Here’s a look at some local news:

In an announcement made by the United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, entrance fees to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument will no longer be taken. The park will also no longer sell Interagency Annual Passes, Senior Lifetime Passes or Senior Annual Passes. They will continue to issue the free interagency passes (including Every Kid in a Park for 4th graders, active-duty military, and Access (disability) passes. Current fee prices are $10 per person for anyone over 15 years old and will be charged until July 31st. The park analyzed its fee collection operation and cost effectiveness during the past year and according to a release, determined that the requirements to operate a fiscally sound fee collection operation subjected the park to an administrative commitment that isn’t commensurate with any benefits. Entry fee will be free starting on July 31st.

The Silver City Town Council has approved an ordinance that will allow the use of side-by-sides, also known as UTV’s, RTV’s and ORV’s on town streets. The vote was 3 to 1, with District 2 Councilor, Lynda Aiman-Smith, casting a “no” vote. Side-by-side drivers will be prohibited from driving on state and federal highways including U.S. 180, N.M. 90 and N.M. 15, but will be allowed to CROSS state maintained highways.

The U.S Forest Service, Gila National Forest has announced in celebration of Smokey Bear’s 75th anniversary in August, they will kick off a touring exhibition featuring 16 replicas of historic portraits by artist, Rudolph Wendelin. The exhibit will travel to National Forests across the country throughout 2019 with the portraits being provided by the National Agricultural Library. The Gila National Forest will kick off the tour beginning August 5th running through August 8th at the Gila National Forest office in Silver City.

A locally filmed movie titled, “A Boy Called Sailboat”, will air on HBO Latino this Friday evening at 6:00 P.M. The film featured a number of Grant county residents as cast members and crew. The film was shot in 2016 and appeared at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2018.