Community News

The 2025 Nancy Champlin P.E.O. Foundation Scholarship recipients are Ila Rose Duffy ($1000) and Kianna Murillo ($1400). Both young women are recent graduates of Silver High School where each was on the "A" honor roll.

Not only maintaining an impressive g.p.a., Duffy also was a three year member of the National Honor Society and captain of both the soccer and cross country teams for three years. She additionally was involved in school media productions, held part-time jobs and provided community service at the Commons. Ila Rose will be attending New Mexico State University where she plans to obtain a degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Kianna Murillo was a valued member of the girls' basketball and valley ball teams as well as participating in the school work study program. Interested in a health care field, she served as president of the Health Occupation Students of America organization. Murillo too will attend New Mexico State University where she will pursue a Bachelor of Nursing degree.

The Grant County 4-H Horse Program has grown tremendously this year thanks to a local who is also a former agricultural education teacher with a passion for both "all things equine" and youth. Katee McSpadden taught high school agricultural education in Duncan, Arizona prior to moving to New Mexico twelve years ago with her family to expand on the family business of ford dealerships – she and her husband own and operate Smith Ford in Lordsburg with an anticipated expansion of their Ford dealership to Silver City. 

With expansion comes change and that led the McSpadden family to move to the White Signal area, leading them to join Grant County 4-H, which is where this great story begins.

To all those affected by the Trout fire, the community at large and our partners, 

The Commons will be here now and in the long run recovery efforts to help assist in food resources for our community members across Grant County and other nearby communities affected by the fires. As an organization rooted in this community, we deeply care about supporting people. We will be supportive in any way that we can to help provide food security and community support through our organization and in partnership with others. We are in communication with the Red Cross as well to support their efforts in leading the emergency response. 

Single Socks, a Silver City non-profit thrift store, announced that it has awarded $51,000 in grants to four Grant County anti-hunger organizations, and a local school district, according to a news release issued by the store.  The grants were awarded as part of the organization's Spring 2025 Grant Cycle.

Since its inception in 2009, Single Socks has given away over $711,000 to local food pantries, prepared meals, schools, and other food distribution organizations that serve families in need.

The $51,000 in grant awards is the second-largest amount in the store's history, according to the news release. Catherine Cousland, store manager of Single Socks, praised several of the store's different stakeholders, including its staff.

Photo Courtesy of Gila National ForestSmoke rising from Trout fire this morning, taken from Highway 152 near Hanover.

Looking toward Mimbres from the Highway 35/152 intersection, before the inversion lifted this morning.

Preceptor Tau chapter of Beta Sigma Phi celebrated their opening day for the 2025-26 meeting year with a pizza party on June 12. New officers for the year are; Left to Right -  President Debbie Gerleve, Vice President Rosalie Saiz, Treasurer Marylee Bell, Secretary Maria Elena Sanchez.

For more information on friendship, fun, and service, call 575-590-0057.

FIRE RELIEF FUND

The Trout and Meadow Fires have already scorched 2,170 acres in Grant County—and the flames are still advancing. Our neighbors, local businesses, and treasured landscapes face an uncertain future.The Gila Community Foundation is launching the Grant County Fire Relief Fund to provide rapid, flexible support:

Direct aid for residents who may lose homes or livelihoods.

Emergency assistance for local businesses forced to close or relocate.

Resources for volunteer fire departments that protect our rural communities.

Restoration efforts to heal burned forests, meadows, and wildlife habitats once the fire is contained.