Front Page News

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a special meeting on August 5, 2026. Board members in attendance included Hector Carrillo, Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, Agelina Hardin and David Wilguess. Dr. Verenice Gutierrez, superintendent, attended.

The board approved the agenda.

Public comment

Samantha Grijalava came to address the board concerning an item on the agenda pertaining the food service in the district and the issuance of an RFP (request for proposal). She would be speaking on behalf of the Cobre Food Service Department, and they had just been made aware of the district being in grave financial problems. They had also been informed the food service department had contributed to it. In the prior school year, they had never been informed of this issue nor been provided a budget amount to stay within.

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting July 28, 2026. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Simon Wheaton-Smith, Nicholas Prince, Stan Snider, Victor Nanez and Angela Salaiz.

The council approved the agenda with some changes. Snider acknowledged that Lori Ortiz, finance director, and Randy Hernandez, business operations manager, had really worked hard on the budget. He did not feel he had enough time to review it because they had just received it. He wanted to postpone that agenda item. Hernandez and Charles Kretek, town attorney, said the budget must be turned in by July 31, 2026.

By Lynn Janes

On July 23, 2026, the commission had a regular meeting at the city annex building. Jacqui Olea, interim town manager, called the meeting to order.

The board approved the agenda and minutes from June 25, 2026.

New business

Priscilla Lucero, Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments director, had an update on NMFA (New Mexico Finance Authority) legislative oversight committee meeting in Alamogordo in September. The water commission will be providing a presentation at the meeting about the project.

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

[Editor's Note:  This photographer cannot find her notes and apologizes for this being so late and without names of those in the photos. She blames it on overwhelm and not enough hours in a day. in addition to numerous tech issues.  

Please someone who likes to write articles, and/or take photos and is bored and would like a very part-time low-paying or no-paying (volunteer!)  job to help out the Beat, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ]

The Gila Native Plant Society  hosted a family day in the Silva Botanical Garden on July 11, 2026. A number of activities kept adults and kids entertained. They included creating items out of various pieces of word, leaves, etc. found in nature, a chance for kids to catch a butterfly using a net and to learn about those butterflies.  

Grant County Commission addresses changes in solid waste processes

By Mary Alice Murphy

At the Grant County Commission work session on Tuesday, August. 11, 2026, along with other items discussed, commissioners spent the most time on Resolution R-26-40, as part of the review of what would they would approve or disapprove at the regular meeting.

At the work session, County Manager Charlene Webb moved to review of Resolution 2640. T"his is a resolution directing publication of notice of meeting and intent to adopt ordinance O-26-02 Solid Waste Collection Disposal and Piece Ordinance of the County of Grant New Mexico. Tis resolution is is a notice of intent to consider the adoption of a solid waste ordinance. What this ordinance does is it repeals the current ordinance, which was adopted in 19990-27 years ago. What this ordinance does is it cleans up many many sections of that ordinance that are not applicable at this time. "The operations of the Solid Waste Authority also cleans up some areas for code enforcement, and it also, in Section 10, provides language for the board to establish a system of fee-by-resolution, saying that you have the authority to set the fee-by-resolution regularly. not in the ordinance."

Tobe McSpadden and Chase Dobrinski - National Champions in TrapshootingChase Dobrinski captures the Sub Junior World Championship with a perfect 200/200, while Tobe McSpaddenclaims Grand American Short Yardage Runner-Up and ATA 2600 High Overall Class C Championship

SPARTA, ILLINOIS — Two young athletes from Silver City recently put Grant County in the spotlight at one of the most prestigious events in the sport of trapshooting.

Chase Dobrinski and Tobe McSpadden, both of Silver City, competed in the 2026 ATA Grand American World Trapshooting Championships in Sparta, Illinois, July 29 through August 8. The Grand American is the flagship event of the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) and draws thousands of competitors to the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in southern Illinois.

Both young shooters competed in the Sub Junior category, for shooters age 14 and under, while also competing in events that included broader classifications.

Their week was highlighted by championship performances, multiple runner-up finishes and numerous trips to the podium.

Dobrinski Claims World Championship After 200 Straight Targets

Benny Verdugo held on Open Count Murder charge

August 10, 2026 Deming I Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced today that Benny Verdugo, 73, will remain in custody without bond as his case goes through the judicial process. Verdugo is charged with an open count of murder in the 1st degree in the death of Uziel Barrera.

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley held a special meeting July 28, 2026. Mayor Reynaldo Maynes and Councilors Ester Gil, Robert Candelaria and Jason Cox attended. Aron Phillips did not attend.

The council approved resolution no. 2-2026/2027 to participate in the local government road fund administered by the DOT (Department of Transportation). Darlene McBride, town clerk, let the council know this was for the application for the grant. It will be used to rehabilitate and maintain Diaz Avenue doing chip seal. The grant has a 75 percent funding with a 25 percent match. The total grant will be $98,340.