County

Scenes From County’s Emergency Tabletop Exercise

Los Alamos County staff worked through an emergency tabletop exercise this morning in Council Chambers, testing its updated emergency operations plan. Courtesy photo

County Utilities Manager Tim Glasco and Police Chief Dino Sgambellone participate in this morning’s exercise. Courtesy photo

From left, County employees Bryan Aragon, Chris Wilson and Dan Erickson participate in discussions during this morning’s drill. Courtesy photo Read More

Mobility Scooter Now Available At Mesa Public Library

LIBRARY News:

Patrons who may feel daunted by the size of Mesa Public Library can now use a mobility scooter to get around. The library also has a walker for patron use.

The scooter can be checked out from the reference desk by anyone with a library card.

There are a number of assistive services available at the Library, including magnifying readers at both libraries. There is an extensive and growing collection of large print books and newspapers. Reader’s Digest and the New York Times Weekly are both available in large print. Those who like to read online will find it simple to adjust the font sizes. Read More

Guns And Hoses Duke It Out For Charity

Deputy Police Chief Jason Wardlow Herrera and Firefighter Kenny Martinez fight to knock out poverty. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
 
El Parasol owner Ralph Atencio, right, presents a $2,000 donation to Deputy Chief Jason Wardlow Herrera for the Rumble in Rio charity event.‘We are happy to support this worthy cause in which the proceeds go to help kids,” Atencio said. Kellie Michel of KJM Auto Body on Trinity Drive donated $200 to the event to help kids. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
LAPD Cmdr. Preston Ballew, left, and Fire Chief Troy Hughes urge Dep. Police Chief
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County Gears Up For Budget Hearings

Staff Report:

Los Alamos County is gearing up to present its Fiscal Year 2018 to the County Council.

The budget hearings begin at 6 p.m. April 17-18 and April 24-25 in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave.

Typically, Council approves the budget on the final day of hearings, which this year is April 25.

Community members may access the proposed budget starting March 31. Copies of the budget will be available at both libraries as well as at the Municipal Building and on the County’s website at www.losalamosnm.us.

Although the hearings are held in April, the budget process Read More

County Reports On Phishing Scam Concern

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County’s email system, which is hosted as cloud-based services, was attacked in February in an apparent phishing scam. Phishing is a fraudulent attempt by email to obtain sensitive information for a malicious reason. While it is believed that the attack was contained to a single email account in the Public Works Department, the County turned the matter over to the Los Alamos Police Department for investigation. Affected employees have been notified and LAPD Investigations conducted a thorough investigation of this incident. 

The County uses multiple layers Read More

Public Meeting: North Road Traffic Calming Concerns

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Public Works Traffic and Streets Division is hosting a Public Meeting regarding Traffic Calming Concerns on North Road.

This meeting 7-9 p.m., March 22 at Fuller Lodge  and the public is encouraged to attend.

For questions regarding the meeting, call the Traffic and Streets Division at 505.662.8113 or email the public works general email at lacpw@lacnm.us.

Read More

LAFD Warns Of Phony Fundraiser Phone Scam

LAFD News:

Los Alamos Fire Department is warning citizens of a telephone scam. Several local residents have contacted LAFD inquiring if the department is conducting a fundraiser, or trying to attempt to collect a debt, after receiving calls this week from a phone number that registers in Caller ID as belonging to the fire department.

Such calls are a phone scam and attempts to gain personal or financial/credit card information.

LAFD does not solicit funds by telephone and does not attempt to collect debts by telephone, nor does the Ambulance Billing service, on LAFD’s behalf. Anyone Read More

Ryan Barnes Cited For Assault On Local Bus Driver

Ryan Keith Barnes

Staff Report

Ryan Keith Barnes, 39, of Los Alamos was cited for assault on an Atomic City Transit bus driver March 1 after police were called to the transit center at the intersection of Diamond Drive and East Jemez Road.

The driver reported that after he took over his route for his shift, Barnes rode the bus for several hours without getting off but never caused a problem.

When the driver told Barnes that when he arrived at the transit center, he intended to get off the bus to take a break, Barnes asked if he could smoke a cigarette on the bus. When the driver told Barnes he needed to get Read More

Preliminary Hearing For Daniel Merrill March 20

Daniel Merrill

Staff Report

A 29-year-old Los Alamos man was arrested Feb. 24 at Los Alamos Medical Center on charges of assault on a police officer and battery on a police officer during an incident in the hospital’s emergency room.

According to police incident reports, three LAPD officers responded to a report that Daniel Merrill had allegedly checked himself into the emergency room and was treated by hospital staff who reportedly gave him a prescription to be filled at a pharmacy. At this point, Merrill allegedly became “belligerent and aggressive” toward hospital staff because they would Read More

No Hiring Freeze At Los Alamos County

COUNTY News:

County Responds To Queries About Hiring Freeze

Spokeswoman Julie Habiger responded this morning to queries about whether Los Alamos County has enacted a hiring freeze. The questions arose after a press release addressing a specific upcoming vacancy in the County Manager’s office stated that vacant positions were being considered as part of budget development for the upcoming fiscal year.

“The ‘vacant positions’ statement in the press release was made in the context of budgets going into effect when the new fiscal year begins on July 1. This is a typical part of our budget process Read More