Here’s a look at today’s news:

The Gila National Forest hopes to release a preliminary draft plan for feedback in the first half of 2018 as part of the Forest Plan Revision process.  This preliminary draft plan reflects local input and describes the strategic direction for management of forest resources.  The Gila National Forest highly encourages feedback on the preliminary draft plan and participation moving forward.  There will be a round of community open houses with dates, with times and locations to be determined, to help create understanding of preliminary plan direction with posters and Forest Service staff available for dialogue.

On Monday evening, officers of the Silver City Police Department responded to a reported stabbing in the 2000 block of Silver Street in Silver City. A 39- year old Hispanic male, with the last known address in Santa Clara, was found to have been stabbed in the right arm. The victim was transported to the Gila Regional Medical Center Emergency Room and then flown to a medical facility in El Paso where he remains in stable condition. The investigating officer stated that the victim did not know who stabbed him and it appears the attack occurred in front of a home in the 2000 block of Silver Street.  Anyone having information about this incident is urged to call the Silver City Police Department at 575-538-3723, ext. 1246.  The investigation is continuing into the incident.

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is working with law enforcement on gas-pump skimming cases in New Mexico. When paying at the pump, there’s a possibility for thieves to steal credit card information using skimmers. Thieves attach skimming devices to the card scanner, and the devices capture the account data from cards used to purchase gas without interfering with the purchase. In petroleum dispensers, the devices are often attached directly to a circuit board on the card reader on the inside of the dispenser. The cardholder is unaware that the data has been compromised until it has been used to make unauthorized purchases. Tips to avoid being compromised are: Check for audit tape to ensure no one has tampered with the dispenser and go inside and pay with cash If you discover a credit card skimmer at the pump, report it to authorities as well as to the store manager. New Mexico fuel retailers are asked to contact the New Mexico Department of Agriculture/Consumer Services Division staff as soon as possible after a skimmer is found. To report identify theft, the public is urged to call the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4338 or visit identity theft dot gov.

Chaparral Elementary School held its 2018 Science Fair which featured 275 kindergarten through 5th grade students. Participation ranged from individual projects to team projects with other students in their own grade. The student’s projects were judged by individuals from a variety of professions including police officers, U.S. Border Patrol Agents, engineers, retired teachers, community volunteers and New Mexico Game and Fish. Each student participant earned science grades for their report cards, and a special ribbon and participation certificate. The students who placed first, second and third in their grade will receive an award at the end of the school year.