Mastodawn

Thousands turned out Saturday to welcome nearly three dozen horses that trekked from the Columbus Port of Entry over three miles into the village center for the annual commemoration of Pancho Villa’s attack on the border community.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/columbus-marks-1916-pancho-villa-raid-with-memorial-ride/3001075

#newmexico #columbusnm #PanchoVilla

Columbus, New Mexico marks 1916 Pancho Villa raid with memorial horse ride and ceremony

Thousands gathered in Columbus, New Mexico, as horses paraded from the port of entry to the village plaza to commemorate the 1916 Pancho Villa raid with a memorial service, historical presentations and community festivities.

abqjournal

Algernon D'Ammassa Mar 9, 2025

Fifty horses and a mule strode through the border of village of Columbus Saturday in a parade led by the flags of the United States, Mexico and New Mexico — and one rider in the guise of the Mexican revolutionary hero, Francisco “Pancho” Villa.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_fcdf3166-fcf7-11ef-8aa8-fbd332cb7fef.html

#NewMexico #ColumbusNM #PanchoVilla #border #Mexico

Pancho Villa raid memorial 'a day of contrasts'

COLUMBUS — Fifty horses and a mule strode through the border of village of Columbus Saturday in a parade led by the flags of the United States, Mexico and New

Albuquerque Journal

Algernon D'Ammassa May 12, 2023

No emergency declarations have been made in #NewMexico, but local governments had some plans in place as the expiration of #Title42 — a federal policy allowing for the rapid ejection of asylum applicants at the southern border — loomed Thursday.

https://www.demingheadlight.com/2023/05/12/luna-county-braces-title-42-end/

#immigration #asylum #border #LunaCounty #ColumbusNM #DemingNM #DemingHeadlight

Luna County braces for Title 42 end

Some border cities in Texas have enacted states of emergency in order to unlock resources. Arizona has rolled out a “preparedness approach” to provide shelter and assist local law enforcement, with emergency measures standing by. No emergency declarations have been made in New Mexico, but local governments had some plans in place as the expiration of Title 42 — a federal policy allowing for the rapid ejection of asylum applicants …

Algernon D'Ammassa Apr 18, 2023

The #NewMexico State Auditor is asking to see #ColumbusNM's corrective action plan following its horrible financial audit.

Also, when Mayor Salas returned late from his vacation, another village official alleges he was in such a bad mood that he verbally threatened her.

Reporting from the #DemingHeadlight:

https://www.demingheadlight.com/2023/04/14/columbus-official-alleges-mayor-threatened-police-report/

Columbus official alleges mayor threatened her in police report

When Columbus Mayor Esequiel Salas walked through the port of entry from Puerto Palomas, Mexico sometime after 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, he was evidently surprised by the attention he received — and none too pleased. Returning late from a week of vacation in Mexico, the mayor of the small village on the border had been reported missing, with local law enforcement and federal agencies watching for him after his van …

Algernon D'Ammassa Apr 15, 2023

The story in #ColumbusNM seems to indicate intensifying pressure. A police report details an alleged verbal threat by the mayor against an elected trustee who has been getting to the bottom of serious mismanagement at town hall. Meanwhile, the #NewMexico State Auditor is asking to see a corrective action plan within 30 days. https://www.demingheadlight.com/2023/04/14/columbus-official-alleges-mayor-threatened-police-report/

Columbus official alleges mayor threatened her in police report

Algernon D'Ammassa Apr 11, 2023

The mayor of #ColumbusNM reported missing. #LunaCounty sheriff seeks tips after mayor apparently entered #Mexico at #Palomas on April 4, having announced he would be on vacation for a week in the midst of a financial emergency at the village. He was expected back at town hall Monday, but has not been seen since he left and isn’t answering phone calls or emails. https://www.demingheadlight.com/2023/04/11/columbus-mayor-esequiel-salas-reported-missing/

#NewMexico

Columbus mayor Esequiel Salas reported missing

The Luna County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the possible disappearance of Columbus Mayor Esequiel Salas. Salas, 70, was last seen by village staff on Monday, April 3, and had previously apprised village staff and trustees that he would be traveling on vacation the week running up to Easter. He was expected back at work on Monday morning, but as of Tuesday evening had not appeared or responded to inquiries. Per …

Show thread

Algernon D'Ammassa Apr 8, 2023

Now the trustees of #ColumbusNM have a new question as they dig into the books (belatedly) to figure out why the village is broke: Why was a separate bank account created for the RVs without the trustees' knowledge or approval?

https://www.demingheadlight.com/2023/04/06/columbus-trustees-continue-slog-budget-mess/

Columbus trustees continue slog through budget mess

Trustee Nicole Steffen revealed new information about the state of finances at the village.

Show thread

Algernon D'Ammassa Apr 8, 2023

These 8 RVs were donated to #ColumbusNM via Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office a year ago for emergency housing after a fire destroyed a tenement building in the village.

The purchase was funded with federal COVID-19 aid and the county had been the fiscal agent, but it wanted them off its books.

There have been questions about these RVs for a while. Where is the collected rent going? Who gets to rent the RVs? For how long? Nothing is written down and the mayor hasn’t said much.

Algernon D'Ammassa Apr 8, 2023

In #LunaCounty #NewMexico commissioners will consider reviving a dormant citizens' planning commission. This is something several citizens and a newly elected commission have been calling for.

Interestingly, they also agreed to the county manager's request to release eight RVs the governor donated for #ColumbusNM, for which the county had served as fiscal agent. (More…)

https://www.demingheadlight.com/2023/04/07/luna-county-commissioners-consider-reviving-planning-commission/

Luna County commissioners consider reviving planning commission

The three-member body will consider amending a 1996 ordinance reviving the dormant citizens' commission.

Algernon D'Ammassa Apr 1, 2023

A broadband project announced yesterday involves installing 49 miles of fiber optic in #LunaCounty #NewMexico, bringing service to #ColumbusNM and remote areas south of #DemingNM.

822 locations sounds like a modest number but it belies the geographic scope of the undertaking, mostly covered with federal #COVID19 money and some matching money by the provider.

And they say they'll have it done in a year, which is bold.

Story from #DemingHeadlight:

https://www.demingheadlight.com/2023/04/01/rural-broadband-project-will-connect-columbus-luna-county/

#FTTP #broadband

Rural broadband project will connect Columbus, Luna County

About a year from now, Columbus should enjoy greater Internet coverage once a newly announced project is complete. Funding for a $5.7 million rural broadband expansion, promising to connect southern Luna County with high-speed internet service, was announced at the Columbus Community Center Thursday morning. New Mexico’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion announced four regional projects on March 28 totaling $24.5 million in combined grant and matching funds supported …