Motorcyclist killed on N.M. 599

A Taos man died Tuesday when his motorcycle collided head-on with a van on the N.M. 599 bypass west of Santa Fe.

Frederick Schierbaum, 62, who was not wearing a helmet, died from "massive injuries," including head injuries, Undersheriff Robert Garcia said.

Garcia said Penelope Genter, 67, of Albuquerque was driving a 2001 Dodge Caravan north on N.M. 599 about 11 a.m. when she turned left onto County Road 70, striking a southbound 2009 Harley Davidson driven by Schierbaum.

"The motorcycle struck the front end of the minivan," Garcia said. No charges have been filed against Genter, although the investigation is continuing.

Schierbaum was from Poplar Grove, Ill., but he and his wife were living in Taos.

Neighbors to meet at Kaune

City Councilors Miguel Chavez and Rosemary Romero plan to host a neighborhood meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Kaune Elementary School, 1409 Monterey Drive.

A city announcement said the councilors want to meet with area residents to discuss crime in the Second Street area.

Santa Fe police will be on hand to report on their efforts in the area and to talk about actions citizens can take to safeguard their homes and property.

In addition, the councilors will give an update on the Neighborhood Planning and Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District that could help neighborhoods become more involved in planning efforts.

Brothers booked in murder case

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — State police have charged two brothers in the Dec. 20, 2007, shooting deaths of Las Vegas, N.M., residents Stephanie Dimas and Damian Ortiz.

A news release said Joebary Vigal, 18, and Michael Vigal, 21, both of Las Vegas, were booked into the San Miguel County jail on a variety of charges.

In addition to homicide, the brothers face charges of aggravated burglary, armed robbery, tampering with evidence and two conspiracy charges.

Police said the victims were killed at their residence at 728 Dora Celeste in Las Vegas.

Bishops Lodge Road work planned

Construction crews plan to begin building sidewalks, driveways and curb ramps on a section of Bishops Lodge Road on Thursday, weather permitting.

A city news release said the project, funded by a state grant, is intended to make Bishops Lodge Road, from Artist Road to Williams Street, more accessible to people with disabilities, in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

Crews from H.O. Construction are expected to complete the job by Oct. 9.

SFCC chief helps lobby Congress

Santa Fe Community College President Sheila Ortega is in Washington, D.C., to help lobby Congress on climate and energy legislation.

A news release from the college said she is urging Congress "to make significant investments in education and training to prepare Americans for a new clean energy economy to keep the nation competitive into the 21st century."

Ortega is representing SFCC as one of 130 national, state and local organizations taking part in an effort to "highlight the need for increased funding for work force education to advance a green economy," the announcement said.

The effort is organized by the National Wildlife Federation in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges.

On Tuesday, the group delivered a letter to Congress, and college presidents and other leaders met with individual senators and representatives.

Santa Clara gets stimulus funds

Santa Clara Pueblo is among more than 50 American Indian communities that will get bond authority from the federal stimulus package, Gov. Bill Richardson announced Tuesday.

The Northern New Mexico pueblo will get $22,565,088 for tourism facility expansion and refinancing, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Treasury.

The Pueblo of Isleta will also get more than $22 million for a tourism facility while the Pueblo of Acoma will get $8 million for a manufacturing facility.

Altogether, pueblos and tribes across the country will get $2 billion from the stimulus package, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Cameroon exile to perform here

An exiled political cartoonist from Cameroon will give a benefit performance at 5:30, p.m. Thursday at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, followed by a Saturday workshop called "Creating Community Through Body Painting."

Issa Nyaphaga is raising money for Hope International for Tikar People, a nonprofit he established to help improve the quality of life for marginalized indigenous people of his home country.

Nyaphaga has been unable to return to Cameroon since he sought asylum in France in 1996.

His art, which includes live music and body painting, is an act of protest, according to an event announcement from Soulful Presence, a local nonprofit helping to promote the event.

Research in Japan promoted

New Mexico graduate students are being offered a chance to do research in Japan for a year through a program backed by the state Economic Development Department.

The department will choose 15 master's, doctoral and postdoctoral students to do research in Japan next year in the fields of renewable energy, environmental energy, environmentally related nanotechnology and nanophotonics.

The program is aimed at promoting research cooperation between Japan and the United States.

Applications are due Oct. 23 to Danielle Duran, Office of International Trade, Economic Development Department, 1100 St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505.

The state, along with Japan and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, signed an agreement to promote cooperative research and development.