Wreaths Across America will take place at 10 am on December 14th at the Fort Bayard National Cemetery. Color Guard will be the Vietnam Vets, Music by the Hi Lo Silvers, and all branches of service will be represented. Coffee and Baked Goods will follow at the VFW Hall in Arenas Valley. Wreath requests can be made December 13th at 2 for anyone who purchased a wreath.
Silver City Engine Crews are Recruiting for Firefighter Positions!
Silver City, NM; December 10, 2013–The Silver City Engine Crews from the Gila National Forest will soon be advertising multiple fire engine crewmember jobs. We are looking for highly motivated individuals with a strong work ethic and ability to work outdoors!
Interested individuals must be able to perform hard physical labor in remote areas of the nation’s forests and grasslands for long extended periods of time in primitive living conditions, while engaged in high stress and high risk wildland and urban interface fire environments, as well as all “All Risk” incidents (disaster relief).
Where to Apply: www.usajobs.gov
For further information, contact Jesse Searles, 575.388.8412 or Billy Trujillo, 575.388.8384.
“Local members of Preceptor Tau Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi undertook a community project to light the Christmas Tree in Gough Park which will officially be turned on at 5:30 pm on December 14, and continue throughout the holiday season.
This project was a dream of member Billie Behrens who now resides in Santa Fe. In September, Billie requested approval of the Town of Silver City and preliminary plans were begun.
The chapter received financial assistance for the purchase of lights from the Moose Lodge, 1st New Mexico Bank, Am Bank, Laureate Theta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Wal-Mart, Aunt Judy’s Attic, and Artistic Impressions Hair Salon.
The project was a major undertaking as it almost became impossible to find equipment capable of handling the task. PNM employee Stan Garrison came to the rescue as he made arrangements to use PNM’s equipment, volunteered his time, and gathered assistance from employee volunteers Clint Bryan, Regan Aguirre and Clay Golden.
Assisting with the coordination of the project were employees from the Town of Silver City including Peter Pena and Jesus Alvillar.
Preceptor Tau invites everyone to “Light Up Your Life” as the Christmas tree lights turn on at 5:30 pm on December 14 and member gather to sing some Christmas carols. “
The following story was posted here: https://www.wildfirex.com/2013/12/05/arizona-forestry-faulted-in-granite-mountain-crew-deaths/. Thanks to the Neighborhood Alliance for emailing this link.
“In a report issued on December 4, the Arizona Industrial Commission unanimously approved the finding of three major workplace violations against the Arizona State Forestry Division.
The report blames the Forestry Division for keeping the hotshot crew in place fighting the Yarnell Hill wildfire on June 30, even when it knew it could no longer control its growth or speed, and for lack of proper communication, command and control, and for a lack of maps that could have better guided the hotshot crew that day.
The commission ruled that the Forestry Division’s actions also at great risk for “smoke inhalation, burns and death” 31 other firefighters who were fighting the fire at a nearby ranch that day.
The report describes a chaotic scene as the fire grew out of control, during which oversight of the wildfire was being transferred to a larger team, but that those team leaders failed to conduct basic incident accident analysis and form strategies for attacking the blaze. Key safety and planning positions on the team were not assigned, and some officers did not arrive for crucial planning discussions, which increased the danger to the Granite Mountain Hotshots and others fighting the fire.
Because of the lack of order and cohesion, the report says, maps were not available to firefighters and others when they arrived on the scene, and a safety officer was also not available, one who “would have viewed the fire and fire line assignments from a safety viewpoint”.
The investigators recommended that the forestry division pay a penalty of $70,000, and $25,000 per firefighter who died, to be paid directly to their families or estates, a total of $545,000. Penalties of $14,000 were recommended for other safety infractions.”
Please visit https://www.wildfirex.com/2013/12/05/arizona-forestry-faulted-in-granite-mountain-crew-deaths/ to view the article in its entirety.
A school house auction will be held at Agape Academy on Saturday, December 7th at 10:15 am. Auctioneer Lynn Geyer will be selling anything from autographed sports memorabilia to jewelry to vacation packages and holiday gift baskets. Preview of items begins at 9:00 am in the school parking lot located behind Penny Park at 1301 N. Santa Rita Street.
The Big Weekend for Toys for Tots is coming up this Saturday. Help fill the truck at Wal Mart this weekend by donating a new coat or toy to a child in need this Christmas. Donations are given to less fortunate children in our community courtesy of the Marine Corps League Gaffney-Oglesby Detachment 1328. Learn more online at www.MCL1328.com.
The following is a release from the office of Senator Udall:
Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 3, U.S. Senator Tom Udall will tour the Roadrunner Food Bank’s Southern Branch in Las Cruces, and discuss his fight in Congress to defend against hunger. Roadrunner Food Bank’s Southern Branch celebrated their ribbon cutting this past September, and distributes food to partner agencies and programs in Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna counties.
During the visit, Udall will listen to a briefing by Roadrunner Food Bank staff and board members on hunger and the impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding cuts on families in Southern New Mexico. Following the briefing, Udall will tour the food bank’s warehouse, visiting the sorting area, freezer storage area, and the main storage room. After the tour, Udall will speak with volunteers, and discuss his efforts in the Senate to support full funding for programs like SNAP and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Media are welcome to join the tour and ask questions afterward.
While New Mexico is slowly climbing out of the deepest recession in decades, hunger remains an issue. New Mexico has the second highest rate of hunger in the nation, with the highest rate of hunger among children. One in every three children in New Mexico does not have enough to eat. Roadrunner Food Bank supports hunger relief efforts in 16 counties across the state.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
WHAT: Udall Tours Roadrunner Food Bank’s Southern Branch and Discusses the Fight Against Hunger
TIME: 9:45 a.m.
WHERE: 2001 Copper Loop
Las Cruces, NM
The following is a press release from the Gila National Forest Office:
Wilderness Ranger District to Conduct Pile Burning
The Wilderness Ranger District, Gila National Forest, is planning on burning slash piles after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, as weather and fire conditions permit. Piles are located throughout the district. Objective is to remove piles created by fuels reduction projects in the Wildland Urban Interface, wildfire suppression activities, and flood clean up.
Project locations include:
Smoke may be visible in the areas where the burns are being conducted, and may linger at night and early morning but normally decreases significantly as daytime temperatures increase.
For additional information, contact the Wilderness Ranger District at 575-536-2250.
The following is a press release from the Gila National Forest Service Office:
The Supervisor’s Office in Silver City including the six Ranger District offices will have an upgraded phone system installed starting Tuesday, December 3, 2013, and lasting through about December 18. This 2-week period is an estimate, and may change depending on circumstances affecting the installation. During the upgrade, the phone systems and network availability will be out-of-service for periods of time.
“The installation of the upgraded system will occur as late in the day as possible to minimize phone disruptions. If offices need to be contacted during this time period, please call as early in the morning as possible,” says Forest Supervisor Kelly Russell.
Cash purchases for Christmas tree, firewood, rock, and other permits plus maps will still be available at the Supervisor’s Office’s and the Reserve Ranger District office during the week of December 3. However, due to the disruption in phone line/network accessibility, credit card purchases may not be available. On the following week starting December 9, credit card purchases should be able to be processed for permits and maps.
The Black Range, Glenwood, Quemado, and Wilderness Ranger Districts will be able to process credit card purchases as usual during the phone upgrade.
Normal business at all Gila National Forest offices will continue as usual during the temporary disruption of phone/network service. Office hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday; the Black Range Ranger District in Tor C closes at 4:00 pm.
For emergency situations, please call 911, or contact local Law Enforcement agencies e.g. Police Departments, Sheriff’s Department, NM State Police, etc.
Visit the forest web site for information: http://fs.usda.gov/gila
The District One office for the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) and local law enforcement offices are out monitoring roadways as weather conditions are expected to change with high winds, rain and snow fall accumulations throughout New Mexico. High winds have already started along I-10 within the Lordsburg area, and motorists are being advised to reduce their speed, and to proceed with extreme caution.
Traffic updates will be posted on the NMDOT traffic advisory web-site at www.nmroads.com as they are reported, and can be retrieved through our automated system at 511 in state, or 1-800-432-4269.
Winter weather driving tips:
