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Deming Police Welcome Two New Certified Officers

5/31/2023

Deming Police Officer Alondra Rangel

Deming Police Officer Matthew Bustamante

DEMING - The Deming Police Department has announced that they have two newly certified Police Officers serving the city of Deming.

Alondra Rangel of Deming and Matthew Bustamante of Las Cruces completed 677 hours of training in multiple areas to include law, safe pursuit, dealing with the mentally impaired, de-escalation techniques, firearms, defensive tactics and other areas.

Officer Rangel is from Deming and was a detention officer with Luna County Detention Center when she applied here. She has been with our department for just over 7 months.

Officer Bustamante is from Las Cruces. He served in the United States Army and is currently in the Army National Guard. He has been with our department for just over 9 months.

They graduated from the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe on May 25th and resumed their field training with the department on the 28th.

Chief Clint Hogan told Deming Radio News that, He looks forward to them completing their field training and hitting the streets on their own in around 6 weeks as they had completed about half of it before leaving to attend the academy.

Hogan said that he also wanted to congratulate Officer Rangel and Officer Bustamante!

Headlight Staff Increases Starting in June

5/25/2023

NOTE: The following story is property of the Deming Headlight. Used with permission.

DEMING - Two more desks will soon arrive at the Deming Headlight’s downtown office, in preparation for new personnel.

There is ample space. Since the Headlight was acquired by the Silver City Independent Publishing Co. last November, Deming’s 142-year-old newspaper has functioned with a slender crew: A full-time news staff of two, plus a part-time receptionist and office assistant and a marketing consultant. Additionally, two people prepare the Headlight for mailing and deliver papers to the businesses that sell it.

In June, former Deming Luna County Chamber of Commerce executive director Debbie Troyer will join our staff as general manager, working closely with Publisher Nickolas Seibel and marketing consultant Sara Williams to improve the Headlight’s business operations and services to subscribers and advertisers.

The news industry is new to her, but Troyer brings a rich background in business organization, strategic planning and promotions. She was a sales executive for 20 years before moving on to an art gallery in California and moving to Deming in 2012. Once settled in town, she volunteered with Deming Animal Guardians, where she helped found the no-kill animal rescue DAGship Rescue as well as the Silver Whiskers thrift store that supports the organization.

She has also assisted local businesses with website and graphic design. She was hired on as the Chamber’s director in 2020, where she served through the local Lemonade Day event on May 13, in which area youth built, marketed and operated lemonade stands at various locations in the city.

Troyer also wrote occasional columns for the Headlight on the Chamber’s work with businesses.

“I know a lot about sales and marketing and customer service,” she said in an interview, “as well as interaction and trust and goals.”

She said she was looking forward to starting work on June 5. “I’m excited about this paper,” she remarked. “I’ve had my career; I’ve done my thing. Everything else I’ve done is because I want to.”

Troyer succeeds Jesse Ochoa, the first manager under the current ownership, who also led on marketing. During the winter, some of those duties were also shouldered by D. Matthew Runnels. Williams joined the Headlight as marketing consultant in March.

On June 12, the Headlight will welcome a new reporter to its staff as well.

Annya Loya, an international student raised in Ciudad Juárez, completed her degree in journalism and mass communication at the University of New Mexico this spring, concentrating in multimedia journalism and minoring in French.

She joins the Headlight under a fellowship provided by the New Mexico Local News Fund, a program that places recent college graduates in newsrooms across the state for nine-month fellowships, in partnership with the UNM School of Communication and Journalism.

From her freshman year in Albuquerque, Loya reported for the student news organ, the NM Daily Lobo. In her senior year she led the Lobo as news editor and her reporting was selected for an alumni award. In 2022, she completed an internship at the Las Cruces Sun-News.

“I’m really happy I’ll be able to give back to the New Mexico journalism community through the Deming Headlight, and to make an impact through my reporting,” she said.

Loya plans initially to concentrate on education and a series of projects on the region’s ecology and environmental concerns.

To subscribe to the Dening Headlight call 575-546-2611. algernon@demingheadlight.com

Calling All Local Artists

5/22/2023

DEMING – The Deming Art Center is looking for artists for the July 2023 Exhibition.

The theme this year will be cars, cars, cars. Anything and everything to do with cars. Any medium will be accepted.

Artwork intake will be Saturday, July 1, 2023, from 9AM – noon.

Each artist may enter 1-3 pieces.

Each piece must be exhibit ready. Please call 575-546-3663 for more information.

Today's local arrest report

5/22/2023

Monday’s local Arrest Report

DEMING – Here’s today’s local arrest report.
Jessy Hawkins, age 21, was arrested for criminal trespassing… Sergio Santana, age 58, was arrested for having alcohol in public places loitering and concealing identity… Daniel Rubio, age 21, was arrested on a Deming Municipal court warrant for failure to appear… Junior Granillo, age 26, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery, negligent use of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon… Henry Wiggins, age 51, was arrested on three 6th Judicial District Court warrants all for failure to appear… Daniel Hernandez, age 29, was arrested on a bench warrant for failure to appear… Alexis Hernandez, age 21, was arrested for battery against a household member and driving with a suspended or revoked license and finally Nidia Corral, age 46, was arrested for DWI and speeding.

School's Phone Service is Out District wide

5/22/2023

DEMING - Deming Public Schools is working to restore phone service throughout the district.

Currently, there is no estimated time when service will be restored.
• Bataan Elementary email at BataanContact@demingps.org
• Bell Elementary email at BellContact@demingps.org
• Chaparral Elementary email at ChaparralContact@demingps.org
• Columbus Elementary email at ColumbusContact@demingps.org
• Deming High School email at DHSContact@demingps.org
• Deming Intermediate School email at DISContact@demingps.org
• Early College High School email at ECHSContact@demingps.org
• Memorial Elementary email at MemorialContact@demingps.org
• My Little School email at MLSContact@demingps.org
• Mimbres Valley High School email at MVHSContact@demingps.org
• Red Mountain Middle School email at RMMSContact@demingps.org
• Ruben S. Torres Elementary email at RSTContact@demingps.org
• Central Office on Cody Rd. - jessica.etcheverry@demingps.org

During this time, please contact schools and district office through email. We are sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Luna County Commission to Meet Tuesday

5/18/2023

DEMING – The Luna County Board of Commissioners will be holding a Special Meeting Tuesday May 23rd.

The new business to be discussed and voted on will be the 2023-24 fiscal year budget. The Commission will entertain a motion and hold a roll call vote. The preliminary budget is expected to pass.

The Commission will also announce the next “County College” event set for May 25th at 5:30pm also at the Courthouse. The topic to be discussed is public safety.

The next regular meeting of the Commission will be June 8th at 10 a.m. on the third floor of the Historic Luna County Courthouse, 700 South Silver Street.

Again, the Commission will meet Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the Commission Chambers on the third floor of the Luna County Courthouse.

The meeting is open to the public.

Jesus “Louie” Chavez named new Columbus Port Director

5/18/2023

Columbus Port Director Jesus "Louie" Chavez.

COLUMBUS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Columbus Port Director Jesus L. “Louie” Chavez was formally sworn into office this morning at a CBP change of command ceremony. Family, friends, colleagues, and local dignitaries gathered as Mr. Chavez recited the oath of office during a ceremony at the Columbus port of entry.

“It is an honor and a privilege to lead the men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection working here at the Columbus port of entry,” said Port Director Louie Chavez. “I am committed to having this port deliver the finest level of service to the travelers and business community who use our facilities while also maintaining our vital homeland security mission.”
Columbus Port Director Jesus "Louie" Chavez.

As the Port Director, Mr. Chavez will direct operations and enforcement activities and provide management and administrative oversight of CBP officers, Agriculture Specialists, and Canine Enforcement Officers at the Columbus and Antelope Wells ports of entry. Mr. Chavez provides guidance to the areas under his leadership through policy implementation and quality management.
Mr. Chavez will work to ensure that the agency’s primary mission of preventing terrorists or weapons of terror from entering the United States is accomplished daily. Mr. Chavez is also responsible for all immigration issues related to the admission and exclusion of people applying for entry into the United States. He is also in charge of customs and agriculture inspections at the ports of entry to ensure that all goods and people entering the United States do so in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations, while ensuring that they are efficient in their processing to support the global marketplace and the international tourism industries.

Port Director Chavez commenced his federal service in December 1987 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Following his tour Mr. Chavez joined the U.S. Customs Service in El Paso as an inspector in December 1991. Mr. Chavez served in a variety of collateral duties during his time as a U.S. Customs Service inspector to include serving as a firearms instructor, defense tactical instructor, training officer; recruiter; equal opportunity counselor; and contraband enforcement team member.

In January 2003, Mr. Chavez was promoted to the position of Supervisory U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer at the Columbus port of entry. Mr. Chavez was promoted to assistant Port Director of the Santa Teresa port of entry in July 2005. In August 2015, Mr. Chavez was assigned to the Office of Trade Operations at the El Paso field office.

Mr. Chavez transferred to the Marcelino Serna port of entry in November 2018 as assistant Port Director. In April 2021, Mr. Chavez was appointed acting Port Director of the Presidio port of entry and was officially promoted to the Presidio port director post in August 2021.

Currently, Chavez is actively involved in various programs, including peer support; veterans support; diversity and inclusion; national fact finder; and CBP mentorship. Port Director Chavez has an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice-Homeland Security from El Paso Community College; a Certificate of Completion in Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement from El Paso Community College; a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems from University of Phoenix; and a Master of Business Administration in Technology Management from University of Phoenix.

Local Arrest report for Thursday May 18, 2023

5/18/2023

DEMING – Here’s today’s local arrest report.
Johnny Flores, age 54, was arrested for 3 counts of battery, drunkenness, interference with officers and disorderly conduct… Robert Torres, age 40, was arrested on a 6th Judicial District court arrest warrant…

Juan Hernandez, age 35, was arrested on two Luna County Magistrate court warrants, one for failure to pay fines the other for failure to appear, also on a Deming Municipal Court warrant for failure to pay fines, and charged with driving without a driver’s license… Epigmenio Escalante, age 35, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Department warrant for failure to comply with conditions of parole.

Western New Mexico University Building a Deming Campus

5/17/2023

DEMING - Western New Mexico University is slated to have their new Deming learning center open by the end of this year.

The new location is being built on Florida Street or Highway 549 towards Red Mountain Middle School. The building will take additional time before students and faculty are able to move in.

The university with the help of the state legislature,  purchased 40 acres of property in 2020 to so the university could become more accessible to Deming High School students.  The new campus will at first focus on health care and sustainability providing Deming students of all age’s broader opportunities.

WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard has credited legislative leaders with the idea of advancing higher education within the region.  Former Deming State Senator John Arthur Smith has said that the area needed to continue to attract and keep businesses here and one important aspect of that is to make sure we have a strong educational and health care system.

The current Mimbres Valley Learning Center, on the east side of the city, will continue to support the local community with Western New Mexico University pledging to keep the Learning Center campus open at least another 5 years.  It is expected to operate as a trades school.

4-H Shooting Sports Results

5/15/2023

DEMING - Recently, local 4-H club members journeyed up to Raton to participate in the NM State 4-H shooting sports competition. Here are the resolts:

The Small Bore Rifle Team won 4th place, team members are:
Monte Offut (Indvidual placing - 8th)
Joshua Wilkinson (Individual placing - 10th)
Isaac Gamboa (Individual placing - 17th)
There were 98 rifle shooters from all over the state of NM.

Our Compound Archery Team won 5th place, team members are:
Monte Offutt (Individual placing- 6th)
Eli Turner (Individual placing - 13th)
Hunter Patterson ( Individual placing - 38th)
There were 112 archers from all over the state

We had a second rifle team consisting of:
Roy Chandler
Audrey Donaldson
Jacob Tinoco

We had a second archery team consisting of:
Aiden Jasso
Joshua Wilkinson
Jerri Tone

We also had one Shotgun team:
Eli Turner
Roy Chandler
Aiden Jasso

Two individual Shotgun shooters:
Hunter Patterson
Jacob Tinoco