NEWS Local news and entertainment since 1969 No login. Entertainment No fees. Free archives! Elizabeth Tulloch and February 19 - 25, 2021 Tyler Hoechlin star in Check out the entirety of “Superman & Lois,” Guide premiering Tuesday the Las Cruces Bulletin, Firefighter on The CW. it’s archives and annual publications online at completes Inside prestigious academy page 4 www.lascrucesbulletin.com2 x 5.5” ad FRIDAY, PHARMACY A FEBRUARY 19, 2021 BETTER WAY! I Volume 53, Number 8 Providing local, full-service pharmacy needs for all types of facilities. • Long-term care • Assisted Living I lascrucesbulletin.com • DD Waiver The CW clears the • Skilled Nursing • Hospice and more runway for a new Superman Call us today! 575-288-1412 Ask your provider if they utilize the many NEWS benefits of RX Innovations, such as: Blister or multi-dose packaging, OTC’s & FREE Delivery. Learn more about what we do at and Lois Lane www.rxinnovationslc.net2 x 4” ad Marijuana law moving through Awesome legislature page 11 sunrise A&E ArtForms competition announces winners page 20 BUSINESS Couple opens curio shop in Mesilla Las Cruces photographer and educator Susana Rios submitted this sunrise image, taken near Baylor Canyon on a recent chilly morning. Her submission included page 27 the following: “This view inspired me to think about the immense beauty that existsPHOTO around BY SUSANAus. The RIOS,vivid PH.D.,colors, NATIONALLY the composition BOARD CERTIFIEDof the clouds TEACHER, and the FOR calm THE BULLETIN imagery brought a much-needed moment of reflection. Life is so beautiful, and it’s all around us. We just need to look and discover it one moment at a time.” We couldn’t agree more. 2 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 NEWS LAS CRUCES BULLETIN LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 | 3 Year of the Dragon Help Doña Ana County get from #RedtoGreen To participate in the movement, visit the Red to Green page at www.las-cruces.org. Learn more about the NM Department of Health’s Red to Green framework and see all of our #redtogreen signs! BULLETIN PHOTO BY ELVA K. ÖSTERREICH Students from Las Cruces Academy parade on Calle de Mercado in celebration of Chinese New Year, Friday Feb. 12. The school’s Mandarin teacher, Yulin Zhang, directed the lucky dragon carriers as they participated in the traditional event. Usually, Chinese New Year festivals last 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival. In 2021, the dates are Feb. 11-26. LCPS unveils plan to reopen schools By MIKE COOK said. adding that it ensures Las Cruces Bulletin High schools will re- adequate staff at high open Feb. 22, with middle schools to allow their “We’re looking forward and elementary schools participation in state- to moving in the right to open March 1. sanctioned activities. direction,” Las Cruces “It’s extremely compli- Trujillo said 82 percent Public Schools Superin- cated,” said board Presi- of the 1,911 LCPS em- tendent Karen Trujillo dent Ray Jaramillo. “We ployees who requested said during a Feb. 16 have to stay in yellow, we COVID-19 vaccinations LCPS Board of Education have to move toward the have received at least the meeting as she and other green for this to work,” first dose, including 87 administrators presented he said, referring to percent of nearly 1,300 a plan to re-open schools. the state’s red-to-green school-building staff The board approved the framework for moni- requesting it. LCPS has re-opening earlier this toring COVID-19 cases 3,412 employees. month. county by county. “You’ve made a lot of The plan, which Tru- “We want to move for- kids happy in allowing us Register for the vaccine jillo described as a modi- ward, and it’s going to to proceed with this,” said fied hybrid of online and take everyone,” Jaramillo Assistant Superintendent at vaccinenm.org face-to-face instruction, said. for Special Education and will bring some students “Full enforcement [of Leadership Michael Mon- back into schools for state health protocols] toya, a former middle and limited classroom in- all the time,” Trujillo high school principal. struction, with different said, “that’s what’s going At Trujillo’s request, strategies for elementary, to keep us safe. The last the meeting also included middle and high schools. thing we want is to open a moment of silence The plan prioritizes just to close.” for five LCPS staff who “students not engaging, Trujillo said the plan have died of COVID-19 or not attending, not submit- is based on the voluntary COVID-related illnesses ting assignments,” LCPS return of staff to schools, since November. 4 | FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 NEWS LAS CRUCES BULLETIN Fire department battalion chief completes prestigious program By MIKE COOK NFA headquarters in Em- asylum seekers who were time.” And even when the and also has a hazardous- Las Cruces Bulletin mitsburg, Maryland, the brought to Las Cruces by department is operating materials team and even a course required writing U.S. Border Patrol agents. efficiently, “that doesn’t swift-water team, he said. “I believe in the Las and defending papers on Daniels said EFO train- mean we can’t get better,” LCFD leadership must Cruces Fire Department. officer development, mass ing has helped him to he said, noting that inno- manage day-to-day staffing We’re definitely one of the sheltering and LCFD’s focus on strategic risk vations often lead to better (including dealing with best departments in the Mobile Integrated Health reduction/prevention and public safety. issues like COVID-19) of nation,” said LCFD Battal- program (MIH). Daniels’ to help “people know how The training forced par- all department staff, along ion Chief Mike Daniels. MIH presentation earned a to protect themselves.” ticipants to think outside with the incidents fire- After retiring from mili- perfect score and received The training included an their traditional roles, fighters regularly respond CITY OF LAS CRUCES PHOTO tary service in 2005, Dan- the outstanding research understanding of local Daniels said, and to “look to, staff certification, iels graduated from the Las Cruces Fire Department award in community risk demographics like poverty beyond the scope of what training, logistics and data fire academy and joined Battalion Chief Michael Dan- reduction. rates and drug use — and you’ve done for the last research and analysis. iels, right, and Las Cruces In- decade.” “It’s not our job to shy LCFD in 2006. He has been terim Fire Chief Jason Smith. His paper on mass shel- even the incidence and a paramedic for 10 years tering, which also earned prevention of falls. Through EFO, Daniels away from adversity,” Dan- and became battalion chief is considered the flagship a perfect score, came from Daniels said his daily said he also developed a iels said. “The bar for us in 2015. program of the National direct personal experience management skills also valuable network of peer always stays really high.” Just before celebrat- Fire Academy (NFA), ac- in Las Cruces. In 2019, were challenged by the support that stretches After receiving his GED, ing his 15th anniversary cording to the U.S. Fire Daniels was temporarily course, which focused on across the country and Daniels earned a bach- with the department this Administration. reassigned to the joint critical thinking and re- provides information elor’s degree in individu- month, Daniels completed For Daniels, the course Doña Ana County/ City of evaluation, he said. about other fire depart- alized studies from New the Federal Emergency was an opportunity to de- Las Cruces Office of Emer- Instead of “This is ments’ “innovative ways to Mexico State University Management Agency’s velop his skills as a leader, gency Management as how we’ve always done manage.” and a master’s degree in Executive Fire Officer researcher and writer. In area commander dealing it,” Daniels said, EFO LCFD responds to thou- business administration (EFO) program. The train- addition to eight weeks with providing humani- emphasizes, “You should sands of fire and medical from Western New Mexico ing spans four years and of in-person training at tarian aid to about 17,000 question ‘why’ all the emergency calls each year, University. Medical School: Facultad de Medicina de la UACH Welcome Chihuahua, MX Residency: Imelda C. Toledo-Neely, MD Family Medicine, Oakwood Hospital Board-certified in Family Medicine Dearborn, MI Memorial Physician Practices Fellowship: 3030 W. Picacho Ave., Suite D, Las Cruces, NM 88007 Family Medicine, University of Massachusetts Specializes in: Adult primary care Fluent in English Welcoming new patients Pediatrics and Spanish Appointments may be made by calling 575.556.6470 Minor procedures Women’s health Preventative care MemorialPhysicianPractices.com LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2021 | 5 COMING UP From Trash to Gas: Las Cruces City Editor’s note. Despite the social distanced safe bike ride COVID-19 virus, some demonstrating riding safely with Manager Tours Las Cruces Utilities events are being scheduled. traffic. Info: velocruces@gmail. By Cassie McClure The Bulletin will resume com www.velocruces.org. publishing calendar items Wednesdays but emphasizes that event » Overeaters Anonymous: The City of Las attendees and venues Noon-1 p.m. Zoom meeting. Cruces’ services should comply with all Free. Info: 610-762-3779 or spread wide across social-distancing and [email protected] the area, particularly mask-wearing protocols noticeable when Las to prevent spread of the Saturdays Cruces Utilities (LCU) virus. » Overeaters Anonymous: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Zoom meet- gives a tour. Covering By JESS WILLIAMS ing. Free. Info: 575-647-5684 or the East Mesa Las Cruces Bulletin [email protected].