Upper Gila River Valley-Southern Gila Highlands/Black Range-
Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres Valley-
Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley-Lowlands of the Bootheel-
Uplands of the Bootheel-Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin-
Eastern Black Range Foothills-Sierra County Lakes-
Northern Dona Ana County-Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley-
Central Tularosa Basin-Southern Tularosa Basin-
West Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet-
Sacramento Mountains Above 7500 Feet-
East Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet-Otero Mesa-
Western El Paso County-Eastern/Central El Paso County-
Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains-Salt Basin-
Southern Hudspeth Highlands-
Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties-
Rio Grande Valley of Eastern Hudspeth County-
Including the cities of Cliff, Buckhorn, Gila Hot Springs,
Mule Creek, Silver City, Lake Roberts, Kingston, Fort Bayard,
Mimbres, Hurley, Faywood, Grant County Airport, Lordsburg,
Red Rock, Virden, Antelope Wells, Animas, Hachita, Cloverdale,

By Mary Alice Murphy

The topic of interest for most attendees was the last item on the agenda, the choice of a new superintendent to go to work after Superintendent Audie Brown retires in June.

[Editor's Note: The Beat broke the news that evening, with a brief announcement which can be read at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/64283-breaking-news-silver-schools-has-a-new-superintendent

After opening the meeting, the group went into executive session for more than an hour. When they reconvened, the members reviewed the minutes and approved them. Next came the agenda, which was also approved.

Louis Alvarez, La Plata Middle School principal, gave a COVID-19 update. He said there were no new guidelines as of March. "If we have a positive case, we go back to previous protocols. The state is looking at moving forward with surveillance testing, with additional training to come. We are no longer able to move forward although the PED (Public Education Department) did give us authorization to use DOH (Department of Health) testing."

Four additional COVID-19 deaths

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Friday announced 264 additional COVID-19 cases. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

97 new cases in Bernalillo County
9 new cases in Chaves County
1 new case in Cibola County
4 new cases in Curry County
29 new cases in Doña Ana County
13 new cases in Eddy County
1 new case in Grant County
1 new case in Harding County
4 new cases in Lea County
3 new cases in Luna County
8 new cases in McKinley County
11 new cases in Otero County
2 new cases in Quay County
2 new cases in Rio Arriba County
16 new cases in Sandoval County
22 new cases in San Juan County
4 new cases in San Miguel County
11 new cases in Santa Fe County
5 new cases in Socorro County
6 new cases in Taos County
15 new cases in Valencia County

The Department of Health on Friday reported four additional deaths in New Mexico related to COVID-19:

SILVER CITY- For the first time Grant County 4-H youths have been selected to be ambassadors for the 4-H livestock program. Several youths applied for the limited positions of beef, sheep/goat, and swine ambassadors.

Applicants filled out an application and provided an industry issue that they would like to address as an ambassador. Applicants also provided a letter of recommendation from a person that was not related to them. Several worthy applications were submitted.

These are the selected ambassadors for this year.
The 2021 Grant County 4-H Livestock Ambassadors:
Beef-Kylee Jones
Sheep/Goat-Lizzy McDonald
Swine-Kayleigh Massengill

Photos below: 

One additional COVID-19 death

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 230 additional COVID-19 cases. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

67 new cases in Bernalillo County
1 new case in Catron County
16 new cases in Chaves County
1 new case in Cibola County
3 new cases in Colfax County
39 new cases in Doña Ana County
2 new cases in Eddy County
1 new case in Grant County
2 new cases in Hidalgo County
2 new cases in Lea County
2 new cases in Lincoln County
2 new cases in Luna County
5 new cases in McKinley County
10 new cases in Otero County
3 new cases in Rio Arriba County
19 new cases in Sandoval County
33 new cases in San Juan County
1 new case in San Miguel County
9 new cases in Santa Fe County
5 new cases in Socorro County
1 new case in Taos County
1 new case in Torrance County
5 new cases in Valencia County

The Department of Health on Thursday reported one additional death in New Mexico related to COVID-19:

By Roger Lanse

On Tuesday, Apr. 13, 2021, at about 10:06 a.m., Silver City Police Department officers were dispatched to La Plata Middle School in reference to a student making a threat to staff. A school official told the officer he had observed the student wearing a hat and having a bandana hanging out of his pocket. According to an SCPD report narrative, the official told the student it was school policy not to display bandanas and hats were not to be worn inside. The student, who the official stated had mental issues, according to the narrative, refused to comply and threatened "to shoot all the teachers."

The narrative stated the student had an appointment with his psychiatrist and remained there while the officer took statements. A relative headed to school to pick up the student. SCPD detectives were called and briefed on the incident and advised that the student had a history of behavioral health issues. The detectives advised they would conduct further investigation and complete a report on the incident.