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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.
[No photo available]
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.
By Lynn Janes
The town of Bayard held a regular meeting March 18, 2026. Attendance included Mayor John L. Ojinaga, Mayor Pro Tem Eloy Gonzales, and Councilors Eloy Medina, , Gilbert Ortiz and Charles Gray. Martha Salas, city clerk, also attended.
The council approved the agenda.
Public input none currently.
The council approved the consent agenda that included minutes from two meetings, accounts payable and department head reports. It also included the city clerk attending a regional housing forum, annual spring certification meeting for the clerk, deputy clerk and finance officers. The consent agenda also included for wastewater employees to attend a rural water association conference.
Planning and zoning
Cordell Jones, planning and zoning chair, had two recommendations to present to the council.
On March 30, 2026 Caitlyn Wilguess, 29, of Bayard was arrested on an Arrest Warrant after Grant County Sheriff's Office Detectives were able to identify the vehicle, driver, gather evidence, conduct interviews, and have charges approved.
Ms. Wilguess was driving on Highway 180 during the early morning hours of March 6, 2026 when she struck a male pedestrian, Bradley "Brad" Harp, 28, a resident of Hurley, with a Ford F-150. Ms. Wilguess continued out of the area after striking Mr. Harp on the highway. Grant County Sheriff's Office Detectives were called out to the scene and the investigation began.
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