Community News

SILVER CITY, N.M. - Western New Mexico University's athletic training staff has been selected as the 2024–25 Lone Star Conference Athletic Training Staff of the Year among football-playing institutions. It is the program's second recognition in the past three seasons, having also earned the honor in 2022–23.

The Mustang staff is led by Head Athletic Trainer Terra Dunlap, who recently completed her 18th year at WNMU. In addition to her role in sports medicine, Dunlap also serves as the university's Senior Woman Administrator, providing leadership and guidance across the athletic department.

Assisting Dunlap during the 2024–25 academic year were Assistant Athletic Trainers Jocelyn Hurtado and Brooke Weisenberger, along with student assistants Selma Carrasco, Sorrin Garcia, Nicholas Bobo and Maxx Todden. The group provides year-round medical coverage for 13 varsity sport programs, ensuring the health and safety of Mustang student-athletes.

SILVER CITY, N.M. – Western New Mexico University is proud to announce the return of Micaela Medina as the new assistant coach for the women's basketball program. A former WNMU student-athlete and graduate assistant, Medina brings a strong coaching background, years of experience at the high school level, and a deep connection to Mustang basketball.

Medina's coaching journey began at Western New Mexico University, where she served as a graduate assistant under Coach Rusty Kennedy from 2012 to 2015. That period included one of the most successful seasons in program history, and she played a key role in the team's day-to-day operations and player development. She went on to serve as a varsity assistant at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque, helping the program capture a district championship and earn a top-ten seed in the state tournament. She then took over as head coach at Cobre High School in Bayard, where she led the team to its first state tournament appearance in more than a decade. Most recently, Medina spent five seasons as the head coach at Valencia High School in Los Lunas, guiding the Jaguars to two quarterfinal appearances in the New Mexico State Basketball Tournament and elevating the program's competitiveness within the state.

[Editor's Note: This got waylaid by an expectation that someone else was going to write this up, and they didn't. This author took notes, but gave them to other person who failed to do the job.Therefore this is being written from a recording of the presentation and the PDF of the presentation, thanks to the presenter. And apologies for it being well beyond the time it should have been reported.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

On April 12, 2025, in preparation for what was expected to be a bad fire season locally due to extended drought, with little to no precipitation during the winter season, Douglas Cram, the New Mexico State University Extension Service Forest and Fire specialist, presented this program at the Grant County Administration Center Commissioners' Chambers. He also gave credit to Jessica Swapp Massengill, Grant County Agriculture and 4-H agent and Michelle Greeman, Family and Consumer Services and 4-H.

Brig. Gen. Matthew Henry of the NM Air National Guard presents WNMU Provost and Acting President Jack Crocker with a lithograph depicting some of the aircraft the organization has flown over the years, June 30, 2025.

SILVER CITY, NM—Brig. Gen. Matthew Henry and members of the New Mexico Air National Guard were on the WNMU campus June 30, 2025, to thank Provost and Acting President Jack Crocker for the university's housing of service members during the Trout Fire.

The Trout Fire began June 12. NM National Guard personnel were deployed to Grant County after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared an emergency due to the fire.

Image by Rachel Burke JassoLight Art Space is pleased to present two exhibitions of clay art.  Perception, a juried clay exhibition, features forty works by twenty-seven artists from across the United States. 

Invited clay artists Billy Bilbro, Lori Swartz, and Rachel Burke Jasso will be featured in the front window.

It's a Fine Line Between…, work by juror Bianka Groves, is on display in the Flash Gallery. 

These exhibitions run from July 3rd to 20th, with an opening reception on Friday, July 4th.  A closing reception on Saturday, July 19, 5 – 7 will take place during the CLAY Festival. 

CLAY Festival events include a demonstration and sale of Mata Ortiz work by Anna Trillo in the Light Art Space Garden. Friday, July 18th 11 am – 4pm and Saturday, July 19th 11 am – 3 pm. Anna will demonstrate the traditional painting of pottery using human hair. Her pottery will be available for purchase.  Visit https://clayfestival.com/  for more events.

Thanks to the generous support of the Grant County Community through heir purchase of New Mexican grown pecans, two recent graduates of county high schools will each receive a $1500 scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year from the Chapter AG, P.E.O. Foundation Scholarship account. This annual fall pecan fundraiser has been a successful chapter project for over 60 years, enabling scores of young women to realize their educational goals.

This year's local scholarship recipients are Shea Barentine and Cheyanne Medrano.

As a National Honor Society member at Cliff High School, Shea Barentine has served as secretary for FCCLA and as the basketball team manager. She also has interned in the Grant County Treasurer's Office. Shea will be attending Eastern Arizona College where she will pursue a degree in Psychology.

SILVER CITY, N.M. - WNMU student-athlete Noah Bugayong isn't just putting in miles for Mustang Cross Country this summer, he's out on the fireline protecting New Mexico communities from one of the state's most active wildfires.

Bugayong, a senior runner for the Mustangs, is currently serving as a Squad Leader on the Gila Regulars Crew, a 23-person Type 2 Initial Attack team. The crew is made up of three combined modules: the Wilderness crew (based out of Mimbres), the Glenwood crew, and the Escondido Wildland Fire Module from Quemado.

Right now, their focus is the Trout Fire, a lightning-caused wildfire burning north of Silver City in the Gila National Forest. As of June 29, the fire has grown to over 47,000 acres and is approximately 69% contained.

Cowgirls and cowboys with flags lead the annual parade. Photo by Cheryl ThornburgGlenwood is the place to be for this year's Fourth of July Celebration. The parade begins at 5 p.m., honoring 250 years of service of the Army, Navy and Marines.

The old-fashioned, hometown parade features equestrian units, ranch kids, locals and out-of-town guests, all decked out in red, white and blue to honor America. Grand Marshalls Hugh B. and Margie McKeen are being honored for their more than 60 yearsof service to the Glenwood Horse-drawn wagons and colorful floats are always popular at the parade. Photo by Cheryl ThornburgCommunity.

Following the Parade, the Glenwood Park is hosting an evening of fun for all. Several food vendors will provide tasty meals. The Bouncy House will be in action for children to enjoy as well as the newly refurbished playground area. D.J.