Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
We have a brief overview of fires on the Gila National Forest. The Straw Fire located about 2 miles east of the Gila Cliff Dwellings is 9,360 acres in size. The Round Fire is burning in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness near the Diamond Creek Drainage and is 7,269 acres in size. The Corral Fire is estimated at 19,850 acres in size and is located 2.5 miles west of FR150 and 2 miles south of Diamond Creek. The Copperas Fire has been approached with a full suppression strategy due to concerns for public health, powerlines that serve the community of Gila Hot Springs, and the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.
WNMU golf alum Callum Hill recently earned top honors in the San Juan Open after posting 21 under par in four rounds of play. 59 pros competed, and Hill won by 9 shots over second place Steven Kupcho. The San Juan is the top prize in New Mexico for professionals and is a good place for young golfers to network for a chance to reach the next level of competition, PGA Tour Qualifying School.
After an extended medical leave Bicycle Patrolman Efren Canas returned to Silver City last week. Former partner Jason Woods is on a different schedule after being promoted. Officers must be certified before they can be on a bicycle patrol, but currently only these two officers carry that certification. The training is offered in Phoenix for free, but the travel costs fall to the Police Department. There is a proposal for Canas to take the next class to become a trainer who can certify more local officers to patrol on bicycles here.
The New Mexico Association of Counties (NMAC) elected new leadership at its 81st Annual Conference in Taos County on Thursday evening June 22, 2017. The newly elected Board Members include Catron County Assessor Susan Griffin, Grant County Commissioner Gabriel Ramos, Hidalgo Country Treasurer Tyler Massey, Luna County Commissioner Linda Smrkovsky, and Sierra County Sheriff Glenn Hamilton. The NMAC is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization governed by New Mexico county elected officials to strengthen New Mexico counties’ ability to govern their own affairs and improve the well-being and quality of life of their constituents. These Board members will serve from 2017 to 2019.
New Mexico State Parks has issued a notice for the presence of Blue-Green Algae at Three Sisters Cove, a small area within Elephant Butte Lake State Park. State Parks is advising visitors who recreate at Three Sisters Cove of possible health risks associated with exposure to blue-green algae – a naturally occurring organism in lakes that can produce toxins but is short lived. As a precaution, State Parks is posting notices at Elephant Butte Lake State Park and distributing flyers to visitors. Please note that this is currently a small area and it will be posted clearly for visitors.
