Mobile home fire on Alice Street

By Roger Lanse

A single-wide, occupied, mobile home on the corner of Main and Alice streets in Silver City suffered minimal fire damage to one corner of the building and smoke damage to the interior on Monday, Apr. 6. According to Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Fell, Silver City Fire Department personnel were working in the area testing hydrants when they noticed smoke coming from underneath the trailer and called dispatch then helped an adult female exit the home. A fire suppression crew of seven personnel, an ambulance (the vehicle of the hydrant testers), and two Class A pumpers arrived on scene about 3:30 p.m. extinguishing the fire about an hour later.

Fell told the Beat that a cause for the fire has yet to be determined as the incident is still under investigation.

Updated New Mexico COVID-19 cases: Now at 794

Update includes one additional death related to COVID-19

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Tuesday announced 109 additional positive tests for COVID-19.

Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:
42 new cases in Bernalillo County
1 new case in Chaves County
1 new case in Cibola County
2 new cases in Curry County
5 new cases in Doña Ana County
1 new case in Grant County
11 new cases in McKinley County
24 new cases in San Juan County
18 new cases in Sandoval County
2 new cases in Santa Fe County
1 new case in Taos County
1 new case in Torrance County
Today’s announced cases include additional positive tests from the La Vida Llena long-term care facility in Albuquerque, where as of today, 24 residents and 23 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

The New Mexico Department of Health has identified clusters of COVID-19 cases at San Felipe Pueblo and Zia Pueblo, both in Sandoval County, where community spread has been identified. State health officials are working with tribal officials to contain the spread of COVID-19 and provide care to those who have tested positive. NMDOH has conducted extensive testing in both pueblos, where the current numbers of residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 are:
​San Felipe Pueblo: 52
​Zia Pueblo: 31
The Department of Health on Tuesday also reported one additional death in New Mexico related to COVID-19.

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Governor, Department of Health answer questions from faith-based communities on COVID-19 precautions to limit gatherings

SANTA FE – New Mexico's faith-based organizations, working together with schools, businesses, healthcare systems, and state, local and tribal health departments, play an important role in slowing the spread of COVID-19, especially among high-risk populations.

With Passover and Holy Week approaching and Ramadan soon after that, the following questions and answers are intended to help faith leaders keep their communities together while abiding by the state's public health orders:

Q: How can we hold a religious ceremony and still adhere to social distancing and crowd sizes?

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Three confirmed COVID-19 cases at Chino Mines

Late in the day on April 1, a Chino Mines employee notified the company about having tested positive for COVID-19. This employee was last at work the morning of March 26. The employees who were identified as having close contact with this individual were immediately directed to self-quarantine. The office area where this employee worked was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The workforce was notified of the positive case early on April 2.

On April 3, Freeport-McMoRan was notified by health-care providers that other employees were tested and some may have been exhibiting symptoms. Upon learning this, the company immediately sent a communication to employees stating that they should go home immediately if feeling ill and stressed the importance of adhering to recommended social distancing guidelines.

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Grant County Commission declares Health Emergency 031920

By Hallie Richwine

The Grant County Commission called an Emergency Meeting March 19, 2020.

Chairman Chris Ponce thanked the commissioners for the approval of the emergency meeting agenda.

County Manager Charlene Webb explained Resolution R-20-16. "The reason for this declaration is that under these circumnsatnces, in order for the County to receive additional funding, we need to have declared an emergency in correlation with what has been declared by the State."

"The most recent order recommended gatherings of less than 10 people and the County building is closed," Webb continued.

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Grant County Commission Regular Meeting 031920

By: Hallie Richwine

The regular meeting of the Grant County Commission happened March 19, 2020 at the Grant County Administration building. Commissioner Alicia Edwards joined the meeting by phone.

The Commissioners first reviewed two proclamations. The first was the Proclamation of April 2020 as Continental Divide Trail month. County Manager Charlene Webb said the event was cancelled or postponed so she asked that any action be tabled.

The second Proclamation was the consideration of a Proclamation declaring April 2020 as Imagination Library Month. Webb asked that the commissioners proceed but that they will mail the proclamation to the entity. Kevin Hubbs read the proclamation aloud, and you can view it below the article.

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