Police rule weekend death a homicide

Police are calling the death of a man found in the Santa Fe River on Sunday evening a homicide, but would release no further information pending an investigation.

Santa Fe police Sgt. Jason Wagner said officers have an idea who the man is but were still working on a positive identification and to notify relatives Monday night.

An autopsy was completed Labor Day morning. Wagner said he couldn't release details of how the man was killed because of the investigation.

The man, described as Anglo and in his mid- to late 30s was spotted Sunday about 6 p.m. in the Santa Fe River bed near De Vargas Park by passers-by. The body appeared to be lying in 10 to 12 inches of water and a lot of debris, according to police.

Fire managers plan watershed burn

Santa Fe National Forest managers plan to burn portions of the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed between Sept. 13 and Oct. 30 when conditions are right. Crews plan to burn about 850 acres from the air and by hand. The burn should be completed within three to four days after it is started.

Smoke from the burn will be visible from Santa Fe, east of the city, Tesuque, Interstate 25, Glorieta and the Pecos Canyon. The smoke may settle into lower elevations in the evenings and lift by mid-morning.

Fire managers consider fall a good season for prescribed burns because of warm days, cool nights, more humidity and enough mild winds to blow away smoke.

Frenchy's Field goes solar

The city of Santa Fe has hired a local solar company to install solar LED lighting at Frenchy's Field, a project that could be the first in the country.

Qnuru, a Santa Fe-based lighting design company, installs solar-powered lights that meet the city's Dark Skies ordinance. The lights are designed with digital microcontrollers and can be wirelessly programmed.

"The lighting system we commissioned from Qnuru is the first in the country to feature solar and LED technologies in a system that is free from the grid and powerful enough to illuminate large public parks and trailheads where no electrical infrastructure exists," said Fabian Chavez, director of the city's Parks, Trails and Watershed Division, in a news release. "We expect it to set a national standard that other cities and parks will emulate."

Three nines make a happy home for pets

If you're into numerology, this might be the best time to adopt a pet. Or make sure your pet can be found if it turns up missing.

At least that's what the Santa Fe Shelter & Humane Society hopes. On Wednesday, when the calendar turns 9/9/09, the shelter is offering all adoptions for $9. Shelter workers will microchip your pet for the same price.

"We'll take any reason to make folks stand up and take notice of the great animals and services we have to offer," said Bill Hutchison, the shelter's communications director.

The shelter, 100 Caja del Rio Road, is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a head start on adopting a furry friend, visit the shelter's Web site at www.sfhumanesociety.org or call the adoption supervisor, 983-4309, ext. 106.