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Today's Features

  • Las Vegan presents flags to schools

    Staff Sgt. Martin David Gallegos is a graduate of Robertson High School, but visited both East and West schools last week to unfurl three U.S. flags flown over war-torn Iraq. 

    The flags were flown by his National Guard unit in a Iraq. With each flag, Gallegos also presented a plaque describing its history. 

    Gallegos is serving with the 515th Regiment out of Belen. The soldiers are stationed at Camp Bucca, a forward operating base about 200 miles south of Baghdad.

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  • Residents to give time to children

    CASA volunteers help children who have no one else.

    The program’s local director, Barbara Perea Casey, said community volunteers are part of the Court Appointed Special Advocates program and are highly trained individuals who are the voice for children who are removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.

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  • Dresses, tuxes for students

    Leah Lucero says no teenager should miss their prom night for lack of a dress or tuxedo.

    “No one should have to sit at home on prom night, so I thought if we asked for donations of prom attire, whether it’s dresses, suits, or accessories, we could organize a prom closet. It’s also a good way to get the community involved in one of the biggest school functions of the year,” Lucero said.

    Lucero said she originally brought up the idea at Key Club, where she is  president. But members already had another project in mind.

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  • Above and Beyond: A master of mariachi

    Wherever Martin Sena teaches he makes his students shine, partly because he makes learning fun.

    But mostly when they listen to this master of mariachi, they find themselves at ease on stage because they’re confident in their skills.

    “This is something easy for me to do because the kids like it so much,” Sena said. 

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  • Crowning achievement

    Courtney Ferguson was crowned the new Miss Las Vegas 2010, and Erin Scott won the title Miss San Miguel County in the annual pageant -- a prelude to the Miss New Mexico and Miss America stages.

    “I feel amazing, I didn’t think I did well in the interview, but I guess I did better than I thought. It’s just so exciting and a real eye opener -- I’ve never done anything like this, so it was definitely an experience of a lifetime,” Ferguson said.

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  • Senior Profile: Caring, curing and carrying on

    They’ve devoted a lifetime to the care of others and each other. John Sketchley Moore and Edith Turner Moore, pharmacist and nurse, respectively, have more than related professions to explain their almost 61 years’ close-knit relationship.

    One cannot miss the unspoken communication between the two — a good-hearted smirk from John, a quick glance and softening of facial features into a sweet smile from Edith — no doubt about it, there’s something special here.

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  • Mentor of the Month: Local woman taught thousands of Las Vegans

    During her 46 years of teaching, Margie Seay-Maez most likely had you or someone you know in class.

    She taught well over 6,000 Las Vegas students during her long career.

    Seay-Maez can truly say that she has touched the future, having influenced district judges, doctors, nurses, lawyers, scientists, college professors, teachers, school administrators, past and present city mayors.

    “I taught 16 different subjects over the years,” Seay-Maez said. “I always liked teaching different subjects; it’s more exciting that way.”

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  • Empty Bowls

    United World College student Jen Kim says she didn’t invent the Empty Bowls Project, a program whose mission is to feed the hungry.

    But her energy brought her love of ceramics and concern for world hunger together at a local event. 

    “I took ceramics in ninth grade, and I really loved the class. It was one of my favorites. We also did an Empty Bowls fundraiser, which is an organization that fights world hunger, so when we I came to UWC, I wanted a pottery activity, but they had discontinued it,” Kim said.

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  • Above and Beyond: Never missed a day

    When it comes to school, Bonita Baca has always been marked as present. She’s never been a no-show since the beginning of kindergarten.

    Not one single day.

    “I just love school, I love learning,” said the West Las Vegas senior.

    Baca is also a year into her college career, having taken dual-enrollment classes at Highlands University. She maintains a 4.1 grade point average as a senior, and has earned a 4.0 GPA in her studies at Highlands University.

    West Las Vegas Principal Gene Parson said everything about this teenager is impressive.

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  • A dream wedding?

    Sometimes dreams do come true, especially as Joe Cocker once sang in his song, “With the help of my friends.”

    Until 6 p.m. Friday, Las Vegans can help a favorite son realize his dream marriage with a click of their mouses.

    For the last three years, a statewide contest has offered a lucky New Mexico couple a $50,000 wedding that includes wedding attire, the ceremony and the reception at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort near Albuquerque, and a seven-day honeymoon in Paris.

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The Las Vegas Optic is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in San Miguel County and Las Vegas, NM, and the surrounding area.