County Commissioners meet at 6 p.m. on June 19, County Commission Chambers, Bernalillo.

Commission on Senior Affairs at 10 a.m. on June 19, Pena Blanca Community Center, Bernalillo.

Sandoval County Juvenile Justice Board members meets at 3 p.m. on June 19, County Commission Chambers, Bernalillo. The Rio Rancho Capital Improvement Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. on June 23 in the council chambers at City Hall.

Antonio Atencio of the Social Security Administration will explain Social Security benefits and services at the Loma Colorado Main Library Auditorium from 11 a.m. to noon on June 23. The event is free and open to the public.

The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board meet at 6 p.m. on June 24 in the council chambers at City Hall.

The Rio Rancho Governing Body meets at 6 p.m. on June 25 in the council chambers at City Hall.

County Planning and Zoning Commission, 6 p.m. on June 26, County Commission Chambers, Bernalillo.

Rio Grande Nature Center

Students entering 6th through 9th grade who want to learn about the Rio Grande Bosque are invited to join the Junior Ranger program at Rio Grande Nature Center State Park this summer. Junior Rangers learn about the three major habitats of the Rio Grande riparian ecosystem n river, Bosque and pond n and conduct basic biological and chemical monitoring.

Twelve students will be accepted for each two-week session, which are scheduled now for June 16 n 27; July 7 n 18; and July 21 n August 1. Rangers keep scientific and creative journals meet with scientists and park rangers and participate in habitat restoration projects. Short field trips and bike tours allow opportunities to explore the relationship between the river ecosystem and its inhabitants. For information, call 344-7240 or visit www.nmparks.com. Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is located at the west end of Candelaria Road NW in Albuquerque.

MVD changes

The Rio Rancho Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) field office has begun implementing changes to the way driver’s licenses and identification (ID) cards are issued. To minimize identity theft, changes will include the use of a temporary extension, new cards sent through the mail, and a new card design.

This past April, MVD began using a process where those applying for a New Mexico driver’s license or ID card received a temporary extension that is valid for 45 days from the date of issue. This applies for first-time applicants, transfers from out of state, and those seeking renewal or replacement of a driver’s license or ID. Transfers from out of state and individuals seeking a renewal have their old licenses and IDs hole-punched and returned along with temporary extension documentation. This paperwork is used until the regular card arrives via mail in approximately two weeks. Individuals are not required to get a new driver’s license or ID card until their current card / license expires.

The new, high-tech driver’s license and ID cards have twelve security features and use biometric facial recognition technology. This will allow new photos to be compared with an individual’s most recent photo and every other photo in the MVD database. This new photo verification process and enhanced security feature does not allow licenses and ID cards to be generated and issued by MVD field offices any longer.

For more information or questions, contact MVD, part of the State of New Mexico’s Taxation and Revenue Department, at 1-888-683-4636 or online at www.idnm.us. By mid-June all MVD offices statewide will be utilizing this new system.

The public’s patience and consideration is appreciated as the Rio Rancho MVD field office transitions to using this new system. The office is located at 4114 Sabana Grande Ave. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a municipally-contracted office that is funded and staffed by the City of Rio Rancho.

Additional classes are planned for classes for advanced techniques in lighting, directing and editing. For more information about the classes or RioVision, call 891-5051.

Edit House Productions, LLC produces radio and TV commercials that reach hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans every day and are also broadcast in over 100 markets across the United States, as well as long-format educational, training and documentary programs. Begun in 2000 as Rio Rancho’s first media production and advertising agency, the company also provides marketing, advertising, media buying and public relations services. The Web site address is www.edithouse.net. For more information contact Dwyer at 896-3388.

Comprehensive household hazardous waste collection

Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful will offer Rio Rancho residents the chance to dispose of household hazardous waste for free. On Saturday, June 21 residents can bring items to the Department of Police, 500 Quantum Road, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Everything from paint, oil, pesticides, gasoline, cleaners, tires (limit 4, no rims), firearms and ammunition, appliances (only refrigerators, washers, dryers, freezers and stoves) and all types of batteries will be accepted. Please note that computers and household electronics will not be taken at this collection. Proof of Rio Rancho residency will be required and this event is subject to weather.

KRRB is a division of the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. For more information call 891-5015 or visit the city’s Web site (ci.rio-rancho.nm.us) and look for KRRB’s Kerby Coyote mascot icon and link.

Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza

The City of Rio Rancho will once again have one of the state’s biggest and best fireworks shows on our country’s Independence Day, Friday, July 4.

Loma Colorado Park located at 555 Loma Colorado Drive will be the optimal location to watch this highly entertaining display that will fill the city’s skyline. Parking will be available at the adjacent Rio Rancho High School for a fee of $5 per car or van load with proceeds benefiting the high school Booster Club. Handicapped parking will be located at the parking lot next to the park. The park will open to the public at 3:30 p.m. and the live musical entertainment will kick off at 4 p.m. with The Stingrays. Red Letter F will perform from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and The Hit Squad will conclude the night’s entertainment when they are on stage from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Not only will visitors have live music to enjoy before the fireworks, but there will also be activities for children and food available for purchase. O’Hare’s Grill and Pub will have hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, cotton candy, Hawaiian ice and much more available.

This event is sponsored by the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and is free to the public. The fireworks show and its start time are subject to weather. This is an alcohol-free event.

For more information please call 891-5015 or visit the city online at ci.rio-rancho.nm.us.

State briefs

NMDOT employs high tech device to fight DWI in New Mexico

The New Mexico Department of Transportation is helping several New Mexico judicial agencies combat drunk driving by providing new devices that noninvasively measure blood alcohol content (BAC) for people convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI).

The NMDOT’s Traffic Safety Bureau has purchased six TruTouch 1100 blood alcohol testing devices that employ a technology known as near infrared spectroscopy to measure alcohol and verify identity.

Two of the TruTouch devices will be used in Albuquerque’s Metro Court. One device each will also be utilized by county probation and parole offices in Lea, Sandoval and San Juan Counties, while another device is awaiting a placement decision.

The devices are manufactured by TruTouch Technologies, Inc., a New Mexico firm based in Albuquerque. In addition to its use by courts, the devices can also be adapted to vehicle ignition interlock systems and used by law enforcement agencies in remote locations.

To use the device, a test subject places an arm on a sensor. A beam of light is passed through the person’s skin, and collected as it exits. Sensors determine the presence and amount of alcohol and results are quickly displayed on a screen.

Transportation Secretary Faught announces adding another NM Park-And-Ride Bus to meet ridership demand between Albuquerque and Santa Fe

State Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught announced adding an extra New Mexico Park-And-Ride bus to a fleet of eight buses between Albuquerque and Santa Fe to meet increased ridership demands.

The new bus will pick up commuters at 6:40 a.m. from NMDOT District Three headquarters, 7500 Pan American Blvd, in Albuquerque and will leave Santa Fe at 5:20 p.m. from NMDOT headquarters, 1120 Cerrillos Road, returning to Albuquerque. This is in addition to an already existing bus route that leaves and departs at the same time on this route.

The change was implemented Wednesday.

The New Mexico park-and-ride service also operates between Santa Fe and Los Alamos; Santa Fe and Espanola; Albuquerque and Los Alamos; Las Vegas and Santa Fe; Moriarty and Albuquerque; and Las Cruces and White Sands Missile Range. The total average ridership on all routes was 1,750 passenger trips last week and that number jumped to 1,900 passenger trips this week.

This extra bus will operate until the New Mexico Rail Runner Express comes into Santa Fe by the end of this year.

Gov. Richardson returns from successful trip to Middle East, Europe promoting New Mexico and recruiting new jobs to state

Gov. Bill Richardson returned to the country Tuesday and to New Mexico Wednesday following a successful trip to Europe and the Middle East to promote New Mexico and recruit new jobs to the state.

The Governor gave the keynote speech to Egypt’s International Economic Forum in Cairo on Monday to about 200 of the top CEO’s and business leaders. Some of those business leaders were interested in New Mexico’s aggressive efforts to recruit solar and wind energy.

Before coming to New Mexico, Richardson stopped in New York to address the Council on Foreign Relations about his experience as a border governor in dealing with immigration, and the immigration challenges facing border states. Immigration continues to place significant pressures on federal, state and local government public resources and states are adapting to the failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform on the federal level.

Fishing is good at Tingley

The Tingley Beach Children’s and Central Ponds are full of rainbow trout, catfish, and bluegill and bass. Bluegills are taking worms and catfish are taking cat food and stink baits. Bass are chasing soft plastic worms and Pistol Petes. Trout are being caught with yellow Power Bait, night crawlers and salmon eggs. Trout fishing in the South Pond has been good in the early and late parts of the day using chamois leaches, hoppers and Griffith’s Gnats. 

Watch out for scams

Soaring energy costs, falling real estate prices and a turbulent stock market add up to opportunity for crooks peddling fraudulent investments, according to Bruce R. Kohl, director of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department Securities Division.

Kohl joined with other securities watchdogs nationwide in warning investors to beware of scams disguised as oil and gas partnerships, alternative energy projects and real estate participations.

At the same time, weakness in stocks, bonds and real estate has led some investors to look for better opportunities elsewhere, Kohl added. He cautioned investors to beware of hot energy-related tips, speculative real estate promotions, and unsolicited invitations from new online “friends and complex, opaque investment products that fail to offer clear disclosures of their risks and costs.

With the turmoil in the home mortgage market, schemes promising large returns from various types of real estate-related investments also are increasing nationwide, Kohl said.

Investors can call the N.M. Securities Division toll-free at 1-800-704-5533.

The Regulation and Licensing Department Securities Division protects New Mexicans from fraud and financial abuse by licensing investment professionals, registering securities offering made in the state and investigating financial fraud and other violations of the state securities law.

To learn more about investor traps, please visit the NASAA Fraud Center on the NASAA Web site at nasaa.org.