Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 15

Seniors, vets get privileges Seniors and veterans can now use Bernalillo fitness and aquatic centers for free. You must be at least 55 to qualify as a senior. To participate, go to the Rio Grande, Westside, Los Padillas or Raymond Sanchez community centers or to the South Valley and Paradise Hills pools. Library music Mississippi native Caroline Herring, known for her country-influenced music, will perform at two local libraries on Thursday: noon at the Juan Tabo branch, 3407 Juan Tabo NE, and 6 p.m. Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart NW.

Report it online Dead cactus with long needles in a median, a blockage-causing shopping cart in an arroyo, graffiti, trash. If you see it, report it by going to the link at ABQjournal.com Quote of the day call ourselves educators in Fred Hampton, of the Buffalo Soldiers Society of New Mexico, who will perform a Chautauqua in honor of Soldiers: Military Heroes of the in Santa Fe on Sunday METRO NM Wednesday, February 23, 2011 CLASSIFIEDS C3 C8 ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL ABQjournal.com Word nerds Try the New York Times crossword puzzle C3 slug: Flag Mast where: news artist: Cathryn size: 1 col 20p7 date of proof: April 29, 2009 Mining Claims Raise Concerns By Rene Romo Journal Southern Bureau LAS CRUCES Dozens of mining claims filed recently by a Colorado company on federal lands on Otero Mesa have raised concerns among conservationists that the sweeping grasslands in southern New Mexico are facing a new threat. Besides altering the landscape and wildlife habitat, conservation groups say hard-rock mining could threaten a vast underground aquifer. Some of the claims are filed within a stretch the BLM designated an of critical environmental in 1997 because of its scenic and cultural value, including the presence of petroglyphs. A representative for Geovic Mining Corp.

said Tuesday that the project is in such an early stage that it is not clear the company will ever attempt to mine zirconium or rare earth elements that have been found in rocks on the surface. John Sherborne, president of new ventures division, said the company plans to work with the Bureau of Land Management to conduct initial exploratory drilling of no more than 10 holes, no more than 50 feet deep, in order to gain a better idea of the amount of materials in the ground. Sherborne said he did not expect any exploratory drilling to occur for few know the size of the resource, or anything like said Sherborne, based in Grand Junction, Colo. so early we even know if there is a project, or the size of the Since October, Geovic has filed 55 mining claims, each covering an area of about 20 acres. The majority, 45, were filed on Jan.

3, said BLM spokesman Hans Stuart. For the past decade, Otero Mesa has been at the center of a struggle over whether BLM should allow natural gas extraction in the middle of the broad plateau between the Sacramento and Guadalupe mountain ranges. The mesa contains the largest and wildest Chihuahuan desert grasslands left on public lands in the United States and sits above the Salt Basin aquifer, believed to be the largest untapped fresh water aquifer left in the state. Otero Mesa Eyed By Colorado Firm Detective In Shooting Not On Streets Officer Had Listed Job As Waste By Astrid Galvan Journal Staff Writer The Albuquerque police officer who listed his occupation on Facebook as waste and who shot and killed a man suspected of raising his gun at him is no longer patrolling the streets, according to APD. Detective Trey Economidy III was placed on administrative duty meaning he is not doing active police work on Tuesday, but department officials did not say where he was placed or why the action was taken.

Economidy, a gang unit officer who has been with APD for about seven years, fatally shot Jacob Mitschelen during a traffic stop Feb. 9 after Mitschelen allegedly raised his gun at him, police said. Economidy was placed on standard three-day leave but was back on duty before being placed on administrative duty. Within days, the media reported Econimidy had listed his job as waste on his personal Facebook page. The description was taken down after the shooting.

Police Chief Ray Schultz said he was by the posting. Last week, he launched a department-wide internal investigation into any inappropriate content on social networking sites. Discipline could range from a reprimand to termination it is determined that something more serious he said. APD is crafting a new social media policy, Schultz said. APD has already sent out a special to all officers cautioning them that on or off duty, made pursuant to their official duties is not protected under the First Amendment and may be the basis for discipline if deemed detrimental to the Officers are required to sign a document stating they have read the memo and a Journal editorial on the social media controversy by today.

Mo to ht up CouRTESY PHoToS Historic photos of the KiMo Theatre in Downtown show a large sign perpendicular to the front of the building. Officials believe the sign was in place through the mid-50s. By James Monteleone Journal Staff Writer Gov. Susana Martinez on Tuesday appointed an Air Force Academy administrator and a regional bank president to be new regents at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University. At UNM, the governor has recommended retired Lt.

General Bradley Hosmer, a former superintendent of the Air Force Academy and decorated war hero from the Vietnam era, to serve on the seven-member Board of Regents. Hosmer, of Cedar Crest, will replace Regent Raymond Sanchez, whose four-year term expired in December. Although unfamiliar with UNM, Hosmer said he looks for- ward to better understanding the New Mexico higher education system and contributing his experience in military education to the university. this stage of the game, I would say my biggest challenge is learning what the key issues Hosmer said. While Hosmer brings a new perspective to the UNM governing board, Martinez also opted to reappoint its most experienced regent, Jack Fortner.

Fortner, a Farmington attorney, has been a regent since 1999. He is board vice president. The budget crisis UNM now faces may be the largest challenge of his 12-year experience as a regent, said Fortner, a UNM alumnus. university (has) great people doing great things. going to continue, except going to be done with less he said.

By Juan Carlos Rodriguez Journal Staff Writer An independent oversight group says in nearly 30 percent of the 1,867 cases it reviewed, five or more abuse or neglect reports had been filed on behalf of a child before the state took custody. In some cases, those reports had been substantiated by New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department investigators. The findings, from 2010, were contained in an annual report issued by the New Mexico Child Abuse and Neglect Citizen Review Board, which reviews cases handled by CYFD. Patricia Briggs, project director for the board, Study: State Slow To Take Custody Action Taken After Multiple Abuse Reports, Group Says See GROUP on PAGE C2 A rendering of the new KiMo Theatre sign shows how it will look when it goes up sometime this spring. Sign of Past Times By Lloyd Jojola Journal Staff Writer Perpendicular to the a tall, vividly colored neon sign for years blared to those passing through the Duke bustling Downtown.

sign existed we believe from approximately 1929, 1930 to we think the mid-1950s nobody knows exactly when it came said Craig Rivera, manager of the Community Events Division for the city of Cultural Services Department. sign is probably one of the last missing elements to the KiMo The- atre; to the restoration of the exterior he said. And if things go as planned, a replica of that piece of Route 66 history will soon reappear on the iconic Pueblo Deco building, perhaps as soon as May. going to be Rivera said. have a design on it and it looks just like the original, and thinking that we have a good chance to kind of get neon really happening on Central again once that baby gets Old Neon Sign Will Be Re-Created for Theater Martinez Appoints Regents for UNM, NMSU Ex-Air Force Official, Bank Manager Picked See MARTINEZ on PAGE C2 See KIMO on PAGE C2 Flying the colors The flag should be flown at full staff today.

DWI charge tossed A third DWI charge against a local surgeon was dismissed when the arresting officer show up for a hearing. Page C2 METRO Alamogordo Las Cruces 20 miles NM TEXAS GREATER OTERO MESA AREA Albuquerque Santa Fe 40 25 map area JOURNAL Fort Bliss Wind Mountain 54 70 10 25 Alamogordo Las Cruces 20 miles NM TEXAS GREATER OTERO MESA AREA Albuquerque Santa Fe 40 25 map area JOURNAL Fort Bliss Wind Mountain 54 70 10 25 nal on Ball pc see Russ for changes ive name: Otero Mesa-Wind Mountain 2011.ai.