Local News Releases

TEMPROARY CLOSURE NOTIFICATION

MIMBRES, NM, Mar. 7, 2025 – The Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger District will implement a short-term, temporary closure of the Grapevine area and adjacent Gila River #724 Trailhead for hazard tree removal from March 10 – 14, 2025. The work is not expected to disrupt weekend visitation in the area.

"Each year, we assess hazard trees around developed recreation sites and remove those deemed a hazard to forest visitors," said Wilderness District Ranger Brian Stultz. "Next week we will be cutting hazard trees around the day use site along the East Fork of the Gila River. The site will be temporarily closed for protection of public safety during tree-falling operations."

FIRE RESTRICTIONS NOTIFICATION

SILVER CITY, NM, Mar. 6, 2025 – Based on extremely high fire danger and persistent dry weather and fuels conditions, the Gila National Forest will begin to implement forest-wide Stage 1 fire restrictions at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 10, 2025, which will remain in effect through September 30, 2025, unless rescinded sooner or extended. The weather and fuels conditions we're currently experiencing are more typical of late spring conditions than late winter. That indicates a high potential for a busy fire season ahead, and the need to reduce or eliminate human-caused ignitions.

Monday, Mar. 3

Suspicious persons
Elguea/Astec – Hurley
Caller knows a lot of people are walking around in the area/her dogs keep barking/wants frequent patrol for rest of the night. Deputy – negative contact with anything/did hear dogs barking in the area.

No classification
Copper Ridge
Someone hacked her Verizon account and ordered new phones.

POSTPONEMENT OF FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025 TO SATURDAY 15, 2025

The Silver City Friends of the Library (FOL) January Book Sale on Saturday March 8, 2025, is postponed because of weather conditions. The Book Sale is now scheduled for Saturday March 15, 2025.

The Friends of the Library accepts donations of books from the public and uses these to raise funds to support the Silver City Library's programs and activities. Donations can be placed in the Friends of the Library donation bins outside the Silver City Library main door. These are located to the right of the Library's bin for returning Library books. For further information regarding donations in general or for arranging pickup for large donations, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 575-538-4940.

Monday, Mar. 3

Code enforcement
Cactus Street
Says the hose, caddy corner to his house, has been abandoned for a long time and now siding is coming off and blowing around in the wind. LE has contact with caller.

Harassment
600 Tom Foy Blvd.
Every night officers are shining their light into his window/it is happening right now, and he doesn’t understand why/stated he is going to walk over and talk to the officer. Can hear the male arguing with the deputy. Caller just called back wanting to talk to the sergeant on duty.

Silver City Fire Department

Tuesday, Mar. 5

Smoke
6th and Swan streets
Caller passed by and noticed smoke coming out of the windows of an abandoned white house. EMS 11 – going to try to make entry and coordinate an attack. Second caller said squatters are in this abandoned house and they are always there creating problems/he did confirm there is smoke coming out of the house/also wanted to know if Code Enforcement could get the squatters out.

Monday, Mar. 3

Criminal trespass
1313 E. 32nd Street
Caller advised a named female is near the ambulance bay and refusing to leave/she has a CTW. Officer – en route to SOS (Seasonal Overnight Shelter) with Cristina Proudlock/female was advised she is not welcome at SOS until tomorrow.

Domestic disturbance
21st and Swan streets
Caller can hear a male yelling at a female/male sounds drunk/caller disconnected the line. Officer had negative contact x 3/goes straight to VM.

SILVER CITY, NM—WNMU student Ixchel Flores has the same challenges that most college students have, like balancing academics with all the other activities in her life. But each day, Flores has an additional task demanding her attention: checking in with her parents to make sure they have not been deported.

Flores (not her real name) is a first-generation American. Her parents came to the United States from Mexico City as part of an Aztec dance group. Through the group, said Flores, they had many opportunities to perform in the U.S., so they arranged to get visas and travelled with the other dancers.

"About 2004-2005, my parents' visas were about to expire," explained Flores, "but then my mom found out she was pregnant with me, so like many other immigrant parents, they made the decision to stay here—to overstay their visas—to give me a better life."