Front Page News

By Frost McGahey

[Editor's Note:The Grant County Beat asked Candidates questions so voters can determine who they want to vote for. Four competitive races will be covered in articles this week beginning today, Sept. 29, 2024 with one a day. The replies are posted in the order received.

Early voting starts Tuesday, October 8th and Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th.]

[Author's Note: Barbara Bush missed the Deadline and even after repeated requests she failed to answer the questionnaire, claiming she was too busy.]

Eddie Flores

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley held a regular meeting and workshop meeting September 10, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ed Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Nanette Day, councilors, Reynaldo Maynes and Keana Huerta. James Langley has resigned.

Steven read a resignation letter from Langley and said the town would be seeking letters of interest for the open council position.

Public input.

Several residents spoke. One resident pointed out that having two agendas for the September 3, 2024, had been very confusing for the public and had not been fair. Another resident expressed concerns over the water system not being tested every year. He wanted to know if it had been, when and results. He also wanted to know what the lead and copper regulations would mean. Stevens said  they would address all those concerns at  the next meeting.

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting September 10, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ken Ladner, Mayor Pro Tem Guadalupe Cano, Rudy Bencomo, Nicholas Prince (phone), and Stan Snider.

Council comments.

Bencomo had attended the Carnitas Musica y Mas Fiesta on Labor Day weekend. "It was a good celebration, and I got to celebrate my birthday also." He had received a copy of the museum newsletter and complimented how well it had been done. Bencomo wanted to recognize a past Silver City council member, Ralph Dominguez, who had passed away . Bencomo sent his condolences to the family. He reminded everyone that the next day would be 9-11 and the country had been invaded and many lost their lives. It had happened 23 years ago.

Cano wanted to congratulate Jose and Olga Ray for working so hard to put on Carnitas Musica y Mas Fiesta. It had been a great event. She switched over to something she said she had thought about for some time and thinks about it every time they do the salute to the New Mexico flag. "I would like to see welcome signs be in Apache also. This is a tricultural community." She said she would be bringing it to the council.

By Roger Lanse

Randy Medina, 47, of Bayard, was arrested Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Bayard on charges of two counts of possession of a controlled substance; resisting, evading, or obstructing a peace officer; disorderly conduct; and criminal trespass (damage). According to a Bayard Police Department incident report, BPD officers were called to Medina’s brother’s residence on Orchard Street after the brother called Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority that Medina was yelling obscenities into his bedroom window and broke two of the windows with his fist.

[Editor's Note: This is the third of a series of articles on the July 9, 2024, Grant County Commission work session. It covers a presentation and discussion on the county ICIP. ]

By Mary Alice Murphy

At the July 9, 2024 Grant County Commission work session, then-Planning Director Randy Hernandez presented the draft ICIP (infrastructure capital improvement plan). Only items on the ICIP are eligible for funding by the New Mexico Legislature, and also for other funding opportunities.

Hernandez noted that the document was due to the state on Friday, July 12, so a decision would have to be made at the regular meeting on July 11, 2024.

By Lynn Janes

[Author's  Note. This article had to be written using the minutes from the city of Bayard due to technical problems.]

The town of Bayard held a regular meeting September 9, 2024. Attendance included Mayor John L. Ojinaga, Pro Tem Eloy Medina, councilors, Eloy Gonzales and Gilbert Ortiz. Frances Gonzales didn't attend. Martha Salas, city clerk/treasurer also attended.

Public Input

Rosemary Arciero a resident of Bayard that resides on McKee Street addressed the council with a complaint about the neighbor's dogs. The dogs continue to bark, and she would like something done about the issue.

Cordell Jones had a question for the council. He wanted to know what has been done with the funds provided by Freeport McMoRan. He also wants the city to start requiring property owners to clean up their property.

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a regular meeting on September 9, 2024. Board members in attendance included Gilbert Guadiana, David Terrazas (phone), Angelina Hardin, and Emmarie Heredia. Superintendent Michael Koury also attended. Gabriella Begay didn't attend.

Administration – principal – directors' reports

Suzanne Chavira, director of academics, had a report for the board that would be focused on some of the strategic goals. One of the goals had been to increase student achievement by the 2024/2025 school year. Another one would be to create partnerships with local businesses and organizations. They had started an afterschool program at all the schools except the high school. They had partnered with Steaming Ahead a local organization and Stem Outreach from New Mexico State University (NMSU).

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport Declares Quarterly Cash Dividends on Common Stock

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport (NYSE: FCX) announced today that its Board of Directors declared cash dividends of $0.15 per share on FCX’s common stock payable on November 1, 2024, to shareholders of record as of October 15, 2024. The declaration includes a base dividend of $0.075 per share and variable dividend of $0.075 per share in accordance with FCX's performance-based payout framework. The payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Board, which will consider FCX's financial results, cash requirements, global economic conditions and other factors it deems relevant.