NEWS Local news and entertainment since 1969 The Bottom YOUR Business is OUR Business! Line GREATER LAS CRUCES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • MARCH 2021 • WWW.LASCRUCES.ORG TABLE OF CONTENTS Legislators: support local business By JED FANNING nesses. Inside Remembering Las Cruces Public Chairman of the Board GLCCC In this time of recovery, additional financial burdens Schools Superintendent By DEBBI MOORE to businesses would indeed GLCCC CEO/President be devastating. We applaud Karen Trujillo ............... 2 Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Dear Member/Investor/ for her comments via a KOB4 Dr. Karen Trujillo Partner: Albuquerque video story on Chair of the GLCCC concerns over the timing. We Entering the last half of agree wholeheartedly with Ambassadors ............. 3 this year’s legislative session, the governor and appreciate we do so with high hopes her leadership and sensitiv- that actions will continue to COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO Jed Fanning Debbi Moore ity to the challenges our busi- be taken which will benefit nesses, particularly our small New/rewewing our business climate, thus in New Mexico has an op- versations can be few and far businesses, are facing at the benefitting our New Mexico portunity to participate via between. We are appreciative current time. page 3 members .................... 4 families. Zoom to voice their opinion to our Doña Ana delegation Additionally, we are so The challenges of a virtual on legislation. Compliment- for their service, commit- very grateful for the bipar- FRIDAY, session we’ve all faced during ing this is the long-standing ment to our region and will- tisan efforts evidenced in this session have often been opportunity to listen via the ingness to have the delicate both the House and Senate overwhelming and unpredict- website. It also broadens and conversations, especially dur- GREATER LAS CRUCES to advance COVID relief MARCH 5, 2021 able. As Debbi’s late husband increases the opportunity ing this unique session. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE legislation, to include a large always told me, “Challenges for communication with our Prior to and during this infusion of dollars to the 150 E. LOHMAN AVE. are full of hidden opportuni- legislators. session, our main concerns unemployment insurance ties.” While you may not see In any given session, differ- have been mandatory paid LAS CRUCES, NM 88001 fund, expand zero-to-low- them at first glance, the op- ences in ideologies and pas- sick leave, family and medi- I Volume 53, Number 10 575-524-1968 interest loans and LEDA-like portunities are there. With sions arise on different pieces cal leave requirements and WWW.LASCRUCES.ORG grants for businesses, pro- each committee meeting and of legislation. We discover minimum wage increases, I lascrucesbulletin.com general session, every citizen that communication and con- and their impacts on busi- See FANNING/MOORE | 2 Symptoms of a medical emergency need quick treatment. And in some cases, Chest Pain? Severe Abdominal Pain? High Fever? fast care can be life-saving. So don’t delay or be afraid to get help if you need it. With limited entry points, screening for everyone, frequent deep cleaning THEY’RE CALLED and social distancing, we are taking extra precautions to keep you safe. EMERGENCIES There’s a good reason to get to a hospital fast in NEWS an emergency – your life could depend on it. FOR A REASON. MyMountainViewER.com If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911. Bird’s eye view Mayor delivers State of the City page 8 Having recently moved to Las Cruces, Jim Wilcox – like just about everyone else who lives in the shadow of the Organ Mountains – said he’s entranced by their beautyPHOTO and shiftingBY JIM WILCOX colors, particularly at sunset. “As a new resident, I am inspired by the nightly sunsets that A&E display the power of the Organ Mountains. On this particular evening, clouds paused mo- mentarily, basking in the glow of a setting sun,” he wrote. Welcome to our city, Mr. Wilcox. There’s a lot more enchantment and beauty where that came from! Local man’s film getting noticed page 17 BUSINESS Exports to Mexico down slightly page 24 2 | FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021 | 3 Las Cruces remembers LCPS Help Doña Ana County Superintendent Karen Trujillo get from #RedtoGreen By MIKE COOK and board member.” Las Cruces Bulletin LCPS Board of Educa- To participate in the movement, visit the Red to tion member and retired Las Cruces Public bilingual educator Terrie Green page at www.las-cruces.org. Learn more Schools Superintendent Dallman: “Approximately about the NM Department of Health’s Red to Green Karen Trujillo was struck two years ago, Dr. Karen by a vehicle on Edgewood Trujillo generously and framework and see all of our #redtogreen signs! Avenue in Las Cruces without reservation took Thursday evening, Feb. 25, on our fractured school and died a short time later district. Not only did she at Mountainview Regional LCPS PHOTO embrace every aspect and Medical Center. challenge whole heartily; Karen Trujillo Trujillo, 50, was ap- she quickly initiated repa- pointed interim super- she was hit were seriously ration of our district’s intendent in September injured in the accident integrity, reputation and 2019. The LCPS Board of and were transported to a community trust. Un- Education made the ap- local veterinarian’s office, wavering, Dr. Trujillo led pointment permanent in the Las Cruces Police De- the district through this February 2020. partment reported. difficult pandemic and a She won a contested Here are thoughts debilitating cyberattack; Democratic primary in about Trujillo from people more importantly though, June 2018 and was elected who knew and worked she overcame daily ob- to a four-year term on the with her. Find additional stacles with grace, dignity Doña Ana County Com- quotes at www.lascruces- and resolution.” mission in November bulletin.com. Also visit LCPS teacher Gail 2018. Trujillo resigned www.lcps.net. Wheeler: “She had such that position in January LCPS Board of Educa- an impact on so many 2019 when she was ap- tion member Teresa Teno- areas of the community. I pointed secretary of the rio: “I’m wading through knew her through theater, New Mexico Public Edu- the anguish of losing our through having her kids cation Department, a posi- captain. Dr. Trujillo is in writing camp, through tion she until July 2019. now a legacy -- a legacy of education activism and Trujillo grew up in compassionate, collabora- as the leader of the whole Santa Fe and moved to tive leadership for youth district. She was always Las Cruces at age 16. A and education. She was kind and gracious and re- graduate of Mayfield brave, respectful, brilliant ally did care about kids on High School, she earned and strong.” every level.” Trujillo was her bachelor’s degree in LCPS Board of Educa- in the cast of “Belles,” secondary education, her tion member Carol Coo- which Wheeler directed Register for the vaccine master’s degree in math- per: “Those of us who had at Las Cruces Community ematics education and her the privilege of knowing Theatre in 2011. Trujillo at vaccinenm.org doctorate in curriculum Karen Trujillo, even for a “was brave to try a new instruction, all from New short time, knew Karen thing like acting, and she Mexico State University. was a wonderful reflection did a great job,” Wheeler Trujillo is survived by of the love God has for said. her husband, Ben, two all of His Creation – ex- Mayor Ken Miya- daughters and a son. Her pressed in her compassion gishima: “God bless the father is former County and kindness, wisdom and Trujillo and Apodaca Commissioner Gilbert T. value she placed on every families. R.I.P., Dr. Karen Apodaca. individual – student, par- Trujillo, we will always re- The two dogs Trujillo ent, teacher, staff mem- member you and the great was walking at the time ber, community member job you did.” 4 | FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021 NEWS LAS CRUCES BULLETIN Garden plots for rent Haaland nears confirmation By MIKE COOK (NMO1) seat in and former chair Las Cruces Bulletin the U.S. House of of the New Mex- Representatives. ico Democratic Debra Anne “Deb” New Mexico Sec- Party. She was Haaland neared confir- retary of State elected to the U.S. mation this week as the (NMSOS) Maggie House in 2018 54th secretary of the Toulouse would DEB HAALAND and re-elected in U.S. Department of the then set the date 2020. Her replace- Interior (DOI), which for a special elec- ment will join oversees more than 500 tion to fill the vacancy. New Mexico’s two other million acres of public Haaland, 60, is a na- freshmen representatives lands. tive of Winslow, Arizona, in the House. The U.S. Senate Energy and a member of Laguna A special election will and Natural Resources Pueblo. She is the first be held to fill her seat in Committee was expected Native American to head Congress. CITY OF LAS CRUCES PHOTO to vote on Haaland’s a federal cabinet agency For more information nomination March 4. If and the third DOI secre- on the special election, The City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department is offering plots in the Tony Gomez Community Garden, 2250 S. Espina St., Las Esperanzas Community Garden, the committee approved, tary from New Mexico, visit.sos.state.nm.us/vot- 341 E. Picacho Ave., and the Sage Community Garden, 6121 Reynolds Drive, to anyone as it was expected to do, joining former U.S. Sen. ing-and-elections, then who would like to lease a plot, the city said in a news release.