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Sunday, July 27, 2008

Around New Mexico


Journal and Wire Reports
          <b>Rain Is Blamed In Fatal Crash </b>
        Heavy rains throughout New Mexico on Friday were blamed for a crash that killed an El Paso woman just north of the Texas border, New Mexico State Police spokesman Andrew Tingwall said.
        The woman, Laura Palacios, was a passenger in a Ford Explorer traveling south on U.S. 54 when the driver drove through a large puddle, lost control and drove off the road, rolling three times, Tingwall said. The driver, Jorge Gaytan of El Paso, was taken to William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, along with two children who were in the back seat. Their injuries were not life-threatening, Tingwall said.
        El Paso was hit hard by remnants of Hurricane Dolly, and some areas of El Paso reported as much as 3 inches of rain, with flooding reported in homes and streets.
        In New Mexico, the heaviest reported rain was 3.48 inches just south of Cloudcroft. The weather system causing the rain is expected to move north and east through the state today. All areas of the state could see some rain, although it may be spotty in some areas and heaviest in the east and central parts of the state.
        <b>Driver Injured In 2-Vehicle Crash</b>
        One person was critically injured Saturday night after a two-vehicle crash at Broadway and Interstate 25, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department Lt. Duncan Sanchez said.
        Sanchez said one vehicle hit another from behind, and that alcohol was a factor in the crash. The driver of the vehicle that was hit was ejected and was taken to University of New Mexico Hospital, where he was in critical condition Saturday night.
        The second driver was also taken to the hospital because he was complaining of chest pain. There was a passenger in the second vehicle who was not injured.
        Police were still investigating Saturday night and had not determined who was at fault in the crash. Names had not been released pending confirmation. All northbound lanes of I-25 were briefly closed.
        <b>Couple Charged In Beating of Boy, 12</b>
        A couple was arrested and charged with third-degree child abuse Friday after they allegedly beat the woman's 12-year-old son, who has cancer.
        According to a criminal complaint, Virginia Jaramillo, 36, and Daniel Chavez, 47, severely beat Jaramillo's son and kept him out of school for three days so no one could see his bruises. The child was bruised along his jawline, on his chest, arms and legs. According to the complaint, he told police his mother had beaten him with a belt, while Chavez choked him and stomped on his head and face.
        Jaramillo initially told police her son had been wrestling and bruised easily because of his cancer treatments, but later admitted that she and Chavez had beaten him and kept him out of school to "cover her butt," according to the complaint.
        Chavez had one previous arrest on DWI charges, according to court records. Both Chavez and Jaramillo were being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center Saturday on $25,000 bonds.
        <b>Police Solicitation Calls Are Scams</b>
        The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department is warning residents of a possible scam in which people are receiving phone calls soliciting donations to buy bulletproof vests for local law enforcement. The sheriff's department is not organizing any such fundraiser.
        Some residents have reported that the callers become hostile when they are questioned or rejected. People are urged to be careful if they receive similar calls and ask the caller to confirm the specific agency they're raising funds for. Residents are then urged to call the agency and make sure the caller's claims are legitimate before making any donations.
        <b>NMSU Union OKs A Tentative Deal</b>
        LAS CRUCES — Secretaries, custodians, painters, welders and the rest of the approximately 550 members of New Mexico State University's hourly employees union have reached a tentative agreement with the institution's bargaining team — but there's room for improvement in the relationship between the two entities, some say.
        The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2393 wants a pay increase — approved by the state Legislature to start July 1 — in time for their July 31 paychecks. But, union president Barbara Arispe, a Cooperative Extension employee, said the university has been "drag(ging) their feet" on the 2 percent raise.
        Scott Southward, director of internal communications and public affairs for NMSU, said if the agreement, the details of which are not all public, is approved, "the raise will be retroactive, as of July 1."
        Southward said after state lawmakers approved the 2 percent hike, the union reopened talks on wages to shoot for a 5 percent raise.
        Arispe said an analysis commissioned by the union found 84 percent of the 1,244 employees represented by the union earned less than $30,000 a year and that salaries for hourly employees were 30 percent below market value.