Front Page News
GRMC Governing Board holds regular meeting 032323
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 30 March 2023 30 March 2023
Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy
Governing Board Chair Alicia Edwards, at the beginning of the monthly Gila Regional Medical Center board meeting on March 23, 2023, introduced HealthTech Regional Chief Clinical Officer Carolyn St. Charles, who would later give the HealthTech update in place of Regional Vice President Scott Manis.
Edwards also introduced the new GRMC Interim Chief Nursing Officer Cynthia Lewis, who said she looks forward to working in the community and in the progression of changes at the hospital.
Silver City Recreational Center contract awarded
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 March 2023 29 March 2023
By Lynn Janes
Silver City held a regular meeting March 14, 2023. The meeting started with Mayor Ken Ladner calling the meeting to order. He led the Pledge of Allegiance and salute to the New Mexico state flag. Council members attending the meeting included Lucian Farmer, Jose Ray, Nicholas Prince, and Guadalupe Cano.
The council approved the agenda with the exception of tabling an amendment to the cannabis ordinance that Cano said would not be ready to vote on.
Ceremonies none currently.
Proclamations none currently.
Council comments
Cano said a couple of years ago they had engraved name tags and she thought it would be nice for them to have them again. Alex Brown, town manager said he would look into it.
Bayard looks at planning and zoning
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 March 2023 29 March 2023
By Lynn Janes
The town of Bayard held a regular town meeting March 13, 2023. The meeting started with Mayor Chon Fierro calling the meeting to order. Attendance at the meeting included Mayor Pro tem Raul Villanueva councilors Jose Diaz, Eloy Medina, and Frances Gonzales. The Pledge of Allegiance and salute to New Mexico flag took place.
The council approved the agenda with one change. The council will postpone the police chief evaluation.
Public input
James Irving wanted to ask some questions about planning and zoning. The council could not answer them in public comment. He provided them with copies of the questions he had. "I understand that under municipal ordinances you are supposed to have a planning and zoning commission." He questioned if they had one and if so, who worked on it. Irving said he had the impression they should have five and the public needed to know who. The commission should also have a zoning officer for people to reach out to. They need some clarity, and it should be on the next agenda and have it all on the public record. He read the ordinance to the council.
Snell Middle School making strides
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 March 2023 29 March 2023
By Lynn Janes
The Cobre Consolidated Schools held a Special board meeting at on March 6, 2023. President Serena Murillo called the meeting to order. Other board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, Elizabeth Dean, and David Terrazas. The Pledge of Allegiance and salute to the New Mexico flag took place. Dr. Jeff Spaletta also attended.
Reading of the board norms took place with each board member reading a norm. The norms consist of five rules the board strives to adhere to during the meeting. They are listed as actively listen to all perspectives, respond to concerns and questions as a unified board, professionalism expected, assume positive intent, and be positive and responsive.
Public input on agenda items none currently.
Homeland Security vehicles in town
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 March 2023 29 March 2023
By Roger Lanse
Silver City residents reported what appeared to be several unmarked law enforcement vehicles, including an armored vehicle and one pulling a flatbed trailer, in Silver City, the morning of Tuesday, Mar. 28, 2023.
Silver City Police Department Chief Freddie Portillo confirmed to the Beat today, March 29, that the SCPD did partner with the Department of Homeland Security to form a task force on the 28th but would not provide further information. He stated a press release describing the operation would be forthcoming.
Portillo said the rumor circulating that the increased police presence on Tuesday was related to the discovery of bodies in a building on Bullard Street was false.
UPDATE -2: Fatality on the Gila River
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 28 March 2023 28 March 2023
By Roger Lanse
Monday afternoon, Mar. 27, 2023, around 2 p.m. five individuals in a raft capsized in the Gila River about 10 miles south of the Grapevine Campground. According to Search and Rescue Coordinator Mark Levesque, one person drowned and four were rescued by helicopter. The condition of those four are unknown at this time.
The Beat is reaching out to other agencies investigating the accident and more information will be reported as it is received.
UPDATE:
Five adult men of "near, or at, retirement age," from Lubbock, Texas, according to Laurie Wlosinski, Grant County Search and Rescue/New Mexico State Police Incident Commander of this Mission, entered the Gila River at the Grapevine Campground planning a multi-day float trip ending downstream at the Mogollon Box on Tuesday, Mar. 28, and then returning home. One man was in a canoe, one each in two kayaks, and two in a raft.
UPDATE-2: According to New Mexico State Police staff, the ages of the four surviving men were 58, 60, 61, and 63. The man pronounced deceased by an Office of Medical Investigation official was Tregg Granato, 55.
The group, with the canoe leading, encountered a fallen tree across the river some 10 miles downstream at the bottom of an estimated 200' deep canyon, Wlosinski said. The canoe overturned and that man was swept underwater and drowned. The other four were able to make it to shore and using an emergency communicator device they had with them sent out an SOS ultimately notifying the NMSP.
Fatality on the Gila River
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 27 March 2023 27 March 2023
By Roger Lanse
Monday afternoon, Mar. 27, 2023, around 2 p.m. five individuals in a raft capsized in the Gila River about 10 miles south of the Grapevine Campground. According to Search and Rescue Coordinator Mark Levesque, one person drowned and four were rescued by helicopter. The condition of those four are unknown at this time.
The Beat is reaching out to other agencies investigating the accident and more information will be reported as it is received.
Silver City Town Council has debate about proposed legislation
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 27 March 2023 27 March 2023
[Editor's Note: This article got misplaced in transit, so apologies for it being so late.]
By Lynn Janes
Silver City held a regular meeting February 27, 2023. The meeting started with Mayor Ken Ladner calling the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance and salute to the New Mexico state flag. Council members attending the meeting included Lucian Farmer, Jose Ray, Nicholas Prince, and Guadalupe Cano.
The council approved the agenda as is. Prince wanted to table resolution 2023-04 and the rest of the council did not agree.
Ceremonies none currently.
Proclamations none currently.
Council comments