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Local News

  • Forums slated for next week

    Elections forums are planned next week for District 70 state representative and County Commission Districts 2 and 5.

    The District 70 forum is set for Tuesday and the commissioners forum for Wednesday. Both are at 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Middle School’s auditorium.

    Democrats running for state representative are incumbent Richard Vigil, Naomi Montoya and Travis Regensberg. On the Republican side is Mel Root.

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  • Campos explains his work situation

    Las Vegas City Schools Superintendent Pete Campos took an extra step last week to clear up what he considers confusion over his use of annual and sick leave.

    He also emphasized that his commitment to the City Schools won’t waiver in his final months on the job.

    Campos, who is becoming the president of Luna Community College in July, stated in a memo to other district officials that he has 128 sick days and 22 vacation days remaining.

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  • East second-in-command leaving

    The second-in-command at the Las Vegas City Schools announced Wednesday that her last day at work would be today.

    Associate Superintendent Barbara Perea Casey’s departure will come three days after the school board passed over her for the superintendent’s job.

    A 3-2 school board majority picked Questa schools Superintendent Richard Romero over Casey and three other finalists.

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  • Mora County residents warned about oil, gas drilling

    MORA — Most speakers during a public meeting this week on possible oil and gas drilling in Mora County had a similar message — beware.

    A new group, Drilling Mora County, which opposes drilling, invited a number of people from environmental groups and government agencies to speak about the effects of energy development. Missing were any voices from the oil and gas industry itself.

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  • Cuban expatriate calls Vegas home

    Every weekend, Angel Benidez can usually be found entertaining shoppers next to the entrance of Walgreens at Seventh Street and Mills Avenue.

    You can’t miss him. He is wearing a brightly colored outfit quilted in red, white and blue squares, a white cowboy hat, twirling two canes and dancing to disco music. A plastic container for collecting donations sits next to his boom box cranking out one of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits.

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  • Leader had tough time in Lordsburg

    Richard Romero, who will be the next superintendent for the Las Vegas City Schools, got his first such leadership job four years ago — in Lordsburg.

    And by one former Lordsburg school board member’s account, Romero’s reign as superintendent there wasn’t smooth. But the ex-official said the board was as much to blame for the situation.

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  • Winner goes from 'troubled' to A's

    Sean Murphy didn’t know he’d receive New Mexico Highlands’ Student of the Year award. But, frankly, he wasn’t surprised either. And neither were the 50 some students who cheered him on at this year’s Student Support Services award banquet.

    During his time at Highlands, Murphy has collected awards and accolades like a blockbuster film, including four Academic Excellence Awards, the Dr. Robert Amai Outstanding Achievement in General Chemistry Award and a listing in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

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  • Woman dies in Mills Ave. accident

    A woman died in a crash Tuesday afternoon on Mills Avenue.

    Mary Padilla, age unavailable, was pronounced dead shortly after at Alta Vista Regional Hospital, Police Chief Gary Gold said.

    Shortly after 3 p.m., Joe Padilla, 77, with Mary Padilla as his passenger, was headed east on Mills in a Ford Ranger pickup truck when he took a turn north onto Encino Street, Gold said. In the process, a Ford F-250 pickup going west, driven by Orlando Romero, 26, struck the Padillas, the chief said.

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  • Asbestos is everywhere, area residents warned

    Las Vegas housing officials say they want to get as many vacant units ready for tenants as soon as possible.

    The housing authority has been rehabilitating a number of units in recent months, but an assessment shows the presence of asbestos in units targeted for remodeling.

    Jeff Lowry of Lowry Consultants told the City Council last week that the asbestos were located in floor tiles and that the problem would need to be solved before housing improvements are made.

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  • District names superintendent

    In a divided vote, the Las Vegas City Schools board tapped the superintendent of the Questa school district to take that position here.

    Richard Romero beat four other finalists for the position, including Associate Superintendent Barbara Perea Casey, who criticized the school board for its decision. After making the decision, a couple of board members exchanged angry words.

    Romero will replace Superintendent Pete Campos, who is becoming Luna Community College’s president on July 1. The board has yet to decide on a salary for Romero.

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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.