Front Page News
New wildfire ignition on Gila National Forest
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 05 July 2023 05 July 2023
Antelope Fire is located in a remote area of Black Range Ranger District
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NM, July 5, 2023 – Firefighters are responding to a new wildfire ignition about 16 miles north-northwest of Winston, NM in the Black Range. The 20-acre Antelope Fire was reported this morning and is a result of a lightning strike.
Antelope Fire is located on the northeast slope of Dolan Mountain, near the Continental Divide Trail and within about a half mile of a 500KV powerline that serves west Texas and El Paso. Gila National Forest is working with El Paso Electric Company as a cooperator in response to the fire. Incident responders include a Very Large Air Tanker, a Large Air Tanker, two Single Engine Air Tankers, a Type 1 helicopter, and a Fixed Wing Air Attack platform to oversee aerial operations. Additionally, the Vail Interagency Hotshots, Gila Hotshots, and Mormon Lake Hotshots, Santiam Modules 1 and 2, and Engine Crew 621 hiked in to size up and take suppression actions.
Fatal Crash in Luna County, NM 070223
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 05 July 2023 05 July 2023
Luna County, NM – On July 2, 2023, at around 10:00 p.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash involving 3 vehicles on Highway 26 near mile marker 10, north of Deming, NM
The initial investigation indicated that a 1993 water tanker truck was traveling east on Highway 26. A 2016 Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) was also traveling east on Highway 26. For reasons still under investigation, the CMV made contact with the rear of the water tanker truck and went into the westbound lane of travel, causing a head on collision with a 2019 Chevy SUV. Kay Chandler (77) of Deming, NM a passenger in the Chevy, was transported to an area hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the water tanker was not injured. The driver of the CMV and another passenger of the Chevy were transported to an area hospital. Their conditions are unknown.
Be wary of new IRS scam
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 05 July 2023 05 July 2023
On July 3, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service warned taxpayers to be on the lookout for a new scam mailing that tries to mislead people into believing they are owed a refund.
The new scheme involves a mailing coming in a cardboard envelope from a delivery service. The enclosed letter includes the IRS masthead and wording that the notice is "in relation to your unclaimed refund."
Like many scams, the letter includes contact information and a phone number that do not belong to the IRS, and it seeks a variety of sensitive personal information from taxpayers – including detailed pictures of driver's licenses. All this can be used by identity thieves to try obtaining a tax refund and other sensitive financial information from your accounts.
Pass Fire Update July 5, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 05 July 2023 05 July 2023
Pass Fire
Gila National Forest Incident Commander Robert Laeng IC and Josh Johnson IC(T)
Hours: 8 am-4:30 pm Email: 2023.Pass@Firenet.gov
Acres: 59,904
Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM
Containment: 32%
Personnel: 140, 1 Type 3 Helicopter
Start Date: May 18, 2023
Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grass
Containment on the Pass Fire has increased as fire crews accomplished work to secure containment lines along the southeastern edge of the perimeter resulting in the protection of private inholdings adjacent to the Gila National Forest. Hand ignitions performed the last couple of days allowed the fire to burn out excess vegetation along Iron Trail #771 and White Rocks Trail #27, with the goal of improving and securing containment lines. Today, firefighters will monitor and patrol the Pass Fire by ground and air to ensure those containment lines stay secured. Containment lines act as boundaries to keep the fire corralled until it is completely out.
Pass Fire Update July 4, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 04 July 2023 04 July 2023
Pass Fire
Gila National Forest Incident Commander- Robert Laeng IC and Josh Johnson IC(T)
Hours: 8 am-4:30 pm
Email: 2023.Pass@Firenet.gov
Acres: 59,889
Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM
Containment: 12%
Personnel: 140, 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 1 Type 3 Helicopter
Start Date: May 18, 2023
Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grass
Yesterday, favorable conditions allowed firefighters to successfully complete hand ignition operations on the southeastern part of the fire perimeter where the Pass Fire is most active, along Iron Trail #771. This resulted partly in a 500-acre growth and a more secure established containment line consisting of Iron Trail #771 and White Rocks Trail #27. Fire crews burned out excess vegetation to create a buffer that would slow or stop the Pass fire and future fires from impacting adjacent private property and other values at risk. Today, fire crews will patrol and monitor the newly established containment line along the southeastern edge, extinguishing any fire to hold and secure it. Interior light smoke has also been visible on the west side of the Pass Fire near No Name Canyon and is being closely monitored.
Pass Fire Update July 3, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 03 July 2023 03 July 2023
Pass Fire
Gila National Forest Incident Commander Robert Laeng IC
Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours: 8 am-4:30 pm
Email: Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov
Acres: 59,367
Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM Containment: 12%
Personnel: 140, 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 2 Type 3 Helicopters
Start Date: May 18, 2023
Cause: Lightning
Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grass
Yesterday, crews successfully conducted hand ignitions along the Iron Trail #771. If conditions prove favorable today, they will continue to use hand ignitions off of Iron Trail #771 to increase containment around the southeast corner of the fire perimeter to provide protection to private property nearby. Firefighters are monitoring the whole fire area daily from air and ground. Increase or decrease in acreage is due more to accurate mapping.
Silver City athletes competed in the 2023 USATF NM state junior Olympic track and field championships
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 02 July 2023 02 July 2023
Left to right: Coach Roy Paquette, Coach Chris Salas, Logan Wood, Austin Paquette, Kaleb Paquette, Alexys Salas, Angela Gonzales, Analeigh Cruz, Coy Theobald, Kodah Martinez, Kai Casler, Coach Cody Landers.
A group of 9 Silver City athletes competed in the 2023 USATF New Mexico State Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in Rio Rancho, NM on June 10 and 11. 2023. All participants placing first through fourth qualified for the USATF Region 10 meet to be held in Albuquerque on July 6-9. The Regional meet will include the best teams from Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and West Texas.
Results are as follows:
Grant County Commission held special meeting June 20, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 02 July 2023 02 July 2023
By Mary Alice Murphy
The Grant County Commissioner held a special meeting to make decisions on several agreements and resolutions.
The Grant County Commission, after the traditional opening ceremonies, including the Pledge of Allegiance and the Salute to the State Flag, as well as the approval of the agenda, next heard public input.
Danny Castillo, the first to speak, thanked the commissioners for allowing him to speak on behalf of the Grant County Sheriff's Department deputies and introduced himself as the chaplain of the Grant County Sheriff's Office. "I got permission to bring this vest in. It's pretty heavy; it weighs a good 20-25 pounds. I think it's a daily reminder of the dangers of the job. Every time I put it on, it's a weighty reminder that the job carries the weight of danger. Every time they say goodbye to their family in the morning, it may be the last time. I've seen the deputies at work, and I am always amazed at how calm they remain even when faced with a violent individual. I hope the commissioners can give them a raise for their hard job. At the end of a 12-hour shift, they are dead tired.