Welcome racing teams, support crews, and racers! We are happy to have you here in Grant County to participate in one of the top bike races in the United States. Lots of people are unaware that the Tour of the Gila attracts not only great cyclists from across America, but there are Olympic competitors and champions, International Champions and riders who are ranked in a group best described as World Class. Yep, they are competing right here in little ol' Silver City.

The amazing thing to me is that the State of New Mexico Tourism Department simply does not understand the significance of this race. Today I received an email from our State Tourism Department about wonderful things happening across New Mexico... yet Tour of the Gila was not mentioned. I know, we are not in the Albuquerque or Santa Fe area. I know, we are not a part of the Rio Grande corridor. I know, our wonderful race that brings in participants from around the world... isn't New Mexico enough. But whether the State of New Mexico recognizes the fact that this is a great racing event or not doesn't matter. Because lots of us in Grant County know it is a super race and we appreciate all the riders who enter the race.

As you drive throughout Grant County this week, be patient and be careful. On race days, some roads may have delays, but just slow down and be patient. Let's all work together to make this one of the greatest years in Tour of the Gila history.

An interesting phone call today asked what I thought about the announcement regarding the Rue 21 closure. By the way, Rue 21 is a women's clothing store. My reply probably wasn't what they wanted to hear... but the corporation is closing 400 stores. I hate that folks here in Silver City will lose their jobs. On the bright side, if you like to clothing at Rue 21, maybe you can pick up a new wardrobe at going out of business prices.

There is and was nothing we could have done to save this store. Short of everyone in Grant County spending a purse or wallet full of money at Rue 21 for the past twelve months... this location has probably been on a closure list for quite some time. We hate it. But it is what it is, and we just hope we can fill the empty storefront with something else.

Here's a quick sidebar for you, earlier this week my wife and I made a run to Phoenix. Yes... I ate at Popeye's in Willcox, Arizona coming and going. And it was very good. Now if I can find some place that sells fried chicken gizzards.

Over the past week we have sent tourism and relocation packets to people in fourteen different states. It's great that our little corner of God's vast world gets so much attention. We just hope they are impressed by the literature we mail them and they decide to come for a visit... or come for the rest of their lives.

We are the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce and we love trying to get people to visit or move to our area. If you have suggestions, call me. The office number is 575-538-3785.