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Front Page News
By Roger Lanse
District 4 Councilor Guadalupe Cano reported she attended two conferences centering around outdoor economics and recreation; one, the Fourth Annual Outdoor Recreation Conference in Farmington. Cano said she is the vice president of the group putting on that conference and she was particularly interested in the aspect of accessibility of local trails for those with physical limitations. The other conference she attended was the Rivers of Opportunity Conference hosted by New Mexico Wild and sponsored in part by the town, where Cano said she supported an outdoor recreation component to the new Recreation Center.
She also attended a meeting at the Big Ditch where she encountered a 4-5" drop at the end of the wheelchair ramp. She said she was unable to join in the meeting as the end of the ramp prevented her from passing over. "The ramp that was built was very nice, but it was completely useless as it does not provide actual accessibility to that area," she said, calling the designers and builders of the ramp lazy. "This is something that should be rectified immediately as it should never have happened in the first place." Cano stated she believed Silver City used to have an employee dedicated to trail maintenance and, and if the town still does, would like to see that person working on keeping trails more accessible to the mobility challenged.
By Roger Lanse
On Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at about 5:10 p.m., a Silver City Police Department officer was dispatched to Walmart’s easternmost entrance in reference to a large homemade white plywood heart being stolen. According to SCPD reports, the victim told police she had attached the heart to a light pole with bungee cords to coincide with the 40 Days of Life prayer vigil where passing motorists were asked to pray, by shifts of individuals, to end abortion. The heart was made by the victim’s father, she told the officer, and had “222 babies saved” on the front with paper lettering. This number is a reference to the campaign’s claim that it has resulted in, so far, 222 abortion workers leaving their jobs and/or mothers bent on abortion choosing to have their babies instead.
The victim stated she contacted several people, including construction workers, but they all said they didn’t see anyone with the sign, the reports said. One lady told her, “They shouldn’t be there doing that protest anyways.”
The victim stated, the report said, she last saw the heart at approximately 10:30 a.m. and noticed it missing at about 4:40 p.m. Its worth was estimated at $50. She does want to pursue charges.
Most photos by Mary Alice Murphy and several are courtesy of Tom Vaughn and are so marked.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
At Leyba and Ingalls Gallery, ceramics by Patty Countryman were on display.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Also at Leyba and Ingalls Gallery, Krissy Ramirez showed her ceramics.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
In the front window at Leyba and Ingalls Gallery, Claude W. Smith III's large scale ceramic works invited passers-by to come in and look more closely.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Inside the Grant County Art Guild gallery, George Thompson had a display of his intricate wood-working creations.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Bruce Bloy showed his photographic work at the GCAG Gallery.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
In the Grant County Art Guild Annex, Mariah Walker shows her whimsical creations. "I need to do more roadrunners," she said.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
An intricate quilt shows on the wall of Blue Dome Gallery.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
This painting by Lois Duffy, titled "Little Things," hung in the Lois Duffy Gallery.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Susan Szajer, who now lives in Santa Fe, but used to live in Silver City, with her work at Lois Duffy Gallery.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
At Light Art Space, in the juried show section, this mixed media piece by Christy Hengst of Santa Fe took second place.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Also in the juried section at Light Art Space, this woodcut on paper by Julianna Kirwin took first place.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
A special exhibit at Light Art Space featured woodcut printer, Marco Sanchez of El Paso, who was also a featured artist in the steamroller exhibit at Maker's Market.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Hosanna Eilert at her loom in her gallery and studio, as well as classroom, Wild West Weaving.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
At the Makers' Market, an exhibit of creative Gila Monsters and Ravens were up for auction.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Ravens galore
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
A shiny purple raven
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
The variety of creative ravens was outstanding
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
And still more ravens.
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
A colorful Gila monster
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Intricate Gila monster
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Dale Rucklos and two companion musicians playing at the Lois Duffy Gallery reception Saturday evening. Photo Courtesy of Tom Vaughn
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Joe Neri entertained visitors to the Maker's Market where the Print Fiesta and Weekend at the Galleries had booths. Photo Courtesy of Tom Vaughn
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Rosie Carter of Yellow Jacket, CO, makes a sale at her Print Fiesta booth. Photo Courtesy of Tom Vaughn
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Southwest Fiber Arts Collective presented demonstrations at Light Art Space. Photo Courtesy of Tom Vaughn
Weekend at the Galleries 100921
Southwest Fiber Arts Collective had a loom with instructions at Light Art Space. Photo Courtesy of Tom Vaughn
Weekend at the Galleries spanned Saturday, Sunday and today, Columbus Day {Editor's Note; Yes, I know the name has changed, but since my grandfather was born on Columbus Day and named Christopher Columbus as a result, I will continue to call it that.]
Galleries were open to the masked public all three days with their receptions mostly being held on Saturday evening. For those who attended the Maker's Market on Saturday for the Print Fiesta, Weekend at the Galleries had a silent auction of artist-created ravens and Gila monsters.
Gila Regional Medical Center (GRMC) will be temporarily closing our ICU as a result of the ongoing staffing challenges we are facing on both the local and national levels. Existing ICU patients will continue to be cared for until they can be safely discharged or transferred to another facility. This step is being taken so that we can consolidate our existing dedicated staff to care for other patients in the Hospital. All other areas of the Hospital remain open and ready to serve our community.
Similar steps are being taken at other hospitals nationally as a result of the ongoing shortage of nurses and other licensed staff. "Our team of dedicated professionals will continue to provide the outstanding care they always do, but not for critical care inpatients at this time," said Dr. Ron Dalton, GRMC's Chief Medical Officer.
GRMC Board Chair Alicia Edwards said today, "We are monitoring this situation and will resume services in this area as soon it is safely feasible."
GRMC is a 25-bed county-owned, critical access hospital located in Silver City, NM. The hospital provides an array of inpatient and outpatient services, including surgical services, obstetrics, an outpatient oncology program, and other services vital to the community.
Photos Courtesy of Lucy Whitmarsh of the field trip on Friday (first five photos) and the dedication of a historic marker at the Visitor Center on Saturday evening (last three photos). Photo of the model camp and happenings at Fort Bayard by Mary Alice Murphy from Saturday morning.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Kevin Henson, who completed the Mormon Battalion trek a few years ago, leads a field trip to some sites the battalion traveled through on its first journey.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
A grave marker at Fort Cummings Cemetery
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
The Mormon Battalion marker at Cooke Springs
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Cooke Spring Well House
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Fort Cummings ruins
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
The banner commemorating the Mormon Battalion trip through the area.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
A model camp set up typical of what the troops slept in.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Laura Anderson of Utah, member of the Mormon Battalion Association, inside the Fort Bayard Commander's quarters
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Anderson enjoying a bit of "fruit" at the table setting in the museum at Fort Bayard.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
A child's high chair with historic notice in the museum at Fort Bayard.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
A model reproduction saddle from the days of the cavalry at Fort Bayard
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
On the porch of the museum, Henson talks about the history of the battalion to Bill Kupke, Ansel Walter and Anderson
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Henson explaining the camp set up. The smaller tent slept six—close together.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Henson shows the typical kit carried by a soldier. The bottom part was the portion for their personal items.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Henson with reproduction models of the rifles the soldiers carried.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner receives a memorial plaque of the commemoration from Cecilia Bell of the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Bell presents a memorial plaque to FBHPS President Doug Dinwiddie.
Mormon Battalion 175th anniversary 1008-0921
Grant County Daughters of the American Republic members by the marker. From left are Bell, Margaret Dines, Lucy Whitmarsh and Marianne Bray.
By Mary Alice Murphy
The Mormon Battalion of the U.S. Army traveled through the area of New Mexico on its trek westward to California in 1846-47.
A field trip led by Kevin Henson, who did the trek for historic purposes, explained the sites on the field trip, which went to Fort Cummings and Cooke's Springs.
On Saturday, he put up a small camp at Fort Bayard Historic National Landmark in front of the Commanding Officer's quarters (which serves as the Fort Bayard Historic Preservation Society museum) to show the tents and some of the equipment carried by the soldiers on their cross-country trek.
Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Print Fiesta 100921
Print Fiesta 100921
Alex Gonzales inks a grate in the sidewalk on Bullard
Print Fiesta 100921
Gonzales shows the result of printing a piece of cloth using the grate as the pattern.
Print Fiesta 100921
Two prints from the first runs of the Steamroller printing process in the Maker's Market area.
Print Fiesta 100921
Adriana Zavala rubs the last part of a printing process.
Print Fiesta 100921
Amanda Jost rolls the ink onto the next steamroller press print, as helpers watch for stray leaves or specs of dirt that could be blown in on the wind.
Print Fiesta 100921
Artist Marco Sanchez makes last minute adjustments to his woodcut before printing.
Print Fiesta 100921
Helpers carefully place the inked template preparing for the steamroller to produce the print.
Print Fiesta 100921
A heavy cloth cushioning is placed over the paper that the steamroller will print.
Print Fiesta 100921
The last wood is placed over the cushioning, the paper and the pattern, before the steamroller rolls over it.
Print Fiesta 100921
The steamroller and driver, provided by Fowler Bros., does its work.
Print Fiesta 100921
With anticipation of viewing the print, the cushioning is removed.
Print Fiesta 100921
The print is revealed
Print Fiesta 100921
Sanchez scrutinizes the print to see if he should make changes before the next printing.
Print Fiesta 100921
Two long rows of vendors participated in the Print Fiesta 2021
Print Fiesta 100921
Patrons visit the vendors
Print Fiesta 100921
Sanchez's print is hung with the others.
On a multi-event Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, the Southwest Print Fiesta drew visitors to the Makers' Market area to see demonstrations, paper and cloth prints from various vendors, and the main attraction, the steamroller printing process.
By Roger Lanse
On Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at 5:38 p.m., Silver City Police Department officers were dispatched to the Motel 6, 1040 E. Highway 180, in reference to a robbery. According to an SCPD incident report, officers were told a male, armed with a boxcutter, later identified as Aaron Duran, 34, of Santa Clara, had just attempted to commit a robbery at the motel and left on a bicycle south on Durango Street. Officers made contact with Duran on his bike traveling west on Canal Street. When Duran refused to get off his bicycle, the report said, one of the officers pushed Duran causing him to fall to the ground and an orange boxcutter fell from his person. Officers handcuffed Duran and placed him in a police unit.
Back at Motel 6, three witnesses, employees of the motel, stated that Duran entered the motel's office asking for his old job back, but was told since he had been fired for stealing money he couldn't even be in the office. The witnesses said at that point Duran attempted to grab money from the cash drawer but was prevented from doing so by two of the witnesses, a female and a male, wrapping their arms around Duran and pulling him away from the cash drawer while the third witness called the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority.
Preparing for a flight at the end of April 2022
Honor Flight of Southern NM and El Paso is gearing up again. Honor Flight takes veterans of World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam Conflict to Washington D.C. to visit the memorials.
"We are tentatively looking to do a trip at the end of April next year, but until then we have a very exciting fundraising project with which we need your help," Elaine Prickett, organizer of the area Honor Flight said. "We are selling 2022 Interactive Calendars. This calendar is filled with QR codes that you can scan with your phone and watch interviews of the Veterans pictured or special events from the flights. It is truly a piece of living history. You can hear stories from the people who were actually there.
