Susan Beck, US Air Force Colonel (retired), let The Grant County Beat know that she received word late yesterday from Colonel Patterson, the 49th Wing Vice Commander at Holloman AFB, that Headquarters Air Force (HAF) has further delayed release of the draft environmental impact statement for airspace optimization.

"It now appears that they're targeting late summer or early fall for the release," Beck said. "The leaders at Holloman believe this means that the Air Force is taking its time and addressing the inputs they received from all affected communities."

Once HAF has a better estimate on their timeline for the release, they will most likely do Congressional notifications first, and then counties and communities will be notified, she said.

"I'll continue to keep in touch with the leaders at Holloman AFB and hope to be able to update you again later this summer," Beck said.

Beck, as a retired USAF colonel, has contacts that most residents of Grant County would not have. She has been instrumental in keeping the local residents informed of the process. 

At the April Grant County Commission work session, she said she spent 24 years in the Air Force. "I worked as a weapons controller. I ended at the Secretary of the Air Force office and am qualified to answer your questions. I am not an Air Force advocate or activist. I come just to inform you. I am a resource. We support our military, which needs training."

She has spent considerable personal time researching and visiting the various entities involved to accurately give information to Grant County's residents.