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Local News

  • Las Vegas watchdog group disbands

    The group that spearheaded the effort three years ago to reduce the City Council from eight members to four has disbanded.

    Members of the Committee of the People reported that they voted this week to dissolve the group because they completed their job.

    “We accomplished our goals. We encourage other people to get involved in the system and form a group,” said member Leith Johnson.

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  • HU reports enrollment increase

    First-time freshman enrollment at Highlands University continues to grow, an official said.

    Thomasina Ortiz-Gallegos, director of academic support at Highlands, said that as of Feb. 27, 1,836 freshmen have submitted applications for the fall semester, compared to 1,295 in 2007, an increase of 541 first-time freshman. She told the university’s academic affairs committee that there’s still a lot of work to do getting transcripts and other paperwork completed before the university can say for sure how many freshmen will be in the classroom.

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  • State hospital plans to remove piles

    To the casual observer, the piles of material next to one of the state hospital’s parking lots are junk.

    But state officials don’t see it that way. They said they are trying to transfer the piles to an entity that needs scrap materials.

    They said the hospital — known formally as the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute — soon plans to remove the materials from the area east of the parking lot, which is just east of Hot Springs Boulevard. The piles can’t be seen from Hot Springs.

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  • County looks at wind farm proposal

    A national company is looking at developing a wind farm for electrical generation in the Valley, but it is seeking help from the county in the form of reduced taxes.

    Chicago-based Invenergy has been conducting wind tests in San Miguel County and wants to build a wind farm on the mesa south of Interstate 25 and east of N.M. Highway 3, which leads to Ribera.

    Sean Logsdon of Invenergy told the County Commission this week that his company is getting good results with the wind tests, so it wants to proceed with the project.

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  • Coach faces DWI charge

    Peter Ortiz, Luna Community College’s baseball coach, was arrested last weekend on a charge of drunken driving. An officer’s report indicated that the coach appeared “obviously heavily intoxicated.”

    Peter Ortiz, 44, 409 Tecolote St., who is also the city’s parks supervisor, is charged with aggravated driving under the influence and reckless driving. He was arrested by city police Cpl. Robert Gutierrez.

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  • Stores offer machine to convert coins

    Probably everyone in America has a coin stash that through the years keeps growing as people empty their pocket change. Some people take the time to count and roll their pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, but most don’t have the patience.

    The two Lowe’s grocery stores in Las Vegas now have an easier way to turn those coins into cash.

    Ron Martinez, Lowe’s Supersave store manager on Mills Avenue, said the machines have been in the stores since December and get daily use.

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  • Two announce runs for commission

    Two area residents have announced their candidacies for the County Commission in this year’s Democratic primary.

    Rancher Eloy Gonzales, 70, plans to run for the District 2 seat on the five-member commission. That district covers much of the western part of the county, including Pecos and San Juan.

    Hugh Ley represents District 2 currently, but he is not allowed to run for a third consecutive term.

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  • District outlines search for leader

    The Las Vegas City Schools board on Monday set the parameters for picking a new superintendent who would replace Pete Campos, who was hired to become Luna Community College’s next president.

    Board President Elaine Luna said it’s essential to start the process in a timely manner “because before we know it, the time will be here and we’ll have to make that transition.”

    She said Campos would be an active participant during the planning process.

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  • Commissioners get own chambers

    The San Miguel County Commission has been meeting in the West Las Vegas school board meeting room for the last couple of years. For years before that, the commissioners met in other places.

    Now, they have a home.

    The commissioners held their first regular meeting inside their new chambers in the former courtroom at the old courthouse.

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  • Review of Taser rules urged

    The Las Vegas Police Department should consider changes to its policy regulating the use of high-voltage stun guns, an advisory panel member urged this week.

    However, the police chief contended the policy in place is a good one.

    Pat Leahan, co-chairwoman of the city’s public safety advisory committee, noted that Raton police officers fired their Tasers 23 times in a case in which a man died as the officers were trying to subdue him in January.

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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.