Blog Archives

A 26th Luna County Resident Dies with COVID-19

11/30/2020

DEMING – Luna County had a 26th resident die with COVID Monday.
     New Mexico state health officials described the person as a female in her 80s, who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions. The woman had been a resident of Mimbres Memorial Nursing Home.
     The state also reported Luna County had 10 additional COVID-19 cases Monday.
     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 1,335.
     The state is reporting the cumulative number of positive cases in Luna County is now 1,956.

Register Now for Virtual Finance Fair

11/30/2020

DEMING – Individuals or businesses interested in participating in next week’s virtual finance fair focusing on southwestern New Mexico are encouraged to register as soon as possible.
     The online fair, organized by the New Mexico Economic Development Department, is designed to assist businesses in obtaining financial resources and help lenders find projects to finance.
     The event will take place Wednesday, Dec. 9th, from 12:30–2 p.m.
     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 owner or entrepreneur interested in connecting with and learning about financial resources to fund their project should attend.
     Register online as a lender or business through the “Events” tab at www.gonmbiz.com.
     Participation is free.

Local Crime Report for Monday November 30, 2020

11/30/2020

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
     Jim Dye, age 65, was arrested for DUI and careless driving… April Campa, age 45, was arrested on an Otero County warrant for possession of methamphetamine and on a District Court warrant for failure to appear… Jessy Hawkins, age 18, was arrested for battery against a household member…
     Javier Arroyo, age 22, was arrested for resisting, evading or obstructing an officer, and on a Dona Ana County warrant for failure to appear… a criminal summons was issued to Antonia Martinez, age 36, of Las Cruces, for receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle… Roland Robertson, age 62, was charged with shoplifting over $500 worth of items from Walmart… Ramon Franco, age 21, was arrested for prowling…
     Israel Torres-Velasquez, age 32, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… Juventino Sanchez, age 41, was arrested on a Dona Ana County warrant and a Municipal warrant – both for failure to appear… Justin Hull, age 41, was arrested on a Dona Ana County warrant for failure to appear… Julian Olivas, age 39, was arrested on a Dona Ana County warrant for failure to appear… and Chaz Williams, age 19, was arrested on two Municipal warrants – one for failure to appear and one for failure to pay fines.
     Also, a 2015 Chrysler four-door valued at $10,000 was reported stolen from a location off E. Birch… a Ford pickup, year unknown, valued at $2,000 was reported stolen from a location off N. Gold… and a 2000 Ford SUV valued at $1,000 was reported stolen from a location off S. Silver.

Police Unit, Ambulance Collide

11/25/2020

Photo Credit: Deming Headlight

DEMING – A Deming Police Department patrol unit and a Deming Fire Department ambulance collided Tuesday afternoon at the busy intersection of Gold and Spruce streets in Deming.
     The Deming Headlight reported the police unit had significant damage to the front end and rear driver's side, and the ambulance overturned on its' passenger side.
     It was not immediately clear what caused the collision or the extent of injuries to the people involved.
     Bystanders said the ambulance did have at least one occupant being transported for medical care.
     The accident occurred early Tuesday afternoon at the same time police were involved in a shooting off Zinc between Pine and Spruce, which occurred during the pursuit of a wanted felon.
     The accident knocked out the traffic light at Gold and Spruce.

NMSP Investigate Deming Police Officers-Involved Shooting

11/25/2020

DEMING – New Mexico State Police officials are investigating a shooting involving two Deming Police Department officers.
     The officers, whose identities have not been released, shot and killed 37-year-old Lorenzo Aguilar of Deming Tuesday.
     Aguilar reportedly was a wanted felon who led officers on a high-speed vehicle chase through Deming, then fled on foot after crashing his vehicle and fired shots at the officers pursuing him.
     A media release said the incident started at about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24th, when Deming Police officials were notified that Aguilar was at a location off Birch Street.
     When officers arrived, Aguilar fled in a vehicle at speeds exceeding 100 miles-per-hour, and then crashed into a wall at the corner of Pine and Zinc, where he started running and fired shots at the officers in pursuit.
     Two DPD officers returned fire, striking Aguilar.
     The officers rendered aid to Aguilar until emergency medical personnel arrived and transported him to the Deming hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
     No officers were injured in the exchange of gunfire.
   State Police officials said the identities of the officers involved will not be released until interviews are completed.

Local Crime Report for Tuesday November 24, 2020

11/24/2020

DEMING – Here’s today’s local crime report:
     Dolores Nevarro, age 80, was summoned into court for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon… Arturo Armendariz, age 24, was arrested on a Luna County Magistrate warrant for battery against a household member… James Sanborn, age 61, was arrested for resisting, evading or obstructing an officer… Andrew McCullum, age 43, was arrested for violating an order of protection… Eleazar Perez, age 22, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… Israel Torres, age 32, was arrested on a Magistrate warrant for failure to appear.
   In other reports:
     Criminal damage was done to a double door on a residence on South Iron street, damage valued at $100.   Two TV’s were reported stolen from a home on Marana Rd SE and a window was broken during then theft, total value of loss was listed at $1,200.

A 25th Luna County Resident Dies with COVID-19

11/24/2020

DEMING – Luna County had a 25th resident die with COVID-19 Tuesday.
     New Mexico state health officials described the person as a male in his 60s from Luna County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
     The state also reported Luna County had 26 additional COVID-19 cases Tuesday.
     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 1,365.
     The state is reporting 446 people have completely recovered and 25 people have died, making the cumulative number of positive cases in Luna County 1,836.
     The dashboard also shows 19,012 tests have been administered in the county.
     The age breakdown of positives in Luna County shows 369 people in their 20s testing positive, followed by 305 people in their 30s.

A 23rd Luna County Resident Dies with COVID

11/23/2020

DEMING – Luna County had a 23rd resident die with COVID Monday.
     New Mexico state health officials described the person as a female in her 70s, who was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.
     The state also reported Luna County had 16 additional COVID-19 cases Monday.
     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 1,335.
     The state is reporting 436 people have completely recovered and 23 people have died, making the cumulative number of positive cases in Luna County 1,794.
     The dashboard also shows 18,742 tests have been administered in the county.
     The age breakdown of positives in Luna County shows 361 people in their 20s testing positive, followed by 299 people in their 30s.

Local Crime Report for Monday November 23, 2020

11/23/2020

DEMING – Here’s the area crime report:
     Thomas Ulloa, age 38, of Phoenix, AZ, was arrested on two counts of prohibited possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia… Henry Spooner, age 37, was arrested for prohibited possession of a controlled substance…
     Allison Gardner, age 30, was arrested for robbery, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and on a Magistrate warrant for failure to pay fines… James Russell, age 47, was arrested for threatening or harassing phone calls and interference with officers… Carlos Ransdell, age 26, was arrested for trespassing and interference with officers… Sean Nepita, age 47, of Valley Village, CA, was arrested for interference with officers and concealing identity… Jesus Rivera, age 29, was arrested for unlawful use of a license… a criminal summons was issued to Tommy Lee, age 44, for interference with officers…
     Jessica Bunyar, age 46, was arrested on a District Court warrant for failure to appear… and Kaitlynn Thompson, age 21, was arrested on a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines.
     Also, 35 people were cited for violating the state’s public health order after officers were called to a drag-racing incident Friday near Voiers “Pit” Park.
     In other news: a residential fire was reported off Majestic View… a welder, air compressor, hunting gear and other items, with a combined value of nearly $1,800, were taken from a location off Lucca Rd SW… an electronic gate keypad and related equipment, with a combined value of $800, were taken from a residence off Nevada Rd SE… and two separate incidents of criminal damage were reported off Perrin Rd – one to a residential door and one to a fence.

October’s Unemployment Rate Drops

11/23/2020

DEMING – Luna County's unemployment rate dropped last month, but was still considerably more than October a year ago.
     Preliminary figures from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions show Luna County with an October unemployment rate of 13.5%, down from the September rate of 15.9%, but up from the October 2019 rate of 8.3%.
     Luna County was one of only three New Mexico counties with double-digit unemployment last month. The others were McKinley County at 10.6%, and Taos County at 10.3%.
     In our area, Hidalgo County had 5.4% unemployment last month, Grant County had 9.8%, and the Las Cruces area had 7.4%.
     Los Alamos County had the lowest unemployment in New Mexico in
October at 3.6%.
     Unemployment statewide was 8.1% in October – down from 9.9% in September, but higher than the 4.8% rate in October 2019.
     The New Mexico labor force estimates show Luna County with a labor force of 9,832 – with 8,505 employed and 1,327 unemployed.

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