Here’s a look at some of today’s local news:
Silver City MainStreet, the Freeport McMoRan Foundation and the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce, held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new restroom facility located at the MainStreet Plaza between Seventh and Eighth Streets just off Bullard Street next to the Big Ditch Park. The MainStreet Plaza has been a part of Phase I of the Downtown Action Plan funded by the Freeport McMoRan Foundation.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are still searching for the suspect in last week’s robbery of the Fort Bayard Federal Credit Union in Arenas Valley. Last Monday morning, a man with a silver handgun held up 2 credit union employees and escaped with an undetermined amount of money. Video surveillance footage shows a Hispanic or while male, approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall wearing a black or gray hoodie, blue jeans, sunglasses, and a black bandana over his mouth. The suspect was searched for in the surrounding area including by air from two Border Patrol helicopters. The FBI is offering a $1000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. Tips can also be submitted online at tips dot fbi dot gov.
The Deming City Council has approved Mayor Benny Jasso’s recommendation to hire Captain Alex Valdespino, as the new Deming police chief. Valdespino, has over 20 years of experience in local law enforcement that includes working as a corrections officer at the Luna County Detention Center, and then joining the Deming Police Department in 2001. He worked his way through the ranks from patrol sergeant to detective, and eventually, patrol captain where he has worked under former DPD Chief Bobby Orosco, for the past three years.
Recently, Heart of the Gila, Back Country Horsemen (Gila Chapter), New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors and the Continental Divide Coalition completed 7 miles of trail maintenance on the Middle Fork Trail in the Gila Wilderness Area. In total, the volunteers contributed 926 hours to maintain the trail. Organized volunteer groups contribute hundreds of hours to activities like trail maintenance, campground rehabilitation, weed removal and also make significant contributions by serving as volunteer hosts or by maintaining campgrounds.
