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Local Crime Report for Tuesday June 30, 2015

6/30/2015

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

Michael Shetter, age 40, of Williamsburg, was arrested on a District Court warrant for failure to comply with conditions of probation… Orville Kroll, age 81, was cited for careless driving, improper registration and no insurance… and Eric Peeler, age 44, was cited for shoplifting at Walmart.

Also… a 40-caliber semi-automatic handgun and golf clubs, with a combined value of $1,800, were taken from a residence off Yucca… two video game consoles and controllers, and an air rifle, with a combined value of over $1,200, were taken from a residence off South Ninth Street… a computer hard-drive valued at $1,200 was taken from a school administrative office off West Florida… and two flat screen televisions valued at over $300 were taken from a residence off South Gold.

Underage Drinking Party Busted

6/30/2015

(Deming) – One arrest, three adult citations and four juvenile citations resulted from Deming Police officers showing up at an underage drinking party early Tuesday morning in the 2000 block of South Gold.

     Daryl Quintana, age 21, was arrested for concealing identity.

     Deming Police Chief Brandon Gigante said Quintana was the only party attendee of legal drinking age, adding that the case is under review for possible additional charges against Quintana.

     Three 18-year-olds – Miguel Aguilar, Cesar Carmona and Manuel Morales – were cited for minors allowing themselves to be served alcohol.

     And four juvenile males, ranging in age from 13 to 17, also were cited for minors allowing themselves to be served alcohol.

     Gigante said his officers arrived at the location in the 2000 block of South Gold at just before 1 a.m. Tuesday, after receiving an anonymous call about a loud party in the area.

Local Gross Receipts Taxes to Increase

6/30/2015

(Deming) – Wednesday ushers in more than just a new month: it brings an increase in gross receipts taxes to Deming, Columbus and Luna County.

     The sales tax rate for Deming increases July 1st to 7.875%, from 7.5%.

     Columbus' sales tax rate increases to 7.9375%.

     And the rate for the Deming Industrial Park and the remainder of Luna County outside the incorporated areas will now be 6.875%.

     The gross receipts taxes are going up because the Luna County commissioners in February passed a three-eighths-of-one-percent gross receipts tax increase, saying the money was needed to repair the Luna County Detention Center.

     The tax, imposed under authority granted by the legislature to offset the phase-out of state so-called “hold harmless” funds, reportedly will generate up to $1.2 million dollars annually for Luna County government.

     Additional rate changes are available at www.tax.newmexico.gov.

Ryan Larko Places First in National Competition

6/30/2015

Photo: Deming Senior Ryan Larko, (center) at the SkillsUSA National Competition in Louisville, KY

(Deming) – A Deming High School senior recently won first place in the Nursing Assistant contest at the national SKILLS competition in Louisville, Kentucky.

     Ryan Larko bested nearly 40 competitors from across the country to win the top prize.

     Larko won the right to compete at nationals after having won the Nursing Assistant state competition this spring.

     Reportedly, this is Ryan’s third time attending the national competition.

     His parents work at Mimbres Memorial Hospital.

     Larko’s outstanding placement comes on the heels of several other successes by the local SKILLS organization at the national level.

     The local group has also won, in past years, second

place in the best chapter competition, elected a national officer, and had several other top placements in national competitions.

     There were approximately 18,000 participants at this year’s national SKILLS competition.

Local Crime Report for Monday June 29, 2015

6/29/2015

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

     Roger Williams, age 25, was arrested for battery against a household member and on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear… Allison Gardner, age 25, was arrested for aggravated assault and shoplifting… Anthony Maynes, age 28, was arrested for resisting, evading or obstructing an officer and on a District Court warrant for a probation violation… Victor Cortez, age 26, was arrested for drunkenness and interference with officers… Fabian Amaro, age 29, was arrested for unlawful taking of a motor vehicle…

     Edward Lynch, age 42, was arrested on a District Court warrant for a probation violation… Crystal Gilmore, age 32, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear… Amanda Pinon, age 31, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines…

     Frankie Rodriguez, age 25, was cited for reckless driving and having an off-road vehicle on a city street… Omar Barrera, age 21, was cited for larceny… Charles Rubble, age 29, was cited for larceny… Valerie Lucero, age 19, was cited for shoplifting at Walmart… Maricela Molina, age 57, was cited for shoplifting at Kmart… and Jennifer Dickinson, age 19, was cited for minor allowing self to be served alcohol.

     Also… a 2013 Kia Optima valued at $18,000 was reported stolen from a motel off East Pine… a fifth-wheel travel trailer parked off Doolittle Road in Columbus burned Friday night… a van parked off South Pearl sustained $100 in criminal damage after the keyhole was scratched… and an air conditioner motor valued at nearly $100 was taken from a residence off South Gold.

Deming School Board Meets Tuesday

6/29/2015

(Deming) – The Deming School Board will meet in two special sessions Tuesday afternoon.

     The first meeting, set to begin at 4 p.m., has been called to consider a resolution for the sale and refunding of general obligation bonds, and for the first reading of a policy update on the use of district computers.

     The second meeting, set to begin at 4:30 p.m., is a work session to discuss a charter school proposal with representatives from the village of Columbus.

     The meetings will be held in the board room of the Emmett Shockley Administration Building, 400 Cody Road.

     Action will be taken at the 4 p.m. meeting, but not at the work session.

     Both meetings will be open to the public.

Luna County SO Assists in Bear Relocation

6/29/2015

Photo: Left Deputy Garret Gifford - Right Corporal Israel Valdez - Sleeping bear in middle

(Deming) – Luna County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Butterfield Trail north of Deming early Monday morning after a resident spotted a bear cub in her yard.

     Captain Jose Martinez said the resident called dispatch just after 6 a.m. to report the black bear cub.

     Officials estimate the cub weighed 150 pounds.

     Martinez said deputies assisted NM Department of Game and Fish officials, who tranquilized the bear cub for transporting to a more bear-friendly location.

SunZia Line May be Rerouted

6/29/2015

(Deming) – A portion of a proposed $2 billion transmission line that would carry electricity generated by renewable resources in New Mexico and Arizona to markets across the West may get rerouted.

     The Las Cruces Sun-News reported that the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project has submitted a tentative plan to the U.S. Department of Defense to move part of the line away from the White Sands Missile Range to avoid burying it.

     Defense Department officials say the line's proximity to White Sands would interfere with military exercises.

     Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel signed an agreement in May 2014 that allowed SunZia to bury five miles of the proposed line that would go across the White Sands training range.

     But SunZia officials say burying the line would cost $500 million.

     As it stands now, the SunZia line would come into Luna County near Lake Valley, and a mid-point substation would be built approximately 10 miles north of Deming, just off Highway 26.

Local Crime Report for Friday June 26, 2015

6/26/2015

Deming) – Here’s the area crime report:

Kimberly Little, age 41, was arrested on an Albuquerque warrant for impersonating a peace officer and fraud… Robin Loftin, age 30, was arrested on a District Court warrant… James Russell, age 21, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear… Catrinna Weatherford, age 41, was arrested on a Cibola County warrant for failure to appear… Hilario Baeza, age 54, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines… and Brendan Kern, age 20, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines.

Also… a fifth-wheel trailer parked near Hermanas and Apache roads caught fire early Friday morning… a vehicle struck and killed a calf off Stirrup Road Thursday night… a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am valued at $1,000 was reported stolen from a location off Santa Monica… and headphones valued at $200 were taken from a motel room off East Cedar.

100 Days and Nights of Summer Underway

6/26/2015

(Deming) – State Police and Luna County Sheriff’s Department officers will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and registration, insurance and drivers’ license checkpoints this summer.

     The efforts are part of the 100 Days and Nights of Summer emphasis to enforce traffic laws.

     Reportedly, studies have shown a significant reduction in alcohol-related fatalities directly attributed to the continued media attention and intensive advertising about DUI and other traffic-related concerns.

     Officials say checkpoints are helping change society’s attitude about drinking and driving, resulting in people choosing not to drive while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

     Law enforcement officers are reminding drivers to watch their speed, properly buckle themselves and their children, never text while driving or otherwise drive distracted, and never drive impaired.

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