The New Mexico Higher Education Department has announced that it is recommending funding that will total $307.5 million for 42 capital improvement, renovation, infrastructure and demolition projects across 27 public and tribal college and university campuses. Projects selected for recommendation demonstrate capacity to contribute to a high-quality educational environment, address major health and safety issues, renovate existing facilities and improve building energy efficiency. Western New Mexico University is one of the universities recommended to receive funds in the amount of $9.5 million to help plan, design, construct, furnish and equip an early childhood development center building.
In Local News:
As of yesterday, October 18th, Fire crews wrapped up ignitions on the Jaybird prescribed fire in the Signal Peak area near Meadow Creek and Jaybird Canyon. Forest resource specialists installed four air quality monitors around the forest to monitor smoke impacts from the prescribed fire operations. The prescribed fire involved 2,600 acres of hazardous fuels treatment and crews will remain on the project to patrol for changes in fire behavior and to check for smoldering vegetation near containment lines. Next, fire crews plan to begin the 960-acre Mill prescribed fire located west of NM Highway 15 in the Sheep Corral area, adjacent to the north side of Forest Road 282.
The Gila Cliff Dwellings will be giving a free guided walk of the dwellings on Saturday, October 21st for all those interested in learning more about the natural and cultural history of the Gila Forks region. The walk will take place at 1:00 p.m. and all participants are to wear sturdy hiking boots and should meet at the Cliff Dwellings.
Civil Rights leader and co-founder to the United Farm Workers Association, Dolores Huerta, recently visited Cesar Chavez Charter High School this past week. Mrs. Huerta has a lifetime of achievements through her activism for workers and women’s rights and advocated for agricultural working conditions to be more humane. While at the high school, she spoke about meeting Cesar Chavez and how they worked together for farm workers rights such as better wages, retirement plans and better treatment overall. The event ended with a meet and greet where Mrs. Huerta took photos with attendees and answered questions.
The non-profit organization in Deming, Friends of the Community, will be hosting “The Great Pumpkin” as a way to help kids celebrate Halloween in a safe manner. Weaver’s Welding will be bringing a towering construction crane with candy for the annual drop. Buckets of candy will be lifted over 100 feet in the air and dropped onto the park grounds for children to collect. The event will be this Sunday, October 22nd and will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the first drop taking place at 1:00 p.m. at John T. Waits Park in Deming.
