Local News Releases

Reserve, NM, Sept. 12, 2025—The South Fork Negrito Creek bridge replacement project is approaching the final stages of construction on the Gila National Forest, Reserve Ranger District. The contractor expects delivery of the major prefabricated steel bridge components from September 17 – 22, which is likely to affect travelers on Forest Road 141 between Reserve, New Mexico, and the project site, 27 miles to the southeast. Trucks hauling large, bulky, heavy materials will be slow-moving and have the potential to temporarily impede the normal flow of traffic.

Petroglyph depiction of an agave plant – photo courtesy of Carlos Martinez del RíoThe Gila Native Plant Society has invited biologist Carlos Martinez del Río to give a talk at its evening program on Friday, September 19, 2025. Carlos is calling his presentation "Pollination, fermentation, and distillation: The biocultural co-evolution of mezcales, bats, and humans." 

As Carlos explains, bats and agave plants (or mezcales) have interacted for several million years. Their interaction has led to the diversification of both and to the very peculiar biological characteristics of bats and agaves. The morphology and physiology of bats reflects their reliance on nectar for carbohydrates and pollen for protein. The once-in-a lifetime sexual reproduction of agaves that requires huge carbohydrate storage was shaped by bat pollination. 

Humans took advantage of this outcome of the ancient interaction of bats and agaves and for many thousands of years have become reliant on mezcales for fiber, food and intoxicating beverages. They have also transformed many agave species by domesticating them. Mesoamerican cultures have been deeply influenced directly by mezcales, and hence indirectly by bats. Pulque, the mildly alcoholic fermented drink favored by the Nahuatl inspired the development of strong distillates with methods borrowed from the Old World. These drinks are experiencing a worldwide boom that is placing bats, agaves and mezcal cultures in danger. What can we do to protect them?

Sunday, Oct 12; 8 am - noon

Iron Bridge Conservation area

Hosted by Bird Alliance of Southwestern New Mexico

The Big Sit is a light-hearted international birding competition, identifying as many birds as we can from a 17 foot diameter circle. Binoculars will be available. Please bring your own chair. See poster for more details.

Join us this Saturday, September 13th, CO.STARTERS and the Makers Market have teamed up to feature some of our very own CO.STARTERS alumni! 

See flyer below

Silver City, NM — Anticipating another chilly winter, the nonprofit Silver City Street Outreach will be hosting this year's Emergency Warming Center at our location on College Avenue. The Warming Center is being established with the express purpose to prevent deaths from hypothermia and will be a place where the unhoused community and others can receive hot meals and drinks and stay in a warm safe environment.

The Silver City Warming Center will be open on nights of extreme cold, defined as any night when temperatures fall below forty degrees. The Center will operate overnight to provide safe shelter and warm meals, and during the daytime it will continue to function as a Community Peer Advocacy Drop-in Center. Through this program, Silver City Street Outreach will continue helping guests connect with basic needs resources, drug and alcohol recovery options, mental health services, job opportunities, and pathways to permanent housing.

Free Library Card Replacement Week

Saturday, September 13 - Saturday, September 20

Silver City Public Library, 515 W. College Ave., Silver City

The Silver City Public Library will have free library card replacement days on Saturday, September 13 through Saturday, September 20, in celebration of Library Card Sign-up Month. If you have lost your card, the free card replacement days are a great time to regain access to physical and digital library services. Your first card is always free! To learn more, visit www.silvercitypubliclibrary.org or call 575-538-3672.

 Will Hawkins, Superintendent of Silver City Schools, will present an update on current affairs in the school system. He will be available for questions and answers after his talk.

The Rotary Club will meet at a new location, in the conference room of Gila Regional Medical Center. Visitors should enter through the main entrance. There is a brief "meet and greet", a short business meeting and then the speaker has the floor. The club welcomes members of the public to the meetings. Lunch is in the hospital cafeteria. Guests are advised to arrive in the cafeteria well before noon.

Sunday, Aug. 31

Welfare check – Taylor Street – Bayard
Welfare check – loud party – Lance Drive – Silver City – 12:25 a.m.
Welfare check – Western Title – Highway 180
Suspicious activity – North Loop – Silver City
Animal – Diaz Avenue – Hurley
Suspicious person – Chukar Road – Silver City
Special detail – N. Pope Street – Silver City