Here’s a look at some local news:
Area food pantries from Grant, Catron, Hidalgo, and Luna counties met in Silver City this week under the guidance of the non-profit group, National Center for Frontier Communities. This was the third meeting of the food pantry groups hosted by the NCFC in efforts to build a regional collaborative allowing the opportunity for and increase in bulk sales and distribution of locally grown food through the Southwest New Mexico Food Hub. According to a release, New Mexico ranks 50th in the nation for childhood hunger according to Map the Meal Gap 2019 report from Feeding America. The national report found 24.1 percent of children age 18 and younger in New Mexico, that’s one of every four children, are at risk of childhood hunger and food insecurity. Founded in 1997, the National Center for Frontier Communities (NCFC) is a research and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the health and quality of life the United States frontier.
During a regular session meeting, the Bayard City Council approved a Notice of Intent that would allow the use of UTV’s also known as side-by-sides within city limits. According to the Grant County Beat, the council has disapproved the use of side-by-sides on municipal streets in the past, but since the Town of Silver City adopted ordinances allowing them, the Bayard council decided to discuss the possibility of passing the ordinance. The passage of the Notice of Intent will allow the Bayard council to have a 14-day period for public comment and changes in the ordinance before it is officially approved.
The New Mexico Bureau of Land Management hosted a public comment meeting regarding a proposed magnesium/dolomite mine quarry that would be located south of Deming. The Deming Headlight reported that according to the BLM, American Magnesium, LLC, has propose a “Plan of Operation” for its “Foothill Dolomite Mine Project.” In addition, the proposal contains plans for the development of a 40-acre site for the quarry mine on BLM public land located 12 miles south of Deming that would be operational for 20 years. As a mineral, some uses for dolomite include, acid neutralization in the chemical industry, in stream restoration projects, and as a soil conditioner.
