Here’s a look at today’s news:
The American Association for State and Local History announced that the Silver City Museum is the recipient of an Award of Merit for the exhibition and programming 50 Years Ago in Silver City. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 73rd year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. The Town of Silver City commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of its museum in 2017. The Silver City Museum, in partnership with a community of local scholars, hosted an exhibition and series of public events that revisited the recent past and encouraged a dialogue about a wide range of historical topics in Silver City and Grant County. The topics in the exhibition and programs were interdisciplinary, including history, architecture, historic preservation, visual arts, music, education, technology, science, sports, civil rights, social justice, war, law enforcement, and community relations. The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States.
The Gila National Forest, Silver City Ranger District has received a confirmed human-bear encounter that occurred early this morning in area of County Road 4-12/Gold Gulch Road/Forest Road 860 near the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST). Diane Taliaferro, Silver City District Ranger, is asking that, if possible, all campers leave the area for their own protection. District staff are posting signs and putting up barriers in the area of the encounter for public safety. A temporary closure is in place for Forest Road 860/CR4-12 Gold Gulch Road. When hiking/camping/recreating, there are a few precautions that you should take: keep a clean camp; do not store food or strongly scented products in your tent; store your food by hanging at least 10-15 feet above ground or store in approved; bear resistant containers; set up cooking, eating and supply areas at least 100 yards from your sleeping area; do not sleep in the clothes you cook in; and keep a flashlight and bear spray readily available.
Deming Public Schools is in need of men and women to help officiate athletic activities for the 2018-19 school year. All interested persons must be 18 years of age and will be required to fill out a New Mexico Activities Association application form, in addition to an administered background check. Sports being offered for the new school year include; football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball. For more information, call Silas Wilson at 575-545-9385.
Regarding the Buzzard Fire in Catron County, the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 will host a community meeting for the Buzzard Fire at 6:00 P.M. tonight, at the Ray Estrada Community Center on the corner of Mountaineer Road and Juniper Avenue in Reserve. The meeting will be recorded and posted on the Gila National Forest Facebook page and Buzzard Fire InciWeb page for those unable to attend. The Buzzard Fire is now 34% contained. Firefighters have made good progress, with their primary focus now on the west and the eastern edges. On the southwest, the fire has been backing slowly against the wind through piñon-juniper grasslands and is not currently posing a threat to values in the area. On the eastern edge of the fire, fire managers and crews are scouting for the best approach to keeping the fire from crossing Long Canyon, which has very rugged terrain and has proven difficult to work in. High temperatures and low humidity with gusty afternoon winds are anticipated the rest of the week, which will likely result in extreme fire conditions.
Crews on the west side of the fire near upper Wilson Canyon and on the east side near Cox Canyon are continuing to burnout along control lines as needed, as the main fire continues to back into the wind near Eagle Peak. Control lines are in place in Sawmill Canyon. Crews are ready to begin burnout operations along the control lines and are looking for opportunities to apply a more direct attack along the fire’s edge. Control lines are also being constructed south of the Long Canyon Mountains along Moraga Canyon west to the Continental Divide Trail and then connecting to FR94.
It continues to be extremely dry all over the southwest region, and people should use extreme caution in their use of fire or machinery and ensure tow safety chains are not dragging. In the vicinity of the Buzzard Fire, people should remain alert for heavy fire traffic as equipment and personnel will be travelling the roadways. For information on current fire restrictions, please visit, https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/gila/alerts-notices/?aid=46143.
For more fire information, call (602) 529-5924 (8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.)
Email: buzzardfireinfo2018@gmail.com
For up to date announcements and alerts, visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5814/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GilaNForest/
Twitter: @GilaNForest
