Jailed deputy attempts suicide

Brian Vigil, the Rio Arriba County sheriff's deputy accused of robbing a Santa Fe pharmacy at gunpoint then causing a standoff with police Monday, tried to kill himself in the Santa Fe jail Wednesday.

Undersheriff Robert Garcia said Thursday that Vigil, 37, tried to commit suicide by wrapping an oxygen tube around his neck as he lay in bed. While Vigil was not seriously injured, Garcia said, he was taken to St. Vincent Christus Regional Medical Center for treatment late Wednesday.

Vigil worked for the Española Police Department for five years, then spent several years as a security guard in Los Alamos before joining the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Department two years ago. He has been on "light duty" since last year when he was attacked while on duty and suffered a head injury.

On Monday morning, he allegedly robbed the Del Norte Pharmacy and Home Medical at 1691 Galisteo St., tried to change clothes and found himself locked out of his pickup, wearing only gym shorts. Vigil fled to a nearby field and kept police at bay for 2 1/2 hours, holding a gun to his head and cursing at police. He was charged with robbery, tampering with evidence and five counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Prescribed fire burning near Abiquiú

A billow of black smoke Thursday morning signaled aerial ignition of hundreds of acres of Santa Fe National Forest land 8 miles south of Abiquiú.

La Sotella Prescribed Burn was started Wednesday with hand crews black lining about 400 acres. Helicopters ignited the area within the black line Thursday. The prescribed burn will eventually treat about 6,500 acres in the Española Ranger District.

The smoke was drifting north and east into Española. The Forest Service works with the state Environment Department's Air Quality Bureau to ensure the best possible conditions for smoke dispersal and to alert smoke-sensitive people.

The Soldier wildfire, which burned on private and Santa Fe National Forest land east of Pecos, is 100 percent contained. The cause remains under investigation.

For more information about La Sotella burn and other prescribed and wild fires in New Mexico, see www.nmfireinfo.com.

Hazardous waste drop-off set Sunday

Santa Fe city and county residents may discard hazardous waste for recycling and other safe disposal during a free drop-off event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The 10th annual city drop-off day is planned at the Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station, 2600 Buckman Road.

Materials labeled with words like caution, warning, poison, combustible and flammable are accepted as well as cleaning, auto, home improvement and hobby products. No commercial or small-business waste will be accepted. Electronic waste such as computers is accepted every business day except during Sunday's event.

For more information, contact the regional Solid Waste Management Agency at 820-0208.

Swine flu count rises in state

The state Department of Health said Thursday that New Mexico has recorded 68 cases of swine flu.

The agency says it has confirmed 17 new cases, and that five cases listed earlier as probable are now confirmed as swine flu.

The department did not have the latest cases broken down by county. Cases previously have been reported in a dozen of New Mexico's 33 counties.

Health officials say that so far, the illnesses in New Mexico have been mild.

State health officials recommend washing hands frequently, covering coughs and staying home if you are ill.

Housing Trust to move offices

After 17 years of renting, the Santa Fe Community Housing Trust is taking its own advice and moving into an affordable home of its own.

The trust is seeking volunteers to help move its offices from West Alameda Street to a new location at 1111 Agua Fría St. The event, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, will include a general clean-up at the site of the old Hansen Lumber office.

Organizers encourage workers to bring gardening tools such as rakes, small saws and shears for yardwork at the building, which has been vacant for several years. Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

The trust expects to have its new offices open in July following a "green rehab" of its interior, said Daniel Werwath, resource development manager. The current offices near the downtown are part of a complex that the Civic Housing Authority plans to redevelop.

For more information, contact the housing trust at 989-3960, and ask for Daniel Werwath or Sharron Welsh.

State flags to fly at half staff

Gov. Bill Richardson ordered flags to be flown at half staff today in observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

The order to fly state flags at half staff from sunrise to sunset follows President Obama's proclamation of May 15 as a day to honor all federal, state and local law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.

Local grass-fed meat at festival

New Mexico beef, lamb and poultry producers will have their products available for tasting at the Local Food Festival in Albuquerque from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The festival will be at the historic Gutierrez-Hubbell House and Demonstration Farm, 6029 Isleta Boulevard SW, three miles south of Rio Bravo.

The festival features locally raised meat cooked by celebrity chefs. Members of the Southwest Grassfed Livestock Association at the festival include Pecos Valley Grassfed Beef, Pino Creek Ranch, Laughing Sheep Farms and Pollo Real.

The Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance, an offshoot of the nonprofit Santa Fe-based Quivira Coalition, was formed in 2003. The organization represents more than 1,000 small family farms and ranches in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah.

The Local Food Festival is organized by the Mid-Region Council of Governments Agricultural Collaborative. For more information, go to www.mrcog-nm.gov.

Fire restrictions in 20 counties

Restrictions on fires, campfires and smoking go into effect in 20 New Mexico counties Friday because high winds and no rain have left parts of the state facing extreme fire danger.

State Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Joanna Prukop and State Forester Butch Blazer announced the upcoming restrictions Wednesday.

Blazer says the risk for catastrophic wildfire is increasing as temperatures rise and humidity levels fall.

Restrictions cover nonmunicipal, nonfederal and nontribal lands in Catron, Chaves, Curry, DeBaca, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Mora, Otero, Quay, Roosevelt, San Miguel, Sierra and Socorro counties.

Fire restrictions went into effect Thursday in the Lincoln National Forest and go into effect today in the Gila National Forest.




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