Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The lightning-caused Spur Fire on the Quemado Ranger District as of 10 am was 1,512 acres. To date, crews have been successful in implementing the confine and contain strategy using Forest Road 3020 on the north, Road 49 to the east and a two track road on the west. Observed fire behavior remains low to moderate in the interior as the fire moves south against the rocky bluffs of Dillon Mountain. This type of fire behavior will assist in removing dead and down fuel from the forest floor and raising ladder fuels.
The North Fire on the Magdalena Ranger District as of yesterday afternoon is at 4,548 acres with approximately 128 personnel on the incident. The lightning-caused fire is located in the San Mateo Mountains, 5 miles east of Grassy Lookout and 25 miles southwest of Magdalena. Increased fire behavior may be observed over the North fire with predicted warmer to dryer conditions.
A trailer load of Carzalia Sweet Onions will be in the Albertsons parking lot this Saturday courtesy of the Grant County Shriners. All profits from this event will be given to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a group of 22 hospitals located throughout the United States that provides care and support for children at NO charge. For additional information about the Hospitals and their specialties, check their website at http://www.shrindershospitalsforchildren.org/.
Memorial Day weekend was full of exciting events in and around Silver City. This year’s Memorial Day ceremony held at Fort Bayard National Cemetery drew a large crowd. At Gough Park visitors enjoyed the music and vendors who were drawn out to the Blues and Bikes Festival presented by the Mimbres Region Arts Council.
Freeport McMoRan announced today that it has completed its previously announced sale of a 13 percent interest in its Morenci unincorporated joint venture to Sumitomo Metal Mining Company for cash consideration of $1.0 billion. Freeport plans to use net proceeds from the transaction to repay borrowings under its bank term loan to reduce amounts drawn under its revolving credit facility.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Friday announced a one-time 30-day extension to the June 1st deadline for recording farm organization structures related to Actively Engaged in Farming determinations. The US Department of Agriculture issued the extension in response to farmers and ranchers who requested more time to comply, and to assure that everyone has enough time to provide their information under the new rules.
The Internal Revenue Service Friday issued a warning to taxpayers about bogus phone calls from IRS impersonators demanding payment for a non-existent tax, the “Federal Student Tax.” The IRS urges taxpayers to stay vigilant against these calls and to know the telltale signs of a scam demanding payment.
