Front Page News

Photos (in slideshow at the bottom) and article by Mary Alice Murphy

The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission's open house held at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, had already attracted 60 individuals when it still had almost two hours to go.

The survey on the statewide rate planning process and its decisions will impact every user of water, whether you own a farm, a garden, or simply use water to drink, cook with or bathe in. If you missed the in-person open house, the survey is available online [link below], with a deadline for Aug. 18, for everyone in the state to participate and give their feedback.

The purpose of the open house was to educate attendees and get their input on the water planning process going on at the state level.

By Allie Miller, 2024 Grant County 4-H Council Reporter, 16 years old.

The State 4-H Conference is an event where each Senior member of the youth in 4-H from each county around the state of New Mexico is given a chance to compete against others in various presentation and judging competitions. They compete as county teams and as individuals. Not only are they given the chance to compete, but each night they spend at the conference, they are given the chance to socialize and also unwind from the long and eventful days they spend there. This year, the 2024 State 4-H Conference was held July 8th - July 11th in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Eleven of our youth participated in judging contests, along with other 4-H youth from around the state of New Mexico.

Grant County did extremely well this year.

By Roger Lanse

On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at about 3:39 p.m., a Silver City Police Department officer was dispatched to Harbor Freight, 214 E. Highway 180, in reference to a battery. According to an SCPD incident report, when the officer arrived, he made contact with Michael Medina, 48, of Silver City while Santos Medina, 61, also of Silver City, was being treated by EMS.

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Consolidated Schools held a work session and regular meeting, on July 15, 2024, at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center. Members in attendance Ashley Montenegro, Patrick Cohn, Mike McMillan and Kimberly Klement. Superintendent William Hawkins also attended. Michelle Diaz didn’t attend.

Work session

Hawkins did a presentation on the GO (general obligation) bond. He provided slides of each point for the audience to see and expand on what he would be talking about.

Photos below by Mary Alice Murphy

The Cobre High School parking lot held a large number of school, vendor, and informational booths on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Parking for families and participants filled part of the lot and required people to park across the street at all the businesses facing the school. Students and families roamed the grounds finding out about organizations, while filling out a paper to prove they had visited the booths before receiving boxes of school supplies and other goodies. ?

By Lynn Janes

The Village of Santa Clara held a meeting June 27, 2024. Mayor Arnold Lopez called the meeting to order; Trustees Olga Amador, Peter Erickson and Ralph Trujillo attended. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza didn't attend.

Mayor's report

Lopez wanted to touch on the recent problems Ruidoso has gone through and thank the community for all the help. They had provided a place for donations at the fire station. Donations came from more than just the residents of Santa Clara. Some had come from Arizona. They loaded up a truck and took them to the Ruidoso Downs. The people taking care of the donations had everything very organized. The water went fast, and each table had someone to manage the distribution. Lopez said they had been feeding 800 people a night. He had spoken to one of the county commissioners and they expressed appreciation for the help. Lopez said it would take a long time for the town to heal.

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley held a special meeting June 18, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ed Stevens, Councilors Reynaldo Maynes and James Langley. Mayor Pro Tem Nanette Day and Councilor Keana Huerta did not attend. ?

The council approved the certification to place a manufactured home at 31 Lea Drive. The home will be for Roy Duvall and Benigna Salcido. ?

Lori Ortiz, town clerk / treasurer addressed the fiscal year 2024/2025 budget. In the past meeting some things had come up and those changes had been made. She went over some of the changes. Some of the added costs would be $2,500 a year to send out newsletters, liability insurance increase of $32,000, Medicare insurance increased 10 percent and retirement .5 percent. ?

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting June 25, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ken Ladner, Mayor Pro Tem Guadalupe Cano, Rudy Bencomo, Nicholas Prince, and Stan Snider.

Council comments

Snider wanted to recognize the history and legacy of the 6th Street Elementary School on the long history of education facilities located on that property. "It is the oldest continuing education site in New Mexico." The first had been a brick schoolhouse in 1882 when the state had still been a territory. The school survived by fundraisers. The second facility in 1883 would be the Academy of Our Lady of Lords run by the Sisters of Mercy. The third in 1910 would be called the Central Building and the fourth in 1926 the Washington Building. The present school built in 1938.