City of Rio Rancho offices will be closed July 4 for the holiday.This closure includes City Hall, the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center, Meadowlark Senior Center, recreation centers, and both of the city’s libraries. The Haynes, Cabezon, and Rainbow outdoor pools will be open during their normal hours of operation from noon to 6 p.m.

The Sandoval County Com-mission meeting has been canceled for July 3 due to the July 4 holiday the next day.

Advisory board member appointed

The Rio Rancho City Council appointed Dave Patterson to the Capital Improvement Plan Citizen Advisory Committee in District 1. His term expires on May 10, 2009.

Patterson owns Evergreen Lawn Care in Rio Rancho and has lived in the city since 1979.

CIPCAC meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Patterson is well-known in the community, not only because of his lawn care business but also his involvement in youth sports, where he coaches. He serves on the Sunset Little League board and in various positions with the Young American Football League. Patterson is an elder under Pastor Jerome Wade at Destiny Center Church.

Trustee appointed

The city council appointed Geraldine Hutchings to the Library Board of Trustees for District 6. Her term expires on Feb. 28, 2010. Hutchins has a master’s degree in Library Science and several years of experience in the library field. The trustees meet the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Loma Colorado Library conference room.

Hutchins is the Federal Programs Coordinator for the New Mexico State Library in Santa Fe, a position she has held since 2005. From 1998 to 2005, Hutchings was the head of Information Technology Services at Texas Tech University Libraries.

Commissioner appointed

The council appointed Karissa Rogers to the Utilities Commission in District 5.

Former Public Works director John Kolessar was one of several other applicants who wanted to be appointed, but to no avail. District 5 Councilor Larry Naranjo said that it was a difficult decision, but that Rogers is a natural fit to the utilities commission.

“We need a woman on the board,” Naranjo said. “Sometimes you understand utilities better than men.”

Rogers thanked the council for the opportunity and said she looks forward to improving the water for kids and grandkids. The Utilities Commission meets the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Rogers has 14 years of construction expertise and is a project manager for International RAM Associates.

FEDERAL NEWS BRIEFS

Udall calls on Bush administration to approve emergency designation

U.S. Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., is urging Secretary of Agriculture Edward Schafer to quickly approve Gov. Bill Richardson’s request for a statewide disaster declaration due to high temperatures, severe winds and widespread drought.

In a letter to Secretary Schafer, Udall wrote, “All of New Mexico’s 33 counties have suffered significant physical and production losses to agriculture during the last year [and] extreme fire danger threatens most of the state.”

Extreme fire danger exists across most of New Mexico’s 33 counties. Fires have already displaced families and destroyed homes this year and the dry conditions are forecasted to continue into the summer months.

“New Mexico farmers and ranchers are struggling to cope with terrible conditions, and much of our state is at risk from fires,” Udall said. “We need help now, and I will be pushing Secretary Schafer to do the right thing for New Mexico and approve the Governor’s request.”

Darren White and Tom Udall praise Supreme Court decision

Darren White, who is running for Congress in District 1, praised the Supreme Court for reversing the gun ban in the District of Columbia.

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court is a victory for our Constitution. I am gratified that the Justices recognize that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right that must be respected,” White said. “As a lifelong law enforcement official, I have dedicated my life to fighting crime and strongly support sentencing enhancements for criminals who use guns in the commission of crimes. But I do not believe that we should turn law-abiding citizens into criminals simply for owning firearms and that’s what the DC gun ban attempted to do.”

As Secretary for the Department of Public Safety, White supported concealed carry legislation in New Mexico.

Tom Udall, who is running for Senate, agrees with the decision.

“I support the Supreme Court’s decision. I have always believed the Second Amendment guarantees all law abiding citizens the right to own firearms,” Udall said. “I support overturning the DC law because it is too restrictive and contradicts the Second Amendment. While this decision is a great victory for the Constitution, it does not mean we can stop being vigilant and as a Senator I will continue to fight to protect the rights of law-abiding gun-owners.”