Grant County NM Front Page News

Grant County Commission holds work session 080922, part 3

: Category: Front Page News Front Page News; Published: 24 August 2022 24 August 2022

[Editor's Note: This begins with county reports. This is part 3 of a multi-part series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session of Aug. 9, 2022, and the regular meeting on Aug. 11, 2022.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

First up for county reports at the Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 9, 2022, a recent hire to the county, Health and Human Services Coordinator Cassandra Hartley, presented her report.

"This is the first report I'll be giving since I came in February," Hartley said. "I just want to thank you for investing in health and human services for our community. The statewide go-live date for 988 crisis-call line was July 16 of this year. To ensure effective implementation in Grant County, we started a 988 Steering Committee in May. It grew from the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee that is county-led. Since May, the group has conducted a gap analysis. The Behavioral Health Advisory Committee works with HHSD (Health and Human Services Department) for the Open Beds platform, which is what the call center will be using. Using the gap analysis, the group has developed priorities to focus on. These include public awareness, the reopening of a receiving crisis center at Tu Casa, development of a mobile crisis team, a community resiliency training task force and service provider technical assistance for Open Beds."

Updated 7:25 pm US 180 closed north of Silver City

: Category: Front Page News Front Page News; Published: 24 August 2022 24 August 2022

SILVER CITY – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) staff had a very productive day on site. Where the roadway collapsed on the evening of August 23, crews were able to backfill with large rocks and materials. There is still a drop-off at the bridge and the rock/dirt mixture is uncompacted and uneven, so vehicular and pedestrian traffic is still restricted.

Base course has been ordered for the morning of August 25 and NMDOT will begin placing it immediately upon delivery. The base course will be placed to the top of the roadway asphalt surface so the roadway should be reopened sometime before the end of the day tomorrow (August 25) with a reduced speed and "Loose Gravel" signing. Arrangements with a contractor are in process to pave the roadway on Monday (August 29). During paving, the roadway will remain open, and a flagging operation will be in place. Until paving is complete, the NMDOT will monitor the roadway, even through the weekend and will have extra base course on site if there is settlement or needed repairs.

WNMU Back Together Bash 2022

: Category: Front Page News Front Page News; Published: 24 August 2022 24 August 2022

Photos Courtesy of Western New Mexico University

On Friday, Aug, 19 and Saturday, Aug. 20, WNMU hosted two concerts to welcome students back to campus. On Friday night, Frank Ray opened for Tenille Arts and on Saturday, Monica Saldivar opened for La Mafia.

Cobre new board training

: Category: Front Page News Front Page News; Published: 24 August 2022 24 August 2022

By Lynn Janes

Reading of the board norms took place with each board member reading a norm. The norms consist of five rules the board strives to adhere to during the meeting. They are listed as actively listen to all perspectives, respond to concerns and questions as a unified board, professionalism expected, assume positive intent, and be positive and responsive.

The Cobre Consolidated Schools held a special board meeting August 15, 2022. President Gilbert Guadiana called the meeting to order. Other board members in attendance included David Terrazas, Elizabeth Dean (phone), Serina Murillo and Gabriella Begay. The pledge of allegiance and salute to the New Mexico flag took place. Superintendent Jeff Spaletta also attended.

Two officers of the New Mexico School Board Association joined the meeting online to do the training for the board. They consisted of Kurt Steinhaus, secretary, and Joe Guillen, president.

Freeport Support for Cliff and Gila

: Category: Front Page News Front Page News; Published: 24 August 2022 24 August 2022

Due to flooding, local authorities have closed Highway 180 between the Cliff, Gila and Silver City in New Mexico until further notice. To help our neighbors in Cliff and Gila during the road closure, Freeport-McMoRan Tyrone is providing support in the following ways:

Emergency Medical Transportation

Effective immediately, personnel from Freeport-McMoRan Tyrone are staged at clearly marked checkpoints on Bill Evans Lake Road and Highway 180. At these two checkpoints, Tyrone personnel are equipped to escort emergency personnel as well as residents of Cliff and Gila needing medical care, along the company's private access road to and from Silver City. This access road is not for general travel. As always, for medical emergencies, residents should dial 9-1-1.

MAP at bottom of article

Emergency Supplies

Updated 8:45 pm 082322 US 180 closed north of Silver City

: Category: Front Page News Front Page News; Published: 23 August 2022 23 August 2022

Courtesy photo of the roadway collapse

SILVER CITY – The New Mexico Department of Transportation has been on site monitoring the condition of the bridge and roadway on US180. The roadway outside of the bridge was undermined by extreme runoff that occurred on the evening of August 22, 2022, and ultimately collapsed earlier this evening. NMDOT personnel will continue repairs on August 24 pending receding of the water in the arroyo and work will continue, as long as conditions allow, until the roadway is open. The collapse of the roadway likely will help expedite the work because maintenance personnel can perform repair work from inside the channel and from the roadway. NMDOT will provide updates on the progress of the repairs as necessary.

Citizens are strongly encouraged to obey the road closures and stay out of the area. As work is ongoing, vehicles and pedestrians in the area hinder the work and create an unsafe environment for the maintenance personnel and the citizens themselves.

Grant County Commission holds work session 080922, part 2

: Category: Front Page News Front Page News; Published: 23 August 2022 23 August 2022

[Editor's Note: This begins with a presentation from the county treasurer and continues with an IT department presentation. This is part 2 of a multi-part series of articles on the Grant County Commission work session of Aug. 9, 2022, and the regular meeting on Aug. 11, 2022.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

This article on the Grant County Commission work session on Aug. 9, 2022, begins with a presentation from Grant County Treasurer Patrick Cohn.

Cohn said the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Property Tax Division was doing a site visit in the Treasurer's Office. "We have 125 delinquent properties that are eligible for auction. If some owners pay them off, that will decrease the number of delinquencies."

He said they were having trouble getting deeds for some properties.