Local news and entertainment since 1969 WomenW of DistinctionD available 2020 inside HEALTHY HORIZONS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 I Volume 51, Number 52 I lascrucesbulletin.comco INSIDE NEWS Still Bloomin Brown to ride in Rose Bowl page 10 Las Crucen Clayton Flow- ers was feted Dec. 17 at a reception hosted by the NAACP Doña Ana County ARTS & Branch. Flowers, a former ENTERTAINMENT Tuskegee Airman, turned 104 on Christmas Day. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first black mili- tary aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps, a precur- sor to the U.S. Air Force. Border Artists honor founding BULLETIN PHOTO BY member RICHARD COLTHARP page 26 This holiday season reminds us that we are fortunate to be a part of this great community. We wish you and your Happy Holidays loved ones a safe, healthy and happy holiday season. and A HEALTHY NEW YEAR MMCLC.org 2 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 NEWS LAS CRUCES BULLETIN Content brought to you by: Doña Ana County ‘Your Partner in Progress’ Agreement showcases mul-stakeholder collaboraon It is just the type of project that the U.S. Army employees to find resources and money that would Xochitl Torres Small, New Mexico State Sen. Jeff Corps of Engineers’ staff enjoys working on, said Lt. bring that solution to life. Steinborn, State Reps. Rodolpho “Rudy” S. Martinez, Col., U.S. Army District Commander Larry D. “This was really made possible through a collabora- and Nathan P. Small. Caswell, Jr. A dam to help prevent flooding in the Vil- tive effort,” said Dist. 5 Doña Ana County Commis- “This is one of the most exciting parts of the job,” lage of Hatch had been at the top residents’ priority list sioner Manuel Sanchez. “Our legislators contributed Caswell said. The next step on this multi-year project and just reached the design phase. and were key in making this project a reality for the is for the Army Corps of Engineers to design the struc- people of Hatch and our surrounding communities.” ture, which will help protect Hatch from floods by cre- The estimated $12.7 million needed to build the ating an embankment dam located upstream from the dam will flow from several sources. The U.S. Army Hatch and adjacent to Milagro. Corps of Engineers, federal and state legislative appro- “We have a really unique opportunity here in our priations will cover sixty-five percent of the cost while state, right now, where we have leadership at the com- the remaining 35 percent will be covered with state munity level, at the advocate level. We have strong legislative appropriations, grants and other local elected leadership,” Small said. “We are fortunate sources. right now to enjoy strong budgets as well. So this is Through legislative appropriations, funding was the time, especially with federal partners, to make the identified for the dam, in great part through the efforts most of these opportunities for the people that we are of U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, Rep. so privileged to serve.” Doña Ana County Manager Fernando R. Macias and Larry D. Caswell, Jr., Lt. Col., U.S. Army District Com- mander sign agreement to build dam. PHOTOS: LUCE RUBIO, Doña Ana County. “We’re going to get it built,” said James “Slim” Whitlock, Trustee for the Village of Hatch and owner of Jim’s Supermarket. “It has taken a lot of time and work to get to this point and we are excited to see it move forward.” The Village of Hatch and Doña Ana County Flood Commission representatives worked together to pin- Mul-stakeholders sign agreement to build a dam to protect Hatch, from le, John Gwynne, director, Do- point the source of flooding in past years and identify a ña Ana County Flood Commission, Dist. 5 Doña Ana County Commissioner Manuel Sanchez, State Rep. solution. The solution, a dam, required help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with town, coun- Nathan Small, Lt. Col., U.S. Army District Commander Larry D. Caswell, Jr., Doña Ana County Manager Fer- ty, state and federal elected officials and government nando R. Macias, and Village of Hatch Mayor Andrew “Andy” Nunez. JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Dec. 27, 2019 Visit our award-winning website at www.donaanacounty.org, or contact us at (575) 647-7200 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 3 Councilor Smith sets sights on city’s history, future By MIKE COOK dates’ petitions to reduce Developing these of Valley Drive, south of Branigan Park, Las Cru- Las Cruces Bulletin the number of candidates properties as afford- Hadley Avenue and west ces Fire Station No. 3 by eliminating those who able housing, walkable of the railroad tracks – is and residential neighbor- “I have new directions don’t have broad enough neighborhoods and com- an ideal area for an I3 ap- hoods. to go and I’m excited by support to make a cred- munity hubs is “part of proach. Its 50-plus acres The city council has that,” outgoing Las Cru- ible run. exciting things coming include historic cotton adopted a blueprint to ces City Councilor Greg When his term ends to Las Cruces,” he said, gins and warehouses and guide the development of Smith said in a Dec. 4 Dec. 31, Smith said he adding that addressing an iconic water tower, as Amador Proximo, which interview. intends to use the experi- blighted properties is an well as MacArthur El- is “just waiting for some- Smith gave up the ence he gained on the city important way to “help ementary School, Mesilla thing to happen,” Smith council seat he has held council to “pursue other us look ready for prime Valley Community of said, adding that the for the last eight years things in the commu- time [while addressing Hope and the Gospel Res- area contains “a whole to run for mayor, and nity,” including starting the city’s] history, culture cue Mission, along with said he has no regrets a nonprofit called I3 – In- and sense of commu- a number of businesses, SEE SMITH, PAGE 5 about that decision, even Greg Smith novative Infill Initiatives nity.” though he didn’t win. – to address vacant, aban- He said Amador Prox- “I do think I had strong the city consider requir- doned and underused imo – the multi-use neigh- support in the commu- ing a designated number properties throughout borhood located north nity,” Smith said. “The of signatures of regis- the city. of Amador Avenue, east (political) party thing tered voters on candi- came more into play than I expected.” Smith also remains a proponent of ranked- choice voting (RCV), which was used for the first time in this year’s municipal elections. With 10 candidates, the mayor’s race went nine rounds (Smith was elimi- Our mission is to enhance quality of life with innovative holistic care nated after round seven) before incumbent Ken by implementing the highest safety standards in pain care. Miyagishima was de- clared the winner. Pain conditions treated at HPI include but not limited to: “[RCV] empowers vot- ers,” Smith said, adding • Medical Management • Neuropathic and Post Operative that it “increases civility in the campaign and gives • Opioid-Free Pain Management • Cancer and Visceral voters a real choice,” • Platelet Rich Plasma • Phantom and Spinal Cord lnjury while enhancing the • Ketamine Therapy • Fibromyalgia/Chronic Widespread prospects of increased turnout and encouraging • Back, Neck and Upper Extremity voters to make more in- formed choices. He conceded, however, Interventional pain techniques provided include by not limited to: that because this was • Myofascial/Trigger Point/joint Injections • Interlaminar/Transformaminal Epidural/ the first time RCV was utilized in a Las Cruces • Radio-frequency Treatment Facet Injections election, voters may have • Nerve Blocks: All Extremities and Joints been confused by the large number of candi- dates in the mayor’s race and about the impact of Contact us for more information the votes they cast for Phone# (575)-205-0280 their second-, third- and 3851 E. Lohman, Suite 4 • Las Cruces, NM 88011 additional ranked choices in the race. www.hygiapain.com Smith recommended 4 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2019 NEWS LAS CRUCES BULLETIN COMING UP By MARTY RACINE events free and open to the Las Cruces Bulletin public. Info: 575-522-4499 • 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 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