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HMS has opened a new location on the east side of HMS Med Square, at 114 W 11th St, Silver City, NM, for a specialized care program called: HMS' New Beginnings Psychosocial Rehabilitation program. This program provides a supportive group atmosphere for participants to learn and practice skills and identify and achieve individualized goals related to basic living skills, psychosocial skills, therapeutic socialization, and consumer empowerment.
The new location is now open Monday through Friday, 10 am – 3 pm. This location offers an expanded place to offer a variety of skills-building activities to enrich participants' lives. These activities are intended to foster self-care and work towards building a healthy network of family, friends, and community involvement. There is also a new kitchen for creating and sharing lunches together and new computer stations for participants to use.
[Editor's Note: This author didn't look at her calendar and forgot to go to the meeting. Fortunately, one of the committee members and veteran Al Gamboa recorded it, and this article is written from the recording]
By Mary Alice Murphy
Alfred Ogas serves as the chair of the committee planning an 80th anniversary commemoration of the Bataan Death March, which hit Silver City and Grant County hard. The ceremony will take place on April 9, 2022, at Bataan Memorial Park on the day the march began 80 years ago on April 9, 1942.
Ogas said 112 Grant Countians were involved in the march. They were serving in the 200th Coastal Artillery in the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7, 1943. "They were in the front lines from the beginning. They were among the 700+ New Mexicans also serving in the Philippines at the time."
[Editor's Note: This is the fourth of several articles to cover the presentations on Jan. 11, 2022 and the review of the regular meeting that would take place on Jan. 13, 2022. This one begins with county reports.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
After the presentations at the Grant County Commission work session on Jan. 11, 2022, commissioners heard county reports.
County Manager Tim Zamora gave the first report. "We continue to work on a reorganization of the county manager's office. I am getting ready for the upcoming legislative session. The bond attorney will be on the telephone for discussion. Over the next couple of weeks, I will spend a lot of days in Santa Fe. I would also like to have a discussion on the proposed step plan for county employees."
District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce said: "We need to spend some time on the animal control contract. We get complaints from people who are seeing animals tied up and abused. Another thing we need to talk about is code enforcement. We need to get some teeth in the ordinance."
District 3 Commissioner Alicia Edwards expanded on the code enforcement issues. "It has to do with code enforcement and abandoned buildings."
By Roger Lanse
On Jan. 16, 2022, at approximately 12:22 a.m. the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority informed the Silver City Police Department that a caller deployed to Kuwait for the last seven months, advised that his wife and three kids were missing. According to an SCPD incident report, the caller advised that his wife had set out on a road trip on Jan. 8, 2022, from Tucson to Boca Raton, Florida, to visit his mother and some of her family members but had stopped texting and calling him four days earlier (Jan.12). She was driving a silver 2010 Dodge Caravan with an Arizona license plate and pulling a white camping trailer. Caller also stated she should have their 5-year-old black Labrador with them.
The caller stated he saw transactions at the 'Cliff Gila National Monument' on Jan. 17, and at Little Toad Creek on Jan. 15. He said he contacted his wife's aunt in Massachusetts who said his wife had contacted her about Jan. 12, from Silver City. An SCPD officer attempted to contact the aunt but without success.
By Roger Lanse
Wednesday morning, Jan. 19, 2022, at about 4:45 a.m., as a group of Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies were leaving Denny’s restaurant after a meal break, they noticed a male walking east on Silver Heights Blvd with something in his hand. Soon after they heard three loud bangs and saw the male sprinting from the area of the Marathon Gas Station.
According to a GCSO offense report, all deputies left the restaurant’s parking lot to locate the male. One deputy, Matthew Madrid, caught up to the male as the male was running north on Silver Street. The male was yelling, “I didn’t do anything,” and pulling up his pants as he ran. When the male hopped a fence, Deputy Madrid did the same and tackled him in the yard of 1902 N. Swan Street. The male was identified as Shaun Montoya due to prior experiences with him, the report said, and he was placed in the back of one of the patrol units.
By Lynn Janes
The town of Bayard held its regular town meeting January 10, 2022. The meeting started with Mayor Chon Fierro calling the meeting to order and leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attendance at the meeting included Mayor Chon Fierro, Mayor Pro tem Raul Villanueva, and councilors, Adrian Ortiz and Eloy Medina. Also, in attendance newly elected councilors Jose Diaz and Frances Gonzales.
The agenda for the meeting was approved
Public Input
A woman attending expressed concerns over the new police chief that was being hired. Mayor Fierro said he had worked with the city before but left to further his education. Mr. Cornel Stemley, new police chief, addressed the question. He said he returned to Bayard to give back to his community.
By Lynn Janes
The Silver City Consolidated Schools held a work session meeting January 17, 2022. President Ashley Montenegro called the meeting to order. Other board members in attendance included Michelle Diaz, Patrick Cohn, Eddie Flores, Mike McMillan. Superintendent William Hawkins also attended.
The agenda for the work session was approved.
Judge Laney did the swearing in of the reelected board members. She swore in Patrick Cohn, Ashley Montenegro and Michelle Diaz. They swore to uphold the United States Constitution and the constitution and laws of New Mexico. The also swore to defend against all enemies both foreign and domestic and to discharge their duties to the best of their ability both faithfully and impartially.
Hawkins brought attention to the Silver High School art student's drawings on the wall.
The members adjourned the work session for dinner and to enjoy the many talented students that had their artwork displayed.
Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Pastor Waldo Winborn gave the opening prayer
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Alfonso Wilson introduced the keynote speaker, William Hawkins
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Silver Schools Superintendent William D. "Will" Hawkins served as keynote speaker
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Breya Brown was the first student speaker
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Eric Guerrero was the second student speaker
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Student Body President Richard Mubanga was the third speaker
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Lucy-Mae Denton introduced the first Hall of Fame recipient
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner was the first to be inducted into the Hall of Fame
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Frances Vasquez introduced the third Hall of Fame recipient, Christina Wolford
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Christina Wolford accepted the induction to the Hall of Fame.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony at WNMU 011722
Jessica Morales gave the closing remarks.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrated at WNMU 011722
Several presenters and audience members posed for a photos after the event concluded. From left are Freya Brown, Hurley Police Chief Steven Gallegos, Bayard Police Chief Cornel Stemley, Waldo Winborn, Isaac Brundage, Will Hawkins and Richard Mubanga
Western New Mexico University Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Isaac Brundage served as emcee for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, which took place at Light Hall on the WNMU campus on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022.
"I am welcoming all of you to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day on behalf of our university President Dr. Joseph Shepard," Brundage said.
He introduced Brewer Hill Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Waldo Winborn, who opened the event with a prayer. "Thank you, Lord, for bringing us Martin Luther King Jr. who showed us the way to turn back to your kingdom."
