Community News

SILVER CITY, NM — Earlier this year, Level 4 nursing students from Western New Mexico University launched a high-impact clinical collaboration with Gila Regional Medical Center centered on the Strive for 5 Initiative. The partnership represents a sophisticated integration of academic rigor and frontline healthcare, aimed at enhancing patient safety and clinical outcomes through five core pillars of nursing excellence.

The Strive for 5 program focuses on critical areas of acute care: medication accuracy, falls prevention, infection control, effective communication during hand-offs and patient-centered rounding. For the Level 4 students—who are in their next-to-final semester before graduation and then passing the licensure exam required to enter the workforce as registered nurses—this initiative serves as a definitive clinical experience that integrates complex theory and high-stakes practice.

Silver City, NM – Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) is expanding diabetes prevention, education, and wellness efforts across southwest New Mexico through strong partnerships with the University of New Mexico (UNM) ECHO Program, New Mexico State University (NMSU) Extension Service, and local community organizations. HMS CEO Dan Otero serves on the UNM Community Advisory Panel for the $10.8 million dollar, multi-year research project Diabetes and Multiple Chronic Conditions (E4DMMC). This research is helping advance initiatives that promote health equity and improve care for individuals living with or at risk for diabetes.

[Editor's Note: This article by Marilyn Markel was previously published in the Mimbres Messenger. Most of the photos were taken by Markel, except for the one of the entire group with their posters, which was pulled from the Western New Mexico University Facebook page.]

A  group of twenty-five archaeologists and field school students arrived at the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site (MCHS) the last week in May and MCHS volunteers were on hand to greet the group and give a warm welcome to the "college kids." The field crew stayed at MCHS for about six weeks.

The students, led by Dr. Fumi Arakawa of IU, were researching an archaeological site on a ranch in the lower Mimbres Valley. The site dates to the post-Mimbres time period called the Black Mountain Phase (late1100s and the 1200s A.D.).

Gila Community Foundation Announces Recipients of Southline Community Investment Program (SCIP) Spring Grant Cycle
July 21, 2026 – Silver City, NM

The Gila Community Foundation (GCF) is proud to announce the completion of the spring 2026 Southline Community Investment Program (SCIP) grant cycle.

More than 40 nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations from Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, and Doña Ana counties applied, requesting over $321,000.00 in total funding to support critical community needs.

Grant County, in conjunction with H20 Partners Inc, initiated the process of updating the 2020 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in September of 2025.

The process has been completed and the 2026 Grant County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Update has been finalized. A draft copy of the Plan Update is available for the public to review and to provide comments. The purpose of developing the Plan Update is to minimize or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from wildfire through effective mitigation.

Ray Jaramillo, MS, adjunct professor of early childhood education at WNMU and the cover of his latest children's book, "Gust, Gust, Gust The Next Beat."SILVER CITY, NM — Ray Jaramillo, MS, adjunct professor of early childhood education at Western New Mexico University, announced the publication of his latest children's book, "Gust, Gust, Gust The Next Beat." Following the success of his previous work, "Gust, Gust, Gust!" this new release shifts its focus from the unpredictable regional weather to a heartwarming exploration of family bonds, cultural rhythm, and the evolving ways communities stay connected.

The narrative weaves together traditional Southwest cultural themes with contemporary elements, exploring how families bridge distances to maintain close relationships. Grounded in Jaramillo's extensive background in early childhood development, the book serves as both an engaging story for young readers and a pedagogical tool for parents and educators navigating modern family dynamics.

While "Gust Gust Gust!" looked at how we react to the literal and figurative storms life throws at us, "Gust, Gust, Gust The Next Beat" is about connection. It reflects how traditions adapt, how children find rhythm in their daily lives, and how love transcends physical distance—even through modern tools like telehealth and digital communication.

See the two PDFs below for the information

After Wildfire New Mexico is a resource created to help New Mexico communities, homeowners, landowners, and local governments navigate the critical period following a wildfire. Whether you are returning home, seeking recovery assistance, or organizing a community response, the After Wildfire Guide provides clear steps and reliable resources to help you stay safe and begin recovery with confidence.

The Guide was updated in Spring 2026 by a large group of partners from across the state, and New Mexico Forestry Division subsequently developed an interactive StoryMap version of After Wildfire. The StoryMap features easy-to-navigate sections, clickable links, and embedded resources, making it easier to quickly find the information and tools you need. Click this link for full-screen viewing of the StoryMap: https://arcg.is/1zXGPC4 or visit After Wildfire Guide — Fire Adapted NM