(Deming) – Congressman Steve Pearce announced this week that he was proud to be part of a historic move by the House to improve the Endangered Species Act – an act he described as “one of the most wasteful and economically devastating laws that impact New Mexico.”
     And Luna County Commissioner Joe “Oleo” Milo, Junior, has joined those thanking Pearce for his involvement in helping pass The Endangered Species Transparency and Reasonableness Act.

     Milo said ranchers in western New Mexico fear for the safety of their cattle and families due to Mexican Wolf predation, farmers near the Middle Rio Grande have lost water because of the Silvery Minnow, and now economic activity is under threat from the listing of the Prairie Chicken.

     Milo said the economic livelihood of New Mexico is at risk because of special interest lawsuits and a listing process that completely lacks transparency, and went on to thank Congressman Pearce and the U.S. House of Representatives for taking steps to modernize and improve the Endangered Species Act to benefit people and species.

     Pearce said the act will help bring transparency and common sense back to the Endangered Species Act which can only serve to better the hard-working people from every corner of the state.

(Deming) – The new medical office building adjacent to the hospital will open Monday.

     Located at 905 South 8th St. – between Mimbres Memorial Hospital and the Sam Baca Aquatic Center – the Mimbres Professional Building

will house four medical practices: Deming Women’s Center, Deming Surgical Associates, Deming Orthopedic Services and Deming Family Practice.

     Each physician practice will have its own suite of offices, exam rooms, procedure rooms and nurses’ station, and the centralized reception area will serve all practices, seating almost 60 patients.

     Hospital registrars will be on-site for the convenience of patients who need to register for outpatient tests.

     The Mimbres Professional Building is 15,000 square feet and has 29 exam rooms, 11 bathrooms, and 4 minor procedure or cast rooms.     The practitioners who will have offices in the new building are:  Katie Randall, Jaime Solis, Elizabeth Donigan, Victor Cruz, Valerie Webb, David Lanoue, and Chris Johnson.

     The public is invited to a Ribbon Cutting and Open House next Thursday, August 7th from 5-6:30 p.m

(Deming) – Phase One of the Spruce/Pine intersection realignment is completed.

     Barricades were being lifted to allow traffic to flow normally through the newly realigned intersection, which eliminated the “Y” merge from Spruce onto Pine for vehicles travelling east on Spruce.

     Jamie Jackson with Deming Excavating, the contractor for the project, said state officials will now conduct a 120-day traffic study to determine if a stoplight is needed at the intersection.

     The study is scheduled to be completed November 21st.

     Reportedly, the wiring infrastructure for a stoplight was included in phase one, but the addition of the light, which would control the traffic from Spruce as well as traffic on the road east of Wendy’s, was not part of the initial project.

     Motorists are asked to pay close attention to the striping and turning parameters as they get used to the newly realigned intersection.

(Deming) - The Deming High School Junior Humane Society will be hosting their first off-site pet adoption of this school year on Saturday, August 2, 2014 in front of the Tractor Supply Store in Deming from 9am until 11am.  
   The public is invited to come and see the animals up for adoption.

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

     Rene Saenz, age 19, was arrested for aggravated DUI, interfering with officers, leaving the scene of an accident and possession of drug paraphernalia… Norman Wood, age 48, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for battery against a household member and assault against a household member, and on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear…

     Javier Perez, age 23, was arrested for burglary… Luis Gonzalez, age 26, was arrested for driving while license was suspended or revoked… Gilbert Valencia, age 22, was arrested for interference with officers…

     Jory Acosta, age 30, was arrested on a District Court warrant for a probation violation… Fabian Romero, age 24, of Albuquerque, was arrested on a District Court warrant for a probation violation…

     Crystal Mendoza, age 30, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia… Alexandria Bravo-Torres, age 18, was cited for shoplifting at Walmart… Dolores Garcia, age 38, was cited for shoplifting at Walmart… and Maria Martinez, age 20, was cited for shoplifting at Walmart.

     Also, a breaking-and-entering was reported at unoccupied residence off North Iron.

(Deming) – A 12-year-old boy was transported to the hospital by ambulance after the car in which he was riding struck a rock wall at the Deming Literacy Center off South Tin.

     Deming Police Chief Brandon Gigante said the car, a 2006 Toyota Corolla, was being driven by 16-year-old Carlos Richards, who did not have a driver’s license.

     Richards was driving the car recklessly and at a high rate of speed in the literacy center parking lot Tuesday at about 4:45 p.m. when he reportedly lost control and struck a rock wall.

     An air bag deployed upon impact, but the 12-year-old, who was a passenger in the front seat, struck the windshield with his head.

     Richards was cited for no driver’s license, reckless driving and no insurance.

     His mother, 35-year-old Nini Richards, was cited for allowing a non-licensed minor to drive.

(Deming) – The turning of the calendar to August means the start of a new school year can’t be far behind.

     Red Mountain Middle School officials have set their orientation and schedule pick-up for next week.

      A brief orientation for incoming 7th graders will be Tuesday, August 5th, at 9 a.m.  Schedules may be picked up following the orientation, or anytime Tuesday before 4:30 p.m.

     Principal Robin Parnell said transportation will be provided for students from Columbus and Palomas, Mexico.

     Parnell said the schedule pick-up for incoming 8th graders will be the following day, Wednesday, August 6th, from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

     Deming Intermediate School will have schedule pick-up for 6th graders the following week, Wednesday and Thursday, August 13th and 14th, between 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.

 (Deming) – Deming’s new superintendent of schools admitted to a steep learning curve over the past month.
     Dr. Daniel Lere addressed the Deming School Board meeting attendees Monday by saying he has been pleasantly surprised by the expertise in the staff he has seen since coming aboard July 1st.
     He also said he was impressed by the degree of involvement of Deming staff at the state level, adding that serving on state committees and having a presence statewide is vital to having input with State Public Education Department staffers.
     Lere said he recognizes huge challenges ahead, with needy students and limited resources, adding that the only thing unlimited is creativity and the district’s commitment to working with kids.
     Lere replaced Harvielee Moore, who retired June 30th after 46 years with the Deming district.
     The new school year begins August 18th.

(Deming) – All Luna County departments will have to work with a five-percent budget decrease this fiscal year.
     The Luna County commissioners unanimously approved the county’s approximately $50 million budget during a special meeting Tuesday.
     County Manager Charles “Tink” Jackson announced during the July regular county commission meeting that all budgets – including outside entities receiving county funds – will be hit with the five-percent reduction due to decreased county revenue. 
     The county reportedly is moving forward conservatively with the realization that certain funding, such as the federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes revenue, could be discontinued any year.
     This year, the county saw an increase in PILT funding to approximately $1.9 million.
     More certain is the county’s largest source of revenue — property taxes. The county projects it will receive about $5.5 million in property taxes this fiscal year, up about $172,000 from the previous year.
     The largest expense for the county comes from the Luna County Detention Center, which is expected to expend about $5.5 million for the fiscal year.

(Deming) – Deming Elks Lodge members held their First Annual Rib Cook-off Saturday, with nine teams competing for prizes and money.

     And organizers say it was all for a good cause: proceeds after expenses will be donated to foster children.

     First place went to a team headed by Daniel Mesa, who received a trophy and $225.

     Second place was awarded to Britany Lopez, who works as a volunteer bartender at the Elks.  She won a trophy and $75.

     And third place went to Manny Marrufo, who received a trophy and $50.

     More than 100 attended the one-day event, including New Mexico Elks Association State President Lyle Weeks and his wife, Pat, from Alamogordo.  Weeks was a judge for the event, along with Deming Mayor and Elks member Benny Jasso, and Deming Elks Life Member Ollie Cooper.

     Elks Exalted Ruler George Torres said all the ribs were great and it was tough to judge.

     Also present was the Elks Most Valuable Student award recipient Brannick Sweetser, along with his family.

     Brannick was awarded a $4000 scholarship through the Elks National Foundation and plans to attend Texas A & M University.