NEWS Local news and entertainment since 1969 Entertainment Las Cruces Transportation July 23 - 29, 2021 YOUR RIDE. YOUR WAY. Las Cruces Shuttle – Taxi Guide Charter – Courier Veteran Owned and Operated Since 1985. Katie Ledecky vies for Team USA in swimming at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, airing all week on NBC Inside and other outlets. Call us to make a reservation today! We are Covid-19 Safe-Practice Compliant Team effort Call us at 800-288-1784 or for more details 2 x 5.5” ad to keep hikers, visit www.lascrucesshuttle.com FRIDAY, INNOVATIVE JULY 23, PHARMACY SOLUTIONS! campers safe 2021 I Volume 54, Number 30 Providing local, full-service pharmacy needs for all types of facilities. • Long-term care I lascrucesbulletin.com • Assisted Living page 3 • DD Waiver • Skilled Nursing • Hospice and more 2020 Tokyo Olympics – Call us today! 575-288-1412 Ask your provider if they utilize the many benefits of RX Innovations, such as: Blister or multi-dose packaging, OTC’s & FREE Delivery. Who to watch in swimming Learn more about what we do at www.rxinnovationslc.net2 x 4” ad A&E Community theater returning When with a classic page 24 dogs fly SENIORS Las Crucen looks back on civilian stint in Vietnam War Ripp leaps for an air retrieve move at the Las Cruces Dock Diving facility on Valley Drive on Friday, July 16. New Mexico State University graduate Kelsie Boswell page 33 owns him. Ripp is going to compete at regionals with his sister, Clover, a border collie. He is the first Shetland sheepdog in the history of North America Diving Dogs to do air retrieve, hydro dash and distance jumps. The next event in town is the Las Cruces Dock Diving Chile Dog and takes place Aug. 27-29. COURTESY PHOTO BY TABITHA ROSSMAN 2 | FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN A�er a two-year planning process, efforts to improve and update the County’s exis�ng All-Hazards Mi�ga�on Plan have paid off with approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “FEMA’s recent approval of our updated plan makes Doña Ana County eligible to receive post-disaster funding a�er a presiden�ally declared disaster, making it easier to address urgent and poten�ally hazardous situa�ons in communi�es that experienced severe weather. Disaster caused by weather-related hazards can be a dam failure, flash flooding, severe wind, earthquake, drought, extreme heat or cold, hail, lightning, wildfire and others,” said Doña Ana County Flood Commission Engineer Supervisor Michael Garza. The goal of the mi�ga�on planning effort is to iden�fy the extent to which each jurisdic�on is vulnerable to natural hazards, then iden�fy and priori�ze ac�ons to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from high-risk hazards. “Mi�ga�on is more about how we as a community can prevent or lessen the impact of such events when they do occur in our county,” Garza said. A core component of the mi�ga�on planning process involves a risk assessment of the natural hazards most likely to occur within each jurisdic�on. This involves analyzing historical data, taking inventory of at-risk infrastructure, and ul�mately assessing the vulnerability to these hazards. Most importantly, we then must establish goals, ac�ons and projects that mi�gate the associated risks. “The development of this mi�ga�on plan is vital to ensure that historical infrastructure is preserved, protected, and that new growth is safe and sustainable,” Garza added. In November 2019, the Doña Ana County Flood Commission Office and the Office of Emergency Management joined forces with mul�-jurisdic�onal planning and steering commi�ees comprised of representa�ves from Doña Ana County, the ci�es of Anthony, Las Cruces, and Sunland Park, the Town of Mesilla, the Village of Hatch, the Elephant Bu�e Irriga�on District and New Mexico State University. They met regularly throughout 2020, as representa�ves from each jurisdic�on provided input on behalf of their communi�es, which helped to review and update the exis�ng 2012 All-Hazards Mi�ga�on Plan. The recent FEMA-approved plan is adopted through 2026, at which �me a new update will be required. Par�cipa�ng jurisdic�ons, along with consultants at JE Fuller, completed a final version of the plan update in February, and received final FEMA approval of the plan in June 2021. For ques�ons or more informa�on regarding the All-Hazards Mi�ga�on Plan, please contact Michael Garza, Doña Ana County Flood Commission Engineer Supervisor at 575-525-5553 or [email protected]. To review the final plan adopted, please visit the Doña Ana County Flood Commission webpage at www.donaanacounty.org/flood/mi�ga�on. LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 | 3 Team effort to help campers, hikers in distress By MIKE COOK to conduct rescues and cue, plus the New Mexico Las Cruces Bulletin extractions and respond State Police (NMSP), to other emergencies. Doña Ana County Sher- Teamwork is critical “We realized that our iff’s Office (DACSO) and when someone is lost paths crossed a lot,” said Las Cruces Police Depart- or injured in the Organ LCFD Battalion Chief Jer- ment (LCPD). Mountains, Las Cruces or emiah Lay. “It’s a really, “I love ’em,” MVSAR the desert. really good group effort.” President Vic Villalobos The Las Cruces Fire MVSAR members “have said of Las Cruces fire- Department’s (LCFD) expertise, have been fighters. “They’re a good Technical Rescue Team around for a long, long group of people. Their and Mesilla Valley Search time and do numerous professionalism is top COURTESY PHOTOS FROM VIC VILLALOBOS, MESILLA VALLEY FIRE AND RESCUE and Rescue, Inc. (MVSAR) missions a year,” Lay said, notch. We just work really Three-day joint Las Cruces Fire Department-Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue training are working more closely so the group was added well together.” together than ever to uti- to LCFD’s resource list. LCFD’s Technical Res- and a boulder fell on him, lize the strengths of each He said LCFD also works cue Team and MVSAR crushing the middle part group and their combined with other teams that are worked with DASO and of his body. Searchers training and experience part of the local search NMSP in May to rescue located the hiker and to rescue lost or injured and rescue network, in- a group of 24 hikers that the friends he was with. campers, hikers and back- cluding Doña Ana Search had become “separated, LCFD was on scene with packers. The teams often and Rescue and Organ disoriented and stranded emergency medical tech- train and deploy together Mountain Technical Res- in the Organ Mountains,” nicians, who stabilized according to an LCPD the hiker and contacted news release. Fort Bliss for assistance. Villalobos also remem- LCFD requested the U.S. bers a joint rescue opera- Army send a Blackhawk tion in 2019 when a hiker had fallen in the Organs SEE RESCUE, PAGE 4 Comfort. Compassion. Love. College for Las Cruces Fire Department and Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue conducted a joint three-day training event. Everyone WelcomingNew Patients! Campuses Open Aug 2 Classes start Aug 18 Nicole OswaltGarcia, NP Pediatrics Enroll Today FAMILY CARE ANDPEDIATRICS 2405 STelshor Blvd. 575-532-1001 www.MVHospice.org V45095 575-523-4700 Local Affordable Accredited Online We accept Medicare, Medicaid, LC1-L 299 Montana Ave., Tricare, CentennialCare and 575-527-7710 dacc.nmsu.edu most privateinsurances. Las Cruces 4 | FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021 NEWS LAS CRUCES BULLETIN RESCUE Las Cruces Bulletin - 10/13/2017 and drone teams. Team Saftey tips for hiking, campingPage : A013 members have extensive CONTINUED FROM 3 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017 | 13 experience in searches • Follow the Scout motto: Always be prepared. and familiarity with the • Know where you’re going, how long and how helicopter, which ar- Organ Mountains, where difficult the trek will be and what the weather condi- rived within an hour. TheFlags of mourning many searches and res- tions are and could become. hiker was hoisted out of cues have taken place • Tell at least one person where you’re going and the canyon he had been over the years. Its canine when you expect to return. trapped in and trans- ENDteam also does cadaver • Dress appropriately, including layers that can be ported to a hospital. searches. easily removed. Wear a proper head covering. Wear “He survived because MVSAR members mustSALE! comfortable boots or hiking shoes suitable for the Tile of the life-saving actions SUMMERbe at least 16 years old, terrainfrom to be covered. taken in the field,” Villalo- COURTESY PHOTO FROM VIC VILLABLOBOS Villalobos said. You don’t • Take a flashlight and extra batteries, first-aid kit, bos said. have to have any previous pocketknife or Leatherman* Truckloads tool and plenty of food Las Cruces Fire Department and Mesilla Valley Search and Because firefighters Rescue conducted a three-day training event. experience to join. and water. in stock are trained as emergency MVSAR meets at 6:30 • Take a fully chargedCash andcell Carry. phone and, if available, No holding. medical technicians, the good marriage,” said Vil- and tunnels, for example p.m. the second Thursday a 59portableper sq. ft. charger.¢ Avoid depleting the phone bat- incident commander for lalobos, who has volun- — and rope rescues and of each month at A Bite of Carpettery by overusing the camera function. an MVSAR mission will teered with MVSR since heavy extractions. Some Belgium restaurant, 741 • Don’t go alone.Laminate call in LCFD if there 1997, participating in team members were de- N.