Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Officials have been working to repair the damage after flooding in the fall of 2013 caused extensive damage to the trail and associated recreation facilities within the Catwalk National Recreation Area. Last month, contractors completed reconstruction for the first half mile of the Catwalk up to the point of the “Fiberglass Bridge.” The area beyond the fiberglass bridge remains closed until the trail can be restored due to public safety concerns. Starting Friday, July 15th, the day use vehicle fee will resume. The fee will be the same as before the closure of the trail, $3 per vehicle.
Community Development Block Grants were recently awarded to three entities in the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments four-county region. The City of Bayard received $500,000 for street and drainage work on Orchard Street; Catron County received $400,130 for Fair Building improvements; and the Town of Silver City received $475,776 for water system improvements. The Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments also received notice of its approved non-profit organization status. The Council will continue the same work it does helping local counties, municipalities, and other governmental organizations seek and receive funding for planning, infrastructure and improvements, but now it can seek additional funding to supplement limited state funding resources.
The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled last week that terminally ill patients cannot end their lives with help from doctors, ending what right-to-die advocates thought would be a successful legal fight. The Court overturned a previous district court decision that doctors could not be prosecuted under the state’s assisted suicide law, which classifies helping with suicide as a fourth-degree felony.
Last week CVS Health was joined by US Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, New Mexico Secretary of Health Lynn Gallagher and Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia to highlight the availability of naloxone, the opioid overdose-reversal medicine, at all CVS Pharmacy locations in New Mexico. Naloxone is now available to patients without a prescriptions under a physician’s standing order in the state.
Just a reminder, fireworks are not to be shot off after 10 pm, except on the 4th of July and weekend nights, excluding Sunday, when this curfew is extended until midnight. Fireworks are not permitted on National Forest Property. Only certain fireworks are restricted, and these restrictions are in place for the protection of the public and the land. Of course, don’t forget to turn your eyes to the sky at dusk for the town of Silver City’s fireworks display. The town does intend to shoot off fireworks, weather permitting. Be safe, and have a fantastic 4th of July!
