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Thursday, July 31, 2008

News Briefs



      Recent Rainfall Did No Damage
A Torrance County sheriff's deputy and an employee from the road department were sent to check on reports of flooding in the Manzano Mountain area and everything was found safe, according to Torrance County Emergency Manager John Cordova.
    There have been no houses, structures or bridges damaged from the rainfall experienced in that immediate area over the last few days, Cordova said.
   
    Film Studio Land Deal Approved
The New Mexico State Board of Finance on July 22 approved Santa Fe County's plans to sell a 65-acre site south of town for the planned Santa Fe Studios for $2.6 million.
    The County Commission approved the land deal in June as part of an economic development deal that requires the film studio to provide 500,000 hours of above-minimum wage work over six years. The county will pay for infrastructure improvements for the site off N.M. 14 near the state penitentiary.
   
    Stimulus Checks Still Up for Grabs
The Internal Revenue Service announced this week that more than 5.2 million people nationwide who are qualified to receive economic stimulus checks have not applied for them.
    Those people who are Social Security benefits or are military retirees and have not received checks may be eligible to receive some cash.
    The IRS said in a news release that of the 35,820 New Mexico residents who are qualified but have not applied for the stimulus check, about 830 of them live in the East Mountains and Estancia Valley.
    To apply for the check, go online to the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov or go by a local office, such as the one at 5338 Montgomery NE in Albuquerque.
   
    Grant To Help Area Drinking Water
The Green Ridge Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association was awarded a $500,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to help supply drinking water to East Mountains residents.
    The funds will be used to build an electro-flocculation-based treatment plant to remove arsenic and fluoride from the water, according to a news release from Sen. Pete Domenici's office.
   
    Comment Sought On Fuel Project
The Sandia Ranger District is asking for comments on its Hondo Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Reduction Project.
    The project will create a quarter mile fuel break on about 400 acres between the national forest and Sandia Mountain Wilderness boundaries in the Cedar Crest area, about a quarter mile south of Casa Loma Road.
    For more information, call District Ranger Cid Morgan at 281-3304.
   
    Food Prices Are A Priority in Santa Fe
Santa Fe County and the city of Santa Fe are working to ensure county residents have a wide variety of safe, nutritious and affordable food that is not limited by location within the county, according to the County Connection, the county's newsletter.
    A 13-member council will be charged with ensuring that food is available with prices close to regional average prices.
   
    Fire Association Seeks Secretary
The East Mountain Interagency Fire Protection Association is looking for a volunteer to act as secretary.
    The association asks that the candidate be able to commit to at least one year in the position. The secretary will have to attend monthly meetings and a few additional meetings, mostly held in the spring. Anyone interested can e-mail Deb Stefan at albuturkey@hotmail.com.>   
    Sex Offender Found In Forest
Shane Saunders, a 35-year-old convicted sex offender, was found "hiding in the woods" near N.M. 337 south of Tijeras, according to a report from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department.
    Surveillance on Saunders was done with cooperation from the Sex Offender Registration Team, New Mexico Corrections Department of Probation and Parole and the U.S. Marshall's Office, according to the report. Saunders was in violation of his probation and was arrested without incident.
   
    MyBank Names New President
Rick Gallegos has been named the president of MyBank, which has a branch in Mountainair.
    Gallegos had been MyBank's senior loan officer before his promotion and has worked in the banking business for more than 36 years.
    He started his banking career with Bank of America and has served as president of Sunwest Bank of Gallup and Gallup Federal Savings Bank before moving to MyBank.
   
    Permits Available For Deer and Elk
Leftover deer and elk hunting permits will be available form the state Game and Fish Department starting Aug. 11.
    The permits are left over from the 2008-09 hunting season drawing. About 1,500 permits are available for only archery and or muzzleloader-archery hunts.
    Permits will become available starting Aug. 11 at the department's Web site at www.wildlife.state.nm.us.
    Cost is $8 for a permit.
   
    Tax-Free Weekend Starts Friday
The annual Back to School Tax Holiday will kick off on the first weekend in August. New Mexico residents will be able to take advantage of tax-free shopping from Aug. 1 through Aug. 3.
    Families can save up to $47 in taxes if they spend $600 on school clothes, and there are additional savings for computer purchases as well as school supplies.
    A complete list of tax-exempt items can be found at www.state.nm.us.
   
    Veterans Can Get Names on Wall
Veterans of the Vietnam War or their relatives who have been residents of the East Mountains or are natives of the East Mountains can apply to have their names put on a memorial wall in Tijeras.
    The memorial is scheduled to be dedicated in September. Applicants must provide military form DD-214 to confirm the time they served.
    Applications are available at the Tijeras Village Hall. Call 281-1220.
   
    Tri-Chamber Golf Classic Is Sept. 11
The East Mountain, Edgewood and Moriarty Chambers of Commerce are hosting what is being called the Tri-Chamber Golf Classic on Sept. 11 at Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club.
    The tournament will feature guest speakers on subjects ranging from local interest to Talking Talons to national health care.
    Prices range from $150 for an individual to $500 for a team of four, which includes a goody bag and meals. An additional $500 for a group of four pays for company advertising at the clubhouse.
    More information and registration is available online at www.eaba.biz/ trichambergolf or by calling the East Mountain Chamber of Commerce at 281-1999.
   
    Farmers Market Every Wednesday
The Cedar Crest Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday until October from 3 to 6 p.m.
    The market is at the Cedar Crest Center on N.M. 14 across from the Conoco.
   
    Residents To Help Update Map Data
A GPS field crew will begin work in Torrance County in July to update the county's GIS mapping data for the E-911 system.
    The crew will use the Global Positioning Mapping System to collect the posted address numbers on all rural structures and to add unmapped structures to the map.
    The field crew will record the posted physical address numbers and will verify that the structure is mapped in the correct location. If the address number is not posted on the structure, the field data collector will knock on the door to interview the resident. If no one is home, a stamped postcard will be left on the door. Residents who receive these cards should fill in the requested information and mail them to the Torrance County 911 Center.
    Residents who do not know their 911 address should contact Ruben Gastelum at the County Courthouse in Estancia at 246-4768 cq.
    The Field Crew is staffed by volunteers from the 911 Center. The field vehicle will drive every rural road in the county and will pause briefly in front of every home or business.
    The digital mapping updates provided by this project will be used by the county's Rural Addressing Department to maintain addressing and road naming. The improved digital map will also be used in the 911 Dispatch Center to automatically locate callers when they call 911 on traditional wire line.
    All residents are asked to clearly post their structure address on their home or at their driveway entrance. If your address is not posted, emergency services may not be able to find your home when lifesaving help is needed.
    Please contact Dorothy Gibson, Emergency Services Director at 384-2705 if you have any questions.
   

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