Tests detect drug in I-25 fatal driver

Tests found that the drunken, wrong-way driver involved in a fatal head-on crash on Interstate 25 in March also had cocaine in his system.

In addition to a blood-alcohol content of 0.45 — more than five and a half times the legal driving limit — Cecilio Jaramillo, 28, had benzoylecgonine in his body, the primary metabolite of cocaine, said Amy Boule, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Medical Investigator.

The Santa Fe man smashed into a car driven by Mariah Arguello, 18, of Las Vegas, N.M., about 10:30 p.m. March 23, midway between Santa Fe and Las Vegas. Both drivers, who were wearing seat belts, died at the scene.

Jaramillo had been arrested twice previously for drunken driving. Arguello — who had no alcohol or drugs in her system at the time of the crash — had been arrested for drunken driving in Albuquerque about two weeks before the fatal crash.

City adds state tax to parking fees

Drivers who pay the city of Santa Fe for parking might have noticed a slight rate increase recently.

The city about a month ago began collecting an extra 5 percent for monthly parking permits and hourly parking garage and lot fees.

Parking Division Director Bill Hon said that's because state officials notified the city late last year that it should begin paying state gross-receipts taxes on parking revenue. A state law establishing the tax allowed for parking collections but hadn't been previously enforced.

"They are taking that right off the top," said Hon. "So now that we have to pay it, we are charging our customers to cover that cost."

Although parking-violation tickets, meters and special events such as $1 parking during the Saturday Farmers Market at the Railyard won't incur the tax because of the logistics of collecting it, he said the state will require annual payments from the city of about $250,000.

For a half-hour of parking at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center's underground garage, for example, patrons will now pay 95 cents, compared to 90 cents before the tax.

City warns of water service disruptions

Work on water mains will affect parts of Santa Fe on Thursday.

On the east side, water will be shut off from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Vigil Lane and on Camino Santander between Santander Lane and Camino San Acacio, while crews connect a new water main on Vigil Lane to the existing main on Camino Santander.

The city advises residents to draw water for personal use before the shutoff and not to draw water during the shutoff to avoid potential plumbing problems.

Later, from 10 p.m. Thursday until 4:30 a.m. Friday, water service will be disrupted while crews replace two broken valves: one in the intersection of Cerrillos Road and Don Diego Avenue and the other in the intersection of Don Diego Avenue and Buena Vista Street.

An announcement said the following areas could be affected by a drop in water pressure during the overnight work:

• Cerrillos Road from Don Diego to St. Francis Drive.
• Pen Road from St. Francis to Cordova Road.
• Areas west of Galisteo Street and south of Cerrillos Road.
• Areas between Old Pecos Trail and St. Francis.

Small schools plan final events

As Larragoite, Alvord and Kaune elementary schools prepare to consolidate next year, a couple of events are planned.

Larragoite bids farewell to 70 years of education with an evening of music, dance, refreshments and memories.

Students, parents, alumni and the general public are invited to a free event from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Larragoite Pavilion (on the playground) on campus at 1604 Agua Fría St. For more information, call 467-3700.

Meanwhile, Alvord will host its second Alumni and Community Fiesta from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the school, 551 Alarid St.

Activities include a belly-dancing performance, a silent auction, food booths, recycled art projects and Alvord T-shirt art. For more information, call 467-4200.

Academy Award winner to speak

Two-time Oscar winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler will speak before a screening of his latest film, the documentary Who Needs Sleep?, on Thursday at the New Mexico History Museum Auditorium, 113 Lincoln Ave.

Wexler, who has also worked as a producer, director, writer and actor over the past 50 years, is scheduled to give a presentation titled "Science of Story," at 6 p.m.

Taos resident and research neuroscientist James F. Pagel will join Wexler for the talk, which is free.

The duo will give the same presentation at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Taos Community Auditorium in Taos.

Who Needs Sleep? is a commentary on the long hours that come with the life of a filmmaker.

The events are hosted by Milagro at Los Luceros, Robert Redford's latest film initiative, which provides training opportunities for minorities in the state.

New addition to Railyard on Thursdays

The Santa Fe Alliance and the Farm to Restaurant project are giving locals another reason to go to the Railyard on Thursday evenings this summer.

Vendors will sell fresh produce from 3 to 7 p.m. beginning June 24. Also, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays throughout the summer, local chefs will present cooking demonstrations of their signature dishes.

The schedule is: June 24, Michael Giese, Flying Star Cafe; July 1, Peyton Young, Harry's Roadhouse; July 8, Carmen Rodriguez, Bishop's Lodge; July 15, Andy Barnes, Dinner for Two; July 22, James Campbell Caruso, La Boca; July 29, Louis Moskow, 315 Restaurant & Wine Bar; Aug. 5, Sancho Soeiro, Dish n' Spoon Café & Gifts; Aug. 12, Rocky Durham, Santa Fe School of Cooking; Aug. 1, Lorin Parrish, Body of Santa Fe; Aug. 26, Roland Richter, Joe's Diner; Sept. 2, Patrick Lambert, Cowgirl BBQ & Western Grill; Sept. 9, George Gundry, Atrisco Café & Bar; Sept. 16, Patrick Gharrity, La Casa Sena; Sept. 23, Jennifer Nelson, Annapurna's World Vegetarian Café; Sept. 30, Ahmed Obo, Jambo Café.

The Farmers Market is also open from 7 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Valles Caldera opens Saturday

A marathon, a twilight mountain bike ride and a 3-D archery shoot are among the events offered at Valles Caldera National Preserve near Los Alamos this summer. The preserve officially opens Saturday.

For the third consecutive year, the preserve will be open seven days a week. Hours of operation have been extended from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Two photo adventure events and several flyfishing clinics also are among the events to choose from at the 89,000-acre preserve. Visitors also can stop by and tour the new Valles Caldera science and education center.

Events begin with Cruise the Caldera mountain bike rides on May 29 and June 12. The Caldera marathon, half marathon and 10 K also will be held June 12.

For details, visit www.vallescaldera.gov

Luján pushes N.M. conservation bill

TAOS — U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján is joining the effort to preserve a large swath of public land in Northern New Mexico.

The New Mexico Democrat has introduced legislation in the House that is a companion measure to a bill introduced last year by Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall. The legislation would set aside nearly 370 square miles as the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area.

The area includes the Rio San Antonio Wilderness and Ute Mountain as well as other public lands between Taos and Rio Arriba counties and the Carson National Forest.

Luján says establishing a conservation area would help preserve the land as well as culture and tradition.

Luján's office says access to the land for grazing and the harvesting of piñon nuts, wild herbs and firewood would be protected.





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