N.M. reports West Nile cases

A San Juan County woman and a woman from Doña Ana County are the first two people in New Mexico this year to be diagnosed with a West Nile virus infection.

The state Health Department says the 67-year-old San Juan County woman is hospitalized with neurological symptoms, the more severe clinical form of the virus.

The 47-year-old Doña Ana County woman had a positive West Nile virus test when she donated blood. She developed mild symptoms and has recovered.

Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache, and muscle aches. In rare cases, West Nile virus can cause meningitis or encephalitis.

New Mexico typically sees most of its West Nile cases in August and September. In 2008 and 2009, the state had eight human cases of West Nile virus.

Man's body recovered at Storrie Lake

STORRIE LAKE — The New Mexico State Police dive team has recovered the body of a 45-year-old man who had tried to swim to the shore of Storrie Lake after his boat became stranded.

Authorities say the man's body has been turned over the state Office of the Medical Investigator.

The man's name was not immediately released.

Authorities say the man went missing at the lake after he failed to make it to shore Thursday evening.

Rangers searched for the victim until dark and resumed their search Friday morning with help from state police.

Raptor migration talk scheduled

Robert Templeton will be talking about the world's largest raptor migration site at the next meeting of the Sangre de Cristo Audubon Society. More than 4.5 million raptors are recorded each fall at the location north of Veracruz City along the Gulf coast of Southern Mexico.

Templeton for several years has trained docents at the site. The majority of the raptors winter across South America, traveling as far as Argentina.

The free program begins at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the Unitarian Church, 107 W. Barcelona Road. For more information, contact Tom Taylor, 424-3238.

Three gospels seminar starts Sept. 10

The St. John's College Community Seminar this year is on the gospels of Matthew, Luke and John.

The weekend seminar begins Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. for two hours and continues on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11 and 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. The cost is $180.

Tutor David Carl will lead the examination of these short works, among the most influential writings in Western history. He's previously conducted seminars on his favorite works of literature, including Paradise Lost, Moby Dick and the novels of Cormac McCarthy. Carl has been a tutor at the college since 2000 and prior to that was a poet-in-residence at the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore in Paris. He's held other academic positions in the U.S. and abroad.

To register, call 984-6117. Space is limited. The seminars are free for 11th- and 12th-grade high-school students, and teachers can obtain a 50 percent discount. For more information, go to www.stjohnscollege.edu and click on Outreach and then Santa Fe Community Programs.

Ice rink director placed on leave

The director of the city's ice rink was placed on administrative leave Thursday, according to the city manager.

Witnesses say Thomas Fagan was escorted from the Genoveva Chavez Community Center by security during a charity figure skating event Thursday night. City Manager Robert Romero said he could not comment on the reason for the leave or provide any other information on the personnel matter.

Fagan, a hockey player, speed skater and former car salesman, took the job as arena manager in late 2007, becoming the facility's sixth rink manager in seven years.

Grant to help paper cover legal costs

The Rio Grande Sun is getting a financial boost in its pursuit of a public records fight with Northern New Mexico Community College.

The $11,000 grant to the weekly paper was announced Friday by the National Freedom of Information Coalition.

In a news release, the group said the award was made to defray the paper's legal costs in a lawsuit brought against the Board of Regents and administration of Northern New Mexico College.

The college for more than six months has ignored a reporter's requests for information under the state's Inspection of Public Records Act, according to the complaint filed in Rio Arriba County District Court.

"The allegations in the complaint are outrageous. This kind of blatant disregard for public disclosure laws cannot be tolerated," Kenneth F. Bunting, executive director of the NFOIC, said. "The Knight (Freedom of Information) Fund is there to make certain that, even in tough economic times, challenges of this sort get made, and that public officials who don't understand their obligation to be forthcoming about the public's business do not get to make up their rules."

Lunch will support Young Fathers

Young Fathers of Santa Fe and Sunflower Farmers Market are teaming up for a lunch fundraiser.

Lunch Time with Young Fathers will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sunflower Farmers Market at the DeVargas Center, 199 Paseo de Peralta today. Dean Station will be there, playing live bluegrass music.

All proceeds will go to benefit services provided by Young Fathers, a nonprofit organization in Santa Fe that focuses on helping teen fathers become involved dads with their children.

Voters get early voting reminder in mail

Registered voters in New Mexico are getting a taxpayer-financed reminder from the state about the November general election.

Secretary of State Mary Herrera said that mailings are going out to more than 1 million voters, providing people with their voting precinct and name of their county clerk. Voters also will get information on early voting locations in their county.

The notices are required by state law.

Staff and wire reports