Front Page News

By Lynn Janes

The town of Bayard held a regular meeting January 15, 2025. Attendance included Mayor John L. Ojinaga, Pro Tem Eloy Medina (phone), Councilors Frances Gonzales, Eloy Gonzales and Gilbert Ortiz. Martha Salas, city clerk, also attended.

The council approved the agenda with the removal of the closed session.

Consent agenda

The council approved the consent agenda that included minutes, and reports from the police department , wastewater, maintenance, fire department, library  and accounts payable. It also included the approval of the public works director to attend Think Trees Conference in February.

Old business

By Allie Miller

(Courtesy Photos) 

This year our Awards Banquet took place on January 21, 2025 at the Grant County Extension Office. The 2024 4-H Awards Banquet was held to recognize and celebrate the achievements of 4-H members throughout the 2024 year. The event provided an opportunity to honor club leaders, outstanding volunteers, and youth members who demonstrated dedication and excellence in their projects.

Once members had arrived and seated themselves, our Council President Tucker Gatlin called the meeting to order. After we were led in the American and 4-H pledge, we began the evening by recognizing the 4-H club leaders who contributed significantly to the success of their respective clubs in 2024—from the Lone Mountain 4-H Club, Bill and Becky Sorrell, from the White Signal 4-H Club, Liz Gardener and Lori Moon, from the Wranglers 4-H Club, Ann Pavlakovich, from the Spurs 4-H Club, Lela Goar, and from the Silver Shooters 4-H Club, Jolynne Massengill.

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley held a regular meeting January 14, 2025. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ed Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem Reynaldo Maynes, Councilors Nanette Day, Keana Huerta and Pete Ordonez.

The council approved the consent agenda which included regular meeting minutes for December 10, 2024, maintenance department report, deputy clerk's report, fire department report, animal control report, code enforcement report and library report

Blas Rodriguez, maintenance supervisor, provided the council with a report. He has been working on backup prevention at the lift station. The lift station has been running well without any issues since the upgrade. The maintenance has been picking up trash around town, parks and cemetery. He wanted to have the council approve the new electrical drops for the Christmas ornaments he has spoken about at previous council meetings. He has two employees to send for training of level two and one for level one. The council approved the new electric drops.

 Santa Clara new fire truck Photo courtesy of Leandra EsparzaBy Lynn Janes

(Writers note; article written using the minutes provided by the Village of Santa Clara due to technical issues.)

The Village of Santa Clara held a regular meeting January 23, 2025. Mayor Arnold Lopez called the meeting to order. Mayor Pro Tem Albert Esparza, Tustees, Peter Erickson and Ralph Trujillo attended. Olga Amador did not attend.

The council approved the agenda with changes to the quote for the tanker from $455,577.00 to $498,577.00. The council approved the minutes and department head reports without changes.

Traffic Alert – Roadway closure expected to last 30 minutes

SILVER CITY - The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) District One, in partnership with Mountain States Constructors, Inc., is widening U.S. 180 from a 2-lane to a 4-lane road from Bayard to Hurley.

Crews have planned a rock blast for Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. U.S. 180 will be closed from Lusk St. to the Bayard Cemetery at milepost 125.8. Please expect delays. These closures are expected to last 30 minutes but no longer than 1 hour.

The NMDOT is committed to the safety of the traveling public and thanks you for your cooperation during this work. For updated information go to: NMDOT at www.nmroads.com  or call 511.

SILVER CITY - The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) District One, in partnership with Mountain States Constructors, Inc., is widening U.S. 180 from a 2-lane to a 4-lane road from Bayard to Hurley.

This project will permanently remove the Hurley Bridge over US 180 replacing it with a new roadway and traffic pattern for Lime Quarry Rd. Beginning Friday, January 31, 2025, at 5 pm US 180 will be closed to begin bridge removal. A detour will be in place on Carrazco Ave, Diaz Ave, to N Hurley Road for both eastbound and westbound traffic. Closure will be in place until Monday, February 3, 2025, at 12 p.m.

Travelers are advised to slow down, adhere to posted signs, and anticipate possible delays. Crews will be working around the clock to reopen the roadway as quickly as possible to minimize disruptions. We appreciate your patience.

The NMDOT is committed to the safety of the traveling public and thanks you for your cooperation during this work. For updated information go to: NMDOT at www.nmroads.com  or call 511.

By Lynn Janes

The Silver City Town Council held a regular meeting January 14, 2025. Attendance to the meeting included Mayor Ken Ladner, Mayor Pro Tem Guadalupe Cano, Nicholas Prince, Rudy Bencomo and Stan Snider.

Council comments.

Snider said he had received a few dozen emails plus phone calls and texts supporting the proposed community advisory board. He thanked all that had reached out and attended the meeting to speak. He wanted to address a Silver City Daily Press headline that said, "Police Oversight on Silver City Agenda." "This is wrong, tonight they will be looking at an advisory board. Oversight indicates they will be involved in the day-to-day operations." The ordinance says if a board member would become involved, they would be removed. The correct term would be advisory.

Traffic Alert – Roadway closure expected to last 30 minutes

SILVER CITY - The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) District One, in partnership with Mountain States Constructors, Inc., is widening U.S. 180 from a 2-lane to a 4-lane road from Bayard to Hurley.

Crews have planned a rock blast for Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 12 p.m. U.S. 180 will be closed from Lusk St. to the Bayard Cemetery at milepost 125.8. Please expect delays. This closure is expected to last 30 minutes but no longer than 1 hour.