Here’s a look at some latest news and headlines:
Governor Susana Martinez announced that over one-third of DWI cases monitored by the state during the first year of the DWI court monitoring initiative, which aimed to shed light on how DWI cases are handled, were dismissed. The Governor also announced ways the state plans to help with the adjudication of DWI cases. Data shows that of the 1,106 monitored cases that were adjudicated, 36 percent were dismissed, 35 percent were guilty, 23 percent were deferred prosecution, 4 percent were amended, and one percent were not guilty verdicts. The top three reasons cases were dismissed are because officers or witnesses failed to appear, the suppression or exclusion of testimony or evidence, or because the defendant received a plea deal.
The Wilderness Ranger District will be closing the Mesa Campground at Lake Roberts beginning December 1st. The campground will be receiving extensive maintenance and will be closed indefinitely. If you still wish to camp on the Wilderness Ranger District the Upper End Campground which is also located at Lake Roberts is open for the winter.
The community is invited to help shape Western New Mexico University’s 2018-2021 strategic plan. WNMU is reviewing its three-year strategic plan and forming a new one for 2018-2021 and university leadership is looking for input about the university’s mission, vision and goals. “An important component is consideration of our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. William Crocker said, inviting faculty, staff, students and the public to join the conversation about the university’s future. Members of the community are urged to take the survey, developed by the faculty and staff on the University Planning Council’s Quality Planning Committee. Go to wnmu.edu by November 30th to participate in the survey.
Girl Scout Troop 54289 organized Thanksgiving care packages for families in need. This effort taught the girls a valuable lesson in giving back to others and earned them their “Giving Back to My Community Badge”. The group not only put together the boxes for distribution, but purchased the turkeys from their own earnings from last year’s cookie sales. For more information on Girl Scouts, please contact Annette Toney at 575-538-2481.
In other news, feel free to drop off a new and unwrapped toy for the annual Toys for Tots drive at Arby’s in Silver City. When you drop off a toy, you can get a free roast beef sandwich.
