Front Page News

[Editor's Note: This is the second of a series of articles on the July 9, 2024, Grant County Commission work session. It covers a quarterly report from HMS. ]

By Mary Alice Murphy

Hidalgo Medical Services Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dan Otero gave highlights of the HMS quarterly report. He said in the Medical Division, HMS had served year-to-date "just shy of 9,000 unduplicated patients (8,894, according to the report), with just over 14,000 visits (14,199)." He said they had added two medical providers, a physician and a physician assistant.

"We opened the Mimbres Clinic on July 2," Otero said. "We are providing services starting with two days a week and we will move to three-and-a-half days in September."

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley held a special meeting and workshop meeting September 3, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ed Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Nanette Day, councilors, Reynaldo Maynes and Keana Huerta. James Langley did not attend.

They started with the workshop meeting and David Takeuchi, an engineer from Stantec working with the town to renovate the old General Office of the mine. He had visited the site several times and they will be striving to bring it up to code and incorporate the needs of the town but still maintain the original structure and history of the building with minimal impact.

By Roger Lanse

Jamal Green, the Silver City Fire Department firefighter who was reported missing Sunday morning, Sept. 22, 2024, initiating a frantic search, has called his mother, who lives in Atlanta, telling her he was in Puerto Rico where his grandfather lives.

According to Milo Lambert, SCFD Chief, Green caught a flight out of Tucson on Sunday and flew to Puerto Rico with a layover stop in Florida.

Green also told his mother, who arrived in Silver City this afternoon, Tuesday, Sept. 24, that he is coming back to Silver City.

Treasurer Patrick Cohn receives Certificate of Achievement of NM Certified Treasury Official designation from County Manager Charlene Webb.

Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy

[Editor's Note: This is part 1 of a series of article on the July 9, 2024, Grant County Commission work session. It begins with presentations. Apologies from this author on the belatedness of the coverage of this meeting and future meetings. ]

With no public input toward the beginning of the July 9, 2024 Grant County Commission work session, the next item on the agenda was a presentation by Silver Consolidated Schools Superintendent William Hawkins speaking about the facility needs of the school district and requesting a favorable vote on a bond issue to address the needs.

By Roger Lanse

A Silver City Fire Department firefighter, Jamal Green, of Pinos Altos, has been missing since about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. SCFD Chief Milo Lambert said Green was seen on camera footage passing McDonald's and Domino's about that time in his 2000 grey Ford pickup with license BDAD16 on the way down the hill on Highway 15 from the Buckhorn in Pinos Altos, where he had met with friends. He was reportedly headed to a private residence on Gold Street, but he never showed there.

Green was reported missing on Sunday, about 8 a.m., when he didn't arrive for his shift, his phone didn't ring, and he wasn't at his residence. "This is totally unlike him," Lambert said. "I'm afraid something bad has happened to him."

[Editor's Note: This article concludes the actual public hearing and is the fourth of a multi-part series of the meeting, due to its length This author had no access to the speaker list, so some names may be misspelled. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to provide corrections.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

Continuing the public hearing, more speakers presented their comments.

Dave Becker was called next by the Hearing Judge Col. Joshua Rosen. Becker said he lives in Silver City "for the quiet and natural beauty, as well as the recreational opportunities. I have read a lot of EIS reports. This is the most lazy and unprofessional one I've seen. It has so many deficiencies, including sorties that are not going to happen. There is no meaningful mention of the Goldwater Range. Why not carve out the wilderness? There is no development of a baseline. Thousands use the Gila. The CBO plans to sue. As an experienced environmental lawyer, I think they will win."

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy (and she's not happy with some of them!)

The Grant County Fairgrounds had a busy parking lot with families and individuals coming in for the last day of the fair. Food vendors stayed busy, several outdoor booths offered information to fair visitors, and the Exhibit Hall had information booths, as well as lots of panels full of art by youths and adults, quilts, as well as tables covered with crafts and showing winning ribbons. 

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

[Editor's Note: Apologies for the quality of some of the photos. The lighting was difficult that day, with it being cloudy and sunny and in between.)

Southwest New Mexico ACT Executive Director Lee Gruber welcomed everyone to the awards appreciation for those who have worked and volunteered on the landscaping of the Silver City Waterworks building.

"This is the first of our Five Points Project," Gruber said, as she apologized for getting emotional. "This was and still is a labor of love, with the entire community participating. Years ago, we talked to (Silver City Manager) Alex (Brown) about our plans and he said: 'Just run with it.' We've been running ever since. We owe great thanks to the community, our young people, including Americorps and YCC (Youth Conservation Corps), all of whom have been involved and have devoted their time and energy to fix this place up."