Coyote Cafe fire closes Water Street block

About 30 diners at the Coyote Cafe had to leave their tables shortly after 7 p.m. Monday when the dining room began to fill with smoke.No flames were visible, but smoke billowed from the roof and a small crowd gathered to watch the activity on an otherwise quiet, cold evening.

Police closed the block of Water Street between Galisteo Street and Don Gaspar Avenue so firetrucks could perch a ladder to reach the roof.

A Fire Department spokesman said the fire apparently had started in a cooking area and had been drawn into an exhaust fan, but the exact cause and the extent of damage were still unknown late Monday. No injuries were reported.

Mark Miller opened the Coyote Cafe in 1987 and turned over ownership to four others in 2007.

Juvenile burglars agree to plea deals

Two juveniles involved in a prolific burglary ring that stole tens of thousands of dollars in cash and property from homes and businesses in the city during a year-and-a-half spree avoided long-term detention when they were sentenced Monday.

Manuel Candelaria and Enrique Treto — both 17 — each received a two-year suspended commitment to the Children, Youth and Families Department after agreeing to plea deals in the case. Candelaria pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and six counts of burglary, while Treto pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and seven counts of burglary.

State District Judge Michael Vigil found that Treto was amenable to treatment based on a psychological exam, and ordered him to obtain his GED, attend the district's adult Drug Court and get a job to pay his share of the restitution in the case. The restitution is estimated to be between $30,000 and $40,000, said prosecutor Lara Sunderman.

Candelaria already is receiving treatment and will be on probation for two years provided he receives a successful discharge from the treatment program, Vigil said. He also may have to attend adult Drug Court, earn his GED and get a job to pay restitution, the judge said.

"This is really your last chance, Manuel," Vigil said.

Several other defendants are scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Man robbed at gunpoint outside Trader Joe's

A man with a handgun stole another man's wallet outside Trader Joe's grocery store Sunday night, police said Monday.

The 50-year-old victim told police he was leaving the store when the man approached him, pointed the gun at him and demanded his wallet. After the man gave up the wallet and turned around to walk away, the thief struck him on the back of the head with an object that didn't feel like a fist, according to a police report.

The suspect — described as between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 and wearing a black hoodie sweat shirt — then ran to a green, four-door Honda with New Mexico license plate 089-PKP and fled, the report says.

The victim was treated by paramedics at the scene.

The case has been assigned to a detective, who will track down the license number, said Sgt. Jason Wagner, a police spokesman.

Funeral services announced for former Gov. King

Funeral arrangements have been announced for former New Mexico Gov. Bruce King.

Attorney General Gary King's office announced that Bruce King will lie in state at the State Capitol from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Moriarty High School Gymnasium.

King was with family members at his ranch in Stanley when he died Friday morning, less than a year after the death of his wife of 61 years, Alice.

King served a total of 12 years as governor in separate terms that spanned three decades.

King's political career covered 40 years. Before being elected governor in 1970, 1978 and 1990, he was a lawmaker and county commissioner.

VP Biden stumps in N.M. for Heinrich and Teague

ALBUQUERQUE — Vice President Joe Biden spoke at a campaign fundraiser Monday where he sought to portray New Mexico Democratic Reps. Martin Heinrich and Harry Teague as independent-minded stewards who are helping America recover from economic recession.

The vice president, stumping ahead of next year's midterm elections, called Heinrich and Teague "good Democrats" but said they also have their own minds.

Biden addressed a luncheon at Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque, where about 100 guests paid $1,000 a plate. The funds go toward re-election bids next year for Heinrich, who represents the Albuquerque area, and Teague, who represents Southern New Mexico.

Rep. Ben Ray Luján will attend as a guest. His Northern New Mexico seat is considered safe for Democrats.

It was Biden's first appearance in New Mexico as vice president.

28 desert bighorn sheep released in N.M. mountains

LORDSBURG — The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish released more than two dozen desert bighorn sheep in the Southern New Mexico mountains over the weekend in an effort to bolster existing herds.

The 28 sheep were captured at the department's breeding facility near Lordsburg.

The ewes and rams were flown to a nearby processing center, where they were checked by veterinarians and had radio collars put on them.

The animals were then transported and released into the Caballos, Peloncillos and Ladrones Mountains.

The department says they conducted the release to bolster existing herds in the three ranges.

The desert bighorn sheep were downlisted from endangered to threatened in 2008.

Committee to consider vacating acequia easement

Santa Fe's archaeological review committee on Thursday will consider vacating an archaeological easement on the historic Acequia de las Joyas off Paseo de la Conquistadora. The meeting takes place at 4:30 p.m. at Santa Fe City Hall.

The easement was meant to protect a couple of hundred feet of the now-abandoned acequia in a new subdivision. Tom McIntosh, the architect who conducted the archaeological survey, neighbors and the subdivision's builder now disagree about whether the ditch was bulldozed last summer during excavation for a retaining wall. The committee must decide whether the acequia was bulldozed and if so, whether to require developer Lawrence Boyd to rebuild the ditch or simply vacate the easement.

The committee asked Boyd at its last meeting to hire a new archaeologist to conduct a new survey and determine if the acequia has been destroyed.