Wildcat Watchdog

The Deming Headlight

Citizens' grand jury to target corruption

Haven't been around for a while -- but had every confidence that if anyone could - you would get it done. Now we will see how high the corruption goes....... Love you, guy!!! Fantastic job!!! Back in town.  (Aug 2, 2009 | post #13)

The Deming Headlight

Starmax and sports bar?

Yes, Tony - There IS a school next door. The refurbished train depot was designated a part of the Mimbres Valley Learning Center at the time it was moved to its present location and the refurbishing done to it. That makes it a part of a school. And it is within 100 feet of the Entertainment Complex. And that makes it illegal - by state law - to open a bar in the complex. Unless they find a loophole that says the location within the complex is further than 100 feet. And, Yes, Tony - The county owns the entire complex. That means the county will own the bar when and if it is opened. And that means it will be a 'government owned' bar. Not always a bad thing - some states - like Minnesota - own ALL the bars.  (Jun 3, 2009 | post #64)

The Deming Headlight

Moviegoers, bowlers, gamers flock to new Starmax entertainment ...

I have had to be at work during all the hours of operation so far and haven't had a chance to even go and look at the place, so I didn't realize the bar wasn't open yet. Reading the posts on this forum sure does make it sound like it is open and in full tilt operation already. Besides - the comment I made was one of the first scenarios that came to mind when I heard there was going to be a sports bar in the place - guess I just jumped ahead a little. So shoot me.  (Jun 1, 2009 | post #50)

The Deming Headlight

Moviegoers, bowlers, gamers flock to new Starmax entertainment ...

This is the reason I object to the bar in the complex. The boy was probably not there alone - but the place was babysitting while Mom or Dad were in the bar having a few ---- watch for that to happen a lot!  (May 31, 2009 | post #43)

The Deming Headlight

Moviegoers, bowlers, gamers flock to new Starmax entertainment ...

Oh, yeah - This little trip was several months AFTER the Gross Receipts Tax increase was implemented.  (May 31, 2009 | post #42)

The Deming Headlight

Moviegoers, bowlers, gamers flock to new Starmax entertainment ...

Contact Gordon Mast - he is in the book - Gordon is attempting to get a Citizens Grand Jury seated for the purpose of investigating corruption, malfeasance, embezzlement, nepotism and many other forms of curruption in the city and county governments. He has started with a petition to the 6th District Court, signed by the registered voters of Luna County. All help is appreciated. FYI --- The original plans did NOT call for a Sports Bar. When the vote to raise the Gross Receipts Tax for the funding of this complex was called for, there was no Sports Bar in the plan. That came about after Commissioners Holdridge and Jordan, along with County Manager Scott Vinson took a little trip to South Carolina on taxpayer money for the purpose of viewing the complex 'in action' as one had just opened there. That complex had a Sports Bar and I guess they really enjoyed that part of it so decided to include it here. No - the taxpayers did not vote for a bar in the entertainment complex. That was decided by Holdridge, Jordan and Vinson in a meeting which was in violation of the open meetings act while in South Carolina. In our county, with only 3 commissioners, 2 commissioners together constitutes a majority - 2 were there together - consulting together - making decisions together - and the public of Luna County was not present to hear what they were saying or have any input into the decisions that were made. As was the entire complex in the first place!  (May 31, 2009 | post #41)

The Deming Headlight

School budget could prompt downsize in workforce

When I went to school they did teach us the three 'R's' of Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. Towards the beginning of this past school year it was posted in the Deming Headlight that the school budget would pay out 87% for salaries. Now if I remember my aRithmetic correctly - that only leave 13% of the budget for equipment and supplies for the education of the children and maintenance for the facilities. Somehow that seems slightly upside-down to me. I believe the outlay for salaries should be considerably lower than that for education and maintenance. We could probably start with a HUGE paycut for our extremely overpaid School Superintendant, Harvielee Moore, and cutting many of her 'perks' would help a lot, too. This community is NOT viable enough, financially, to afford her $123,000 per year salary, plus over $2000 per year clubs and membership fees, plus the fuel, insurance and maintenance on her gas hog SUV, plus her 5 or 6 Assistant Superintendants, plus 1 or 2 secretaries for each of them, plus the assistants they each have, plus, plus, plus ----- and we haven't even talked about the teachers being paid less than all those administrators and bearing the load of all the work that is actually done and with NO SUPPORT from all those administrators, either. But then, we had the opportunity this past February to rid ourselves of some of the problem - but the same people were voted in just the same ..... It's time for Harvielee and the current school board to go away - It was time a long time ago - As long as they are still there the overspending and demoralization of teachers will continue ........  (May 25, 2009 | post #2)

The Deming Headlight

KRWG visits with Holy Grounds coffee crew

Donny - Are you related to Calloway and Ruby Grooms of Las Cruces (Fairacres)?  (May 25, 2009 | post #3)

The Deming Headlight

Two Cents: How do we fix it?

Another real reason for nothing getting done is people just like to talk and sound like they are getting all stirred up and ready to do something. The minute someone grabs the ball and starts to do something everyone who was being so mouthy suddenly doesn't have time, money, energy or gumption to actually DO anything. They just want to talk about it and have someone else do it for them. Just ask Gordon how many times he has made an attempt to make a difference only to find out that people suddenly get cold feet about attempting any kind of actual movement to accomplish the goal ---- Sometimes it's actually quite frightening to watch them almost disappear before your very eyes - almost as though the town were populated with ghosts that only come out to complain.  (May 14, 2009 | post #3)

The Deming Headlight

New county manager approved by board

I will only say that 30,000 a year less is better than Vinson was at 110,000 a year. Now if we could only fire Harvielee Moore and hire someone at a whole lot less than 123,000 a year. Think what could be done with all that savings!!! Maybe in some ways things are going the right way. Let's just be vigilant and keep it that way - monitoring what the new county manager does or tries to do - very carefully!  (May 9, 2009 | post #20)

The Deming Headlight

Green energy jobs coming to Deming

"Since when is Luna County considered the perfect specimen for empoverished residents? Eradicate poverty and unemployment? " Dear Content - When researching for the statistics provided concerning a new high school for Deming, one of the things I learned was that Luna County would be perfect for the kind of thing these people are proposing. In the state of New Mexico, only McKinley County has higher unemployment and higher poverty levels than Luna County. Over the past 10 years Luna County has averaged a 12% unemployment rate - which is even higher today. In the entire country, only Mississippi, Louisianna, and Washington D.C. have higher unemployment and poverty levels than New Mexico. Although I don't like the idea of the 'mass development' you speak of - most people here have been dogging the City and County powers that be to bring in new development, new business and new jobs for a long time. Now that someone is going to do that very thing you want to scream and stomp your feet about it? Get a life! Make up your mind. Maybe you are 'Content but not poor' - but most of the people in this county are not content because they are so poor. If this will add jobs to the county's economy then I say go for it!  (Apr 28, 2009 | post #5)

The Deming Headlight

Luna County not revealing names of four manager candidates

Amen! to that Gordon. After all - if they read these posts at all - they already know what a hue and cry would be raised if the four candidate have already been in positions of power in this county before - you know who I mean - Strand, Borde, Baca, or Gilmore! It's time to let We the People in on your little scam Commissioners. We won't take the wrong choice lightly this time!  (Apr 24, 2009 | post #2)

The Deming Headlight

Doing the right thing - even when no one is watching

Besides, if they are cheating their customers in this way --- What other ways are they cheating them?  (Apr 10, 2009 | post #11)

The Deming Headlight

Doing the right thing - even when no one is watching

I never said it wasn't legal. I never said it wasn't American freedom. I did say it isn't fair to the customer and that I feel it is not a good business practice to cheat the customers in that way. They have sources for what they sell other than what the regular customer can get just because of their business licensing. I don't feel it is an ethical thing to do - so no, I won't shop with them. The person I spoke to had no reason to make this up. I was told I could call ahead and know when to come in also. WalMart is not allowed to place limits on purchases unless it is unlawful in the state they are doing business. I just feel the people doing this are cheats and that is not a good business practice.  (Apr 10, 2009 | post #10)

The Deming Headlight

Doing the right thing - even when no one is watching

I am sincerely hoping a couple of businesses here read this and apply it to themselves. Has anyone who has attempted to buy ammunition wondered why only the 2 gunshops have any? It's because they are going in every morning, very early, and buying out all that WalMart has received overnite. They then take it back to their shops, mark the price way up, and sell to you!!! Just talk to the store personnel - they'll tell you it's true. One guy said he almost had a fight right there at the counter because one of the gunshop owners wouldn't let a regular customer have some shells at the WalMart price. Told him he could come out to his place and pay his price for it or go without. Talk about unfair business practices. The greed this represents is unreal. Personally, I will buy any ammo I want or need in Las Cruces rather than buy from these cheats!  (Apr 8, 2009 | post #1)