(Deming) – Here’s the area crime report:

     George Fetty, age 40, of Odessa, Texas, was arrested for DUI, having an open container, no insurance, expired registration, and on two Grant County warrants for failure to appear… Julian Gonzales-Ruiz, age 53, was arrested for DUI and no insurance… Nathan Guay, age 36, was arrested for assault against a household member and causing criminal damage to property… Rodney Vigil, age 35, was arrested for drunkenness and on a District Court warrant for a probation violation…

     Isaac Garcia, age 25, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… Lisa Lee, age 28, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation…

     Rodolfo Ramos, age 59, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… Christopher Burns, age 28, was arrested on a Dona Ana County warrant for failure to pay fines… Arturo Almanza, age 21, was arrested on a Dona Ana County warrant for failure to appear… Harley Brown, age 21, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear… Josvel Flores-Saucedo, age 20, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines…  Thomas Harris, age 47, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines… Devon Burger, age 18, was cited for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and minor allowing self to be served alcohol… and Sonya Thomas, age 32, was cited for careless driving after her vehicle struck a light pole at Pine and Gold.

     In juvenile news… a 15-year-old boy was cited for causing criminal damage to property… a 16-year-old boy was cited for minor allowing self to be served alcohol… and a 17-year-old girl was cited for possession of alcohol by a minor.

     And in other news… an unoccupied mobile home off East Birch caught fire Saturday evening and officials suspect the cause was arson… a Chevrolet pickup tailgate valued at nearly $700 was taken from a location off San Miguel… a radio and consumables with a combined valued of nearly $400 were taken form a vendor at the flea market off the Silver City Highway… a pipe gate valued at $300 was taken from off Palo Alto Road… and a cellular phone valued at $200 was taken from a location off East Fourth Street.

 (Deming) – New Mexico's first, historic port of entry is awaiting a much needed facelift.

     The border crossing at Columbus is scheduled to receive $7.4 million to fund the design phase of a planned $66 million expansion. The port of entry shares a border with Palomas, Mexico.

     Two of New Mexico's three border crossings have received updates in recent years — Antelope Wells and Santa Teresa — while the 25-year-old Columbus port has been neglected.

     U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say Columbus needs an expanded and modernized facility to handle growing pedestrian traffic and the high season of commercial traffic from August to January. That's when the number of trucks carrying agricultural products from Mexico increases.

(Deming) – Columbus Elementary School’s principal is one of 10 people in the nation declared a "Cesar Chavez Champion of Change."

     Principal Armando Chavez was in the nation's capital Monday to be honored by the White House for having the "values and steadfast determination of Cesar Chavez to organize for a more just tomorrow."

     A White House media release said the 10 honorees have committed themselves to improving the lives of others in their communities and across the country.

     Chavez has worked for Columbus Elementary 15 years and spent eight of those as an instructional leader before becoming principal. He said his main priority is to provide structure for students and that it is the passion of teachers that drives students.

     Columbus Elementary serves a population in which 99% of the students enter as monolingual Spanish language students. Many of these students were born in the United States and live across the border in Mexico.

     Chavez said he recognizes the challenges parents face by sending their children to another country for school, when oftentimes the parents are not being able to enter the U.S. themselves.

     Chavez said his vision is to unite the two nations and two languages in order to produce productive U.S. citizens.

     During the Champions of Change event, White House officials recognized the Champions' hard work and prompted a discussion about how to advance, expand and develop resources and partnerships that will continue to improve the lives of all Americans, including Latinos.

(Deming) – Kindergarten preregistration for the 2014-2015 school year continues Tuesday. 

     To be eligible for kindergarten, a child must have reached his or her fifth birthday by August 31st, 2014.

     Parents or guardians must bring their child to preregistration, along with his or her birth certificate, proof of residency and immunization records.  The kindergarten teacher will meet with the child and parent or guardian as part of the registration process to do a skill assessment of the student.

     Immunization boosters will be provided for students needing them.

     Children will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis at each building.

     Registration at each school will take place from 8:30-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. on the specified day.

     Preregistration at Chaparral Elementary will be Tuesday, April 1st… at Bataan Elementary on Thursday, April 10th… at Bell Elementary on Thursday, April 24th… and at Columbus Elementary on Tuesday, May 6th.

     Registration at both Bell and Columbus will include four-year-old Pre-K registration.

(Deming) – Here’s the area crime report:

     Leroy Almanza, age 37, was arrested for burglary and larceny… Jesse Gutierrez, age 28, was arrested for burglary and larceny.

     Vanessa Rivera, age 28, of Las Cruces, was arrested for driving while license was suspended or revoked.

     John Maynes, age 21, was arrested on two Magistrate warrants for failure to pay fines… Carlos Magallanes, age 34, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear… a 16-year-old boy was charged with unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon onto school property after being caught with a knife at Deming High School… and a 16-year-old boy was charged with minor allowing self to be served alcohol.

(Deming) — A Deming man – formerly from Ohio – had a dying wish to have pierogi for his last meal — and a suburban Cleveland bakery famous for the ethnic delicacy made it happen.

     Jess Hays wanted the last solid food he ate to be the dumplings from Perla Homemade Delights in Parma, Ohio. The family that owns the business heard about it and shipped them at their own expense.

     Pierogi are dumplings of unleavened dough – first boiled, then baked or fried – and traditionally stuffed with potato filling, sauerkraut, ground meat, cheese or fruit.

     Hays died Monday in Deming at the age of 62.  According to his wife, he had battled pancreatic cancer for 18 months.

     The couple moved to Deming seven years ago from Akron after both retired from the University of Akron.

     People moved by the gesture have flocked to the bakery since the story came out last week.

(Deming) – The Deming School Board will meet in special session Monday.

     According to the legal notice, the purpose of the meeting includes an announcement of the board’s decision for a new superintendent of schools.

     Superintendent Harvielee Moore announced last June that she would retire at the end of this school year.

     Also on the agenda is a proclamation for National
School Library Week, approval of the architect for the new high school and approval of field trips.

     The meeting is set to begin at 5 p.m. Monday 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 to discuss limited personnel matters regarding pending negotiations of the new superintendent’s contract will precede the open meeting at 4 p.m. Monday.

(Deming) – Here’s the area crime report:

     April Campa, age 38, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence and on a Magistrate warrant for battery and two counts of assault… Hector Torres, age 60, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for breaking and entering…

     Marcos Munoz, age 30, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… William Plant, age 24, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… Isaac Gonzalez, age 33, was arrested on a District Court warrant for a probation violation, and on Magistrate and Municipal warrants – both for failure to pay fines… and Angel Escatel, age 18, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant and a Municipal warrant for failure to appear, on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines and was cited for no driver’s license.

     Also… a brush fire threatened some structures southwest of Chaparral Elementary near Saddler, Santa Catalina and Peach streets… and two heavy black hoses with a combined value of $100 were taken from a location off Arrowhead.

(Deming) – A Stars-N-Parks astronomy program will take place this Saturday at Rockhound State Park.

Rockhound State Park is located in the Little Florida Mountains southeast of Deming.

Attendees will observe highlights of the late March sky with Jupiter, Orion and Sirius passed the meridian, mars rising at 8:43 p.m. just northeast of Spica, and Ursa Major high in the east.

The event begins with a night sky tour, followed by views of deep sky objects though a high-powered telescope.  John Gilkison will be the presenter.

The program is viewed in a dark sky setting beginning at 8:50 p.m., and attendees should arrive at the park at sunset, which is at about 7:40 p.m., so they can become familiar with their surroundings before nightfall.

The program will end at about 10:20.

     Stars-N-Parks is sponsored by the National Public Observatory, a non-profit membership organization that sponsors astronomy programs for all.  More information is available at www.Astro-NPO.org.

(Deming) – The annual free alley pick-up service offered by the city of Deming starts Monday.

     Again the city has been divided into four areas, and each area will have a free pick-up week.

     That means all trash placed in the alleys will be picked up at no additional charge to residents that week. 

     Residents should place items in the alley prior to their designated week so items are not missed.  Also, items need to be placed on the sides of the alley to allow collection trucks access.

      The first pickup area – for residents living north of Ash and east of Gold – is set for next week, March 31st-April 4th.

      The second pick up area – set for the week of April 7th – is for residents south of Ash and east of Gold or the Columbus Highway.

      The week of April 14th will be free alley trash pickup for residents living south of Ash and west of Gold or the Columbus Highway.

      And the final week – April 21st-25th – will be for residents living north of Ash and west of Gold.

      The advantage to participating in the free pick-up service is that you get your spring cleaning done without having to pay the city to haul off your debris.

      Normally, trash left in alleys is charged to the property owner as a special pickup fee with a minimum charge of $37.35.

      Contact city hall officials at 546-8848 for more information or to let them know if you will be taking advantage of the free alley pick-up service so the Solid Waste Department can schedule pickup routes effectively.

      Also, there is no charge year-round for residents hauling trash to the transfer station located at 5470 Highway 549.