DWI forfeiture fees proposed

The city Public Safety Committee on Tuesday unanimously endorsed proposed fees the Police Department would charge under the city's never-used DWI vehicle forfeiture law.

Drunken drivers whose vehicles are seized would pay $150 to have the vehicle towed to an impound lot, then $10 per day. Other fees include a $50 administrative fee, a $250 interlock ignition tracking fee and a $150 boot fee. The city ordinance calls for a driver charged with his or her third DWI to lose the vehicle.

The law has been on the books since the City Council adopted it in 2007. However, the impound lot was never readied and the city failed to specify fees in the ordinance.

Once enforced, the city projects the law could yield $96,000 a year for use in anti-DWI efforts, Santa Fe police Capt. Anthony Robbin said.

The fee schedule requires action by the full City Council.

Luján site tracks stimulus funds

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., has a new feature on his Web site to help track spending of federal economic-stimulus funds in Northern New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District.

The site has a map with icons showing the different types of projects funded so far.

The state is expected to get $3 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act approved by Congress.

So far, $1.5 billion has been approved and $125 million has been received.

Visit http://lujan.house.gov/index.php/home/40/204 to see the map.

Annex meeting set for Monday

Santa Fe County Commissioner Virginia Vigil will host a public meeting Monday focusing on the ongoing annexation of county land by the city of Santa Fe, particularly Rural Residential Zoning districts, which will mandate the preservation of rural density in certain pockets within the presumptive city limits.

The meeting might be of interest to residents who live in "Area 1," west of the city limits between Agua Fría Street and N.M. 599, and "Area 12," along the south side of Rodeo Road just west of Richard's Avenue, two areas the city plans to designate as Rural Residential Zoning districts.

To see a detailed map of the annexation areas, log on to www.santafenm.gov, click on "Hot Topics" on the left, then select "City Initiated Annexation."

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Nancy Rodriguez Community Center, No. 1 Prairie Dog Loop. For more information, call Vigil's office at 995-9548.

Wildlife Center talk focuses on raptors

The founder of The Wildlife Center, who specializes in native wildlife rehabilitation, will lead a talk Monday on identifying raptors.

Kathleen Ramsay will host the 7 p.m. Raptor Identification Program at the center, 19 Wheat St., south of Española in Arroyo Seco. A donation of $10 is suggested.

Ramsay will combine the use of live-demonstration birds from the center, field marks and photographs to discuss the distinguishing characteristics of the various raptor species, according to organizers. She'll also provide information on habits, habitat and behaviors of the birds.

Katherine Eagleson, the center's director, said there are more than 20 raptor species that have been noted in the state. Many are here throughout the year, while some are winter or summer migrants.

For more information, call the center at 505-753-9505, or visit the Web site at www.thewildlifecenter.org.


Tribe accused of gaming violation

DEMING — The Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma has been found in violation of federal law by offering gaming at its casino in southern New Mexico.

Tribal chairman Jeff Houser has said that the tribe feels its within its rights to offer gaming on tribal land near Deming, but the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission says the land isn't eligible for gaming.

Commission chairman Philip Hogen said in a notice of violation issued Tuesday that the tribe must immediately cease all gaming operations at the Apache Homeland Casino.

According to Hogen's notice, the tribe could be fined up to $25,000 per day.

The tribe has 30 days to appeal the violation and request a hearing before the commission.

N.M. man convicted of murder

ROSWELL — A jury has convicted a 26-year-old Roswell man of first-degree murder and attempted murder in last year's shooting death of one woman and wounding of another.

Julian Tafoya also was convicted of charges of tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Sentencing is set for Aug. 31. Tafoya could face more than 56 years in prison.

The convictions came in the Nov. 15, 2008, death of 29-year-old Andrea Larez and wounding of 25-year-old Crystal Brady.

Brady, who was shot in the face, testified against Tafoya.

Opium tea suspected in death

BOULDER, Colo. — Police in Boulder say a 19-year-old man was found dead in a home, hours after drinking opium tea.

The Boulder County coroner's office was conducting an autopsy before saying what caused the death of Jeffrey Joseph Bohan, a 2008 graduate of Fairview High School in Boulder. Foul play isn't suspected.

Police say his brother found him unresponsive at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Police say Bohan had been drinking opium tea with his older brother around midnight.

Police say poppy seeds are available for sale over the Internet. Possession of the seeds is often illegal, depending on their use.

In February, the roommate of 20-year-old University of Colorado student Alex McGuiggan found him dead in his home, hours after McGuiggan drank at least two cups of opium tea.

Tell us the story of your pet

Every pet has a story, either how he or she came into someone's life, or what makes the pet a best friend. We want to hear about them.

The New Mexican's animal-news section, Scoop, and Z Pet Hotel are partnering for a summer writing contest. Send in the story of your amazing pet and you could win a prize and have your story printed in Scoop. Three prizes will be awarded, with $300, $200 and $100 gift certificates for grooming, boarding or training at Z Pet Hotel.

Typewritten essays should be 600 words or less. Deadline is Aug. 15; winners will be announced Aug. 30 in Scoop. E-mail entries to scoop@sfnewmexican.com or mail them to Scoop, Summer Writing Contest, 202 E. Marcy St., Santa Fe, NM 87501. Employees of The New Mexican and their family members aren't eligible.

Additional information about the contest or Z Pet Hotel is available by calling 438-7777, or visiting the Web site at www.zpethotel.com.

Find a furry friend at feline festival

Dozens of kittens will be available for adoption Saturday at what's being billed as one of the largest all-feline adoption events in the state.

The Española Valley Humane Society's second annual Kitten Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Petco on Cerrillos Road. Organizers expect to have between 75 and 80 kittens at the event, along with about 20 adult cats.

The event features a festival-like atmosphere with games, contests and information about caring for new animal family members. Adoption fees will be dropped to $40 per feline, and all animals will be spayed or neutered, de-wormed and up-to-date on vaccinations.

In addition, Petco will provide adopters with a cat carrier, a bag of cat food and a book of coupons worth $150 in savings.

Organizers hope the event will help relieve the pressure on the shelter, which is dealing with an unusually large number of homeless kittens and cats. The shelter has room for only about 30 cats, but thanks to a network of foster homes, the shelter has been able to handle about 300. But the limited amount of space could threaten the lives of some of the cats.

"We are in emergency mode," said Nina Chiotasso, who handles the shelter's community relations.

Court upholds Grand Canyon's river management plan

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — An appeals court on Tuesday rejected a challenge by environmentalists to federal rules allowing the use of motorized rafts at the Grand Canyon.

Several environmental groups sued the National Park Service in 2006 over its Colorado River Management Plan, which permits the use of motorized rafts in the canyon. The groups argued that the park service ignored its own rules and policies that say canyon uses shouldn't impair the wilderness character of the area.

In rejecting that argument, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld a lower court's decision that said the plaintiffs failed to show the park service acted arbitrarily and capriciously when it adopted its river management plan.

Park Superintendent Steve Martin said he's pleased with the decision. The plan, he said, took years of work and took into account alternatives that would have excluded motorized rafts.

"Really, a lot of thought was given to it, and it's one of those where we can certainly appreciate the perspective of the wilderness groups," he said.




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