Blog Archives

Elevate NM Green Chile Contest is Open - Deadline to Enter September 1st

8/26/2020

DEMING – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture and its NEW MEXICO—Taste the Tradition® program took to social media to announce a contest to promote the state’s 2020 chile pepper harvest.
The Elevate NM Green Chile contest is open to New Mexico residents as well as New Mexico green chile enthusiasts across the nation.
The purpose of the contest is to promote creativity in cooking with the flavorful and heat-packed New Mexico green chile pepper.
  Entry categories are geared toward at-home cooks and professional chefs. NMDA is calling for recipes inspired by traditional New Mexican dishes and desserts.
The chile pepper harvest season has been going for more than 100 years.
  Individuals interested in participating in the contest should submit entries by Tuesday Sept. 1 at 5:00 p.m. MT.
  A panel of judges is set to announce the winners Sept. 9. For details and how to fill out the entry form, call the Luna County Extension Agency at 546-8806 or visit https://bit.ly/ICookNMchile.
For more information about New Mexico chile peppers, including history, statistics and nutrition, call the Luna County Extension Agency at 546-8806 or visit https://cpi.nmsu.edu.

NMDOT Will Remove all Signs Posted on State Road Right-of Ways

8/25/2020

DEMING – The New Mexico Department of Transportation would like to remind residents and candidates and campaigns that state law prohibits any person from placing, maintaining or displaying any unauthorized sign upon any highway.
Especially during election years, signs are often posted on state road right-of-ways. New Mexico Criminal and Traffic Law 66-7-108, under the title “Display of Unauthorized Signs, Signals and Markings,” states specifically that no political sign postings are allowed on state-maintained right-of-ways, which are typically defined by fencing on rural routes and to the back of the curb on urban routes.
Signs that encroach on the right-of-way, including signs mounted to the fencing or signs/signal support posts, will be removed.
NMDOT maintenance patrols are specifically instructed to remove all signs, political or otherwise, that have been illegally placed within state road right-of-ways. The department does not discriminate when removing signs. Any item that impedes the roadway or right-of-way can be considered a safety issue to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.
If anyone believes their signs have been removed and collected from a state road right-of-way by the NMDOT, they are welcome to contact their local NMDOT district office to collect the signs at an agreed-upon time and district location within two weeks.
The department does not guarantee the NMDOT will have the signs nor that they will be maintained in their original condition.
Questions can be directed to any NMDOT district office.

Luna County Commissioners Meet Wednesday

8/25/2020

DEMING – The Luna County Board of commissioners will be holding a virtual work session Wednesday August 26th at 2:30 p.m.
     The meeting will be held via teleconference.  Agenda and meeting information are available on the County’s web page at Lunacountynm.us.
     Interested persons can view and participate in the meeting via Google, and or telephonically by dialing into the meeting again, details are available on the County’s web page.
    Discussion items include the Luna County Infrastructure Capital improvement plan for fiscal years 2022-2026.
     The commission will also discuss a resolution in opposition of the designation of the Gila and San Francisco rivers as national wild & scenic rivers.
    The work session will be open to the public via online connections.

July’s Local Unemployment Rate Soars

8/24/2020

DEMING – Luna County's unemployment rate soared in July from the previous month, and was up nearly 10 points from July a year ago.
Preliminary figures from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions show Luna County with a July unemployment rate of 18.6%, up from the June rate of 13.4%, and up from the July 2019 rate of 8.8%.
     While nearly every county in the state saw double-digit unemployment in July, Luna County still topped the state.
     Following Luna, Taos County had 16.6% unemployment last month, Lea County had 16.5%, and the Farmington area had 16%.
     In our area, Hidalgo County had 9.1% unemployment last month, Grant County had 14.8%, and the Las Cruces area had 13%.
     Los Alamos County had the lowest unemployment in New Mexico in July at 6.6%.
     Unemployment statewide was 12.7% in July – up from 8.4% in June, and up considerably from the 4.8% rate in July of 2019.
     The New Mexico labor force estimates show Luna County with a labor force of 12.018 – with 9,779 employed and 2,239 unemployed.

Local Crime Report for Monday August 24, 2020

8/24/2020

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
     A criminal summons was issued to Rogelio Garza, age 32, for assault on a household member and causing criminal damage to the property of a household member… Caleb Alvarez, age 25, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for four counts of receiving stolen property, three counts of larceny, and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor… Gerardo Hernandez, age 29, was arrested for causing criminal damage to the property of a household member… Maclen Hernandez, age 35, was arrested for unlawful use of a license…
     Alonzo Dominguez, age 30, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for violating the requirements of mandatory sex offender registration… Thomas Lehnerd, age 57, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for violating the requirements of mandatory sex offender registration… John Silva, age 21, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for violating the requirements of mandatory sex offender registration…
     Ricardo Garcia, age 43, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office order for a probation violation… Pablo Parra, age 40, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office order for a probation violation… Gerardo Lara-Yanez, age 24, of Albuquerque, was arrested on a Bernalillo County warrant for a probation violation… Anna Porras, age 43, was arrested on two Municipal warrants – one for failure to pay fines and one for failure to appear… and Librado Perez, age 68, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines.
     Also, coins valued at $2,000 were reported stolen from a residence off Lima St. in Columbus… a gaming console and games, with a combined value of $500, were taken from a residence off Canto Rd… and graffiti was reported at Spring Canyon State Park.

Energy Assistance Available Through State, PNM

8/21/2020

DEMING – Low-income Luna County families may be eligible to receive as much as $550 to pay their electric bill.
     The assistance comes from the New Mexico Human Services Department energy assistance program and the PNM Good Neighbor Fund.
     PNM Program Manager Maddie Martinez-Vega said the need for electricity in home during a pandemic is critical, especially with online schooling in full swing, keeping cool during the heat of the summer, and so many people still working from home.
     The New Mexico Human Services Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (commonly known as LIHEAP) helps with energy costs, and the PNM Good Neighbor Fund provides additional help to low-income families paying their PNM bill.
     Neither requires in-person contact.
     To request more than $400 toward utilities, contact the New Mexico Human Services Department for the LIHEAP energy assistance at www.yes.state.nm.us/yesnm.
     Contact the PNM Good Neighbor Fund at 844-378-5792 to get another $150 toward an electric bill.
     Assistance is available only as long as funding lasts, so families needing help are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Chaparral’s Office to be Temporarily Relocated

8/21/2020

DEMING – Chaparral Elementary’s front office will be temporarily moved to a portable building located on the west side – or Saddler Street side – of the building beginning Monday, August 24th.
     Principal Toby Soderberg said the move was necessary while a security vestibule was being added to the front office.
     Soderberg reminded visitors they must have a scheduled appointment to be at the school site.
     Beginning Monday, visitors need to park on the school’s west side by the Saddler Street gate, and follow signs to the designated portable where they will be screened.
     School officials will then escort visitors to their destination after screening.
     Soderberg added that work on the school’s new multi-purpose gymnasium was progressing, along with upgrades to Chaparral’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
     Anyone with questions should call 546-2047.

Local Crime Report for Friday August 21, 2020

8/21/2020

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
Bryson McNeill, age 33, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, concealing identity, and shoplifting at Walmart… Kyle Waldrop, age 26, was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and shooting from a motor vehicle… Juan Bustillos, age 28, was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon… Antonio Holguin, age 18, was arrested for abandonment or abuse of a child and battery… Brian Martinez, age 21, was arrested for criminal sexual penetration…
David Loughborough, age 41, was arrested for receiving stolen property and on a Third Judicial District Court warrant for a probation violation… Jordan Almanza, age 27, was arrested on a Larimer County, CO, fugitive complaint for a probation violation… and Gerald Fiorentino, age 44, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear.

Luna County to Train Hidalgo Detention Officers

8/20/2020

DEMING – Hidalgo County detention officers will now be trained by Luna County.
     The Hidalgo County Herald is reporting a mutual aid agreement entered into by the two counties will result in Hidalgo County Detention Center officers receiving academy training by Luna County.
     Hidalgo County Manager Tisha Green said she reached out to Luna County officials to help update the Lordsburg facility’s policies, with the ultimate goal of becoming an accredited facility.
     Green told Hidalgo County’s commissioners last week during the commission’s regular monthly meeting that the county needed to provide training to the detention staff at a level that would come from an academy.
     The report said Luna County has its own academy and agreed to train Hidalgo detention officers.

Backpacks and School Supplies Being Distributed

8/20/2020

DEMING – Over 1,600 backpacks filled with school supplies and hygiene essentials will be distributed to Luna County children as part of a partnership with local government agencies and non-profits.
     A media release said the Luna County Juvenile Justice Continuum Service and Play Sharity Children’s Museum and Libraryinitiated the program through their shared mission of promoting family and parent engagement.
     Play Sharity was granted funding from All Together New Mexico and Hispanics in Philanthropy Latino Essential Workers Fund to distribute school supplies and grant free memberships to the Play Sharity Resource Library.
     Donations of new supplies to be placed in the backpacks are being accepted. Needed supplies include pencil sharpeners, construction paper, colored pencils, markers, glue, and craft supplies, and can be dropped off using the donation slot at Play Sharity, 301 S. Tin St.
     Families must register by Saturday, August 22nd, for a time slot to pick up their free backpack and school supply kit.
     Interested families can complete a printed form at Play Sharity, open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 12:30–5:30 p.m. or online at https://forms.gle/9jt2Uvo79tmnPtmr7.
     Backpacks will be distributed August 26th in Columbus and August 27th-29th in Deming.

<<Previous

Forward>>