Front Page News

[Editor's Note: This is part 8 of a multi-part series of articles on almost six hours of Grant County Commission meetings on Feb. 11 and 13, 2025.)

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Grant County Commission Feb. 11, 2025 work session continued with County Manager Charlene Webb's review of the Feb. 13, 2025 regular meeting.

The next item on the regular meeting agenda was the monthly presentation by Gila Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Robert Whitaker.

He reported that admissions were down a bit in December, but "for year-to-date, we are trending higher than last year. We had 26 deliveries in December, which is about the same."

Tour of the Gila reveals 2025 jersey designs

In its 38th year, the New Mexico stage race commemorates region’s history and heritage

Silver City, NM — The 38th Tour of the Gila reveals its four leader jerseys, which were thoughtfully designed with the southwest region’s history and cultures in mind. The Tour of the Gila 2025 jerseys display appreciation for the Mimbres Mogollon people, who thrived in southwestern New Mexico between A.D. 1000 and 1130. The designs also compliment the bike race’s longstanding tradition of awarding artisanal trophy bowls fashioned in the style of and using similar processes to the Mimbres, who are famous for black-on-white pottery.

By Frost McGahey, Investigative reporter

New Mexico Democrat Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury had held up a sign that read: "This is Not Normal at the Trump’s joint speech to Congress.  This could apply to the number of ballots cast in Grant County. 

“Governor Grisham had planned on joining the Harris Administration in D.C. after the election. She was shocked when Trump won,” a source quoted.  After all, Trump had lost New Mexico despite obvious support. Her shock was understandable. 

In 2012 when NM had the last Republican Secretary of State, there were 12,121 ballots cast in the presidential election in Grant County. In 2024 there were 14,321, an increase of 2200 under the Democrat Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver.

LORDSBURG – The I-10 eastbound and westbound lanes at Exit 24, near Lordsburg, NM, will be closed starting on April 3, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. through April 4, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. for partial bridge removal.
Both eastbound and westbound traffic on the I-10 will be rerouted off the highway and back on at the exit ramp during the demolition. Motorists should expect delays and are advised to follow posted road closure signs. If possible, avoid the area.

The westbound portion of the bridge needs to be removed following a collision on March 7, 2025, when a commercial motor vehicle carrying an excavator struck the bridge at Exit 24. Engineers immediately inspected the bridge, and it was determined this portion of the bridge needs to be removed.

For more information and updates, visit the New Mexico Department of Transportation website at www.nmroads.com or dial 511.

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport Provides First-Quarter 2025 Operational Update

• First-quarter 2025 copper and gold production approximated expectations
• Timing of shipments in Indonesia impacted first-quarter 2025 gold sales
• No material impact expected on annual consolidated sales guidance
• Realized first quarter 2025 prices for copper reflect higher prices on U.S. sales

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport (NYSE: FCX) today provided an update on its first-quarter operating results.

First-quarter 2025 consolidated production from FCX’s global mining operations approximated expectations. The timing of shipments from PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) resulted in the deferral of a portion of its first quarter production to future periods.

LORDSBURG – The I-10 eastbound and westbound lanes at Exit 24, near Lordsburg, NM, will be closed starting on April 1, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. through April 2, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. for partial bridge removal.
Both eastbound and westbound traffic on the I-10 will be rerouted off the highway and back on at the exit ramp during the demolition. Motorists should expect delays and are advised to follow posted road closure signs. If possible, avoid the area.

By Lynn Janes

The Village of Santa Clara held a public hearing March 19, 2025. Mayor Arnold Lopez called the meeting to order. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza and Trustees, Peter Erickson, Olga Amador and Ralph Trujillo attended.

Nicholas Horner had applied for a conditional use permit in the community commercial district. He will be establishing a cannabis retail dispensary at 511 Fort Bayard Street in Santa Clara. It will be a dispensary and not allow for consumption.

Horner currently resides in Lovington, New Mexico and has a cannabis dispensary in Lovington since 2021. He has purchased land at XYZ Ranch and wants to move to the area.

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a regular meeting on March 26, 2025. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana (online), David Terrazas and Emmarie Heredia. Superintendent Michael Koury also attended. Angelina Hardin did not attend.

The board went into executive session

They had four topics they would be discussing.