Here’s some of today’s news:
Monday afternoon at approximately 2:30 P.M., Silver City Police officers were dispatched the Lintero Apartments located at 2711 Leslie Road in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, Officers observed a female lying unresponsive on the floor in the apartment. The female victim has been indentified as Victoria Ramos, 30 years of age, suffering by a gunshot wound to the back of the head. Ramos is currently at an El Paso hospital. Further investigation has revealed that Christopher Madrid, 29 years of age as the suspect. Madrid was eventually placed into custody in the area of Wendy’s on Highway 180 East in Silver City. Evidence was found in the apartment that linked Madrid to an armed robbery that occurred on February 6th at the Hudson Street Chevron Station. The Silver City Police Department has charged Christopher Madrid with Armed Robbery (1st degree felony) and Attempted Murder (2nd degree felony). He is currently being held at Grant County Detention Center and the investigation is still ongoing.
The New Mexico House Floor passed a bill yesterday that would add consent language to the state’s sexual education curriculum. House Bill 133, also known as the “Only Yes Means Yes” bill passed on a vote of 43 to 24. In addition, the bill requires public and post-secondary schools to adopt policies and procedures addressing affirmative consent and prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. HB 133 now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Cobre Consolidated Schools Board of Education has voted to extend the contract of Superintendent, Robert Mendoza to the year 2021. The meeting took place in a closed session with a 3 to 2 vote.
Luna County Commissioners are still active in the search for a new County Manager. The position has been vacant since last October when Manager Ira Pearson, became involved in a criminal complaint involving other county employees. Bruce Swingle, of Sierra County was hired on January 11th but resigned a few days later. So far, the commissioners are reviewing over 100 applications received for the position.
The U.S Forest Service Gila National Forest has issued a “Rock Art Etiquette Guide” for the public to observe while visiting certain sites in the Gila National Forest. A released stated, “The Gila National Forest is home to over 200 recorded prehistoric rock art sites. Rock art is extremely fragile, once damaged the site can never be repaired to its original condition. Visitors to the rock art sites across the Gila National Forest may notice that these places have not always been respected. Some of the tips contained in the guide are as follows: Avoid touching the rock art or surfaces around it. Surprising as it may seem, the oils in a single handprint can chemically affect the rock surface; do not apply any substance to the rock art surface, including water or any other fluids; and speak out to prevent damage to rock art and report new rock art destruction. Violators will be subject to civil and criminal penalties, including 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00 and confiscation of vehicles and equipment used in committing the crime.
