NEWS Local news and entertainment since 1969 Bulletin’s DECEMBER 18, 2020 Best Inside Space flight hits a snag LOCAL HEROES! Memorial Medical Center’s Emergency & COVID-19 Units FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 I Volume 52, Number 51 I lascrucesbulletin.com Check out who placed in this and 378 other page 4 categories in Bulletin’s Best of the Mesilla Valley. A&E NMSU drama prof finds a way forward page 14 A&E Holiday adoptables Bib Diven hides a mural downtown page 15 BUSINESS Baking up goodness PHOTO BY KRISTI DIXON the Kind way Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley staff pose with some of the many adorable animals available for adoption this holiday season. Read about the page 22 adoption process and how you can help the ASCMV animals during the cold weather months through donations of goods and cash. Full story, page 9. 2 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 | 3 OBITUARIES Mary Alice Ross Aylor Vagabonds, Doña Ana Louisiana, clerk for the for 37 years. grandson, James Ke- Historical Society, High General Electric Credit Being an avid traveler, aton Aylor and his wife, Mary Alice Ross Aylor Nooners Extension Club, Corporation in Memphis she visited 47 states in Philippine de Mauléon, was born July 14, 1921, Friends of Fort Selden, and was a bookkeeper the continental United of Toulouse, France, sev- near McKenzie, Tennes- NMSU Golf Association, for J Strickland & Co., States and traveled north eral nieces and nephews, see, where she attended City of Las Cruces Beau- also of Memphis. For 16 to Alaska, east to the cousins, bridge buddies, high school and Bethel tification Program, sev- months, she worked for Greek islands, south faithful pen pals and College. Later, she was a eral bridge clubs and was the Clinton Engineering through the Panama neighbours at the Good student at the City Busi- Progress Club auditor Firm at Oak Ridge, Ten- Canal and west to Hawaii Samaritan Society in Las ness College in Colum- for 25 years. Since 1952, nessee, where she was and Australia. Cruces. bus, GA, the University she was a member of St awarded the Army/Navy She was preceded in In lieu of flowers, of Tennessee in Memphis Paul’s Methodist Church, Award for the years 1944- death by her husband, please donate to Bethel and the University of the Women’s Society for 1945. Both she and her John E Aylor, DDS, her College, 325 Cherry Hawaii in Honolulu. She Christian Service and husband, John E Aylor, parents and three sisters. Street, McKenzie, Ten- was a graduate of New Chairperson for Viola worked for Public Health She is survived by her nessee, or to a charity of Mexico State University Broadus Circle. Screening in Atlanta daughter, Anne Aylor your choice. in Las Cruces. MARY ALICE ROSS AYLOR She taught school in before coming to Las and her husband, David Arrangements by Getz She served as a home Tennessee, was employed Cruces in August 1950. Wilson of London, Eng- Funeral Home, 1410 E. room mother at Alameda She was an active mem- by the U.S. Forest Service She assisted her husband land; son John K Aylor Bowman Ave. Las Cru- Elementary and was a ber of Prime Timers, in Indio, California, was in his dental practice, and his life partner, ces. Please visit www. Girl Scout leader and den belonged to Foreign Arts, an employee of the U.S. acting as bookkeeper/au- Lorraine Smyth of Rio getzcares.com to sign the mother in Cub Scouts. Knife and Fork, Beloved Post Office in Camp Polk, ditor and office manager Rancho, NM and by her local online guest book. Mike Simione, 82 taurant management and time promoted to director move, anyone who knew and a friend and mentor will be held in the coming business administration of auxiliary enterprises Mike will understand that to many people. His work months. If desired, please Michael Rocco Simione, at Denver University in and purchasing. He was this was not who he was. was always his hobby, donate to the charity of aged 82, passed away Denver, Colorado. Shortly elected and served on the He continued to work and his hobby was serv- your choice in memory of peacefully in Las Cruces, afterward, he moved to Northfield City Coun- with many organizations ing and helping others. Mike, rather than send- New Mexico, Dec. 2, 2020, California to begin his cil and as mayor. Mike and people in his new Mike was a deeply spiri- ing gifts. with his family by his career. It wasn’t too long was extremely active in community: the Vista tual man, and his faith Arrangements are side. after that, while on a many roles at St. Domi- program, Community of guided his actions in all with La Paz – Graham’s He was preceded in work assignment, that nic’s Catholic Church in Hope, St. Albert the Great aspects of his life. Due Funeral Home, 555 West death by his father, An- he met his future wife, Northfield. While all of Newman Parish, the City to the current situation, Amador Ave., Las Cruces, thony, his mother, Car- Marilyn. this, and much more, was of Las Cruces as director a private interment will N.M., 88005. To sign the mela, his sister, JoAnn, Fast forward four going on, his two sons of nutrition for senior be held at St. Albert the online guest book, visit his brother, Joseph years, and they were were born and grew up programs, and most re- Great Newman Parish. A www.LaPaz-Grahams. (Angela) and his son, An- married and headed to there, as well. cently as office manager celebration of life service com. thony. He is survived by Northfield, Minnesota, to After too many Minne- and coordinator for Dona his wife of 55 wonderful begin their life together. sota winters and humid Ana County Senior Olym- 10-ye10-year years, Marilyn, his son, There, Mike worked at St. summers, Mike and Mari- pics. Guaranteear Andrew (Melissa), his Olaf College for 30 years. lyn moved to Las Cruces. Mike was a loving and AZ PAI daughter-in-law, Stepha- He was hired as the direc- Although retirement was devoted husband, loving ER ERIC NTIN nie, his grandchildren, tor of food services and in the stated goal of this father and grandfather M STOM STUCC G I LA R O CO NC. Ruby, Carmela, Orion, E STOME IC ROOF C ATING A L STAIN & EPOXY CO OA Zach and Izzy, as well as WE’RE OPEN! COME SEE US! EL CIA NCRET TING PE E COA many extended family S TING V44136 members and friends. LC3-L Mike was born in 575.649.8193 •575.382.5824 Providence, Rhode Island, www.merazpainting.com 537 N. Solano, Las Cruces, NM 5% off and grew up in Staten when you Tues, Wed., Thurs. & Sat. mention Island, New York. He 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this ad! completed his bachelor’s Callfor FREE Estimates Info: 575-888-4882 degree in hotel and res- 4 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 NEWS LAS CRUCES BULLETIN COURTESY PHOTO BY QUINN TUCKER Virgin Galactic pilots on their way to the Virgin Galactic Spaceflight System VG flight aborts after separation By ELVA K. ÖSTERREICH tion of the rocket motor. will want and will be ex- Las Cruces Bulletin The system is designed pecting from us.” such that it defaults to Colglazier said the Because of an ignition a safe state whenever company remains fo- sequence failure, the power or communication cused on the test-flight SpaceShip 2 Unity rocket with sensors is lost. program and will repeat motor failed to fire dur- “Our flight landed the test as soon as is fea- ing a test flight Saturday, beautifully,” Virgin Ga- sible. The aborted flight Dec. 12. The mission to lactic CEO Michael Col- included two pilots and space was aborted. glazier said. “The flight NASA payloads. The next According to a release did not reach space as we test flight will include from Virgin Galactic had been planning. After mission specialists in Holdings, following this being released from its the cabin. Tthe third test event, the pilots glided to mothership, the space- flight, scheduled for the a safe landing at Space- ship’s onboard computer first quarter of 2021, will port America as planned. that monitors the rocket include the company’s The company is conduct- motor lost connection. founder, Sir Richard ing post-flight analysis Seeing first-hand how Branson. and can so far report our pilots brought Unity “We look forward to the onboard computer in for a picture-perfect sharing information on -- which monitors the landing after an off-nom- our next flight window in propulsion system -- lost inal condition confirmed the near future,” Colgla- connection, triggering this approach, I am even zier said. a fail-safe scenario that more confident this is the Visit www.virgingalac- intentionally halted igni- level of safety consumers tic.com. LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 | 5 The format for Coming Up COMING UP calendar submissions is: Day/ Editor’s note. Despite the date – Name of event: time, lo- Double Check Your Trash Day with COVID-19 virus, some cation, physical address, brief events are being scheduled. description, free or fee, tele- Mailed Grappler Schedule The Bulletin will resume phone contact and/or email publishing calendar items, contact. By Cassie McClure emphasizing that event at- For instance, an acceptable tendees and venues should submission for a date-specific comply with all social-dis- calendar item will look like The handy Grappler tancing and mask-wearing this: Wednesday, Sept.