Community News

SILVER CITY—Western New Mexico University (WNMU) is making strategic adjustments to the way it delivers technical and healthcare education in Luna County and across the region. These changes were prompted by the opening of the new John Arthur and Janette Smith Education Center in Deming in 2024 and by Luna County's plans to occupy the Mimbres Valley Learning Center, where WNMU Deming workforce programs are currently housed, for its own vocational programs.

As part of a broader effort to align with student and workforce needs, WNMU's trade and technical programs—including welding, electrical and construction—will transition to the university's main campus in Silver City beginning fall semester 2025.  While this represents a shift in where some programs are offered, WNMU will continue to serve Deming and the surrounding communities through an expanded focus on healthcare education and selected academic courses at the Smith Center.

Students from Aldo Leopold Charter School are pictured at La Capilla, following a field trip to the Silver City Museum to learn about primary and secondary sources and the museum archives. Silver City -- Students from Cobre and Aldo Leopold high schools, as well as fourth-graders from Silver Schools and eighth-grade students from Cobre Schools, now have a better understanding of the rich ethnic and cultural diversity of the region after participating in the Silver City Museum's education programming. 

Since the fall of last year, Debaura James has been under contract with the museum to develop the curriculum, and work with local schools to bring it to hundreds of school children. James is a former teacher at Silver Schools, and a founder of Aldo Leopold High School.

"The objective of this curricula is to help kids better understand local history with all of the diverse ethnic and cultural identity groups that have lived in Silver City," she said. 

LEVELLAND, TX (05/19/2025)-- Ketch Bays of Hurley, NM, graduated with his AS in Business Administration from South Plains College in Spring 2025.

Bays was among more than 800 students recognized for their academic achievement and resilience in a changing world. On behalf of South Plains College, we're proud to add Ketch Bays to the growing list of South Plains College alumni.

South Plains College is a comprehensive, two-year community college that serves the greater South Plains area of Texas with innovative educational programs that span the arts and sciences, technical education, continuing education and workforce development. Serving a 13-county area that comprises the southern portion of the Texas High Plains, the college's main campus is located in Levelland. SPC also offers educational programs at three locations in Lubbock - the SPC Lubbock Downtown Center, the SPC Lubbock Career and Technical Center and the SPC Reese Center - as well as an extension center in Plainview.

Silver City -- Five Silver City police officers have been promoted, following a lengthy testing and interview process. Patrol Sergeant Arthur Rascon, 48, was promoted to administrative lieutenant, Officer Andrew Little, 29, was promoted to K-9 corporal, officers Cameron Graves, 28, and Stephen Laramore, 27, were both promoted to patrol sergeant, and former Corporal Fernando Cardoza, 30, was promoted to detective. 

Patrol Sergeant Arthur Rascon, 48, was promoted to administrative lieutenantLieutenant Rascon was born in Deming, but has lived in Silver City since 1998. His new position of administrative lieutenant was created by SCPD Chief Freddie Portillo, who reconfigured administrative duties to create this new position, which includes grant writing for the department, coordinating officer training, statewide promotion of the department for recruitment purposes, and community liaison activities, including D.A.R.E., a drug and violence prevention curriculum taught by police officers, which Officer Rascon already participates in. Other duties include managing all department vehicles and equipment, and providing staff support.

Officers– (l)  Carolyn Peckham, Treasurer; Pearl Whiting, Secretary; Joni Miller, First Vice-president; Carolee Cross, President Elect; and Stacy Stollach, PresidentAt the May 9,2025 meeting of the Silver City Woman's Club, new trustees, Carolee Cross, Jeanine Jenkins, and Lorraine Anglin were installed by Kathleen Schuster. 

They join the two other trustees, Bonita Landrum and Pam Houck for the 2025-2026 year.   Officers for this year are:  Stacy Stollach, President; Carolee Cross, President-elect; Joni Miller, First Vice-President; Pearl Whiting, Secretary; and Carolyn Peckham, Treasurer. Scholarship recipients were presented to the membership. 

LEVELLAND, TX (05/14/2025)-- Ketch Bays of Hurley, NM, was named to the South Plains College Spring 2025 dean's list.

Bays was among more than 800 students named to the list.

To qualify, students must earn a GPA of 3.25 or higher and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours.

South Plains College is a comprehensive, two-year community college that serves the greater South Plains area of Texas with innovative educational programs that span the arts and sciences, technical education, continuing education and workforce development. Serving a 13-county area that comprises the southern portion of the Texas High Plains, the college's main campus is located in Levelland. SPC also offers educational programs at three locations in Lubbock - the SPC Lubbock Downtown Center, the SPC Lubbock Career and Technical Center and the SPC Reese Center - as well as an extension center in Plainview.

Silver City, NM – Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) began a new program in which a portion its cafeteria sales are donated each quarter of 2025 to a local non-profit organization. This meaningful contribution reflects GRMC's ongoing commitment to the well-being of Grant County residents.

The Commons: Center for Food Security and Sustainability was selected for Q1 (January through March 2025). Senior leaders from GRMC—including CEO Robert Whitaker, CFO Leonard Binkley, Associate Administrator Matthew Stephens, and Director of Quality Ramona Wilson—visited The Commons on Thursday, May 8, 2025, to present the donation.

Gregory "Greg" Jaurequi (1933-1992), founder of El Grito Head Start in 1969, with his four children and their burro on Chihuahua Hill, circa 1970. His vision for early childhood education continues to support families to this day. Photo courtesy of the Silver City Museum Archive.Opening Reception this Saturday, 2-4 pm

Silver City -- The Silver City Museum's acclaimed exhibit, "Nuestra Voz: The Chihuahua Hill Story," has found a permanent home on the museum's second floor, a recognition of the exhibit's enduring popularity, and the important influence this neighborhood has had in shaping the Town of Silver City. This collection of nearly 100 oral histories will be celebrated with an opening reception at the museum on Saturday, May 17, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, marking the exhibit's official opening.