During the Town of Bayard Regular Meeting, the Town Council approved a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Bayard Police Department and Grant County for participation in the Stonegarden Grant, a state homeland security program. The Bayard Police Chief emphasized that the grant would enhance security efforts and facilitate collaboration with the Border Patrol and FEMA. The funding, which would be allocated to Grant County, would support overtime costs for personnel when additional assistance is required.
Western New Mexico University Business students are providing free income tax preparation services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This service will be available at Watts Hall from February 5th to April 3rd, operating Monday through Thursday. Individuals seeking assistance are encouraged to bring a photo ID, their Social Security card, W-2s or 1099s from all employers, and a voided check or bank account information. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (575) 538-6329.
The Quemado Ranger District plans to conduct prescribed burns at the Baca community slash disposal site when conditions permit. Additionally, the district is preparing to continue the process of burning 800 acres of slash piles. The Baca site will be burned first, with ignitions expected to take one to two days to complete. The slash piles in the Luna area will be burned over the winter months as part of a longer-term effort, requiring multiple entries when conditions allow, to achieve the full 800-acre burn. Smoke from the Baca burn will be visible from Quemado Lake, while smoke from the Luna pile burns will be visible from Luna and U.S. Highway 180.
In Luna County News:
Congratulations to Bobby Brookhouser, Program Manager for the Luna County Adult Treatment Court, who was recently honored as one of Chief Justice Thomson’s Special Guests at the State of the Judiciary Address. During the address, Chief Justice Thomson recognized Mr. Brookhouser’s exceptional contributions to the Luna County Program and underscored the critical role that Treatment Courts play throughout the state. This recognition highlights the significant positive impact that Mr. Brookhouser and the Treatment Court programs are having on the community.