Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
As a reminder, the Black Range Ranger District on the Gila National Forest is planning to conduct the Area 74 Prescribed Fire beginning Sunday, May 28th as conditions allow. The overall project is approximately 10,000 acres in size and the boundaries of the prescribed burn are FR521 on the east, FR4070G, 4070J, 4070K and 4074E on the north, FR 677 on the west, and State Highway 59 on the south.
The Kerr Fire on the Reserve Ranger District is currently 11,886 acres in size and 69% contained. Precipitation is expected in the fire area Monday through Thursday of next week. Local fire fighters will continue to patrol and monitor the Kerr Fire over the next several days.
Dr. Francine Jacobs has announced that she will resign from the Deming School Board of Education in order to relocate her sons to Albuquerque Academy. Dr. Jacobs moved to Deming in 2012 and established her pediatric practice at Deming Pediatrics. She was voted to the Board of Education in 2015, defeating incumbent Ruben Torres and challenger Don Heacox. Despite planning to stay in Deming for the foreseeable future, Dr. Jacobs said her two older sons were offered admission to Albuquerque Academy, and she knew if she turned down the opportunity for them, she would be upset with herself in the future.
Kay Dunlap, superintendent at Elephant Butte Lake State Park, said campers hoping to secure a prime spot by parking their RVs earlier this week didn’t realize the lake water was rising quickly due to snow melt flowing down from the upper Rio Grande. The water rose around some vehicles, reaching the tires but not flooding them. Park employees contacted the campers to move their rigs, and made note that campers “are not supposed to do that.” The lake level us currently at 43.38 feet, up around 13 feet from last year, and is expected to continue rising until mid-June.
The House of Representatives recently passed Senate Bill 1, legislation to sweep money from various state funds to the general fund and public school capital outlay fund. The bill includes a provision to sweep $71 million from the state fund earmarked for use on legislative “pet pork projects,” according to the Office of the Governor.
