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Thursday, July 03, 2008

News Briefs


Telegraph Staff Reports
      Ex-Schools Chief Convicted of DWI
Bruce Peterson, former Estancia school superintendent, was convicted of open container and DWI by District Judge Matthew Reynolds at Estancia District Court on June 24.
    According to Deputy District Attorney Tim Cornish, Peterson was sentenced to the statutory minimum for both. Although it is not yet confirmed, he will likely at least have to be on probation and use an ignition interlock for one year.
    State Police officer Dean Carroll pulled over a car driven by Peterson on N.M. 41 south of Moriarty at 1 a.m. on March 8, 2007.
    Peterson had been the superintendent since 2001, and was placed on indefinite paid administrative leave by the Estancia School board on March 11, 2007. He resigned two days later.
    He was found guilty of DWI in Torrance County Magistrate Court on Oct. 12 and appealed his case to the 7th Judicial Court in Estancia.
    “We are pleased with the judge's ruling. We believe that, while public servants are only human, they also should set a better example to our youth than Mr. Peterson did in this instance. People in his position should hold themselves to a higher standard. As the judge noted in passing sentence, Mr. Peterson did indeed pay a high price, he resigned his position over this,” Cornish said.
   
    Teens Need Teens Trips Under Way
Teens Need Teens in Estancia has started its slate of summer field trips.
    Field trips started in June but continue through July 23.
    The trips are open to teens in Estancia and Mountainair, with help from the Torrance County Project Office and the New Mexico State University Torrance County Extension/4-H Office.
    The trips include:
    n Wednesday, Bowling and movies, $7.
    n July 14, Isotopes game, $4.
    n July 16, Zoo/Ice skating, $9.
    n July 23, Cliff's, $12.
    Meet at Estancia Mid School at 8:30 a.m. Departure is at 9 a.m. Return will be at 5 p.m., except Cliff's, which will be at 6 p.m. Participant and guardian permission slips must be filled out prior to departure. Youths departing from Mountainair need to be at the Alpine Alley Coffee Shop by 7:45 a.m. TCPO will depart at 8 a.m. and arrive at Estancia Mid School at 8:30 a.m. Seating is limited from Mountainair.
    Call Audrey Rodriguez at 384-2351. for information.
   
    Businessman's Case Set for Trial
The trial of Moriarty businessman Lee Obarr, also known as Donald Lee Condra, was put on hold after some phone trouble in court.
    According to the Kingman Daily Miner, Obarr was scheduled to appear at an Arizona hearing on June 23.
    Judge Steven Conn's attempt to telephone Obarr met with a recording that said the call would not be put through because the courtroom's caller ID information was blocked.
    The defense attorney agreed to waive his client's right to be present in order to continue with the hearing.
    The case has been set for trial at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
    Obarr has been charged with four counts of forgery, two counts of theft, one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices, and one count of computer tampering.
   
    Historical Society Starts Web Site
The East Mountain Historical Society has launched its Web site, eastmountainhistory.org. The society is a group dedicated to preserving and documenting history in the Sandia, Manzano, and Manzanita mountain towns and villages east of Albuquerque, including portions of Route 66 and the Turquoise Trail. Coming events, newsletters, contact information, a membership form and links to other historic information are all available on the site.
   
    Decision on Water Ruling Ordered
An interpretation of a 2006 ruling by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission was ordered on June 26. The original ruling stated that the water system the New Mexico Water Service Co. purchased, which serves Sandia Knolls, had no excess rights to sell. NMWSC recently signed an agreement to extend service into nearby Campbell Ranch, and the PRC interpretation may decide whether the 2006 ruling precludes that service or not. The PRC designated its legal adviser Carolyn Glick as hearing examiner and she will recommend a decision in the matter.
   
    Last Chance To Join Theater Camp
This is the last week to enroll in the East Mountain Community Theatre's Summer Performing Arts Camp.
    The camp for kids ages 6 to 11 will be held Monday through Friday, July 6-18 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at San Antonito Elementary School.
    Teen camp for ages 12 to 17 will be held Monday through Friday, July 21 through Aug. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at East Mountain High School.
    Go to eastmountaintheatre.org for registration forms. For more information, call 286-1683.
   
    Workforce Offices Will Stay Open
Workforce Connection offices in Moriarty and Belen are staying open.
    The Mid-Region Council of Governments' full board approved a revised budget June 16 that included funding for its Workforce Connection offices in Torrance and Valencia counties, according to Chairman Robert Davey.
    “We had amended the budget in the executive committee to include funds to staff an office that the Moriarty Chamber has offered to donate. We also included funding for additional computerized 'access points' that we will try to develop in other parts of the county,” Davey said.
    Moriarty Mayor Adan Encinias and Chamber Executive Director Debbie Ortiz both attended Monday's budget approval meeting.
    According to Ortiz, the donation of the office space is an annual loss of $5,400 for the chamber.
    “The people of this community mean a lot to me. We're just so excited that they cared enough to listen. Sometimes governments don't do that,” Ortiz said.
    Moriarty City Councilor Steve Anaya, who is also a board member, and Lawrence Rael, executive director of Mid-Region Council of Governments, which oversees Workforce Connection, presented possible solutions to keep the offices open at a June 5 executive board meeting.
   

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