A cold treat for hikers in Diablo

Hikers in Diablo Canyon on Monday came across a strange contraption of sails, wheels and solar panels.

According to KOB-TV, hikers looked inside a box on the contraption and found — ice cream.

The contraption is called "Trickster" and is the brainchild of experimental artist and Ohio University professor Duane McDiarmid. In Santa Fe, McDiarmid worked with artist Sarah Hewitt to install the working sculpture in Diablo Canyon.

According to McDiarmid's blog, Trickster powers an ice cream freezer and runs a computer interface for his blog. Why? To talk to people who happen upon the strange sculpture and offer them a little ice cream.

Trickster travels next to Death Valley.

To follow Trickster's travels, see tricksterproject.wordpress.com.

See pictures of the Trickster at McDiarmid's site at duanemcdiarmid.30art.com/.

New animal cruelty hot line announced

The New Mexico Attorney General has a new, toll-free statewide hot line for reporting extreme cruelty to animals. The number is 1-877-5-HUMANE (1-877-548-6263).

Already 20 calls have come into the hot line since it began two weeks ago, and the life of at least one horse has been saved, according to Animal Protection of New Mexico. Four callers reported a horse in poor condition and the New Mexico Livestock Board went to investigate.

The new hot line is advertised on an Interstate 40 billboard near Edgewood, illustrated with a photo of a filly saved months ago in the East Mountains area.

Vietnam vet's name added to memorial

WASHINGTON — Tina Valdez and her family have worked for more than a dozen years to pay special tribute to her Vietnam veteran father.

The Santa Fe native's father, Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Enrique Valdez, is the latest addition to the names inscribed at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington. On Monday, the National Park Service and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund honored him during a ceremony commemorating Memorial Day.

"It means a great deal," 44-year-old Tina Valdez said. "It's a lasting tribute to my father."

Enrique Valdez served two tours in Vietnam and was wounded on Aug. 26, 1969. A piece of shrapnel severed his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down, his daughter said. He died in 1994 at age 56.

"If my father had to do it all over, he would do it again," Valdez said. "He was proud to serve his country."

The younger Valdez said her father's death was attributed to his war injuries, which is part of the criteria for being added to the wall. But she said it took years before the military finally honored her family's request that he be included at the memorial. The addition will bring the number of names on the wall to 58,261.

The Marine spirit of determination fueled the family's efforts, she said.

"I think my father would be proud to know what he instilled in us we took to heart, we persevered," Tina Valdez said.

Cyclists, volunteers sought for event

Bicyclists can enjoy a ride through the Valles Caldera National Preserve May 30-31 on routes along more than 80 miles of ranch roads. The weekend event is limited to 400 riders so cyclists are urged to sign up early. Bicyclists must bring their own lunches and water.

Volunteers also are needed to set up aid stations, park vehicles and check in riders.

To ride or volunteer, call 1-866-382-5537 or see www.vallescaldera.gov.

Taos Express offers nonstop bus to Santa Fe

The town of Taos' Taos Express nonstop weekend bus service between Taos and the Santa Fe Railyard and South Capitol New Mexico Rail Runner Stations is scheduled to start June 4. The Web site www.taosexpress.com links to other schedules and services for public-transit connections all the way to Albuquerque. Reservations for Taos Express are recommended.

For information and reservations, call 575-751-4459. For Santa Fe-area trip planning, travelers can contact the Santa Fe Transit Call Center, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 505-955-2001, or e-mail santafetrails@santafenm.gov.