Community News

Silver City, NM – Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) is pleased to announce the appointment of John Nadone as Chief Financial Officer, effective December 15, 2025. John brings more than 30 years of healthcare experience, including extensive financial and operational leadership roles as both CFO and CEO. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting from Western Oregon University.

Prior to joining GRMC, John served as CFO at Pioneers Medical Center in Meeker, Colorado, where he successfully led initiatives that improved financial performance and operational efficiency. His proven track record in rural healthcare finance will support GRMC's continued commitment to strong fiscal stewardship and community-focused care.

Silver City, NM – Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) is proud to announce that its laboratory team has been awarded accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), joining more than 8,000 accredited facilities worldwide that meet the highest standards in laboratory medicine. This recognition highlights the laboratory's dedication to quality, safety, and excellence in patient care.

As part of the accreditation process, CAP inspectors conducted a thorough review of the laboratory's operations. This included evaluating records, quality control procedures, staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety practices, and overall management. The rigorous assessment ensures that GRMC's laboratory meets the highest standards of accuracy and reliability in diagnostic testing.

Favorable weather conditions in place for hazardous fuels reduction work

QUEMADO, N.M., Dec. 1 — The Quemado Ranger District on the Gila National Forest is planning to start prescribed fire operations later this week, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through the winter as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.

Prescribed fires planned for the area include:

The US Marine Corps' Toys for Tots Campaign helps bring holiday joy to children in Grant County and across the nation. In an effort to increase Toys for Tots contributions, an anonymous donor is offering a free $5 "any species" Christmas Tree Tag to the first 30 people who donate a new, unwrapped toy to the campaign from Monday, December 8 to Friday, Dec. 12 at the Gila National Forest office located at 3005 E. Camino del Bosque, Silver City, NM 88061 and is limited to one $5 "any species" tag per customer for the first 20 customers.

If you have any questions, please call (575) 388-8201.

Silver City, NM – Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) received a generous donation from Harrison Schmitt Elementary School through its Pennies from Heaven program. The donation will help provide meals for 100 patients undergoing cancer treatment at the Gila Regional Cancer Center.

For a month, students at Harrison Schmitt Elementary collected spare change, rallying together across all four houses in a spirited competition. Their combined efforts raised an impressive $756.71, which they proudly presented to GRMC as one united school.

The check presentation took place during a school assembly on Wednesday, November 19. Accepting the contribution were Mike Torres, Cancer Center Practice Manager, joined by CEO Robert Whitaker, Associate Administrator Matthew Stephens, and Auxiliary Volunteers Emily Roybal and Deana Gomez.

"We are so thankful to these students for their kindness and for thinking of our cancer center," the team shared. "Their efforts will directly impact the well-being of our patients."

This act of compassion reminds us how even small gestures can make a big difference in the lives of those facing cancer treatment.

DEMING – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has named the District One Silver City Patrol as the 2025 recipient of the Ben Lopez Memorial Best Patrol Award.

The award was established in memory of Ben Lopez, a dedicated NMDOT patrol supervisor who tragically lost his life on Aug. 18, 2005, in a random act of violence as he arrived for his shift at the North Urban Patrol yard in Albuquerque. His death marked the beginning of a violent crime spree that also claimed the lives of two motorcycle shop employees and two Albuquerque police officers. The annual award honors Lopez's legacy and recognizes the commitment and sacrifices made by transportation workers statewide.

By Frost McGahey

On Monday November 17, the newly elected town councilor for District 4 Victor Nanez spoke to a group of voters. When asked why he ran, he said, "I saw a need for a positive change to help our citizens have a better life."

Nanez was born in Santa Rita and has spent most of his life in Silver City.

"Working for Engineers Inc., I was involved in overseeing the construction of the Visitor Center, Downtown Lighting, and installation of several bridges including the Big Ditch Bridge.

Map below

The New Mexico State Geologist and director of the  New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources at New Mexico Tech,J. Michael Timmons, sent this news release about activities that will involve airborne geophysical surveys in the area over the next few weeks.

Timmons said: " I have some  very exciting news related to aquifer characterization studies in New Mexico. With the first special appropriation of $7.5 million to the New Mexico Bureau of Geology in FY26 for aquifer mapping, we are initiating a series of airborne geophysical surveys that will enhance our understanding of the state's groundwater. These surveys represent the most advanced techniques available for imaging and interpreting the subsurface geology, enabling a deeper understanding of our fresh and brackish groundwater resources."