Alamogordo

Despite massive public opposition, Alamogordo school board removes president

4 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Wednesday, the Alamogordo Public Schools Board of Education met to discuss multiple items, including the installment of the new superintendent Dr. Kenneth Moore, the passage of a “resolution” regarding mask-wearing at schools, and the election of new “officers.”

With a group of three out of the five members, Judy Rabon, Ryan Sherwood, and Carol Teweleit, voting for a change in leadership, despite a new term not being upon the Board, the three members removed President Angie Cadwallader and replaced her with Rabon. Cadwallader has been a fierce advocate for school mask choice, against transgenders infiltrating girls’ sports, and against the racist Critical Race Theory.

The said reasoning behind the change in leadership given was that “because of COVID” they “decided to leave it the way it was.” But despite the board agenda clearly stating “officers” to be elected in the plural, the board voted only for a new president, with Teweleit, who serves as secretary, nominating Rabon with support from Sherwood.

Board Member Anthony Torres, a local pastor, voted with Cadwallader against the installment of a new president. Despite boos and much opposition from the audience at the meeting, Rabon repeatedly told the attendees to quiet down as she took the president’s chair.

Following the installment of Rabon, with the crowd furious, the board continued down the agenda, with the proposal of a resolution to “respectfully request” Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to keep parents’ and students’ choices in mind when giving New Mexico Public Education Department guidelines. The weak language did not go as far as other school boards, such as that of Floyd, New Mexico Municipal Board which passed a resolution not requiring staff or students to be forcibly masked at school. 

Before the vote, Sherwood, evidently flustered by the angered crowd, claimed he was a “conservative” and leaned on his Military service to defend his votes. He claimed he was offended people did not think of him as a “patriot” for his bad votes on the School Board. 

Torres voted against the resolution while Cadwallader abstained. After Torres voted against the resolution, the audience applauded. 

During public comment, many residents said they were disappointed with the Board, such as the Republican Party of Otero County Chair Amy Barela talking about how elected leaders must follow the will of the people, quoting famed diplomat Alexis de Tocqueville, who wrote “Democracy in America.” 

Dr. Roger Black commented on how the Board opened themselves up to “liability” and had assumed “responsibility” for health mandates they were promulgating and enforcing. 

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Hundreds attend Alamogordo forum about school mask choice

2 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Sunday afternoon, hundreds filled the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts in downtown Alamogordo for a forum put on by the Republican Party of Otero County regarding school mask choice. 

Speaking at the event was Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-CD2), who told the crowd, “I trust the people of America and the people of New Mexico more than I trust our government!” 

“What happens now when we start complying with everything that the government says?” “Look, our democracy is under attack. This republic will not look the same if we don’t stand up against the government on every single level and do what’s right!”

Herrell concluded, “So don’t be disingenuous to our families who are quite capable of making decisions for their families. Don’t be disingenuous to me, to my friends that are business owners, to my friends that live here. Don’t be disingenuous to Americans because we are stronger than that, and right now our resolve is being tested and our faith in God. This is not a surprise to God. And let me tell you: in government, you’ve got show ponies, and you’ve got workhorses. Well, I am proud to stand with all of you workhorses!”

Panelists included Republican New Mexico House Leader Jim Townsend (R-Artesia), state Sen. David Gallegos (R-Eunice), attorney Robert Aragon, Dr. Roger Black, and Sarah Smith, a leader of the New Mexico Freedoms Alliance.

Leader Townsend said, “The school board’s responsibility is to set a platform so each and every one of those children can flourish and to their God-given abilities.” 

Sen. Gallegos added, “If we don’t do what we need to right now, we will never recover this state.” Regarding the New Mexico Public Education Department stripping away power from the Floyd School Board, Gallegos said, “They are looking at power. Every time they take power away, they take it away from you.”

Aragon, who is legally representing the suspended Floyd School Board, said, “What this governor is doing is absolutely beyond the pale. There is no statutory authority that allows her to do this, end of discussion.” 

In a presentation titled Dr. Black spoke about the guidance of CDC, NIH, FDA, and about masks, telling the audience, “I have to be machined to see whether my N-95 (mask) works every day. And you think you’re going to stop a virus with a piece of cloth? It ain’t going to happen because I can’t even stop it with my N95 that’s been tested.” He also provided out information on the science behind mask-wearing.

“There’s science right here above me that says ‘I don’t need you to make up my children’s health care [decisions],” Dr. Black continued.

Sarah Smith added to the discussion about adverse effects of the inoculation from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), talking about only 10% being reported to the VAERS system. She spoke about 13-year-olds who died after getting the inoculation, “A boy from Minnesota who has no pre-existing conditions died of heart failure about two weeks after the shot.” She cited other cases.

“New Mexico kids are counting on this. We have to fix this now, and we can do it together,” she concluded.

Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin spoke to the attendees during the question and answer session, and many parents and school board members from across New Mexico asked the panelists how they could help. 

To see the full event, find the video stream here:

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The Alamogordo Public School Board must act to protect children

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News, Opinion, Politics / By

Since all but one member of the Alamogordo Public School Board has ignored the many pleas from folks in our city and constantly eroded transparency through a failure to act on critical issues affecting the children in the community, this is the last stand I can think of to make them listen.

The first day of school for students starts in just a few weeks and the Board has failed to consider critical resolutions protecting female students’ safety in sports and failed to hold a meeting on the 2021-2022 learning platform — which integrates principles of the racist Critical Race Theory via the “Kickboard” plan implemented in 2019. 

Just a few weeks ago, the School Board cowered in fear of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a radical out-of-state dark money group that threatened to sue the school district if it considered a proposal by APS Board President Angela Cadwallader to ban biological males from female sports.

The ACLU demanded in its threatening letter that the School Board pull the resolution to protect girls’ sports, publicly state that the resolution was “ill-advised,” publish a document “clarifying that the district welcomes, supports, and affirms trans students of all kinds,” and “engage in trans-specific sensitivity training as a Board.” 

Once the ACLU sent their demand letter, the proposal mysteriously disappeared from the next meeting’s agenda, being replaced with banal contract approvals. In the midst of a threat, the School Board kowtowed to a radical “social justice” group’s threats above the safety of Alamogordo students and the citizens who elected the board members. 

This is just the latest failure of the School Board, following their silence on students being forcibly masked in schools by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham — even having to wear face coverings in 100+ degree heat while competing in sports. 

They have refused to call a meeting, as many communities have, to buck these draconian lockdown mandates, which are forcing teachers, students, and school personnel to face copious amounts of testing if they won’t be forcibly inoculated. Lujan Grisham also instituted segregating children based on vaccination status and quarantining/punishing students who do not comply. 

APS has been limp and actionless, such as previously when Board President Cadwaller was the only member to vote against the further closure of APS. 

Now, the board is refusing to act upon children being taught to hate each other based on race, with the school’s Critical Race Theory curriculum, which according to the Kickboard site, includes a “districtwide culture audit,” staff training on “trauma-informed mindsets,” and a focus on “social and emotional wellbeing.”

But despite the countless pressing issues still afflicting APS students and parents, the School Board has failed time and again to prioritize these issues while parents and students run out of time as the new school year approaches.

The APS Board members know what they have to do: reschedule a board meeting to consider pivotal proposals banning boys from girls’ sports and banning racist Critical Race Theory from the curriculum — issues parents deeply care about.


If the School Board instead bows down to the ACLU and radical outside groups that do not know or care about our community, then we have our final answer as to who owns four out of five of our school board members. Hint: it’s not we, the citizens, who have to deal with the catastrophic results of their inaction — it’s out-of-state extremist groups pushing the transgender and Critical Race Theory agendas. 

John Block is a native New Mexican and Alamogordo resident who serves as the editor of PinonPost.com.

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After ACLU demand letter, Alamogordo school board cancels meeting on CRT, trans athletics

5 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

On Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) pressured the Alamogordo Public School (APS) Board of Education into submission with a letter that claimed sanctity of women’s and girls’ sports resolutions are “an act of violence,” writing that such policies violate state and federal law.

The letter was sent to Alamogordo Public Schools Board of Education President Angie Cadwallader, Alamogordo Schools Superintendent Jerrett Perry, Alamogordo Athletics Director, and Title IX Coordinator Johnnie Walker, as well as Republican Party of Otero County Chair Amy Barela and state Rep. Zach Cook, who represents the northern part of Otero County. 

The APS Board was originally set to consider President Angie Caldwaller’s proposal to protect girls by having boys’ and girls’ sports remain exclusive to the biological gender of the athlete. 

After the letter from the ACLU, the school board’s scheduled June 26 work session on the topic, as well as Critical Race Theory in social studies textbooks, was abruptly canceled.

The ACLU letter includes much rhetoric that goes beyond the scope of what the resolution does, claiming, “Beyond the potential legal consequences this proposed policy invites, it also generates an environment of fear that significantly and meaningfully impacts the lives of trans children that live in your district. Although your athletic director admits he is not aware of any trans athletes currently out in the district.”

In the ACLU letter, the group demanded the following:

1. Immediately pull this proposed resolution and make public that this has been done;

2. Make clear in a public form that the resolution was ill-advised and illegal;

3. Publish a document, signed by the School Board, clarifying that the district welcomes, supports, and affirms trans students of all kinds; and

4. Engage in trans-specific sensitivity training as a Board, and make this training available to district staff as well.

Supporters of Superintendent Jerrett Perry, who has been under fire from liberal members of the APS Board of Education, will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Juneau 25, 2021 in front of the flag pole at Alamogordo High School on 103 Cuba Ave. to pray for him as he fights to protect the children of Alamogordo. 

ACTION ALERT: Contact the Alamogordo Public Schools Board of Education and ask them to not be deterred by the ACLU’s threats and support the sanctity of girls’ sports.

President Angela M. Cadwallader (sponsor of the resolution for sanctity of sports): angela.cadwallader@alamogordoschools.org

Vice-President Ryan Sherwood: ryan.sherwood@alamogordoschools.org 

Secretary Carol Teweleit: carol.teweleit@alamogordoschools.org 

Member Judy Rabon: judy.rabon@alamogordoschools.org

Member Anthony Torres: anthony.torres@alamogordoschools.org

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New forest fire starts near Marble Canyon outside of Alamogordo

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News / By

On Saturday, it was announced by the National Forest Service (NFS) that another fire had started north of Marble Canyon near Hershberger Peak outside of Alamogordo. 

Approximately 35 crew members have been dispatched to respond to the fire, around five acres in size. The cause of the blaze is currently under investigation. 

“Crews, including one hotshot crew and two engine staff, used ATVs and then hiked the rest of the way to reach the fire, where they discovered a 5-acre fire. They were able to assess the fire, terrain, and fuel conditions to begin their fire suppression efforts, which are expected to last into the night. Crews will sleep near the fire to continue fighting the fire as early as possible tomorrow morning,” wrote the NFS. 

“Fire activity has died down as the night progressed and temperatures dropped; however, the winds are still gusty. The fire is burning in an area with pinon-juniper, grass, and oak brush. Pinon-juniper trees tend to burn at hotter temperatures than other wood.” 

NFS reports that smoke is visible from Alamogordo, the High Rolls area, and West Side Rd.  Locals should expect smoke to be the heaviest in the mornings as it settles into drainages overnight. 

There are currently no evacuations in place at the moment.

Many on social media shared photos from their vantage points of the fire and smoke, writing well wishes to the firefighters. One man wrote, “May our firefighters fight this fire with the protection of our [L]ord and all his angels too putting this fire to rest as quickly as possible, may the lord cover you all with his blood and protection… let’s give our firefighters our protection as well…” 

The National Forest Service warns of an “above-normal fire year” in southern New Mexico “due to the extreme drought condition. Therefore, residents should begin preparing for a wildfire emergency by becoming familiar with the nationally-used Ready, Set, Go principles of evacuations.” 

The Three Rivers Fire in northern Lincoln County is near 100% containment, while two smaller new fires have emerged in the Gila wilderness. Read more about them here.

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Alamogordo cleans up two tons of trash in massive ‘Community Cleanup’ event

Leave a Comment / New Mexico, News / By

On Saturday, Keep Alamogordo Beautiful, the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, and NMDOT District Two held a “Community Cleanup” event along the Charles Lee Memorial Relief Route that runs the length of the City of Alamogordo, where citizens helped clean up 4,000 pounds (two tons) of trash. 

According to a press release from the City of Alamogordo, “The event saw approximately 150 volunteers provide a total of 300 volunteer hours, which totals $7,407 in volunteer labor. Community members, clubs, and businesses alike all came out as they saw a need for litter eradication. Some of these clubs and businesses include: Thrive in Southern New Mexico, Boys and Girls Clubs of Otero County, the Rotary Club of White Sands, Pioneer Bank, Tularosa Communications, TDS, Zuni Electric, and Airmen with Holloman Air Force Base.” 

“Being a local business owner who was born and raised here, I’ve seen the growing need for litter removal along our byways. We live in a great community, but we need to help change the mindsets/culture surrounding litter. We need to remind folks to bag their trash, tie it down, and be more responsible,” said Rodney Eaton, President of Zuni Electric Inc.

“As a nation, $9.1 Billion is spent annually by businesses to remove unsightly litter. The presence of litter can reduce the value of a property by a little over 7%, and 36% of business development officials say that litter impacts the decision to locate to a community,” reads the press release. 

“It is our job as community members to limit the lasting footprint we each leave on our community’s environment,” says Josh Sides, Keep Alamogordo Beautiful Program Coordinator. “The Community Cleanup was a much-needed injection of adrenaline to the heart of volunteerism here in Alamogordo. It is important we all do our part to make, and ultimately keep, Alamogordo a clean, green, and more beautiful place. I cannot thank the Alamogordo community enough for the tremendous show of support exhibited on Saturday during the Community Cleanup. This is the first of many to come.” 

 “Adopt-A-Highway volunteers take tremendous pride in keeping New Mexico looking beautiful,” said District Two Maintenance Engineer Francesco Sanchez. “During these challenging financial times as we all try to maintain our highway assets with fewer funds, we rely on volunteers to help us keep our New Mexico roads clean and beautiful.”

The volunteers helped clean up nearly seven miles of roadway and around 4,000 pounds of trash, equating to 450 bags of trash were collected.

The community cleanup event is a shining example of New Mexicans coming together to brighten their communities despite challenging circumstances facing the state and the nation. 

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