.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Today's News

  • West Las Vegas Invitational team results

    Boys 1. Hope  Christian 2. Robertson 3. Tucumcari 3. St. Mike’s 5. Santa Rosa 6. Taos 7. West Las Vegas 8. Raton 9. Peñasco 10. Springer 11. Pecos 12. Mora 13. Roy 14. McCurdy 15. Logan 16. Maxwell 16. Mesa Vista   Girls 1. Hope  Christian 2. Robertson 3. St.

    Click here to read more...
  • Editorial: Why fire Jim Abreu?

    More than a week ago, the majority of the West Las Vegas school board voted against renewing Superintendent Jim Abreu’s employment contract. No reasons were given for this decision.  In our perspective, Abreu did a good job as superintendent. He has been effective in building improvements at various schoos. During the last year of declining revenue, he has worked to make sure budget cuts have the least impact possible on employees, knowing that layoffs kill morale. And he has changed the culture for the better at the top levels of the West administration.

    Click here to read more...
  • Court sessions to be held at schools

    Magistrate Court is used to holding hearings for DWI offenders in its building on Seventh Street.  But next month, it will be changing its scenery — holding court in both of the local high schools.  The San Miguel County DWI Program is arranging for the court to hold a number of hearings in the gyms at Robertson and West Las Vegas high schools.

    Click here to read more...
  • Montoya moving on

    Daniella Montoya isn’t afraid of uphill battles.

    When Montoya first joined the Robertson High School varsity volleyball team five years ago as an eighth-grader, the squad was “a long way from being a contender,” as she put it.

    But before her high school volleyball days were over, the Lady Cardinals had twice made it to the Class 3A state championship match (and were a semifinalist this past season).

    Click here to read more...
  • Editorial Thumbs

    Thumbs DOWN for ... VAGUE REASONING. The West Las Vegas school board worked into the wee hours Thursday night and finally voted down a contract renewal for Superintendent Jim Abreu. After three years on the job, he’ll be leaving the post at the end of June.

    The reason for his dismissal? Well, only a vague reference to moving the district “forward” was given. It seems to us that such a huge decision deserves a clearer public explanation.

    Click here to read more...
  • Publisher's Note: Free speech and cheap shots

    I must admit to a certain level of angst when it comes to one of our more popular online features — the comments at the end of most Optic stories posted on our website.

    I’m torn between a deep-seated belief in the people’s right to free speech and my journalistic upbringing that newspapers should act responsibly in their use of the “free press” provision also in the First Amendment. Allowing anonymous writers to post belligerent and destructive comments on the Optic’s website just doesn’t sit well with me.

    Click here to read more...
  • West notches 15 hits at SFIS

    West Las Vegas’ baseball players picked the right time to get their offense on track — the start of the District 2-3A schedule.

    The Dons amassed a season-high 15 hits on Tuesday in a 9-7 win at Santa Fe Indian School. It was the second win in eight games to date.

    “We hit the ball well,” said WLV head coach Dean Gallegos. “We had been swinging the bats well (this season), but we were hitting the ball right at people. We started that way (on Tuesday). But we started finding holes (in the defense). Even our outs were hit hard.”

    Click here to read more...
  • Redbirds rally to stop Taos

    Twice on Tuesday, Robertson and Taos met in varsity baseball action at Memorial Middle School’s Whorton Field.

    Twice, the Tigers got the upper hand and looked to lock up a win.

    Twice, the Cardinals came back and stole control in the late innings.

    RHS is 7-1 overall pending resolution of the second game, which was called due to darkness with the Cardinals ahead 5-2.

    In the opener, Taos carried an 8-6 advantage into the final inning but Robertson rallied with three runs in its final at-bats.

    Click here to read more...
  • West grad dies in accident

    A Las Vegas resident died in a car accident late Tuesday night when a a suspected wrong-way drunken driver struck her car, state police said.

    Mariah J. Arguello, 18, a 2009 West Las Vegas High School graduate, was killed shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Interstate 25 near San Juan. She was driving back to Las Vegas.

    The other driver, Cecilio Jaramillo, 28, of Santa Fe, was also killed. He was traveling south, but then crossed into the northbound lanes, hitting Arguello’s Suzuki head on, police said.

    Click here to read more...
  • Student remembered as bubbly

    Last year, Mariah Arguello walked the halls of West Las Vegas High School, a senior admired and loved by classmates, teachers and staff.

    While returning to Las Vegas Tuesday evening, she was killed by a man driving down Interstate 25 in the wrong direction.

    On Wednesday, people are remembering Arguello as a bubbly cheerleader and a good student.

    West Principal Gene Parson said, “Mariah graduated last year. She was full of energy, full of life, and always had a big smile on her face. She was just a pleasant girl to be around.”

    Click here to read more...