 (Deming) – Houses in Luna and Dona Ana counties will be repaired thanks to funds awarded through the USDA
Rural Development’s Housing Preservation Grant program.
Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation received over $22,000 from the program, which officials say will be used to rehabilitate and repair three homes located in Luna County and neighboring Dona Ana County.
A Rural Development official said this program supports basic repairs to improve living conditions for rural residents with extremely limited incomes.
The grants may be used to make general repairs, such as installing or improving plumbing or providing or enhancing access to people with disabilities. Funds also may be used to weatherize and make homes more energy efficient.
Officials said many of the USDA grants are being leveraged with funding from additional sources.
The funds awarded to Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation are part of $4.4 million awarded to recipients in 49 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The other New Mexico entity to receive over $22,000 was a Habitat for Humanity project in Taos.
 (Deming) – The three owners and operators of Savoy Travel Center and Fuel 4 Less have been ordered to pay $375,000 dollars in civil penalties for selling fraudulent securities in New Mexico.
Authorities say a criminal investigation also is underway against the three: 26-year-old Sean Curtis and 50-year-old Bruce Beckner of Deming, and 64-year-old Arthur Herlihy of Santa Fe.
Beckner is known in Deming under his alias, Bill Evans.
Penalties of $125,000 dollars were imposed on each man for selling promissory notes from 2008 through 2010 to raise money for the Savoy truck stop.
Investors were solicited through advertisements. But authorities say the securities weren't registered… the men weren't licensed to sell securities… and the men failed to disclose Beckner's – or Evan’s – previous securities fraud conviction in California.
In 1998, Beckner pleaded guilty to securities fraud and related charges in the United States Federal Court in Los Angeles, California, for stealing over 15.6 million from 559 investors. Beckner was sentenced to 33 months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution to all his victims. Officials with the state Regulation and Licensing Department’s Securities Division said the criminal investigation is looking into allegations that 33 investors were defrauded of five-point-five million dollars in the Savoy case. The Securities Division issued a cease and desist order against Savoy Travel Center, Fuel 4 Less and the three owner/operators in September of 2011.
Duck Race Grand Marshals Interviewed
Contact: Dave Johnson 575 694-4873
(Deming)--This year's Grand Marshals for the 33rd Annual Comcast Tournament
of Duck Parade are local businesswomen -- and sisters -- Tamara Hurt and
Candie Sweetser.
Hurt opened her certified public accounting office in downtown Deming in
1989 and has been a duck race sponsor every year since. Hurt also was the
tabulator quacker for the races in 1991 and 1992. Hurt said the thing she enjoys most about the duck races is watching children
as they hold a duck for the first time. "It is delightful to see the kids' eyes light up as they are shown the proper way to hold a duck and then carry the duck to the starting line. It's so cute when they talk to their duck and coach their new feathered friend on the best racing strategy."
Candie Sweetser has managed Luna County Broadcasting, and radio stations KDEM-FM and KOTS-AM, since 1990. The stations also have a long history of sponsoring the duck races, and even used to broadcast interesting facts about the races which she
called "Mallard Minutes." You can still hear hourly duck race schedule updates throughout the weekend on both KDEM and
KOTS.
Sweetser believes the races are good for Deming because they are just plain fun. "Where else can you see waddling ducks, people waddling like ducks, racing outhouses, tossed tortillas and more -- all in one weekend?" The Comcast Tournament of Ducks
Parade will be Saturday, August 25th beginning at 10 am. Entry Forms for the parade are availalble on line at demingduckrace.com, or at Southwestern NM On-Line at 202 S. Diamond.
The Great American Duck Race, which this year celebrates New Mexico's 100 years, is sponsored in part by Luna Energy Facility, and has been designated as an Official Centennial Event.
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.
Anthony Juarez, age 29, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation... Reina Rodriguez, age 49, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines and on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear... Richard Eckert, age 32, was arrested on a Dona Ana County warrant for failure to appear... Xaviour Zuniga, age 20, was cited for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia... Adrian Lopez, age 20, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia... and Robert Trejo, age 59, was cited for trespassing at a local restaurant.
Also... an extensive amount of shelves, cabinets, paintings and other items valued at over four-thousand dollars were taken from a warehouse in the industrial park... a 2004 utility dump trailer valued at three-thousand dollars was taken from a location off Candela Road Southeast... a record's search of a 12-gauge Remington 870 shotgun recently purchased for 300-dollars at the flea market in north Deming came back as stolen from a resident of Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1974... and a debit card from a Deming bank was used without authorization for purchases in Green Bay, Wisconsin and Palo Alto, California.
Activities abound this weekend at Rockhound State Park outside Deming.
There will be a plant sale of native and "adapted" plants from 8 a-m to noon behind the Rockhound State Park Visitor's Center. One-gallon plants are mostly seven-dollars... and five-gallon plants are mostly 17-dollars.
And a desert wildlife display with animal pelts and more will be set up Saturday up from 9 a-m to noon at the Visitor's Center. The display is the work of Mesilla Valley State Park Heritage Educator LuAnn Kilday.
Plus there are two walks scheduled Saturday: a Bird Walk from 8 to 9 a-m in Spring Canyon... and a Wildflower Walk from 9 to 10 on Jasper Trail.
And then food booths, kid games, entertainment and music are set for Sunday afternoon from 1 to 5.
The County Commissioners will meet in regular session Thursday.
The commissioners will consider several items pertaining to Starmax, including a digital system upgrade of the movie theatre, a facility patio and a second addendum to the operating lease and agreement.
Also... the commissioners will consider several resolutions pertaining to colonias designations and funding... a county match to a U-S-D-A Rural Business Enterprise Grant... a county comprehensive plan update... a contract extension to the Rural Primary Health Care Act... and fire protection fund distribution applications.
Included on the agenda is a presentation by Joe Lobato of New Mexico Clean and Beautiful awarding Keep Luna County Beautiful with three awards... and the presentation of an appreciation award to Aramark by Keep Luna County Beautiful Administrator Jessica Johnson.
Also on the agenda is the introduction of new Sunshine Volunteer Fire Department Chief Darwin Williams... and the presentation of five year service awards to Dawn Lint with the Detention Center and Billy Ruiz with Facilities and Special Projects Department... and a 10-year service award to Benny Ramon with Planning and Community Development.
The meeting is set to begin at 9 Thursday morning in the commission chambers, located on the third floor of the Luna County Courthouse. The meeting is open to the public.
A closed session to discuss the Columbus port of entry bypass project and properties in the 1800 block of South Lime will follow the open meeting.
Included on the agenda is Superintendent Harvielee Moore's contract... a resolution to support Bell Elementary's School Improvement two-year grant application... a farm lease agreement... and proclamations for National Child Abuse Prevention, School Nurse Day and National School Library Week.
The board also will hear updates on the 2012-2013 Secondary Student Handbook... and policies pertaining to public participation at board meetings and order of business at board meetings.
The meeting is set to begin at 5 Thursday afternoon in the board room of the Emmett Shockley Administration Building, 400 Cody Road. The meeting is open to the public.
An executive -- or closed -- session will precede the open meeting at 3 Thursday afternoon. The closed session will be to discuss the superintendent's contract... the assignment or resignation of an employee... a tort... an unemployment claim... and the former Columbus School building and other properties.
And a work session to review Bell Elementary's data and discuss next year's School Improvement Grant proposal will precede the executive session at 2 Thursday afternoon.
_Anthony Lucero-Torres, age 26, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, concealing identity and on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation... Polly Taylor, age 46, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines... Jimmy Mathis, age 30, was arrested for aggravated stalking...
Darlene Dominguez, age 50, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation... Nicholas Dalia, age 37, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear and was cited for possession of marijuana... a 16-year-old boy was charged with minor allowing self to be served alcohol... and a 14-year-old boy was picked up on a juvenile arrest warrant and was charged with resisting or evading officers.
The State Economic Development Department's New Mexico MainStreet Program will be hosting a three-day workshop in Deming on grant writing. The workshop will focus on how to find and compete for grant funds. Officials say funding is awarded to those who are actively pursuing grants... so the focus will be on participants learning how to get their share of funding for their agency or organization. The workshop is scheduled for April 24th through the 26th -- from 9 to 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 9 to noon on Thursday. Registration is 150-dollars if postmarked by April 16th... or 175-dollars after April 16th. The registration fee is non-refundable... but space is limited and registrations will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is not guaranteed until the registration fee is received at the Economic Development Department office. The registration form and more information are available online at nmmainstreet.org/institutes.php .
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