 (Deming) – A former New Mexico legislator and a leader in the agricultural community died Sunday. Grover Xavier – or “G. X.” – McSherry was 88.
McSherry was a local farmer and rancher, and served eight terms in the New Mexico House of Representatives – from 1982 to 1998 – representing District 32 in Luna County and part of Dona Ana County.
As a legislator, McSherry served on a number of committees, including the Agriculture and Water Committee, which he chaired for six terms. In 2001, then-Gov. Gary Johnson appointed McSherry to the state’s Water Trust Board, as a representative of acequia water users. He also was named to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Water, and was considered an expert on the history of water rights and usage in New Mexico.
While a member of the Legislature, McSherry was instrumental in bringing funding to this area for the development of Spring Canyon, Rock Hound and Pancho Villa state parks, the Deming-Luna-Mimbres Museum, the Deming Civic Center, the Deming Senior Center and the New Mexico State Police facilities in Deming, as well as a number of highway improvement projects.
In 1991, McSherry received the Philip J. Leyendecker Agriculturalist of Distinction Award from NMSU’s College of Agriculture and Home Economics. In 2003, he received an Honorary Doctorate from NMSU.
McSherry was born in 1924 in Dwyer, N.M., a small community in southwest New Mexico that no longer exists. He married Clara Jo – or “Jody” – in 1945, and together they had seven children.
McSherry told a New Mexico State University reporter that he and Jody spent their lives “raising the three Cs – cotton, cattle and children.”
 (Deming) – Here’s the area crime report:
Jana Black, age 32, was arrested for larceny and receiving stolen property… Donald Herrman, age 35, was arrested for larceny and receiving stolen property… Sly Escobar, age 26, of Hurley, was arrested for trespassing at a convenience store…
Adam Porras, age 24, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole office warrant for a probation violation… Jimmy Lee Romero, age 37, was arrested on a District Court warrant for a probation violation… Serina Aguilera, age 20, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… Alvin Cardona, age 27, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear… and Oswald Sanchez, age 20, was cited for allowing animals to run at large and for a vicious dog ordinance violation.
And in juvenile news… and a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy were cited for shoplifting at Kmart.
 Photo- Exalted Ruler George Torres and Mayor Andres Silva (Deming) – Deming Mayor Andres Silva has proclaimed next week – May 5th through the 11th – as Youth Week in Deming, to coincide with the Elks organization's National Youth Week.
Silva reportedly is encouraging all governmental departments, civic organizations, fraternal and patriotic groups, and residents in general to participate in the observance.
As part of the observance, Deming Elks have invited over 100 student athletes and band members to enjoy hamburgers at the lodge on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. The complimentary meal will be served by lodge volunteers.
Organizers say that one of the Elks’ goals is to support our nation’s youth.
Besides the Youth Week observance, the Deming lodge also sponsors the Annual Elks Hoop Shoot, a basketball free-throw contest for kids up to 13 years old. This past year, a Deming youth advanced all the way to the regional Elks Hoop Shoot competition in Dallas, Texas.
The lodge also has supported and sponsored Little League and other youth teams, groups and clubs, and promotes drug awareness.
 (Deming) – Here’s the area crime report:
Michael Gomez, age 24, was arrested for aggravated fleeing, resisting or evading officers and on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… Ismael Cordova, age 19, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for battery on a household member…
Santana Ballinas, age 25, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… Juan Carbajal, age 29, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… Rodney Vigil, age 34, was arrested on two Magistrate warrants for failure to pay fines… Robert Soriano, age 22, was arrested on a Lea County warrant for failure to appear… and Alfredo Flores, age 31, was arrested on a Dona Ana Co warrant for failure to appear.
 (Deming) – The Deming Aerostat balloon will remain a part of Luna County’s border security.
U.S. Senator Tom Udall announced during a live interview on this radio station Wednesday morning that the aerostat program was being transferred to the Department of Homeland Security from the Department of Defense and would stay operational.
Udall reiterated the news at a Border Security Task Force meeting later that morning.
Speculation had been swirling around the internet and social media after the first of the year that the government would be shutting down the TARS – or Tethered Aerostat Radar System – program by the end of the fiscal year.
Reportedly, employees were notified in February that the aerostat system would cease as of March 15th.
Budget cuts were blamed for the shutdown.
But after the March 15th deadline passed and the tethered balloon continued to float above southern Luna County, residents were unsure of its future.
Udall said supporters defended TARS as an effective tool in the border security arsenal.
There are aerostat sites southwest of Deming as well as in Yuma and Fort Huachuca, Arizona… Marfa, Eagle Pass and Rio Grande City, Texas… Cudjoe Key, Florida… and Lajas, Puerto Rico.
The logistics hub for the project has been located in El Paso, Texas.
 Celebration Exceeds Goal 5/2/13 4:17p
(Deming) – Last Saturday's 8th Annual Celebration of Life cancer support fundraiser exceeded its fundraising goal.
Cancer Support of Deming and Luna County Patient Advocate Joanna Costilla said that as of Thursday, deposits totaled $77,310, surpassing the organization’s goal of $75,000.
And, she said, money is still coming in!
This year's event honored cancer survivors Adam Fofana, Jazmyne Gallosa and Marilyn Hill. And the largest team participating, the Red Rovers, were walking to honor Carol Viramontes.
All money raised from the annual event goes to Cancer Support of Deming and Luna County to assist local cancer warriors.
COLUMBUS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers working at the Columbus port of entry seized 2,387 pounds of marijuana Tuesday afternoon.
The seizure is believed to be the largest marijuana seizure ever recorded at the crossing.
This is a huge seizure by any means but for the Columbus port it is historical, said Robert Reza, CBP Columbus Port Director.
Our initial review of enforcement records shows that the largest seizure made at the Columbus port in recent history was a 2,323 pound bust in March 1998.
The seizure was made just after 1 p.m. when a tractor-trailer hauling a load of ceramic floor tile entered the facility from Mexico. CBP officers initiated an examination of the shipment during which CBP drug sniffing dog Misu alerted to the cargo.
CBP officers opened a box and found a wrapped bundle hidden inside a hollowed box of tile. CBP officers continued their exam and recovered a total of 467 marijuana-filled packages from the shipment.
Smugglers went to extreme lengths to conceal this shipment by creating hollow spaces within the tile and filling them with marijuana before closing the boxes to make them appear as if they just came off the factory line, said Reza.
No arrests were made. The investigation continues.
 (Deming) – Here’s the area crime report:
William Schalip, age 40, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia… Jesus Ochoa, age 38, was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, causing criminal damage to property, false imprisonment and on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear… Marcelina Garcia, age 43, was arrested for assault…
Eddie Barnwell, age 36, of Hanover, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… and Jacob Chavez, age 45, was arrested on a Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court warrant for failure to appear.
Also… family members of a 92-year-old former Deming resident now in a nursing home in Las Cruces say over $2,000 was taken from the man’s account without authorization by someone working for the man… $250 worth of healthcare products were taken from a shed off Queen Ann Street… $200 in criminal damage occurred to a gate at a residence off Helberg Street in Columbus… and two bicycles valued at nearly $200 were taken from a residence off Santa Cruz.
 Fifth Grade Career Day Held 5/01/13 11:19a
(Deming) -- Deming Public Schools held its Second Annual Elementary Career Day Tuesday at the Mimbres Valley Learning and Special Events Center.
School Superintendent Harvielee Moore said the event was the idea of a student who wrote to Moore two years ago suggesting it would be a good idea for fifth graders to participate in a career day to begin learning about career options and what skills and education levels were needed for each.
Moore said she had a planning advisory committee with two fifth-graders from each elementary school – one boy and one girl – who helped plan the event.
Students made collages on careers they were interested in, including doctors, teachers, lawyers, marine biologists and law enforcement officers, which were on display during the event.
The students also designed a tee-shirt which each of the 420 fifth-graders in the district received. The shirt slogan said: "I am the future" on the front, and "The future is near...2020" on the back, indicating the year this year’s fifth-graders would graduate.
Moore said they are challenging this class to be the first class with a 100% high school graduation rate.
 (Deming) – Deming faithful will be hosting a National Day of Prayer event this Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. at Courthouse Park.
The National Day of Prayer Task Force is organized with the mission of mobilizing prayer in America and encouraging personal repentance and righteousness in the culture.
More information is available at www.commit2pray.com.
This year's theme is "Pray for America," referencing Matthew 12:21 which reads "In His name the nations will put their hope."
Organizers say there will be music, prayer and pledges, and they will be praying about the seven centers of influence in our culture with multi-church participation. Those centers of influence are categorized as government, church, military, family, education, media and art, and business.
This is the 62nd year America has observed the National Day of Prayer.
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