Headlight wraps year with flurry of news [The Deming Headlight, N.M.]

Dec. 30--(Editor's Note: The following is the final installment of the Deming Headlight year in review.)

September

1 Law enforcement officials reveal plans behind the sting to arrest the Reese family for alleged firearms smuggling.

5 Bill Duncan is hired as the director of the local MainStreet program.

7 A judge in Las Cruces denies release for the Reese family.

8 Committee members charged with helping to find the next Luna County manager are hush-hush on findings.

12 Luna County's manager review committee releases their top picks for the next county manager.

13 The American Civil Liberties Union reports it is pleased with progress to improve conditions at the Luna County Detention Center.

14 The search for the next Luna County manager is narrowed to seven applicants.

15 State Senator John Arthur Smith announces legislation aimed at lowering unemployment insurance rates.

19 Legislation backed by Commissioner Jay Spivey to extend VISA limits in the US leap-frogs in Santa Fe.

20 The Kretek twins are honored as Southwestern New Mexico State Fair parade marshals.

21 A Mexican citizen uses a Deming Public Schools bus to ride to town.

26 The annual Junior Livestock Sale nets over $91,000 for local youngsters.

27 Sister Jackie Sailer, of St. Ann Catholic Church, caps 20 years of local service.

28 Four more illegal aliens are reported to have used a Deming Public Schools bus to enter the city.

30 City of Deming officials attack U.S. Census data results as inaccurate.

October

3 Sapphire Energy breaks ground on its biofuel facility located outside Columbus.

7 Kelly Kuenstler is hired as the Luna County manager.

12 Jesus Vasquez is charged with an open count of murder following the death of his brother after a fight.

13 Luna County's Board of Commissioners approves a pay hike for the new county manager.

20 Gabriela Ramos recounts her experience saving a young boy from two vicious dogs.

21 The annual Shop with a Cop holiday gift drive collects nearly $7,000 in donations from local businesses.

24 Lance Cpl. Juan Dominguez shares his experience of finding strength to recover from his wounds within the community.

25 Deming Public Schools officials discuss new safety measures following numerous incidents in which Mexican citizens used school busses to enter the city.

November

3 Longtime museum volunteer Ruth Russell is honored for over 30 years of service.

4 Deming High School Future Farmers of America members perform well at the national convention held in Indiana.

8 Local Ron Scharf tosses his hat into the race for District No. 3 Luna County Commissioner.

9 A local minister is convicted of sex crimes.

11 Dr. Victor Cruz takes over as surgeon for Mimbres Memorial Hospital.

15 The Macho Springs Wind Energy Farm goes online.

17 Undersheriff Allen Carter resigns from the Luna County Sheriff's Department.

21 Alvar Aguirre is acquitted of murder charges.

23 Pastor Paul Temple is invited to speak at a prestigious astronomy conference.

24 The Fort Sill Apache Tribe is awarded 30 acres of land at Akela.

25 The SunZia project touts its transmission line plans could create 530 local jobs.

28 The Thanksgiving Turkey Trot race raises $5,000 in scholarship funds.

December

1 Fire destroys a shed used for shelter by a local resident.

5 The Kiwanis Christmas Light Parade dazzles local residents.

5 Arctic conditions blast the area with snow and ice.

7 350 stranded travelers are housed at the Mimbres Valley Learning Center during the winter storm.

9 Locals come out in overwhelming support for Fort Sill Apache plans to open a casino at Akela.

13 Mimbres Memorial Hospital announces its employees of the year: Racquel Mendoza, Veronica Holguin and Tris McSherry.

14 The Deming-Luna County Chamber of Commerce announces its award nominees for the annual gala event.

16 Gabriela Ramos is honored by the US Border Patrol for saving a boy from two vicious dogs.

21 Federal authorities announce they will seek the forfeiture of property owned by the Reese family.

22 Sheriff Raymond Cobos details support for new plans to change border security.

23 First Baptist Church distributes $18,000 in food boxes to local needy families.

29 A lecture series will help celebrate New Mexico's centennial, beginning Jan. 7 with a lecture by a renown UNM professor.

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(c)2011 The Deming Headlight (Deming, N.M.)

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