NEWS Local news and entertainment since 1969 GET SOLAR & AC Entertainment AND SAVE BIG SAVE YOUR ELECTRIC BILL EACH MONTH 25 YEAR WARRANTY Seth Rogen stars in July 31 - August 6, 2020 “An American Pickle,” $89.94 which begins streaming COMBINED Guide Thursday on A MONTH HBO Max. Parting thoughts Amana Lifetime Warranty Last AC You’ll Ever Inside from Police Chief Buy Lic #380200 • 4.38 kw • $36,000 financed at 2.99% is combo price $89.94 for Patrick Gallagher Quite a ‘Pickle’: Seth Rogen 18 months then re-amortize OAC. 575-449-3277 stars in new HBO Max movie YELLOWBIRDAC.COM • YELLOWBIRDSOLAR.COM2 x 5.5” ad page 3 FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020 Explore Southern New Mexico Explore the monthly Desert Exposure, “the biggest little Here are some ways to get your Desert Exposure fix: newspaper in the Southwest.” This eclectic arts and leisure • Check area racks and newsstands • Share stories and photos I Volume 52, Number 31 with Editor Elva Osterreich publication delivers a blend of content to make you laugh, • Visit www.desertexposure.com [email protected], think and sometimes just get up and dance. • Sign up for an annual mail subscription 575-443-4408 for $54 contact Teresa Tolonen, Desert Exposure captures the flavor, beauty and • Promote your organization to I lascrucesbulletin.com uniqueness of Silver City, Las Cruces and the whole [email protected], our widespread readership Southwest region of New Mexico. You can also peruse or call 575-680-1841 through Desert Exposure our wide array of advertisers to plan your stops on your • Sign up for our semi-monthly advertising with Pam Rossi next Southwest New Mexico road trip, no matter which Desert Exposure email newsletter [email protected], direction you’re going. contact [email protected] 575-635-6614 NEWS 1740-A Calle de Mercado Las Cruces, NM 88005 6 x 4” ad 575-524-8061 A legend www.desertexposure.com takes wing Retired ambassador talks about race relations page 16 A&E Renaissance Faire will be virtual in 2020 page 24 BUSINESS New owners, same passion for Legendary NMSU and Illinois Basketball Coach Lou Henson died Saturday, July 25. He was 88. This photo of Henson and his wife, Mary, was taken at his 80th art at F&AC birthday celebration in Santa Fe in 2012. He coached at NMSU from 1966-75 and 1997-2005. He was one of only four NCAA coaches with 200-plus victories at page 33 multiple schools. The courts at both NMSU and Illinois bear his name. Henson was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 and was Big 10 coach of the year in 1993. This year marked the 50th anniversary of Henson’s leading the Aggies to the 1970 Final Four. He leaves behind legionsPHOTO of fansBY RICHARD and friends. COLTHARP 2 | FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN Content brought to you by: Your Partner in Progress Sanchez holds first virtual community outreach Dist. 5 Doña Ana County Commissioner Manuel A. Sanchez invites all constituents to join him from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5 for a conversation on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/DonaAnaCounty. “I am looking forward to sharing with our constituents news about COVID-19 in the county, roads projects and an update on the 2020 Census,” Sanchez said. “Primarily, I want to hear about how you are doing and listen to your ideas and suggestions to help our community through these challenging times.” Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart, Assistant County Attorney and Interim Manager of Animal Control /Codes Enforcement Department Jeanne Quintero, and Engineering/ Roads Department County Engineer Robert Armijo will provide brief updates on their respective areas and answer questions. The meeting will be livestreamed, recorded and available for viewing on Doña Ana County’s Facebook page. Doña Ana County will ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities and will, upon request, provide aux- iliary communication aids and services to afford those individuals equal opportunity for participation in Doña Ana County sponsored meetings, events, or activities. Any request should be made to the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, in writing, or by phone, at least two business days prior to the event at which accommodation is needed. If you have any questions regarding examples of reasonable accommodations, please contact the ADA Coordinator, at (575) 525-5884 (voice) or (575) 525-2951 (TT), 845 N. Motel Blvd., Las Cruces, NM 88007. Spanish language interpretation services are available upon request for participation in Doña Ana County sponsored meetings, events, or activities. If you need interpretation services, please contact the Community and Constituent Ser- vices Office at (575) 525-6163, at least two business days prior to the event for arrangements. County staff continue to support food delivery The Doña Ana County Health and Human Services Department continues to help ensure food and meals reach residents who need it most throughout the County, during the COVID-19 pandemic. HHS staff helps Casa de Peregrinos with a monthly food distribution, supplying up to 127 families in one day. So far, staff partici- pated in about 11 food distributions each month for the communities in Anthony, Berino, Butterfield, Chap- arral, Doña Ana, Garfield, Hatch, La Mesa, Mesquite, County Health and Human Services staff prepare for food distribution delivered by the Road- Radium Springs runner Food Bank in Radium Springs. Photos: Doña Ana County. and Vado. County staff also partnered with the Gadsden Independent School District and Families and Youth Incorporated to distribute summer lunches at Doña Ana County’s Community Resource Centers in Butterfield, Chaparral, Doña Ana, Radium Springs, Organ and Vado. Additionally, meals for seniors are provided in partnership with Adelante in Doña Ana and Radium Springs. For more information or to request help, please call HHS Community Outreach Coordinator Claudia Mares at 575-525-5865. Connect with us: (575) 647-7200 www.donaanacounty.org LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020 | 3 Retiring police chief: LCPD is solid department with strong community support By MIKE COOK Floyd’s death was, “You’re nationwide should include issue, Gallagher said. Las Cruces Bulletin all going to be blamed for how mental health emer- The state requires it. You didn’t do it, but you gencies are dealt with, he police officers to have “It makes sense to go are part of the same pro- said. “Take us out of the 40 hours of training in now,” Las Cruces Police fession.” equation,” the chief said. handling calls involving Chief Patrick Gallagher Gallagher said he told That police officers have the mentally ill and more said about his decision to his officers to remember been forced to take the than 90 percent of LCPD retire. that people are upset lead in dealing with the officers have at least 80 When he was inter- about what happened, but mentally ill on emergency hours of training, he said. viewed before accepting it is still the officers’ job to calls is “a manifestation “I’m very proud of that.” the job in January 2018, police the community. of the failure of society as Gallagher said he told Las Cruces is dealing a whole” to deal with the SEE RETIRING, PAGE 4 then-City Manager Stuart with the case of former Ed that he would only ac- Las Cruces Police Officer BULLETIN PHOTO BY MIKE COOK cept a two-year contract. Christopher Smelser, who “I knew I would leave Las Cruces Police Chief Patrick Gallagher, right, with Mayor has been charged with at the end of this year Ken Miyagishima shortly after Gallagher was hired as Las second-degree murder in Cruces police chief in January 2018. Real Estate anyway,” Gallagher said. the Feb. 29 death of An- Professional Services And with a new city man- meant police officers went actions in that case were tonio Valdez. That case is HOME / COMMERCIAL / ager about to be hired in a “from hero to zero,” said justified. No one did, now in the hands of the LAND / INCOME PROPERTIES community where “people Gallagher, whose retire- Gallagher said. They all New Mexico Attorney DEVELOPMENTS want some change,” he ment is effective Aug. 1. thought it was wrong, General’s office. Because Ernesto said, “let me move aside.” He met with Las Cru- and the officers involved the case involved an LCPD URANGA Dealing with COVID-19 ces Police Department should be held account- officer, city police did not beginning in March and (LCPD) supervisors after able. take the lead in the inves- the aftermath of the May Floyd’s death and asked Gallagher’s message tigation, Gallagher said. 25 death of George Floyd if anyone thought police to LCPD officers after Calls for police reform Plan A Future Trip to Silver City Just about 100 minutes west of Las Cruces lies a • Hiroshima Peace Day is online this year with Silver When in Silver, visit these great businesses! wonderful getaway with way more than 100 things to City’s Tom Vaughan posting a series of daily Facebook posts. To register for the “75th Anniversary Hiroshima see and do. Plan your trip today! Silver City, Grant Day One-Hour Online Commemoration” on Aug. 6, County and surroundings offer wide varieties of fun, go to paceebene.org/hiroshimaday2020 to register. adventure and relaxation. Here’s just one example: • Silver City Community Theater presents “All You HANDMADE, HOMEMADE, HOMEGROWN Hiking, in and out of town Get” by Zoom on Aug. 15. Send your email address to [email protected], to recieve Maker's Market With names like “Adonis Pits,” “Luck Separation Zoom meeting information.