Front Page News

NM State Rep. Luis Terrazas and Sen. Gabriel Ramos cut the ribbon as their aides, Brett Kasten, on the left, and Bruce Ashburn, on the right, hold the ribbon.

Photo by Mary Alice Murphy

On Friday evening, Jan. 9, 2026, New Mexico Sen. Gabriel Ramos and Rep. Luis Terrazas welcomed an estimated 60-70 people who came to an open house and ribbon cutting, at their new local offices in the back of First American Bank at 1609 N. Swan St in Silver City. The senator and representative also requested a donation of a non-perishable food item for the town warming center, now renamed The Haven because of a copyright dispute. The estimate of the cost of the food donated was $650 plus cash donations $of 450, which the Ramos and Terrazas have agreed to match, all for The Haven.

By Roger Lanse

On December 26, 2025, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a caller to the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority reported he would be conducting a controlled burn for a couple of hours and would call when completed. According to a Grant County Sheriff’s Office incident report, a half hour later, at 11:03 a.m., a deputy was dispatched to a Gila address in reference to a shooting.

GCRDA then advised, the report said, that Russel Dobkins, 75, called, stating he had shot his neighbor. Esker Mayberry, 63, in the head with a .357 rifle as Mayberry was standing 20 feet from his house with a can of gas threatening to “burn him out.” Dobkins told dispatchers Mayberry was now lying in the fire and was burning and Dobkins was hosing down the fire to keep it from spreading. Dobkins also stated he had left the rifle in the garage.

[Editor's Note: Thanks go to Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society Secretary Denise Singleton for the article and photos. This editor was unable to attend due to traveling.]

Attendees at one of the break-out sessions

Article and Photos/PDFs below by Denise Singleton

On January 7, a public meeting was held at the Grant County Conference Center to present three proposed plans for the revitalization of Fort Bayard. The plans were developed by Stantec, LLC, which was awarded the contract for the project by the State of New Mexico.

State and local officials were also in attendance, as well as representatives from Stantec. A master plan will be developed from public feedback on the three options presented at the meeting. After an initial presentation by Stantec to review the three options, the attendees broke into smaller working groups to provide input.

By Frost McGahey

"My back patio opens out towards the ambulance bay on 32nd Street, and my wife and I are so unhappy with all of the ambulance sirens going off night and day, every day. Honestly, it almost seems out of control. We just cannot believe that each and every time an ambulance pulls away from the facility that it is for a true emergency. We need a tiered system for determining when lights and sirens should be used," a complaint from a Silver City resident.

Besides the startling sound and annoyance of an ambulance siren, there are reasons for not using them every time.

Hearing Loss:
Ambulance noise levels in 60 paramedics was studied over 14 years. The setting was the Ambulance Service of Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN. Mean siren noise was 102.5 decibels (above OSHA guidelines of 90 decibels). Hearing acuity was lower than expected, and hearing loss was faster than for normal peers.

In another study, 192 EMS providers from Houston, TX were tested. The hours of siren noise exposure correlated with decreased ability to sense mid-frequency and high-frequency sound. The rate of hearing loss was 150% of peers.

Santa Clara will be constructing a pump track for the village kids

By Lynn Janes

(Writers note: This has been written using the minutes provided by the village clerk.)

The Village of Santa Clara held a regular meeting December 11, 2025. Mayor Arnold Lopez called the meeting to order. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza, trustees, Olga Amador, Peter Erickson and Ralph Trujillo attended.

The council approved the agenda, past meeting minutes and department head reports.

Mayor's report

By Lynn Janes

On December 18, 2025, the commission had a regular meeting at the Silver City city annex building.

New business

Jesse Shapiro, ISC (Interstate Stream Commission), had been to Silver City and met with some people involved in the commission. Currently they will be preparing the policy for the next funding round for New Mexico Unit Fund. It will be put out for public comment by the end of January or February. They will also do some listening sessions in Silver City around the same time.

The next step will be to put together a funding agreement with IS, and it will require a detailed scope of work. Shapiro will be sending out a template later for that as well as other requirements that will be necessary.

Alex Brown, town manager, introduced Mark Valenzuela, Bosque Advisors. He had been contracted to be the financial advisor on the update of the JPA (joint powers agreement) on the finance side. They had partnered with Melendrez and Melendrez Law Firm in Albuquerque. They will do the legal side. They had submitted a proposal to the Water Trust Board for the technical assistance program and won through a competitive bid process. He spoke to having a relationship with many involved in the regional project naming Silver City and Grant County. Valenzuela said he was familiar with the project and some of the paths. The finance authority has engaged them to help support the project.

By Lynn Janes

The town of Bayard held a regular meeting December 17, 2025. Attendance included Mayor John L. Ojinaga, Mayor Pro Tem Eloy Medina (phone) and Councilors Frances Gonzales and Eloy Gonzales. Martha Salas, city clerk, also attended. Gilbert Ortiz didn't attend.

Ojinaga asked for a moment of silence for the passing of Mayor Ed Stevens recently.

Public input none currently.

The council approved the consent agenda that included minutes from November 19, 2025, and reports for the department heads. It also included attendance to the New Mexico Wastewater Association conference in Las Cruces for the employees and for employees to attend the Think Trees conference.

Eloy Gonzales wanted to know if Jason Quintana would still be doing a presentation to open a gym in Bayard. Salas said he would be contacting her but had not yet.

New business

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a regular meeting on December 15, 2025. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, Emmarie Heredia and Hector Carrillo. Interim Superintendent Randal Piper also attended. Agelina Hardin did not attend.

Dottie Pfeifer with Kiwanis attended to present the student of the month awards. The students have been chosen by the teachers at the high school and middle school.

Christian McBride, Cobre High School, consistently brings positivity and energy to the school encouraging others with his upbeat attitude and genuine school spirit. He has been a true role model

Santiago Arrendondo, Snell Middle School sixth grade, excels both academically and athletically. He demonstrates kindness and strives to reach his full potential. Currently he has been maintaining a 4.0 GPA.