Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Fire lookouts on the Gila National Forest reported a lightning-caused wildfire on Friday. The McKenna Fire is located on the Gila Wilderness approximately ten miles west of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. Wilderness Ranger District officials have decided to manage the incident for multiple objectives to reduce exposure to firefighters, help remove hazardous fuels and decrease the probability for high severity wildfires in the future. The fire was estimated at 400 acres as of Saturday afternoon.
Silver City Ranger District fire managers plan to resume the Cameron Creek Prescribed Fire on the Gila National Forest Wednesday, May 11 pending favorable conditions. It could take two days to complete the remaining 900 acres of the 2,100-acre project. The prescribed burn is located six miles north and east of Silver City within the Ft. Bayard Wildlife Refuge.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its interests in TF Holdings Limited to China Molybdenum Co., Ltd. for $2.65 billion in cash and contingent consideration of up to $120 million, consisting of $60 million if the average copper price exceeds $3.50 per pound and $60 million if the average cobalt price exceeds $20 per pound, both during the 24-month period between 2018 and 2019.
City of Deming Mayor Benny Jasso signed into proclamation Deming Elks Youth Week to be observed May 9th through the 16th. National Elks Youth Week is typically observed the first week of May, and is intended to demonstrate the Elks’ partnership with youth, as well as their hopes, aspirations and sincere willingness to help prepare youth in every way for the responsibilities and opportunities of citizenship.
The Tour of the Gila ended on Sunday afternoon after the end of the grueling Gila Monster Road Race. Mara Abbott led the UCI Women after the Stage 1 Silver City to Mogollon Race on Wednesday, while Lachlan Morton led UCI Men. Winners for Stage 2 Inner Loop Races included Jasmine Glaesser and Travis McCabe. In the Stage 3 race, the Tyrone Individual Time Trials, top times in UCI men went to Tom Zirbel and UCI women to Kristin Armstrong. The Stage 4 Downtown Silver City Criterium, Heather Fischer and Eric Marcotte were the winners. In the Stage 5 Gila Monster Road Race, winners were Daniel Jaramillo and Mara Abbott. Full Race results are available at www.tourofthegila.com.
On Monday, May 2nd, US Border Patrol agents using night-vision technology spotted two people walking in the desert, heading north from the US/Mexico international boundary south of I-10 in Lordsburg. Agents were deployed to the area and began the process of tracking the group. Within minutes, agents apprehended two subjects, along with twelve others who were following behind. During routine questioning, two of the guides will face criminal proscecution for alien smuggling.
