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Local News

  • OPTIC INVESTIGATION: Band differs with Block

    Jerome Block Jr., a candidate for the state Public Regulation Commission, maintains that local band Wyld Country performed at his rally in May.

    Not so, says a band member.

    According to a campaign finance report, the Block campaign paid the local band $2,500. Campaign officials have since said they hired the group to entertain at a rally on May 3 at a nearby ranch.

    Joe “JoJo” Aragon, a band member, said Monday that his band didn’t perform and never received the money.

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  • West Middle students go to polls

    West Las Vegas Middle School students got a dose of democracy in action as they voted for whom they thought would lead their school and represent their interests on the student council.

    There was a lot of hustle and bustle behind the walls of the school as supporters made signs promoting their favorite candidates and, of course, there were lots of speeches by those running for offices and by their campaign managers.

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  • Council debates whether to pick new mayor pro tem

    Usually, the City Council picks a new mayor pro tem every six months. But that’s apparently been in violation of a council resolution from more than a decade ago.

    After the March municipal election, the council voted for new Councilman Andrew Feldman to be the pro tem, who fills in when the mayor is unavailable.

    At this week’s meeting, Councilman Morris Madrid asked the council to address the pro tem issue because six months had passed.

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  • Activist uses pennies to make a statement

    A couple of sacks of pennies may not go far in paying off a debt with the city’s housing authority. But as far as local activist Lorenzo Flores is concerned, the coins can make a big point.

    At last week’s City Council meeting, Flores, who has long been active in housing issues, lashed out at council members Cruz Roybal and Morris Madrid, only referring to them by their initials.

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  • Water rules stay in place

    The city plans to keep its water restrictions in place at least for a few more weeks, despite plentiful rainfall over the last few months.

    The City Council voted 3-2 in favor of the restrictions at its meeting last week, with Mayor Tony Marquez casting the tie-breaking vote.

    The Stage 1 restrictions limit residents to watering their lawns to two days a week and bar them from watering their cars outside their homes.

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  • Board addresses appeal process

    The Las Vegas City Schools board met for an emergency meeting Friday to take action on the form of review for appeals from students placed on long-term suspensions for allegedly taking part in violent hazing at a Robertson High School football camp.

    Superintendent Rick Romero told the board that three of the four students were appealing their suspensions. The students are suspected of sodomizing other players with broomsticks.

    Two other suspects still have time to appeal.

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  • UNM law students seek applicants

    The University of New Mexico School of Law’s Mexican-American Law Student Association is looking to increase applicants from Highlands University.

    Julia Mares, wife of former Las Vegas Police Chief Albert Mares, is a second-year law student and former Highlands student.

    “Highlands has so many bright and talented individuals, and I think the UNM School of Law needs to tap into that,” Mares said.

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  • Ex-officials may sue city

    Four former city of Las Vegas officials have put the city on notice that they may sue over their ousters in June.

    The ex-officials — Housing Director Chris Barela, Finance Director Ann Marie Gallegos, Recreation Director Mark Loera and City Clerk CherylAnn Yara — filed their notice with the city Sept. 10.

    They were among six officials dismissed in late June. The action happened in the first months of Tony Marquez’s reign as mayor.

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  • Lawyer: Mora has say-so over drilling

    Mora County has the say-so over oil and gas drilling on the thousands of acres of state trust lands within its boundaries, an environmental attorney says.

    In a recent letter, Bruce Frederick, an attorney with the Santa Fe-based New Mexico Environmental Law Center, contends that the county’s development guidance system can be used to regulate energy development. He sent his opinion to Drilling Mora County, which is fighting proposed oil and gas drilling.

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  • 102-year-old keeps track of events

    Most people couldn’t keep up with Rosita Gallegos, a woman who is always on the go.

    When she’s not spending time with her family, she is busy with all kinds of activities, including her favorite pastime, which is reading.

    “I love to read and pray. I’m busy, busy, busy,” Gallegos said.

    And indeed she is. The 102-year-old keeps her mind sharp and remembers everything, including the names of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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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.