Here’s a look what’s happening:

New Mexico State Police Officers were notified of a motorcycle crash in the median of I-10 yesterday, heading westbound near mile post 43, approximately thirty-five miles west of Deming. Upon arrival at the scene it was discovered that a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle had entered the median and crashed, ejecting the rider. Richard Berry, of Tucson, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The crash is still under investigation.

Barbara Reedy, of Deming has been appointed to the Luna County Commission, representing District One. She will serve through the next general election. Reedy fills the vacant seat created by the passing of Joe Milo, Jr. Reedy currently provides physical therapy services in Deming and Hatch schools and early intervention services throughout Luna County. She is secretary of the Deming-Luna County Economic Development Board and previously served as president of New Mexico MainStreet for Luna County and the Deming-Luna Chamber of Commerce. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas. In addition, Governor Martinez appointed Erich Bower of Tyrone to the Mining Commission. He is the general manager of the Tyrone Mine in Grant County. Bower holds a Master of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.

Last weekend, District Ranger of the Wilderness Ranger District, Rachelle Huddleston-Lorton, reported that the gates were left open in the pastured area located between mile markers 18-22 and Lake Roberts on the north side of Highway 35. The Wilderness Ranger District turned out their Forest Service horses and mules into the North Skates Pasture in mid-November. This pasture is part of the Sapillo Allotment and is used by the Forest Service in cooperation with the permitee, The Nature Conservancy. The Forest Service horses and mules are pastured in this area which is open to the public. All gates are identified with signs referring to the livestock in the pasture. Since the gates were left open over the weekend, district personnel had to hunt down and retrieve the livestock. The public is urged to close these gates which will eliminate the horses and mules from wandering onto the highway which is a hazard to the public and to the animals.

In a look into New Mexico news, since the tragic high school shooting in Aztec, New Mexico last week, a therapy team from Farmington called “Pet Partners”, brought their trained therapy dogs in, hoping they could help. Sara Kaynor, of the Pet Pal Therapy Team said, “our dogs calm people and bring a smile in tough times, so we wanted to do our small part for the people of Aztec.” The group plans to bring two to three dogs to each school in the district to visit with the students and teachers when they go back to class. The superintendent canceled class across the district Friday. He said schools will stay closed until today. That is when everyone, except high schoolers, will get back to class. He says it is still unclear when Aztec High students will return