Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 34

LIVIER YTTEBROUCK Journal Staff Writer State health officials confirmed Friday that only one science-fair participant has been diagnosed with measles despite concerns that a second child had the disease. A 15-year-old girl from India was diagnosed with measles on Wednesday, prompting state officials to set up a clinic and offer measles vaccinations Friday at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. About 150 people got vaccinations, according to state officials. The case raised concerns that a sick boy attending the fair may also have had measles, but he was diagnosed Friday with a less-serious illness, said Dr. Chad Smelser, an epidemiologist for the state Department of Health.

A chance remains that the girl may have infected others, Smelser said. The people most likely to catch the airborne illness are family members and others in intimate contact with a sick person, he said. Measles can have serious complications, such as pneumonia and brain infections, Smelser said. But the illness is rare in the United States because of the effectiveness of vaccinations. all the cases are people coming in from outside the he said.

People concerned about measles can check with a doctor about the status of their vaccinations. The Health Department also has set up a measles hotline at (866) 850-5893. State health officials will open their clinic at 1111 Stanford NE this morning from 9 a.m. to noon for anyone concerned that they might have been exposed. OHN LECK Journal Staff Writer wo immigrants and a home- schooled farm boy from Wisconsin won top honors Friday as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair came to a flashy conclusion.

Confetti exploded over the Ti ngley Coliseum stage as Jack Li, Philip Streich and Dmitry Vaintrob stepped to the stage to be honored as the best of the best among more than 1,500 of the top high-school age researchers who gathered this week in Albuquerque for the largest science fair. is just the most exciting thing in the said Streich, the 16- year-old home-schooled student from Platteville, as reporters surrounded him on stage. Streich made a breakthrough in the search for strong and lightweight new materials made of carbon nanotubes. As he patiently answered questions, a group of his Wisconsin science fair friends waited politely on stage, taking cell phone pictures and smiling. When the reporters were done, they mobbed Streich like the world champion that he is.

Vaintrob, an 18-year-old Russian immigrant from Eugene, gave Road ar rior What happens if a traffic jam causes you to be stuck in a red-light camera intersection after the light changes? al estphal has the answer Page D2 Gover take on compromise Richardson says a new immigration proposal a good start toward re securing our southern Page D3 Quote of the day was on its hind legs and banging on the doors. The harder it banged, the louder the Registered nurse Sean DeLoach, about a black bear that eventually got into a Presbyterian medical clinic in Rio Rancho METRO NM Saturday ay 19, 2007 DAIL BRIEFING D3 COMICS D5 WEA THER D6 ALBUQUERQUEJOURNAL ABQjournal.com Yo, Homer! Rapper Ludacris will show up in the 400th episode of D6 GREG Jack Li, left, Philip Streich, center, and Dmitry Vaintrob smile amid the confetti after learning that each had won a $50,000 scholarship as top students at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Albuquerque. Delays Free Murder Suspects COTT ANDLIN Journal Staff Writer Delays in getting a murder case to trial led to the dismissal of charges against the two defendants, who were teenagers at the time of the fatal shooting. Bernalillo County District Judge Albert S. Murdoch dismissed the charges May 9, just before this scheduled trial.

The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Troy Gray, said the decision to dismiss charges against Jose Huizar and Jeremiah Gurule was a felt the judge was on fairly firm legal grounds, but I felt he could have ruled in my Gray said. Delay is presumed to be prejudicial to the defendant if a complex case tried within 15 Judge Dismisses Charges In 2005 Killing Journal Staff Report Temporary rules to encourage heavy fishing at Tingley Beach have been extended through May 27. The bag limit has been suspended at Central Pond and the Pond. Size limits at the two ponds also have been suspended. In addition, adults are allowed to fish in the Pond.

Officials are trying to get rid of fish in the two ponds because of a parasite infection. The parasite, known as Ich, can attack and kill certain kinds of fish, but it does not affect humans, according to information distributed by the BioPark. Tom Silva, assistant director, said Friday that officials recommend people not eat catfish from the two ponds, but the trout should be safe. There will be containers at the ponds for disposing of catfish. Officials said unclear how the parasite problem began, but 1,800 catfish were added to the two ponds last month.

Officials say they think that as the water warmed, the parasite blossomed. For now, park officials say people will be doing Tingley Beach a favor by reducing the fish population. The city will re-evaluate the situation after giving fishers some time to deplete the ponds. Tingley Beach is next to the bosque, near Rio Grande and Central, in Albuquerque. Looser Fishing Rules Extended Science JIM Nurse Tani Skinner gives a measles shot to Shiyu Xu, 17, of Winona, Minn.

Public health officials gave shots this week to science-fair participants who may have been exposed to measles. Girl Still Only Reported Measles Case A Wisconsin teen and two immigrants earn top honors at international fair See DELAYS on PAGE D3 stars See 3 EARN on PAGE D3 She did the right thing The online poll shows overwhelming support for a school district official who changed a grade. For details, go to www nal.com. Flying the colors The flag is to be flown at full-staf today. Buckle up The It or campaign, enforcing seat belt use, begins Monday and will last through June 3.

Page D2 Celebrate the river Help clean the Rio Grande and the bosque from 8a.m. to 1 p.m. today in honor of National River Clean Up Day. People will gather at Central where it meets the river, in the northeast parking area by the BioPark. Make sure to bring work gloves, water and sun protection.

N.M. winners State students won prizes in everything from computer software to physics D2 After Severe Electric Jolt From Transformer ATE ILLSON Journal Northern Bureau SANTA FE The 18-year-old who was shocked and severely burned by a jolt of 115,000 volts of electricity Wednesday as he spray- painted a graffiti tag on a power substation died Friday, according to Santa Fe Deputy Police Chief Benjie Aaron Ray Vigil, 18, died at a Phoenix burn center, where he was being treated for burns that covered 80percent of his body. His father, Ray, and an uncle and aunt had flown out from Santa Fe to be with him, grandfather said Friday. Aaron Vigil had to climb over a 15- to 20-foot concrete wall topped with razor wire and often covered with graffiti on Wednesday to reach the PNM substation on Camino de Los Montoyas in north- west Santa Fe. He was spray-painting the tag on some of the power equipment when electricity arced and jolted the young man.

Police believe he might have been accompanied by two other young people, Santa Fe Police Chief Eric Johnson said Friday. Johnson said police received a tip that two teens were seen walking in the area about the time Aaron Vigil was injured. The force of the electricity ripped shirt from his body and disintegrated his right pant- leg, said, but Vigil managed to call 911. He was airlifted first to University of New Mexico Hospital, then to the Phoenix facility for treatment. The surge from the substation set off a computer crash that paralyzed the state Motor Vehicle Department and stalled other state services through Thursday, state officials said.

Public Service Co. of New Mexico spokeswoman Susan Sponar said PNM ascertained a link between the tagging incident and computer problems. really know what happened to Sponar said of state agencies. VIGIL: Shocked by 115,000 volts of electricity.