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Local News

  • Officials eye use of Tasers at jail

    Some members of the County Commission expressed concern on Wednesday about using a type of stun gun at the county jail, but they decided to let two jail officials get training on how to use the weapons.

    As it stands, the jail uses pepper spray on inmates who get out of control. They have to call in city or state police when pepper spray doesn’t work, and those agencies use Tasers, weapons that deliver electric shocks to immobilize people.

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  • City to get county help

    With many of its top positions still vacant, the city says it will be receiving some help from county officials in the coming weeks, Mayor Tony Marquez says.

    At last week’s City Council meeting, Marquez said County Manager Les Montoya has offered to help the city by volunteering his expertise on such matters as the budget. He said the council and staff should feel free to contact members of the county administration.

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  • Man gets 10 years for bar murder

    A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing another man at a bar in 2007.

    Michael Esquibel, 28, of San Juan Pueblo, N.M., was originally charged with an open count of murder in the death of Manuel Ramirez Rodriguez, a Mexican citizen, on Oct. 7, 2007, at Artie’s Place, a bar at the Inn of Las Vegas.

    However, as part of a plea agreement, Esquibel pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to the district attorney’s office.

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  • Man dies on icy portion of I-25

    A Las Vegas man died in an accident after the car he was riding in rolled over on Interstate 25 Sunday morning, state police said.

    Daniel Garcia Jr., 22, of El Llano Road, was a passenger in the car, police said. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

    The driver, Adam Ortiz, 22, of Catalina Court, declined to go to the hospital and was able to walk away, said state police Lt. Craig Martin.

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  • Candidates can file for Luna posts

    Wednesday is filing day for candidates for the Luna Community College Board of Trustees for the March 3 election. The hours for filing are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    The seats up for election are those held by Kenneth Flores in the Santa Rosa-based District 4, Don Shaw in the Springer-based District 6 and Tony Valdez in the Las Vegas-based District 2. The board consists of seven trustees.

    In the last election, incumbents won all the seats up for election.

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  • Highlands seeks to take over college

    Highlands University took its first official step toward taking over the College of Santa Fe — a major expansion for the local four-year institution.

    The acquisition is contingent upon the approval of the state Legislature and the state Board of Finance, among other agencies.

    After an hourlong closed session, Highlands’ Board of Regents voted 3-0 in favor of a letter of intent, which gives the university a 120-day window to buy the financially struggling Santa Fe school.

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  • Filmmaking forum set for Wednesday

    The Las Vegas Film Advisory Council is reviewing the city’s ordinance on filmmaking. The group is inviting the public to a forum with Lisa Strout, director of the New Mexico Film Office. The event, called the “Reel Deal,” is planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Highlands University’s Leveo Sanchez lecture hall.

    “This will provide a forum to better understanding and address issues related to filming,” said Elmer Martinez, the city’s community development director.

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  • Narcotics suspect convicted

    A man accused of selling crack cocaine was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to the crime.

    With a warrant to search a home, authorities found Manuel “Melo” Aragon with 52 rocks of crack cocaine, according to a press release from District Attorney Richard Flores.

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  • Students show up at Highlands

    Statewide, national and international students, many seeing Las Vegas for the first time, checked in for orientation and housing assignments over the weekend at Highlands University.

    Margaret Mary Makoge left her home in sunny Cameroon and saw the snowflakes falling as she arrived in her new hometown.

    Makoge and other students spent Sunday afternoon moving their belongings and settling into their dorm rooms around campus with the help of new friends and university staff.

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  • MONDAY MORNING STORY: Highlands expected to OK takeover; Santa Fe school approves letter of intent

    The College of Santa Fe has approved a proposal to let Highlands University take it over.

    On Friday, the college’s board of regents voted for a letter of intent to make the acquisition happen.

    Marcia Sullivan, the college’s spokeswoman, said this morning that the regents essentially approved the letter of intent presented by Highlands, making only a couple of small changes.

    “We’re confident that Highlands will be agreeable to the letter of intent,” she said.

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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.