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Mescalero Indian Health Service is offering the NEW bivalent COVID-19 booster:

• Everyone ages 12 years and older should receive 1 bivalent mRNA booster after completion of a COVID-19 vaccine primary series; it replaces ALL prior booster recommendations for this age group.
• A bivalent Moderna booster dose is recommended in people ages 18 years and older
• A bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose is recommended in people ages 12 years and older
• Bivalent boosters should be spaced from other primary or booster doses by 2 months
• Side effects are similar to original doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which are commonly mild to moderate and may include fatigue, headache, muscle aches, chills, fever or pain, redness or swelling at the injection site for 1 to 2 days after vaccination.
• COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time as influenza vaccine, or any other routine vaccines.

We are going to start administering the bivalent boosters and influenza (flu) vaccines the first week of October.

The schedule for the first half of Oct is as follows:

• 10/3-Pfizer 12 years only
• 10/4-Moderna only
• 10/5- 6 months-4 years afternoon only
• 10/6-Moderna only
• 10/7-Pfizer 5 years and older only
• 10/11-Moderna only
• 10/12-6 months-4 years afternoon only
• 10/13-Pfizer 12 years only
• 10/14-Moderna only

Patients looking to complete an influenza (flu) vaccine can be scheduled on any of the days above.

Call our front desk via our main number, 464-4441, to get scheduled for the new COVID bivalent booster &/or this fall/winter’s flu vaccine.

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WASHINGTON — On Oct. 1, The Department of Veterans Affairs will expand and extend eligibility for VA health care for certain Veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars and post-9/11 era under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. This expansion increases health care eligibility for generations of toxic-exposed Veterans, giving them access to the health care they’ve earned and deserve.

President Biden signed the bipartisan PACT Act into law August 10, authorizing one of the largest expansions of VA health care and benefits in U.S. history. Veterans can go to VA.gov/PACT to apply for health care or learn more about what this bill means for them and their families.

“This expansion will bring generations of new Veterans into VA health care, and increase the health care benefits of many more, which will result in the one outcome that matters most: better health outcomes for Veterans,” said Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “I highly encourage these Veterans to apply now for the health care they’ve earned and deserve.”

Beginning on Oct. 1, Post-9/11 Veterans who did not previously enroll in VA health care will have a 1-year window to enroll if they:

• Served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or
• Served in a combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after Nov. 11, 1998, and
• Were discharged or released from active service between Sept. 11, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2013.

Also on Oct. 1, the following groups of Veterans will be eligible for care:

• Gulf War Veterans who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War. This includes Veterans who, in connection with service during such period, received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Service Specific Expeditionary Medal, Combat Era Specific Expeditionary Medal, Campaign Specific Medal, or any other combat theater award established by federal statute or executive order.
• Vietnam-era Veterans who served in the following locations and time periods: The Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975; Thailand at any U.S. or Royal Thai base between Jan. 9, 1962, and June 30, 1976; Laos between Dec. 1, 1965, and Sept. 30, 1969; Certain provinces in Cambodia between April 16, 1969, and April 30, 1969; Guam or American Samoa (or their territorial waters) between Jan. 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980; Johnston Atoll (or on a ship that called there) between Jan. 1, 1972, and Sept. 30, 1977. 

While the expansion of PACT Act-related health care eligibility is staggered over the coming years, VA has made all conditions outlined in the PACT Act presumptive for benefits as of August 10, the day President Biden signed the bill into law. Eligible Veterans and survivors are encouraged to apply for those benefits now at VA.gov/PACT.

More information about VA’s implementation of the PACT Act can be found in this fact sheet.

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RUIDOSO, N.M. – ENMU-Ruidoso and San Juan College (SJC) School of Energy, Farmington, officially announced a new partnership that promotes educational and career opportunities in the energy industry for Native American students. ENMU-Ruidoso President Ryan Trosper and San Juan College President Dr. Toni Hopper Pendergrass signed the agreement Sept. 2, 2022, at the ENMU-Ruidoso College campus.

The partnership provides Native American students in southern New Mexico with the opportunity, access and financial support to gain skills needed in the energy industry. The partnership focuses on emerging, incumbent and re-entering workforce specifically in the ENMU-Ruidoso service area including the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

Students enroll at both colleges, have access to advising staff at each college, as well as access to support services, activities and clubs at both colleges. Students who maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA are considered for a ConocoPhillips scholarship. Students will complete all general education classes through ENMU-Ruidoso and take the remaining courses necessary to attain an associate degree through San Juan College.

“We would like to thank our amazing partners at ConocoPhillips for investing in life-changing opportunities for Mescalero Apache Tribe members and Native Americans across New Mexico,” said Pendergrass. “Thank you especially to President Trosper and to the Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso Branch Community College team for their warm welcome and strong collaboration on this effort. Together, we will continue to support students on their journeys to success.”

“This partnership is all about student success and collaboration to eliminate barriers to education for students,” said Trosper. “Our job is to create opportunities for success for our students. The employment opportunities in the energy industry make this a great fit for the scholarships available from ConocoPhillips.”

For more information, contact ENMU-Ruidoso Success Emporium Advocate Ashley Roberts at 575-315-1129 or Ashley.Roberts@enmu.edu or Summer Begay at San Juan College 505-566-4100.

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Attention: The Mescalero Athletic Commission is looking for people who are interested in learning about boxing and volunteering for an upcoming boxing event on November 12, 2022 as well as future boxing events.

Seating is limited, to reserve a seat please call: 575-464-4494.

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The FBI on Tuesday (9/20/2022) released the second update of its list of Native Americans verified as missing in New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. 

There are a total of 183 missing Indigenous persons on the latest list: 21 individuals have been added and 24 removed since last month’s list of 186 names was released.   

When the list was first released in July, there were 177 names on it.  

The list and updates can be found at fbi.gov/mmip.   

The updated list, current as of September 13, has 115 males and 68 females. The following statistics are provided: 

	Median Current Age	Median Age when Missing	Median # days from last seen to entered in NCIC *	Median Length of Time Missing	# extreme long-term missing (1+ years)
Males (115)	42	35	27	842 days	73
Females (68)	31 years 4 months	25 years 4 months	13	541 days	42

*(Note: Number can be skewed by those purged from NCIC and re-entered at later date) 

If someone’s relative is included in the names, the FBI is actively checking numerous law enforcement databases and other sources nationwide to identify leads that will be quickly passed along to the appropriate agency. 

If an Indigenous family member who is missing is not included in this list, the relatives are urged to contact their local or tribal law enforcement agency and ask them to submit a missing person report to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).  

For further assistance with their request, family members or law enforcement can contact the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. 

Partners involved in the project include the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, New Mexico’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR) Task Force, New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, New Mexico Department of Public Safety, New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs, Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, and the City of Albuquerque Office of Equity and Inclusion. 

The FBI also received information and support from the Navajo Nation, Native American pueblos, and local law enforcement. 

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Starting the week of September 19, 2022:

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