Local News Releases

SILVER CITY, NM — and are inviting emerging and aspiring theatre directors to participate in a collaborative Director's Workshop and summer practicum designed to cultivate new creative leadership within the local performing arts community.

The program will kick off with an introductory workshop on Sunday, May 31 from 2:00–5:00 PM at The Hearth. Participants will explore the foundations of directing, collaborative rehearsal practices, production planning, and ensemble leadership while laying out the schedule and structure for the summer practicum.

Over the course of June and July, participants will take on the challenge of directing one-act plays for a public performance series running July 10–26 at The Hearth.

The workshop is being presented collaboratively by TheActrix Studio at The Hearth and aligns with the developing 2026/2027 season vision for Silver City Theatre, with the broader goal of nurturing local artists, storytellers, and future directors in Grant County.

"This practicum is intended to be both a learning experience and a creative laboratory," said Wendy Spurgeon, founder of TheActrix Studio. "We want to create space for emerging directors to experiment, grow their confidence, and develop the practical tools needed to bring stories from page to stage."

Pictured are happy SWFAC member menders. The Southwest Women's Fiber Arts Collective (SWFAC) in collaboration with the Future Forge Makerspace, is offering community members free mending of clothes and teaching how to mend clothes. This free program will be held at the Future Forge located at 307 East College Ave on Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 10 am to 12 noon. 

Do you have a favorite shirt that has a tear or needs a button replaced? What about those favorite pants that have a tear in the pocket? Don't toss them, come and have them repaired for free!

Mending clothes is one of the methods we can all do to keep good clothing out of our landfill. SWFAC members will be on hand to mend the items, and community members who learn how to mend with the SWFAC members, will receive a small sewing kit. 

Typical mending includes hemming pants; repairing tears in shirts, jackets, and pockets; replacing buttons; fixing seams and repairing favorite sweaters.

Elephant Butte Lake: Sammy Johnson has been fishing for 50-plus years at Elephant Butte Lake and has never had a better 24 hours of fishing. Johnson and his son caught 20 white bass, several stripers and some crappie on May 11.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.

Bill Evans Lake: The most recent report was received May 14. At that time, fishing for largemouth bass was good using salmon eggs and Garlic PowerBait.

Some learn to tie fishing flies while others fish the lake. (USDA Forest Service)Enjoy family-friendly events that celebrate the great outdoors

(Silver City, NM, May 20, 2026) – On Saturday, June 6, the Gila National Forest will host two free events at Lake Roberts to celebrate public lands: the Annual Aldo Leopold Kids Fishing Derby and a National Trails Day volunteer event to help maintain trails around the lake. The Fishing Derby coincides with New Mexico's Free Fishing Day, and all fishing fees will be waived.

Mora National Fish Hatchery will stock Lake Roberts with retired Gila trout, highlighting recovery efforts led by the Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Mexico Department of Wildlife.

Thursday, June 4

Acoustic Jam 

5:30pm • in 'the Lodge'

Welcome to our monthly Acoustic Jam. This is a reoccurring event. 

Hosted the First Thursday of every month in 'the Lodge' by the Mittelstadts.

All acoustic styles welcome. We'll be playing by ear and swapping tunes and songs.

Whiskey Creek Zócalo 

11786 HWY 180 East. Arenas Valley, NM \ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 575-388-1266

Tickets & Info: https://www.whiskeycreekzocalo.com/

(Quemado, NM, May 20, 2026) – The Gila National Forest has reopened recreational facilities at Quemado Lake for the summer, including the Piñon and Juniper Campgrounds and all day-use areas. The well is back up and running, once again providing safe drinking water for the recreational facilities.

Last year, New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Surface Water Quality Board issued a health advisory for the presence of a "harmful algal bloom" (HAB) in Quemado Lake. Currently, the state is reporting that they continue to detect microcystins in water samples from Quemado Lake, indicating a potential for acute poisoning and short- or long-term health effects to humans or animals. To protect the public, the NMED has issued a warning advisory and recommended that for their safety, visitors should take the following precautions:

Sunday, May 10

Noise complaint – North Loop – 12:27 a.m.

DWI – no location given – Ernest Maldonado was arrested on two counts each of DWI and reckless driving.

Suspicious person – E. Highway 180
Animal – N. Corbin Street
Domestic – E. 35th Place
Welfare check – E. 7th Street
Harassment – E. 12th Street
Larceny – W. Indiana Street
Suspicious activity – E. 13th Street
Criminal trespass warning – N. Rosedale Road
Unwanted subject – N. Silver Street

Sunday, May 10

Suspicious vehicle – E. Highway 180 – Silver City (Ace Hardware)
Welfare check – Ft Bayard Street – Santa Clara
Special detail – Mimbres – 6:56 a.m.
DVO violation – Prescott Street – Santa Clara (Central Apartments)
Special detail – Cliff – 12:58 p.m.
Brush fire – Rosedale Road –Silver City
Special detail – Cliff-OHV – 6:03 p.m.
Aggravated battery – E. Street – Hurley
DVO violation – Highway 152

Traffic stop – Highway 180 and Mountain View Road – David Sellers and Zachary Munoz were arrested, Sellers for reckless driving and Munoz for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Monday, May 11