Here’s a look at today’s news:
An endowed scholarship in honor of Dr. Paul A. Feil (feel) M.D., has been recently been opened at Western New Mexico University. The Paul A. Feil, M.D., Scholarship, was established to benefit graduate students who work in or are natives of Deming and are enrolled at WNMU with plans to enter the medical field. According to a release, “For 42 years, Dr. Feil served his community in the primary role of physician, holding up to 100 office visits a day during a swine flu epidemic. In addition, Dr. Feil coordinated Deming’s first polio vaccine distribution, made regular hospital and nursing home visits and house calls, and delivered more than 4,000 babies. He taught students about rural health care as a clinical assistant professor for the UNM School of Medicine Preceptor Program. To receive the Paul A. Feil, M.D., Scholarship, students must be working toward their master’s in any area that may be applied to a career in the medical field and must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to Deming students.
An order was issued by the United States Department of Transportation selecting Advanced Air, LLC to provide Essential Air Service to Silver City and the surrounding area for a two-year period running from January 1st, 2019, through December 31st, 2020. Advanced Air will be replacing Boutique Air, Inc., that has been providing Essential Air Service for the past few years. Advanced Air will provide 17 nonstop round trips each week to Albuquerque International Sunport, and 7 nonstop round trips each week to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. They will be using twin-engine 9-seat King Air 350 aircraft. Essential Air Service is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities are served by certified air carriers.
Silver Consolidated Schools Board of Education approved a new athletic and activity handbook for the 2018-19 school year. A group comprised of administrators, staff and parents started meetings to revise the handbook in August. Besides clarifying the wording of the handbook, some of the changes involve shifting away from punishing students to offering help through community service and counseling. In January, the district plans to discuss adding drug testing policies to the handbook.
The Reserve Ranger District will begin winter operations of developed recreation sites starting this Saturday. The areas that will be effected are as follows: Dipping Vat; Aeroplane Mesa; Ben Lilly; Willow Creek; and Apache Creek Campgrounds. While the public is encouraged to continue to enjoy these sites, weather permitting, services will be limited during the winter months. The water system will be turned off to prevent freezing and damage to the lines during the fall and winter. In addition, the trash service customarily provided will also not be available during the winter season. Visitors are asked to do their part to pack in/pack out trash and help keep the campgrounds clean. Full services are expected to resume in May.
