Breaking News: Grant County 4-H 2023 Livestock Ambassadors announced today

Grant County 4-H Livestock Ambassadors announced today can be seen below in the PDF.

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Grant County 4-H Awards Banquet 020623

Allie Miller-Grant County 4-H Council Reporter
Age: 14
2/22/2023

This year our Awards Banquet was held on February 6, 2023, at the Grant County Extension Office. As members arrived and found their seats, our Council President Ari Martinez called the meeting to order. After we were led in the American and 4-H pledges, members and their families enjoyed a potluck meal. While they were enjoying their food, we began with the awards.

As we began with awards, our 4-H Agent, Jessica Swapp-Massengill handed out certificates and project completion pins to members for their completed projects in their 4-H Record Book for 2022. For each age group in 4-H, there was one singular member who had written an outstanding record book. Each member who wrote an outstanding record book was rewarded with a jacket. For the Senior Age Division, our winner was Ari Martinez. For the Junior Age Division, our winner was Kayleigh Massengill. For the Novice Age Division, our winner was Peyton Waters. And lastly, for our Cloverbud Age Division, our winner was Raely Mounyo.

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Forest Service official faces tough crowd in Glenwood 030123

glenwood gnf 030123Camille Howes chats with members of the audience at the March 1st meeting. Photo by David ThornburgBy C.R. Thornburg

GLENWOOD — Emotions ran high at Wednesday's Gila National Forest Service meeting as area residents expressed their frustration at their loss of livelihood, the decline of the local economy and the impact of regulations on their lifestyle and heritage.

Supervisor Camille Howes, relatively new to the position, said that she is aiming to be "available, accountable and will attempt to answer your questions."

The crowd of more than 50 attendees had lots of them, ranging on issues such as the recent shooting of feral cattle from a helicopter to illegal wood-cutting, poorly maintained trails, road access to private property on public lands, and the impact of the Black Fire on the region.

The meeting, dubbed Coffee With Camille, was originally scheduled for Feb. 16 at the Forest Service, but was postponed due to weather and was moved to the Glenwood Community Center on March 1 in anticipation of a large turnout. Several other Forest Service employees were also on hand to answer questions about their specific departments.

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Ropes and Ladder Training Tower Reconstruction Begins This Spring 

training tower pavfr img 1598 copy$61,000 Project Funded Entirely Through Donations, Will Boost County’s Emergency Response Abilities 

Silver City, NM – The training tower located behind Silver City Fire Department Station No. 2 has been out of commission for over a decade. An effort to get this critical facility rebuilt has been in the works for years, and this spring, construction will begin on the 25-year-old, three-story structure. 

With an estimated cost of $61,000, the project is fully supported through donations and is headed up by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Friends of the Fire and Rescue volunteers, which was established by members of the Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire and Rescue department. “The charter says we can support any volunteer fire department needing help,” said Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire and Rescue Chief Ed Downard, who is Vice President of the nonprofit. “The Friends of the Fire and Rescue Volunteers is rebuilding this tower for all the county departments.” 

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Elderly woman found deceased in frigid home.

By Roger Lanse

Rita Martinez, 84, was found deceased by Silver City Police Department officers, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, at about 3:24 p.m., at her 1111 N. Bennett Street home. According to an SCPD report, responding officers met the reporting party, Kristina Deem, of Silver City, a friend of the deceased, at the home. Deem, told officers she had last gone to Rita's home about Jan. 30, when she became aware the gas had been shut off at the residence. Deem, the report said, stated to officers that the gas company would not turn the gas back on until some repairs were made inside the home. When Deem arrived on this date, Feb. 13, she said the door was open and Rita's dog was running in and out of the home.

According to the report, officers found Rita on the living room floor on her right side, cold to the touch and stiff.

It appears Rita had been dead for several days. Rita was wearing slacks, shoes and socks, and a halter top. She was not dressed for the 'bitterly cold' temperatures inside the home, according to sources. An electric space heater was in the home, but it is unclear if the heater was heating.

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GRMC holds governing board meeting 022323

Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy

img 6269From left are Scott Manis of Health Tech, GRMC CFO Patrick Banks, Outgoing Interim CEO Greg Brickner, being recognized by Governing Board Chair Alicia Edwards, with Board Member Chris Ponce behind, New Interim CEO Margie Molitar, CQO Ramona Wilson, CNO Melanie Vigil, Risk and Compliance Officer Denice Baird, Board Member Eloy Medina and Chief of Staff Dr. Gregory KouryFrom left are Scott Manis of Health Tech, GRMC CFO Patrick Banks, Outgoing Interim CEO Greg Brickner, being recognized by Governing Board Chair Alicia Edwards, with Board Member Chris Ponce behind, New Interim CEO Margie Molitar, CQO Ramona Wilson, CNO Melanie Vigil, Risk and Compliance Officer Denice Baird, Board Member Eloy Medina and Chief of Staff Dr. Gregory Koury

At the beginning of the Gila Regional Medical Center Governing Board on Feb. 23, 2023, members made some changes, including moving the introductions and recognitions to just before board comments toward the end of the meeting. They also removed a word from a couple of agenda items.

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Bayard approves joint powers agreement 021323

By Lynn Janes

The town of Bayard held a work session February 13, 2023. The work session started with Mayor Chon Fierro calling the meeting to order. Attendance at the meeting included Mayor Pro tem Raul Villanueva councilors Jose Diaz, Eloy Medina, and Frances Gonzales.

The work session gives the council an opportunity to ask questions about anything on the agenda.

Diaz had numerous questions concerning the accounts payable report and the charges. He had a question concerning identical charges from Humphreys. A charge for upgrading stoves $1500. The report had a charge of $1800 to ACE Hardware. Mr. Valles said charges can only be made by him in response to Diaz's question of who could charge. Gonzales asked why the municipal court had a charge from ACE Hardware. Diaz questioned some of the maintenance department expenditures. Some of those expenditures would be coming back as refunds.

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Lethal removal of feral cattle ends

Area closure to be lifted March 1

SILVER CITY, NM, Feb. 28, 2023 – The Gila National Forest has completed recent aerial operations to remove feral cattle within the boundaries of the Gila Wilderness using lethal methods. A total of 19 feral cattle were dispatched by a specialized USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services team over three days of operations.

These feral cattle are not domesticated animals and pose a significant threat to public safety and natural resources. A closure order covering the area of operations will be lifted on March 1.

Searches were conducted with the naked eye and through thermal imagery, allowing crewmembers to see significant numbers of wildlife including elk, deer, javelina, and rabbits. The entire project area was searched at least four times, and no additional cattle were seen. The Forest Service will monitor the project area to help develop any future management actions.

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