This fall, 387 students earned degrees or certificates from Western New Mexico University (WNMU), which was celebrated by the community through a hybrid commencement ceremony, allowing both on-campus graduates and those attending remotely to participate. WNMU awarded a total of 79 associate degrees, 114 bachelor’s degrees, 107 master’s degrees, 58 graduate certificates, 7 undergraduate certificates, and 22 fast track certificates. Additionally, 62 WNMU undergraduates graduated with honors across all programs, including members of the WNMU Honors Program. To achieve this distinction, students must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Congratulations to all the graduates.
Santa Claus is set to make an entrance in the City of Bayard tomorrow, December 21st. The excitement kicks off at 5 p.m. with a festive parade starting at the Cooper Little League Fields, where Santa will make a grand arrival by helicopter. Following the parade, at 6 p.m., community members are invited to meet Santa in person at the Bayard Fire Department. This festive event is free and open to all community members.
The Gila National Forest, Glenwood Ranger District, is preparing to conduct a prescribed fire to burn slash piles near private property at Pine Cienega, located off Brushy Mountain Road. The project, situated approximately 23 miles southwest of Glenwood, is set to take place throughout the winter, depending on weather conditions, fuel availability, and staffing. It will involve about 300 acres of slash piles created by hazardous fuels thinning efforts that began in February 2023. Smoke from the burn may impact residents in the Brushy Mountain Road area and be visible along U.S. Highway 180, with the possibility of settling in valley areas, particularly during overnight and early morning hours.
In other News:
The New Mexico State Police is proud to announce that its DWI Unit has been named “DWI Unit of the Year” by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). This prestigious recognition underscores the dedication and hard work of the officers who consistently go above and beyond to protect the community from impaired driving. In the past year alone, the unit conducted over 1,000 traffic stops and made 450 DWI arrests, with nearly 30% of those arrests being for aggravated DWI offenses. This marks the third time the unit has received this honor, highlighting their ongoing commitment to excellence and their crucial role in safeguarding lives.
