Here’s a look at some news:
New Mexican poet, Jimmy Santiago Baca, will read from his work in Light Hall Auditorium at Western New Mexico University at 7 p.m. tomorrow evening. Baca first began writing poetry as a young man in prison. At age 21, he’d been convicted on charges of drug possession and spent four of his six years in prison isolated, teaching himself to read and write. “Immigrants in Our Own Land,” was Baca’s first major collection. In 1987, his semi-autobiographical novel in verse, “Martin and Meditations on the South Valley,” received the American Book Award for poetry, bringing Baca international acclaim. That same year, he received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Most recently, Baca won the International Award for his memoir, “A Place to Stand,” which was made into a documentary. Baca also will do a reading at the Grant County Detention Center on Friday.
Several fires occurred along Pinos Altos Road and New Mexico Highway 15 in Silver City on Monday. The first fire was reported about 3:40 P.M. on Pinos Altos Road just past the intersection at 32nd Street, near City Fire Station 2. The fire was contained to the grass area along the roadway. Reports of additional fires soon followed totaling to five separate fires along NM 15 heading towards Pinos Altos and one on Fuller Drive just off of NM 15. Silver City Fire Chief stated the fires could have been caused by a vehicle towing a trailer with chains dragging on the pavement. The cause of the fires is currently under investigation.
The Bradley Farrington murder trial in Silver City was declared a mistrial on Monday by Judge Jarod Hofacket. Farrington was a former Silver City police officer and was charged with killing his wife, Cassie Marie Farrington on March 24th, 2014. Farrington was arrested and charged with murder in October 2015 by U.S. Marshalls in Tucson Arizona. He was then held at the Grant County Detention Center for 2 years to be released without bond on conditions of release to live with his parents in Tucson in November of 2017. Jurors that were selected last Friday were sworn in and seated in the courtroom when Judge Hofacket, announced that there were issues brought to light over the weekend that caused him to declare a mistrial.
Students from Deming High School and Red Mountain Middle School have been invited to participate in the First Annual New Mexico MESA STEAM Extravaganza in Albuquerque this week. Students were chosen from six geographical regions in the state. New Mexico Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement, Inc. (NM MESA) prepares middle and high school students for college majors and careers in mathematics, engineering, science and related fields. NM MESA supports programs throughout the state, in which students participate in activities such as field trips, speaker presentations, workshops, academic competitions, community service and leadership development. The students will be participating in two days of activities and experiences with partners that include NPS-Petroglyph National Monument, Intel, Sandia National Laboratories, UNM colleges of Engineering, Neurosciences, Health Sciences and Orthopedics, Brain Hackers, Northrop Grumman, PNM, Explora Museum, Sandia Peak Tramway and the International Balloon Museum.
