to be up 
for a time in Sept. or Oct. Then we are going to make a special 
effort to miss no more seasons. We have many friends in your area 
that we treasure. Thanks for the touch of the mountains. 

Elmer & Wilda Ratliff
Midland, Tx.

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Dear Newsletter:

Thought it was about time to respond to your "newsletter"! I 
enjoy it very much! We have camped in the area of Cloudcroft for 
many years but we always went by the way of Weed because that was 
the way we went the first time we took our children camping. 

I look forward to receiving the newsletter. The first article I 
read, of course, is the weather conditions in the surrounding 
area. The articles about some of the history of Cloudcroft are 
interesting, as is the information about the local businesses.

My wife and I haven't made it your way yet this summer, but when
we do, we will stop and visit all the neat spots in town I read 
about.

Thanks a lot.

Archie Scott 
Levelland, Tx.

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