Blog Archives

Virtual Finance Fair Set for December 9th

10/29/2020

DEMING – In an effort to assist businesses in obtaining financial resources and help lenders find projects to finance, the New Mexico Economic Development Department is hosting an online finance fair geared toward businesses and lenders located in southwestern New Mexico.
     The event will take place Wednesday, Dec. 9th, from 12:30–2 p.m.
     Business finance fair events are part of an Economic Development Department initiative which seeks to connect funding entities with local projects.
     The finance fair will provide an opportunity for the public to hear directly from local lenders and business resource providers to gain insight on financial opportunities. Business owners can follow up to discuss projects, ask questions, and request financing.
     Any southwestern New Mexico business interested in connecting with and learning about financial resources to fund their project should attend.
     Register online as a lender or business at register.gotowebinar.com/register/8075289893258184205
     Participation is free.

Road Construction Set Around Bataan, RMMS

10/29/2020

DEMING – The bus and service access road to Bataan Elementary and Red Mountain Middle School will be closed for construction from Monday, November 2nd, through Friday, November 20th.
     School officials said construction may slow traffic on Hermanas Grade but will not affect access to Deming Intermediate School.
     Parents, teachers, school buses, and food trucks will be able to access the schools from Highway 418 – or the Old Lordsburg Highway.
     Drivers are asked to observe the speed limit and navigate the parking areas with extra caution during the construction.

Early Voting Concludes Saturday

10/29/2020

DEMING – Early voting concludes on Halloween.
     Luna County Clerk Andrea Rodriguez said early voting will end Saturday, Oct. 31st, at both her office in the historic Luna County Courthouse, 700 S. Silver Ave., and at the Mimbres Valley Learning and Special Events Center, 2300 E. Pine, in Deming.
     Luna County voters may vote early at the learning center Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. or Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
     Voters also may vote in the Luna County Clerk’s office weekdays from 7 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
     The election takes place Tuesday, Nov. 3rd, and voters who did not vote early or absentee will be able to vote Tuesday at one of Luna County’s three convenience voting centers: the Mimbres Valley Learning and Special Events Center, Holy Family Parish Hall at 615 S. Copper, or the Columbus Community Library at 112 W. Broadway in Columbus.
     For more information, call the Luna County clerk’s office at 546-0491.

NM Wineries Receives State JTIP Funds

10/28/2020

DEMING – A Deming business is benefitting from New Mexico's Job Training Incentive Program.
     A media release said New Mexico Wineries, Inc., doing business as Lescombes Family Vineyards, has been awarded nearly $24,000 to employ seven trainees at its winery at an average hourly wage of $11.62.
     The Lescombes family has been crafting wine in New Mexico since their emigration from Burgundy, France, in 1981.
     The winery crafts over 40 different wines under many labels, including Blue Teal, D.H. Lescombes, Soleil, and St. Clair. They also operate several bistros and tasting rooms.
     New Mexico Wineries was one of 18 companies awarded over $5.5 million from the Job Training Incentive Program board during September and October.
     The JTIP program reimburses qualified employers for training new employees or current employees who are changing positions.

Local Crime Report for Wednesday October 28,2020

10/28/2020

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
     James Butz, age 35, was arrested for unlawful use of a license, a lighted-lamp violation, a District Court warrant for a probation violation, and a District Court warrant for failure to appear… Chasidy Washington, age 42, was arrested for trespassing at a business… and Jasmine Rodriguez, age 24, was arrested on two Magistrate warrants – both for violating protection orders.
     Law enforcement officials responded to a large number of accidents Tuesday – ranging from fender-benders to rollover crashes – resulting from icy roads and poor driving conditions.
     Also, a mobile-home fire was reported off Pershing Rd in Columbus… a power pole off Hwy 11 was struck by a vehicle whose driver lost control due to ice… and $500 in damage to a fence was reported at a gas station off Hwy 11 – also caused by a vehicle whose driver lost control due to ice.

Luna County Sees 95 New COVID-19 Cases Tuesday

10/27/2020

DEMING – Luna County had 95 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday.
     New Mexico state health officials reported Luna County, for the second day in a row, had the third-highest rate of cases, following Dona Ana and Bernalillo counties.
     The state’s COVID-19 dashboard (https://cvprovider.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard.html) shows the total number of active cases in the county is now 687.
     The state is reporting 261 people have completely recovered and 11 people have died, making the cumulative number of positive cases in Luna County 959.
     The dashboard also shows 14,075 tests have been administered in the county, with the highest age category of positives – 186 – attributed to people in their 20s, and 174 to people in their 30s.

Icy Roads Creating Hazards Tuesday

10/27/2020

DEMING – Icy roads created hazardous driving conditions for Luna County Tuesday.
     An accident on Interstate 10 shut down travel in both directions for several hours beginning at about 7 a.m. Tuesday, and some motorists were diverted onto the Old Lordsburg Highway and Pine Street.
     Luna County Sheriff’s deputies and Deming Police Department officers also responded to numerous accidents caused by the icy roads, and were discouraging all unnecessary travel.
     The Deming Senior Center was unable to provide home-delivered meals Tuesday, but set up a grab-and-go meal pickup service at the Senior Center.
     Luna County District Court and Magistrate Court were closed for the day because of road conditions.
     And the Luna County Courthouse closed at noon Tuesday, along with the polling location at the Mimbres Valley Learning and Special Events Center.
     Polls will reopen Wednesday at 7 a.m. at the Luna County Clerk’s office.
     Drivers are advised to continue driving with caution and watching for icy patches since overnight temperatures are expected to drop into the low 20s.

Deming Fire Dept. Haunted House Cancelled

10/27/2020

DEMING – Deming city officials have cancelled the Deming Fire Department Halloween Haunted House due to the recent increase and severity of COVID-19 cases in Luna County.
     Officials said to reduce exposure, the trick-or-treat drive-thru haunted house has been cancelled and door-to-door trick-or-treating and Trunk-or-Treat events are not recommended.
     Earlier, a media release said Deming Police Department officers are enforcing New Mexico’s public health orders, which are punishable by citation and/or imposed fines.
     Among the orders are no gatherings of more than five people, and no mass gatherings on public property, including public parks.
     Residents are encouraged to report mass gatherings by contacting Central Dispatch at 546-0354.
     Also, masks should be worn in public, and local businesses are encouraged to enforce the order to avoid a fine of up to $5,000.

Inmate Service Celebrating Two Years with LCDC

10/27/2020

DEMING – CorrHealth is celebrating its two-year anniversary of delivering inmate medical, mental, and ancillary healthcare services to the Luna County Detention Center.
     A CorrHealth media release said providing the same high standard of care and services for inmate populations in small, rural counties such as Luna is challenging.
     Also, Luna County contracts with Federal, Marshall, and other New Mexico counties to house their inmates, which results in rapid fluctuations and unpredictability with the facility’s population.     Reportedly, previous providers experienced difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified healthcare professionals to meet Luna County’s care standards for their inmate patients.
     County Manager Chris Brice said CorrHealth has exceeded expectations for care and service, and also found creative solutions to recruitment and retention concerns regarding healthcare staffing.

Luna County Sees 59 New COVID-19 Cases Monday

10/26/2020

DEMING – Luna County had 59 new COVID-19 cases Monday.
     New Mexico state health officials reported Luna County had the third-highest rate of cases Monday, following Dona Ana and Bernalillo counties.
     The state’s COVID-19 dashboard (https://cvprovider.nmhealth.org/public-dashboard.html) shows the total number of active cases in the county is now 597.
     The state is reporting 256 people have completely recovered and 11 people have died, making the cumulative number of positive cases in Luna County 864.
     The dashboard also shows 13,927 tests have been administered in the county, with the highest age category of positives – 167 – attributed to people in their 20s, and 161 to people in their 30s.

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