DEMING, N.M. (AP) - A food processing plant in Deming is closing  its doors just four years after  receiving a $500,000 city loan.
City officials say they've just  learned the Proper Foods plant plans to close and aren't sure what they can do.
Luna County economic development executive Linda Smrkovsky told city officials late last week that she's looking at options but hasn't  yet identified any.
The Deming Headlight  reports the City Council approved the loan using  state economic development funds in 2008.
Smrkovsky says about 125 workers make prepared frozen foods like tamales and stuffed peppers at  the plant.
The loan required the company  to maintain at least 100 full-time employees and make annual payments at a 3 percent interest rate. 
City officials were unable to  immediately provide the outstanding balance. Information from: Headlight, www.demingheadlight.com 
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is campaigning to win the White House as a Libertarian after receiving scant attention in the Republican presidential race.
According to an online story at the www.santafenewmexican.com Johnson easily became the party's presidential nominee at the
Libertarian national convention in Las Vegas, Nev., on Saturday. He hopes to appeal to voters fed up with the traditional two-party system this November. 
Johnson was a longshot candidate for the Republican presidential nomination when he announced in December that he would instead pursue the Libertarian ticket. He won 74 percent of the vote on the first ballot in Las Vegas, an unusual showing of support. In 2008, Libertarian delegates needed six rounds of voting to pick a presidential nominee.
Johnson supports legalized marijuana, low taxes and immigration reform.
He was elected New Mexico's governor in 1994.  What are your opinions of Johnson, and his chances to become our next President? Let us know.

(Deming) --  Deming High School Girls Ladycat softball team lost in their state tournament this morning (Saturday).  The Ladycats played Atrisco Heritage Academy.  The game went into extra innings.  After 8 innings, the final score was Atrisco 9, Ladycats 8. 
Also, the Deming High boys baseball team lost to St. Pius this morning (Saturday).  St. Pius shut out the Cats 11-0.  They won the best of three games, 2-0 and now go on.  For both the Wildcats, and Ladycats it is the end of the season. 

(Deming) --  The Deming-Luna County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the local Cinco de Mayo festival tomorrow (Saturday) in Deming.  Festivities will begin with a parade on East Pine Street, then going south on South Gold - ending up at the Luna County Courthouse park.  The parade will follow the same route as the Great American Duck Race and Southwest NM State Fair parades. 
  Festivities will continue at the Luna County Courthouse park starting at 11am.  Citizens will enjoy food, vendors and live mariachi music as well as a singing contest.  Area residents can also participate in a chile eating contest. 
  Bring your family and friends and enjoy a fun day in Deming!

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(Deming) -- Time is running out for anyone wishing to vote in the June 5th primary election who is not already registered to vote in Luna County. The deadline to register is 5 p-m this coming Tuesday, May 8th.
    Voter registration forms may be requested by calling the Luna County clerk's office at 546-0491 or stopping by the office in the courthouse.
    Luna County Clerk Karen Smyer said that because New Mexico is a "closed primary" state, only voters affiliated with the Democrat or Republican parties are eligible to cast a ballot in June.
    All registered voters can vote in the November general election.
    Also, early voting begins Tuesday. Any registered Democrat or Republican may vote in person at the county clerk's office beginning Tuesday. Voters also may request an application and absentee ballot to be mailed to their home.
    Early voting will take place weekdays from 8 a-m to 5 p-m in the county clerk's office.
    The last day to apply and vote in person at the county clerk's office will be Saturday, June 2nd from 10 a-m to 6 p-m.
    Also, the Mimbres Valley Learning Center will be open for early voting beginning Saturday, May 19th through Saturday, June 2nd. Ballots may be cast at the learning center Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a-m to 7 p-m, and Saturdays from 9 to 5.
In other news... Smyer reminds voters that Knights of Columbus and Sunshine School are no longer designated polling places.
Registrants in Precinct Three now cast their ballot at the Mimbres Valley Learning Center, 2300 East Pine.
And the new polling location for Precinct Thirteen is the Sunshine Volunteer Fire Department, 965 Sunshine Road Southwest.
For more information, contact the county clerk's office at 546-0491.

Crime Report 5/3/12  
(Deming) -- Here's the area  crime report:
Esteban Duran, age 33, was  arrested for cruelty to animals and on an Adult Probation and Parole office warrant for a probation violation... Isaac Gonzalez, age 31, was arrested for interference with officers, shoplifting and trespassing... Valerie Fierro, age 18, of Silver City, was arrested for trespassing, concealing her identity, and on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear... and Joseph Quintero, age 23, was arrested for shoplifting and being an accessory to a crime.
Also, a bicycle valued at over $100 was taken from a parking lot off East Pine.

(Deming) -- The Luna County Sheriff's Department will be conducting D-W-I saturation patrols during the Cinco de Mayo weekend.
Deputies will be looking for  drunk and impaired drivers, drivers exceeding the posted speed limits, and other  traffic law violators.
Motorists are reminded to buckle up, use child restraint seats, drive the speed limit, avoid distractions like cell phone talking and texting, and never drive impaired through the use of 
alcohol or narcotics.

(Deming) -- Kindergarten  preregistration for the 2012-2013 school year concludes Friday with 
preregistration at Columbus Elementary. 
To be eligible for kindergarten, a child must have reached his or her fifth birthday by August 
31st, 2012.
Parents or guardians must bring  their child to preregistration, along with his or her birth certificate,
proof  of residency and immunization records. The kindergarten teacher will meet with  the child and parent or guardian as part of the registration process to do a  skill assessment of the student.
Immunization boosters will be  provided for students needing them.
Children will be registered on  a first-come, first-served basis at each building.
Registration at Columbus Elementary will take place this Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 and 1 to 3.

(Deming) -- The city of Deming  water restrictions are now in place.
If you live at an address that  ends in an even number, you are cleared to water your lawn and garden on  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Odd-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
All addresses may water on Sundays.
However, no watering may take  place during the heat of the day because of evaporation. The restrictions state  that residents are prohibited from watering any day between the hours of 10 a-m  and 6 p-m.
In addition... the washing of  vehicles may occur only when a shut-off device or nozzle is used on the end of a  hose, so water is not constantly running.
And any "ponding" or collection  of water in the street or adjacent property can result in the issuance of a  citation.
City officials have said that  offenders will receive a citation and be ordered to appear before Municipal  Judge Frank VanGundy. Minimum fines will be 65-dollars; second offenders can  expect much higher fines.

(Deming) -- Here's the area crime report:
 Maria Corona, age 34, was  arrested on two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of  drug paraphernalia and on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a  probation violation... Jesus Martinez, age 26, was arrested on two counts of  trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and on  an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation... Billy  Smith, age 59, was arrested for interfering with officers... Gesaray Wilderman, age 20, was charged with embezzlement... Steven Hernandez, age 29, was arrested  for improper display of registration... Estella Contreras, age 21, was arrested  on a Magistrate warrant... and Ashley Sanchez, age 19, was arrested on a  Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines.