Community News

(Silver City, NM) – Children and teens now have the opportunity to explore drone technology and digital art for free with the Silver City Public Library, thanks to a grant from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation. The library has used grant funds to purchase a classroom set of mini drones. Soon to come are digital drawing tablets, to enable the creation of digital artwork. 

The library will host a drone piloting session at the Henry V. "La Burra" Morales Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 14, 3:00pm. "Our first drone session at the library, scheduled June 2 to kick off the Summer Reading Program, was my opportunity to find out all the aspects of drone maintenance that I didn't yet know," said Lillian Galloway, library assistant director. "We weren't flying as much as I had hoped. So we scheduled another session for the following week, where piloting went more smoothly. I am learning so much along with the kids!"

SILVER CITY, NM — The Western New Mexico University undergraduate and graduate elementary teacher preparation programs have earned top honors for rigorous preparation in the Science of Reading. The National Council on Teacher Quality, a nonpartisan research and policy organization, released its 2026 Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation report today, highlighting the top-performing institutions nationwide.

WNMU emerged as a national leader in educator development, with two distinct tracks earning the coveted "A+" grade in Reading. Those tracks are the university's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and the Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education with Certification. The evaluations place WNMU among an elite group of higher education institutions nationwide recognized for incorporating evidence-based reading methodologies comprehensively into their curricula. 

NCTQ's Teacher Prep Review: Decoding Progress in Reading Preparation evaluates how more than 700 national teacher prep programs train future elementary teachers in reading instruction.

Incoming Prospectors President Priscilla Lucero with Outgoing President Romeo Cruz

Prospectors gathered yesterday  for their annual Passing of the Gavel meeting on July 9—an event that always blends tradition, celebration, and a renewed sense of purpose for the year ahead. In attendance was special guest and honorary member, Dr. Jose Coll, the new President of Western New Mexico University.

Outgoing President Romeo Cruz opened the meeting with business reports and heartfelt appreciation for the Prospector organization. He reflected on the accomplishments of the past year and the pride he felt in serving the community.

Silver City, NM – Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) is pleased to announce that the Silver City Gospel Mission has been selected as the recipient of the Q2 Gila Regional CARES Program donation, funded through proceeds generated by cafeteria sales.

The Gila Regional CARES Program reflects GRMC's commitment to giving back to the communities it serves by supporting local nonprofit organizations that are making a meaningful impact throughout Grant County.

Since 1985, the Silver City Gospel Mission has served local individuals and families by helping meet basic needs such as food, clothing, support services, and connections to community resources. The Mission provides daily meals, food assistance, clothing, hygiene services, and compassionate support for those facing hardship.

Kim Petrovic and Christine DeBolt have been appointed to the Board of Trustees, filling the positions previously held by Will Hawkins and Betty Vega.

Their terms of service will begin on July 15, 2026, and continue through July 15, 2029.

Fred Fox, MD, has been reappointed to the Board and continues through July 15, 2029.

The following Board officers were elected during yesterday's Special Board Meeting:

Board Chair: Seth Traeger

Board Vice Chair: Gail Stamler

Secretary/Treasurer: Patricia McIntire (continuing in her current role)

Participants at a CLAY Festival event hosted by WNMU learn from headlining artistsSILVER CITY, NM — The annual CLAY Festival returned last month with expanded programming for local families, art students and visitors alike, while renewing its founding legacy. Initiated in 2011, the event has operated under the organizational umbrella of Western New Mexico University for several years.

According to Elizabeth ("Lizzie") Slegeir, the WNMU program manager managing the festival, the primary focus for this year was on convergence while celebrating divergence. 

"This is a major new chapter of growth for us," Slegeir said. "While the transition and the pandemic required a period of rebuilding, we have officially found our stride. We are firmly rooted, moving forward, and inviting new collaborators to shape what comes next."

DAR Chapter members (L to R) Susan Bryant, Mary O. Parker, Lucy Whitmarsh, Diane LeBlanc, Brenda Tozier, and Gail Firebaugh Smith.  Photo by Jeff Parker.SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO:  The local Jacob Bennett Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was selected to lead Silver City's America 250 Independence Day Parade as Grand Marshal. It was especially meaningful in this milestone anniversary as all DAR members have proven lineage back to a patriot ancestor who helped achieve America's independence during the Revolutionary War. The DAR Jacob Bennett Chapter also has a long history in Silver City. It was established here 123 years ago in 1903, in what was then New Mexico territory.

Chapter Regent Lucy Whitmarsh remarked, "It was exciting to be part of our community's celebration of America's 250th birthday. We were honored to have this special opportunity to remember and honor the brave men and women who valiantly fought in many ways for our independence and freedoms."

WNMU Associate Dean COE and Professor TESOL/Bilingual College of Education Alexandra Neves, Ph.DSILVER CITY, NM — The Association of Bilingual Education New Mexico (ABE NM) officially recognized Associate Dean COE and Professor TESOL/Bilingual College of Education Alexandra Neves, Ph.D. as the recipient of the 2026 University Bilingual Education Professor of the Year Award. The honor was presented during a formal ceremony held in April, celebrating Neves for her distinguished career and her unwavering advocacy for the educational success of students throughout the state.

The University Bilingual Education Professor of the Year Award is reserved for individuals who demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to bilingual and dual-language programs. The ceremony brought together leaders in the field to celebrate the visionaries moving the needle on language acquisition and cultural preservation in the Southwest. Neves accepted the award alongside colleagues and peers, marking a significant milestone in her professional journey.

"This recognition belongs to our students and the vibrant communities of New Mexico who remind us every day that language is not just a tool for communication, but a bridge to our heritage and our future," Neves said. "Empowering the next generation of educators to view bilingualism as a primary asset is the most rewarding work of my career," Neves said.