January 6th, Afternoon News Funding Measures Approved at Commission Meeting United Way Still Actively Fundraising Elida to Receive GRIP II Funding for Roads January 6th, Morning News
Man Arrested for Child Solicitation Blanco resident David A. Archeleta has been arrested and charged with 12 counts of Child Solicitation by Electronic Device. Archeleta, 21, began contacting an undercover internet chat profile representing a 13 year old girl from Clovis that was being monitored by investigators with the Curry County Sheriff’s Office. During his conversations with the fictious girl, Archeleta became very graphic in his conversations and began teaching the girl about female body parts and adult relations. He also sent her pornographic videos to aid in the instruction and links to websites that illustrated sexual acts. Acheleta also used his web cam to expose himself to the girl as well as solicited the girl to perfrom sexual acts. This past Sunday, Archeleta contacted the fictious profile and told the girl that he had just had sexual relations with a 13 year old girl that was allegedly staying at his home. He provided a photo of the girl and alluded to the fact that the female was still in his home. Curry County Sheriffs investigators then began securing search and arrest warrents and requested the assistance of San Juan County authorities, where Archeleta lives. Investigators with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and the Farmington Police Department responded to Archeletas home, where they found only Archeleta, his mother and grandmother to be the only occupents in the residence. Further investigation revelaed that Archeleta lied about the 13 year old girl being with him and provided a full confession to authorities. He also advised authorities that he fabricated the story of the girl in order to keep the girl from Clovis interested in him, in the hopes that they could one day meet for a sexual encounter. Archeleta was booked into the San Juan County Detention Center and is being held on a $75,000 cash only bond. Construction Work Begins In Portales Downtown Area
Proposals to be Sought for Air Service
Officials to be Sworn In Richardson Withdraws Nomination NM Float Wins Coveted Award
In a recap of this morning’s Curry County Commission meeting, Frank Blackburn was elected to serve as chairman and Robert Sandoval was elected to serve as vice-chairmen. With three new commissioners on board, it was down to business. First off this morning, the commission approved a resolution supporting funding for the Hull Street Overpass. With the approval of the resolution, the county will be providing support to the city as they place their request for funding into the legislature.
Also approved during the meeting was a cash balance transfer of $20,000 from the General Operating Fund account to the Curry County 100th Anniversary Fund to be used for the corresponding increase and revenue and expenditures.
A cash balance transfer in the amount of $1.5 million from the General Operating Fund to the Special Events Center was approved. The funds will be used for the purchase of amenities that are needed for the facility. The commission also approved a contract with Anderson Building Company, in the amount of just over $55,000 for the construction a garage at the La Casa Senior Center.
It’s down to crunch time now for fundraising efforts for the local United Way organization. United Way of Eastern New Mexico is only at about 60% of their fundraising goal this year, and Director Erinn Burch said that they will be stepping up their efforts to close the gap over the next few weeks because there is a deadline looming at the end of the month to determine their support for 2009.
According to Burch, United Way of Eastern New Mexico supported 17 area agencies and organizations over 2008 that were responsible for 44 area programs.
The New Mexico State Transportation Commission announced that one local community has been approved for projects around the state for 2009. Elida will be receiving over $700,000 for local road rehabilitation and intersection improvements. The project is covered by GRIP II, in which the state provides between 90 and 55 percent of funding and the local entity generates funds to cover the remainder to complete the project.
Please note that the following story contains adult content and references that may be disturbing to some of our listeners.
The construction on a new streetscape project around the square in Portales got underway Monday, and choked traffic conditions slowed some motorists until they could get beyond the work zone. Portales Police Captain Lonnie Berry said that during the course of the work, those driving around the area of the courthouse should keep an eye out for pedestrians, look out for detour signs, and certainly keep their speeds down. The project may take around 90 days. Reports from officials on Monday afternoon showed that four accidents had already occurred in the vicinity of the area as construction work began.
January 5th, Morning News
U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman reported on Friday that the U.S. Department of Transportation would be seeking proposals for commercial air service to both Clovis and Silver City. The request was made through the DOT’s Essential Air Service Program, which helps to ensure that smaller communities continue to receive commercial air service. Currently, the EAS subsidizes air service to both the communities through Great Lakes Aviation, whose current contract expires in May. Beginning May 1st, the DOT will be seeking proposals for a two-year contract. The proposals will then be reviewed and the contract awarded through the DOT. The EAS was established in 1978 to ensure that communities that had commercial air service before deregulation would continue to receive the scheduled service. Wihtout the EAS service, many of the rural communities would not be able to receive commercial air service. In all New Mexico has five EAS communities: Clovis, Hobbs, Carlsbad, Alamogordo and Silver City.
Newly elected officials in Roosevelt County will be officially sworn in this morning by Judge Drew Tatum. The swearing in ceremony will take place in the District Courtroom located in the Roosevelt County Courthouse. The ceremony is schedeuled to take place at 8:30. For further details on the ceremony, contact the County Managers office.
And in case you haven’t heard yet, Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn his nomination for the position of Secretary of Commerce, that’s according to KOB TV. The announcement was made on Sunday amid a pending investigation that a California company won a lucrative contract with the State of New Mexico after contributing to Richardson’s political activities. A grand jury is looking into the possibility that "pay-to-play" dealings were taking place between the company, CDR Financial Products, and someone within the state that was in a position to push the contract through.
And in continuing state news, the New Mexico Tourisim Department’s float "Hats off to New Mexico – Beep Beep", has won the coveted Bob Hope Humor Award in the 120th Tournament of Roses Parade held on January 1st in Pasedena, California. The float was designed by award winning float designer Raul Rodriguez and built by Fiesta Parade Floats in Pasadena under a contract with the tourisim department.
