Front Page News

Espirideon Varela

May 15, 2026 I Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced today that Espirideon Varela, 27, was found guilty by a Grant County jury. The jury convicted Varela on:

Count 1: Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer, 4th Degree Felony;
Counts 4 & 5: Possession of a Controlled Substance, a 4th Degree Felony;
Count 8: Resisting, Evading, or Obstructing an Officer Arrest, Misdemeanor;
Count 9: Open Container, Misdemeanor;
Count 10: Expired Registration of a Motor vehicle, Misdemeanor.

This case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Joseph P. Silva and Assistant District Attorney Devorah Kalani.

On October 29, 2024, Silver City police initiated a traffic stop on a truck due to a suspended registration. The driver, Varela, refused the officer’s orders to exit the vehicle and sped away. Officers pursued the truck through residential streets but eventually lost sight of it.

By Roger Lanse

On the morning of Thursday, May 14, 2026, at about 6:30 a.m., a Silver City Police Department vehicle driven by an SCPD officer struck a bicyclist on Highway 90 near Camino Tolteca. According to SCPD Chief Freddie Portillo, although the New Mexico State Police is handling the investigation of the incident, his department is also conducting a full internal review.

Two photo essays, one by Mary Alice Murphy at each venue and the second one thanks to Franky DeAngelis of the bicycle "fly  over" in the afternoon.

The  Street Jam, a three-day event from May 15-17, 2026,  took place in four locations  in downtown Silver City.

Franky DeAngelis had chalk art on the sidewalk in front of his studio. Saba Arrowsoul, a Navajo painter and T-shirt artist, set up a trading post in the former Blue Dome Gallery. Living Arts Studio had various activities set up for adults and children, along with a DJ providing music. In front of the Twin Sisters Cyling and Fitness, a graffitied vehicle continued to be painted on Saturday, in preparation for an event in the afternoon, which featured  bicyclists aiming to "fly" over it.

Gila National Forest

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https://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/gila

MAP below. 

Hummingbird Fire containment increases

Silver City, NM, May 15, 2026 — Firefighters continue to actively engage the Hummingbird Fire, currently mapped at 5,720 acres with 76% containment, located 15 miles east of Glenwood, NM in the Gila Wilderness.

Yesterday, firefighters identified a new location to halt fire spread and conducted suppression actions near the Blue Fire and the Daisy Fire burn scars (2025), limiting further spread to the southwest. Suppression efforts continue today, aided by an additional hotshot crew assigned to the incident.

Yuridia Gziola of Deming has been located. 

See more information in the PDF below about the Missing Endangered 17-year-old Yuridia Gaxiola of Deming

Silver City -- Wednesday morning, May 13th, at 1:34 am, Silver City Police Officers responded to multiple calls reporting a shooting in the downtown area. Grant County Regional Dispatch received calls that a female had been shot, and was being transported to Gila Regional Medical Center.

Officers investigated and found that the victim, a juvenile, had been shot in the back while seated in the passenger side of a vehicle. She was later airlifted to an undisclosed hospital for treatment of her injuries.

By Lynn Janes

(Writers note: this article was written using the minutes provided by the Village of Santa Clara)

The Village of Santa Clara held a regular meeting April 9, 2026. Mayor Arnold Lopez called the meeting to order. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza, trustees, Peter Erickson and Olga Amador attended. Ralph Trujillo did not attend.

The council approved the agenda, past meeting minutes and department reports.

Mayor's report

Lopez had been on fire assignment in Ruidoso for a 400-acre fire for a week. Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) had approved the dirt work to do the work needed to start the pump track. Lopez said the work that had been done on the animal shelter looked great and the splash park will be opening soon. Amador added that the music in the park would begin in June.

Public comments none currently

New business

Senator Gabriel Ramos and Representative Luis Terrazas had not been able to attend to provide an update on the legislature.

The council approved the application by Dolores Maynes to move a 28 x 60 foot 2026 Solitaire double wide home to 607 Fort Bayard Street.

The council approved the Maple Street sidewalk improvements.

The council approved increasing the fee for yard trash pickup to $80 per load.

Resolutions

The council approved resolution 2026-04 for the donation of surplus equipment.

The council approved resolution 2026-05 authorizing the assignment of official representatives.

Proclamations

The council approved the declaration of stage one fire restrictions.

The council went into closed session.

The council came back into open session.

Second regular meeting will be April 23, 2026, at 5:00 pm
First regular meeting will be May 14, 2026, at 6:00 pm

Meeting Adjourned

Anthony Gonzalez

May 13, 2026 — Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced that 31-year-old Anthony J. Gonzalez is being held without bond in Grant County after being charged with 4 Counts of Criminal Sexual Penetration (1st Degree Felony), 3 counts of Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor (2nd Degree Felony), 2 counts Child Abuse (3rd Degree Felony), 1 count Intimidation of a Witness (3rd Degree Felony) and 1 count of Aggravated Stalking (4th Degree Felony).  The Silver City police investigation began after a call was made to Grant County Central Dispatch regarding a Domestic disturbance complaint.