Front Page News

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a special meeting on February 12, 2024. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, and David Terrazas. Angelina Hardin and Emmarie Heredia joined after their appointment and swearing in. Acting superintendent Michael Koury also attended.

New business

The board has two vacancies to fill and two applicants. One of the applicants had been interviewed February 9, 2024

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting February 13, 2024. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ken Ladner, council members included Nicholas Prince, Guadalupe Cano, Rudy Bencomo, and Stan Snider (phone).

Council comments

Snider said he had been contacted by a few residents that rents have been increasing faster in Silver City. He suggested some form of stabilization that would be fair. He had researched state statues and they prohibit rent control. A bill had been introduced last year and this year to revoke that, both failed. "I have asked our representatives to support it next year." He also asked the tenants downtown if they thought the rents had been fair. "I do not see this as a councilor being a disparaging statement but a part of my duties." On another note, he addressed the Grant County Senior Village and said it would be a great program.

Bill HarrisonPhotos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

World War II Veteran Bill Harrison, who served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II, will turn 102 on June 22, 2024.

Harrison said he was pleased to receive this early birthday gift, a flag flown at the national monument of the USS Arizona, which was sunk by Japanese forces during the attack on Pearl Harbor from the commander.

By Roger Lanse

According to a Grant County Sheriff's Office offense report, on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, around 9:45 p.m., as Grant County Detention Center female correctional officers were attempting to return Nolene Sanchez, 33, to her cell, the officers were hit by Sanchez. Video footage of the incident, the report stated, showed Sanchez standing at the door to her cell putting up her hair and disregarding verbal commands from a female officer. After using OC spray, female officers attempted to gain control of Sanchez, who resisted, striking one of the officers with an open hand several times and kicking her, and "headbutting" another. All received medical attention and were cleared by medical personnel.

By Roger Lanse

According to a New Mexico State Police spokesman, on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2024, NMSP officers responded to vehicle crash on Highway 180 near the intersection of Morales Road in Arenas Valley. As a Chevrolet pickup was traveling east on Highway 180 approaching the intersection, a GMC pickup failed to yield to oncoming traffic and pulled out in front of the Chevrolet pickup causing a collision.

The driver of the GMC pickup, Jesus Flores, 78, was airlifted to an area hospital where he died from his injuries, the spokesman said. The driver of the Chevrolet pickup was transported to an area hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Sixth Judicial Court District Attorney Michael RenteriaBy Frost McGahey, Investigative Journalist

When Michael Renteria was elected as District Attorney for the 6th Judicial District, he inherited a DA's office of 34 people that were doing 27 criminal and 5 civil trials a year. Of those 34 people, 27 have left and that office, now staffed with 60 people, is doing only 6 trials a year.

On top of that, three Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuits were filed by women in the office who have subsequently left.

One of the complainants is Anjulie Vega who started in the DA's office in 2014 and whose last position was senior legal secretary to Cynthia Clark. "I heard Renteria screaming at Cynthia over the phone. He made her life so miserable she quit under duress. Quitting was the last thing she wanted to do." (Clark later filed an EEOC complaint.)

[Editor's Note: This is the fifth of a series of articles on the Feb. 6, 2024, Grant County Commission work session and Feb. 8, 2024, regular meeting. This continues with the work session review of the regular meeting agenda and elected officials' reports.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The first elected official report at the regular meeting on Feb. 8, 2024 came from Treasurer Patrick Cohn, after Clerk Marisa Castrillo said she had no report.

Cohn talked about the tax maintenance report as of Jan. 31, 2024.

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

On Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, more than 100 people showed up at a huge potluck at the Silver City Woman's Club to honor, thank and send off with best wishes Sister Rita Plante of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. She has served the community for 20 years. She left the following day to return to the Nazareth Motherhouse of the order in Concordia, KS.

The Sisters of St. Joseph have served for almost 100 years in Grant County, as teachers at St. Mary's Academy, and in other positions since the closing of the school. Sister Rita served as a chaplain for many years at Gila Regional Medical Center, as well as hosting a large prayer group, to which many of the guests on Sunday belonged. One photo will show part of the group.