Front Page News

QUEMADO, NM, ?July 6, 2024 – Firefighters are suppressing the 100-acre Lolo Fire on the Gila National Forest, Quemado Ranger District. It is located near the Escondido Mountain area, approximately 6 miles northeast of Quemado Lake, New Mexico. The lightning-caused fire was reported Friday, July 5. Due to its remote location and steep, inaccessible terrain, a confine and contain strategy will be applied, using area roads and natural features to limit the fire’s spread.

"Ground and air resources have been working since yesterday to contain this fire on top of the knob at the top of Lolo Canyon, however, fire has entered steep, inaccessible terrain where it is not safe for firefighters to work," said Quemado District Ranger Randall Chavez. "Therefore, a less direct approach will be used to contain the fire within a larger area using roads and natural features."

GLENWOOD, NM, Date, 2024 – Firefighters are suppressing the lightning-caused Lost Fire, located on top of a ridge north of Whitewater Creek and approximately 2 miles southeast of Mogollon, New Mexico, south of the Bursum Road. Reported on Friday, July 5, it has grown to 30 acres. It is 15% contained, with 42 firefighting resources currently engaged in full suppression activities.

"The Lost Fire is burning in remote, difficult terrain in heavy dead and down fuels from the 2012 Whitewater Baldy Fire," said Silver City District Ranger Elizabeth Toney. "A helicopter is being used today to douse the fire with water it has been effective at slowing the fire's forward progression."

Ridge Fire burns in northern Gila Wilderness

MIMBRES, NM, July 5, 2024 - The Gila National Forest is responding to a new lightning-caused wildfire along the northern edge of the Gila Wilderness, about 19 miles northeast of Glenwood, New Mexico. The 55-acre Ridge Fire is burning in the 2012 Whitewater Baldy Fire scar on Iron Creek Mesa, east of Willow Creek Campground.

"The Ridge Fire is burning in a patch of snags created by the 2006 Bear Fire, where it is not safe to place firefighters for direct control measures," said Wilderness District Ranger Brian Stultz. "Firefighters will utilize existing trails and natural features to confine and contain the fire on Iron Creek Mesa."

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

Organizers of the event on the afternoon of June, 30, 2024, chose to hold the farewell potluck lunch at the Bataan Memorial Park Pavilion. Parishioners and friends of Father Bartholomew Ezenwelem, including other priests from the region, Father Kasimir from Hurley and Father Emmanuel from Alamogordo. The attendees filled all tables and extra chairs. The meal was catered and attendees provided side dishes and lots of desserts. 

Robert Lopez served as master of ceremonies for the program. His wife, Danna Lopez, parish secretary, served as one of the organizers, as did Shannon Mittica, and others. [Editor's Note: Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  the names this author failed to write down.]

Entertainment included the Silver Stompers and Angelica Padilla, who sang to the audience and serenaded Father Bartholomew.

On July 4, 2024 at approximately 0910 hours, Officers were dispatched to Mountain View Road near the San Vicente trail head in reference to an unattended death.

Upon arrival Officers had contact with the reporting party who located the deceased male. Officers observed a male lying on the ground on his right side in a fetal position facing in a westbound direction. Officers identified the male as Efrem Duran (43 years of age Silver City, N.M.). Officers observed what appeared to be blood on the lower portion of his face and on the ground.

Photos, video and article by Cara Staab

On June 26th, the Gila National Forest provided a tour of the Silver City Incident Support Cache and Aerial Fire Base, co-located at the Grant County Airport near Hurley.

Cache Manager Alex Tovar, Assistant Cache Manager Joseph Vega, and Assistant Aerial Fire Base Manager Josh Rascon led members of the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning (WILL) around the facilities, explaining how their crews support federal emergencies across the country. Such emergencies include wildfires, hurricanes, and even once, a space shuttle tragedy. Prescribed fire operations are also supported. Approximately 150 people are employed at the center during the height of fire season.

Photos, video and article by Martha Hamblen

About a hundred people toured the workshop spaces at the Future Forge Makerspace Open House and Fundraiser on Saturday, June 29th.

Children, adults and teens were painting, planting and crowding around the numerous pieces of equipment in the 4,000 Sq. ft. building at 307 East College Avenue. It was the perfect way to showcase what Future Forge is all about.

Photos by article by Mary Alice Murphy

Silver City has the honor of having a world-renowned surgeon treating patients at his clinic and at Gila Regional Medical Center.

Dr. James "Butch" Rosser, former football player and member of SAGES, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, has worked to develop a program called Stealth Learning. With the help of Stacey Cox, "we have submitted a grant application for funding.And today is the coup de grace, with us introducing the program to stakeholders."

The event on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center and hosted by Fight Like a Girl, whom Rosser gave kudos to, introduced about a dozen students and interested adults to the computerized video games teaching one how to fly a drone and land it and learn to do some of the things that surgeons do in surgery. They will learn about the STEM subjects—science, technology, engineering, math—to develop career opportunities. He said the program that day would also expose them to validated video games for good.