June 8th, 2015: Local Headlines

Here’s a look at today’s headlines:

The US Department of Agriculture announced that the nomination period for local Farm Service Agency county committees begins next Monday, June 15^th.  To be eligible to serve on a FSA county committee, a person must participate or cooperate in an agency administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election, and reside in the local administrative area where they are nominated.

Adam Mendonca has been selected as the Forest Supervisor for the Gila National Forest.  Mendonca began his Forest Service career working as a seasonal firefighter on the Gila National Forest while completing a Forestry degree at Northern Arizona University. He currently serves as the Deputy Forest Supervisor for the Rio Grande National Forest in southern Colorado where his duties include the management and oversight of timber, minerals, watershed health, recreation, lands, administration, budget, planning, engineering, wildlife and range. As a result of these duties, he has had the opportunity to work closely with communities, employees and stakeholders on the many challenges associated with forest management.

Local Student Baylee Motes, a 6^th Grade student at Cliff Elementary School has earned a position on the New Mexico State National Junior High rodeo team and will be traveling with fellow teammates to Des Maoines, Iowa, June 21^st through the 27^th to compete at the 11^th annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo in the Pole Bending competition.  The Saturday championship performance will be televised nationally as a part of the Cinch High School Rodeo Tour telecast series on RFD-TV.  Live broadcasts will also air online at NHSRATV.com.  Performance times are 7 pm on Jun 21^st, and 9 am and 7 pm the 22^nd through the 27^th.  Congratulations to Baylee Motes.

The special Legislative session called by New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez began at noon today. The Governor is seeking final action on a 295-million dollar public works package and other proposals that died on the Legislature`s last day. Martinez sent out a proclamation late Friday that calls for lawmakers to report to Santa Fe today in an attempt to pass a capital outlay bill. Also expected to be discussed are tax breaks and short-term funding to address shortfalls in the state court system and the Health Department. Lawmakers failed to pass the measures in March amid public bickering. It`s unclear if lawmakers will take up proposals on mental health treatment reform and ride-booking services. Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, a Democrat, says the session will hopefully only last a day.

Within the first two hours of the Special Session, the New Mexico State Senate passed the capital outlay bill to help spur on economic development, create jobs and address critical infrastructure needs in the state.

A lightning-started wildfire that has burned more than nine square miles of the Coronado National Forest in extreme southwestern New Mexico is about a third contained.  About 300 personnel are currently assigned to fight the fire, which is burning mostly grass and brush just across the state line from southeastern Arizona.  Officials say the fire is growing very slowly.