Ad
It was my workiversary at the Rio Rancho Observer on Thursday, June 5! What a ride it has been so far.
As I go into another year here, I think back on some of my experiences both in and out of office. It goes without saying that there have been ups and downs to this rollercoaster of a job.
I started as a mere intern, naive to the turmoil and joy this job could bring. After a few weeks of interning, I was offered a full-time job as a reporter. I started by covering the arrest records, the weather and news briefs. Now, I cover crime, business, Sandoval County, Corrales and more if I am needed. Those “beats,” as we call them in journalism slang, have been what I eat, breathe and sleep for the past few years.
Crime is as one would expect it to be. It can be interesting, heartbreaking, secretive and surprising all at once. There have been some more difficult cases to cover than others. The ones that stay with me are the neglect/abuse case resulting in the death of Rio Ranchoan and disabled woman Mary Melero, the murder of 15-year-old Adrian Maestas and the young couple shot and killed in the mesa area of Rio Rancho. There have been other murders, but these are all unresolved.
I get asked all the time how I cope with coverage of these crimes. My answer is that I feel I am doing the right thing by telling each case’s story in the most truthful way I am allowed. Telling these stories keeps people informed and the judicial process in check. While it may be disturbing to hear about deaths and see bodies, I find that the hard part is witnessing victims’ families deal with their grief and uncertainty that their loved one won’t die in vain. There’s another aspect to this that people don’t realize. Often, when a criminal is convicted, their family is impacted by that as well. It is always a no-win situation.
On a lighter note, crime can also be funny. There have been instances where people have done the most ridiculous things and been charged with a crime. More often than not, it is kids being dumb or a person taking things to the extreme.
Business is another story entirely.
In these three years, I have watched businesses pop up and get torn down, openings, management changes, acts of kindness to the community and more.
Rio Rancho is growing, and it shows in the business sector whether people realize it or not. We had some big changes recently, including the opening of Market Street, Raising Cane’s and Prehistoric Mini-Golf. Another big one for the Mariposa community was the opening of Screaming Coyote.
There are things on the horizon as well, with a large development going in along Unser Boulevard, Bob’s Burgers expanding and pushes to open solar farms in Sandoval County.
Ad
That said, it would be nice to see more local, mom-and-pop businesses. I grew up in Northern Meadows, and as many who live there say, there needs to be more out there. The underserved portion of Rio Rancho is yearning for something, anything.
It is clear to see why some of that hasn’t happened. For business to happen out there, companies would need to build from scratch. That means water, sewer and everything that has become extraordinarily expensive over the years. It is cheaper to lease than build from scratch, and some larger companies that can afford it need to see more population out there before they take the leap.
Northern Meadows got creative, however. Since businesses won’t build out there, many people started food truck and other mobile businesses to compensate. It’s amazing what people can do when they put their minds to it.
Business is fun to cover. My favorite part is interviewing the owner and hearing their passion about their life’s work shine through.
While we are the “Rio Rancho” Observer, I also cover Sandoval County. This includes crime, business, commission meetings and community events. The county is made up of several “news deserts,” or places that don’t get a lot of attention from media. Some prefer it that way. It is comprised of 10 pueblos and two nations as well. Culturally, it is a fascinating place to be as a journalist. By hopping over municipal lines, the way of life changes drastically.
I have made good friends at the county through the years. While I remain politically neutral, those in office have been transparent and welcoming to my coverage. The communications office at the county is a large part of that.
As part of the county, Corrales has been a huge contribution to my coverage. It is a village that doesn’t have a problem taking care of neighbors. Its events are strongly community-driven and almost always have a kind, neighborly message that goes along with them.
Corrales is full of art, local business, farming, community and more. Also, don’t forget the horses. They keep Corrales moving. It is also a historical gold mine of arts, buildings, people and community.
To wrap up my trip down memory lane, I appreciate the work I do. This has never been about my glory or praise. No. I do this job to do my part in society and inform the masses. It is my passion and purpose in life.
As my idol Bob Woodward said, “Getting up in the morning and having work you love is what makes life different for people. If you get into a position where you don’t love what you’re doing, get off it.”
Here’s to three years!
