Around New Mexico

Animas-La Plata water project moves to NM The Animas-La Plata Project in Colorado is opening its floodgates. The progress means the Navajo Nation can begin building a 29-mile pipeline that will more than quadruple the water supply for residents. Gil Arviso is vice chairman of the Navajo Nation's Water Rights Commission. He says the project's completion in Durango means funding is now available for the Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline project. The pipeline is expected to be finished in 2012. It will run from Farmington and Shiprock to Navajo chapters in Upper Fruitland, San Juan, Nenahnezad, Hogback, Shiprock and Beclabito. Three tanks that can store 5.5 million gallons of water also will be built. Arviso says the pipeline project will lead to more housing and employment for the Navajo Nation.
State proposes fine for Hobbs dairy The state Environment Department issued a compliance order that includes a proposed $10,500 fine to Rockview Dairy for failing to meet a deadline to install monitoring wells. Environment Department officials said Friday the wells, which detect groundwater conditions, are required under the dairy's permit. The dairy is located near several residences with drinking water wells that could be affected by discharges. In a news release, state officials said dairy owner Rick Schaap failed to install the wells within the mandatory timeframe after detailed discussions and meetings.
Clovis resident is 'Ed the Dairyman' Clovis resident Eddie Schaap is "Ed the Dairyman." Schaap caught the attention of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin as she spoke to a crowd of about 10,000 supporters Sunday in a Roswell airplane hangar. Palin alluded several times during her speech to "Ed the Dairyman" after seeing someone in the crowd holding a sign identifying Schaap that way. Schaap has been in the dairy business in eastern New Mexico for more than two decades. He owns Northpoint Dairy in Clovis. He says his 18-year-old daughter Kayla made the sign that caught Palin's attention. One side read "Ed the Dairyman" and the other side read "Kayla the Bookkeeper."....
Nambé: Acequia group files suit against ditch neighbor among neighbors and a civil lawsuit. Commissioners of the Acequia de la Comunidad in Nambé filed a civil lawsuit against Mark and Monique Rochester in Santa Fe Magistrate Court claiming the couple's solid wood fence was constructed too close to the ditch and interferes with the annual cleaning of the acequia. Moreover, the lawsuit claims the fence blocks the acequia association's easement. "My clients have not blocked that easement," said the Rochesters' attorney, Will Waggoner. "In fact they've been the ones that cleaned that (section of the) ditch for years and years." Acequia mayordomo Narciso Quintana said in December 2002 he was walking the ditch as he usually does before the annual cleaning. He found the wood fence newly constructed on the Rochesters' property, which is part of Rancho de Nambé. Quintana said the fence is built right along the bank of the acequia. "We have to have a certain clearance on either side of the ditch so we can walk or to bring in equipment," Quintana said. "We used to burn off weeds along the ditch, but we can't there now because of the fence."....
City land chosen for racino site It may cost $50 million to build a horseracing track and casino in south Raton, but the investors will save a little cash by getting the land for $1 from the city. For its buck, Horse Racing at Raton will get 400 acres that the city values at $400,000. The city hopes to get jobs for local residents and a new events center that would be Raton's largest such facility and a key element if city officials are to fulfill their desire to attract larger events that bring significant numbers of visitors to town. At Tuesday night's city commission meeting, the project director for Horse Racing at Raton confirmed the group intends to build its racino on land in what the city calls its Technology and Development Park on the east side of Interstate 25 just south of Hereford Avenue. The slot-machine casino is expected to open next year while live horseracing on a one-mile oval is scheduled to start in the summer of 2010....
Apple fest feeds plenty Two young boys walked together each eating an apple and swinging their bags of goodies after spending an afternoon at the 43rd High Rolls Apple Festival on Saturday. Jumping balloons, art and boxes of red, green and yellow apples were just a few of the attractions of the day. Local folks and visitors lined up to purchase the sweet fruit by the pound. Free samples were available to taste before purchasing from the boxes of locally grown and other apples. "This one is really red," said Ceci Porras, of El Paso as she handed an apple to her grandson, Joshua Medina, 6, of El Paso. Rows of apple pies, jugs of apple cider and jars of apple butter were also available for purchase inside the community center. Local charitable organizations were raising money through these sales. "We are raising money to remodel our bathrooms," said Mary Marrujo of Tularosa Community Church. Visitors listened to live music while visiting artists selling lavender, herbs, spices, hand-made necklaces, bracelets, rocking chairs, scarves, key rings, unique walking canes, horseshoe art and framed art....
Residents turn out for annual Peanut Valley Festival Dozens of booths filled with everything from purses and jewelry to pottery and artwork line the lobby and ballroom of Eastern New Mexico University’s Campus Union Building. Outside, vendors cooked up kettle corn, barbecue, bratwurst and funnel cakes, and served up shaved ice and cotton candy. It’s all part of the annual Peanut Valley Festival, and yes, you can get peanuts, as well as peanut butter and peanut brittle, at a booth operated by the Portales Woman’s Club....