Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Christmas tree permits will be available for purchase at Gila National Forest offices starting Monday, Nov. 23 and continuing until Dec. 24, 2015. Permits sell for $5.00 each with a limit of one permit per household. Free permits are available for the aromatic pinon trees. Any tree species up to 10 feet may be cut.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) with Interstate Highway Construction will be holding a public involvement meeting to discuss the NM 90/Hudson Street Bridge Reconstruction Project for Silver City, on November 18th from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Grant County Administration Building. The NMDOT and the contractor will provide detailed information regarding the project specifications, and will answer questions regarding the timeline of the project.
Luna County Parents as Teachers staff have all become certified car seat technicians, meaning they have all passed training to safely install car seats for youngsters. Luna County Parents as Teachers is the only home visiting program in Luna County with the entire staff certified as car seat technicians. The staff members were certified through a program administered by Safer New Mexico Now, which is part of the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Child Safety Seat Distribution Program. Technicians must go through an initial training and recertification every two years.
Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Jerry Moran (R–Kan.) introduced the bipartisan Rural Veterans Improvement Act to tackle some of the biggest barriers to accessing quality health care for veterans in rural communities. More than 6 million veterans — including a third of all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans — live in rural areas of the country and often have to travel several hours to see their doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals. Many veterans in New Mexico, Kansas, and across the country have to rely on volunteers or family members to drive them to VA facilities, and some go without care entirely.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding more than $521,000 to 14 organizations in Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. The funds will support projects such as conservation, waste collection, water quality protection, recycling expansion, green infrastructure and improving environmental education in the region.
Walmart announced today that it has hired 1,000 veterans across New Mexico since the launch of its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in May of 2013, which guarantees a job offer to any eligible U.S. veteran honorably discharged from active duty since that time.
Don’t forget the deadline to purchase your Zeal for Teal Tickets for the Teal Tie Event to be held at the Little Toad Creek on November 17th. There will be dinner, a silent auction, live music and speakers, and funds raised benefit the Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services. Call 313-6303, or visit www.silverregionalsass.org.
