WILLIAMS — As the sun set in Williams, the Williams Police Department safely escorted those carrying the cross in the Good Friday procession.
The procession traveled the length of the city down Route 66 from the Mustang gas station to the Family Harvest Church. The event attracted a crowd from all faiths in Williams.
Daily Archives: April 3, 2015
(NM) Hal Stratton: Civil asset forfeiture bill is needed reform for state
[NEW MEXICO] —
I still am against crime and a strong advocate for law enforcement. But there is no bigger miscarriage of justice than when those who are charged to protect us abuse that duty and cause harm to innocent and sometimes helpless citizens.
By Hal Stratton
Guest column
Posted: 04/02/2015 10:30:07 AM MDT
For those New Mexicans who believe in bipartisan government, reaching across the aisle and the political spectrum — there is good news. The New Mexico Legislature has just unanimously passed HB 560, without a single dissenting vote in either house. HB 560 revises the procedure involved in the forfeiting of citizens’ assets by government agencies, a practice referred to as “asset forfeiture.” Every year, federal and state law enforcement agents seize billions of dollars during traffic stops, simply by alleging the money is connected to some illegal activity. Under federal and New Mexico’s laws, these agencies are entitled to keep most (and sometimes all) of the money and property, even if the property owner is never convicted and, in some cases, never charged with a crime.
Why would law enforcement agencies, whose mission is to protect citizens and their property, engage in forfeiture? That question was candidly answered last November by the city attorney from Las Cruces who said that forfeiture could be a “gold mine” for city law enforcement agencies. “We could be czars. We could own the city. We could be in the real estate business” he stated further noting that the Las Cruces law enforcement agency collected about $1 million from residents through forfeiture since 2006. And these funds that are forfeited go directly into the law enforcement agencies coffers outside of the appropriations process and legislative oversight.
Read more at Ruidoso News
Good Friday procession begins Easter weekend
WILLIAMS — Easter holiday begins today with a Good Friday procession starting at the Mustang Gas Station on the east end of Route 66 at 6:30. The procession will travel west down Railroad Avenue to the Family Harvest Church. Father Killian, of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, announced at the Younglife steak dinner fundraiser that they could use eight strong men or seven women to carry the cross for the procession.
The annual Community Easter Egg hunt will be held at the Recreation Center on Railroad Avenue on Saturday, April 4. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On Sunday, Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center will hold their 5th Annual Ducky Egg Race. Tickets can be purchased at Safeway, today, and at the Community Easter Egg Hunt.
Except for some cold gusty winds, as high as 28 mph Saturday and 37 on Sunday, the weather for the weekend appears clear and warm.
Veolia ES Technical Solutions to Pay $360,000 in Civil Penalties for Hazardous Waste Violations
PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality announced today that Veolia ES Technical Solutions, LLC, of Phoenix, will pay $360,000 in civil penalties under a consent judgment for illegally disposing hazardous waste to a sand and gravel pit near the Salt River in 2009.
In response to a complaint in April 2009, ADEQ compliance officers inspected a sand and gravel pit in which they observed crushed lamps, intact fluorescent lamps, intact metal halide lamps, intact compact fluorescent lamps, and other lamp related debris in a portion of the sand and gravel pit that was less than 600 feet from the Salt River. The investigation revealed the lamps and broken glass had been generated by Veolia. Samples of the broken glass taken from the pit were found to be above regulatory thresholds for mercury.
An inspection of Veolia’s facility in May 2009 resulted in ADEQ issuing a Notice of Violation to the company for improper sampling equipment and techniques, inadequate response to high mercury samples, open containers, containers in poor condition, hazardous waste on the ground, and disposal of hazardous waste without a permit. Veolia staff also had failed to examine lab reports to verify if hazardous waste was being sent to the landfill.
Since the activities of 2009, Veolia has improved processes at their facility; and had been in compliance with its hazardous waste storage permit and related hazardous waste generator requirements during recent inspections.
“As a result of our agency’s investigation and holding the company accountable for its violations, Veolia has improved its operations and is now in compliance with all conditions of its permit, thus ensuring public health and the environment are protected,” ADEQ Director Henry Darwin said.
The settlement is subject to court approval.
Williams Sportsman’s Club 2015 Grad Night fundraiser
WILLIAMS — The Williams Sportsman’s Club (Facebook) and Parents Who Care are hosting a fundraising shoot to benefit the 2015 Grad Night. Practice will start from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The cash shoot will run from 9 a.m. until finished.
The range is located on Highway 64 about a quarter mile north of I-40. Watch and turn to the left and follow the signs to the range. The range is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The different shoot categories are :
- 100 yard long rifle with sandbag rest
- 100 yard long rifle off hand
- 20 yard pistol
- 50 yard .22 with sandbag rest
- 50 yard .22 off hand
- Kids .22 shoot (12 & under)
The entry fee for non-members is $5 with an additional $5 a round. The winner of each shoot gets 50% of the pot for each shoot.
All range rules apply and shooters must use range tables and sandbags.
Breakfast burritos, hamburgers and drinks will be available. For more information you may contact Ron Hollamon at 928-526-4766.