Here’s a look at some local news:
During a special session on Friday afternoon, the Luna County Commissioners met and voted unanimously to declare Luna County as a Second Amendment Sanctuary County. According to Resolution 19-13, “The Board of County Commissioners of Luna County reaffirms its support of the Luna County Sheriff. And that Luna County does not and will not support or authorize the use of County funds, property or personnel in furtherance or enforcement of unreasonable and improper laws that are declared to unconstitutionally infringe upon the rights of Luna County citizens to keep and bear arms under the constitution of the United States of America and the State of New Mexico.” The firearm reform bills that are now before the New Mexico Legislature would include the following: expand requirements for background checks on private firearm sales; and allow the courts to order people deemed threatening by others to temporarily surrender their firearms to law enforcement. Fourteen county commissions from around the state, including Grant, Hidalgo, and Catron county have passed resolutions declaring their county to be a “Second Amendment sanctuary county.”
On Saturday, two competing minimum wage bills were forwarded to the State Corporations and Transportations Committee for a key vote. The proposed House Bill 31, increases the minimum wage to $10 on July 1 of this year, to $11 in 2020, $12 in 2021, and tie future increases to the CPI (Consumer Price Index). In contrast, SB 437 raises the minimum wage to $10, preserves a tip credit, and raises the tipped wage from $2.13 to $3.00. According to a release, “both bills would raise the statewide minimum wage, but doesn’t stop local communities from creating their own, higher, minimum wages.”
In Silver City, a fire that involved the assistance of three area fire departments, spread to 2 acres between Harris Street and Fraser Drive last Thursday afternoon. Smoke was visible from the Mountain View Road area when fire crews arrived and flames were up to 10 feet high. Firefighters from Whiskey Creek, Tyrone, and Silver City contained the fire that was burning grass and shrubs in the area. There was no structural damage and the cause was determined to be a welding spark that landed in the grass.
Local author, Catalina Claussen, was recently honored by the New Apple Book Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing. Claussen’s debut novel, “Diamonds at Dusk” was chosen as the 2018 solo “Medalist Winner” in the young adult romance category. The novel was already selected as a finalist in the 2016 Arizona-New Mexico Book Awards and the 2018 Wishing Shelf Book Awards in the United Kingdom. “Diamonds at Dawn” depicts life unique to southwest New Mexico. Congratulations to local author, Catalina Claussen!
