We hope you and your family are having a wonderful Christmas week and are continuing to enjoy the beautiful light displays around town.
In case you haven’t heard, the House and Senate reached a pandemic relief bill Sunday night, which includes stimulus checks and enhanced unemployment benefits.
This package will include direct stimulus payments of $600 to Individuals making up to $75,000 a year, while couples making up to $150,000 will receive $1,200, on top of $600 for dependents under the age of 17. Additionally, jobless will receive a $300 weekly federal enhancement in benefits for 11 weeks. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program also expands jobless benefits to self-employed workers and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program provides 13 weeks of payments to those who exhaust state benefits.
The bill is also reopening the Paycheck Protection Program to allow small businesses to apply for a second loan. We will, of course, keep you updated on stimulus checks and PPP loans as more information becomes available.
COVID update: There were 45 new positive COVID-19 cases reported on Sunday and 53 new positive cases reported on Saturday. There were no COVID-19 deaths reported over the weekend for Eddy County. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, there have been 4,024 total positive COVID-19 cases in Eddy County and 61 total COVID-related deaths.
Reminder: Our Solid Waste trucks will be running regular routes in Christmas Eve this year. The department will be off on Christmas Day and run both Dec. 25 and Dec. 26’s routes on Dec. 26. Our convenience station (301 E. Plaza St.) will be open regular hours (7 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.) on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 and will be closed on Dec. 25. City Hall and Municipal Court will be closed on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 as well. Thank you as always to our first responders, who will continue to provide emergency support throughout the week. We appreciate everything they do.
The United Way of Eddy County is also accepting grant applications for the 2021 calendar year. Application deadline is January 15th at 5 p.m. Funding is open to any 501 (c)3 health and human service agency in South Eddy County. Questions about the grant process or application may be directed to Linda Dodd at 575-887-3504 or by email at director@uweddyco.org.
One correction: Encompass Hospice won this year’s “Trim the Tree” decorating contest, announced last week. Congratulations to Encompass and thanks to everyone who participated.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway