Early and Absentee voting began today at the Grant County Clerk's Office. Everyone needs to get out to make their voices known at the ballot box. This year's ballot includes municipal elections, school board positions, soil and water conservation districts and a couple of school bond issues.

This link leads to a list of everyone running for office in Grant County, NM. https://candidateportal.servis.sos.state.nm.us/CandidateList.aspx?eid=2796&cty=99

GRANT COUNTY NM - Election and Voting Information
https://grantcountynm.gov/elected-officials/clerk/elections/ 

The schedule for voting is listed below:

By Lynn Janes

The town of Bayard held its regular town meeting September 27, 2021. The meeting started with Mayor Chon Fierro calling the meeting to order and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Attendance at the meeting included Mayor Chon Fierro, Mayor, Pro tem Raul Villanueva, and councilors Charles Kelly and Adrian Ortiz, Eloy Medina.

The agenda for the meeting was approved.

Public Input

Mayor Fierro reminded everyone that they had five minutes each for public input.

The following is information for the distribution of a Missing Endangered Advisory.

The New Mexico State Police is seeking the public's assistance in locating Erica Zamora, a Hispanic female, thirty-nine-year-old, five-foot-two-inches tall, weighing 230 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Ms. Zamora has a scar on her left elbow. Ms. Zamora was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt and black spandex. She was last seen around 7:00 a.m., on September 29, 2021, at her residence on Rio De Arenas in Arenas Valley, New Mexico. Erica Zamora is missing and is believed to be in DANGER if not located.

Anyone with any information regarding this Missing Endangered Advisory is asked to call the New Mexico State Police at (575) 382-2500 or 911.

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Consolidated Schools held its regular meeting September 20, 2021. President Ashley Montenegro called the meeting to order. The members and audience said the Pledge of Allegiance was not said.[Editor's Note: The Pledge of Allegiance was said, according to Superintendent Hawkins and IT Director Benjamin Potts, who explained to the Beat : "...the board began the meeting without verification that the streaming setup was ready, and so the Facebook and Youtube feeds had a gap where the audio and video for both were being transferred over."] 

Other board members in attendance were Patrick Cohn, Michelle Diaz, Eddie Flores, Mike McMillan. Superintendent William Hawkins also attended.

The meeting started with a work session interviewing candidates for strategic planning. The school board members looked at three different companies and two were picked to give a short presentation of their plan to the board, School Architects and Studer Education Group.

Jenai Ali Emmel, CEO and founder from School Architects presented first. She said they had been in business since 2012. They would align to a new vision and organizational design. The company uses a needs assessment with four options. They look at the strengths and challenges of the schools. The board asked if she had done any other schools in New Mexico. She had not worked directly with any but had worked indirectly through other businesses. She was asked if she implemented the plan and she replied she could do both the plan and implementation. Curriculum was addressed and she said they do not do that but could find someone that could help them. She went on to say that they are looking at the big picture for the schools. She was asked what the process looked like should they be hired. Interviewing at all levels would take place and it could be done in person or virtual, and it would take 2-5 days, however on site was preferable.

Members hear good financial news

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Gila Regional Medical Center Governing Board held its monthly meeting on Sept. 28, 2021. Four of the five members, who are also Grant County Commissioners took part in the meeting. Chair Alicia Edwards, Members Harry Browne and Chris Ponce attended in person. Javier "Harvey" Salas attended by telephone and Vice Chair Billy Billings was unable to attend.

Members recognized Robert Scott for 10 years of service at GRMC in nursing.

With no public input, they went into executive session.

Following executive session, when they came back into regular session, they approved the consent agenda of minutes from the Aug. 26, 2021, board meeting.

Under reports/updates, the first to speak was Interim Chief Executive Officer Scott Manis. He noted the hospital continues to adhere to the governor's public health order on masks and vaccinations. "We are in the 87 percent range for employees being vaccinated. Those who are not vaccinated have to provide a medical or a religious exemption as well as submit to weekly testing."

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport-McMoRan Publishes Climate Report and Announces Net Zero Aspiration

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) today announced the publication of its updated Climate Report which details the work underway across its global business to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve energy efficiency, advance the use of renewable energy and understand and enhance the company's resilience to future climate-related risks. The Climate Report reflects the company's continued progress towards alignment with the current recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Richard C. Adkerson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said: "As both a major consumer of energy, and as one of the world's largest producers of the copper essential to enable the global energy transition, Freeport aspires to participate in, and positively contribute to, a 2050 net zero economy. Our path to net zero carbon emissions will require industry-wide new technological solutions and innovation. We embrace these challenges and are focused on achieving meaningful progress through our internal efforts and through collaboration with industry partners. We are in the process of integrating our climate initiatives into our long-term business plans as we work to responsibly produce copper for the benefit of all stakeholders."

In 2020, FCX published its inaugural climate report, established a 15% GHG emissions intensity reduction target for the Americas copper business by 2030, and committed to aligning its future climate reports with the recommendations of the TCFD.