The Gila National Forest Silver City Ranger District is planning to hand-thin 125 acres of the Burro Mountains beginning later this month as part of the Mulberry collaborative forest restoration project. According to a news release, the project area is located along the west side of Forest Ridge Road, also known as Grant County Road 4-6, approximately 0.5 mile south of Redrock Road. In addition, a portion of the Continental Divide Trail passes through the project area and for safety purposes, hikers are urged to watch and listen for sawyers and allow them plenty of room to work. The workers will hand cut and lop mountain mahogany, juniper, and pinon that will produce firewood available to the public.
During a meeting with state leaders following Grant County Day at the state capitol, Western New Mexico University Board of Regents received updates from state leaders, accepted the Fiscal Year 2022 Audit Report, second quarter Financial Certification, and a revision of the Capital Project Transmittal for the Deming Learning Center. Other items that were discussed included the development of a workforce training facility in the mining district, construction of a facility to house the newly designated New Mexico Center of Excellence for Early Childhood Education, on campus solar charging, continued work to bring back NCAA baseball, and establishing a soccer team. In his report, President Shepard shared with the board an increase in spring ’23 enrollment as compared to last academic year with overall and undergraduate student enrollment up 11.7% and 20% respectively. Dr. Shepard also noted a continued increase in enrollment going into the fall will assist in assuring WNMU tuition can remain unchanged.
The Village of Santa Clara released an announcement that the Santa Clara Police Department is conducting Selective Traffic Enforcement Operations during the month of February. Officers will be looking for any and all traffic violations and will be out at different times enforcing all traffic laws. All roads and highways within the village will be heavily patrolled.
