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Local News

  • Lawmakers want more state bus service

    Two area state lawmakers are requesting the state Department of Transportation increase bus service to San Miguel and Mora counties.

    Sending the request were state Reps. Thomas Garcia, D-Ocat, and Richard Vigil, D-Ribera.

    “We contacted Secretary Rhonda Faught to ensure northern New Mexico is viewed as an integral part of the success of our public transportation system,” Garcia said in a statement. “Our request to provide additional routes, times and buses is critical for our neighbors that utilize this vital service.”

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  • Fired official still with city

    On Monday morning, it seemed as if nothing had changed for Carlos Ortiz, the city’s former public works director.

    He was talking on the phone in his City Hall office about preparation for the annual Fiestas and other projects. Just three days before, a City Council majority voted to fire Ortiz and five other department heads — effective immediately.

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  • Economic group gets new director

    Sharon Vander Meer, president of the Las Vegas-San Miguel Economic Development Corporation, was appointed its new executive director this morning.

    Her new role will be a full-time job in which she will oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization, which receives support from the city and the county and businesses.

    In a related action, Matt Martinez, a former Las Vegas mayor, became EDC’s president.

    Vander Meer, who helped found EDC, is replacing Sharon Caballero, who was appointed last week as Las Vegas’ new city manager.

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  • Anton Chico to get new library

    Former Gov. David Cargo says his goal is to educate people out of poverty by building libraries in rural northern New Mexico communities.

    Breezy Gutierrez, president of Friends of the Library committee, called Cargo the Andrew Carnegie of rural communities in the north. Cargo raised $580,000 for the new library in Anton Chico and said another $72,000 will come from a Housing and Urban Development appropriation. He has also collected nearly 40,000 books and said there will be a new computer lab, a picnic area and a playground available to the public.

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  • Caballero gets council's nod in 3-2 decision

    After Sharon Caballero was narrowly appointed city manager for Las Vegas, and after six of 10 department heads had been dismissed, she was asked how she felt about being thrown into such turmoil. Her response was that she’s been there before.

    “I’ve been in tough positions in my life, and I’ve always survived. Now it’s time to gather a team together and get to work,” she said. “This is not the toughest situation I’ve be in ... and I’m looking forward to going to work on Monday.”

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  • Officials shown the door

    Mayor Tony Marquez changed the leadership at City Hall on Friday night, leading the way in the dismissal of a majority of department heads and the appointment of a new city manager.

    Marquez cast the deciding vote in two actions taken by the Las Vegas City Council. The first was to let go six of 10 department heads. The second was to appoint Sharon Caballero as city manager.

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  • Official suggests end to litigation

    For a sparsely attended meeting, several big issues were discussed Thursday in the City Council chambers about one of the city’s most vexing problems — water.

    In a meeting dubbed, “Community Partnership Special Water Meeting” called by Mayor Tony Marquez, the city laid out exactly where it’s at and where it’s going, from conservation, to litigation, to a proposed new reservoir in Gallinas Canyon.

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  • Mayor to nominate Caballero

    Mayor Tony Marquez has called another special Las Vegas City Council meeting for tonight — to address two issues.

    One is that he wants Sharon Caballero as the new city manager. Caballero is the Las Vegas-San Miguel Economic Development Corporation’s executive director and a former Highlands University president.

    “Sharon Caballero is the best qualified candidate for the job,” Marquez said. “She has a passion to move Las Vegas forward.”

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  • New library groundbreaking set for Saturday

    A groundbreaking ceremony for the new David Cargo Library will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Anton Chico. Expected guests include Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., State Auditor Hector Balderas and former Lt. Gov. Roberto Mondragon.

    “Tom (Udall) said he hoped to be here but it depends on how long the Congress is in session,” Cargo said.

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  • Carnegie gets new library director

    By Raven Romero

    Las Vegas Optic

    One hundred years ago a man had an idea. He valued books and he believed that everybody should have access to them, so he established a trust, to build libraries in small communities throughout the United States.

    His name was Andrew Carnegie, and one of these libraries was constructed in Las Vegas. With it, a long line of librarians have kept the books flowing. Leo McCormick joins these people as the new librarian for Carnegie Library.

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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.