Man charged in wife's death

Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputies late Thursday arrested Frank A. Gallegos on a charge related to the death of his wife at their home south of Santa Fe.

Gallegos, 53, called 911 at 10:17 p.m. Wednesday to report he had found his wife, Lisa E. Gonzales, 50, unresponsive at their home on Kachina Road off N.M. 14 in the Lone Butte area.

He admitted they had been arguing prior to falling asleep and that he had pulled her hair, deputies said. She was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m. Thursday.

The Office of the Medical Investigator later found Lisa Gallegos had blunt-force injuries to the head and ruled the death a "suspicious homicide."

Sheriff Robert Garcia said that after interviewing Frank Gallegos late Thursday, he was formally arrested on an open count of murder with a warrant issued by state District Judge Michael Vigil.

Richardson to make announcement on The Kid

Outgoing Gov. Bill Richardson will announce one of his final decisions early today when he reveals on national television whether he will pardon the iconic Old West outlaw Billy the Kid.

The Governor's Office said Thursday that Richardson will announce his decision live on ABC's Good Morning America. The announcement is expected at approximately 5:10 a.m. Mountain time. The show broadcasts in New Mexico on KOAT, Channel 7.

Richardson first brought up the possibility of a pardon for the outlaw — who was born Henry McCarty and also known as William Antrim and William Bonney — in 2003, his first year in office. The governor revived the idea early this year.

The pardon would be for an 1878 murder. Territorial Gov. Lew Wallace allegedly made a deal to pardon the outlaw in exchange for his testimony regarding a killing during the Lincoln County War, although some have disputed that Wallace ever made such a deal. Richardson has made it clear that he isn't considering pardoning the outlaw for killing two deputies in his escape from the Lincoln County jail, which occurred after his alleged deal with Wallace.

Billy the Kid was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner in 1881.

Deal on power project signed

A Santa Fe-based company aiming to construct an Eastern New Mexico facility to join the nation's three power grids has signed a 99-year lease to build the project on state trust land.

Commissioner of Public Lands Patrick Lyons signed the lease with Tres Amigas LLC. Project organizers hope that by 2014 the facility will allow electricity to move back and forth between the south-central United States, 14 western states, Alberta and British Columbia, and the northern tip of Baja California, Mexico. Currently, the flow of power is regulated by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Southwest Power Pool.

The lease will provide $9.44 million a year to the state trust beneficiaries once Tres Amigas is operating, according to the State Land Office. Tres Amigas signed an agreement with the State Land Office in 2009 to study the suitability of 14,000 acres of trust lands near Clovis for the project.

Lyons said the project will provide new transmission infrastructure needed for wind and solar energy. But it also will carry energy produced by conventional means such as from coal-fired power plants.

Recycle your Christmas trees

Don't forget to recycle Christmas trees and old electronic devices.

Christmas trees, sans decorations, can be recycled for free in Santa Fe at any of five locations between Jan. 3 and Jan. 23:

• Payne's Nursery at 304 Camino Alire, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Payne's Nursery at 715 St. Michael's Drive, Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Newman's Nursery at 7501 Cerrillos Road, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Franklin Miles Park at Camino Carlos Rey and Siringo Road, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station, 2600 Buckman Road, Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. (closed New Year's Day)

Trees will be chipped into mulch for use in city parks. Trees with tinsel will not be recycled. Commercial tree sellers and businesses can recycle trees for a fee at the Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station. After the above dates, trees can be recycled at the Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station.

Electronic waste such as telephones, computers, stereos, games, printers and scanners can be recycled at the Buckman station for a two cents per pound fee.

Goodwill, 3060 Cerrillos Road, also accepts computer towers, laptops, printers, scanners and other computer peripherals for recycling.

Ski Pajarito opens for season

Ski Pajarito will officially open for the season Saturday. The Los Alamos resort had received more than 17 inches of snow in the past 24 hours according to a Thursday news release. Additional snowfall was expected.

Full and half-day passes are available online in Los Alamos or at local REI stores throughout the state. Visit www.skipajarito.com to purchase tickets or for rates and hours.

The resort ranges from 9,000 feet at the base to 10,440 feet at the highest point. The area has 40 named trails, 300 skiable acres and five chairlifts as well as one surface lift.

Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday

The 16th annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge will take place at noon Saturday at Storrie Lake near Las Vegas, N.M.

Last year, nearly 100 plungers jumped into the icy waters off the boat ramp. According to Philip J. Romero, a plunge organizer, the number of polar bears increases every year.

The New Mexican