The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has closed the gates on NM 159, also known as Bursum Road, for the winter months. The lower gate is located at milepost 12.3, just past Mogollon, and the upper gate is at milepost 22.6, near the Willow Creek Campground. Travelers are advised to use an alternate route, taking US 180 to NM 12 (Reserve) and then NM 435 (Reserve Beaverhead Road) to access Willow Creek, Snow Lake, and the Gila National Forest. The NMDOT will continue to monitor the gates, with the expected reopening scheduled for late April to mid-May.
Tyke Kipp of Lordsburg has been awarded the 2024 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Turquoise Steer Wrestling Champion Title. Going into the competition ranked first in the All Around Cowboy division, Tyke led the Steer Wrestling event with $17,000 earned throughout the season. As a circuit champion, he has earned an invitation to compete in the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo (RNCFR) championships. Congratulations to Tyke and good luck at the rodeo finals championship.
The City of Deming is alerting residents about reports of phone calls from an unidentified individual claiming to represent the City of Deming Utilities Department. These callers are falsely stating that customers have an overdue bill and threatening disconnection unless an immediate payment is made over the phone. The City of Deming emphasizes that they will never contact customers by phone regarding overdue bills or disconnection notices and do not accept payments over the phone. Residents are urged to exercise caution if they receive such suspicious calls, avoid sharing personal information, and report the incident to Central Dispatch by calling 575-546-0354.
In other news:
High school students across New Mexico are invited to participate in a statewide discussion meet hosted by the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) program. The discussion meet offers participants an opportunity to enhance their basic discussion skills, deepen their understanding of important agricultural issues, and learn how to collaborate effectively to reach consensus and solve problems. The 2024 Youth Discussion Meet will take place on Wednesday, November 20th, at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque. High school students interested in joining the event can register through their FFA advisor or 4-H leader or by visiting the website.
