Front Page News

Thank you for your continuing readership and support for the Beat.

Please note that due to a couple of major technological glitches lately, many of the articles on the website are out of date by a couple of weeks until it is fixed tonight.

When you read items, please look at the date it was published. Each article has that date on it. Some were replaced last weekend, but until the second glitch is fixed later today, even those will have wrong dates on them.

Time to use discernment on what you read. You can practice here on the Beat by thinking, hmmm, I think that happened earlier than the publication date of March 1, and if it's between Feb. 24 and March 1, you would be correct.

We continue to publish the most accurate news that we can, but sometimes technology just gets in the way, unfortunately.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

The regular monthly board meeting of the Grant Soil and Water Conservation District will be held Monday, March 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the NRCS Building; 3082 32nd Street Bypass; Suite C; Silver City, NM 88061. The meeting is open to the public.

To request a copy of the agenda or for more information, please call 575-388-1569 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Closure in place Thursday, March 6th to Friday, March 7th

SILVER CITY – US 180 will be closed near Hurley starting Thursday, March 6th at 7 a.m. through Friday, March 7, 2025, at 5 p.m. for the installation of a new water line, a detour will be in place to redirect traffic.

The closure is necessary for the removal and replacement of a new waterline, it will affect both eastbound and westbound traffic. The detour will route vehicles along Lime Quarry Rd, Diaz Ave, and N Hurley Road.
Travelers should slow down, follow posted signs, and expect possible delays. Crews will be working around the clock to reopen the road as quickly as possible to minimize disruption. We appreciate your patience during this time.
The NMDOT is dedicated to ensuring the safety of the traveling public and appreciates your cooperation. For the latest updates, visit www.nmroads.com or call 511.

Silver City :Special Event
Special Event, Lane Closures on US 180 eastbound and westbound at mile marker 131, 4 miles east of Hurley will be in place for haul truck crossings. This closure will be lifted at approximately 12 p.m.

Public Notice
Big Ditch Park between 6th St. and Kelly St. will be closed from to the public March 3, 2025 to March 12, 2025 due to construction in the area. Please find an alternative route. If you have questions, please contact the Town of Silver City Community Development Department at 575-534-6370.

By Frost McGahey, Investigative Reporter

NM AG Raul Torrez and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

Despite all the headlines and press releases, Attorney General Raul Torrez’s efforts against Dr. Shepard and the Board of Regents appear to be sputtering. Also, Governor Grisham’s email to the Board of Regents demanding that they resign seems to have backfired.

First, the Attorney General on January 6 sought to block the severance payment to Dr. Shepard by asking the court to issue a restraining order. The court declined  because the claims in the attorney general’s lawsuit did not implicate Shepard in any wrongdoing.

[Editor's Note: This is part 4 of a multi-part series of articles on almost six hours of Grant County Commission meetings on Feb. 11 and 13, 2025.)

By Mary Alice Murphy

This article on the Grant County Commission Feb, 11, 2025 work session continues the county department head reports.

Grant County Detention Center Administrator Joseph Andazola began by saying: "We currently have four officer openings at the detention center. We have one officer in training, but we are going through background checks on four applicants for the detention center, so that would make us fully staffed."

By Lynn Janes

The town of Bayard held a special meeting February 19, 2025. Attendance included Mayor John L. Ojinaga, Pro Tem Eloy Medina and  Councilors Frances Gonzales, Eloy Gonzales and Gilbert Ortiz. Martha Salas, city clerk, also attended.

The council approved the consent agenda. It included meeting minutes from January 15, 2025, and February 6, 2025, reports for accounts payable, police department, maintenance department, wastewater department, fire department and library. It also included several out-of-town training events.

Ojinaga wanted to go over the training and provide more information. The public works department would be sending three employees to the New Mexico Rural Water Association conference in Albuquerque. This will provide them with necessary training needed for certification. The city clerk and deputy clerk would be attending a workshop in Taos for training needed. The NM Municipal Judge conference in Albuquerque will be paid for out of the judge's fund and will be a mandatory training.