Front Page News

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a board retreat on March 31, 2025. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, David Terrazas, Emmarie Heredia and Angelina Hardin. Superintendent Michael Koury also attended along with Charlene Fletcher executive secretary / board secretary.

They had the retreat at the parent center located at Bayard Elementary School. Evan Grasser and Cari Lemon facilitated the retreat with conversations and exercises to help the board get to know each other better and build the team. Grasser owns Principals L.E.A.D. and she works with schools and districts to develop leadership skills. Lemon works locally to help individuals and organizations to get unstuck and soar to the best versions of themselves.

Photos from east side of Gough Park of the booths and activities at the CDT Trail Days on April 19, 2025 by Mary Alice Murphy

Courtesy notice of impacts to roads April 23-27, 2025

Silver City, NM — Some southwest New Mexico roads and highways will be impacted while the 38th Tour of the Gila runs. The five-day bicycling stage race attracts athletes from across the world and is slated to run from Wednesday, April 23, through Sunday, April 27.

For the safety of athletes, some road closures will occur in conjunction with the event.

The race organization thanks residents for their patience and asks for continued respect for the visitors taking on this spectacular challenge. The schedule of closures is subject to change without notice at any time. Organizers will attempt to share changes on TourOfTheGila.com .

Wreaths Across America (WAA) at Fort Bayard National Cemetery has been ranked the #1 sponsorship site in New Mexico for 2024!

Thanks to the local WAA '24 Crew's successful planning and work, and certainly due to outstanding community support as well, 4908 wreaths were placed on  veterans' markers at Fort Bayard. This was the sixth year in a row that each veteran's marker there has been remembered and honored with a wreath over the Christmas holiday season.

The Beat called Southwest Solid Waste Authority to find out why the cardboard recycling bins have not been in the Harbor Freight parking lot the past two weeks.

The explanation given was that they have a truck down , so it is slowing their pick up and replacement, which includes Hurley, Mimbres, Cliff and Silver City.

Another call to Alex Brown, Town of Silver City manager, who serves on the SWSWA board, resulted in the Beat finding out that the one at Harbor Freight would not be returning to the location at the request of the business owner.

Brown said they are currently looking for another location, perhaps returning one to the Grant County Administration Center parking lot, but at this point anyone wishing to recycle cardboard locally in Silver City will have to take a trip to the dump.

Watch Worldclass Bike Racing at 38th Tour of the Gila 

Pro and Amateur Competitors To Race in Silver City Next Week

Silver City, NM — For the 38th year, Tour of the Gila invites visitors to southwest New Mexico for the annual opportunity to watch top bicycling talent compete on the roads in and around Silver City. Set for Wednesday, April 23, through Sunday, April 27, 2025, Tour of the Gila provides both competitive pro bicyclists and amateur athletes with an iconic challenge. 

As cyclists pedal scenic racecourses over five days, fans can watch and even get involved through volunteering. Recreational cyclists of all ages can join in on their own bikes during the citizen fun races.

The most spectator-friendly stage is the Downtown Silver City Criterium on Saturday, April 26. Adding to the competitive atmosphere, centered around support for the athletes, is a beer garden for adults and kid-friendly activities for the youngest fans.

“My favorite part of the entire week is when the tiny little ones line up to race 100 yards during the Downtown Silver City Criterium,” race director Jack Brennan said. “It’s even more fun when the whole state shows up to cheer them on.”

One of the longest continually running bike races in the country, Tour of the Gila will again be sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Professional and elite cycling teams from across the globe received invitations to compete in Silver City for points that count toward events like the 2028 LA Summer Olympics. Tour of the Gila is the country’s only UCI stage race for men and one of just two UCI stage races for women in all of North America.

For amateur competitors, Tour of the Gila offers USA Cycling-sanctioned races as well as citizen fun races that allow recreational athletes to join the fun. 

Sign up for the citizen fun races at bikereg.com/tour-of-the-gila-citizen-fun-races.

Register for a USA Cycling-sanctioned race at bikereg.com/tour-of-the-gila.

Learn how to watch the races or volunteer at TourOfTheGila.com. The website also provides travel information. Pick up a printed Tour of the Gila 2025 Spectator Guide at the Silver City Daily Press offices or one of the paper’s distribution sites around Grant County.

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Tour of the Gila is the iconic road bicycling stage race in Silver City, New Mexico. Since 1987, Tour of the Gila has become renowned worldwide for notoriously challenging courses. Over five days, athletes follow routes leading from the town’s colorful streets, through the region’s rich history, and along the edges of the nation’s first designated wilderness. Sanctioned by both the global and national governing bodies of cycling, Tour of the Gila provides a rare opportunity for amateur competitive cyclists to compete on the same courses (and on the same days) as the pros. The 38th Tour of the Gila will run from April 23-27, 2025.

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

[Editor's Note: Thanks to Ruben for previewing my article, correcting spellings and adding some explanations.]

On Friday afternoon, April 11, Ruben Leyva, who researches his Apache family roots in southwest New Mexico, presented his findings at a presentation at the Silver City Public Library to about  60 or more people.

Leyva is working on a Ph.D. in Apache History at the University of New Mexico in Native American Studies. He opened his presentation on Friday by saying: "It is my honor to be here and have people interested in my family."

His project focuses on the Gila Apache, today's modern Chiricahua. He works with the Chihene N'de Nation, which is seeking to become an American-recognized tribe.