Here’s a look at today’s news:
The Silver City MainStreet Project received a $2,000 grant from the Town and Country Garden Club to continue the downtown planter project. Started in 2017 with the help of Gary Stailey and the Community Youth Building Project, the planters blossom with flowers and help beautify the downtown area. The project has been very successful with a waiting list of merchants who want a planter in front of their business. The new funding will provide another 25 planters along with new flowers. The Silver City MainStreet Project is one of the oldest and most successful MainStreet programs in the state. The MainStreet program is a national program fostering economic development in local communities and operates under the NM MainStreet program and the state Economic Development Department.
The New Mexico VA Health Care System recently passed a research milestone, enrolling its 10,500th veteran in the VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP). Launched in 2011, MVP is a landmark research effort aimed at better understanding how genes affect health. Up to a million veterans are expected to enroll in the VA study over the next three years. Data and genetic samples collected through the study are stored securely and made available for studies by authorized researchers, with stringent safeguards in place to protect Veterans’ private health information. MVP is now at 40 VA medical centers nationwide, with additional VA sites opening for enrollment in the coming year.
Congressman Steve Pearce introduced H.R. 5721, called the “The Village of Santa Clara Conveyance Act of 2018.” The bill will allow the Village of Santa Clara to acquire land that was previously considered the Fort Bayard Military Reservation but was not included in the 1972 land transfer to the National Forest System. It is anticipated that this land transfer will create further prosperity to the surrounding community by encouraging greater economic opportunities and in addition, give a value to currently unused land.
Longtime college sports analyst and television personality, Brian Jones, is scheduled to be the commencement key note speaker for the graduating class of 2018 at Deming Cesar Chavez Charter High School. Jones played college football at UCLA and the University of Texas, in addition he played in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and the Oakland Raiders, before injuries limited his ability to play. In March, Jones visited Cesar Chavez Charter School and spoke to students about motivation and the ability to overcoming obstacles and achieve personal goals. Jones has been involved in broadcasting for 24 years and is presently working as a college football analyst for the CBS Sports Network. The graduation ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 17th at the Mimbres Valley Special Events Center, 2300 East Pine Street. The public is encouraged to attend. If you have any questions please call the school at 575-544-8404.
