Domestic Violence Survivor, Las Cruces Entrepreneur Is Now Published Author
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OPINION Drive-up movies Local news and entertainment since 1969 making a comeback in Las Cruces page 6 GET SOLAR & AC Entertainment AND SAVE BIG SAVE YOUR ELECTRIC BILL EACH MONTH 25 YEAR WARRANTY May 29 - June 4, 2020 $89.94 COMBINED A MONTH Guide Amana Lifetime Warranty Last AC You’ll Ever NEWS Amanda Peet stars Buy in the second season Inside of “Dirty John,” premiering Tuesday on USA Network. Lic #380200 • 4.38 kw • $36,000 financed at 2.99% is combo price $89.94 for Amanda Peet is Betty Broderick in 18 months then re-amortize OAC. 575-449-3277 ‘Dirty John’ Season 2 YELLOWBIRDAC.COM • YELLOWBIRDSOLAR.COM2 x 5.5” ad New Mexico residents, learn how you can FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 get more benefits than Original Medicare. If you have both Medicaid and Medicare, you may qualify for the UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete® plan. 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Y0066_190516_020501_M CST29140 CST29140_DU20_NM_Q2_MoreBen_Ads.indd 2 4/8/20 8:17 AM Round Team Project Details Specifications Base Design: renae Software: InDesign CC2018 Color(s): 4/0 1 Production: Lisa File Name: CST29140_DU20_NM_Q2_MoreBen_Ads.indd Bleed: none Mkt Mgr: celeste Project Notes: Flat: 9.98x4.7 UHC_CS MD: Claudia Las Cruces Bulletin Job: CST29140 CommencementCommencement PRODUCTION paradeparade City parks slowly reopening page 16 NEWS Local high schools among state’s best page 17 ARTS Domestic-violence Oñate High School students drove by announcers,PHOTO video BY ELVA cameras K ÖSTERREICH and survivor publishes Principal Jim Schapekahm during a graduation recognition and celebra- memoir tion on Friday, May 22, at the Las Cruces Field of Dreams. Schapekahm, who wrote by hand the names of all 354 Oñate graduates on a wall in the page 23 now-empty school, said he was “more than glad” to spend a long eve- ning handing out graduation certificates during the almost three-hour drive-by event. Close to 1,600 Las Cruces Public Schools students were celebrated May 21 and 22 during drive-by commencement ceremonies. 2 | FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN Content brought to you by: Doña Ana County ‘Your Partner in Progress’ You are not alone Dear Doña Ana County Residents, As we close Mental Health Month, I want to thank mental health workers and cele- brate that people can and do recover from mental illness and other diseases. We must also recognize that mental illness may be difficult to identify, and it can take years for people to access treatment. It can be lonely and confusing for the person who is ill. At a time when they need the most support, they can experience even more isolation. Family, friends and a communi- ty that do not understand may unintentionally take a step back, misunderstand natural responses or the healing process. As one in five Americans is affected, many of us know or love someone who is diag- nosed with a mental illness. I empathize with the families and caregivers of people with long-term illnesses be- cause I know how devastating it is to see a loved one struggle and hurt, each time they fall. I lost a brother who battled dementia for years. At first, we thought nothing of it. However, little by little, over months, we began to see the deterioration and it was dev- astating for all of us in the family and for everyone who knew him. Salvador “Chovol” Gonzalez was well known in our small town of Anthony and across Doña Ana County because he was both a teacher and a coach for many years. Later, he served our community as county commissioner. As his dementia progressed, the saddest thing for me, as his brother and long-time fan was to witness that he no longer remembered his good deeds. He forgot the students he taught and the athletes he coached throughout his Gadsden Independent School Dis- trict career. Then, he stopped recognizing his closest friends and painfully, he no longer rejoiced in the significant contributions he made to our community. Chovol helped educate and shape our youths; then fought for and garnered roads, a police substation and funds for Doña Ana County District 2. I am blessed to remember everything he accomplished. In his honor, I want thank everyone who works in mental health and help raise awareness about mental illness and the devastating impact it has on the person, their caregivers, their family and our com- munity. Let us change our approach and let them know they are not alone. By understanding mental illness better, we can also encourage people to seek help, rather than shame them. Let us build our knowledge and foster a caring community. The National Alliance on Mental Illness sponsors the “You are not alone” campaign and encourages everyone to share their story. In sharing our stories, we build knowledge, awareness and empathy for everyone. #NotAlone #mentalhealthawareness. Sincerely, Ramon S. Gonzalez, Doña Ana County Commissioner, on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners: Lynn Ellins, Chair; Manuel Sanchez, Vice Chair; Shannon Reynolds and Isabella Solis. JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! May 29, 2020 Visit our award-winning website at www.donaanacounty.org, or contact us at (575) 647-7200 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 | 3 County political party chairs comment on primary voting, COVID-19 and more By MIKE COOK party has had Zoom-based stay at home, wear a mask businesses in town, where Las Cruces Bulletin outreach where our candi- in public and vote by ab- lesser concern over social dates have spoken during sentee ballot. We have been distancing is occurring. our monthly meeting. We reaching out using every The Bulletin asked the two Contact information major political party chairs also send out e-mails and method available to us to in Doña Ana County for maintain a Facebook page make sure that people can • Democrats: Doña Ana their thoughts on early vot- that gets good traffic. make their voices heard County Democratic ing, the impact of COVID-19 Bulletin: What impact without risking their Party: 115 W. Griggs on the Primary and other do you think COVID-19 will health or safety or that of Ave., P.O. Box 16144, campaign issues. Here are have on voter turnout for tions difficult. The same have a Facebook page or the poll workers. I think Las Cruces, N.M. 88004. the responses from Mona the primary? What are you sorts of limitations are a website. So voters could these numbers show the Phone: 575-650-4648, Trempe, chair, Doña Ana hearing from candidates happening to us as a party be able to connect to those success of that education email: dpdacnm@gmail. County Democratic Party and from voters? so we are not hearing as and find information about campaign and that voters, com. Visit www.donaan- and David Tofsted, chair, Trempe: In other states much as we normally their candidates. especially Democrats, are ademocrats.com/ and Doña Ana County Republi- with recent primaries that would from the voters. Bulletin: In this county, following the advice of www.facebook.com/ can Party. required in-person voting, Bulletin: Do you think more Democrats are early public health experts. donaanademocrats. turnout dropped. This is local voters are spend- voting by absentee ballot Tofsted: There is a New Mexico Democratic Bulletin: Amid the something we are work- ing more time than usual and more Republicans in trend. Republicans who Party: www.nmdemo- public-health emergency, ing hard to avoid in New learning about candidates person. If there is a trend, are voting in-person are crats.org/. how are you reaching out Mexico. We are committed and issues because of the does it mean anything? more concerned about • Republicans: 2801 Mis- to voters in the Primary, to making sure as many stay-at-home order and the Trempe: As soon as voter integrity than they souri Ave., Suite 4, Las including early voting? people as possible have lack of campaign events? we heard from the (state) are about COVID-19. Also, Cruces, N.M. 88011. Trempe: In Doña Ana their voices heard in every Trempe: We are seeing a Supreme Court that in- our experience with the Phone: 575-523-8683, County, we are promoting election. We have been lot of enthusiasm for Dem- person voting would be early voting is that the email: darpoffice@gmail. absentee voting through encouraging voters to vote ocrats, as has been the case held, Democrats have been level of protection offered com. Visit www.face- our social-media posts, safely from home using for the last several years. doing everything possible by the County Clerk's per- book.com/DARPNM and website and newsletters, an absentee ballot. Over People are still adjusting to encourage absentee sonnel is as good or better www.rpda.us/. Republi- and by participating in a 130,000 voters have already to the new challenges and voting.