It Takes a Team to Move A Helicopter: Update: 11-6-20
The helicopter is up! The Vietnam-era Huey Helicopter was installed Wednesday at the Carlsbad Veterans Memorial Park. It’s an excellent addition to our park, and please check it out if you haven’t done so already. We will also be holding a virtual ceremony dedicating the helicopter on Veteran’s Day at 11 a.m. Nov. 11. You can watch the entire thing from the City of Carlsbad’s Facebook page.
It took a team effort to move a helicopter across the country and get it safely mounted at the park. Thank you to Carlsbad City Council and the Carlsbad Veterans Memorial Board (especially Dagmar Youngberg and Steve Angell) for their outstanding support for this project. Numerous local individuals and businesses also donated service, equipment and time. Special thanks to Buzz Sexton, TTT’s Lining (Steve Ellyson), The City of Carlsbad Construction Crew, the Carlsbad Community Foundation, Jimmy Fuson, K.C. Cass, Carter A/C (Wes Carter) and Equipment Share (Mike Galvan and Doris Rodriguez). Finally, we want to give a very special thanks to Ray Westall for all his help. It sure is so nice to have some good news in 2020.
COVID update: There were 42 positive COVID-19 cases reported in Eddy County on Thursday as well as two additional COVID-related deaths. There were also 53 new cases announced in Eddy County on Wednesday. Much of Thursday’s press conference by the governor was related to hospitalizations and the availability of health care professionals. It was reported that New Mexico’s seven hub hospitals had 298 intensive care beds occupied Wednesday and staffed general hospital beds are currently about 92% full. About 400 travelling nurses under contract with New Mexico hospitals are expected to arrive in the state this month.
The state also announced that the seven-day rolling average of new cases for the state is now 793- nearly five times the state’s goal.
There were no new changes announced to the public health order during the Governor’s press conference on Thursday. The current version of the public health order expires next week.
Our discussions with Carlsbad Medical Center and other health care professionals have confirmed that there is a high case count here and at many locations across the state. The hospital’s new CEO, Jace Jones, as well as Beth McCormick, Melissa Suggs and Dr. Touray, have all done an excellent job of keeping us informed. They are also working hard to address staffing concerns.
Heroes wanted: In appreciation of their service, My Daddy’s Bar-B-Que and Tate Branch Chrysler Dodge are offering free hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks to first responders, police officers, teachers, doctors and nurses from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 7) at the My Daddy’s parking lot. COVID guidelines are in place. Thank you to these two businesses for their support.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway