Author Archives: Pat Davis

By Andrea Vasquez The Town of Mountainair announced this year’s Pinto Bean Queen on March 29, the 84th anniversary of the inaugural competition, with the crowning of Corina Ortiz.  “The Town of Mountainair would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to both Aurelleia Chavez and Corina Ortiz for running for Pinto Bean Queen. We […]

By Andrea Vasquez  At its March 26 meeting, the Torrance County Commission unanimously passed a seven-month extension of its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house migrants at the Torrance County Detention Facility. The meeting featured many members of the public speaking about alleged abuse at the facility, which has been a […]

From the publisher If you are reading this issue of The Independent at home, there is a good chance it arrived by mail. We’re making a big investment in this paper and it changes how you get your news. Since its first issue was published 25 years ago by Wally Gordon and Thelma Bowles, The […]

To the Editor: I’m writing to raise a concern that I suspect many of my fellow Edgewood residents quietly share: the increasingly unreliable state of our mail service. Since a new carrier began handling my route in August of last year, I have experienced consistent misdelivery of both mail and packages—including tax documents, personal letters, […]

By Andrea Vasquez The Grief Center of New Mexico will host a free three-day, two-night camp for children who are grieving the loss of a loved one.  Camp Corazón will include camp-like activities such as a challenge course, bonfire, songs, games and swimming for children ages 7 up to seniors in high school.  The camp […]

Staff report The Roots 66 Rendezvous and Extravaganza antique show is returning to Moriarty in April. The event, which debuted in Moriarty last year, will return to the Moriarty Convention Center on April 4 and 5. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and will showcase antiques, bottles, insulators, jewelry, rocks, […]

By Hannah Grover Bernalillo County released updated stormwater management guidance this week for large-scale solar projects. The new guidance comes amid increased interest in utility-scale solar projects in New Mexico following the passage of the 2019 Energy Transition Act and the 2021 Community Solar Act.  According to a press release, the county hopes to encourage […]

By Hannah Grover Bernalillo County released updated stormwater management guidance this week for large-scale solar projects. The new guidance comes amid increased interest in utility-scale solar projects in New Mexico following the passage of the 2019 Energy Transition Act and the 2021 Community Solar Act.  According to a press release, the county hopes to encourage […]

The Museum of Encaustic Art, founded in 2005 by Doug and Adrienne Mehrens, is set to reopen to the public on April 4th and will remain open through December. Originally established in Los Cerrillos as Doug Mehrens’ personal studio, the museum moved to Santa Fe before returning to its original location following a pandemic-induced closure. […]