Today's News

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Sept. 11

Robert F. Stafford passed away on October 7, 2008, with is family by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Betty Stafford.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Venus; sons: Brian (Ann) and Bob. Robert was the owner of Stafford Aviation for 30 years where he retired in 2001.

A Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, October 14, 2008, at 10 a.m. at St. Anne’s Catholic Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa St. Santa Fe, NM 87505. (505) 984-8600.

End to uncertainly is certainly needed.

We would hope that those who are supposed to be in the know – you know, our leaders – would understand the critical importance of Los Alamos National Laboratory to this nation’s security and future and stop playing political football with it.

But such rational thought seems far beyond those in national government. At that is tragic.

So this fantastic institution continues to limp along and we all here – not just in Los Alamos but also in northern New Mexico – suffer.

Several valuable nuggets have been locked in a safe every night at Los Alamos National Laboratory lately, and that isn’t a reference to weapons codes or nuclear secrets.

A New Mexico State University neutron physicist working with a geologist from Ohio has kept some precious pieces of raw gold in the vault at the Lujan Neutron Scattering Center.

That’s where they are secured when Heinz Nakotte is not actually peering inside one or another to see how it’s made.