Grant County Sheriff releases HIDTA statistics for fall 2019-early2022

In keeping with the goals of his Administration, Grant County Sheriff Frank Gomez is announcing the statistical information obtained from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Region VII Border Drug Task Force for Fall 2019 through early 2022.

When Gomez took office in January 2019, the Grant County Sheriff's Office did not have a current contract agreement with HIDTA for maintaining a Narcotics Enforcement Agent position or interaction with the resources of a state and federal task force to combat narcotics trafficking. Sheriff Gomez signed the current agreement in late-Summer 2019 and the Sheriff's Office has maintained a full-time Narcotics Enforcement Agent position since. This Agent works closely with the Silver City Police Department, New Mexico State Police and Federal Law Enforcement agencies every day.

This information was obtained from HIDTA and includes only Grant County cases encompassing all incorporated and unincorporated areas:

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Grant County 4-H Shooting Sports teams place at State Championships

Courtesy Photos:

RATON-Finally after two long years of hiatus the Grant County 4-H Shooting Sports Program is back to normal! Five teams qualified for the State 4-H Shooting Sports Championships based on their scores from the local county contest. The teams competed in archery, rifle, shotgun and hunting disciplines.

The hunting team placed fourth with team members Itzel Valdez, Madison Miller, Rylee Evans and Colter Massengill. The hunting team was led by coach Brian Miller.

The rifle team placed sixth in the state with Angel Maciel, Koda Fell, Cayden Lopez and Colter Massengill. The rifle team was coached by Jeff Fell.

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Active Fire Behavior Continues Across the Black Fire with Red Flag Warning Issued -  Daily Update 5/19/2022

Community meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday in Truth or Consequences

Acres: 93,014 acres (Infrared flight Wednesday night)
Location: 31 miles NW of Truth or Consequences
Containment: 0%
Personnel: 450
Start Date: Friday, May 13, 2022
Cause: Unknown, under investigation
Fuels: Timber and tall grass

Announcement: A public meeting will be hosted on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Ralph Edward Civic Center, 400 West 4th St, Truth or Consequences, NM 87901.

See PDF map of fire boundaries and the Ready, Set, Go  evacuation map below the text:

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Candidate forum for representative district 39, 051622

By Lynn Janes

On May 16, 2022, the candidate forum for the primary took place at the Western New Mexico University Besse-Forward Resource Center. The forum had Rodolfo (Rudy) Martinez and challenger Karen Whitlock face off for New Mexico representative district 39 Democratic nominee. Whoever wins the primary will face off with the Republican incumbent Luis Terrazas for the election in November.

Nick Seibel, Silver City Daily Press publisher moderated the forum. The candidates received questions from the audience, Facebook and the Press. Each would answer the same question and had two minutes.

Seibel asked each candidate to tell the audience a little bit about them. They each had three minutes for the introduction.

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Gila National Forest moves to stage 2 fire restrictions

SILVER CITY, NM - May 18, 2022— The Gila National Forest will implement forest-wide Stage 2 fire restrictions at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 19, 2022. The restrictions are necessary to reduce human-caused wildfires during periods of high fire danger and persistent severe fire weather conditions. Forest Order #03-06-00-22-004 and Exhibit A are on the forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/gila/alerts-notices.

Under Stage 2 fire restrictions the following activities are prohibited:

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Type 2 Incident Management Team Takes Command of Black Fire

2022 05 17 10.50.39.841 cdt

Type 2 Incident Management Team Takes Command of Black Fire

Daily Update 5/18/2022

Acres: 77,529 acres (Infrared flight Tuesday night)

Location: 24 miles north of Mimbres

Containment: 0%

Personnel:  Over 250, including crews, engines, and support personnel

Start Date: Friday, May 13, 2022

Cause: Unknown, under investigation

Fuels: timber, tall grass

Overview: The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 5, Incident Commander Mark Bernal, assumed command of the Black Fire at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. 

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Fatal Motorcycle Crash on Interstate 10 in Luna County

Luna County, NM – On May 15, 2022, at approximately 9:41 a.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal motorcycle crash on Interstate 10, near milepost 73, west of Deming, NM.

The initial investigation indicates a 2021 Harley Davidson motorcycle, and a 2022 Freightliner Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) were both traveling west in the right lane on Interstate 10. For unknown reasons, as the driver of the motorcycle, Colby R. Lord (20) of Coxasckie, NY, attempted to pass the CMV in the left lane, he struck the right rear end of the CMV's trailer. Lord sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of Medical Investigator. The 50-year-old driver of the CMV was uninjured.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash. Seatbelts were properly used by the driver of the CMV. This crash is under investigation by the New Mexico State Police.

 

Photos added: Give Grandly 2022 last day to donate - May 18,2022

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy 

Be aware that Wednesday, May 18, 2022, up until midnight, is the last day to donate to your favorite non-profit through the Give Grandly 2022 project, a program of the Grant County Community Foundation.

The link to see the non-profits that request your support and the donation buttons can be found at this link: https://www.givegrandly.org

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