Community News

El Son de la Gila, the annual mariachi conference at WNMU, provided an opportunity for high school students to learn from master mariachis, and it allowed their group leaders to network and learn from each other. The conference was held on the WNMU campus June 4-7, 2024SILVER CITY, NM – The sounds of mariachi music could be heard throughout the western part of the Western New Mexico University campus June 4-7, as the university hosted El Son de la Gila, its annual mariachi conference. Drawing students and their mariachi directors from across the southwest, the conference provided an opportunity for high school students to learn from master mariachis, and it allowed their group leaders to network and learn from each other.

DURANGO, CO (06/11/2024)-- Jasmine Williams, of Gila, NM, was named to Fort Lewis College's Dean's List for Spring 2024 semester. Williams's major is Sociology and Human Services.

To be eligible for Dean's List, a student must carry a semester GPA of 3.6 or better in no fewer than 15 credit hours of graded college-level work and have completed all work for which they are registered by the end of the semester.

Fort Lewis College is the Southwest's leading undergraduate institution with its low student-to-faculty ratio and one-on-one, affordable instruction. The experience students gain here is responsive to industry demand and the ever-shifting landscape of higher education. FLC is also one of the country's most diverse campuses, with over half of its students identifying as people of color. With more than 55 majors to choose from, students become industry professionals, community leaders, and cutting-edge academics.

WNM Communications, a leading provider of high-speed internet, phone, and TV services, previously announced the launch of its Extended Broadband Discount (EBD) program. This initiative is designed to bridge the gap for current Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) recipients after the FCC discontinued the program due to a lack of funding.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

The ACP was a federal government program that provided a discount on monthly broadband internet service for qualifying low-income households. It played a vital role in closing the digital divide by making internet access more affordable for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, the FCC has been forced to discontinue the program due to congressional funding limitations.

June 5, 2024 – The Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) Foundation has donated $6,000 worth of new radios to the Gila Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS). EMS provides life-saving services to all of Grant County and surrounding areas. They receive an average of 120 calls each week making the communication between EMS teams and their supervisors vital. Having well-functioning radios is crucial for ensuring the safety of both staff and patients in various settings. The radios being replaced have exceeded their lifespan and are over 15 years old.

SILVER CITY, NM - A report released in May 2024 by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions found that there were 6,017 unfilled registered nurse positions statewide this spring. Shortages in nursing staff have been linked to a higher level of error in patient care, adverse patient outcomes, and increased mortality.

WNMU is positioned to help expand the state's nursing workforce through its School of Nursing and Kinesiology. Since WNMU graduated its first class of nursing students in 1993, the university's programs in nursing have changed and grown, but the school's role in meeting community needs has remained a common thread.

Natali CalderaFive area students have been awarded 2024 HMS Scholarships in their pursuit of careers or degrees in the healthcare field. The HMS Scholarship Program is open to eligible high school students in both Hidalgo and Grant Counties.

Natali Caldera is a graduate of Lordsburg High School and plans to pursue a career as a Pharmacist.

Featured in this email:

• Give Grandly Results
• Art Show 
• Social Media Workshop - May 8,2024

Give Grandly 2024

Surpasses Expectations

Road construction workers on 32nd Street have completed work along 32nd Street, from Swan Street east to just past Gila Regional Medical Center. Improvements to this major thoroughfare extend east to Pinos Altos Street, and are expected to be complete by mid-June.Silver City -- Major upgrades and improvements to 32nd Street are nearly complete, following construction delays that were due primarily to utility cables that weren't buried deep enough.  Contractors were at last able to complete lane striping and final details on this east-west thoroughfare from Swan Street east, and the final section from just east of Gila Regional Medical Center to Pinos Altos Road is expected to be finished by mid-June.  Improvements include new curb and gutter, significant  drainage improvements, new sidewalks, drive pads, ADA-accessible intersections, lane striping to include bike lanes, and new signage.

The project was funded by two grants totaling nearly $4.35 million; $2.176 million from the Colonias Infrastructure Fund plus $2.183 million from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), which together cover nearly the entire cost of the project.  Approximately $332,500 will come from town revenues. The survey and design process was also funded by NMDOT grant funds.