Front Page News

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.

[Editor's Note: This article begins the actual public hearing and is the second 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.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

Air Force Col. Joshua Rosen said his purpose at the U.S. Air Force airspace optimization hearing on Sept. 11, 2024 was to serve as the presiding hearing judge. He serves at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. His primary job is to do court papers and hearings, like this one, and he doesn't work with anyone on the team for this hearing. "I will facilitate the speakers. This hearing is held in accordance with the NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) and the NHPA (National Historic Preservation Act). The purpose of this hearing is to hear your comments on the proposals that were presented in the video, just completed. I welcome your passion on the issues. There are three things, this is not: 1) It is not a question and answer session. It's only for public comment; 2) There will be no responses tonight; 3) Nothing is up for a vote tonight."

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

The Community Partnership for Children held their annual September Spectacular Superhero Family Fit Fest on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at Bataan Memorial Park in Santa Clara to raise funds for the organization.

The event began with 5K and 10K runs, and it also featured a "Super Cornhole Clash" and other games, along with more than 20 food and wares vendors, in addition to several partnering organizations offering information about their services. Some were located outside and some inside the Park Pavilion.

By Roger Lanse

The owner of General Pawn and Trade at 1960 E. Highway 180 reported on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, that when his wife opened the store about 2 p.m., she discovered the business had been "ransacked." According to a Silver City Police Department incident report, the owner's wife stated she had left the day before around 1 p.m. and the business had been locked and secure and "nothing was out of place." When she opened the door on Friday, boxes and other items were out of place, the bathroom light was on, curtains in the kitchen were pulled down and out of the wall, and a grey backpack was left on the kitchen counter.

U.S. Air Force holds airspace optimization hearing 091124, part 1

[Editor's Note: This will be a multi-part series of the meeting, due to its length.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

Wednesday evening, Sept. 11, 2024, the U.S. Air Force held a public hearing on an airspace optimization proposal to increase training areas farther into New Mexico for pilots stationed in Arizona at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Luke Air Force Base and the Morris Air National Guard Base.

An estimated 150-200 people attended the event and more than 50 offered input in the two minutes allocated to each speaker.

By Lynn Janes

The town of Bayard held a regular meeting August 26, 2024. Attendance included Mayor John L. Ojinaga, Mayor Pro Tem Eloy Medina, Councilors Frances Gonzales and Eloy Gonzales. Gilbert Ortiz didn't attend. Martha Salas, city clerk/treasurer also attended.

Consent agenda

The council approved the consent agenda that included minutes, reports and accounts payable. The consent agenda also included two trainings for Salas and Tanya Ortiz, deputy clerk, to attend. One would provide certifications needed by both and the other would provide them the current updates in state requirements.

New business

By Lynn Janes

The Village of Santa Clara held a regular meeting August 22, 2024. Mayor Arnold Lopez called the meeting to order. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza, trustees, Peter Erickson and Ralph Trujillo attended. Olga Amador didn't attend.

Mayors report

Lopez had met with the new director for the senior citizen center. They will be continuing what they have been doing but want to improve the services offered to the mining district. They plan w to add more events like bingo on Fridays with lunch and he had a flyer to give out. Lopez said all were welcome but needed to register and said Silver City had been invited also. He went over some of the other events they talked about.