Woman Accused Of Embezzlement
Norma Mermejo, 53, a member and resident of Picuris Pueblo, was arraigned Tuesday in Albuquerque federal court on an indictment charging her with embezzlement and theft from the pueblo.
If convicted of this offense, Mermejo faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Mermejo entered a not guilty plea Tuesday. She was released on her own recognizance pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Mermejo is charged with embezzling about $132,000 belonging to Picuris Pueblo between February 2008 and April 2010.
According to the indictment, Mermejo was employed as a file clerk in the accounting office of the pueblo when she took the money.
Meeting Discusses Forest Thinning
The public is invited to a meeting to promote healthy forests and grasslands in the Rowe Mesa area at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Arroyo Hondo Fire Station, 645 Old Las Vegas Highway. The meeting is sponsored by the Quivira Coalition.
The idea is to thin the forest to prevent hot, crowning wildfires, and allow the public to collect trees cut during the thinning process. Prescribed burns also would be employed.
For more information, call Catherine Baca at the Coalition, 820-2544, ext. 2.
Artists Sought For Summer Exhibit
The city of Santa Fe’s Community Gallery is seeking clay and glass artists to participate in the upcoming “Elements” exhibit that will feature about 30 artists working in those media. The exhibit will run from June through August.
Artists are asked to provide portfolios of previous work for review no later than Feb. 29. Artists will be notified of their participation by the middle of March and asked to submit digital images of their work to the Community Gallery by the end of April.
Interested artists should a portfolio to Rod Lambert, the Community Gallery Manager. Portfolios should consist of 5-10 printed images of the artist’s work on standard digital print paper and an artist statement, résumé and/or bio. Portfolios should be addressed to Community Gallery, PO Box 909, Santa Fe, NM 87504. Please specify that you would like to be considered for the Elements Exhibit.
For more information, call 505-955-6705.
