The Grant County Beat today presents its recap of memorable 2014 events, some tragic, some exciting, and some decisive.
When a single-engine plane crashed on May 23, near Whiskey Creek Airport, it claimed the lives of three Aldo Leopold High School students—Michael Mahl, 16; Ella Myers, 16; and Ella Jaz Kirk, 14—as well as the pilot Dr. Peter Hochla.
The event affected the entire community, with the loss of young lives, who would not fulfill their bright futures. A memorial held on June 1 filled the Western New Mexico University.
In 2014, after several years of severe drought, the fire season began early, with the first grass fire reported on Jan. 18. Several other fires were reported over the months until fire restrictions were set on the Gila National Forest on April 22.
The Signal Fire, a major fire, which destroyed 5,484 acres of forest around Signal Peak, began during high winds on Mother's Day, May 11. It was declared contained on May 23.
Because of fires in past years and this summer's flooding rains, New Mexico 152 was closed for several months due to erosion. It reopened in late October.
The Grant County Extension Service welcomed early in the year a new 4-H and ag agent—Sam Lowry.
In July, the Grant County Commission named a new manager—Charlene Webb, a native of the Cliff-Gila area.
The Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition took the idea by the Silver City Arts & Culture District of 101 Things to Do in Grant County and created a new list of 101 Things for Youth to Do in Grant County. The summertime activity concluded with a Tikis and Tacos Event, attended by several hundred people.
The Grant County Commission approved a hike of 3/8 of 1 percent in gross receipts tax, beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, and approved the bond sale at a favorable interest rate. The commission plans to use the funding to construct a continuum of care substance abuse treatment facility, renovate the interior of the Business and Conference Center and to upgrade the electrical system in the County Courthouse.
In early August, the founder and publisher of the monthly Glenwood Gazette—Gale Moore—was found dead in her home. A new resident of the Glenwood area is promising to revive the publication by March of 2015.
An early morning 5.2 magnitude earthquake was felt by some in Grant County on June 29, while others slept right through it. No damage was reported locally.
Friends of Signal Peak Lookout John Kavchar grieved his loss in an early-June accident at a memorial at Gomez Peak.
The Interstate Stream Commission in Nov. 24 voted to utilize the up to $128 million and up to an annual average of 14,000 acre-feet of water from the Gila and San Francisco rivers, as allocated to the region by the 2004 Arizona Water Settlements Act.
After more than 10 years of often contentious meetings held in the four-county region of Grant, Hidalgo, Luna and Catron counties, with the looming deadline of Dec. 31, 2014, the ISC requested the governor to send a letter to the Secretary of the Interior requesting the water and funding. Years of probable lawsuits and of extensive NEPA and ESA processes, mean the area will not likely see any results for 10-20 years.
Grant County commissioners recognized several high school champions this year, including the Cobre High School Band, the Cobre HS baseball team, and the Silver HS baseball and softball teams.
Gila Regional Medical Center, after a yearlong financial turnaround, went from being in the hole more than $9 million at the end of fiscal year 2013 to return to the black by more than $1 million at the end of fiscal year 2014.
After a process of soliciting several airlines to provide Essential Air Service to the Grant County Airport, Boutique Air was chosen to begin service to Albuquerque on Jan. 6.
In September, two inmates escaped from the Grant County Detention Center. After several days of search, the two were returned to jail.
Happy New Year!