By John Mattingly
The months of March, April and May are the windy period in the Valley. Wind often determines what can or must be done. A big wind can quickly dry out or blow out a crop, make construction impossible or repairs necessary, damage fences freeing livestock, and generally make misery on an otherwise beautiful day.
By Patty LaTaille
Wind Warning!
Alamosa Elementary students and staff were advised to relocate to the gym if winds are sustained or gust at over 50 mile per hour. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., of Lakewood, discovered that both school buildings, excluding the gyms, need reinforcement to withstand wind and earthquake forces. In a letter addressed to Alamosa School District Superintendent Rob Alejo from Neenan Co. project executive Mark Christensen, winds above 50 mph or greater could potentially cause damage to the building in the form of cracking of finishes, but not structural failure or any form of building collapse. With the mighty winds whipping through the SLV in the spring, this could be an issue.
By Hal Walter
Hearing an owl hoot in the middle of the day is considered by some an omen of death or at least serious bad luck, which I suppose would make sense since I heard the owl on the day after my 51st birthday.
Misfortune? It’s relative. Death? I suppose I’ve reached to point of understanding none of us are getting out of here alive, and odds are my time here is more than half up.
Before we dwell too far upon the negative, let us also take comfort that owls can bring messages of circumspection. And that can be a good thing. Owls are also a symbol of higher wisdom. And I figured at this point this owl didn’t care what time of day it was, just so long as the damned wind didn’t carry its voice away.