East Mountains

By The Independent Staff At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Bernalillo County Commission approved construction to rebuild the Los Vecinos Community Center Skate Park. Chair Eric Olivas sponsored the initiative, which was funded through the county’s general funds. This project aims to replace the current modular metal skate park with a new poured-in-place skate park […]

Bernalillo County employees are now free to use cannabis when off duty. County commissioners voted Tuesday to approve changes in the drug-free workplace policy that essentially treat employees’ cannabis use the same way as alcohol use is regulated. Commission Vice Chair Eric Olivas sponsored the change. He said it’s a matter of personal liberty for […]

A horrific scene unfolded at a home in Tijeras over the weekend as the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office says a 24-year-old man killed his father, mother and sister on Oct. 13. BCSO Sheriff John Allen said Adlai Mestre confessed to killing his family after three people were found dead in a ravine near the home.  […]

Bernalillo County hosted the East Mountain community for a party at Vista Grande Community Center in Sandia Park on Sept. 22. The 2024 East Mountain Celebration centered around the themes of “Fire Safety and Awareness” and “First Responder Appreciation,” bringing the community together for a day of fun, entertainment and education. Bernalillo County Fire & […]

According to new research, extreme levels of fluoride in drinking water could be associated with lower IQ in children, but according to local water officials, Albuquerque and Bernalillo County’s fluoride levels are still safe for residents. In its “Monograph on the State of Science Concerning Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopment and Cognition,” the National Toxicology Program, […]

Bernalillo County broke ground Sept. 19 on the next phase of renovations at Los Vecinos Community Center in Tijeras.  According to a press release from the county, the event celebrated the start of several improvements, including a new multisport court, new playing fields, a new stage and other special events amenities, a new skate park, […]

A Bernalillo County commissioner is looking to make things more fair for county employees who use cannabis outside work hours. Commissioner Eric Olivas said he plans to introduce legislation that would treat off-duty use of recreational cannabis in the same way as off-duty alcohol use. He called it a basic rights issue. Olivas said he’s been […]

Residents of the Carñuel area continue to see local officials working to improve their water situation. Bernalillo County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to spend almost $578,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money toward a wastewater project in the East Mountains community. The commission in 2021 approved $3.85 million for the project, though bids for the […]