Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The Philanthropic Education Association chapters of Silver City hosted the annual “Purse Auction” at First Presbyterian Church, to benefit educational scholarships for local girls. Guests that attend the event view a collection of purses in a silent auction setting, enjoy refreshments and submit their bids. Cobre High School graduate and class Valedictorian, Allison Sedillos, was the recipient of the 2017 Nancy Champlin P.E.O Foundation Scholarship for $1000 and assisted with the auction festivities. Allison is currently a Sophomore at New Mexico State University, and is majoring in Biology. P.E.O was founded 150 years ago as a college society, similar to later sororities. Fellowship and philanthropic service are of great importance to its members.
Western New Mexico University has reported that a 10 percent drop in enrollment is due to a decrease of dual enrollment students, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of WNMU’s drop in overall enrollment. In addition, they discovered a correlation between the decline and a loss of qualified instructors, due to the Higher Learning Commission’s new accreditation standards. As a result, four classes were not able to be offered to dual enrollment students. The dual enrollment program allows high school students to take required general education courses at state institutions before they graduate from high School. WNMU is now reviewing a new dual enrollment policies and procedures that will increase enrollment for the Spring semester.
New Mexico State Senator for District 28, Howie Morales, has a submitted a letter to the U.S. Air Force at Holloman Air Force Base requesting an additional public meeting to be held in Silver City addressing the proposed usage of training airspace over the Gila National Forest and a portion of Grant County. There were scoping meetings held in Truth or Consequences, Carlsbad and Las Cruces, but not in Silver City. The proposed Alternative 2 changes, specifically, a new Military Operations Area labeled “Lobos MOA”, would adjust airspace to the Southeast over the Gila Wilderness, Aldo Leopold Wilderness and other populated areas of Grant County that include Silver City, Cliff and Gila.
The Petco Foundation has awarded $3,000 to support the work of the Deming Animal Guardians, a not-profit organization that provides services to low-income pet owners in addition to improving the lives of companion animals. The awarded funding will assist the organization in support of continued community animal spay/neuter surgeries, specifically for dogs 60 pounds and larger. The Deming Animal Guardians has been active for 26 years and has sponsored more than 12,000 spay/neuter surgeries.
