Author: Scott Albright

Although Francisco Vasquez de Coronado left Albuquerque in disappointment after he realized there was no gold to be found in the area, he still left behind a vast amount of treasure and wealth in the sparsely populated Central Rio Grande Valley. The rich cultural heritage and natural wonders of the surrounding landscape may not have been enough to satisfy Coronado, but to many, Albuquerque is filled with riches beyond any monetary value. People continue to flock to Albuquerque in modern times in search of land, wealth and treasure, and although there may be no gold, there are still hidden gems…

The following incidents were reported by the Albuquerque Police Department for the week of June 17-23 in the far NE Heights area between Paseo del Norte Boulevard, Louisiana Boulevard, Eubank Boulevard, and Academy Road. There were 32 incidents reported by crimemapping.com for the week. The following 20 incidents do not include traffic stops, direct traffic, onsite traffic, or vehicle accidents without injuries. FAMILY DISPUTE 7200 BLOCK WHIPPOORWILL LN NE 6-17-2022 5:08 AM RESCUE CALL 9400 BLOCK FREEDOM WY NE 6-17-2022 11:19 AM ARMED ROB INDIV 8000 BLOCK PASEO DEL NORTE NE 6-17-2022 2:11 PM MISSING PERSON 6800 BLOCK LOUISIANA BL…

The following incidents were reported by the Albuquerque Police Department for the week of June 17-23 in the far Northeast area between Elena Drive, Interstate 25, Paseo del Norte Boulevard, and Tramway Boulevard. There were 53 incidents reported by crimemapping.com for the week. The following 39 incidents do not include traffic stops, direct traffic, onsite traffic, or vehicle accidents without injuries. DISTURBANCE 5600 BLOCK ALAMEDA BL NE 6-17-2022 12:47 AM ARMED ROB INDIV 8000 BLOCK PASEO DEL NORTE NE 6-17-2022 2:11 PM AUTO THEFT 6300 BLOCK OAKLAND AV NE 6-17-2022 3:48 PM SUSP PERS/VEHS 6500 BLOCK HOLLY AV NE 6-17-2022…

“Roswell was nothing. Roswell is nothing even now. It never has had any value. It’s just a tourist attraction,” said UFO researcher Norio Hayakawa. “Nothing went on in Roswell. The only thing that Roswell became was monetary benefit, and they make a lot of money every year around this time of year.” Hayakawa was speaking to about a dozen attendees during his presentation at the North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center on Friday. The presentation, titled “Mystery of the UFO Phenomenon,” is part of a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the 1947 sightings by pilot Kenneth Arnold that brought the…

From foxes to coyotes to mountain lions, residents in the far Northeast Heights regularly post pictures and videos of wildlife in their neighborhoods on social media. Most of the time the animals pose no danger to humans, but sometimes they can be a nuisance or spread disease. On May 24, the New Mexico Department of Health reported finding five rabid wild animals at or near residences acting aggressively toward people in the southwest part of the state. The animals included three foxes and two bobcats. Albuquerque’s Department of Environmental Health recommends leaving the animals alone, reporting them to the city…

The first official 2022 summer weekend is here, and the far Northeast Heights has plenty to offer. Hiking, sports, restaurants, bars, and community activities are just a stone’s throw away for many in Albuquerque’s far northeast quadrant. Here’s some ideas for this weekend: 1.The Stage III Forest Closure for Cibola National Forest will be lifted at 8 a.m. Friday. Hiking and biking on approved national forest trails can once again be enjoyed by nature lovers and fitness enthusiasts alike. Come enjoy the natural beauty of the many forest trails throughout the Sandia Mountains and foothill areas without having to go…

The Albuquerque City Council voted against directing the city administration to develop operating procedures for safe outdoor spaces on a 4-5 vote Wednesday, while Councilor Brook Bassan’s request to vote on a one-year moratorium for safe outdoor spaces won’t be considered until Aug. 1. In the meantime, a conditional use permit to create a safe outdoor space in any one of the nine districts can be applied for as early as Aug. 1, as the Integrated Development Ordinance now stands. Councilors voting against R-22-36, the bill directing the city administration to develop operating procedures for safe outdoor spaces, presumed that…

According to AAA data, the June 22 average price of regular unleaded in Albuquerque was $4.72 a gallon. A year ago, the average was $2.91 a gallon. New Mexico’s average price of fuel for June 22 was $4.77, and the national average $4.95. AAA data shows Harding County as having the highest average price of gasoline in the state at $5.42 a gallon, the same as last week. • The price of regular unleaded at the Phillips 66, 5301 Wyoming Blvd., went up from last week’s $4.73 a gallon to $5 a gallon this week. Mid-grade went from $5.33 to…

Late last month, Jay M. asked on NextDoor if lane markers were ever going to be painted on Wyoming Boulevard after portions of the road were resurfaced as part of an ongoing project. One person replied, “They need to redo the paving. Awful job!” Another wrote, “They did a terrible job, feels like roller coaster every time I drive on it.” And another said, “Well now that it’s painted I’m assuming that means they are finished. What a terrible paving job … ruts and bumps … pathetic.” Maia Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Department of Municipal Development, said Wednesday that…

Community members interested in building strategic partnerships are invited to a June 30 webinar hosted by the Office of Neighborhood Coordination in conjunction with Dr. Rudy Garcia of Tandem Consulting. The virtual lunch and learn is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Zoom. To register for the event, click here.Vanessa Baca, ONC Manager, said the webinar is open to anyone who wants to attend, and the training can help neighborhood associations develop new partnerships. She said sometimes it can be difficult for association members to find common ground and that the training provides tools to improve internal relationships as well as…