Front Page News
BPD to wear patch to honor Cancer Awareness Month
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 05 October 2023 05 October 2023
Bayard Police Department Chief Hector Carrillo announced the Pink Patch will be worn by his officers as part of their uniform during the month of October 2023 to honor Cancer Awareness Month.
Grant County Commission held special meeting 092623 part 1
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 04 October 2023 04 October 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 1 of a multi-article series on the Grant County Commission special meeting on Sept. 26, 2023, which lasted almost three hours. This one begins with public input.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
Only three commissioners attended the Grant County Commission special meeting on Sept. 25, 2023, District 1 Commissioner and Chair Chris Ponce, District 4 Commissioner Billy Billings and District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne. Ponce noted that District 2 Commissioner Eloy Medina was called away on urgent business and District 3 Commissioner Alicia Edwards was unable to attend.
Brenna Brown was the only one to speak in public input. "I work with the Beginning Years Program as a home visitor here in Silver City. When we make visits with our families in our parks, we have seen a lot of dangers in our parks—paraphernalia, needles and other items that have been up inside the playground equipment. Our families, ourselves and especially our children could be in danger. Children pick up things and put them in their mouths. It seems like the parks are not being kept clean. This includes Penny Park, Gough Park and in the county, such as Bayard Community Park. These are the ones I've been to, but I've heard the other county parks aren't any better. We are concerned. There are also lots of cigarette butts. We want to make sure our children are safe."
Another Bayard man busted for possession of fentanyl
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 04 October 2023 04 October 2023
By Roger Lanse
As a Bayard Police Department officer was driving on Tom Foy Blvd, at 7:36 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, he noticed a white GMC Yukon in the Snappy Mart parking lot. Ther officer knew the vehicle belonged to Janice Chavez, who had active warrants for her arrest. According to a BPD criminal complaint, on his way to contact Ms. Chavez, the officer saw a male identified as Joseph Chavez, 39, of Bayard, running out of the store and into the white Yukon where he attempted to hide on the floor of the vehicle.
Knowing Mr. Chavez also had warrants, the officer placed him under arrest. During the arrest, Mr. Chavez pulled out a wallet and money from a pocket and placed them on the seat of the vehicle. When the officer asked him why he did that, the criminal complaint stated Mr. Chavez claimed the wallet and money weren't his. Opening the wallet, the officer found a foil packet with 20 blue pills inside, each pill marked with an "M" on one side and a "30" on the other side, a designation used for fentanyl.
Grant County Commission work session 091223 and regular meeting 091423 part 9
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 03 October 2023 03 October 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 9 and the final of a series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session on Sept. 12, 2023 and the regular meeting on Sept. 14, 2023.. This article continues with the review of the regular meeting agenda at the work session and decisions made at the regular meeting.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
Continuing the review of the Sept. 14, 2023 regular meeting agenda at the Sept. 12, 2023, work session, the next item on the agenda addressed county asset deletion. County Manager Charlene Webb turned the item over to Procurement Officer Veronica Rodriguez who said two vehicles would go up for auction and two vehicles from the Sheriff's Office are too damaged, so they will be up for scrap, but other capital items such as computers would be thrown away. One airport vehicle will be transferred to the Road Department, and one vehicle from the Detention Center to the Road Department, and a portable building from Hachita to the Detention Center.
Commissioners approved the deletions and transfers at the regular meeting.
Update: Volunteers fight Faywood fire
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 03 October 2023 03 October 2023
UPDATE: According to Incident Commander Eugene Rodriguez of the Fort Bayard Volunteer Fire Rescue, the Faywood Hotsprings fire was started when a backhoe hit an overhead power line, which started a grass fire, which set an estimated 40' x 50' shop building ablaze. The building was a total loss.
Rodriguez told the Beat that a combined four engines, four tenders, and 20-21 firefighters responded to the fire. No injuries were reported.
By Roger Lanse
First reports from the Grant County Sheriff's Office, the Upper Mimbres Volunteer Fire Rescue, and Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority, describe an electrical fire that fully engulfed a shop building at the Faywood Hotsprings on Highway 61 today, Oct. 3, 2023. The hot springs is located near the junction of Highway 180.
The volunteer fire departments at Upper Mimbres, Lower Mimbres, Whiskey Creek, and Ft. Bayard, were involved in suppressing the fire, according to UMVFD staff. They were paged out at about 2 p.m. and were still on scene at 4 p.m. mopping up.
Grant County Commission work session 091223 and regular meeting 091423 part 8
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 01 October 2023 01 October 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 8 of a series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session on Sept. 12, 2023 and the regular meeting on Sept. 14, 2023.. This article continues with the review of the regular meeting agenda at the work session and decisions made at the regular meeting.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
County Manager Charlene Webb continued the review of the Sept. 14, 2023 regular meeting agenda at the Sept. 12 work session.
The first item of new business addressed using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) to fund WNM Communications extending broadband services to Fierro and Pinos Altos.
"Randy (Hernandez, Planning Director) and I have the same recommendation," Webb said at the work session. "The project to Fierro will extend the fiber optic that is in place up to Hanover, and the project to Pinos Altos will use wireless to expand broadband access. We both feel it is a good use for ARPA funding. Every community needs enhanced broadband."
PEO Chapter BR held a fundraising purse auction 093023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 01 October 2023 01 October 2023
Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Auctioneer Danna Stout volunteers to auction off purses to raise funds for PEO scholarships. PEO Chapter BR organized the auction on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. A total of 100 purses were auctioned off, with the two highest selling bags being a hand-painted one by local artist Buck Burns and the second one a verified Madame Millie bag with her book of clients inside.
In another room, participants could find reasonably priced bags for sale. A homemade chicken salad sandwich on croissant was pre-packaged with carrot sticks, grapes and potato chips. And one each table, a variety of delicious homemade cookies enticed the attendees.
Four models showed purses throughout the main room to all the participants. They included scholarship recipients Samantha and Veronica, along with Taylor and Annie.
WNMU Homecoming Parade 093023
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 01 October 2023 01 October 2023
Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
The WNMU Homecoming Parade took place Saturday morning, Sept. 30, 2023 with a route from the McDonald Memorial Student Union Building, down College to Cooper to Broadway, onto Bullard and back up College Avenue.
From a group of veterans in an old Army Jeep to classic cars to nice cars with Hall of Famers, to floats representing departments to athletic team floats and from goats to dogs and jugglers, the parade entertained with a vast variety of entries.