Update!

The State Police Impact operation has to date netted the following results:

-13 “Operations” conducted since November 9, 2006
-17 Arrests (7 Felony, 10 Misdemeanors)
-5 Recovered Stolen Vehicles
-1 Recovered Stolen Camper
-1 Seized Firearm
-1.5 lbs. Marijuana Seized
-3 grams Cocaine Seized
-3 grams Meth Seized
-2 Search Warrants Served
Our sincere thanks for their continuing vigilance.

Robert Shilling reported the following:
"We are continuing to receive good information and intelligence. Please advise all the folks to keep the calls coming with respect to suspicious activity, residences and vehicles! 841-9218…P.S. License plate numbers and house descriptions are VERY helpful!!!!"

He further passed on the following reminder:
"In an effort to impact crime in the area, including dangerous and/or illegal driving, the State Police will randomly conduct DAYLIGHT Driver’s License, Registration, and Insurance compliance roadblocks.
The New Year is a good reminder for the residents to check out their vehicles and make sure everything is current and up to date. Don’t forget to check your driver’s license!"

To date, we have a total of 75 people registered for the Refuse to Be A Victim class which will be held on Jan 27th as listed on the Meadow Lake Residents Association website.
Those of you with Internet access, are welcome to check out the online version of this course.

Reminder:
Next regular meeting will be held on Jan 13 2007

Meadow Lake still making Headlines

Here are some Excerpts:

There are places in Valencia County where homes are protected by barbed wire, businesses' doors and windows are covered with wrought iron and residents don't go out at night.
Belen ranks No. 1 in property crime.Nationally, Los Lunas is in the top 1 percent in violent crime, and Belen is in the top 4 percent for cities their size.
Police say drugs, gangs and criminals from Albuquerque seeking refuge in rural areas are fueling the problem.

"There is more than just a sense that there are more bad guys than good guys. It is a reality in Valencia County," said State Police Lt. Robert Shilling. "Hats off to Albuquerque. They have done a good job at addressing their crime problem. But the reality is they have not squashed it. They have just moved it."

Det. Steve Flores, one of two officers in Valencia County who investigates narcotics full time, said the drugs are also coming from Albuquerque gang members."Before I came here, drugs were running rampant. No one was working it," he said. "The second day on the job, I seized 60 pounds of marijuana. There is plenty of work here."

In the midst of it all are residents like Bill and Rosemary Lebrecht. The couple lives in a nice one-story home on two acres in Meadow Lake.Their home is well kept, the house is graffiti-free and they take pride in their community.But they are surrounded by burned trailers. The never go on extended vacations, and every time they leave, they lock their driveway with a large farm fence.At night? "We never go out," Rosemary Lebrecht said.

Last month, the impact team conducted a special operation in Meadow Lake, seized a significant amount of narcotics and arrested four people who had warrants in Bernalillo County.
Lt. Shilling said, "Crime prevention doesn't start with law enforcement. It starts with citizens not wanting crime in their neighborhood."

This is precisely why the Meadow Lake Residents Association was formed.
We, the Meadow Lake residents, are like minded citizens united in a common goal. In unity, there is strength and together we plan to restore our community so that it will again be considered:
"Safe, Beautiful and a Desirous place to live".


The full article article can be found here:
http://www.news-bulletin.com/news/67453-12-16-06.html

Snow - Snow - Snow

Mother nature is getting ready for Santa in Meadow Lake

Los Lunas Mew Mexico

Click on the links for Full size pictures

TopLeft ..... TopRight

BottomLeft ..... BottomCenter ..... BottomRight

Meadow Lake begins work on crime and cleanup.

Here are some highlights from our last meeting held on 12-09-2006:

The Directors of the Meadow Lake Residents Association are taking their concerns before the county commission, law enforcement agencies, judges and the governor. We've made contact with newly elected State Rep. Andrew Barreras and newly elected County Commissioner David Medina, and they've promised to help us with our efforts.

Sam Aragon offered a special thanks to Cyndi Sluder of Tierra Bonita, the county's Keep New Mexico Beautiful agency for procuring dumpsters for us to help in the continuing effort to clean up our community.

Rosemary Lebrecht explained that the association dues have been established at $5.00 per month per family for those that can afford it. These dues are needed to help cover association costs.

Joe Morse was asked to organize three committees at the meeting, and residents were asked to sign up and volunteer to work on them immediately.
The three committees will focus on trash and weeds, a Neighborhood Watch program and an abatement program to get burned-out mobile homes removed.

State Police Sgt. Andy Baldridge explained that he is stationed in Los Lunas and understands that the residents of Meadow Lake have been having problems.
"I'll be one of your primary points of contact, and one of my specialties is community policing," Sgt. Andy Baldridge said. "We're committed to doing as much as we can, and when we're not on other calls, we are specifically detailed to come out here and spend as much time in the area as we can." "The police, are a tool, but we're not the answer to the problems out here," Baldridge said. "We want to educate you guys and give you more tools on how to deal with these things."

Sheriff's Deputy Jorge Trujillo talked a little about the Neighborhood Watch program the residents can organize and said they will start at the first of the year to get those established.
"The best weapon you can have is a pair of binoculars, not a gun or a knife," Trujillo said. The long process of removing abandoned or burned-out buildings was spelled out, and John Mirabal,
county code enforcement officer, and Tony Savilla, an abatemant officer for the county, took residents through the 12 steps that have to be taken.

We also received an education of the trials and tribulations of a 911 operator thanks to the great insight Faye Mitchell shared with us.

An association Web site was created by Bob Gostischa and is now in place. The association's e-mail and blog, which were set up earlier, can all be reached by visiting: http://mlra.newmexico.googlepages.com/
"It's the quickest way to find out what's going on between meetings," Bob Gostischa said.

In closing, Sam Aragon emphasized: "We don't have to live like this. We formed the association to revitalize Meadow Lake and bring it back to what it used to be."

Jackie Schlotfeldt of the Valencia County News-Bulletin has done an excellent job of writing up the complete minutes of our last meeting. Their newspaper is an excellent way to stay up-to-date with local news.

The next meeting of the Meadow Lake Residents Association will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the community center.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays And A Happy New YearTo All The Meadow Lake Residents