Community News
Hidalgo Medical Services Invests in Technology
- Category: Community News Community News
- Published: 06 June 2023 06 June 2023
Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) continues to invest in technology and other infrastructure to better serve the region. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, HMS was the primary provider of testing and vaccinations; this increased demand for services led to its phone systems reaching capacity. Often the call demand led to an inability to answer the calls due to phone line capacity being reached or an inability to answer the calls in a timely manner due to the volume of calls entering the system. This situation was extremely difficult for our patients and caused high levels of dissatisfaction. According to Amanda Frost, HMS' Chief Operations Officer, "What we have experienced between phone system challenges and staffing shortages in 2020 through 2022 within our system was very disheartening and difficult for each of us at HMS. We pride ourselves on providing the highest levels of customer service, and have worked tirelessly to correct these services so we can better care for our patients and the community."
Dan Otero, HMS' CEO, stated that HMS is pleased to share that HMS has invested in, and installed, a new phone system transitioning from an analog to a voice-over internet protocol (VOIP) system. This technology, in conjunction with a stabilizing workforce within operations, has corrected most of our systems issues regarding contacting HMS for services. "We extend our sincere apologies to all our customers who had difficulty with the challenges of our phone system," stated Dr. Otero. Gretchen Cannon, HMS Chief Financial and Information Technology Officer stated that HMS receives approximately 1,000 incoming calls per day, which translates to 5,000 calls a week, and 260,000 calls annually. "We also want to thank our HMS Information Technology professionals and Western New Mexico Communications partners, who provide network services for HMS, for implementing a state-of-the-art phone system in 22 locations with over 365 phones to support services for the future," stated Gretchen Cannon.
Realtor Association Announces Two Scholarship Recipients
- Category: Community News Community News
- Published: 05 June 2023 05 June 2023
The Silver City Regional Association of REALTORS® has awarded two higher education scholarships this year. The association solicits application submissions annually from students who are members of an affiliate member's or REALTOR's immediate family. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA or above overall, be enrolled full-time in higher education, including trade school, and submit an essay about an ideal community.
Photo Added: USDA Selects WNMU’s S. Otto Khera as 2023 E. Kika De La Garza Education Fellow
- Category: Community News Community News
- Published: 05 June 2023 05 June 2023
Silver City, NM – S. Otto Khera, Western New Mexico University Director of Grants and Rural Initiatives and the Title V/Con Ganas project in External Affairs has been selected by the USDA to participate in the 2023 E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program. Says Dr. Magdaleno Manzanarez, Vice President for External Affairs to whom Khera reports, "We are delighted to see Otto get recognized formally for his commitment to HSIs and his achievements. He is a team player, and we are excited to see someone from WNMU selected for the first time for this prestigious fellowship."
Nationally, 20 fellows were selected. Khera is one of only five Education Fellows in the group. Since 1998, the annual fellowships have recognized highly accomplished staff and faculty at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) – accredited, degree-granting institutions of higher education with a full-time Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more.
Emily Gojkovich Completed Training Program for Emerging Leaders of Economic Development Districts in the EDA Austin Region
- Category: Community News Community News
- Published: 02 June 2023 02 June 2023
Washington, DC – The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation is pleased to announce Emily Gojkovich recently completed the 2022 - 2023 Training Program for Emerging Leaders (TPEL), a leadership training program funded by the Austin Regional Office of the U.S. Economic Development Administration, has successfully completed the program. She was part of the fourth class of Emerging Leaders under this program.
"Economic Development Districts (EDDs) provide crucial support to communities, helping to spearhead local economic development plans and projects," said Jorge Ayala, Regional Director for EDA's Austin office. "EDA is proud to support NADO's training program and congratulates the selected participants. We look forward to working with each of them in the future."
Chapter AG, P.E.O. promotes education
- Category: Community News Community News
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
Thanks to the generous support of the Grant County community through their purchase of New Mexican grown pecans, two recent graduates of county high schools will each receive a $1500 scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year from the Chapter AG, P.E.O. Foundation Scholarship account. This annual fall pecan fundraiser has been a successful chapter project for over 55 years, enabling scores of young women to realize their educational goals.
This year’s local scholarship recipients are Makayla Martinez and Hannah Miller.
YCC Crews Make a Lasting Impression
- Category: Community News Community News
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
The Youth Conservation Crew (YCC) offered by Aldo Leopold Charter School (ALCS) provided paid internship positions for 85 youth ages 14-15 including ALCS students in grades 9-12. Their projects included: trail building, eco-monitoring, garden crew, water harvesting, and mural design and installation.
Under the direction of local craftsman Dickey Sanchez, the crews completed two projects: the juniper tree trail next to Ritch Hall on the Western New Mexico University (WNMU) campus and phase one of the Silva Creek Nature Trail connecting the historic Waterworks site to Penny Park. At the Ritch Hall site crew members gained experience in trail design and installation, including building stairs using boulders and flagstone.
The Children’s Water Festival Turns 20!
- Category: Community News Community News
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
This year, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Children’s Water Festival, an opportunity for 5th graders to experience the Gila River. The Children’s Water Festival (CWF) has been organized by different entities over the years and the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance began coordinating in 2016. We’ve improved the format so that just one school at a time is at the river, allowing birdsong to be heard along with the facts from the instructor.
“I’m very grateful that UGWA’s support for this meaningful event allows us to reach students from the Silver City, Cobre, Lordsburg, and Deming School Districts,” states Carol Ann Fugagli, UGWA’s Education Director and organizer of the event. “Watching the faces of young people light up as they discover the texture of sycamore leaves or find aquatic macroinvertebrates never gets tiring!”
Silver City Museum held its annual yard sale 052023
- Category: Community News Community News
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
A bedroom suite
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
Allie from Seattle checking out a chest of drawers
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
Sarah Zamora, museum community engagement manager
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
let there be light
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
something for a side table?
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
more miscellaneous items
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
breakables, be careful
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
one of the tables with miscellaneous items
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
telling time
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
a couch and pillows
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
paintings
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
Janet Ramirez and Charlie Kiehne check out some reading material
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
snacks and lemonade for sale
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
Checking out all the donated items for sale
Silver City Museum annual yard sale 052023
Browsers trying to find the perfect item to take home
Sarah Zamora, museum community engagement manager, oversaw the filling of the museum courtyard with items on tables and shelves, as well as leaning against tree trunks. "The donations are from around town. And we just made all the listed prices half price. You can't leave without buying something. and carrying it away."
She said to this photographer's question that items that don't sell are donated to other entities in town such as SWAG. "Some of the items we store until next year."