Front Page News

By Roger Lanse

Friday, Mar. 1, 2024, at about 3:15 p.m., Silver City Police Department officers were dispatched to a vehicular fatality. When they arrived, they found a black Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by Gino Vannatter, 23, of Silver City, had collided with a tan Toyota van driven by Gumersindo Estevez, 85, of Gila. The crash, according to a Silver City Police Department accident report, occurred on Highway 180 and Superior Street in front of the Wendy's restaurant.

According to the report, the motorcycle was traveling east on Highway 180, while the van was heading north on Superior Street. An investigation revealed the van made a complete stop at the stop sign on Superior Street before going across the eastbound lanes of Highway 180. Just before entering the median, to merge into the westbound lanes of Highway 180, the motorcycle collided with the van in a "T-Bone manner.' Neither the driver of the van nor his passenger saw or heard the motorcycle until the impact, they said.

By Roger Lanse

On Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, at around 2:56 p.m., a Grant County Sherif's Office deputy made contact with Carol Garcia, 54, of Gilbert, Arizona, at 3 Artcher Road, Space 9, in Silver City. Garcia is the owner of the property, and she told the deputy, according to a GCSO offense report, "We came from Arizona because were(sp.) heard that Jesus Flores had passed away from the accident that happened yesterday. We got here at around 10:30 a.m. and wanted to get his stuff out of the house to give to his family. I do own the trailer, we just let him stay here because his wife had passed away and he only stayed in the room. When we tried opening the door, we noticed the door was broken. I didn't find out till later that he had $75,000 in a black box under his bed along with important documentation. The neighbor told me that the money was under the bed and my mom had actually seen the money before she passed, so I know it was there."

[Editor's Note: This is the seventh and last of a series of articles on the Feb. 6, 2024, Grant County Commission work session and Feb. 8, 2024, regular meeting. This continues with the work session review of the regular meeting agenda and completes the business at the regular meeting.Article by Mary Alice Murphy

The work session of the Grant County Commission on Feb. 6, 2024 continued with the review of the regular meeting agenda on Feb. 8, 2024.

The first item of new business addressed the consideration of an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees. for a term to run through June 30, 2025.

At the regular meeting, District 4 Commissioner Billy Billings nominated Jason Amaro.

By Frost McGahey, Investigative Journalist

Photo courtesy of councilwoman

On May 8, 2023 at a Bayard City Council work session, councilwoman Frances Gonzales made a public, political statement*describing an attempted break-in at her home the night before and why she chose not to call 911. She didn't call because Bayard did not have 24-hour police protection. (There was an officer on duty.) The council then had to discuss how the Police Department could maximize coverage with the resources it had.

Police Chief Hector Carrillo called one of his officers to City Hall to speak to Gonzales after the council's session ended. Gonzales told the officer she had an appointment and would contact the officer the next day. When she failed to do so, Officers Valerie Barboa and Manuel Galaz went to Gonzales' home two separate times the next afternoon. Gonzales was not home the first time but was able to see them later through her surveillance cameras.

By Roger Lanse

Silver City Police Department officers responded to an accident between a van and a motorcycle at 2289 Superior (Wendy's) on Friday, Mar. 1, 2024, at about 3:10 p.m.

According to an SCPD blotter report, the motorcycle rider was "ejected." EMS personnel stated Vannatter was unresponsive. EMS personnel considered launching Native Air, the blotter report said, then said "CPR in progress. Will go to ER. Native 32 stay at base."

[Editor's Note: This is the sixth of a series of articles on the Feb. 6, 2024, Grant County Commission work session and Feb. 8, 2024, regular meeting. This continues with the work session review of the regular meeting agenda and presentations and proclamations at the regular meeting, as well as the financial reports at the work session.]

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

County Manager Charlene Webb, center, presents the RAP (risk awareness program) award to the Grant County Safety Committee Chair Patrick Cohn and other members of the committee.

Webb, center, presents certificates of EDGE completion to Connie Holguin at left and Elizabeth Trujillo at right.

By 2024 Grant County 4-H Council Reporter, Allie Miller, 15 years old

From left are 2024 4-H Grant County Council Officers from left are Recreation Leader Juan Martinez, Secretary Krysten Jones, Vice-President Kayleigh Massengill, Treasurer Christopher Bennett, President Tucker Gatlin and Reporter Allie Miller having fun at awards night.

[Editor's Note: More Courtesy Photos are at the bottom of this article.]

On February 20, 2024, Grant County 4-H Council Officers Tucker Gatlin, Kayleigh Massengill, Krysten Jones, Chris Bennett, Allie Miller, and extension agents Jessica Massengill and Lauren Baker attended the Grant County Commissioners' meeting. The agents gave a presentation to the County Commissioners and "we officers sat quietly as we observed their use of parliamentary procedure in a formal setting. We had the chance to observe how the county government meetings worked and apply it to our own 4-H Council meetings."

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a regular meeting at San Lorenzo Elementary School on February 26, 2024. Board members in attendance included, , Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana (online), David Terrazas, Angelina Hardin, and Emmarie Heredia. Acting superintendent Michael Koury also attended.

Alicia Edwards, coordinator with Healthy Kids, Healthy Community of Grant County, attended to discuss with the board the wellness policy. The last time the district had updated the policy had been 2017. Edwards told the board that March 28, 2024, PED (Public Education Department) would be coming to the area to do an audit of the wellness program and policies. In 2017 the policy had not been fully developed but currently falls more in line with the requirements. She gave the board an explanation of the process for the audit.