Algernon D'Ammassa

Luna County Commissioners approve bonds for Carne solar project

Luna County commissioners held a public hearing Dec. 19 over a pair of ordinances authorizing industrial revenue bonds to help finance a utility-scale solar energy project northeast of Deming. The hearing, convened during a regular public meeting of…

Not so fast: Off-highway vehicle ordinance dies at city council

Tead White toured his Luna County property Wednesday in a Polaris General with Scooby, a 10-year-old Chihuahua who likes to lean out of the off-road vehicle to take in the scenery and feel the wind in his face — so far, in fact, that White keeps a…

Deming moves to open streets to off-highway vehicles

With the encouragement and participation of local off-road enthusiasts, the City of Deming is moving toward allowing off-highway vehicles on city roads to access the open spaces, dried river beds and trails surrounding the city. However, the process…

Remembrance at the border

A crowd of 50 people gathered by the side of the Columbus Port of Entry Sunday morning for the dedication of a new headstone at the community monument that for 22 years has memorialized loss of life in the punishing desert terrain near the southern…

Abandoned Deming ranchettes on the auction block

Tuesday saw the second day of an unusual delinquent property tax auction at the historic Luna County Courthouse, which houses the county’s administrative offices. Nearly 400 half-acre properties were on the auctioneer’s block yesterday and again this…

Luna County residents called on to correct FCC broadband map

With hundreds of millions of dollars potentially on the table to expand internet access across New Mexico, and rural areas in particular, Christie Ann Harvey of the Greater Luna County Economic Opportunity Council is calling the next few weeks “an…

Deming son comes home to start medical practice

Matthew Endrizzi grew up on 10th Street near Memorial Elementary School. Last month, the 31-year-old physician set up his medical practice at Mimbres Memorial Hospital just a few blocks away from his childhood home. “Growing up in Deming, you don’t…

New Mexico hospitals strain under ‘tripledemic’

Just over 1,000 days since the first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in New Mexico at the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the state’s hospital network is again coming under strain as a trio of viruses — sometimes referred to as a “tripledemic” —…

Deming sex offender pleads guilty, sentenced to 35 years

Warning to the reader: This story pertains to child sexual abuse. This story has been updated with comments from Sixth Judicial District Attorney Michael Renteria. Jeffery Dean Biddle, 41, pleaded guilty in Sixth Judicial District Court Monday to…

Woman charged in fatal Nov. 8 hit and run

Deming police have charged Cassandra Jasso, 25, in a fatal hit and run accident that took place on Nov. 8. In charging documents, the victim was identified as Halima Osman of Deming. Police responded near W. Ash and S. 8th streets late the night of…

Chandler, Trejo prepare to serve as Luna County Commissioners

When Colette Chandler and Ray Trejo visited the office of their local newspaper this week, Trejo remarked, “This is probably the last time we can do this.” Once the two are sworn in as Luna County commissioners, these first-time office holders will…

Deming fires community services director

The Deming City Council unanimously voted to terminate the city’s employment contract with community services director Alexi Jackson Tuesday afternoon. Jackson, who started at city hall in early 2019, was placed on administrative leave with pay on…

City announces utilities audit after claims of inflated meter readings

The City of Deming’s community services director, Alexi Jackson, was placed on administrative leave last week after nearly four years at the city. On Monday, the city announced it would launch an independent audit on metered utilities after Jackson…

Deming MainStreet brings art to where the rubber meets the road

The new splashes of color on Spruce Street and Gold and Silver Avenues were applied quickly but the Deming MainStreet’s Zia Sun Art-Scape Intersection Project was a few years in the making. Since last week, contractor Creative Paving Solutions has…

Luna County to consider El Paso Electric solar project

Luna County Commissioners approved a call for an ordinance at their Nov. 14 meeting that, if approved, would authorize up to $335 million in industrial revenue bonds to finance a major solar energy project on 1,200 acres in Luna County northeast of…

Every vote counts in southern New Mexico's closely watched congressional race. Here's the latest.

LAS CRUCES − President Joe Biden gave his endorsement to congressional candidate Gabe Vasquez, a fellow Democrat, during Biden's visit to Albuquerque Thursday; but Vasquez was knocking on doors in Luna County instead of appearing with the president.…

NMSU chancellor touts recovering enrollment, growing research funds in 'state of the university' speech

LAS CRUCES − New Mexico State University Chancellor Dan Arvizu offered an optimistic "state of the university" address on Wednesday stating the enrollment is recovering from the impacts of COVID-19, graduation rates rising and research expenditures…

EPA addresses Sterigenics facility, risks of ethylene oxide in Santa Teresa

SANTA TERESA − Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency's Dallas office held an open house at the War Eagles Air Museum Tuesday to answer questions about a toxic gas in use at an industrial facility a mile down the road in Santa…

New Mexico contest for governor enters final week with presidential endorsements

With New Mexico's gubernatorial election a week away, presidents past and present are weighing in on the matchup between incumbent Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Republican challenger Mark Ronchetti. Former president Barack Obama endorsed…

Owners of Gila Hike and Bike shop killed in head-on collision outside Deming

A well-known couple who owned the Gila Hike and Bike shop in downtown Silver City died in a vehicle crash in Luna County over the weekend. New Mexico State Police identified Martyn Pearson, 38, and Alexandra Olsen, 40, as the two victims in a crash…