City campaign finance reports delayed

Candidates in Santa Fe's March 2 municipal election filed final campaign-finance reports with City Clerk Yolanda Vigil on Tuesday, but the clerk did not immediately make the documents available for review.

The reports are the fifth such compilations filed by each candidate in the local election and will reflect total spending.

Vigil plans to review the reports today and post them on the city Web site, said Sev Gurule, city constituent services supervisor.

The March 2 election resulted in re-election of all the incumbents seeking office and featured a total of 10 candidates for five positions. Two races were uncontested.

Chino fights handicap zone parking violation

Former television newsman Conroy Chino, who headed what was then called the state Labor Department for the first four years of Gov. Bill Richardson's administration, is challenging his conviction in Santa Fe Municipal Court for parking in a handicap zone.

Chino allegedly parked in a handicap spot on West De Vargas Street without a disability permit on Aug. 22. Municipal Judge Ann Yalman found him guilty on Feb. 23 and fined him $250 of a possible $500. He appealed the conviction to state District Court on Friday.

The Acoma Pueblo native worked as television journalist for 24 years, including stints an anchor and investigative reporter for two Albuquerque stations, before Richardson nominated him as labor secretary in early 2003.

Chino resigned from his $105,000-a-year state job in late 2006 to take a job with a Los Angeles firm lobbying and consulting on American Indian issues. He was among the founding partners of the Native American Television Group three years ago.

Museum brownbag focuses on territorial jail

"The History of New Mexico's Territorial Penitentiary" is the subject of a lecture today by Charlie Zdavesky in the history library's Brainpower and Brownbags series.

The event, sponsored by the New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors is from noon to 12:45 p.m. in the Meem Room, 105 Washington Ave. The entrance is next to the museum's Washington Avenue entrance. The lecture is free. Bring your own lunch.

Time for Tessa's Ascension ski race

Some of the fittest, toughest skiers and snowboarders will be participating Saturday in Tessa's Ascension, an endurance ski race honoring Tessa Horan, a former member of the Santa Fe Ski Patrol who was killed in a shark attack while serving in the Peace Corps in Tonga in 2006.

The annual event requires skiers and boarders to climb from the base of the Santa Fe Ski Area (10,340 feet) to the top of the Superchief Quad Chairlift (11,250) using randonee or telemark gear with climbing skins or snowshoes. After securing their skins or snowshoes on their person, competitors descend a modified giant slalom course to the finish line. The ascension starts at 5:30 p.m. Prizes are awarded for the fastest time in the downhill portion. This year, participants have the option of wearing costumes, "the more outrageous, the better." Separate awards and prizes will be awarded for best costumes.

The entry fee is $30 before March 20. Entry forms are available from the ski patrol office, by e-mail or online. Go to www.sfpatrol.org for more information, or call 992-5086 with any questions.

Proceeds from this year's ascension will be donated to the Central Asia Institute, a nonprofit founded by Greg Mortensen that builds schools, especially for girls, in remote regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Past events have raised funds for a children's library in Tonga and other causes.

Hazardous waste collection canceled

Santa Fe County has canceled its annual household hazardous waste collection event citing "budget constraints and economic downturn." Construction of a permanent household hazardous waste facility has also been delayed until funding is secured, according to a statement issued by Santa Fe County on Tuesday.

According to the statement, latex paint (one of the materials many residents bring to the hazardous waste collection event) is not classified as a hazardous waste material. The paint should be mixed with sand or kitty litter and be allowed to dry before it is disposed of with regular household trash.

Motor oil can be taken to Auto Zone, Pep Boys and Jiffy Lube free of charge, according to statement. The county also has a list of other locations that accept motor oil.

The Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency recommends pesticides be completely used before empty containers are discarded.

Keep Santa Fe Beautiful will host an Electronic Waste Drop-Off Day, for the disposal of computer components and other electronics, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 1142 Siler Road.

Seasonal work begins on Plaza turf

It's "keep off the grass" time at the Santa Fe Plaza.

Beginning today, a city Parks Division crew is scheduled to begin spring maintenance work on the Plaza turf.

This work includes core aeration of the soil, fertilization and seeding, a city announcement said.

As in the past, the grassy quadrangles within the park will be barred with thin green rope while maintenance and renovation work is being performed in an effort to provide a healthy surface for the coming growing season.

Shortly after this work is complete, bare areas that didn't recover from last season's use will be resodded, the announcement said.

Filming disrupts fishing at Monastery Lake

Filming of scenes for True Grit will require closing of Monastery Lake near Pecos today through Friday, the state Department of Game and Fish announced Tuesday.

The Coen brothers' remake of the 1969 John Wayne Western is based on Charles Portis' novel of the same name and stars Jeff Bridges as aging one-eyed marshal Rooster Cogburn.

The popular trout-fishing lake is scheduled to reopen Saturday.

The agency encouraged anglers to take advantage of other area trout-fishing opportunities, including the Pecos River, which is now clear of ice below Terrero.

New Mexico's 2009-2010 fishing licenses are good through March 31.

Water shut-offs planned at mobile home park

Work on relocating an 8-inch water main at South Meadows Crossing will force a water shut-off from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Cottonwood Mobile Home Park, a city news release said.

The affected areas are on the north and east sides of the mobile home park, according to the announcement.

The city water division advises affected residents to draw water for personal use before the shut-off and encourages residents not to try to use water during the outage in order to avoid potential plumbing problems.

In case of problems, the statement said, contact Servando Medina at 362-7314 during business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Hurt dog arrives at emergency room

FARMINGTON — The patient was only slightly wounded when he showed up at Farmington's hospital.

The only problem was, he was a dog.

When the automatic doors at San Juan Regional Medical Center's emergency room slid open Saturday night, a dog walked in, blood on his nose and paw and a puncture hole in one leg.

Animal control officer Robin Loev — who responded to a call from the hospital — suspects the puncture wound was the bite of another dog.

Loev says the German shepherd mix appears to be intelligent and calm.

And he says the dog went to the right place.

The animal was taken to the Farmington Animal Shelter, where he was claimed and sent home.

Aid for Rio Rancho schools rejected

The state Board of Finance has turned down a request by Rio Rancho Public Schools for $500,000 in emergency state aid to help with a looming budget shortfall.

The state Public Education Department had recommended the extra money for the district, which has increased costs because of rising enrollment for several years. The district serves nearly 16,000 students.

Board of Finance member John Loehr said Tuesday that the district's financial situation did not appear to be an emergency.

Rio Rancho Superintendent Sue Cleveland said the state's school funding formula doesn't adequately finance high-growth districts.

The board approved emergency state aid for seven school districts, with each getting $500,000.

N.M. farmers: Water not enough

CARLSBAD — Carlsbad Irrigation District farmers are complaining they're not getting enough irrigation water.

The district's board of directors set an allotment of 1.6 acre-feet per acre to start the irrigation season.

District manager Dudley Jones says that could increase later in the season if storage reservoirs in northeastern New Mexico receive enough water from snowmelt.

Otis farmer James Walterscheid says the allotment isn't enough.

He says it's getting harder each year for farmers to determine what and how much they are going to grow.

Jones says, however, the board has to be conservative at the start of the season because it cannot rely on projected runoff.

Man convicted in Roswell slaying

ROSWELL — Jurors have convicted a 25-year-old man in a killing in Roswell last year.

Jesse Servantez Hernandez was convicted Friday after jurors deliberated about two hours.

No sentencing date has been set.

He was accused of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jose Miguel Chavez.

Roswell police who were sent to a home last June 14 found Chavez wounded. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Hernandez was taken into custody two days later.

Police cite 30 cell-phone users

LAS CRUCES — Police in Las Cruces are serious about enforcing the city's recently approved ban on using a cell phone while driving.

A traffic enforcement operation Monday netted 30 violations of the city's cell-phone ordinance and another 57 citations for other offenses.

The effort ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. just north of the Downtown Mall.

Officers cited 18 motorists for speeding, nine for driving without valid insurance, 26 for driving without a seat belt or proper child restraint and four for other offenses. One man was arrested after officers discovered he had an outstanding warrant.

The cell-phone ordinance went into effect Feb. 5.




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