LOCAL News

Local Crime Report for Friday September 18, 2020

9/18/2020

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
Dennis Eaglestar, age 33, was arrested for aggravated DUI… Willow Powers, age 24, of Hurley, was arrested for battery and on a District Court warrant for failure to appear… Arissa Garcia, age 22, was charged with assault on a peace officer, interfering with officers and on a roadway-crossing violation… and Eric Clayton, age 29, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear.
Also, a 2002 Mazda valued at $5,000 was reported stolen from a location off Santa Cruz… and a 2012 Ford Focus valued at $3,000 was reported stolen from a location off S. Platinum.

Sheriff Warns of Rise in Telephone Scams

9/18/2020

DEMING – The Luna County Sheriff’s Department is warning residents of a rise in telephone scams being reported in the area.
     Although these scams typically target the elderly, anyone can become a victim.
     A media release said the most recent type of phone scam involves a caller claiming to be from the Social Security Administration who informs the recipient of the call that there is a problem or suspicious activity with his or her social security number and the account or number has been suspended.
     Sheriff Kelly Gannaway is advising residents that these calls are fraudulent and anyone receiving them should report them as soon as possible.
     In other examples, the scammers try to trick people out of money or gain access to personal information.
     The scams may come through phone calls from real people, automated calls, or text messages, and the scammer often makes false promises, such as opportunities to buy products, invest money, or receive free product trials.
     They also may offer money through free grants and lotteries. Some scammers also call with threats of jail or lawsuits if the intended victim doesn’t cooperate.
     Gannaway said Luna County residents should be wary of such scams, and never release personal or sensitive information to unknown persons via phone or other forms of communication.

Local 4-Her Leads NM Officer Team

9/18/2020

Tatumn O’Toole

DEMING – A Luna County 4-H member is leading the New Mexico State 4-H leadership team.
     Tatumn O’Toole was elected state 4-H president in July at the annual state conference, which was held virtually.
     O’Toole is a 17-year-old senior at Deming High School, who served last year as a State 4-H Ambassador.
     She has been a member of Luna County 4-H for four years, and her projects have included leadership, baking, archery, market goats, and public speaking.
     In addition to her usual presidential duties, O’Toole will chair the election and selection committee for next year’s leadership team – a new responsibility added this year.
     Also new this year: each officer is teaming with a 4-H Ambassador to present a virtual workshop for 4-H members across the state during the fall. O’Toole and Ambassador Christopher Turner of Santa Fe County presented the first virtual workshop Aug. 31st about livestock.

Multiple Ballot Applications Are an Issue

9/17/2020

DEMING – Multiple requests for vote-by-mail ballots are overrunning the Luna County clerk’s office and confusing voters.
     County Clerk Andrea Rodriguez is asking voters to submit only one request for a mailed ballot for the November general election, since multiple requests from the same voter result in rejection letters.
     Rodriguez said several groups are mailing forms to voters to request a mailed ballot, and each request must be processed by her office to generate either a mailed ballot or, in the case of multiple requests by the same voter, a rejection letter because the voter already has a request on file.
     Rodriguez said at least one voter has received four rejection letters, which means the voter submitted five requests for a mailed ballot.
     And the rejection letters can be confusing to voters who may not realize their initial request for a ballot has been granted.
     The Luna County clerk’s office already has approximately 1,500 applications for mailed ballots.
     Ballots will be mailed beginning October 6th.
     For more information, call the Luna County clerk’s office at 546-0491.

Pesticide Safety Program is Online this Year

9/17/2020

DEMING – This year’s pesticide applicator workshop is online only and available now.
     The 2020 Pesticide Safety Education Program is offered through New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Plant Science program.
     Luna County producers needing continuing education credit or pre-license training, should visit pesticide.nmsu.edu and click on upcoming workshops to register.
     The pre-recorded Zoom presentations cover a broad range of human safety and environmental issues, and address new and emerging insect, disease and weed pests in field, greenhouse, forage, and fruit and vegetable crops, turf areas, shade trees, and ornamental plantings.
     Each presentation is one CEU, so public applicators will need to register for four presentations, and private applicators will need to register for five. Interested persons may register for multiple presentations at once, or one at a time, until Nov. 15th.
     Questions should be directed to Luna County Extension Program Director Jack Blandford at 546-8806.

Local Crime Report for Thursday September 17, 2020

9/17/2020

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
Joseph Umaluf, age 32, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana… Fernando Gutierrez, age 39, of Los Lunas, was arrested for disorderly conduct, trespassing at a residence, and possession of drug paraphernalia… and Uriel Arroyo, age 26, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear.
Also, power tools, an engine, and three utility trailers, with a combined value of $5,100, were taken from a location off Hwy 549… tools valued at $5,000 were taken from a business of E. First St… a 1998 GMC pickup valued at $2,500 was reported stolen from a location off N. Eighth St… a cow was struck by a vehicle and killed on Hwy 418 at mile-marker 1… criminal damage estimated at over $150 occurred to a car parked off Mountainaire after its windshield was broken… a cellular phone valued at $100 was taken by a woman at the Deming post office who borrowed it from the owner and walked away with it… and a brush fire ignited by shop rags was reported off Needles Eye Rd.

RMMS Parent-Teacher Conferences Set for Friday

9/16/2020

DEMING – Red Mountain Middle School officials announced parent-teacher conferences will take place Friday.
     Teachers reportedly will set up a Zoom video-conference link for all classes, accessible from the teacher’s home page, for parent-teacher conferences on Friday, Sept. 18th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Parents and students will be able to log on immediately, and will be placed in a waiting room from which teachers will let parents in, one at a time, to conference.
     Each class period will have one hour available for parents to conference with teachers.
     Parents are asked to adhere to their child’s class schedule and meet with teachers according to the following hour blocks: 1st period from 10-11 a.m.; 2nd period from 11 a.m.-noon; 3rd period from noon-1 p.m.; 4th period from 1-2 p.m.; 5th period from 2-3 p.m.; and 6th period from 3-4 p.m.
     For parents unable to attend during that time, a make-up time will be held from 4-6 p.m.

Deming School Board Meets Thursday

9/16/2020

DEMING – The Deming School Board will hold a regular meeting virtually Thursday evening.
     Included on the agenda is consideration of the new superintendent evaluation form, the district’s annual preventative maintenance plan, a request-for-proposals for physical therapy services, and numerous budget-adjustment requests.
     Also, Superintendent Dr. Arsenio Romero will discuss internet broadband access for students.
     The virtual meeting is set to begin at 5 p.m. this Thursday, Sept. 17th, and will be streamed live on the district’s YouTube channel with a link posted on the district’s website homepage at www.demingps.org.
     Participants can ask questions through the comments section or by emailing questions to kim.hernandez@demingps.org.

Large Catfish Caught at Trees Lake Saturday

9/16/2020

Jesus Tarazon of Deming

DEMING – The New Mexico Game and Fish Department’s Fishing Report this week featured a catch from Deming’s Trees Lake in Voiers “Pit” Park.
     According to the report, Jesus Tarazon of Deming caught a 29-inch, 10-pound, 12-ounce catfish on Saturday, Sept. 12th, using live bait.
     Despite the impressive catch, fishing for bass and catfish at Trees Lake was listed as “slow” for the recent period.
     The pond was approved last fall to become part of the New Mexico Game and Fish Department’s stocking program.
     City officials said the pond is open for daytime fishing.
     Residents are reminded that a valid and current state fishing license is required, and all state fishing laws and Deming city ordinance requirements must be followed.

A Sixth Luna County Resident Dies with COVID

9/15/2020

DEMING – Luna County had a sixth resident die with COVID Tuesday.
     New Mexico state health officials described the person as a female in her 70s who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
     The state also reported Luna County had five additional COVID-19 cases Tuesday.
     The state’s COVID-19 dashboard (https://cvprovider.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard.html) shows the total number of active cases in the county is now 235.
     The state is reporting 136 people have completely recovered and six people have died, making the cumulative number of positive cases in Luna County 377.
     The dashboard also shows 9,653 tests have been administered in the county, with the highest age category of positives – 85 – attributed to people in their 30s, followed by 84 in their 20s.

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