Blog Archives

Local Crime Report for Wednesday November 27, 2013

11/27/2013

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

Javier Perez, age 22, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and for giving alcohol to a minor… Samuel Perez, age 32 was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia… and Fernando Madrid, age 19, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also… two tires were punctured on a vehicle parked in the 100 block of North Platinum; damage estimated at $300.

NMSU Sustainable Ag Conference in Deming

11/27/2013

(Deming) – Deming will be the host site Tuesday for the 2013 New Mexico Sustainable Agriculture Conference, sponsored by New Mexico State University and Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, a USDA program.

     The conference is designed to provide agricultural professionals with information and training in research-based, area specific, sustainable agriculture practices.
     The theme for this year’s conference is Healthy Soil: Managing Soils for Long-Term Productivity.

     Presentations will cover topics like, “Growing the Community from the Roots Up,” “Organic Benefits and Challenges in the Face of Climate Change” and “Principles and Observations of Cover Crops in Southwest New Mexico.”

     Luna County Extension Agent Jack Blandford, who is one of the moderators for the event, said close to 100 people from across the region will be attending the professional development conference, to be held Tuesday at the Mimbres Valley Learning and Special Events Center, 2300 East Pine.

Local Hospital Offers Help with Health Coverage Sign-ups

11/27/2013

(Deming) – Mimbres Memorial Hospital’s application counselors are offering to help residents navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace.

     CEO Steve Westenhofer said many people in the community lack access to a computer or are having difficulty enrolling on the government’s insurance website. And he said, that’s where Mimbres Memorial Hospital can help.

     Westenhofer said the hospital’s application counselors can assist individuals and their families evaluate the available health plan options and determine if they are eligible for Medicaid or other financial assistance.

     Most U.S. citizens are required to enroll for health insurance by March 31st, 2014. People enrolled by December 23rd will have health insurance effective January 1st.

     Depending on household income and number of dependents, residents may be eligible for health insurance coverage at no cost through Medicaid, or may be eligible for financial help toward the cost of premiums on the insurance options available on the online Health Insurance Marketplace.

     Westenhofer said anyone needing help with the Health Insurance Marketplace or Medicaid should make an appointment by calling 546-5890.

Local Crime Report for Tuesday November 26, 2013

11/26/2013

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

     Jesus Rivera, age 40, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… a criminal summons was issued for Julie Duran, age 39, on a charge of false reporting… and vehicle parts valued at $700 were stolen from a location off East Jarvis Road.

     Also, Luna County Sheriff’s officials and a New Mexico Livestock Inspector are looking for the owner of a horse found running loose near Monte Vista and the Columbus Highway.

     Undersheriff Arturo Baeza said the sorrel-colored gelding is approximately three years old with a white blaze and two white stockings on its hind feet.

     Anyone missing a horse matching that description should contact Livestock Inspector Janice Blandford at 544-7062 or the Luna County Sheriff’s Office at 546-2655.

Luna County Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly Again

11/26/2013

(Deming) -- Luna County's unemployment rate was down in October.      Preliminary figures from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions show Luna County with an October unemployment rate of 11.2%, down slightly from the revised September rate of 11.3%, and down significantly from the October 2012 rate of 12.7%.

     Luna County had the second-highest unemployment percentage in the state in October, following Mora with 12.1%. Those were the only two New Mexico counties with double-digit unemployment.

   Rounding out the top five counties with the highest unemployment rates in the state in October were McKinley with 8.8%, Taos at 8.3% and Guadalupe at 8% even.

     In our area, Grant County had 6.6% unemployment in October, Hidalgo County had 5.3% and the Las Cruces area had 6.8%.

   The county with the least unemployment is Harding with 3.6%.

   The state unemployment rate for October – at 6.6% – was down slightly from the September revised rate of 6.7%, and down from the October 2012 rate of 6.8%.

   The New Mexico labor force estimates show Luna County with a labor force of 12,978 – with 11,526 employed and 1,452 unemployed.

Carmen Seltzer DHS Junior to be in Thanksgiving Parade

11/26/2013

Deming High School junior Carmen Seltzer

(Deming) – This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has special significance for Deming High School band members.

     That’s because one of their own will be performing.

     Deming High School junior Carmen Seltzer was selected to be New Mexico’s representative to the Great American Marching Band, and will be performing with 245 students representing every state. Seltzer plays clarinet.

     The musicians will be under the direction of Dr. Richard Good, the director of bands at Auburn University, who will be assisted by Barry Houser, Director of the Marching Illini from the University of Illinois.

     The band will step off from Central Park in New York City Thursday, performing before 2.5 million live spectators and more than 50 million television viewers.

     The parade will be televised on NBC and “Today’s” Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie will anchor the broadcast from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday across each time zone.

     The high temperature in New York City Thanksgiving Day is forecast to be 33 degrees.

          Seltzer was selected as a New Mexico All-State musician in 2012 and 2013… for the American Southwest Honor Band in 2012 and 2013… as an Honor Soloist at the Southwest NM Music Educators Association Solo and Ensemble competition in 2011 and 2012… and for many other local band honors.

Local Crime Report for Monday November 25, 2013

11/25/2013

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

     Luis Armendariz, age 34, was arrested for two counts of battery against a household member and on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… Jared Lacy, age 23, was arrested for reckless driving and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer… John White, age 19, was arrested for reckless driving and resisting, evading or obstructing officers.

     Cesar Beltran, age 35, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for forgery… Dallas Bencomo, age 32, of Santa Clara, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… Xochitl Salmon-Simmins, age 36, of El Paso, Texas, was arrested on a Hidalgo County warrant for failure to appear… Jorge Munoz, age 32, was cited for shoplifting at Wal-Mart… and a 17-year-old boy from Columbus was cited for minor allowing self to be served alcohol.

     Also… at least six weather-related accidents occurred on the interstate within Luna County’s boundaries Sunday morning between 4-8 a.m. Only minor injuries were reported.

     And in other news… a welder, compressor, embroidery machine, costume jewelry and tools with a combined value of nearly $6,400 were reported stolen from a residence off South Platinum… jewelry and tools with a combined value of approximately $1,000 were taken from a camping trailer parked off South James Street… and an all-terrain vehicle side-by-side was engulfed in flames early Saturday morning under the Mimbres River bridge off Highway 377.

City of Deming Hosts Gift Tree

11/25/2013

(Deming) – City of Deming staff members are accepting applications for their "Make a Child Smile" tree.

   Organizers say 25 children – ages 1 to 10 – will be selected to benefit from the gift tree.

   Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, December 4th.

   Information such as household income, children's names, ages, gender and sizes will be required on the application to determine eligibility. All information will be kept completely confidential.

   Contact Municipal Court Administrator Mirna Tafoya or Court Clerk Mary Corral at 544-9240 for more information or to submit an application. Again, applications are due no later than December 4th.

   Then, on Friday, December 6th, city staffers will place a tree in the John Strand Municipal Building at 309 South Gold with information tags available for selection.

   Gifts must be returned to city hall by December 17th.

   Anyone interested in shopping for a child is encouraged to stop by city hall after December 6th and select a tag.

Luna County Seniors Benefit from Food Resources

11/25/2013

(Deming) – Luna County is benefitting from additional funding by the Wal-Mart Foundation which is allowing Roadrunner Food Bank to increase its hunger programs to senior citizens.

     Additional Senior Mobile Food Pantry sites have been established in six New Mexico counties – including Luna – offering each senior household about 50 pounds of food monthly.

     The two Deming locations which have been added in recent months are at the Mountain View Apartments and Coordinated Home Health.

     Roadrunner Food Bank CEO Melody Wattenbarger said many low-income seniors struggle to find a stable source of meals because their social security or retirement benefits aren’t covering all their monthly needs, including food.

     Wattenbarger said the expansion grant by Wal-Mart means these seniors no longer have to miss meals or choose medication over food.

     Other counties benefiting from the expansion are Dona Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Otero and Sierra.

     The AARP Foundation has reported that New Mexico is second in the nation for hunger among seniors.

Local Crime Report for Friday November 22, 2013

11/22/2013

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

Martha Najera, age 51, was arrested on an Adult Probation and Parole Office warrant for a probation violation… Rogelio Garza, age 25, was arrested on two Hidalgo County warrants – one for failure to pay fines and one for failure to appear – and on a Municipal warrant for failure to appear… Ebony Zamora, age 33, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… and Adan Armendariz, age 26, of Canutillo, Texas, was arrested on a Dona Ana County warrant for failure to pay fines.

Also… a 2005 all-terrain vehicle, a steam cleaner and a floor jack with a combined value of $700 were taken from a location off Overhill Drive Northwest… a 76-year-old Deming woman reported being the victim of fraud after nearly $500 was taken out of her bank account using an unauthorized debit withdrawal originating in Yuma, Arizona… and four chickens were killed and two cages damaged by unrestrained dogs off Emerald Road Southwest, with a total estimated loss of nearly $200.