Conservation Scorecard related to 2015-16 legislative service

Conservation Voters New Mexico released its statewide Conservation Scorecard Aug. 4 for the 52nd legislature. In the document, CVNM reports the votes cast on the most critical issues impacting air, land, water, health, and communities during the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions.

The 2015-16 Scorecard also includes an analysis of State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn’s record on the environment during his first years in office.

The average conservation score earned by western New Mexico senators in the 2015-16 Scorecard is 60 percent, four percentage points below the Senate-wide average. The average conservation...

Appointee is career city employee

Gallup Fire Marshal Jesus “Chuy” Morales just added yet another job title to a long and productive career at the city of Gallup.

Morales, an 18-year city fire department employee, was named deputy fire chief at the Aug. 9 City Council meeting. Gallup Fire Chief Eric Babcock made the announcement during the comment portion of the meeting.

“I want to announce that ‘Chuy’ Morales has been chosen as the new deputy fire chief,” Babcock said. “He is our new deputy chief.”

A deputy chief is second in charge at the fire department.

Morales said he interviewed for the position over the past month, but didn’t think he was in line for the...

Victim claimed ‘nobody’ shot him

Just after 10:15 pm on Aug. 10, Gallup Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of 802 S. Strong Dr. in reference to a shooting. One person was confirmed shot.

In front of 801 S. Strong Dr., GPD Officer Timonthy Hughte found a male lying on his left side in the street. Two other individuals were also at the scene — the caller and an off-duty paramedic.

The victim came to as Hughte checked his stomach for the wound, and “got mad at me,” Hughte wrote in his report. The bullet wound was on the victim’s left leg.

The victim did not immediately identify himself and told the officer not to “worry about it,” when asked who shot...

Dimas no longer ‘interim’

Anthony Dimas was chosen to become McKinley County’s permanent manger based on a unanimous vote by the McKinley County Board of Commissioners.

Dimas, who took over county managerial duties in mid-May after Bill Lee left the job to return to the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, won the job over five other area candidates.

“I’m happy to have been selected by the commission,” Dimas said after the Aug. 2 county meeting. “From here, I’ll continue a lot of what is already in place.”

Dimas said he’ll place his attention on the county’s master plan and road repair. He said he’ll stay mindful of budgets and will not forget the...