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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE NEWSLETTER #8
MAY 19, 2000
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Dear Subscriber:

It has been a tough week in the Sacramento Mountains. Just after
we published last week's newsletter (Thursday) a fire broke out
near the Scott Able 4-H Campground. Most of you have been
following the account of the fire we have been posting on 
Cloudcroft.Com since it began. By the time you get this newsletter
the fire should be completely contained. For those of you who
have not kept in touch with fire developments, it has
claimed the lives of two (a plane crash near Alamogordo), it has
burned 64 homes, 16 outbuildings, one bus, one boat, and 11 other
vehicles. The Scott Able Fire is located South of Cloudcroft
about 20 miles from the Village. The Village of Cloudcroft has
not been directly threatened. A complete account of our coverage
is posted on the front page of Cloudcroft.Com.

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 -- ANTIQUE MERCANTILE
4. CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- TRESTLE VISTA
5. Q AND A (BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW)
6. COMING EVENTS
7. CONTACT INFORMATION
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LOOKING AT THE WEATHER
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The unfortunate combination of a cold front moving through the
Cloudcroft area causing high winds and a downed power line about
20 miles South of the Village led to near disastrous
circumstances this past week in the form of a forest fire.

Temperatures are topping out at from 75 to 80 degrees with lows
from 38 to 42. Forecast for possible precipitation this weekend
but until we receive significant amounts of moisture, conditions
are still dangerous for fire outbreaks.
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VILLAGE POLITICS
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The worst fears of Cloudcroft area residents were realized this
past week in the form of a major forest fire in the area. Again
local residents are asking why it had to happen. The forest has
become overgrown and burdened with thick ground cover. Recently
the forest service admitted the situation was conducive to a
dangerous fire. Now Village residents are meeting late this
week to discuss what they can do to curb the dangers of fire to
the Village. The meeting was scheduled for this Thursday night
(5-18). Results of that meeting will be reported in this column
of the Cloudcroft Online Newsletter next week and on Cloudcroft.
Com.
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INSIDE THE SHOP -- ANTIQUE MERCANTILE
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The Burro Street Exchange is the newest part of the downtown
Cloudcroft shopping atmosphere and Antique Mercantile is one of
the newest additions to the Burro Street Exchange. Antique
Mercantile features and eclectic mix of treasures from years
gone by. Not just furniture... the selection is much more
varied and imaginative. Their web site speaks volumes. See it
by clicking the "shopping" button on the front page of
Cloudcroft.Com.
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CLOUDCROFT ONLINE SPOTLIGHT -- TRESTLE VISTA
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Cloudcroft was born due to train service running from the main
line in Alamogordo to Cloudcroft 100 years ago. The last train
left Cloudcroft in 1947, after the highway from Cloudcroft to
Alamogordo was built. Cloudcroft still clings to it's railroad
roots, though, as made evident by Trestle Vista, the vestiges of
an old train trestle one mile West of the Village on Highway 82.

The trestle was originally a part of the "switch back" system
where the train would travel forward up the mountain, then
it would reverse and switch up another track. The "back and
forth" undulation moved the train up the mountain where a
straight line would have been impossible to negotiate due to
the steep grade. The old trestle is one of the most
photographed features in New Mexico.
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Q AND A (BECAUSE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE READERS WANT TO KNOW)
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Q - When is the best time to pick cherries in the Cloudcroft area?
--Harold W. Slusser

A - The Cherry Festival in High Rolls is June 14th and 15th.
We have had a dry winter and fall, not conducive to a great
cherry harvest, but some irrigated orchards should have a good
year. The Cherry Festival also features arts and crafts and
food and drink booths.
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COMING EVENTS
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Memorial Day Weekend
May 26-28, Rodeo at the G. Gordon Wimsatt Arena
May 27-28, Arts and Crafts Show in Zenith Park
May 28, Zia Rodder's Car Show - High School football field
May 28, 8:30pm, Mayfair Street Dance - Burro Avenue

June 3, National Trails Day
June 3, Cloudcroft concert - Alamogordo Community Concert Band
June 9-11, Western Roundup
June 10-11, CLOC melodrama - open air pavilion 7:30pm
June 10, Railroad Days Train Display - Cloudcroft Middle School
June 10-11, Lumberjack Contest, Zenith Park
June 14, Flag Day ceremony and parade - 5pm, Burro Avenue
June 14-15, Cherry Festival - High Rolls
June 23-25, Bluegrass Festival - Zenith Park
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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