The wreckage of a glider reported missing has been found in the Lamy area along with the body of the pilot. New Mexico State Police say the glider left Moriarty Municipal Airport on Wednesday and was later reported missing. Satellite and cellphone data — along with the eyewitness sighting from a fellow pilot who was following the downed aircraft — led to the search beginning in the Lamy area. The wreckage was found Thursday afternoon about four miles east of U.S. 285. Authorities say the name of the deceased pilot will be released after his family is notified. The Federal Aviation Administration will be investigating the cause of the crash.
A ceremony at Santa Fe’s Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi Thursday saw the installation of Santa Fe’s new archbishop. 64-year old Reverend John Wester was installed Thursday afternoon. Wester replaces retired Archbishop Michael Sheehan. Wester takes over a region that includes around 300-thousand parishioners and has a rich history that began more than four centuries ago with the arrival of Spanish colonists. But he also inherits an archdiocese still facing lawsuits related to decades-old allegation of sexual abuse of children by priests. Wester says he wants to focus on issues around poverty and immigration. Guests at the instillation included two cardinals, numerous bishops and a representative of Pope Francis. Wester, who was bishop in Salt Lake City, was appointed in April.
Officers from throughout New Mexico and beyond gathered with community and family members to pay their last respects to a Rio Rancho police officer shot and killed during a May 25 traffic stop. Police escorted Officer Gregg Benner's body to the Santa Ana Star Center on Thursday morning as people lined the streets to watch the procession. Benner was a four-year member of the Rio Rancho Police Department and an Air Force veteran who was survived by his wife, six children and seven grandchildren. Police Chief Michael Geier and Gov. Susana Martinez were among those to address the crowd. Martinez ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset in honor of Benner. The man accused of killing Benner faces numerous charges, including murder. He's jailed with bail set at five million dollars.
Federal authorities are asking a bank to withhold any property and money of a former northern New Mexico sheriff convicted in a road-rage case. The New Mexican reports that U.S. Attorney's Office in Albuquerque has asked the Los Alamos National Bank if it has any property or money that belongs to former Rio Arriba County sheriff Tommy Rodella. If so, new court documents say the bank needs to hold that property and money to pay off Rodella's fines and court-ordered restitution. Rodella was sentenced in January to 10 years in federal prison for abusing a driver in a bizarre, off-duty traffic stop that prosecutors described as a fit of road rage. He also was ordered to pay a 200-thousand dollars’ fine and more than 10-thousand in restitution.
Tomorrow, Saturday, is National Trails Day. And locally Santa Fe’s urban trail system will be highlighted during the eighth annual Santa Fe Community Cruise. Tim Rogers, the Trails Program Manager for the Santa Fe Conservation Trust, started the annual cruises. *****060515-Rogers-1 :35***** Rogers says Saturday’s community cruise gets rolling at 9:30am. *****060515-Rogers-2 :36***** Rogers says the ride will then proceed back to the Rail Trail, then he plans to show riders the Acequia Trail, some of the River Trail and then the newest trail along the Arroyo De Las Mascaras across from the De Vargas Mall. Rogers says the ride will be at an easy pace and new riders don’t have to be concerned about their fitness level. ****060515-Rogers-3 :30***** Rogers adds that the Community Cruise is free and generally a good time on two wheels.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy today with a 40-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms, today’s high near 80. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with the chance for precipitation increasing to 50-percent and the overnight low, 55. Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy, the high 77 and again, a 50-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms.