Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Fire personnel from the Glenwood Ranger District will be burning the remaining debris from clean-up efforts in the picnic area at the Catwalk Recreation Area. The burning will begin on Monday, July 14th. Smoke will be visible from Glenwood and neighboring communities, and may settle in low-lying areas during nighttime hours. The duration of the burn is expected to be short and smoke impacts are expected to be minimal, with light smoke lasting 3-4 days. For additional information, please contact the Glenwood Ranger District.
The Silver Consolidated School Board District is seeking letters of interest for the current vacant position on the board of education. The vacancy is in District 5, and the position was held by Debbie Eggleston. An individual will be appointed to fill the vacant position until the February 3, 2015 election. Interested persons must submit a letter expressing interest in the board position and their qualifications for the position to the district office no later than 4:30 p.m. on July 22, 2014. If you have any questions concerning the role of the board of education and the responsibilities of a board member, please contact Lon Streib, Superintendent, for the Silver Consolidated Schools (SCS) at 575-956-2000.
PNM recently awarded $500,000 worth of grants to non-profit organizations, including several from Silver City. Area recipients include the Gila Native Plant Society, Partnerships for Responsible Business, and the Volunteer Center of Grant County. The grants are to be used to fund projects that build vibrant communities, and projects range from youth sports fields to increasing wheelchair accessibility.
Most fire restrictions in Grant County were lifted after yesterday’s Grant County Commissioners meeting. Thanks to the onset of summer monsoons, many areas are expected to see above normal precipitation over the next 8 to 10 days, but the rainfall is still spotty, and there are still areas of dry grass with the potential for lightning-caused fires. Gabe Holguin, Gila fire management officer, noted that there have been 30 snag or single-tree fires in the past week. The Silver City Fire Department also lifted current fire restrictions, allowing residents to practice in permitted open burning to reduce yard waste such as weeds or tree limbs. Though restrictions have been lifted, citizens are still required to pick up a “Burn Permit” and are advised not to burn during periods of high winds.
The Luna County 4-H Shooting Sports teams recently competed at the 2014 National Shooting Sport Invitational. Two teams represented the 4-H team. The Compound Archery Team placed 10th overall in the nations and 5th in the 3-D round. The .22 Caliber Small Bore Rifle Team placed 9th in the nation.
There will be an Agriculture Lease Renewal Workshop to help State Land Office lessees fill out renewal applications on Monday from 2 to 4 pm in the Luna County Commissioners Chambers. Questions concerning the 2014 Agriculture Lease Renewal Application documents will be addressed by staff from the State Land Office Surface Resources Division.
The Mimbres Region Arts Council is seeking volunteers to help with Pickamania! coming to Silver City in September. The volunteer opportunities include: set up and tear down, the CD sales and raffle booths, trash spotting, crowd donation/raffle ticket sales, monitoring the vendor parking lots, and more. Certain choices fill up fast, so get your request in early. Contact the Arts Council to learn how you can get involved.
