Local news in brief Oct. 23

Staff and wire reports |

10/22/2008 - 10/23/08

Man pleads guilty to vehicular homicide

A man who killed a Santa Fe woman when he drove head-on into the car she was driving on Cerrillos Road more than a year ago pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and other charges Wednesday in state District Court.

Anthony Cadavas, 45, will face up to 12 years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 8 after entering guilty pleas to the homicide charge as well as two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and causing great bodily injury by vehicle. First, however, he will undergo a psychological evaluation ordered Wednesday by state District Judge Michael Vigil.

Cadavas was at the wheel of a Toyota Corolla that crashed into an Acura driven by Barbara Kendall, 56, of Santa Fe, in August 2007. Kendall's daughter, Lena, was sitting next to her mother in the car when the accident occurred and was injured.

Cadavas, who suffered extensive injuries in the crash, exhibited bizarre behavior both before and after the crash, and police have said illegal narcotics were found in his blood.

Naranjo's condition improving, son says

Former Rio Arriba County political boss Emilio Naranjo remained hospitalized at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, but one of his sons said he is doing better.

Naranjo, 92, was hospitalized about a week ago because of dizziness and possible heart problems, his son Benny Naranjo said. "He's doing a lot better."

Benny Naranjo said he voted early Wednesday and was wearing his "I Voted" sticker on his tie when he visited his father in the hospital. "He saw that sticker and said, 'Way to go," the younger Naranjo said.

Emilio Naranjo is a former state senator and longtime Rio Arriba County Democratic Party chairman. He was the top political figure in Rio Arriba for more than 40 years beginning in the 1950s.

County: Drug card saved residents $76,000

County residents saved about $76,000 on prescription drugs this summer by using a discount card offered by Santa Fe County, according to a release issued by the county. About 3,531 people used the card between May and August — up from 602 users in the same period last year. Each saved an average of about $11 per prescription, according to the release.

The prescription drug discount card is free to all county residents regardless of age, income or health insurance status.

Cards can be obtained at participating pharmacies or by calling Marie Garcia at 992-9841.

Participating pharmacies include: Smith's, Walgreens, CVS, Fraser, Kiva, Kmart, Pharmaca, Sav-On, Lovelace, Medicap and the Medical Center Pharmacy on St. Michael's Drive.

Commuter train preview at Railyard on Saturday

A Rail Runner Express train will be open for visitors at the Santa Fe Railyard on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

In anticipation of the state's commuter rail corridor expanding north to Santa Fe this December, the Department of Transportation wants to give residents another preview of the trains.

For more information, log on to www.nmrailrunner.com.

City center's gallery sets exhibit

Several weeks after the opening of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy St., the community art gallery is ready to launch its inaugural exhibit.

Friday night's 5 p.m. reception for "re-new" will feature the work of more than 20 area artists including Bobbe Besold, Joy Campbell, Marie Romero Cash, Carol Coates, Susan Contreras, Chip Dunahugh, Nicolas Herrera, Tony Jojola, James Koehler, Gregory Lomayesva, Nance Lopez, Ramon Lopez, Darlene Olivia McElroy, Marion Martinez, Nancy Hidding Pollack, Gilberto Romero, Julian H. Romero, Greta Ruiz, Romi Sloboda, Christopher St. John, Patrick Stone, Frederico Vigi and Zoe Zimmerman.

Group: Church's election signs illegal

A church-state watchdog group has advised the Internal Revenue Service that an Española church is violating federal tax law.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State reported Rock Christian Fellowship for posting signs encouraging voters to support Republican candidates over Democratic ones in the November general election.

"Churches are permitted to speak out on issues, but this stunt goes far beyond that," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of the group. "The church is telling people how to vote. That's not its job, and it is a violation of federal tax law to boot."

The sign of the church shows a photo of an aborted fetus' head above the last names of Democratic candidates: (Barack) Obama, (Tom) Udall and (Ben Ray) Luján. Below the photo of a happy baby are the last names of Republican candidates: (John) McCain, (Steve) Pearce and (Dan) East.

Chaparral to hold Halloween carnival

Chaparral Elementary School is reviving its Halloween carnival tradition.

The carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Chaparral Elementary School, 2451 Avenida Chaparral, near Ragle Park, at the corner of Yucca and Zia roads.

Activities include a haunted house, games, prizes, gourmet food, a costume contest and pumpkin decorating. The event is open to the public, and all proceeds benefit the Parent/Teacher Association, which provides funding to hire a physical education teacher and buy musical instruments for the school's band.

ACLU: Probe release of voter info

The American Civil Liberties Union is asking the attorney general to investigate whether the Bernalillo County clerk released confidential voter information that was then used by the Republican Party.

The GOP distributed the information last week, alleging there have been fraudulent voter registrations and votes.

However, the clerk, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, says the only information her office released to the Republicans had confidential information blacked out, complying with state law.

She says the documents that improperly included confidential voter information must have come from somewhere else.

Spaceport institute in the works

LAS CRUCES — The New Mexico Spaceport Authority plans to create a nonprofit organization called the Spaceport America Institute.

The authority announced its plans Wednesday, saying it recognizes the critical role that access to space will play in the growth of the global economy and society.

The institute will be based in Las Cruces and will be open to participation throughout the state and beyond.

Stakeholders will include members of the space industry, high-tech employers, federal and state agencies, academic institutions, teachers, parents and students.

Oil, gas lease sale nets $19 million

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has brought in more than $19 million in revenues from the sale of 64 federal oil and gas leases in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma.

The quarterly lease sale was held Wednesday in Santa Fe.

Bids for 30 parcels in New Mexico brought in more than $7 million, while 20 parcels in Oklahoma brought in more than $8.8 million. Bids for 14 parcels in Texas brought in just over $3 million.