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

     James Russell, age 20, was arrested for aggravated DUI and having an open container… Efren Medrano, age 34, who was already incarcerated in the Luna County Detention Center, was served with a Magistrate warrant for burglary and larceny… Daniel Perez, age 21, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… and Jose Hernandez, age 25, was cited for having an open container.

     Also… keys valued at $125 were taken from a residence off South Tin.

(Deming) – Deming Animal Guardians will be holding its Petpourri 4 Party fundraiser at Luna Rossa Winery on Friday, September 26th, from 4 to 7 p.m.

     Food will be catered by Luna Rossa Winery. Live music, raffle drawings and a cash wine bar will be part of the night’s excitement.

     Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

     Advance tickets are available at the Deming-Luna County Chamber of Commerce, The Galleria and Luna Rossa Winery.

     You can find out more by calling Deming Animal Guardians at 544-2209 or 546-9711.

     Deming Animal Guardians’ focus is on assisting indigent pet owners to be able to take proper care of their animals.

     President Pat Danser said their goal is to improve the lives of animals by making spay and neuter surgeries more affordable through coupons and mobile veterinary vans.

     In addition to fundraising, Deming Animal Guardians accepts donations, which are tax deductible, and they sell memberships.  A regular yearly membership is $15, with discounts for seniors and children.

     Find out more by logging on to www.deminganimalguardians.org

(Deming) – There will be two more public meetings to discuss an expansion project for Marshall Memorial Library.

     The meetings are set for this coming Tuesday and Thursday, September 2nd and 4th, at 5 p.m. each day in the Council Chambers of the John Strand Municipal Building on South Gold.

     The first public meeting in the series was held August 20th.

     City officials are encouraging anyone interested in the library to attend and provide input on the proposed project.

     Again, two meetings are scheduled next week to discuss an expansion project for Marshall Memorial Library.

     The meetings are set for Tuesday and Thursday, September 2nd and 4th, at 5 p.m. each day in the Council Chambers of the John Strand Municipal Building on South Gold.

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

     Mark McCray, age 36, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear… Moises Garcia, age 26, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear… and Makea Payne, age 23, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear.

     Also… a farmer reported $1,000 worth of watermelons stolen or damaged at a field near Hermanas and Solana roads… and a couple in their 70s who have lived in Luna County for six years reported being the victims of identity theft after learning of an outstanding electric bill in Decatur, Illinois, which was in their names and totaled nearly $1,300.

(Deming) – A Deming winery has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the federal government to expand production of its chile-infused wines.

     U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced the funding during a visit to St. Clair Winery in Deming on Wednesday.

     With the funding, the New Mexico Democrat said the winery will be able to boost revenues and grow its customer base for its chile-infused line of wines by reimbursing production, marketing and distribution costs.

     Udall added that jobs are being created in Luna County as a result of the grant.

     The winery's chile wines are made using chile from the Hatch Valley in southern New Mexico.

     The grant was awarded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that helps agricultural producers grow their businesses by turning raw commodities into marketable products.

     The grants often support development for niche and specialty products in rural communities.

(Deming) – A two-vehicle crash on the Columbus Highway Wednesday afternoon resulted in one person transported by ambulance and charges filed on two others.

     NM State Police Sgt. Ricky Herrera said two vehicles – a black SUV and a white pickup – were travelling south on State Road 11 or the Columbus Highway at just after 5 p.m. Wednesday when the black SUV, being driven by 53-year-old Sergio Rodriguez of Deming, slowed to turn east into a gas station just north of Solana Road.

     The pickup driver, 16-year-old Brian Chavira, was unaware of the car slowing, swerved to avoid the collision, but struck the SUV from behind, pushing the vehicle and causing his truck to overturn.

     Rodriguez was transported to the hospital by ambulance with undisclosed injuries.

     The father of the teen, 36-year-old Luis Chavira, arrived at the scene and was eventually arrested for resisting, evading or obstructing an officer after refusing to obey officers’ instructions.

     Brian Chavira, who suffered only minor injuries in his rollover, was cited for assault following a confrontation with one of the officers.

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

     James Bowling, age 60, was arrested for DUI and having an open container… Angie Montano, age 27, was arrested for causing criminal damage to the property of a household member… Robin Borde, age 47, was arrested for trespassing at a residence and on a probation violation… Kara Smith, age 19, of Las Cruces, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia… Dirk Barris, age 35, was cited for shoplifting at Walmart… and a 17-year-old girl was cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol.

     Also… a 1988 Ford Ranger caught fire off the Silver City Highway… and a purse and contents with a combined value of $200 were taken from a vehicle parked off West Pine.

(Deming) – A Deming man will be featured this Saturday at a reading and book signing.

     Author Eric Shonkwiler, who currently resides in Deming, will be reading from his critically-acclaimed debut novel, Above All Men, at St. Clair Winery and Tasting Room.

     The public is invited to hear an excerpt from his novel about a farmer with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder who struggles to keep his family and farm together in the wake of economic collapse and in the face of dust storms, murder and lawlessness unseen since the Wild West.

     The event is free, and Shonkwiler will have books available for purchase and signing.

     Shonkwiler has had writing appear in Los Angeles Review of Books, The Millions, Fiddleblack, [PANK] Magazine, Midwestern Gothic, and elsewhere.

     He received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Fiction from University of California-Riverside, where he was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellowship Award.

     He also is the Regional Editor for Los Angeles Review of Books.

     The event is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Clair Winery and Tasting Room, 1325 De Baca Rd Southeast.

(Deming) – Fundraising is underway for the 2014 Shop-With-a-Cop event for Luna County.

     Sgt. Richard Cowles with the Luna County Sheriff’s Department said the official kick-off for this year’s event will be in October, but they have already raised over $1,500 with the raffle of a 12-gauge shotgun in March and April.  The shotgun raffle was timed to benefit turkey hunters.

     Also, Cowles said, volunteer Sonny Parra is organizing a roping fundraiser planned for October 4th, there will be a deer rifle raffle in October, Starmax employees are planning a trash-pickup in November for Keep Luna County Beautiful which will benefit Shop-With-a-Cop, and the Deming Police Department is organizing a November fundraising bowling tournament.

     Cowles said last year they raised $19,000 which benefitted over 350 children with a $40 K-Mart shopping spree each, plus bought gifts for preschool children in the community.

     Cowles said any money left was carried over to help with this year’s fundraising.

     The Shop-With-a-Cop event day has been tentatively set for Saturday, December 13th.

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

     Kevin Barriga, age 22, was arrested for burglary… Victor Carrazco, age 41, was arrested on a District Court warrant for failure to appear… Misty Larson, age 47, was arrested on a District Court warrant for contempt of court… Daniel Perez, age 36, was arrested on a District Court warrant for failure to appear… Jonathan Gonzales, age 21, was arrested on two Magistrate warrants – one for failure to comply with conditions of probation and one for failure to appear… and Kara Smith, age 19, of Las Cruces, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

     Also… nearly $1,500 worth of jewelry was taken from a residence off Santa Barbara… and a lock-box with cash valued at over $900 was taken from a residence off South Copper.