'Odd Thomas' crew back on the Plaza

The crew that began filming Odd Thomas on the west side of the Santa Fe Plaza last week has started setting up on the south side.

Police shut down East San Francisco Street from Galisteo Street to Old Santa Fe Trail on Wednesday morning.

Five parking meters on metal bases were taped to the brick walkway on the south side of the Plaza. Equipment was set up outside the second floor of the building at 76 E. San Francisco Street where Overland Sheepskin Company occupies the first floor.

Odd Thomas is based on a Dean Koontz novel about a short-order cook with clairvoyant abilities in a California desert town. It stars Anton Yelchin as the title character, Willem Dafoe as the police chief and rapper 50 Cent as a blind disc jockey.

Crew members have declined to say where else they will be shooting in Santa Fe through July 12. But a casting agent said filming is planned at the old Silva Lanes property on Rufina Street, which has been closed since late 2008. Last week, filming centered on the dormant Plaza Cafe, which was renamed the Pico Mundo Grill for the film.

Liberal radio personality plans S.F. visit

Comedian and syndicated progressive talk-radio personality Stephanie Miller, whose show is broadcast locally on 1260 AM, will be in Santa Fe on Aug. 6 at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.

Stephanie Miller's Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour, which stars Miller and regular radio cohorts Hal Sparks and John Fugelsang, includes stand-up sessions and a nonscripted panel discussion based on the week's newsworthy events, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.

Miller, who often spars with political conservatives on cable-news television programs, is the daughter of the late William Miller, Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater's presidential running mate in 1964, and says she voted for Ronald Reagan while in college.

Miller spent part of the 2010 holidays in Santa Fe, when she also dined with local resident and ex-CIA operations officer Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband, former U.S. diplomat Joe Wilson.

A representative at the Lensic box office said Wednesday that nearly half the tickets ($20 and $49) had already been sold. There are still plenty of $125 tickets, which include a meet-and-greet with Miller, Sparks and Fugelsang after the show.

Trujillo named as Valles Caldera interim director

Dennis Trujillo, longtime manager at the Valles Caldera National Preserve, has been named interim executive director of the Valles Caldera Trust, which oversees the 89,000-acre park.

Trujillo became preserve manager in 2002 after a career with the U.S. Forest Service. As preserve manager, he oversaw natural resources, roads, fire, law enforcement and special events, among other duties.

He was born and raised in Ponderosa, N.M., a village in the Jemez Valley.

Gary Bratcher, the prior executive director of the Valles Caldera Trust, resigned earlier this year.

Congress is considering a bill introduced by New Mexico's U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall to transfer the preserve's management from the trust to the National Park Service.

Track investor seeks to stop another license

RATON — A group wanting to open a $50 million racetrack and casino in Raton has asked a district court to stop the New Mexico Racing Commission from accepting or considering applications for another racetrack in the state.

Canadian investor Michael Moldenhauer is behind the stalled project, and he wants the court to prevent another track from being approved while he appeals the revocation of racing and gaming licenses for La Mesa Racetrack and Casino in northeastern New Mexico.

La Mesa was to be the state's sixth and likely final racetrack and casino. Moldenhauer said in a statement Wednesday that he remains "committed and ready to complete the racetrack."

La Mesa's request for an injunction was filed with the 8th Judicial District Court in Raton.

City ethics panel lacks quorum to meet

The city Campaign Ethics Review Board won't make a decision today on former City Councilor Karen Heldmeyer's ethics complaint against Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger.

The board had planned to meet this afternoon to discuss findings from two of its six members, but City Clerk Yolanda Vigil said the chairman canceled the meeting due to lack of a quorum. Another meeting date has not been set yet, she said.

The board is due to be replaced July 1 by people who are members of the New Mexico bar, following changes to the city rules that created the board. Four of the current members have recused themselves from the decision.

Heldmeyer filed a complaint in March asserting that Wurzburger's travel to international destinations and other use of city funds for creative-tourism initiatives was inappropriate because Wurzburger promoted her personal business using city resources. Wurzburger defends her actions as valid for her office and denies violating the city code of ethics.

Las Vegas to honor land-grant activist

Reies López Tijerina, who led an armed raid on the Rio Arriba County courthouse 44 years ago, will be honored in Las Vegas, N.M., next week.

On June 5, 1967, Tijerina led a group of armed men to the courthouse in Tierra Amarilla to make a citizens arrest of the district attorney, who was not there at the time. They briefly took several people hostage, including a wire-service news reporter.

The National Guard was called up to search for Tijerina, who later was arrested, convicted and jailed for two years on charges related to the takeover of Echo Amphitheater near Abiquiú.

Tijerina, 84, has lived in Mexico in recent years.

At 10 a.m. Wednesday, he will participate in a public forum on land grants, water and civil rights issues in Ilfeld Auditorium at New Mexico Highlands University.

At 1:30 p.m., Mayor Alfonso Ortiz will proclaim "Reies López Tijerina Day" during a ceremony at the Plaza Park.

At 4:30 p.m., Tijerina will attend the dedication of the first five panels of a 160-foot mural called The People's History of El Norte, depicting Tijerina prominently.

Tijerina's visit is hosted by Casa de Cultura of Las Vegas.

Wildfire forces evacuation

TAOS — A wildfire in the Carson National Forest has forced the evacuation of a northern New Mexico monastery and the Sipapu ski area.

The fire, which was started by a downed power line, has burned about 1,000 acres and has no containment.

Dorotea Martinez of the Carson National Forest Service supervisor's office says that about 200 firefighters and air tankers are on the scene, and that a Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered to take command of the fire in the morning. The fire is about 30 miles from Taos.





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