Media contact: Catherine Zaharko, Doña Ana County
575-525-5801 • catherinez@donaanacounty.org
OBJECTIVE: To streamline communication between local government agencies during the COVID-19 response. Partner organizations include city and county representatives, local hospitals, the Department of Health, jail and prison facilities, first responders, the Las Cruces Public School district, the Town of Mesilla, City of Anthony, City of Sunland Park and Village of Hatch.
JIC members collaborate on a weekly conference call at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays. The notes compiled during that call are made available at www.las-cruces.org and www.donaanacounty.org.
Regional updates:
City of Anthony Chief Vanessa Ordoñez, Anthony Police Dept. Oscar Dominguez, City Manager www.cityofanthonynm.com There have not been any positive COVID-19 results for our Officers this reporting period; however, many residences in our community are flagged with COVID-19 patients. A high number in fact. We still have PPE and when needed will refer to the 213 request process with the Public Health Department and OEM. We are looking forward to the availability of the vaccine to first responders so we are staying apprised on these notes. Nothing new to report.
City of Sunland Park
Capt. Dennis Schoen, Sunland Park Fire
www.sunlandpark-nm.gov No report.
City of Las Cruces
Jennifer Martinez The Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center, 1401 E. Hadley Ave. and Frenger Pool, 800 Parkview Dr. will reopen December 9, after completing the required annual New
Steve Ramirez www.las-cruces.org Mexico Environment Department (NMED) inspection, with the COVID Phase 2 plan already in place in accordance with the Governor’s Emergency Public Health Order Red Framework and New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) safe practices. Starting December 7, the City of Las Cruces Senior Programs will begin to offer Monday meals at the Sage Café, 6121 Reynolds Dr. The program currently offers meals Tuesday through Friday.
Las Cruces Police / Las Cruces Fire
Dan Trujillo
www.las-cruces.org No report.
Las Cruces Public Schools
Samantha Lewis
Kelly Jameson
www.lcps.net No report.
Doña Ana County
Catherine Zaharko
Luce Rubio
Jamie Michael
www.donaanacounty.org DAC continues to provide COVID Care Kits to residents at COVID testing events. Outreach to county residents for CARES Act funding for both small businesses and for residents for utilities and mortgages has ended. All funds for small businesses were used. Still calculating the mortgage and utilities grants.
Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office
Andrea Ferrales-Nevarez
www.goDASO.org DASO offices closed to public except for Wednesdays from 8-5. Still good on PPE.
Doña Ana County Detention Center
Capt. Bryan Baker
www.donaanacounty.org/detention No report.
Village of Hatch
Chief Tim Thornton, Hatch PD
www.villageofhatch.org No report.
Town of Mesilla Nothing new to report.
Dorothy Sellers www.mesillanm.gov
Memorial Medical Center
Ryan Perkins
www.mmclc.org Nothing new to report.
MountainView Regional Medical
Center
Ben Woods
www.mountainviewregional.com 1) Mountain View and Memorial have had great cooperation and work well together during the pandemic for the community. 2) Vaccines are on the way and a lot of planning is going into distribution. Will share accurate and consistent information with the community.
New Mexico State University
Justin Bannister
www.nmsu.edu No report.
New Mexico State University Police
Deputy Chief Andrew Bowen
www.nmsupolice.com No report.
Office of Emergency Management
Cullen Combs
Amanda Bowen
www.donaanacounty.org/emergency Focusing on vaccine distribution as well as collecting data for decision making.
Southern New Mexico Correctional
Facility
Lt. Carlos Reyes
https://cd.nm.gov/nmcd-prison-facilities/southern-
new-mexico-correctional-facility/ No report.
State of NM Aging & Long-Term
Services
Andrea Ferrales-Nevarez, Ombudsman Program
http://www.nmaging.state.nm.us Continuing to work on getting cards for every resident of assisted living and nursing homes for Christmas. Residents are experiencing “failure to thrive” as the pandemic wears on and they are more isolated.
Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority Hugo Costa, Executive Director www.mvrda.org No report.
U.S. Border Patrol, El Paso Sector
Officer Joseph Barron
www.cbp.gov/border-security/along-us-
borders/border-patrol-sectors/el-paso-sector-texas Due to staffing constraints, CBP will not be contributing daily updates to the Joint Information Center. Occasional messages will be passed along via email as necessary.
NM Department of Health
David Morgan
www.cv.nmhealth.org Testing Sites: See attached schedule