Stab wounds, parvovirus downside of gathering

Any time 10,500 people and their pets get together for a party, there's bound to be a few problems, even if the purpose of the gathering is ostensibly to pray for world peace.

Some of those problems will linger long after the Rainbow Family departs the Jemez Mountains, where they came together over the July 4th weekend.

The Santa Fe National Forest estimated 20 medical transports were made over the last week from the Rainbow Gathering for burns, overdoses, severe back pain and stab wounds.

In addition, several cases of highly contagious canine parvovirus were confirmed in dogs at the gathering, according to the Forest Service. Parvo is transmitted to dogs through dog feces and may have been spread throughout Parque Venado, where the gathering occurred. Parvo can remain viable in the soil for five months or longer. The Forest Service is urging the public not to bring their pets with them to Parque Venado in the near future and to clean their shoes with disinfectant spray or bleached water after hiking there.

Fire in Bandelier burning naturally

A lightning-sparked fire burning in the backcountry of Bandelier National Monument rolled out heavy, dark smoke Tuesday afternoon as it hit new patches of forest, but fire officials say it isn't threatening buildings and plan for now to let it burn out naturally.

The San Miguel Fire, which started Thursday, grew from 46 acres to an estimated 70 acres Tuesday, according to public-information officer Michelle Fidler. "We had a lot of activity in the afternoon," she said. "That's pretty typical of what we expect to see over the next few days."

The fire is burning in piñon, juniper, Ponderosa pine and grass about 13 miles south of Los Alamos, making its way toward Medio Canyon. Firefighters were monitoring it from the air and from the ground, but it is a two-hour hike into the fire location, Fidler said.

Smoke will be visible for the next several days from Santa Fe, Los Alamos and parts of Interstate 25. To track the fire, see www.nps.gov/fire.

Man robbed at gunpoint in his home

Two males forced their way into a central Santa Fe home Monday night, tied up the 47-year-old resident who was home and stole $400 from him, police said Wednesday.

The men knocked on the back door of the home in the 200 block of Ambrosio Street about 10:30 p.m., said Santa Fe police Capt. Gary Johnson. The resident answered the door thinking it was his son, but instead it was the two men brandishing handguns, he said. The men then tied the man's hands and feet with duct tape and electrical cords, then began tearing the house apart, saying they knew there were drugs and money in the home, Johnson sad. The man told them all he had was $400 in cash and the men took it and fled, he said.

The man said both men were wearing bandanas over their faces and dark clothing. Johnson said two other men may have remained outside while the other were inside. Detectives are investigating the case.

Mass swine flu vaccinations planned for fall

The state Department of Health is planning for mass flu vaccination clinics this fall to protect residents against the swine flu, or novel H1N1 strain of influenza.

The department also is working to ensure its public-health partners are ready to deal with an increase in the severity of flu cases, including a potential pandemic in New Mexico, according to a release from the department.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has told state officials that vaccine companies are working to produce an H1N1 vaccination that may require people get two shots in addition to the seasonal influenza vaccination.

"We are reaching out to our health care and education partners throughout the state to make sure we can immunize New Mexicans from H1N1 and seasonal flu," Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil said in a statement. "We recognize that we're asking the public to take the time to protect themselves from both a seasonal and a new strain of influenza this year. We are trying to plan clinics statewide that are convenient for people."

Fee hike proposed at Tent Rocks

The Bureau of Land Management proposes increasing visitor fees to $12 for a seven-day private vehicle pass to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument near Cochiti Pueblo.

The fees are $5 per day for private vehicles. Group fees would remain the same under the proposal.

Extra income from a fee increase would help maintain and improve the popular site, according to BLM officials. No fees have been increased since they were first established in 2000, according to the agency.

For the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the cost of operating the national monument was about $278,000. That year, the BLM collected about $70,000 in fees, or about 25 percent of the annual operating costs. The proposed fee increase is expected to cover more than half the costs.

To comment on the proposed fee increase, contact Danny Randall at the Rio Puerco Office, 435 Montaño NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107, or e-mail Danny_Randall@blm.gov.

Aid available for home cooling

The state Human Services Department is encouraging eligible families who haven't received help from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program this federal budget year to apply. The money can be used for home-cooling costs this summer. This year's average one-time benefit is $300, according to the department. People interested in applying for LIHEAP should visit their local Income Support Division office.

For more information on the LIHEAP program, call 800-283-4465 or visit www.hsd.state.nm.us/isd/liheap.html.

Mora County drilling faces fight

A group of concerned Mora County residents continued their fight to prevent oil and gas drilling in the rural county at a meeting Monday night in the village of Mora.

The county commissioners held a special meeting at the local high-school gym to discuss the issue, and an estimated 400 people lined up to hear three hours of testimony, according to the group Drilling Mora County.

The group claims fewer than half a dozen speakers out of 48 supported drilling at the meeting. Johnny Micou of Drilling Santa Fe, which fought drilling in the Galisteo Basin, was among the drilling opponents who spoke at the meeting.

Bob Gallagher of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association spoke on behalf of the industry. A couple of ranchers from elsewhere in New Mexico talked about how oil and gas operations had impacted their operations.

Panel to visit Sun Mountain site

Members of the city Planning Commission don't expect to vote on a proposed development near the foothills of Sun Mountain until at least Aug. 20.

Last week, the development-review body heard from applicant Doug McDowell and a number of area residents about the proposal, then decided to take a site visit as a group July 23.

The site visit is an "information-gathering excursion" where commissioners don't talk about the case, but rather learn facts about proposals in the company of city staff and the developer, said Tamara Baer, a planner with the city Land Use Department.

Meanwhile, a group called Save Sun Mountain continues its efforts to raise about $3.2 million with the Trust for Public Land to execute a purchase agreement with McDowell that would put much of the 23 acres into a conservation easement.

McDowell's proposal calls for creating 13 lots, along with trail connections to public property on the mountain.

Oshara Village hosts flea markets

Oshara Village subdivision announced this week that it will host weekly Sunday flea markets on a neighborhood plaza north of Santa Fe Community College on the east side of Richards Avenue. Promoter Walt Borton said dozens of exhibitors have already signed up for the grand opening event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

An area will be set aside for "environmental goods and services," and Borton said he will offer free spaces to nonprofits.

For more information, contact Borton at 982-2671.