Front Page News

[Editor's Note: This is part 6 of a multi-part series of articles on almost six hours of Grant County Commission meetings on Feb. 11 and 13, 2025.)
By Mary Alice Murphy

In the work session on Feb. 11, 2025, Grant County commissioners heard from department directors. The next one came from Joseph Holguin, director of the planning and capital projects department.

He noted that some of the things he would report are a review, "but I just want to keep them on schedule and let you guys know the current projects that we have under construction are the Upper Mimbres Valley Volunteer Fire Department where we have underground storage tanks going in at the Main Station. That area has been laid out, and they're doing excavation on that this week, so that's almost complete. After moving the soil, they will get the tanks underground. The North Hurley roadway drainage improvement project is in phase three, where they are making progress on the retaining walls. We're in the design phase on the public safety building, along with some courthouse renovation or new construction and for the Franks and Crum Road projects. We continue to work with the architect and civil engineers on these projects."

Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees announces intention for new management partnership with Ovation for five-year term.

Silver City, New (March 13, 2025),  Regional Medical Center ("GRMC") today announced that its Board of Trustees voted to finalize a management services agreement to form a new management partnership with Ovation Healthcare.

The Board's consensus to enter into a contractual agreement with Ovation comes after a thorough eight-month process of evaluating potential management partners. The GRMC Board of Trustees enlisted the assistance of an external consulting firm to help solicit responses from interested parties. GRMC received seven proposals and evaluated potential management partners based on agreed upon criteria including ability to maintain and enhance the long-term financial viability of GRMC, recruit and retain leadership and providers, and ensuring all GRMC patients receive high-quality patient care. Through this rigorous selection process Ovation Healthcare was chosen as the management partner.

DEMING - Travel advisories have been issued for high winds and blowing dust in Southwest New Mexico for Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14, 2025.

Forecasted wind speeds of 35 to 45 mph with southwest gusts of 65-75 mph are expected. The highest impact for strong winds and blowing dust will be from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If you must travel, we recommend you monitor local forecast conditions prior to starting your trip and visit www.nmroads.com for current roadway information. Roadway conditions may change quickly, blowing dust can escalate to blinding dust storms as they move quickly through remote areas.

(Albuquerque, NM) – PNM is preparing for severe weather forecasted for many of our service areas including high wind speeds and low relative humidity. Wind gusts are anticipated to reach over 60 mph on Friday March 14 in parts of Eastern New Mexico, which could increase the risk of power outages due to broken tree limbs or other wind damage.

We are encouraging all customers to prepare for potential power disruptions by taking a few steps ahead of the weather:

Stay informed. Customers should sign up for outage alerts by texting #REG to 78766 from a phone number associated with their account. Then text #ALERT to 78766.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 I MELVIN CORDELL was held without bond in a pre-trial detention hearing on Monday, March 10th ,by Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Jennifer DeLaney.

District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced. Cordell is charged with a total of 24 counts for sexual assault and child abuse; 2 Counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration, 1 Count of Criminal Sexual Contact of a minor, 16 Counts of Child Abuse,1 Count of Conspiracy to Commit Child Abuse, 2 Counts of Aggravated Battery and 2 counts of Tampering with Evidence. Melvin Cordell pleaded no contest in the detention hearing.

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Three short videos are Courtesy of Wreaths Across America

The mission of the organization Wreaths Across America is to Remember our veterans, Honor our veterans, and Teach our children and adults what veterans have done for their country.

The WAA mobile education unit was manned by two ambassadors, Robert Z. Easley and Richard Schneider, who was also the driver of the unit. Posters and videos accomplished the teaching aspects of the WAA mission.

The free event was sponsored by American Legion Post 18, the Jacob Bennett Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, and Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

This is Not Normal -  Ballots Cast in New Mexico Elections?

Frost McGahey, Investigative reporter

This is not normal! Watch Democrat's sign ripped away as Trump enters - Fox 2 Detroit

As President Trump walked down the aisle to give his Joint Speech to Congress, New Mexico Democrat Melanie Stansbury held up a sign. The President was shaking hands with Republicans, one of whom was Texas Congressman Lance Gooden.   

Stansbury’s sign was a handmade piece of paper that read ‘This Is Not Normal'.  She held it right behind the President’s head.

After President Trump passed, The Texan Republican snatched Stansbury’s sign and tossed it into the air. He said, “No one disrespects the President in front of me.”

“This is Not Normal” could apply to the number of ballots cast in New Mexico in the last three presidential elections.

[Editor's Note: This is part 5 of a multi-part series of articles on almost six hours of Grant County Commission meetings on Feb. 11 and 13, 2025.)
By Mary Alice Murphy

This article on the Grant County Commission Feb, 11, 2025 work session continues the county department head report, with the next one coming from the Emergency Manager Scot Fuller.

Fuller said the hazard mitigation plan went up to the state on February 3 to be approved by them. "I put the plan on the county's website for public review comments for two weeks comment. I'm hoping that people will look at it and tell me how to improve it."