SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DEMING...COLUMBUS

THU SEP 20 2012

.TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S. NORTH WINDS UP TO 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON.

.TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 50S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

.FRIDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S. NORTHWEST WINDS UP TO 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST IN THE AFTERNOON.

.FRIDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 55 TO 60. SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

.SATURDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 85 TO 90. NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHEAST 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

.SATURDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS AROUND 50.

.SUNDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S.

.SUNDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 50S.

.MONDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S.

.MONDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 50S.

.TUESDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY

CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S.

.TUESDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 50S.

.WEDNESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 80 TO 85.

(Santa Fe) AP - The Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) of New Mexico is considering an amendment to its child care assistance policy to exempt victims of "forcible rape" from having to  file child support claims against the absent parent.

 Under current policy, anyone who applies and qualifies for child care assistance from the state of New Mexico is required to file a child support claim against any absent parent. The newly proposed amendment exempts a woman from contacting the other parent if her child "was conceived as a result of incest or forcible rape."

The CYFD will hold a public hearing on the change on Oct. 1, but it is unclear when the amendment would go into effect if it is approved. 

However, if the amendment passes a woman whose rape is not ruled "forcible," such as a young victim of statutory rape, would be forced to contact her rapist for child support in order to receive any state assistance. 

"That's what's so confusing --when it gets down to a caseworker deciding whether I'm exempt or not," said Adriann Barboa, the field director for the New Mexico branch of Strong Families. "What's the litmus test for whether it was forcible rape? This seems like a covert way of normalizing this language."  

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, a former prosecutor, also used the "forcible rape" language in an executive proclamation earlier this year. 
 
“When are we going  to stop looking for ways to minimize the violence against women?" K.C. Quirk, executive director of Crossroads for Women in Albuquerque, N.M., said in a statement. "Rape by definition is already an act of power and control.” 
 
Martinez's office and the CYFD did not immediately respond to the AP’s requests for comment. 

(Deming) – Here’s the area crime report:
 
Katherine Murray, age  45, of Nashville, Tennessee, was arrested for DUI…

Charges were filed on Brandon  Kibe, age 29, for aggravated assault…
Rigoberto Garay, age 30, was arrested on  two counts each of forgery, fraud, identity theft and conspiracy…
Richard  Barrio, age 54, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… 
Daniel Carreon, age 21, of Santa Fe, was arrested for interference with  officers and on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation.

Also… a refrigerator  valued at $1,500 was taken from a residence off East Elm… three window air  conditioner units were taken
from a rental residence off North Acoma… and a  window was broken on a storage house off South Platinum.

(Deming) – Voters who would like to vote in the November 6th general election  but who are not currently
registered to vote have less than three weeks to  register. 

County Clerk Karen  Smyer said voter registration for the November 6th general election  will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9th. 

And Smyer said that  same day – Tuesday, October 9th – is the first day a voter may cast a  paper absentee ballot or vote in person on an electronic voting system in the clerk’s office. 

Early voting continues  through Saturday, November 3rd.

Voters also may request  an application and absentee ballot to be mailed to them. The last day the clerk may mail an  absentee ballot to an applicant is Friday, November  2nd.

Contact the county  clerk’s office at 546-0491 for more information.  There are a number of  races of local  interest.

Incumbent District 35 State Senator Democrat John Arthur Smith of  Deming is facing Republican Russell Allen of Las  Cruces.

Incumbent District 32 State Representative Democrat Dona Irwin is challenged by Republican Thomas Guerra.

Democrat Francesca Estevez is  facing Republican George Zsoka for the position of Sixth Judicial District  Attorney.

Democrat Jennifer DeLaney is facing  Republican Jarod Hofacket for the opportunity to fill the Sixth Judicial 
District Court judgeship vacated with the retirement of Gary Jeffreys.

Incumbent Luna County District Three  Commissioner Javier Diaz, a Democrat, has two opponents: Republican Philip  Skinner and Independent Martha Long.

And on the ballot unopposed is Democrat  Andrea Rodriguez for Luna County Clerk.

SOUTHWEST DESERT/MIMBRES BASIN-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DEMING...COLUMBUS

WED SEP 19 2012

.TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S. NORTH WINDS UP TO 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON.

.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 50S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST AFTER MIDNIGHT.

.THURSDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S. NORTHWEST WINDS UP TO 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON.

.THURSDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 50S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.

.FRIDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S. NORTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.

.FRIDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 55 TO 60.

.SATURDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S.

.SATURDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 40S.

.SUNDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 80S.

.SUNDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 50S.

.MONDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 80.

.MONDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 50S.

.TUESDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING THEN BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S.

Deming Ladycat Volleyball Scores at home  tonight:

Freshmen : 
Deming lost 0 -2 games to the Gadsden Panthers


JV:
 Deming lost 0-2 games to the Panthers
JV Game 1   (25-20)
JV Game 2   (25-11)

Varsity:
Deming lost 0-3 games to the Panthers

Varsity Game 1 (25-11)
Varsity Game 2 (25-10)
Varsity Game 3  (25-8)

(Deming) – The Luna County  Sheriff’s Department recently participated in a statewide operation – dubbed  Operation Complete Clean-Up – to verify that sex offenders residing in Luna  County were in compliance with  applicable federal and state  law.

Officials said the  compliance checks included verifications of places of residence, work, and  school locations if the offender was attending a post-secondary educational  program.

Sheriff’s Lieutenant  Joy Mullins said the local address verifications showed all registered sex  offenders within Luna County were complying with legal requirements with the  exception of one absconder, and a warrant has been issued for his  arrest. 

She said there are  approximately 40 offenders  residing in Luna County who are required by law to  register.

Mullins added that  although all addresses were current with Sheriff’s Department records, the state  website needed updating
for several Luna County registrants, which was  done. 

Reportedly, random  operations of this type are conducted throughout the 33 counties and tribal  lands each year to ensure that
offenders convicted of sex crimes which require  them to register are in compliance with the Sex Offender  Registry. 

The public can access  the statewide New Mexico Sex Offender Registry at www.nmsexoffender.dps.state.nm.us .

(Deming)  – Luna County has hired the new Starmax general manager. County  Manager Kelly Kuenstler announced that Ira Pearson of Las Cruces was selected for the new county government position.

Pearson most recently was the general financial manager for Dickerson Group, LLC, of Las Cruces, which owns The Game Sports Bar and Grill, Hurricane Alley Bar, Dickerson’s Catering and the Sports Skills Institute. 

Kuenstler  said Pearson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from New Mexico State University and has 21 hours toward a Master’s in Business Administration.


Pearson is assuming the position of Starmax general manager this week.  As  a county employee, he will report to Kuenstler, who was named Starmax Managing  Member at a special commission meeting Tuesday. 

Previously,  the county contracted the management of the facility to an outside entity – most recently American Family
Entertainment.

Reportedly,  all current Starmax employees will have to reapply to maintain their current position with the new management team beginning October 1st. Persons hired will  be employed by an LLC – or Limited Liability Company – instead of by the county.