Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
New Mexico State University undergraduate and graduate students participated in an archaeological field school on the Wilderness Ranger District of the Gila National Forest from May 21 through July 3, 2015. The 16 students, under the direction of NMSU Professor Dr. Fumi Arakawa, excavated the Twin Pines Village located south of Wall Lake. Twin Pines Village is an important Classic Mimbres Phase Site that has not been professionally excavated until this summer. Information regarding the types of architecture, artifacts and trade highlight the importance of this site on the Gila National Forest. The students spent five nights a week camping at the Beaverhead Workstation. The students learned the basics of archaeological excavation, mapping, photography, cleaning and classifying artifact types. In addition to the archaeological work, several well-known Mimbres archaeologists visited and toured this site for the first time.
Grant County 4-H recently held their county indoor contests at Stout Elementary. Awards for the county contest were announced at the annual 4-H pool party. Contests incl uded Livestock, Horticulture, Public Speaking, Rifle and Archery. Congratulations to all winners, as well as those who participated in the 4-H contests.
Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), both members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, introduced S. 1780, the Restoring America’s Watersheds Act, a bill to protect, restore, and improve the health of watersheds in national forests. The proposal would prioritize fire-impacted watersheds and encourage partnerships with non-federal stakeholders to invest in forests that provide important water resources.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is making a $1 million initial investment to support three Centers of Excellence with the Council of 1890 Colleges, building and strengthening USDA’s historic partnership with 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Colleges and Universities. Vilsack made the announcement during remarks at the Convocation commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act becoming law, creating the 1890 Land-Grant Universities.
Ranchers in New Mexico, California and Washington state have challenged a new Obama administration rule giving federal agencies authority to protect some streams and wetlands.
In Deming, in an effort to drum up volunteers and bring awareness to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), program director Mayra Solis and her staff are hosting training sessions for locals interested in helping out the program.
