The Chronicles of Grant County

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Santa Claus May Be In Southwest New Mexico

In recent days, several reindeer – "caribou" in the United States – were seen in the wooded land above Lake Roberts in the Gila National Forest. The antlers of two of the reindeer can be seen behind the big tree in the middle of this photo. (The photograph was produced by Preston Keres and provided courtesy of the United States Forest Service.)

The Chronicles Of Grant County never trades in gossip.

While others may be swayed by influencers on the internet, The Chronicles Of Grant County only focuses on seeking out the truth about activities and events important to the people of Southwest New Mexico.

It is in this spirit that we have found clues that indicate that Santa Claus is visiting our slice of America. Again.

In recent years, Santa Claus has utilized Grant County to begin his whirlwind trip around the world.

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Federal Government Suspends Enforcement
Of New Federal Reporting Requirements

Accepts Voluntary Compliance

Part Three And A Half

The logo for the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Program of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the United States Department of the Treasury. (The image was provided courtesy of the U S Department of the Treasury.)

Due to actions in the Federal courts, the United States Department of the Treasury has included the following statement on the website for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) regarding the requirements for most businesses to file Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reports as part of adherence to the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA):

"BOI e-Filing Alert: Please note that beneficial ownership information reporting [BOIR] requirements have been affected by a recent Federal court order. The Department of the Treasury is appealing that order. In the meantime, reporting companies are not currently required to file a BOIR and are not subject to liability if they fail to do so while the applicable order remains in force."

"However, reporting companies may still opt to file a BOIR."

You can view this summary statement by clicking here.

That summary statement is then linked to the following more detailed statement from the U S Department of the Treasury:

"Alert: Impact of Ongoing Litigation – Deadline Stay – Voluntary Submission Only"

"In light of a recent Federal court order, reporting companies are not currently required to file beneficial ownership information with FinCEN and are not subject to liability if they fail to do so while the order remains in force. However, reporting companies may continue to voluntarily submit beneficial ownership information reports."

"The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) plays a vital role in protecting the U S and international financial systems, as well as people across the country, from illicit finance threats like terrorist financing, drug trafficking, and money laundering  The CTA levels the playing field for tens of millions of law-abiding small businesses across the United States and makes it harder for bad actors to exploit loopholes in order to gain an unfair advantage."

"On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in the case of Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al., No. 4:24-cv-00478 (E.D. Tex.), a Federal district court in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, issued an order granting a nationwide preliminary injunction that: (1) enjoins the CTA, including enforcement of that statute and regulations implementing its beneficial ownership information reporting requirements, and, specifically, (2) stays all deadlines to comply with the CTA's reporting requirements. The Department of Justice, on behalf of the Department of the Treasury, filed a Notice of Appeal on December 5, 2024."

"Texas Top Cop Shop is only one of several cases in which plaintiffs have challenged the CTA that are pending before courts around the country. Several district courts have denied requests to enjoin the CTA, ruling in favor of the Department of the Treasury. The government continues to believe – consistent with the conclusions of the U S District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Oregon – that the CTA is constitutional."

"While this litigation is ongoing, FinCEN will comply with the order issued by the U S District Court for the Eastern District of Texas for as long as it remains in effect. Therefore, reporting companies are not currently required to file their beneficial ownership information with FinCEN and will not be subject to liability if they fail to do so while the preliminary injunction remains in effect."

The requirement for most businesses, unless exempted, had been to file detailed BOI reports with the FinCEN by January 1, 2025.

Penalties for non-compliance had included civil penalties of $591 fines for each day that a person willfully violated the BOI reporting requirements as well as criminal penalties of up to two years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

(Previous news reporting had indicated that civil penalties included fines of $500 for each day that a person willfully violated the BOI reporting requirements. The Federal government had included an adjustment for inflation for non-compliance so the initial amount of $500 for a daily fine has been adjusted upward to $591, according to the most recent statement from the U S Department of the Treasury.)

Please note that this situation is fluid.

The Federal government could choose to again begin enforcement of the new Federal reporting requirements.

As noted previously in this news series, businesses may want to contact an attorney or another professional of their choice to determine whether they may be exempt from filing a BOI report with the FinCEN or if they are or will be required to file a BOI report at some point.

Do you have questions about communities in Grant County?

A street name? A building?

Your questions may be used in a future news column.

Contact Richard McDonough at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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© 2024 Richard McDonough

The Chronicles Of Grant County

New Federal Regulatory Requirements
Affecting Businesses In Southwest New Mexico
Part Three

Senator Marco Rubio. (The photograph was provided courtesy of the Office of Senator Marco Rubio.)

The new regulations from the Federal government that require most businesses in southwest New Mexico – and throughout the United States – to file Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reports with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a division of the U S Department of the Treasury, have been strongly supported by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

The Chronicles Of Grant County

New Federal Regulatory Requirements
Affecting Businesses In Southwest New Mexico
Part Two

The logo of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the United States Department of the Treasury. (The image was provided courtesy of the U S Department of the Treasury.)

While most businesses are faced with a deadline to meet new regulations from the Federal government, a limited number of businesses have been given a reprieve because of the decision of a Federal District Court in Alabama.

As detailed in Part One of this news series, most businesses in southwest New Mexico – and throughout the United States – are required to file Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reports with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a division of the United States Department of the Treasury, by January 1, 2025. Part One of the news series detailed aspects of these new requirements as well as the specific individuals and entities that may be exempted from filing BOI reports.

The Chronicles Of Grant County

New Federal Regulatory Requirements
Affecting Businesses In Southwest New Mexico
Part One

Andrea Gacki is the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. (The photograph was provided courtesy of the United States Department of the Treasury, September 17, 2018.)

A deadline – January 1, 2025 – is fast approaching for many businesses in southwest New Mexico as well as the rest of the country.

Many people owning businesses are faced with a new regulatory requirement of the Federal government. Unless exempted (more on that below), most small businesses have to file reports on their owners with a division of the United States Department of the Treasury.

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Some families may be enjoying an apple pecan pie on Thanksgiving Day. (The photograph was provided courtesy of Colorado State University Extension, November 26, 2016.)

Themes of Thanksgiving can be found throughout southwest New Mexico. Not just on the holiday, but year-round.

You might think about the flavor of the entrée as you roam Turkey Creek Trail in the Gila National Forest or Turkey Track Drive in Tyrone. And who could forget Turkey Trot Lane in Quemado.

While in Mule Creek, you might be thinking turkey thoughts as you travel along Gobbler Lane.

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Agriculture In Hidalgo County

There were 152 farms operating in Hidalgo County in 2022. (The map was provided courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture, 2024.)

There was a slight increase in the number of farms in Hidalgo County during the five years from 2017 to 2022. There was also a steady decrease in the amount of acreage used for agricultural purposes in Hidalgo County during the time period from 2012 to 2022.

In 2022, there were 152 farms in Hidalgo County. This was an increase in the number of farms in the county from 2017 when there were 151 farms in the county. The number of farms in 2017 was 12% less than the number of farms in 2012 in Hidalgo County.

The Chronicles Of Grant County

Veterans Day – 2024
Recognition Of Command Sergeant Major Delbert Owen Jennings
Born In Silver City
Recipient Of The Medal Of Honor

Command Sergeant Major Delbert Owen Jennings. (The photograph was provided courtesy of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.)

On this Veterans Day, we remember Command Sergeant Major Delbert Owen Jennings.

He was born in Silver City on July 23, 1936.

He lived in several communities during his lifetime. His obituary detailed that he was raised in Stockton, California.

He served our country in the Third Squad, Fourth Platoon, Company C, First Battalion (Airborne), Twelfth Cavalry, First Air Cavalry Division of the United States Army.

He was one of more than 8.7 million Americans who served our country in Vietnam.