Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham recently signed Senate Bill 159, creating a nearly $1 billion trust fund and scholarship program fund to ensure tuition-free college in New Mexico for decades to come. Supported by the Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund, the Higher Education Trust Fund will help make it possible for state financial aid programs, including the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, to continue supporting full tuition for eligible students. The Higher Education Trust Fund will also make it possible for New Mexicans to continue to attend college tuition-free and will allow students to further their education for years to come.
In Grant County News:
Come join Silver City’s Pick It Up-Toss No Mas for their “World Water Day” community cleanup this Saturday, March 16th. Those interested in volunteering are to meet at the Grant County Community Foundation parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Trash bags, gloves, snacks and a guide to a local creek or stream will be provided to all volunteers. After the cleanup, all trash and recyclables will be recorded, and those with the most trash collected will be rewarded.
The Grant County Community Partnership for Children is announcing the “VROOM” app to all parents and caregivers in Grant County and across New Mexico. VROOM is a free app that helps parents and caregivers give children a great start in life and the future. Once registered, parents will receive 3 to 5 parenting tips in either Spanish or English each week for each child registered. To learn more about the app and to register, visit website.
The Gila Native Plant Society, along with students from Aldo Leopold and Silver Consolidated Schools, have been working on expanding the “Children’s Butterfly Garden”. The area that includes the “Butterfly” will expand and become a larger, youth oriented pollinator garden with interactive elements and more flowers. The garden will continue to serve as the central location for the Heart of the Gila’s Monarch Butterfly and Endangered Species programming. Also, the new pollinator garden will grow to provide an expanded living classroom for local schools, and a self-guided experience available to families visiting the garden.
Interested in exploring the Gila Trails? Gila Trails Info is looking for volunteers to help with trail work along the Gila Flat Trail and Railroad Trail. Trail work will involve brushing with some logging and trail marking and will take place March 19th through the 23rd. All trail users welcome, no trail work experience necessary. For more information and to sign up, visit website.
In other news – Many of you may have heard, Sabrina Pack, was appointed by the Governor this past week to the New Mexico Game and Fish Commission. This is a seven-person commission that is charged with providing direction on hunting and fishing regulations, hiring the Department of Game and Fish director, overseeing spending of a more than $35 million annual budget, and setting the department’s overall direction. The New Mexico Game and Fish Department is focused on conserving New Mexico’s wildlife for future generations.
Sabrina said “she is honored to be able to serve in this position” and “is hopeful she will be able to help with the many challenges facing the department and management of wildlife. There are many stakeholders to hear from as the Commission works to better understand those varying perspectives and formulate plans to address the issues. The first step is to better understand the needs, perceptions, issues, and challenges from all sides”. Sabrina shared that she “looks forward to that process”.
In pursuant of that endeavor the next NM Game and Fish Department Commission meeting will be in Silver City, April 19. The time and location will be determined. Please check the Game and Fish Department’s website for more information as it becomes available. The idea is to allow stakeholders from all sides of issues a chance to make public comments and hear a variety of presentations from the various divisions within the Department of Game and Fish and various interested groups. If you would like to visit with Sabrina about the issues, please feel free to call her at Silver City Radio or email her at Sabrina.pack@dgf.nm.gov.
