Front Page News
Pass Fire Update June 30, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 30 June 2023 30 June 2023
Pass Fire
Gila National Forest
Incident Commanders – Billy Trujillo IC - Dustin Roper IC (t) Information Phone: 575-388-8211
Hours: 8 am-4:30pm
Email: Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov
Acres: 57,670
Start Date: May 18, 2023
Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 12%
Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grass
Personnel: 140, 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 2 Type 3 Helicopters
Fire activity and growth were minimal yesterday, with low to moderate fire behavior observed. The most active area of fire perimeter was along southwest corner in the Log Canyon area above the Middle Fork Gila River. Today, crews plan to complete hand ignitions along the Iron Trail (771) and White Rocks Trail (27) to remove available fuels and establish containment along the southeastern fire perimeter, where fire has been active in the Burnt Corral Canyon area. With these hand ignitions, fire acreage can be expected to be greater tomorrow.
New Mexico State Police Investigate Homicide Near Silver City
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 30 June 2023 30 June 2023
Silver City, NM - The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is investigating the homicide of Stephen Timmons. Investigators believe Mr. Timmons was killed between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 2023.
Mr. Timmons was riding his bicycle in the Dragon Fly Trail System off Arenas Valley Road near Silver City when he was shot and killed. At the time of his murder, he was wearing black shorts with a white stripe on the side, a light blue shirt, and a black helmet. He was riding a turquoise bicycle (pictured).
State Police is seeking the public's assistance with this investigation. Anyone with information related to this crime is encouraged to contact the New Mexico State Police at 575-382-2500, option 1.
Though State Police has no credible information regarding an active threat, we recommend that anyone recreating in this area remain vigilant and cautious.
Grant County Commission 060623 work session and regular meeting 060823 part 7 and final
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 June 2023 29 June 2023
[Editor's Note: This article is the seventh and final of a series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session on June 6, 2023 and the regular meeting on June 8, 2023. This article heard county reports and continued review of the regular meeting agenda and decisions made.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
This article continues the Grant County Commission June 6, 2023 work session review of the June 8, 2023 regular meeting agenda and begins with elected official reports at the regular meeting.
Treasurer Patrick Cohn presented his tax maintenance report. "In May, for our 2022 taxes, we collected $1,279,336.82. That is a 90.35 collection rate to date for 2022 taxes. For the 10 years, our collection rate was 95.29 percent, leaving us an uncollected $5 million over the period. We are working on getting taxes paid on manufactured homes. Owners who have not made one payment in 10 years, we're notifying them and starting to get a bit of money in. We sent a courtesy letter to those who were delinquent. We will go out in the field to reach out to find out issues. We'll work with the assessor to find where some of the places are. We will send out about 4,300 delinquency notices."
District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne asked: "Those 4,300 deliquency notices are out of how many parcels?
Gospel Mission volunteer has bike stolen.
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 June 2023 29 June 2023
By Roger Lanse
Silver City Police Department officers responded Monday, June 26, 2023, at about 10:21 a.m., to a larceny call at the Gospel Mission, 111 S. Texas Street. According to an SCPD incident report, the Director of the Gospel Mission, Randy Salars, played surveillance footage showing Dustin Patterson, 34, of Silver City, leaving the building pushing a black bicycle then hopping on the bike and heading east off the property.
The male victim, whose age is also 34, with no local address, stated he was just hired as a volunteer at the Mission and had parked his bike inside the building about 15 minutes before Patterson took it without the victim's permission. The bike was described as a black Trek 9000 with orange/pink forks. The victim also stated if the bicycle was returned before the end of the day/he would not pursue charges.
Pass Fire Update June 29, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 June 2023 29 June 2023
Pass Fire
Gila National Forest
Incident Commanders – Billy Trujillo IC - Dustin Roper IC (t)
Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours: 8 am-4:30 pm
Email: Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov
Acres: 57,523
Start Date: May 18, 2023
Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 12%
Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grass
Personnel: 133, 1 Type 1 Helicopter, 2 Type 3 Helicopters
Infrared mapping from last night showed approximately 420 acres of fire growth and isolated heat at the southeast corner of the fire, around the base of Burnt Corral Canyon, Windfall Canyon, and Tommy Hill Canyon, near the East Fork of the Gila River. Another isolated pocket of heat is at the southwest corner of the fire perimeter, on the ridge between Log Canyon and Brothers West Canyon above the Middle Fork Gila River.
Today, crews are expected to complete preparing the Iron Trail (771) and White Rocks Trail (27) to use as containment features along the south/southeast corner of the fire. Once prepped, additional use of hand ignition operations may occur to remove available fuels between the active fire and containment features.
Additional information: Local pastor suffers fatal bicycle crash
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 28 June 2023 28 June 2023
By Roger Lanse
According to the New Mexico State Police, NMSP officers were dispatched to the Dragonfly Trailhead, about five miles east of Silver City on Monday, June 26, 2023, at about 10 p.m. Stephen Timmons, 62, of Silver City, was reported to have gone on a bike ride that morning and had not yet returned home. His vehicle was located at the Dragonfly Trailhead.
Search and Rescue teams were called out and according to Laurie Wlosinski, Grant County Search and Rescue, Timmons was located deceased at about 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24, on the eastern side of the trail system about a mile west of the national cemetery by a two-man team led by Mark Levesque, GCS&R. An initial investigation indicates Timmons suffered fatal injuries stemming from a bicycle crash.
Wlosinski told the Beat four local S&R teams were looking for Timmons through the night. Other S&R teams from throughout the state were on their way or standing by when Timmons was located, she said. These fresh teams were needed as those who searched through the night had already walked many miles.
New Earth Project presents to town council.
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 28 June 2023 28 June 2023
By Lynn Janes
The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting June 13, 2023. The meeting started with Mayor Ken Ladner calling the meeting to order and leading the Pledge of Allegiance and salute to the New Mexico state flag. Council members attending the meeting included Jose Ray, Nicholas Prince, Guadalupe Cano, and Rudy Bencomo.
The council approved the agenda with one change. They removed the executive session for this meeting.
Ceremonies none currently.
Proclamations none currently.
Council comments
Pass Fire Update June 28, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 28 June 2023 28 June 2023
Pass Fire
Gila National Forest
Incident Commanders – Billy Trujillo IC - Dustin Roper IC (t)
Information Phone: 575-388-8211 Hours: 8 am-4:30pm Email: 2023.Pass@Firenet.gov
Acres: 57,100 (estimated)
Start Date: May 18, 2023
Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 12%
Fuels: Timber, piñon/juniper and grass
Personnel: 168
The Pass Fire showed minimal growth yesterday. Infrared flights have not been possible for the past two days; mapping accuracy will improve with the next infrared mission. Most firefighter efforts are focused along southeast side of the fire perimeter, near the East Fork of the Gila River and Trails End Ranch and Fowler Ranch.
Fire danger is increasing under hot, dry weather conditions as the Fourth of July holiday approaches. Check for fire restrictions before heading out to public lands. If they are allowed and weather permits, you must watch your campfire at all times, or extinguish it fully when it is not attended. Douse with plenty of water, stir it into the coals, and feel for heat with your bare hand. When you can safely touch the coals, the fire is out. Hot coals equal hot fire.