Here’s a look at some local news:

The Silver City Mainstreet Plaza project has advanced forward with the installation of a brand-new public restroom near the Big Ditch. The ADA-compliant building was funded by a community infrastructure grant provided by the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation. The building will be open for use in the next two to three weeks after heating and electric work has been completed. The Town of Silver City funded the foundation for the structure creating a partnership with MainStreet to create a plaza for downtown events.

Silver Consolidated Schools hosted a Community Dialogue meeting last week whereby over two dozen individuals brainstormed and discussed ideas for developing career pathways for students. The community conversations were created to stimulate ideas on how to keep students engaged with their schooling and for how the district can provide necessary programs leading to future employment in Grant County. The meeting included Silver Mayor, Ken Ladner; Town Manager, Alex Brown; Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments Executive Director, Priscilla Lucero; MainStreet Executive Director, Charmeine Wait; and former Syzygy Tile owner, Lee Gruber. Some of the ideas discussed were bringing back class electives such as home economics and providing opportunities for students to obtain work experience before graduation.

The Hurley Masonic Lodge #55 is marking their 100th anniversary on March 6th at 9:00 A.M. at the Silver City Masonic Temple located at 11 Ridge Road in Silver City. The community is invited to a public event featuring a summation of the Lodge Masonic service to the Grant County community and a History of events presented by Master, Tedd Walters. The Hurley Masonic Lodge #55 was chartered on March 6th, 1919 and is part of the 10th District. The members of Hurley Lodge #55 have raised funds for the annual “Clothe a Child” whereby children in need are invited to shop at a local store for over a $100 worth of clothes. Grant County Masonic Relief is made up of the Hurley, Mimbres, Santa Rita, and Silver City Masonic Lodges. Each year the respective Lodges have fundraisers, in combination with donations from their members and others, to support many community charitable activities. Happy 100th Anniversary to Hurley Masonic Lodge #55!

The New Mexico House of Representatives has passed Bill 141 titled the “Sensitive Personal Information Protection Act.” The measure creates a clear and strong confidentiality policy that keeps certain sensitive personal information from being disclosed by state employees. The protected information includes: social security numbers; Individual Tax ID numbers; a person’s sexual orientation; gender identity; physical or mental disability; immigration status, national origin, religion, a person’s status as a crime victim, or a recipient of public assistance.  House Bill 141 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Luna County 4-H members purchased $1200 of food for the Luna County Healing House and Domestic Violence Shelter during a shopping excursion at Pepper’s Supermarket in Deming. The 4-H members in collaboration with the Luna County Farm & Livestock Bureau and the Luna County BorderBelles purchased the food from a list of needs provided by Healing House. Thank you, Luna County 4-H members for serving your community!