Here’s some local news:
In a release from Western New Mexico University, WNMU students, faculty and staff are grieving the loss of a Mustang student athlete. Freshman, Eddie Cruz, died in a drowning incident at Bill Evans Lake on Monday. Cruz was 18 years old and studied kinesiology at WNMU. The freshman was a wide receiver on the Mustang football team and wore number 82. From El Paso, Texas, Cruz graduated from Eastwood High School this past spring. WNMU is providing counseling for students affected by Cruz’ death.
In Deming, Red Mountain Middle School will be conducting an annual evacuation drill tomorrow, September 5th at 9:30 A.M. According to the Deming Headlight, the drill will test existing emergency plans and test how participants will respond during an emergency. The drill will consist of a simulated chemical spill in front of the school and NM Highway 418 whereby Bataan Elementary School and Deming Intermediate School will execute a shelter in place while students, staff and teachers from Red Mountain Middle School will evacuate to Deming Intermediate School. Agencies involved in the evacuation drill include: Luna County Sheriff’s Department, Deming Police Department, New Mexico State Police, Border Patrol, Deming Fire Department, Luna County Dispatch, and local EMS.
The New Mexico Environmental Department and the New Mexico Department of Health is offering up to 200 free water tests for private wells serving homes not connected to a public water utility to residents of Grant County. The tests will include checks for levels of pH, Electrical Conductivity, Sulfate, Fluoride, Iron, Nitrate, and Arsenic. Individuals interested in the testing should provide the following: Fill a clean glass or plastic container without any strong odors, with at least a quart or a liter (i.e.32 OZ) of your well water; If the home has a whole house filtration system, collect the water at the well head prior to any filtration or softener systems if possible; Let the water run 2-3 minutes before collecting the sample; and Fill the container with water as close to the time of testing as possible. In Silver City, the tests will be held on Friday, September 27th from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. at WNMU’s Harlan Hall. In Mimbres, the tests will be held at the Mimbres Health Fair on Saturday September 28th from 9:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. at the San Lorenzo Elementary School.
