Local News

The city may lose more than $1 million from the state because of confusion about what the money is for.

City officials presented what they knew about the funds during a City Council meeting last week.

The city received the money — estimated at between $1.2 million and $1.4 million — a few years ago for a water project. Some say it was originally for the recently finished improvements to the wastewater treatment plant. Others think it was for study involving a project involving the lining of canals used by the Storrie Project Water Users Association.

Javier Gonzales is leaving the Highlands University Board of Regents after nearly four years to take a seat on the New Mexico State University Board of Regents.

Gonzales, an NMSU graduate, has been chairman of the Highlands regents for much of his time on the board.

Gov. Bill Richardson announced Gonzales’ appointment to New Mexico State on Monday.

Gonzales, who is the Highlands regents’ senior member, has been at the helm during turbulent times at the university.

The Legion Drive project was delayed by a week recently because the contractor didn’t use materials that met state standards, officials said last week.

City Manager Sharon Caballero said the city’s public works department discovered a deficiency in the base course. Because of the problem, she said the contractor couldn’t wet down the surface, which residents have requested to prevent dust problems.

She expects the project to be completed this week.

The Greater Las Vegas Lions Club has a new charitable mission to fund this year with proceeds from its annual Holiday Pecan Sale — the KidSight program in area Head Start, day care and primary grades.

With its new iSight computerized digital screening camera, the local club will join a statewide Lions program to screen all children between 3 and 8 for early detection of vision problems that can interfere with learning and even become lifelong problems if left untreated.