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You'll receive the Update on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
By Frost McGahey
Investigative Journalist
In 2021 Siah Correa Hemphill, a first-term state senator, was appointed to the New Mexico State Senate’s influential Finance Committee. Her assignment to that committee marked an unusually swift placement of a freshman senator to such a high-profile committee. This committee allocates money, among other things, to the state’s universities.At first Siah Hemphill worked well with Dr. Shepard considering her husband was employed as a photographer for Western New Mexico University.
According to multiple, independent sources, the fracture in their relationship occurred in March 2023 when Shepard asked for $5 million for the university from the Finance Committee. Of that amount, $500,000 was to go to the Aldo Leopold Charter School for Experiential Learning where Siah had children attending. In committee, Siah changed the allocation to $1 Million for Aldo Leopold with WNMU receiving nothing - zero dollars.
FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Arroyo and small stream flooding caused by excessive
rainfall is expected.
* WHERE...Portions of Grant County in Southwestern New Mexico, west
of Lake Roberts.
* WHEN...Until 700 PM MDT.
* IMPACTS...Water over roadways. Low water crossings along Highways
35 and 15 west of Lake Roberts may become inundated and
impassable. Run off is coming mostly from the north and is NOT
associated with the Trout Fire burn scar.
FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM MDT THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Arroyo and small stream flooding caused by excessive
rainfall is expected.
* WHERE...Portions of Grant County in Southwestern New Mexico.
* WHEN...Until 645 PM MDT.
* IMPACTS...Some low-water crossings may become impassable,
particularly along Bill Evans Road and Bill Evans Lake Road.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
Area closure provides for firefighter and public health and safety
Silver City, NM, July 15, 2025—The Gila National Forest has implemented a public safety area closure for the protection of firefighter and public health and safety during wildfire operations on the Goose Fire. The closure went into effect at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 15 and will remain in effect until wildfire operations and public safety threat is abated an the closure order is rescinded.
The area closure area includes all National Forest System (NFS) lands and those portions of NFS roads and trails within the closure boundary. The area closure lies east of the southwestern edge of the Gila Wilderness boundary; south of Gila River Trail #724 and Spring Canyon Trail #247; west of New Mexico Highway 15; and north of Tadpole Ridge Trail #232, Sheep Corral Road (Forest Road 282), Dorsey Canyon Trail #239, Packsaddle Trail #732, and the southern Gila Wilderness boundary.
SILVER CITY, NM, July 15, 2025— Heavy lightning activity last week caused multiple wildfires on the Gila National Forest. Many were immediately suppressed by fire crews. Others reached containment over the weekend and are currently monitored. Two new fires have been reported since July 13. All currently active fires are discussed below. Reports on the Turkeyfeather Fire and the Goose Fire are in separate notifications.
Wilderness Ranger District
The Pinnacle Fire (5 acres), 8 miles west of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, was reported on July 13. The fire was flown on July 14, and very minimal fire behavior was observed. The fire is burning in very steep and rugged terrain in the middle of the Gila Wilderness and will continue to be monitored. Smoke may be visible from Hwy 15.
Tuesday July 15, 2025
Reported date: July 9, 2025 Containment: 0% Cause: Lightning/Natural Size: 800 acres
Personnel: 128 Fuels: Timber, Brush Strategy: Full Suppression
Fire behavior: Running, Backing, Flanking
Operations: Yesterday, crews continued scouting Forest Road 282 to Trail 238 and patrolled the west side of the fire to check for heat. In addition, they prepared control line along Forest Road 282 and Trail 238. A limited number of aircraft are supporting operations by targeting hotspots, although no helicopters are currently assigned.
Page 1 of 154
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