The new site ushers in a new era of convergence, as the newspaper advances its Internet presence.

The site, lamonitor.com, has a number of key features and technological advances that were not available on the newspaper’s previous Web site.

Chief among those features, the site now affords a greater use of video, photo slideshows, reader forums, blogs, and other elements designed to extend the newspaper’s reach and provide a place for community conversation and debate.

“This is indeed the moment of convergence for the Los Alamos Monitor, Publisher Keven Todd said. “The Monitor is no longer a newspaper that also happens to have a Web site. As we’ve seen the lamonitor.com numbers explode and essentially double in the past year—220,000 page views in August—it has become clear that a greater depth of online capabilities was needed in order to better serve our readers and advertisers.”

In reviewing some of the site improvements, Todd pointed to video as being chief among them.

The new content system makes it easier and faster for the news team to post video than ever before, he said.

“Not only is there a multimedia showcase for video and photo slideshows on the homepage, but readers will also find video posted with more stories to add a depth of reporting that was time-consuming and rather cumbersome on the previous site,” Todd said. “The video feature alone represents an ability to add a dimension to reporting news that is unprecedented here locally.”

Other enhancements to lamonitor.com include Reader Forums, Blogs, and a Pet of the Week feature along with an Adopt-a-Pet from the local shelter.

Readers will also find a way to more easily access the specific news they’re looking for through the drop-down menus under each of the main section headers at the top of the homepage.

“We’ve been listening to what our readers have been telling us they want from the Monitor, in both print and online,” Todd said. “The online side not only represents a major investment that allows the Monitor to deliver a greater depth of news here locally, but it also coincides with a bigger, company-wide online initiative by Landmark Community Newspapers, the parent company of the Monitor.”

Regular online readers should go ahead and register on the site in order to post comments, and participate in the many features that will in essence become an online extension of the Los Alamos community, Todd said.

“At some point in the not-too-distant future, much of the content on lamonitor.com will go behind a pay wall,” Todd said. “Print newspaper subscribers will gain access to the online extras as part of their paid subscriptions, while anyone will be able to purchase an online-only subscription and continue to gain full access to all the local news. We invest so much in developing local content; it simply does not make sense for the Monitor to continue giving it away for free online.”

Todd said that while the new lamonitor.com is a substantial step forward for the Monitor in terms of becoming a more robust multimedia news outlet, he points out that this is only the first phase and that more enhancements are already in development.

“We want everyone to get involved with the online community that lamonitor.com will come to represent,” Todd said. “But stay tuned, the best is yet to come.”

LANS officials honor 9/11 victims with a wreath placed today at Overlook Park during the annual Picnic in the Park Day. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

A somber ceremony led by Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Michael Anastasio this afternoon at Overlook Park was filled with memories of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack and the people who lost their lives on that horrific day.

“We all felt vulnerable that day in a way we’ve never felt before and unlike the rest of the population – we get to come to work everyday and we have the ability to do something about it,” Anastasio said.

Ed Vigil of LANL's Government Affairs Office, LANL Director Michael Anastasio and Acting Director Terry Hawkins of LANL's Office of Counterintelligence during today's 9/11 ceremony at Overlook Park. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

David Swingle from the laboratory’s veteran’s committee spoke of the cowardly sneak attack in which there was “no warning, no pity and prisoners.”

“There were feelings of disbelief, great loss and a resolve to never let it happen again…a small group of religious fanatics are not going to ruin our American way of life…but we have a lingering problem and that is terrorism,” Swingle said.

Some 3,000 LANS employees, family members and members of the community gathered at Overlook Park in White Rock for the fourth annual Picnic in the Park Day. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Acting Director Terry Hawkins of LANL’s Office of Counterintelligence recalled where he was when the planes flew into the World Trade Center.

Director Kurt Steinhaus of LANL's Community Program Office joins others today for a moment of silence in honor of those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

“I was in Israel giving a talk on counterterrorism, someone came in and said, ‘Terry, the World Trade Center has collapsed,’” Hawkins said.

LANL Director Michael Anastasio. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

A moment of silence about 3,000 laboratory employees, family members and people from the community who gathered at the event.

LANS’ Picnic at the Park has become an annual tradition since Los Alamos National Security took over the management contract for LANL four years ago.

Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

The first two years it was held at Sullivan Field and last year and today at Overlook Park.

LANS gives UNM-Los Alamos a $1,000 check for its Public Safety Certificate Program in recognition of the firefighters and police officers who makes sacrifices daily to protect America. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

This year’s picnic day just happened to fall on the anniversary of 9/11, said co-organizers Tim Martinez from the laboratory’s Community Programs Office and Ed Vigil from the Government Affairs Office. Martinez and Vigil worked on today’s event for the last year with organizing committee chair Camille Lopez.

LANL Director Michael Anastasio passes out book bags to attendees at today's annual laboratory family day. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

LANS hired national event planning experts Compass Rose, which partnered with local nonprofits to share in the profits of the day, providing hot dogs and hamburgers, Jolly Jumpers and other family fun activities on LANS’ tab.

Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Los Alamos fire and police personnel set up their vehicles and interacted with the public, as did LANL’s Emergency Management and Response team.

“This is a way for LANS to show appreciation to all of the employees for their hard work and dedication throughout the year,” Vigil said. “This year because the event fell on 9/11, LANS wanted to also recognize the sacrifices fire and police personnel make on a daily basis and on 9/11.”

Los Alamos Police, Firefighters and LANL's EM&R brought out their trucks for the public to tour today during the picnic. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

LANS awarded Executive Director Cedric Paige of the University of New Mexico at Los Alamos a $1,000 check at the event for its Public Safety Certificate Program.

Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Senior LANL management was on hand meeting and greeting laboratory employees, their families and members of the community throughout the day.

Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Shari Mills. Photo by Carol A. Clark/for the Monitor

Det. Shari Mills has tendered her resignation with the Los Alamos Police Department and accepted the district attorney’s offer to enter a pre-prosecution diversion program.

Mills, 53, was on paid administrative leave since June, after becoming the prime suspect in an aggravated burglary case at the home of her ex-husband, Lt. Scott Mills, also a Los Alamos police officer.

LAPD called in the state police to investigate the case while conducting a parallel administrative investigation of their own.

“We have concluded our internal affairs investigation and just received a letter of resignation from Det. Mills,” Deputy Chief Kevin Purtymun said Wednesday. “It’s up to the district attorney’s office whether criminal charges will be filed.”

District Attorney Angela Pacheco said Thursday morning that Det. Mills was facing felony charges of residential burglary and larceny.

“Det. Mills has been referred to a diversion program with consent of the victim Scott Mills,” Pacheco said. “She has to meet with our office for one year – she has a substance abuse issue and she has to get treatment for that issue.”

Ordinarily, individuals involved in burglaries and larcenies are not referred to the diversion program but this is a domestic issue, she said.

“In determining whether to put someone in the program, we take into account prior criminal history, the nature of the crime and the victim’s feelings in the matter,” Pacheco said. “Det. Mills was apparently under the influence at the time of the break in. If she had a criminal record or if it were a violent crime she wouldn’t have been put in the program. If the victim had been opposed, we would never have put her in the diversion program – he really supported her getting treatment.”

Pacheco described Det. Mills as a person who “for the most part has led an upstanding life.”

“For personal reasons she had a stumble,” Pacheco said.

Read the full story in Friday’s edition of the Los Alamos Monitor.

“We have the cell phone in our possession and are examining it,” Capt. Randy Foster said. “We’re also going through the process to retain the vehicle in which the woman passed away for further investigation and evidence purposes.”

The vehicle is a gray Nissan Altima that belonged to Miranda Martinez, 29, of Velarde.

Martinez was driving west on East Jemez Road near Royal Crest Mobile Home Park when, according to police, Matthew Vigil, 33, of Espanola driving eastbound crossed over the line in his Chevy Silverado pick-up and smashed into her car.

She died at the scene.

“Investigations become very sensitive anytime there’s a death involved,” Foster said.

He estimates that it could take up to a month to complete this investigation. In the meantime, Vigil has not been charged or cited.

Read the full story in today’s edition of the Los Alamos Monitor.

“We made a list of people we thought would be good and Betty was on the short list,” Democratic Party Chair Cathy Chapman said. “She’s good at researching, organizing and making sound decisions.”

Gunther, 65, retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory about five years ago following a career as a computer and electrical technician. She was a founding member of the University, Professional and Technical Employees union at LANL.

“I have been following county government for many years and I’m interested in the future of this community,” Gunther said. “I’ve actually toyed with the idea (of serving on council) for some time, not for any specific reasons except I’m a great believer in democracy doesn’t work unless we do. My issues are really about how we govern our county – all the many little things that make up our community.”

Read the full story in today’s edition of the Los Alamos Monitor.

Fifty students, staff and their parents attended Rachel's Challenge last night at Los Alamos Middle School. Here students Hallie Thayer, Sydney Trujillo and Principal Donna Grim accept the challenge by signing the banner. Tonight at 6:30, Los Alamos High School will host the final, free presentation about how simple acts of kindness can change the world. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen/for the Monitor

Steve Watts. Courtesy photo

The Los Alamos Cooperative Market has taken yet another major step in its journey to becoming a reality.

It has hired a general manager with extensive co-op experience to help move the operation through the home stretch.

“The co-op board is delighted to announce that Steve Watts has accepted our offer,” said Nancy Savoia, board president. “Steve was the general manager of the French Broad Food Cooperative in Asheville, N.C. for the last four years and before that was the business development director for the La Montanita Co-op here in New Mexico.”

In his work with La Montanita, Watts served as project manager on two new cooperative store acquisitions, Savoia said, adding that his experience and dedication to natural food cooperatives qualify him for the challenges ahead.

“I have actually been working with Los Alamos since about 2005,” Watt said in an interview from Ashville Tuesday.

He will initially serve a non-concurrent dual role with the Los Alamos co-op. When he moves to town next month, Watts will work as project manager, assisting board members and the developers in building the store at Pajarito Cliffs.

“That will be my first duty and I will do everything from equipment sourcing to store layout and design to hiring staff,” Watts said. “Once the store is turned over to us by the developers, hopefully by mid January, then I’ll be the general manager overseeing the operations of the store.”

The goal is to run a successful, viable food co-op, he said, adding that the challenge is how to take a co-op located on the edge of town and make it the heart of the community.

“If we can do that, then we’ve been successful,” Watts said.

Read the full story in Thursday’s edition of the Los Alamos Monitor.

Charges or citations listed in Police Beat do not imply innocence or guilt.

Aug. 26

6:40 p.m. – A 17-year-old Los Alamos boy was charged with reckless driving in Rendija Canyon.  He was referred to the juvenile probation officer and released to his parents.

Aug. 27

2:43 p.m. – A 14-year-old Los Alamos boy was charged with distribution of a controlled substance at the Los Alamos Middle School. He was referred to the juvenile probation officer and released to his parents.

2:43 p.m. – A 13-year-old Los Alamos boy was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia at the Los Alamos Middle School. He was referred to the juvenile probation officer and released to his parents.

Aug. 28

12:49 p.m. – Andrew C. Lawrence, 38, of Los Alamos was charged with battery and issued a criminal summons to appear in court.

12:16 a.m. – Konstantin Turitsyn, 28, was arrested on Canyon Road and charged with DWI following a traffic stop.

3 a.m. – Javier E. Leyva, 22, was arrested in Santa Fe by another agency on a Los Alamos Magistrate Court bench warrant.

Aug. 29

7:24 p.m. – Justin Stone, 24, of Los Alamos was arrested on Central Avenue and charged with driving on a suspended or revoked license following a traffic stop.

9:15 p.m. – Andrew C. Lawrence, 38, of Los Alamos was arrested and charged with extreme cruelty to animals after police discovered that he stabbed his cat to death.

3:37 p.m. – Maria Munoz, 20, was served a Municipal Court Warrant while she was in the Los Alamos County Detention Center.

Aug. 30

8:29 p.m. – Travis Kennedy, 32, of Los Alamos was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting, evading, obstructing an officer on Iris Street after police responded to a disturbance call.

Aug. 31
9:51 a.m. – Desiree Nitz, 20, of Los Alamos was arrested on Canyon Road on a Municipal Court Warrant.

Sept. 1

11 p.m. – Ivan Y Vasin, 19, of Los Alamos, Colt Francis Allen, 19, Mark Anthony Martinez, 21, James Tyler Leibee, 19, and a 17-year-old Los Alamos girl were issued criminal citations to appear in court for being in possession of alcohol at 3301 Canyon Rd.

11:35 p.m. – Manuel Baca Jr., 22, of Los Alamos was arrested and charged with buying, selling or giving alcohol to minors.

Read Police Beat archives at lamonitor.com.

Sen. Tom Udall. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Local business people shared bottom line concerns with U.S. Sen. Tom Udall during a Chamber Coffee event at Fuller Lodge Tuesday.

“More than anything, I just want to hear from everybody,” Udall said. “We’re very; very interested in the small business situation here. One of the things we want to do is get money into the hands of community banks.”

County Council Chair Mike Wismer and Rep. Jeannette Wallace attend Chamber Coffee. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

The banking and mortgage loan crisis that has plagued the nation for the last three years has led to stiffer regulations.

CEO Bill Enloe of Los Alamos National Bank told Udall that those regulations are making things difficult for community banks —  especially banks in rural communities.

County Administrator Tony Mortillaro greets business people at Tuesday's Chamber Coffee event at Fuller Lodge. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

“The new regulations were imposed in part to limit risks to banks, but the effect on community banks is that it makes it difficult to raise capital – if you’re shrinking capital – you’re shrinking loans,” Enloe said.

CEO Bill Enloe of Los Alamos National Bank and Kent Pegg, owner of LA Fitness participated in a meeting with Sen. Tom Udall Tuesday as part of September's Chamber Coffee. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Read the full story in the Los Alamos Monitor.

Chamber Coffee. Photo by Katy Korkos/for the Monitor

County Council Vice Chair Sharon Stover and Katy Korkos of the Chamber listen as Sen. Tom Udall speaks with business people. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Kurt Steinhaus of LANL's Community Programs Office discusses a number of laboratory accomplishments with Sen. Tom Udall. Photo by Carol A. Clark/Monitor

Hjelm withdrew his candidacy last month citing time constraints.

“We made a list of people we thought would be good and Betty was on the short list,” Chair Cathy Chapman said.

Read the full story in Thursday’s edition of the Los Alamos Monitor.