Front Page News

By Michael LaReaux

The May 8 meeting of the Grant County Board of Commissioners began with the Pledge of allegiance, followed by a salute to the state flag. The board approved the meeting agenda and opened the floor for public input. When no one came forward to speak, Chairman Chris Ponce closed the public input portion of the meeting and moved on to the next agenda item.

Pursuant to regulations, the Board of Commissioners is required to hold a public hearing on the resolution addressing the subject of fireworks restrictions in unincorporated areas of Grant County. Severe drought conditions persist, despite the recent arrival of some precipitation. The board received no public input, and the hearing was closed. County Manager Charlene Webb recommended that the fireworks restrictions remain in place, citing the "exceptional drought conditions" that linger in the county.

District 5 Commissioner Thomas Shelley asked about an apparent contradiction in the restriction. "Just wondering why section 2 says we're not allowing the use of fireworks and section 3 opens it up. Why is that in there?"

By Frost McGahey
Investigative Journalist

Silver City Daily Press Photo -Silver City Police Chief Freddie Portillo, left, shakes hands with Code Enforcement Officer Thomas Hernandez at June 12, Town Council Meeting.At the Silver City Town Council meeting on June 24, 2025, animal control officers and code enforcement officers recognized Police Chief Freddie Portillo. He was presented with a letter of appreciation and a plaque.  However, only two police officers showed.

The recognition came eleven days after the Grant County Beat filed an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) to obtain a copy of the Vote of No Confidence filed by the Police Union in 2024 against Chief Portillo. The IPRA request was denied by the city.

The setting for the ceremony was ironic as police officers are forbidden to go directly to the Town Council members if they have a problem with Portillo. They have to go to him first, then Alex Brown, the town manager. From the praise the Council members heaped on Portillo, they probably don’t realize that the Chief’ might have created a Potemkin Village.

[Editor's Note: You can also read this on https://grantcountynm.gov/218/Elections and can call the  Grant County Clerk’s Office at 575-574-0042.]

Check your voter registration by visiting NMVote.org  or by calling the Grant County Clerk’s Office 575-574-0042

Important Upcoming Dates:

August 6

The Office of the Secretary of State will issue the proclamation for the 2025 Regular Local Election

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

This author and photographer covered on July 18 and 19 a couple of demonstrations, a book presentation and part of the exhibits of the Southwest Archaeological Field School, in addition to the CLAY Market (which will be in a separate photo essay).

Light Art Space has demonstrations of pottery painting by Ana Estrillo Friday and Saturday, along with a juried ceramics show, called Perception, juried by Bianka Graves.

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley had a regular meeting July 8, 2025. Mayor Ed Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Reynaldo Maynes and Pete Ordonez. Aron Phillips and Robert Candelaria did not attend.

The council approved the agenda for the meeting along with the consent agenda. The consent agenda consisted of minutes from three meetings. Also, in the consent agenda had been reports from maintenance, clerk, fire department, animal control, police department, judge and library.

Municipal Judge George Moreno said he had quite a few code enforcement citations and had dealt with approximately 20 cases in court the previous month. From those the court had collected $400 to $500 in fines. Some had been issued summons because of ignoring the citations. The previous day they had a dog attack, and it had been a child, but he had not been injured but his clothing torn. The court will be dealing with that issue. Moreno wanted to commend the police chief, patrolmen, code enforcement and the fire department for their efforts on the Fourth of July.

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a regular meeting on July 14, 2025. Board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana(online), David Terrazas (online), Emmarie Heredia and Angelina Hardin. Interim Superintendent Randal Piper also attended online.

The board approved the agenda.

Public input none currently.

Action items

Kaeley Weimerskirch, Vice President RBC Capital Markets, LLC, had attended online to answer any questions about the resolution approving a lease purchase arrangement and a certificate purchase agreement. The council approved both actions.

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting July 8, 2025. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ken Ladner, Mayor Pro Tem Guadalupe Cano, Nicholas Prince, Rudy Bencomo and Stan Snider.

Council comments

Cano said she had attended the policy committee meeting for the New Mexico Municipal League. This meeting sets the legislative priorities for the following year session. This year they had been the same as normal. One priority has been making sure more funding has been put into the water trust board. They also will be hoping that some changes will be made to the IPRA (Inspection Public Records Act). People from other states and countries have been requesting sensitive video. Police departments across the state have been having a lot of problems with this. They want to make them accessible to residents only.

By Lynn Janes

The Village of Santa Clara held a regular meeting July 3, 2025. Mayor Arnold Lopez called the meeting to order. Trustees, Peter Erickson, Olga Amador and Ralph Trujillo attended. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza did not attend.

The council approved the agenda with some changes in order, past meeting minutes and department head reports.

Mayor's report

Lopez said the streets have started to look really good with all the projects they had done. The group that had did the projects in town will be attending the next meeting to provide a report. The YCC (youth conservation corps) kids had come and helped with the project and did an excellent job. "We are super happy." Lopez said he had received a lot of positive comments.