Community News

Silver City, NM – Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) is pleased to announce that the Silver City Gospel Mission has been selected as the recipient of the Q2 Gila Regional CARES Program donation, funded through proceeds generated by cafeteria sales.

The Gila Regional CARES Program reflects GRMC's commitment to giving back to the communities it serves by supporting local nonprofit organizations that are making a meaningful impact throughout Grant County.

Since 1985, the Silver City Gospel Mission has served local individuals and families by helping meet basic needs such as food, clothing, support services, and connections to community resources. The Mission provides daily meals, food assistance, clothing, hygiene services, and compassionate support for those facing hardship.

Kim Petrovic and Christine DeBolt have been appointed to the Board of Trustees, filling the positions previously held by Will Hawkins and Betty Vega.

Their terms of service will begin on July 15, 2026, and continue through July 15, 2029.

Fred Fox, MD, has been reappointed to the Board and continues through July 15, 2029.

The following Board officers were elected during yesterday's Special Board Meeting:

Board Chair: Seth Traeger

Board Vice Chair: Gail Stamler

Secretary/Treasurer: Patricia McIntire (continuing in her current role)

Participants at a CLAY Festival event hosted by WNMU learn from headlining artistsSILVER CITY, NM — The annual CLAY Festival returned last month with expanded programming for local families, art students and visitors alike, while renewing its founding legacy. Initiated in 2011, the event has operated under the organizational umbrella of Western New Mexico University for several years.

According to Elizabeth ("Lizzie") Slegeir, the WNMU program manager managing the festival, the primary focus for this year was on convergence while celebrating divergence. 

"This is a major new chapter of growth for us," Slegeir said. "While the transition and the pandemic required a period of rebuilding, we have officially found our stride. We are firmly rooted, moving forward, and inviting new collaborators to shape what comes next."

DAR Chapter members (L to R) Susan Bryant, Mary O. Parker, Lucy Whitmarsh, Diane LeBlanc, Brenda Tozier, and Gail Firebaugh Smith.  Photo by Jeff Parker.SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO:  The local Jacob Bennett Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was selected to lead Silver City's America 250 Independence Day Parade as Grand Marshal. It was especially meaningful in this milestone anniversary as all DAR members have proven lineage back to a patriot ancestor who helped achieve America's independence during the Revolutionary War. The DAR Jacob Bennett Chapter also has a long history in Silver City. It was established here 123 years ago in 1903, in what was then New Mexico territory.

Chapter Regent Lucy Whitmarsh remarked, "It was exciting to be part of our community's celebration of America's 250th birthday. We were honored to have this special opportunity to remember and honor the brave men and women who valiantly fought in many ways for our independence and freedoms."

WNMU Associate Dean COE and Professor TESOL/Bilingual College of Education Alexandra Neves, Ph.DSILVER CITY, NM — The Association of Bilingual Education New Mexico (ABE NM) officially recognized Associate Dean COE and Professor TESOL/Bilingual College of Education Alexandra Neves, Ph.D. as the recipient of the 2026 University Bilingual Education Professor of the Year Award. The honor was presented during a formal ceremony held in April, celebrating Neves for her distinguished career and her unwavering advocacy for the educational success of students throughout the state.

The University Bilingual Education Professor of the Year Award is reserved for individuals who demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to bilingual and dual-language programs. The ceremony brought together leaders in the field to celebrate the visionaries moving the needle on language acquisition and cultural preservation in the Southwest. Neves accepted the award alongside colleagues and peers, marking a significant milestone in her professional journey.

"This recognition belongs to our students and the vibrant communities of New Mexico who remind us every day that language is not just a tool for communication, but a bridge to our heritage and our future," Neves said. "Empowering the next generation of educators to view bilingualism as a primary asset is the most rewarding work of my career," Neves said. 

Several Council 8003 members receive awards

Michelle Alvarado named LULAC Educator of the Year

.Socorro, New Mexico was the site of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) State Convention. The one-day event held on Saturday, June 13 was well attended and had Representative councils from Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Alamogordo and Silver City.

Reelected to serve as the New Mexico State LULAC Director was Javi Marrufo of Silver City. Others elected to state offices included; Lynn Godoy Baca, treasurer, and Marivel Medel, Deputy for Young Adults. Fred Baca was appointed District III Director for the region that includes Silver City and two Las Cruces Councils.

Silver City, N.M. – July 3, 2026 – Gila Regional Medical Center today announced a new partnership with Vituity, the nation's largest physician-owned and physician-led medical partnership, to provide Emergency Medicine services at the hospital.

The partnership marks an exciting new chapter for both organizations. For Gila Regional Medical Center, it reinforces a commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered emergency care for the residents of Grant County and surrounding communities. For Vituity, the partnership represents its first practice location in New Mexico, expanding the organization's national footprint and bringing its physician-led model to a new state.

After nearly a year of research, training, and preparation, the Silver City Museum's Living History Project will officially make its public debut during this year's Fourth of July Ice Cream Social.

Visitors will have the opportunity to step back in time as three historical figures from Grant County stroll the museum grounds in authentic period dress, ready to share stories from another era. Rather than simply reading about local history on exhibit panels, guests will be able to meet the people who helped shape it.

Making their debut are **Theora Ailman**, portrayed by Phyllis McQuaide; **Madame Millie**, portrayed by Barb Totherow; and **Ben Lilly**, portrayed by Charlie Vana.