Several Emporians are either biding their time in Mexico or they have returned from recent trips as sporadic violence continues after a cartel leader was killed by law enforcement this past weekend.
KVOE account executive Judy Neill and her husband, Kory, didn’t have much time to settle into their hotel in Cancun before violence started rippling across Mexico. The Neills were part of a bonus work trip through Kory’s work at F&F Feed, and they arrived at around 11 am Sunday.
Judy Neill says there haven’t been any signs of trouble near her resort.
Neill says she is relieved that trouble has stayed away so far.
Meanwhile, Carlos and Amy Garate had taken several family members to Guadalajara to celebrate a cousin’s graduation. A they flew in Friday, they noticed some fields burning — but there wasn’t any concern until Sunday.
Later in the day, the Garates were planning to take a tour, but it was canceled as violence escalated. Other weekend activities, including markets, were also shutting down.
Carlos Garate says the family is handling the adjusted time away as well as possible.
The Neills plan to leave Thursday, while the Garates are returning Wednesday. Due to the violence, the graduation ceremony the Garates wanted to attend has been canceled.
Mexican law enforcement killed Nemesio Osuguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” setting off a wave of cartel violence scattered across Mexico. Twenty of Mexico’s 31 states have had at least some cartel-related violence since Osuguera Cervantes was killed this past weekend, including over 60 deaths as well as destruction of vehicles and businesses. Some experts say it could be weeks before the scattered to widespread violence seen earlier this week will continue.
