Front Page News
Fight at SHS football game
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 06 September 2023 06 September 2023
By Roger Lanse
A Silver City Police Department officer who was patrolling the Silver High School football field at about 9:34 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, observed a disturbance in front of the concession stand.
According to an SCPD incident report, as this officer was talking to one party consisting of two female juveniles, one stated she was scared because "a transgender was trying to fight her." The officer noticed she was looking at another juvenile being interviewed by a second officer. That juvenile, who the officer knew from past encounters, was born a male but identified as a female. The female juvenile the first officer was talking to identified the transgender juvenile as the one who was trying to fight her.
Activity increases on Turkey Fire on Wilderness Ranger District
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 06 September 2023 06 September 2023
MIMBRES, NM, Sept. 6, 2023 – Late Tuesday afternoon, the Black Mountain Lookout reported visible smoke on the Turkey Fire in the Pinos Altos Range on the edge of the Gila Wilderness. Due to precipitation over the last several weeks, the Turkey Fire has shown very little activity. The fire started July 22 and is estimated at 5,220 acres.
With the recent rise in temperatures and drier conditions, the Turkey Fire is showing slow growth on the east side of the Goose Lake Area and producing smoke visible from Gila and Cliff. Similar fire behavior is expected to continue until significant moisture falls in the area.
Timmons killer to undergo competency assessment
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 06 September 2023 06 September 2023
By Roger Lanse
A sequestered hearing to determine the competency of Joseph Costello in the matter of the first-degree murder of Stephen Timmons was held at the Sixth Judicial District Court in Silver City on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in front of Judge Jim Foy. Judge Foy ruled Costello to be incompetent, according to District Attorney Michael Renteria.
Renteria told the Beat Costello will be committed to a state-affiliated mental health hospital for a 30-day assessment period to determine whether treatment will enable him to understand court proceedings.
Grant County Commission holds special meeting 082223, part 2
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 05 September 2023 05 September 2023
[Editor’s Note: This is part 2 of three articles on the Grant County Commission special meeting on Aug. 22, 2023. It will address an agreement and an ordinance.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
The following item on the special meeting agenda of the Grant County Commission on Aug. 22, 2023, addressed an agreement with Tyler Technologies for the annual software purchase SaaS (software as a service) in the amount of $65,752 for the annual agreement.
IT (internet technology) Director Adam Baca said the agreement would move the in-house software, known as enterprise resource planning software, and migrate it to the cloud. “It means essentially that Tyler will house the software, and we will access it via the internet. It’s a very common service now, and I feel it will be a benefit to have Tyler house the services. It is all the software that the treasurer’s office, the clerk’s office, everyone in the county uses.”
Photo Added: Virtual Volunteer Center launches
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 05 September 2023 05 September 2023
Attendees at a recent preview of upcoming Virtual Volunteer Center. Moderator Alicia Edwards seated in center front.
Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy
Former director of The Volunteer Center (TVC) and The Commons, Alicia Edwards, and the current director of The Commons, Dave Chandler, held a small event to announce the coming launch of the virtual TVC. An open house will take place at The Commons from 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023.
Edwards said the original TVC was formed to connect community volunteers to help meet the needs of the Silver City and Grant County community, which includes poverty and food insecurity.
The Commons, a facility at 501 E. 13th Street, which includes a commercial kitchen, a large community garden, and a place to host food distribution to those who need it, was built to house The Volunteer Center and its programs.
Grant County Commission holds special meeting 082223
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 04 September 2023 04 September 2023
Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy
Homeland Security Investigations representative Alec Gonzales out of El Paso presents the 2022 SAC HSI El Paso Exploitation Case of the Year Award to Grant County Lt. Jason Jordan for successfully completing a years-long sexual predator investigation.
With no public input at the Grant County Commission special meeting on Aug. 22, 2023, Dave Chandler, director of The Commons and Jay Brady, Commons pantry manager, gave an update on what their organization does and has been doing.
“Thank you for your support for the Gila food pantry,” Chandler said. “I’ll be giving you some statistics.”
He noted that the Casey Foundation develops stats for economic development, education, health and family for each state.
Downtown bomb threat
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 01 September 2023 01 September 2023
By Roger Lanse
A male called Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, regarding a bomb threat at Little Toad Creek, 200 N. Bullard Street. Silver City Police Department officers were dispatched at approximately 5:49 p.m.
According to an SCPD incident report, dispatchers said the male stated he had placed a pipe bomb inside the Toad that was set to go off in 10 minutes. He also stated he could see officers arriving on scene and could observe them entering the building. He said, "time is ticking, there's only five minutes left."
Officers were stationed for traffic control, the report said, at Hudson Street and Broadway, Bullard and Spring streets, Texas Street and Broadway, and Bullard and Yankie streets. All patrons and employees were evacuated from the building.
Grant County Commission holds work session 080823 and regular meeting 081023, part 7
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 31 August 2023 31 August 2023
[Editor's Note: This is the final part 7 of a series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 8, 2023, and the regular meeting on Aug. 10, 2023. This will continue with the review of the regular meeting agenda and decisions made at the regular meeting.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
At the Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 8, 2023, County Manager Charlene Webb continued with the review of the Aug. 10, 2023 regular meeting agenda.
The second resolution under consideration addressed the salaries of elected officials and chief deputies in Grant County.