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Local News

  • County looks at transit needs

    San Miguel County commissioners’ interest in a feasibility study on mass transit during Tuesday’s meeting seemed to be higher, especially in light of the skyrocketing price of gasoline.

    Mariana Padilla, a planner with Parametric, the Albuquerque-based firm hired to do the study, told the board that County Manager Les Montoya wanted to look closer at the issue before investing money in an expensive new transit program.

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  • Girl dies, boy saved from cliff

    MONTEZUMA — An Albuquerque girl fell to her death and a Las Vegas boy was successfully rescued Wednesday morning from the rock face overlooking the Montezuma skating pond.

    Kimberly Karlson, 15, of Albuquerque fell “a couple hundred feet to her death” between 9 and 10 a.m., according to Peter Olson, communications director for the state Department of Public Safety. The boy, Mathew Cartee, 14, of Las Vegas was uninjured, Olson said.

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  • Coalition uniting animal rescuers

    A string of large wire cages sits in the open sun next to a deserted lot covered in wood scrap and rusted debris. The dogs pace, eyes wary, sometimes dipping inside plastic igloos and beneath makeshift shelters to hide from June’s relentless solar rays.

    Electra, a boxer mix with wiry yellow fur, leans her pug nose through a space in the chicken wire. She seems to smile despite the meager surroundings.

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  • Vigil handily defeats two rivals

    State Rep. Richard Vigil of Ribera handily defeated two opponents in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

    Vigil, who has served for a decade in the state House, grabbed 2,064 votes, or 44 percent, in District 70, which includes Las Vegas, the Valley, other rural areas in San Miguel County and eastern Torrance County.

    Luna Community College employee Naomi Montoya came in second with 1,574 votes, or 33 percent, and building contractor Travis Regensberg finished last with 1,103 votes, or 23 percent.

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  • Leger, Ortiz, Rivera win

    Las Vegas attorney Nicolas Leger edged out former City Councilman Richard Maestas in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

    In the District 5 race, Leger got 573 votes, or 52 percent, to Maestas’ 534, or 48 percent. District 5 covers parts of the east and west sides of Las Vegas as well as much of eastern San Miguel County.

    Leger will face Republican Fred Romero in the November general election.

    Leger appeared to be better funded in the race, running many newspaper advertisements as well as radio ads. Maestas didn’t have much in the way of advertising.

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  • Ex-DA beats incumbent in judge's race

    Former District Attorney Matt Sandoval unseated District Judge Gerald Baca in the Democratic primary Tuesday.

    Sandoval took 4,475 votes, or 52 percent, of the vote in the Fourth Judicial District, which consists of San Miguel, Mora and Guadalupe counties.

    Sandoval won in both San Miguel and Mora counties, while Baca took 56 percent in Guadalupe County.

    No Republican ran in the heavily Democratic district, so Sandoval will run unopposed in the November general election. He takes office Jan. 1.

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  • Residents focus on the sky

    More than 100 people gathered over the weekend at King Stadium to wait for darkness and witness the wonders of the night sky.

    Many telescopes were present at the Saturday event, as were representatives from organizations including Casa de Cultura, New Mexico State Parks and the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance. Several were lecturing school-age children about basic astronomy and the science behind telescopes.

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  • City officials requesting to attend Washington conference

    It’s been more than a couple of years since the City Council has been asked to approve out-of-state travel for any of its members.

    This Wednesday, the council is expected to vote on whether to send three city officials — Mayor Tony Marquez, Councilman Andrew Feldman and Interim City Manager Jeff Condrey — to attend the June conference of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials in Washington.

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  • Official: Event optional

    The top administrator of the East school district says Robertson High School’s baccalaureate shouldn’t be mandatory. The same goes for all other senior week activities, he said.

    Las Vegas City Schools Superintendent Pete Campos made the statements in a memo to his successor, Richard Romero, who will take office in July.

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  • Franken selected to build dorms

    Highlands University has selected a contractor to build a new dorm complex.

    A local company, Franken Construction, submitted the low bid and was awarded the contract, officials said. The Board of Regents voted for the selection.

    President Jim Fries said the university sought bids for construction of the 276-bed residence hall and received three bids.

    “Franken Construction was the low bidder. We reviewed and affirmed that their bid met all of the bid specifications and the board has approved awarding them the contract,” Fries 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.