Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Work continues on the 9,050-acre McKenna Fire located on the Gila Wilderness roughly 8 miles west of the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Yesterday, crews packed into the fire area, monitored activity, cleared trails and prepared for potential fire growth. The fire is being managed to reduce hazardous fuels, remove forest debris and return fire to the ecosystem. The McKenna Fire is moving slowly on the ground with most of the growth on the southwest corner. About 20 percent of the fire perimeter is active. Smoke from the McKenna Fire is moving to the northeast.
The Sapillo Fire started yesterday around 1:30 pm in the Lower Sapillo Creek below Lake Roberts. The cause is currently unknown, and the fire was estimated at 35 acres yesterday evening. Over 40 crewmembers are working on the scene. Two structures were threatened, but Sapillo Creek volunteer fire department has established structure protection. The Sapillo Fire is backing slowly into Salt Creek to the north. Hazards include power lines and adjacent Urban Interface areas.
The area closure for the Cameron Creek Prescribed Fire is rescinded as of today, May 17th. The Cameron Creek Prescribed Fire is six miles north and east of Silver City within the Fort Bayard Wildlife Refuge. Personnel completed ignitions on the project last week and monitored the burn over the weekend. Fire crews accomplished 2,000 acres on this prescribed fire. If entering the project area, be aware of burned trees, hidden stump holes and hot ash.
The awards ceremony for the Columbus INVASION: A Film Competition was held at the Silver City Rotary Club Luncheon on Tuesday, May 10th. The winners of each category were announced, and the Gran Prix films were shown to an audience for the first time. The short films are available for view at https://vimeo.com/channels/invasion.
The Comcast Foundation recently announced the 2016-2017 recipients of its annual Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program awards. 30 New Mexico High school seniors were selected. One Albuquerque student won a $10,000 scholarship while the rest earned $1,000 scholarships. Congratulations to Dylan Rottman of Cobre High School, Deanna Alvarez of Deming High School.
In sports news, senior Calum Hill was named among the top in the region for the second year in a row as he was selected to the PING First-Team All-South Central Region squad on Monday. He won his second Capital One Academic All-District Award last week, and has also earned back-to-back RMAC Academic Golfer of the Year and RMAC Golfer of the Year Awards. Hill will compete at the NCAA Championships this week in Denver.
New Mexico State Representative Terry McMillan, M.D. was recognized by the New Mexico Medical Society with the 2016 New Mexico Medical Society Legislative Achievement Award for several key pieces of legislation that were passed and signed by the Governor. Dr. McMillan led the effort to address the ability of New Mexicans to get medical care outside the state. He was also instrumental in passing legislation that requires life savings skills be added to high school curriculums, increased the availability of opioid antagonists to address the prescription overdose epidemic, and created an osteopathic loan for service program to increase medical professionals in New Mexico.
