Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Smoke may be visible in various locations across the Reserve Ranger District as fire management personnel burn slash piles throughout the winter as conditions allow. These areas will be signed and posted for public awareness. Objectives of these burns include removing hazardous fuels and reducing the threat of severe wildfires. Locations of pile burns include the SU slash pit 4 miles southwest of Reserve, the Five Bar Subdivision piles 5 miles southwest of Reserve, the Highway Department Piles behind the Highway Department and across from the Reserve airstrip, and the Balck and Deer Timber Sale piles 12 mile southeast of Reserve.
Annette Toney spoke about the Girl Scout Program during Thursday’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon. During the luncheon, Toney presented the history of Girl Scout Cookie sales, and mentioned a number of activities girls can take part in when they become involved in Girl Scouts, including a Father-Daughter Pinewood Derby, and Mother-Daughter Tea Party, camping and sleepovers, and the annual Christmas caroling at Fort Bayard. Charlene Webb, Grant County Manager, also spoke at the meeting. Webb spoke about the upcoming 30-day legislation and the focus on the budget, bills from the governor and bills vetoed last year.
The Grant County Water Commission meeting was held January 7th. During the meeting, members were updated on the regional water plan and her talk about additional funding sources. Also at the meeting, Silver City manager Alex Brown said the town of Silver City would do a direct lease with Hurley for 270 acre-feet of water from the town’s well field water rights near the airport.
Mike Carillo, Administrator at the Grant County Detention Center, will be recognized for distinguished service to the community with the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award at the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Ceremony at Western New Mexico University. Carillo is a WNMU graduate with an extensive career in the criminal justice field. He has been active in the community, partnering with WNMU and other organizations to develop outreach programs for families of the incarcerated.
Seeking answers on behalf of New Mexicans about the standards and procedures that DHS will follow to enforce REAL ID, US Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and US Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham held a joint meeting in December with Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Mayorkas pledged to the congressional leaders that the Department of Homeland Security would delay enforcement if New Mexico takes steps before Jan. 10 to prove that the governor and legislators are committed to complying with the law this year. Gov. Susana Martinez and the leadership of the N.M. House and Senate would need to verify to the Department of Homeland Security that they agree on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance.
Rep. Jim Smith pre-filed HB 105, legislation that would update the Secretary of State’s campaign finance information system to provide more transparency and accountability in New Mexico’s campaign finance reporting. The bill would require the Secretary of State’s office to develop new hardware and software solutions to make the campaign finance information system easier to use. It also would allow legislators, candidates, lobbyists and advocacy groups to provide input on the design and implementation of the new system.
