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Today's News

  • No raises for top West officials

    West Las Vegas district is playing it conservative with its money this year, officials said. And that means top administrative staff won’t be getting any raises, they said.

    Last week, the West school board discussed the already-approved budget, and members, as they have in previous meetings, asked about raises for employees.

    Member Caroline Lopez referred to talk in the community that some on the administrative staff would be getting raises, She also questioned discrepancies between last year’s and this year’s base salaries.

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  • Youth workers help with parks

    Money from a “Keep America Beautiful” grant has come to the rescue of an overburdened city staff responsible for maintaining city parks.

    Seven Las Vegas high school students have been busy raking, mulching, painting and doing a general cleanup around parks and streets.

    KAB Coordinator Kathy Fisher said she got a grant to hire local kids for summer work, and those driving around Plaza Park may have seen the good work they have been doing for their community.

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  • COLUMN: Turning the tide?

    A lot of people had high hopes for Las Vegas Mayor Tony Marquez when he took office in March 2008. A relatively young guy, he seemed to represent the change that so many people sought.

    Three months after his election, the mayor convinced a City Council majority to fire six department directors, but he didn’t find replacements right away. In fact, the city didn’t fill most of the vacant posts until more than six months later.

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  • EDITORIAL: Fiestas and freedom

    It’s hard to describe the Fiestas de Las Vegas in only a few words and do it justice. One can look at the schedule and see a wide variety of activities and events — a parade, a reína’s baile, a holy mass, a fishing expedition, a run/walk, a tribute to veterans, fireworks, street dancing and lots and lots of musica — which begs the question, what ties all this together?

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  • EDITORIAL: Constitution trumps policy

    A public official’s most important duty is obedience to the U.S. Constitution. That’s why the Las Vegas Housing Authority must immediately strike its provision allowing for warrantless searches of houses.

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  • Annual fiesta to start in the Plaza

    Fiestas de Las Vegas starts Thursday in Plaza Park, with entertainment, food and plenty of vendors.

    The festivities will last through Sunday and include a parade, a fishing derby and a run.

    This year is the 121st annual Fiestas. The vendors surround Plaza Park and line up on Bridge Street. The eats typically include Navajo tacos, roasted corn on the cob, fajitas, beans and hamburgers. Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy candy, caramel apples and cotton candy.

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  • COLUMN: They leave by twos and threes

    Famous people die in threes, as in Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett Majors and Michael Jackson. Important people, not necessarily famous, pass away in pairs.

    Two people who have been close to my family, though probably unacquainted with each other, are Robert W. Johnston and Nea Escudero.

    First Bob.

    The name Johnston in Las Vegas is much less common than Johnson, without the “t.” Robert K. Johnston, a prolific writer of letters to the editor, for a time was confused with the Robert with a W in his name. I know both.

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  • LETTER: Production class was a success

    Support for the film industry in Las Vegas is alive and moving forward. On June 13, a workshop was held for those interested in becoming employed in the film industry as a production assistant. Eighteen “students” attended and were instructed in many aspects of the industry, from preparing a resume, using a walkie-talkie to proper etiquette expected on a film set.

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  • Santa Fe mourns teens’ deaths

    SANTA FE — Teary-eyed teens and grim-faced parents gathered Monday at a Santa Fe high school to mourn the deaths of four students killed in a weekend crash with a suspected drunken driver traveling the wrong way on a highway.

    They comforted one another and the parents of two girls who died in early Sunday’s wreck, talking quietly and scribbling messages on big poster boards at long tables filled with photos and flowers at Santa Fe Preparatory School.

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  • LETTER: Professor used column in class

    After reading Mr. Jose J. Marquez’ letter to the editor on Monday, June 15, I would like to share the following letter I wrote Mr. David Giuliani to his e-mail address on June 8 on the same topic.

    “Dear David,

    “My name is Sara Harris. I know we have met, though I don’t expect you to remember me. I retired from teaching Spanish at Highlands in 2002 and have had the privilege of being able to teach there in different capacities in the Spanish, Education and Social Work Departments.

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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.