(Deming) – The free career training opportunities known as the “Hump Day Academy” continue this week with training on Microsoft Outlook.
     Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft, available as a part of the Microsoft Office suite. Although often used mainly as an email application, it also includes a calendar, task manager, contact manager, note taking, journal, and web browsing.
     This week’s training will take place in two free sessions – Beginner level from 10 a.m.-noon and intermediate level from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at the Mimbres Valley Learning and Special Events Center.
     A free lunch for participants will be offered at noon for attendees of either session.
     “Hump Day Academy” trainings are being offered by Luna County through a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Business Grant.
      Subsequent trainings are: Microsoft Word February 8th and Cash flow and analysis, February 15th.
     Certificates of completion will be given to participants. Space is limited so please RSVP early. 
     For more information, call 543-6643. ​

(Deming)  Here’s today’s local crime report:
          John Castro, age 25, was arrested for controlled substance possession prohibited… Eddie Ray Romero, age 34, was arrested for aggravated battery on a household member resulting in great bodily harm… Ariana Avila, age 25, arrested for assault, battery, and drunkenness… James Sanchez, age 24, arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamines, battery against a household member and possession of drug paraphernalia… Mary Aldridge, age 37, was charged with possession of a controlled substance prohibited… Robert Casillas, age 54, was arrested for unlawful use of a license…  Oran Terrance Colley, age 38, was arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license and expired registration…  Judith Ortiz, age 20, arrested for trespassing… Robert Reaves, age 26, arrested for careless driving, conspiracy and a traffic offense.
            Jose A. Tarango, age 22, was arrested on 8 local warrants - 3 Magistrate warrants for failure to pay fines, 4 Magistrate warrants for failure to appear and a Municipal warrant for failure to pay fines… Jorge Munoz, age 35, arrested on 2 Municipal warrants for failure to pay fines and a Dona Ana county warrant for failure to appear.
            Alex Valdez, age 19, cited for open container and minor allowing self to be served alcohol… Roy D. Gunter, age 22, was cited for public affray on East Pine street… Christopher Stuerman, age 49, cited for battery…  Christopher Daniel Valdez Sr., age 27, cited for possession of marijuana under an ounce and possession of drug paraphernalia.
             In juvenile news, a 16 year old boy was cited for battery on a household member and assault on a household member. 
            In other reports, a car stereo with a value of $50 was stolen from a 2000 Chrysler on South Diamond street…  the rear passenger tire with a value of $150, was damaged on a 2006 Dodge pickup on South Mallery street…   a cell phone with a value of $930 and $120 in cash from cookie sales, was reported stolen from a vehicle in the parking lot of Mimbres Valley Special Event Center Saturday night.  Firefighters responded to two brush fires over the weekend.  The first was at the riverbed near Country Club Road north of Deming, the second was at the area near Hermanas and Elote roads. ​

(Deming) - The MESA students at Red Mountain Middle School, with the assistance of the National Junior Honor Society sold packages of socks this past fall to raise funds for LIMBs Inc.  
       LIMBs Inc. provides amputees in third world countries prosthetic limbs. 
      Along with the sale of the socks, LIMBs Inc. gave the individual MESA programs five pairs of socks for every three packages sold by their clubs to donate to the underprivileged in each of their communities. 
    This made it possible for Red Mountain Middle School to provide over 90 pairs of socks to the needy in the Deming community. 
      Monika Velez, said they worked with Transforming Luna County to distribute the socks where they are most needed.  ​

(Deming) -- The Deming-Luna County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the year with an awards banquet Saturday Night.
     Before the event started, the Chamber’s presidential gavel was passed from Tyler Benting to Bill Byford who will serve this year. 
   Over 300 people attended the night enjoying the theme of riverboat gambling with food, music provided by the Yarborough Band, dancing and St. Clair winery providing cocktails.
​
This year’s award recipients were:
The Outstanding Citizen of the Year went to Paul Sanchez.
The top Businessperson of the Year for 2016 was Florent Lescombs of St. Clair winery.
The top New Business of the Year was Understandable Insurance.
The top Agribusiness Person of the year went to County Extension Agent Jack Blandford.
And the top Education Person of the Year was Deming High School teacher and math department chair Caleb Kartchner.
Dona Irwin, Former N.M. Representative District 32 was also honored for her years of service to the area in Santa Fe. ​

(Deming)  - A man getting gas at the Valero Gas Station south of Deming was robbed of his vehicle at gun point. 
           Luna County Sheriff Captain Jose Martinez told KOTS/KDEM news that on Friday evening January 27th, at 8:40 p.m., Central Dispatch received a 911 call from the clerk at the Valero 3825 Highway 11, reporting that a customer’s vehicle was just taken by gunpoint.
          The owner of the 2014 gold GMC pickup was refueling when he was approached by a man identified as 19 year old Carlos Nevarez of Columbus.  Nevarez brandished a handgun and demanded the vehicle.  
       Law enforcement agencies responded to the call, began tracking the vehicle using ONSTAR.   Nevarez was apprehended in Dona Ana County by New Mexico State Police after a chase which resulted in the vehicle being involved in a crash.  Nevarez was booked into the Dona Ana Detention Center in Las Cruces. 
 A unidentified hand gun was recovered at the scene of the crash. 
​

(Deming) – Here’s today’s local crime report:
            Angel D. Ortiz, age 23, was arrested for unlawful use of a license…  Jeremy Garcia, age 28, was arrested on a District Court warrant… William Allison,  age 22,  was cited for a driving violation… Ramon Ortega, age 35, was cited for possession of marijuana under an ounce.. Robert Richards, age 58 was cited for driving without a license and careless driving after being involved in an accident on the Columbus Highway...  John Michael Maynes, age 47, was arrested for battery on a household member, driving with a suspended license, unlawful use of a license, concealing identity, and prowling…  Steve Duran, age 50, was arrested on a District court warrant for violating conditions of his release, and violating an order of protection… Delores A. Almanza, age 41, was arrested on a District court warrant for violating conditions of her release and not wearing seat belts.
            In juvenile news, a 17 year old boy was cited for possession of under an ounce of marijuana and a 14 year old boy was cited for possession of under an ounce of marijuana at Red Mountain Middle School.
            In other reports, a Remington 870 shot gun and a .22 caliber riffle was taken from a residence on Sumac Road in the county. ​

(Deming)  – For more than 10 years, Western New Mexico University has hosted thousands of students from high schools in southern New Mexico for the annual regional Science Olympiad competition. 
   This year, 45 Deming students from the High School and Red Mountain Middle School will be participating in the annual event.     More than 400 middle and high school students are scheduled to participate from 20 regional schools. The students will be competing in 46 events with names such as Bottle Rocket, Hovercraft, Towers, Wright Stuff, Electric Vehicle, Helicopters, Robot Arm and Wind Power. 
  Local Sponsors are Daniel Gamboa and Leslie Wilson. 
  The 2017 competition will take place on Saturday, January 28 beginning with an opening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. in the Fine Arts Center Theater. The public is invited to attend to see the many events throughout the day.   
   The event will conclude at 4:00 p.m. with an awards ceremony in the Fine Arts Center Theater. Top winners of the regional competition will advance to the state competition to take place at New Mexico Tech in February. Descriptions of the events are available online at soinc.org
​

(Deming) – The Deming Arts Council is hosting two featured artists during the month of February.
     Deming native David Vega Chavez and Ralph Roybal of Santa Fe will be the two featured artists for the February show.
     Chavez, who was born in Deming, began drawing and painting in high school but eventually moved in another direction spending much of his early life involved in choreography directing and dancing in the motion picture industry, television and the Las Vegas nightclub scene.   In the early 90’s upon returning to New Mexico, he began painting seriously.   His favorite mediums are watercolor, acrylics.   He enjoys painting New Mexico’s landscapes.
    Ralph Roybal began his career in bronze sculpting, as an apprentice in some of the leading bronze foundries of the southwest.  It was at Santa Fe that he realized his potential in bronze work. Roybal has won many first place awards in various fine art exhibitions and shows. 
      The show will run from Sunday January 29 through February 24th
      An artist reception will be on Sunday January 29th, from 1-3 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
      The center is located at 100 South Gold St.  Regular business hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.