LOCAL News

Four Finalists Selected for DPS Superintendent

4/14/2021

DEMING – The Deming School Board Monday selected four candidates to interview for the district’s superintendent vacancy.
     The candidates selected for interviews are, alphabetically, Vicki Chavez, Dr. Verenice Gutierrez, Marlene Parra-Padron, and Amy Roble.
     Chavez, from Deming, currently serves as executive director of the Southwest Regional Education Cooperative.
     Gutierrez, from Kaysville, UT, currently serves as director of Educational Equity and Access for the Salt Lake City School District.
     Parra-Padron, from Deming, currently serves as principal of Deming High School.
     And Roble, from Albuquerque, currently serves as principal and deputy director of Albuquerque Charter Academy.
     Two advisory committees comprised of district staff and community members will interview the finalists on Saturday, April 24th, and provide input to the school board.
     Board members also will interview the finalists, and have a target date of April 26th to make a selection.

RMMS Has Confirmed Positive COVID Case

4/14/2021

DEMING – Red Mountain Middle School has a confirmed positive COVID-19 case.
     A media release said parents and guardians are being contacted by phone if their child came in close contact with the individual on Wednesday, April 7th, and/or Thursday, April 8th, 2021.
     The bus route affected is Bus #9 First Run Route.
     Anyone who had close contact exposure to the COVID-19 positive case at school or on the bus must quarantine for 10 days.
     A letter will be sent to parents and guardians outlining a return-to-school date and COVID-19 testing information for children who start to show symptoms.
     If your child starts to have any of the publicized COVID-19 symptoms, have them isolate from others in your home as much as possible and get tested.
     If your child’s test result is positive, notify Jeannette Cox at 546-8841 ext. 2015 as soon as possible.

Local Crime Report for Wednesday April 14, 2021

4/14/2021

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
Joseph Tarazon, age 24, was arrested on a warrant for possession of a firearm by a felon… Tyler Trusty, age 32, of Las Cruces, was arrested for driving while license was suspended or revoked, on an equipment violation, on a District Court warrant and a Dona Ana County warrant – both for failure to appear, and on a Magistrate warrant for failure to comply with conditions of probation… April Mariscal, age 32, was arrested for unlawful use of a license, expired registration, and no proof of insurance… Omar Barrera, age 27, was arrested for trespassing at a residence… Alejandro Delgado, age 19, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear… and Mario Moreno, age 42, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear.

Columbus, NM Shooting Victim Dies

4/13/2021

DEMING – The victim in Friday’s shooting incident in Columbus has died.
     Luna County Sheriff’s Captain Jose Martinez confirmed the department was notified Monday the victim passed away at University Medical Center in El Paso, TX, as a result of multiple gunshot wounds sustained Friday afternoon in a shooting in the 200 block of S. Main Street in Columbus.
     The identity of the victim was not immediately released pending notification of next of kin, and the identity of the suspect was not immediately released pending further investigation.
     Martinez said the Luna County Sheriff’s Department is in charge of the investigation and will release further information when appropriate.

Herrell Hosts Congressmen at the Border Monday

4/13/2021

Pictured left to right at the border wall and barrier in New Mexico: Representatives Scott Franklin (R-Fla.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Fred Keller (R-Pa.), Glenn Grothman (R-Wisc.), James Comer (R-Ky.), and Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.).

DEMING – Congresswoman Yvette Herrell hosted eight members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in Luna County Monday.
     The group toured the Columbus Port of Entry, held a roundtable discussion with ranchers and local officials, and visited an unfinished section of the border wall near Columbus.
     Herrell was joined by Oversight Committee Ranking Member James Comer of Kentucky, as well as Wisconsin Congressman Glenn Grothman, South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman, Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs, Pennsylvania Congressman Fred Keller, Kansas Congressman Jake LaTurner, and Florida Congressmen Byron Donalds and Scott Franklin.
     Part of the tour included seeing an unfinished section of the border wall on the Johnson Ranch in southern Luna County.
     Herrell said she wanted her colleagues in Congress to see the border situation firsthand and hear directly from her constituents about what was going on at the border.

Local Crime Report for Tuesday April 13, 2021

4/13/2021

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
John Umlauf, age 30, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for prohibited possession of a controlled substance… James Butz, age 36, was arrested for unlawful use of a license and on a registration violation… Shania Macias, age 24, was arrested for criminal trespass on railroad property and on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines… Joseph Umlauf, age 32, of Vista, CA, was arrested on a California fugitive complaint and on a District Court warrant for a probation violation… and Amber Alfred, age 22, was arrested on a District Court warrant for failure to appear.
Also, a stop-sign valued at $300 was reported missing from the intersection of McCan and Solana roads.

Investigation into Columbus Shooting Continues

4/12/2021

DEMING – The investigation into a Friday afternoon shooting in the village of Columbus is continuing.
     Luna County Sheriff’s Captain Jose Martinez said deputies were notified at about 1:30 p.m. Friday that a man was shot multiple times.
     The shooting occurred in the 200 block of S. Main Street in Columbus.
     Martinez said the victim, who was unresponsive and had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, was transported to University Medical Center in El Paso, TX.
     There was no immediate word on his condition.
     Crime scene tape marked the area where the shooting happened, but authorities provided no further information about the shooting itself or what may have led to it.
     Martinez said no suspect was in custody, and the investigation was continuing.
     The name of the victim or persons of interest were not immediately released.

Emergency Planning Committee to Meet Tuesday

4/12/2021

DEMING – Luna County’s Local Emergency Planning Committee will meet Tuesday morning.
     Included on the agenda is information on the migrant surge, weather event communications, and the launch of a countywide emergency mass notification system.
     An update on adopting a highway for litter control also will be presented.
  The full agenda is available at www.lunacountynm.us under “Meetings Information” on the home page.
     The Local Emergency Planning Committee is set to meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 13th,     in the Commission Chambers, located on the third floor of the Luna County Courthouse.
     The meeting is open to the public.

Local Crime Report for Monday April 12, 2021

4/12/2021

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
     Antonio Montes, age 22, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, battery against a household member, and on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines… Luis Valdez, age 29, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, indecent exposure, and on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines… Gustavo Castillo, age 47, of Columbus, was arrested for prohibited possession of a controlled substance… Patrick Medina, age 26, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and on two Municipal warrants – one for failure to appear and one for failure to pay fines…
     Desiree Detraglia, age 26, was arrested for child abuse… Miguel Hernandez, age 43, of Bayard, was arrested for escaping from jail… Julio Zuniga, age 28, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for battery, burglary, and causing criminal damage to property… Christina Ramirez, age 35, was arrested for battery against a household member… Patricia Plancarte, age 65, was arrested on two counts for resisting, evading or obstructing an officer, burglary, littering, and concealing identity… Christopher Paiz, age 50, was arrested for unlawful use of a license…
     Garry Kavanaugh, age 37, of Las Cruces, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office order for a probation and parole warrant… Daniel Tarango, age 42, of Phoenix, AZ, was arrested on three Magistrate warrants for failure to pay fines… Amanda Carrasco, age 41, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear… Valerie Mata, age 37, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… Jose Sosa, age 55, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear… Dominic Tijerina, age 24, was arrested on a Dona Ana County warrant for failure to appear… Heather Kelly, age 30, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines… and Alex Montes, age 21, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines.
     Also, a 2007 Dodge pickup valued at $7,000 was reported stolen from a location off Country Club Rd.

Sheriff Department Investigates Columbus Shooting

4/10/2021

COLUMBUS, NM - At approximately 1:05 pm on Friday, April 9, 2021 the Luna County Sheriff’s department received a call about a shooting in downtown Columbus near the southwest side of the intersection of Main and Broadway according to an online report by CNM News.
Village offices and the Columbus Village Library went on immediate lockdown.
Unofficial social media reports list both victim and shooter names although the Luna County Sheriff’s department will not confirm the information due to the on-going nature of the investigation.
The shooter is still at large and officers are actively seeking and following up on leads regarding the circumstances leading to the shooting and to the shooter’s whereabouts.
Those with information about the incident should contact the Sheriff’s Department at 575.546-0354. Or Crimestoppers 575-546-7800.

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