Deming's hospital has been reaccredited by one of the leading agencies for quality and operating standards among health care providers.

Mimbres Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home received the reaccreditation from The Joint Commission following an unannounced, on-site evaluation in December.

The Joint Commission reportedly utilizes one of the most stringent sets of operating standards for health care facilities.

A team of Joint Commission surveyors evaluated Mimbres Memorial for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

Onsite surveys also were conducted separately in the hospital laboratory and long term care areas, which also were reaccredited.

Mimbres Memorial C-E-O Steve Westenhofer said the seal of approval of The Joint Commission is the gold standard in the health care industry and is evidence of their commitment to the Deming community.

Westenhofer said the accreditation gives the local hospital the ability to say it is one of the best hospitals in the country.

The accreditation process is designed to help hospitals improve performance, raise the level of patient care, and demonstrate accountability in the rapidly changing health care marketplace.

Luis Alarcon, age 22, was arrested for driving while license was suspended or revoked, improper equipment and no insurance... Eric Paz, age 29, was arrested for breaking and entering and resisting or obstructing officers... Mark Robbins, age 45, was arrested for filing a false report... and Arthur Reyes, age 55, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines.

Also... a residence, vehicle and shop were tampered with off Solana Road Southeast... and a 19-year-old Deming man reported being the victim of fraud after his credit card was used for over 250-dollars worth of purchases without his permission.

The public's input on gang issues in Deming and Luna County is being sought.

Deming Police Chief Michael Carillo, who also serves as a director of the New Mexico Gang Task Force, said they are seeking input at the community level on gang issues -- specifically the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to gang enforcement, prevention, intervention and suppression.

Carillo said information submitted at the local level will be taken to a statewide meeting where officials can work on projects reflecting the input that can then be implemented in communities across the state.

Carillo attended a state gang task force meeting in Albuquerque this week, and everyone present was directed to go back to their home communities and solicit grassroots input.

Specifically they are looking for the public's ideas on how to fix gang problem issues and maintain effective programs -- especially in light of projected funding cuts.

Anyone who can provide input on the gang situation in Deming and Luna County is encouraged to email Chief Carillo at mcarillo@cityofdeming.org or drop off their input at the police department, 700 East Pine.

Input needs to be submitted by March 30th.

Deming Police officials have renewed their request for help from the public in locating a missing local man.

47-year-old Paul Madrid was last seen by family members and friends in May.

Deming Police Chief Michael Carillo said it is suspected that foul play might be involved in his disappearance... and detectives are following up on new information they've received.

Madrid was entered into the National Crime Information Center system as missing and endangered.

Anyone with information on Madrid's whereabouts is encouraged to call Deming Police Detective Richard Pacheco or Crime Stoppers at 546-7800.

Calls to Crime Stoppers are never recorded or traced, and you could receive up to a thousand-dollars for information provided anonymously.

Again... 47-year-old Paul Madrid has not been seen by family or friends since May... and officials believe foul play may be involved in his disappearance.

He continues to be listed as missing and endangered.

Anyone with information on Madrid's whereabouts should contact the Deming Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 546-7800.

A 46-year-old Deming man was struck by a vehicle on North Gold after the man walked into oncoming traffic.

Deming Police Captain Brandon Gigante said 46-year-old Joselino Sosa-Martinez of Deming walked into the north bound lane of North Gold at just before 9 Tuesday night and was struck by a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro being driven by 54-year-old Anita Medina of Bayard.

Sosa-Martinez's injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, but he was transported to El Paso for treatment.

Gigante said officers at the scene reported that Sosa-Martinez was intoxicated when he walked into the oncoming traffic.

The impact caused Sosa-Martinez to roll onto the hood, windshield and then roof of the Camaro, shattering the windshield and damaging the body of Medina's car.

Medina was cited for careless driving.

The Deming Elks Lodge has made recent contributions in its mission to help people with Cerebral Palsy.

The local Elks members, in conjunction with the state Elks Association Cerebral Palsy Commission, presented an iPad and case, valued at over 800-dollars to a local girl with Cerebral Palsy and developmental delays.

Officials say the iPad, which uses touch technology, will help Lynette Von Tress with her school work.

The Elks members also presented a six-thousand dollar check to Deming Dust Devils Gymnastics to replace mats at the gym.

Lisa Perez, a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant, said gymnastics is one of the most comprehensive lifestyle exercise programs available for children with Cerebral Palsy.

She said it incorporates strength, flexibility, speed, balance, coordination, power and discipline.

The Deming Dust Devils organization reportedly offers special needs youth the opportunity to develop agility, flexibility, muscular endurance, static and dynamic balance, and conditioning, which improves the children's overall health and self-esteem.

Jessica Aguilar, age 30, of Portales, was arrested for assault against a household member and disorderly conduct... Antonio Holguin, age 34, was arrested on three counts of burglary... Eva Pacheco-Palomarez, age 36, was arrested on a felony Magistrate warrant for two counts of forgery and two counts of fraud... Thomas Jenkins, age 34, of Ruidoso Downs, was arrested for driving while license was suspended or revoked, improper equipment and having an expired registration...

Rogelio Yepes, age 31, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation... Lydia Ann Gonzales, age 39, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole office warrant for a probation violation... Gilbert Valencia, age 20, of Tucson, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant and was cited for minor allowing self to be served alcohol... Nicole Scarpa, age 28, of Ruidoso, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines... and April Mariscal, age 23, was cited for shoplifting at The Shoe Department.

Also... a laptop computer valued at 800-dollars was taken from a residence off South Platinum... 500-dollars in criminal damage occurred to a power line pole off the Silver City Highway after it was struck by a vehicle... and a window valued at 450-dollars was broken out of a van in Columbus.

Preliminary figures from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions show Luna County with a January unemployment rate of 20-percent -- up from the December revised rate of 17-point-one percent but down slightly from last January's rate of 20-point-six percent.

Following Luna County in the list of New Mexico counties with the worst unemployment is Mora County with 14-point-eight percent unemployment... and Guadalupe at 10-point-8 percent. Those were the only three counties in the state with unemployment greater than 10-percent.

Rounding out the top five are Torrance at nine-point-one percent... and Catron at nine-percent.

In our area... Grant County was at seven-point-seven percent unemployment in January... Hidalgo County was at six-point-two... and the Las Cruces area was at seven-point-six.

The county with the least unemployment remains Los Alamos with three-point-four percent.

The state unemployment rate for January -- at seven-point-three percent -- was up from the six-point-six percent rate in December. The seasonally adjusted rate for both months was seven-percent even.

The New Mexico labor force estimates show Luna County with a labor force of 11-thousand-854 -- with nine-thousand-487 employed... and two-thousand-367 unemployed.

The Luna County Commissioners have appointed a steering committee for the creation of a comprehensive plan which will guide county policy and provide direction for county growth and development.

Committee members approved at this month's commission meeting are, alphabetically, Joel Chinkes... Dudley Counce... Bill Duncan... Rick Holdridge... Danny King... Matthew McReynolds... Ricardo Molina... Merlin Norenberg... Robert Pastran... Dave Peterson... Nancy Sherman... Anne Shine-Ring... Fred Tiedge... and Andrea Williams.

The commissioners also appointed members to the county's Natural Resources Planning Commission -- or Public Lands Advisory Committee.

Those members are: Russell Baker... Dianne Cook... Russ Howell... Joe Bill Nunn... Henry Parra... Tom Roy Perez... Totsie Slover... Kevin Speer... and Monte Speir.

Eric Meraz, age 26, was arrested for indecent exposure... Michael Shaffer, age 36, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines... and Gilbert Valencia, age 20, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines.