Front Page News

Silver Alert in Deming NM James Waterman  HAS BEEN LOCATED

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting August 27, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ken Ladner, Mayor Pro Tem Guadalupe Cano, Rudy Bencomo, Nicholas Prince, and Stan Snider.

Cano ask that the agenda be approved with the removal of the agenda item pertaining to the job performance of the town manager regarding his oversight of the police department. Prince did not want to remove it because he felt it would be appropriate because of pending litigation. Cano said she had been the one to bring it to the council but since the situation had been dealt with and the council can't talk about pending litigation because it had not been listed on the agenda. It will have to be put on the next agenda. The councilors, except for Prince, voted to remove it.

U.S. Air Force holds airspace optimization hearing 091124, part 3

[Editor's Note: This article continues the actual public hearing and is the third 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. for corrections. This version has corrections.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

Continuing the public hearing, more speakers came forward.

Next to speak was Therese Higgins, who told her sonic boom story. She was parked on the side of the highway. "It was very close, and I don't want to ever experience it again. Who do you complain to?"

By Roger Lanse

On Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, a Bayard Police Department officer was informed by the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority, that a call had come in the day before from 72-year-old Ola Greenberg of California that a vehicle had been stolen from 615 Orchard Street in Bayard. The vehicle was a tan Ford Crown Victoria. Greenberg stated her mom died in Fort Bayard in 2021, and the neighbor across the street who watches the house saw “a youngish person” steal Greenberg’s dad’s car. Greenberg completed a stolen vehicle affidavit stating the vehicle was worth about $5,500.

[Editor's Note: This summary came from the sponsor of the event, OAKNM. This editor attended, but is way behind in articles and thanked the group for their assistance in getting the news out in a timely manner. Photos are also courtesy of the organization.]

Silver City, NM- On Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, the Wrangler's Bar and Grill event room was filled with parents, elected officials, candidates, private and public-school educators, administrators, and school board members, who were gathered to discuss education reform.

Opportunity for All Kids New Mexico, a Rio Grande Foundation initiative that describes its work as "dedicated to advocating for educational choice for parents, students, and teachers, and broad-based education reform in New Mexico," sponsored and emceed the event.

By Roger Lanse

According to the Grant County Clerk's office, the Silver Schools Special Election Bond Questions voted on Aug. 20, 2024, have been accepted as valid. One question allowed for a 4.1-mill increase in property tax which was approved. Another question sought to continue a 2-mill SB-9 levy already in place and was defeated.

Patrick Cohn, Grant County Treasurer, stated property owners will see the 4.1-mill increase in their property tax in 2025, along with a 2-mill decrease due to the going away of the SB-9 levy.

Cohn estimated Grant County property owners would see about a 21% increase in their 2025 property tax over their 2024 tax because of these two changes in levies.

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a regular meeting on August 26, 2024. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, David Terrazas, Angelina Hardin, and Emmarie Heredia. Superintendent Michael Koury also attended.

Administration – principals'  and directors' reports

Alma Grijalva, food service supervisor, had a report for the board. They have 944 students enrolled and provide more than 1,500 meals each day on time. The state had audited the food service department and didn't have any findings. "New Mexico is only one of nine states that provide free breakfast and lunch to the students." They currently have ten students that require a special diet, and they have provided for that.