Front Page News
Grant County Sheriff's Office makes arrest after responding to a shooting in Arenas Valley
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 30 May 2023 30 May 2023
The Grant County Sheriff's Office arrested Jad Carver after responding to a shooing that occurred in Arenas Valley.
On May 28, 2023 at approximately 0846 hours, Deputies were dispatched to the area of 11843 Highway 180 east in regards to a shooting.
Carver was shooting at Michael Gomez as he was leaving his residence in his vehicle. Michael was taking the frontage road off of Monte Street traveling eastbound as another vehicle then drove in front of Michael's facing westbound blocking the road. Michael was able to reverse back onto Monte St. and drove back onto Highway 180. Michael alleges Carver pulled a gun out and opened fire on him in the median hitting Michael and his vehicle. Michael sustained non-life threatening injuries to his neck and right hand.
Pass Fire - May 30, 2023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 30 May 2023 30 May 2023
Firefighters work in tandem with the Pass Fire
Daily Update - May 30, 2023
Acres: 10,105 acres
Location: 40 miles west of Winston, NM
Containment: 0%
Personnel: 147
Start Date: May 15, 2023
Cause: Lightning-caused
Fuels: Timber and grass
Structures Lost: None
Pass Fire continues to help achieve forest health
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 29 May 2023 29 May 2023
Update May 29, 2023
Firefighters continue to actively monitor the fire and are strategically initiating burnout operations as needed to protect Double Springs Ranch and allotment fences. As the Pass Fire continues its trek across the landscape, firefighters assess specific areas that require pre-treatment to modify the fire’s intensity as it reaches identified values-at-risk. Fuels, terrain and weather dictate the fire’s spread. Crews are keeping pace with the fire and ensuring that pre-determined objectives are met. Features like roads and trails can act as barriers to fire spread. “The fire effects are being constantly monitored and the Pass Fire is burning naturally in this fire-dependent ecosystem. We appreciate the support of the local communities who are closely monitoring the Pass Fire, as well,” said Pete Valenzuela, Incident Commander.
Weather: High temperatures will be near normal, 80’s to 90’s; winds are expected to increase ahead of a low front which could result in critical fire weather on Wednesday afternoon. Winds are expected to taper off on Thursday. Potential chance for rainshowers arriving this weekend.
Closures: There are no road closures at this time, however firing operations will be intermittently occurring over the next few days along Highway 59 as the fire continues to spread under current fuel and weather conditions.
Grant County Water Commission moving forward with project
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 28 May 2023 28 May 2023
By Lynn Janes
On March 25, 2023, the commission held a regular meeting at the City Annex Building.
The meeting started with Alex Brown, Silver City town manager, calling the meeting to order and leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commission members in attendance, Grant County Commissioner Eloy Medina, Bayard Mayor Chon Fierro,, Santa Clara Village Administrator Sheila Hudman, Hurley Mayor Pro Tem Richard Maynes and Brown.
The commission approved the agenda.
The commission approved the minutes from the March 16, 2023, meeting.
Karl Pennock, RCAC (rural community assistance corporation) said he couldn't do much with a financial analysis until he knew what funding they had to work with, and he also needs the preliminary engineering report. He would also need a snapshot of the utilities' financial operations from each member to figure out share costs.
Pass Fire update for May 28
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 28 May 2023 28 May 2023
Greening up of grasses and other vegetation produces minimal fire behavior
TRUTH OR CONSESQUENCES, NM, May 28, 2023 – The Pass Fire on the Gila National Forest, Black Range Ranger District has grown to approximately 9,804 acres since it was ignited by lightning strike May 17. The Gila Las Cruces Zone Type 3 Team, led by Incident Commander Pete Valenzuela assumed command yesterday.
The low to moderate intensity of the Pass Fire allows firefighters time to get out ahead to assess values at risk and prepare holding features and protection before the fire’s arrival. Yesterday, a helispot at Black Mountain was cleared of encroaching vegetation and the Black Mountain Lookout’s cabin was wrapped.
“We’re seeing some really good fire effects, consuming dead grass and pine litter, with heavy dead and down fuels burning down to ash,” said Valenzuela.
Gila National Forest limits length of stay
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 28 May 2023 28 May 2023
Updated forest order protects public access to public lands; conserves natural resources
SILVER CITY, NM, May 28, 2023 – The Gila National Forest has updated its forest order limiting length of stay on the entire forest to 14 days out of any 30 consecutive days. The purpose of the order is to protect natural resources from degradation due to long-term use and to maximize the availability of camping areas for all recreational visitors.
“Long term use of campsites harms wildlife habitats and watersheds by compacting soils, which damages the roots of plants, contributing to lost vegetation. Erosion of soil and exposed human waste pollutes local waterways,” said Gila National Forest Supervisor Camille Howes. “This order provides a chance for periods of rest, allowing soils and vegetation to recover between uses. It also provides management consistency between forests, which helps visitors know what to expect.”
Pass Fire update for May 27
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 27 May 2023 27 May 2023
Fire allowed to play its natural role in maintaining forest and prairie ecosystems
TRUTH OR CONSESQUENCES, NM, May 27, 2023 – The Pass Fire on the Gila National Forest, Black Range Ranger District has grown to approximately 8,261 acres over the past 10 days. The Gila Las Cruces Zone Type 3 Team, led by Incident Commander Pete Valenzuela assumed command this morning.
The fire is located south of New Mexico Highway 59, about 1 mile west of Wolf Hollow Campground, and along the northern Gila Wilderness boundary. Camping is not recommended at Wolf Hollow due to the likelihood of fire reaching the area and heavy localized firefighter activity. Fire is progressing to the south, east, and west, consuming mostly down logs, dead grass, and pine needles beneath a ponderosa pine-dominated forest canopy.
One hundred people are currently working the Pass Fire, including a large number of youths who are supporting the fire at the Incident Command Post, gaining work experience and exposure to public land management. A Job Corps kitchen crew began serving meals this morning and camp yurts are being maintained by a contracted youth crew out of California. Fire crews are cutting back grass and removing surface fuels to protect range and other infrastructure. A Helitack crew will begin cleaning up a helispot on Black Mountain in preparation for structure protection of Black Mountain Lookout.
Event cancelled: Fire Weather Watch for Grant County, NM
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 26 May 2023 26 May 2023
...Warm, dry, and breezy conditions continue across southwest New Mexico. Fire weather conditions will remain elevated, but no longer expected to reach critical thresholds... .Fire Weather Watch has been cancelled.
NMZ110-262100-
/O.CAN.KEPZ.FW.A.0010.230527T1800Z-230528T0200Z/
NEW MEXICO FIRE WEATHER ZONE 110
SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS/GILA NF/APACHE NF/GLZ-
158 PM MDT Fri May 26 2023
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW
RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE GILA REGION...
The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa has
cancelled the Fire Weather Watch.