Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

The Kiwanis Club, with helpers from the high school Key Club, held their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Penny Park on Saturday, April 4, 2026.  Kids of all ages, along with their parents for the smaller ones, searched for "hidden" eggs, most of which had candy in them, and others had special prizes. 

Among other groups taking part in the festivities, the Silver City Fire Department had  Deputy Chief Eloy Vasquez, Battalion Chief Preston Johnson, Lt. Jerry O'Neil, Fire Inspector Mike Cox, Lt. Eugene Rodriguez and Firefighter Barber Erickson on hand. The Silver City Police Department was already closing up shop at about 11 a.m. because they had given away everything they brought. Their members and others posed. They included SCFD Vasquez, Child Charlotte Sherman, Tonie Romero, Wanda Snyder, Patrolman Thomas Hernandez and Lt. Manny Jaurequi.

Local youth Reece McSpadden has recently earned a significant achievement in the western performance horse industry, qualifying for the National Ranch and Stock Horse Alliance National Championships. The event will be held May 13–17, 2026 in Guthrie, OK,  at the renowned Lazy E Arena, bringing together top competitors from across the country.

Reece, the daughter of Eric and Katee McSpadden of Silver City, will compete in a full slate of demanding events that showcase the versatility of ranch horses. Her classes include ranch cutting, cow work, reining, ranch riding, ranch trail, and ranch conformation—each designed to test both horse and rider in real-world ranch skills and precision horsemanship.

Ruben Chavarria, Jr

April 2, 2026 Silver City, NM – Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced today that Ruben Chavarria, Jr. has been sentenced to 66 years, he was given confinement credit for time served. He will still serve 61 years, 3 months, and 19 days in the New Mexico Department of Corrections following his conviction for multiple felony offenses involving the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 13.

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April 4, 2026 - Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced today that John Jarrott, 40, was sentenced for attempting to strangle and beat Inmate Aaron Contreras. A Lordsburg jury found Jarrott guilty of Aggravated Assault of an Inmate, a fourth-degree felony. Jarrott was sentenced to nine years and six months in the New Mexico Department of Corrections. Judge Hofacket determined the offense did not qualify as a Serious Violent Offense, but that Jarrott was considered by the court a habitual offender. Hofacket ruled that Jarrott would receive 225 days of confinement credit and was sentenced to 8 years and 3 months. Because this was considered by law a nonviolent offense, it qualifies under the New Mexico's statue EMDA (Earned Meritorious Deduction) for good behavior, which allows an inmate to reduce his sentence. Jarrott can earn "good time" that will potentially reduce his sentence to 4 years, 1 month, and 14 days.

See plan for school in the PDF at the end of the article.

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Consolidated Schools held a work session and regular meeting March 23, 2026. Members in attendance included Ashley Montenegro, Michelle Diaz, Patrick Cohn, Mike McMillan and Kimberly Klement. Superintendent William Hawkins also attended.

Work session

Hawkins said they had several meetings before spring break and the conversation had started to take form and see a taste of what the new Cliff school would be like and allowing for more discussion, comments and feedback.

Ivan Lopez, with Dekker, came to present the updated phase one floor plan and elevation of the new school in Cliff. This new building will be serving approximately 190 students. The department of public education will allow up to 56,690 square feet for the facility.