Community News

Silver City, NM — On Saturday, June 7th, Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) hosted its fifteenth Jump Into Summer event. The event saw an impressive turnout with over 475 registered participants and more than 650 anticipated attendees.

Attendees had the opportunity to engage with various local healthcare system participants, including HMS' Behavioral Health, Dental, Family Support, Human Resources and Credentialing, I.T., Medical, Nursing, and Senior Services divisions.

Natalee Drissell has been awarded the P.E.O. New Mexico State Scholarship toward her Junior Year enrollment this fall. She will be attending New Mexico State University as an Art major with a minor in English, continuing to use art as a platform for communication and community building. She says, "In a world where communication, acceptance, and peace are not often prioritized, I want to offer the people around me a kinder version of the world that we can then strive to build together." Until now, Drissell has been attending Western New Mexico University where she was president of the Art Club and a work-study facilitator at the university's McCray Gallery and Miller Library. Chapter BR of P.E.O. sought to sponsor Drissell for this competitive scholarship because of her vision, as well as her many skills and accomplishments, including two years as a member of the university's Millennium III Honors Program. She has been active in and honored by multiple organizations during her time in Silver City. Her creative writing and poetry have both won awards. Natalee will be spending this summer participating in a program at the New York Academy of Art.

P.E.O. (Philanthropic Education Organization) Sisterhood has been celebrating women helping women for more than 150 years.

Left to Right - Lucy Whitmarsh, Charles Manger, Margaret Shoemaker, Diane LeBlanc, Brenda Tozier, Bonnie Mounyo, Laura WiestThe Jacob Bennett Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution worked on placing flags for Memorial Day, Flag Day and July 4th at Veterans Graves at the Masonic Cemetery in Silver City and the Pinos Altos Cemetery in Pinos Altos, New Mexico. Our chapter members had help from 4h members and the husband of one of our members.

We expect to see flags on Memorial Day and July 4th but are surprised when flags are flown on June 14, which is Flag Day every year. Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the American flag, also known as the Stars and Stripes, by the Second Continental Congress. June 14th recognizes the day in 1777 when the Congress officially approved the design of the flag, which included thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, and thirteen stars, white on a blue field representing the original thirteen colonies. 

Hidalgo Medical Services welcome new medical and behavioral health staff members.

[Editor's Note: On this editor's computer, the PDF of the four pages of providers shows up in Safari, but only the first page shows in Firefox, but you can download it. It shows up fine on my phone, which also uses Safari. Unable to figure out the problem after two days!]

SILVER CITY, N.M. - After more than two decades of wearing nearly every hat in Mustang Athletics, Matt Enriquez has been named the Interim Athletics Director at Western New Mexico University.

A WNMU Athletic Hall of Famer and former standout player, Enriquez is entering his 21st year at the university, serving as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator. Most recently, he has held the title of Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations Affairs, where he's overseen budget management, event operations, and provided sport supervision for Men's and Women's Basketball, as well as Men's and Women's Golf.

Cassie Carver, SCRAR President Elect and Christoper BennettCongratulations to Christopher Bennett, a graduating senior from Silver High School, on being awarded a 2025 scholarship from the Silver City Regional Association of REALTORS®!

This fall, Christopher will attend New Mexico State University, where he plans to major in Agriculture Education and Extension with the goal of becoming an Agricultural Teacher. Christopher is the son of Shawnda and Timothy Bennett. Shawnda is with our affiliate member Grant County Title Co.

Throughout high school, Christopher consistently earned a place on the A/B or A Honor Roll. He has been actively involved in 4-H, serving as both Council Treasurer and President, and has also participated in FFA and baseball. His dedication to community service includes volunteering with the Grant County Fair Board, Farm & Livestock Bureau, and Wreaths Across America.

Lordsburg, NM — As Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) marks 30 years of service to the people of Hidalgo and Grant Counties, the HMS Board of Directors wishes to directly address recent public concerns and reaffirm its unwavering commitment to the patients, staff, and communities it serves.

In recent weeks, HMS has been the subject of misleading public allegations. "While we take all concerns seriously, we want to be clear: these claims are not based on fact and do not reflect the quality, professionalism, or integrity of this organization or its workforce," said Dan Otero, DBA, Chief Executive Officer of HMS. "All relevant records have been made available to regulatory agencies; we continuously work to recruit and retain the best talent to serve our rural community; and we are careful managers of our community's health and social services needs, regardless of an individual's ability to pay."

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Robert A. Montoya, of Albuquerque, NM, successfully completed four years of challenging academic, physical, and professional military training, graduating from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering and a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. Montoya is a graduate of Cobre High School in Bayard, NM. At the academy, Montoya was a member of the 31st Company, Latin American Studies Club, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Catholic Midshipman Club and founding member of the United States Naval Academy Mariachi Group, Mariachi Marinero, of which he is currently serving as President with the rank of Midshipman Lieutenant.

Founded in 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy today is a prestigious four-year service academy that prepares midshipmen morally, mentally and physically to be professional officers in the naval service. More than 4,400 men and women representing every state in the U.S. and several foreign countries make up the student body, known as the Brigade of Midshipmen.