Female driver attempts to elude local police

By Roger Lanse

On Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, at about 11:38 p.m., a Silver City Police Department officer noticed a silver 2003 Ford Focus traveling north on Leslie Road near 32nd Street. Checking the license plate disclosed the registered owner to be Valoree Ayala, 34, of Albuquerque, who also, according to an SCPD incident report, had two warrants for her arrest, one a felony warrant out of Bernalillo County for receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, and a second felony warrant out of Luna County for possession of a controlled substance.

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St. Francis Newman Center celebrates Father Bartholomew's 13th anniversary of priesthood

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy (in challenging light!)

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Preparing the food

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A smiling Melissa and her mom.

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choosing goodies

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enjoying the evening

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Two parishioners

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Lining up for the food

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Father comes out smiling and laughing

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some of the church members

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Four church member friends

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Father hugs Melissa

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Sister Rosie and Kathy Gilbert

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Caral Necessary laughs at something Janet Wallet-Ortiz said

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Kathie Gilbert

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Sister Rosie and Father Bartholomew

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Father Bartholomew sitting with several parishioners

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Father and Margaret Smith

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Father and Anna-Mae Carbajal

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After Mass Saturday evening, Aug. 19, 2023, St. Francis Newman Center Parish in Silver City held a reception to celebrate Pastor Father Bartholomew Ezenwelm's 13th anniversary of his priesthood. The actual 13th anniversary fell on Aug. 20. 

Man resists being arrested

By Roger Lanse

A Silver City Police Department officer was dispatched to The Flame, 2800 Pinos Altos Road, on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, at about 1:07 a.m., in reference to a male refusing to leave the property and causing problems with staff.

According to an SCPD incident report, after other officer arrived, they found Jacob Alvarado, 29, of Hanover, outside, highly intoxicated, and refusing to leave the property as the officers directed. Alvarado was issued an indefinite criminal trespass warning to the property and instead of leaving began pushing his finger toward the officers and continued to argue with them. Alvarado was given one last warning to walk off the property by the officers, and when he refused, the officers took the 5'10", 260 lb. Alvarado to the ground.

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Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society celebrates Fort Bayard's 157th birthday of its founding 081923  

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

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Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society President Douglas Dinwiddie gives a brief history of the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Bayard

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Harry Jenks center right, Nancy Grayson and Bill Ellsworth check out the reading material, as one of the founders of the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society Cecilia Bell, at left,talks about some of the books and pamphlets available to history buffs

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A good crowd watches a movie at the historic Fort Bayard Theater.

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The Fort Bayard Theater hosted the fort's 157th birthday party on Aug. 19, 2023. The official date of founding is Aug. 21, 1866.

Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society (FBHPS) President Douglas Dinwiddie gave the welcome and an overview of the Buffalo Soldiers from the 125th Colored Infantry, who constructed the first buildings at the site.

Before giving the history, he announced a raffle that would take place after the showing of the movie "Fighting on Two Fronts: The Buffalo Soldiers" produced by the Public Broadcasting System.

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Grant County Commission holds work session 080823 part 2

[Editor's Note: This is part 2 of multiple articles on the Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 8, 2023. It continues with county reports.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 8, 2023 continued with county reports.

General Services Director and Fire Management Officer Randy Villa presented his report.

He began with maintenance. "They are currently working on ADA and the parking lot of the Silver Street complex. On Bataan Memorial Park, with some funding we had, we have added a driveway by the pavilion. At the Fairgrounds they are working on some demolition in order to construct new offices."

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Santa Clara police department has one more opening

By Lynn Janes

The Village of Santa Clara held its regular meeting August 10, 2023. Mayor Richard Bauch called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza and trustees, Arnold Lopez, Olga Amador, and Peter Erickson attended.

The council approved the agenda for the meeting with a few changes. The minutes on the agenda listed for approval have July 28 but should be July 27. The next meeting will not be a budget meeting but regular meeting.

The council approved the minutes from the July 27, 2023, meeting.

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 Grant County Commission holds work session 080823 part 1

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 8, started out with public input.

The complaint came from Stan Rawlins, 15-year resident in Grant County in the Lower Mimbres. He said he would like to talk about fire and medical protection in the county.  “I am here in the stead of the Lower Mimbres Volunteer Fire Department, where I’ve been a volunteer for 15 years. We have some issues that I think should be brought to you guys. I see a lot of situations that could be made better. The VFD has a lot of turnover in personnel, especially of volunteer chiefs. I think it’s caused by a lack of being able to get things done. Mike Vaughn tried to get a new firehouse built, did all the leg work and it was denied.

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Turkey Fire: Final Update 081723

 Silver City, NM – August 17, 2023
The Turkey Fire, 9 miles northeast of Cliff, New Mexico, has had little activity for nearly a week. A Type 3 Incident Management Team has been in command since August 8, 2023, and most of the resources have been released from the fire. The team expects to turn the fire back to the local unit on Saturday evening. To date, the fire has burned 5,220 acres.

The road group will continue to improve the 282 road for future firefighting up to the wilderness boundary through Saturday. Please watch out for heavy truck traffic on the NM 15 road.

Closures Still in Effect: 

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