Front Page News

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Consolidated Schools held a special meeting May 27, 2025. Members in attendance included Ashley Montenegro, Michelle Diaz, Mike McMillan and Kimberly Klement. Superintendent William Hawkins also attended. Patrick Cohn didn't attend.

Michelle McCain, finance director, had a budget adjustment request. She had a request to increase the transportation budget $68,380. This will be for transportation fees for pupils. The funding had been granted by the state, and it needed to be added into the budget. The board approved the budget adjustment.

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held special meetings on June 6 and 7, 2025. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, David Terrazas, Emmarie Heredia and Angelina Hardin. Superintendent Michael Koury also attended online.

Before the executive session on the first day Guadiana had a point of discussion. "I acknowledged that the Open Meetings Act allows the board to interview applicants for the superintendent position in closed session. However, doing so is discretionary. I believe the board would better serve the district by conducting the interviews in open session. The leadership places little or no value in transparency or community involvement."

Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – Incident Commander

 Suppression repair efforts underway as Trout Fire operations continue scaling down

Daily Update for June 28, 2025

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8964 (8 am – 8 pm)

 Acres: 47,282                          Start Date: June 12, 2025             Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM

Cause: Lightning                 Personnel: 760                  Fuels: Grass, brush, and timber                  Containment: 71%

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

Although the actual 90th anniversary of the Silver City Daily Press first edition was on June 24, 2025, the publisher Nick Seibel hosted a party on Friday, June 27, 2025, with Illusion Band  entertaining the crowd, and vendors offering food items at a discounted rate. Also promised was tours of the Daily Press building, but early on, the office was not open because the reporters were still working on the edition that would come out Saturday, June 28, 2025.

Clouds build in the sky and lighting was not too far away, but the party carried on. [Editor's note: This photographer left before the weather got closer.]

By Lynn Janes

May 29, 2025, PNM held a town hall on wildfire awareness. PNM had asked Rep. Luis Terrazas and Commissioner Eddie Flores to host the event held at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center.

Bruce Ashburn opened up the event and explained the reason for the town hall and thanked everyone for attending. He also thanked the Chamber for the event space and Sabrina Pack, SkyWest Media, for publicizing the event. PNM had provided snacks and drinks for those attending and Ashburn thanked PNM. He thanked all the presenters that had come, some had driven a long way to attend. "I would like to thank everyone in the room that fights fires in any way shape or form. Guys we have some of the best firefighters in the country." They had already at the time of this meeting had five fires.

Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – Incident Commander

Crews make significant containment gains on the Trout Fire

Daily Update for June 27, 2025

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8964 (8 am – 8 pm)

Acres: 47,128                Start Date: June 12, 2025             Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM

Cause: Lightning           Personnel: 971             Fuels: Grass, brush, and timber              Containment: 69%

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

Sheriff Raul Villanueva at left, recognizes Armando Medina, second from right, as he retires from the Sheriff's Department.

Grant County Commissioners present the Fair Housing Month proclamation.

Article by Michael LaReaux

After the Pledge of Allegiance and the salute to the New Mexico state flag, the Grant County Commission at its April 1,2025 regular meeting opened the floor for public comment.

You can find several articles online that tell you what to do and what not to do if you encounter a bear. Bears are large and very strong. 

Dos and don'ts include:

1) Stay Calm, Back away slowly to show you are not a threat, speak calmly

2) Do not make quick movements, but move slowly, keeping an eye on the bear

3) Do not climb a tree, because they can climb faster than you

4) If you are hiking, talk loudly and make noise. That may scare any bears away.

But enjoy this video, edited by Jessie Britton of a backyard bear at a house in the wildland urban interface.