Front Page News

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a regular meeting on June 24, 2024. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, David Terrazas, Angelina Hardin, and Emmarie Heredia. Superintendent Michael Koury also attended. Gilbert Guadiana didn't attend.

The board discussed the necessity for lease purchase of education technology. This would be for computers. Kaeley Weimerskirsh, RBC Capital Markets, joined the meeting online to explain the history of their assessed bond valuation. She said property values had stabilized so she would be able to give them a conservative idea of future income. She went over their current outstanding debt of $4.6 million and that they had a capacity of $8.2 million. Begay asked her if they could do a special election. Weimerskirsh said it would be very tight to do it now. You can only do a special election 70 days before or 70 days after a regular election. Frank Ryan, finance director, said tonight would just be to see what they would need to do.

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

Six World War II veterans were honored to be named Grand Marshals of the 2024 July 4 Parade. Two rode at the head of the parade - Gene Stailey and Bill Harrison.

Photos of the six will be in the first slide show below:

The winners of the parade were: ?

Float winner- Baile Encanto ?

Vehicle - Fort Bayard Fire and Rescue ?

Walking Group- SHS Band ?

Equestrian- Healing Hands

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Consolidated Schools held a work session and regular meeting, on June 18, 2024, at the Silver High School theater. Members in attendance Ashley Montenegro, Michelle Diaz, Mike McMillan and Kimberly Klement (phone). Superintendent William Hawkins also attended. Patrick Cohn didn't attend.

Work session

The board went into executive session to discuss the superintendent's 2024-2025 contract.

The board came back from executive session and said no action had taken place and the superintendent's contract would be addressed during the regular meeting on the agenda.

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, Keana Huerta, and James Langley. Mayor Pro Tem Nanette Day did not attend.

Public input

George Moreno said, "I am one of the cave men that was referred to in a social media post by the mayor pro tem." He had made a copy of the letter for the council and read parts of it. It had many unflattering comments about the town and the mayor. She refers to a revolution and stepping in as mayor. "Is this the kind of person we want on our council, and I think she needs to resign. She has no business in this town." He had grown up in Hurley and this had really upset him. "People from the outside come in and think they can change it." He said he wanted to make sure everyone knew what she had said and done.

Lance Road Fire Photo Courtesy of Roger Fike

By Roger Lanse

The Tyrone Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 462 Lance Drive that morphed into a quarter-acre grass fire the late afternoon of Sunday, July 7, 2024. According to TVFD Chief Mike Cox, they were paged out about 4:13 p.m. and finished mop-up around 8 p.m. The fire location was about 100 yards from the Ridge Road turnoff.

There were no injuries reported, except EMS treated two firefighters who were a bit overheated, Cox said.

[Editor's Note: This is the fourth and final in a series of articles on the May 7, 2024 Grant County Commission work session and decisions made at the regular meeting on May 9, 2024. This article continues at the work session with the review of the regular meeting agenda.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

During the review of the May 9, 2024 regular meeting agenda at the May 7, work session, County Manager Charlene Webb presented the financial reports. The first listed the April expenditures for the period ending April 30, 2024. Expenditures totaled $3,676, 200.04, which included pay periods 7 and 8 of $514,587.20. Extraordinary expenses above $!0,000 are listed in the PDF below.

Four videos by Martha Hamblen

The two of the parade she took from the float she traveled on - the American Legion Post 18 float.

MIMBRES, NM, ?July 7, 2024 – The Ridge Fire on the Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger District has grown to 100 acres, moving to the southwest toward Iron Creek Mesa Trail and Willow Creek as it follows grass and dead and down timber in an old burn scar. Additional firefighting resources are arriving today and tomorrow.

"Hot, dry weather over the past couple of days has made fuels in the area more receptive to fire," said Wilderness District Ranger Brian Stultz. "Persistent hot, dry weather today and tomorrow, with moderate winds, will continue to support moderate fire growth."