Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The final update regarding the Black Range Complex Fires was released this morning by the Gila National Forest office. The Kline, Cooney, Corduroy, and Boiler Fires burn within pre-determined management areas and are currently a combined 4,297 acres. Fire Management will be transferred back to the Black Range Ranger District on Wednesday morning. Fire line personnel continue to be demobilized, and fire crews are scouting the Cooney and Kline Fires for rehabilitation. The Boiler Fire remains in monitoring status. All temporary Area Closure Orders have been lifted within the area of the Black Range Complex Fires.
The Silver City District is rescinding the entire Silver and Signal Fire Emergency Road and Trails Closure Order, effective today, July 26th. The areas to be open were initially closed due to hazardous trees, dangerous falling rocks, flooding and debris on roads and trails from the Signal Fire in 2015 and the Silver Fire in 2013. These hazards have been mitigates along roads and trails only. Visitors need to be aware hazards may exist within the interior burn scar. The down and dead wood left behind is available with a free use permit.
Last month, The Imagination Library of Grant County received three grants for their early literacy program totaling $2000 from Walmart, Albertsons, and the Town and Country Garden Club. Beneficiaries of the Imagination Library include the 1340 Grant County children who receive personally addressed books in the mail each month, their families, and the community as a whole. Surveys indicate the program is having an impact on reading proficiency and the parenting skills of families receiving books.
Yesterday, New Mexico Economic Development Secretary John Barela announce St. Claire’s Organics, a Colorado manufacturer of candy and cough drops, is relocating its facility to the Village of Santa Clara and will create 10 manufacturing jobs. St. Claire’s will purchase an existing facility in the Santa Clara Industrial Park. The building needs remodel and expansion to convert from woodworking to food product manufacturing.
The New Mexico Lottery celebrated its 20-year anniversary on April 27th. Since 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has raised $697 million for education, and more than 100,000 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships. Now, the New Mexico Lottery is testing a new pilot program which allows players who purchase gas with a debit card an opportunity to purchase Powerball and Mega Millions tickets at the pump when fueling up. “Play at the Pump” is intended to maximize revenues for the lottery scholarship fund, and in-store lottery purchases have increased by 4% in other states that have launched the program, including California, North Carolina, Missouri and Pennsylvania.
The Office of the Attorney General filed a lawsuit and sought a temporary restraining order against New Mexico Attorney Joshua R. Simms and a group of non-attorneys who the Attorney General alleges take advantage of consumers in financial distress and who are trying to avoid a foreclosure on their homes. In addition, Office of the Attorney General alleges that the non-attorneys engages in the unauthorized practice of law by giving homeowners legal advice and pleadings to file in the homeowner’s foreclosure case.
