Front Page News
NMDOT prepares for annual Tour of the Gila Bicycle Race
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 20 April 2023 20 April 2023
Motorists should expect various road closures and delays
SILVER CITY - The Annual Tour of the Gila Bicycle Race begins Wednesday, April 26, 2023, running through Sunday, Apr. 30, 2023. Law enforcement agencies will provide traffic control as racers travel through various routes.
Law enforcement will be stationed on NM 90, US 180, NM 152, NM 15, and NM 35 to secure the safety of bicyclists, spectators and motorists. For more race information, visit the Tour of the Gila website at www.tourofthegila.com or contact Jack Brennan at (575) 590-2612.
Motorists may encounter intermittent closures. Please expect delays.
Wednesday, Apr. 26, 2023, Mogollon Race: Begins on US 180 at Gough Park to NM 211 finishing at NM 159 milepost 6.7. from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in both directions with a rolling road closure.
Thursday, Apr. 27, 2023, Inner Loop Race: Begins on US 180 to NM 15 to NM 35 onto NM 152 and finishes at Fort Bayard Medical Center. The closure will be on NM 15 from milepost 7 to milepost 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This will be in both directions.
Grant County Commission work session held April 11, 2023 and regular meeting on April 13, 2023, part 5
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 18 April 2023 18 April 2023
[Editor’s Note: This is part 5 of a multi-article series on the Commission work session on April 11, as well as on the regular meeting on April 13, 2023. This begins the work session review of the regular meeting and decisions made in the regular meeting.]
Article by Mary Alice Murphy Photos Courtesy of Grant County
Grant County Commission proclamations 041123
Grant County Commission proclamations 041123
From left are Commissioners Chris Ponce, Alicia Edwards, Billy Billings and National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month and the Day of the Young Child Proclamation recipient and Commissioners Harry Browne and Eloy Medina
Grant County Commission proclamations 041123
From left are Commissioners Chris Ponce, Alicia Edwards and Billing Billings, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week Proclamation recipient Vern Laney, Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority Director, and Commissioners Eloy Medina and Harry Browne
Grant County Commission proclamations 041123
From left are Commissioners Chris Ponce and Billy Billings, Fair Housing Month recipients Linda Rowse and Marissa Villegas, and Commissioners Alicia Edwards (partially hidden), Harry Browne and Eloy Medina.
Grant County Commission proclamations 041123
From left are Commissioners Billy Billings, Alicia Edwards, Chris Ponce, National School Lunch Hero Day recipient Jeanette Castillo, Silver School Food Services, and Commissioners Harry Browne and Eloy Medina
Grant County Commission proclamations 041123
From left are Commissioners Alicia Edwards and Chris Ponce, Martyn and Alex Olson Tour of the Gila Bicycle Race Week in Honor of Martyn Pearson and Alex Olsen Proclamation recipient Jack Brennan, and Commissioners Eloy Medina and Harry Browne
At the April 11, 2023 Grant County Commission work session, after presentations and some county reports, County Manager Charlene Webb said, in her review, that the first item on the regular meeting agenda for April 13, 2023, would address a public hearing and discussion regarding Ordinance No. O-23-03, an ordinance entitled Wireless Telecommunications Facilities, Regulating the siting and Permitting of Wireless Communications Facilities.
District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne commented: “It’s a matter of trusting you.”
Silver Schools looking at arming security guards
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 17 April 2023 17 April 2023
By Lynn Janes
On March 30, 2023, the Silver School district held one of the three meetings for public input on arming security guards in the schools. This meeting took place at Jose Barrios Elementary. Approximately 40-50 people attended. William Hawkins, Silver Schools superintendent, headed the conversation and addressed the questions. Luis Alvarez, assistant superintendent, also attended.
This has been a conversation brought up to the board for some time. The district has a threat assessment committee that meets regularly. One thing they recently had done to address any threat to the schools was to require ALICE (alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate) training for all staff and students. This training has been used across the country.
Eddie Flores, board member, and Luis Alvarez, assistant superintendent, head the threat assessment committee. Flores has brought up the idea of arming the guards for a while.
Cobre getting new curriculum.
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 17 April 2023 17 April 2023
By Lynn Janes
The Cobre Consolidated Schools held a board meeting on March 27, 2023. President Serena Murillo called the meeting to order. Other board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, Elizabeth Dean, and David Terrazas. Dr. Jeff Spaletta also attended.
Reading of the board norms took place with each board member reading a norm. The norms consist of five rules the board strives to adhere to during the meeting. They are listed as actively listen to all perspectives, respond to concerns and questions as a unified board, professionalism expected, assume positive intent, and be positive and responsive.
The Pledge of Allegiance and salute to the New Mexico flag took place.
The board recognized the athletes that had won at the state championships.
Grant County Commission work session held April 11, 2023, part 4
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 16 April 2023 16 April 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 4 of a multi-article series on the Commission work session on April 11, as well as on the regular meeting on April 13, 2023. This continues county reports.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
Beginning the rest of county reports at the Grant County Commission work session on April 11, 2023, Internet Technology Director Adam Baca said he and Specialist Robert Hood continue to implement the managed network switch equipment. "We are wanting to create network separators, so that not all computers can see all the other computers, but only those in their department, so if a virus is detected, it doesn't spread to everyone. After we are done with these projects, we will go to the Detention Center. We want to implement server infrastructure once we have the networks in place. We will do the network vulnerability scanning slowly after we finish the managed network process."
He said he did a walkthrough at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Conference Center with Director Romeo Cruz. "We want to bring in a group to assess the audio and visual and make recommendations. Romeo and I will review them. The plug-ins are worn out. We plan on upgrading and adding in new screens and microphones."
Grant County Commission work session held April 11, 2023, part 3
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 16 April 2023 16 April 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 3 of a multi-article series on the Commission work session on April 11, as well as on the regular meeting on April 13, 2023. This begins with county reports at the work session.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
Detention Center Administrator Joseph Andazola gave the first county report at the April 11, 2023 Grant County Commission work session.
"We have three officers in training and another one starting next week," Andazola reported. "We also have another pending job offer. We have two openings right now. I want to thank Human Resources for getting interviews set up quickly. We will also work with Workforce Solutions. We have two pending to potentially go work at the Sheriff's Office and another two who are applying for other positions, so we will continue our recruitment."
He said Lt. Rios, Sgt. Gnader and Officer Thayer had completed the Special Response Team school, with Gnader finishing in the top five. "I would like to thank the El Paso County Sheriff's Department for their inivitation." He also noted that he has hosted training, including one in defensive tactics.
Grant County Commission work session held April 11, 2023, part 2
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 14 April 2023 14 April 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 2 of a multi-article series on the Commission work session on April 11, as well as on the regular meeting on April 13, 2023. This covers the second work session presentation.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
The second presentation at the Grant County Commission work session on April 11, 2023, commissioners heard from Rosalinda Natividad, founder and chief executive officer of Incite Network LLC talking about the Grant County Comprehensive Grants Plan.
"We are working together on this plan for the use of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding," Natividad began. "We want a continuing conversation. We prepared a grant plan and three grant applications for your review, as well as multiple potential grants. We also in the plan talked about whether you should hire a full-time grant writer or work with a contractor. We put in an overview of your goals. We brought in feedback from the different departments. You'll also see thoughts of potential projects."
Cobre maps strategic plan
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 13 April 2023 13 April 2023
Photos and article by Lynn Janes
On March 21, 2023, Cobre school district held a public forum to map the needs of the schools. The board hired a company out of Albuquerque, CES Educational Services. This meeting will help decide what the plans will be for the next three to five years to move the district forward.
Part of the service entails the company coming in and doing a needs assessment of the district because every school has different needs. The approximately 105 participants identified 63 needs in this meeting. The people that attended included teachers, students, and other community members.
They started with asking people to tell them what need they felt the district had. They listed those and then broke people out in groups and they broke that down to a total of 33 needs and then sat down and broke it down to 10 needs. They ranked those needs from the most important to least. A point system had been used to break it down and rank the needs.