Front Page News
Silver Schools looking at arming security guards
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 17 April 2023 17 April 2023
By Lynn Janes
On March 30, 2023, the Silver School district held one of the three meetings for public input on arming security guards in the schools. This meeting took place at Jose Barrios Elementary. Approximately 40-50 people attended. William Hawkins, Silver Schools superintendent, headed the conversation and addressed the questions. Luis Alvarez, assistant superintendent, also attended.
This has been a conversation brought up to the board for some time. The district has a threat assessment committee that meets regularly. One thing they recently had done to address any threat to the schools was to require ALICE (alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate) training for all staff and students. This training has been used across the country.
Eddie Flores, board member, and Luis Alvarez, assistant superintendent, head the threat assessment committee. Flores has brought up the idea of arming the guards for a while.
Cobre getting new curriculum.
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 17 April 2023 17 April 2023
By Lynn Janes
The Cobre Consolidated Schools held a board meeting on March 27, 2023. President Serena Murillo called the meeting to order. Other board members in attendance included Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, Elizabeth Dean, and David Terrazas. Dr. Jeff Spaletta also attended.
Reading of the board norms took place with each board member reading a norm. The norms consist of five rules the board strives to adhere to during the meeting. They are listed as actively listen to all perspectives, respond to concerns and questions as a unified board, professionalism expected, assume positive intent, and be positive and responsive.
The Pledge of Allegiance and salute to the New Mexico flag took place.
The board recognized the athletes that had won at the state championships.
Grant County Commission work session held April 11, 2023, part 4
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 16 April 2023 16 April 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 4 of a multi-article series on the Commission work session on April 11, as well as on the regular meeting on April 13, 2023. This continues county reports.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
Beginning the rest of county reports at the Grant County Commission work session on April 11, 2023, Internet Technology Director Adam Baca said he and Specialist Robert Hood continue to implement the managed network switch equipment. "We are wanting to create network separators, so that not all computers can see all the other computers, but only those in their department, so if a virus is detected, it doesn't spread to everyone. After we are done with these projects, we will go to the Detention Center. We want to implement server infrastructure once we have the networks in place. We will do the network vulnerability scanning slowly after we finish the managed network process."
He said he did a walkthrough at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Conference Center with Director Romeo Cruz. "We want to bring in a group to assess the audio and visual and make recommendations. Romeo and I will review them. The plug-ins are worn out. We plan on upgrading and adding in new screens and microphones."
Grant County Commission work session held April 11, 2023, part 3
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 16 April 2023 16 April 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 3 of a multi-article series on the Commission work session on April 11, as well as on the regular meeting on April 13, 2023. This begins with county reports at the work session.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
Detention Center Administrator Joseph Andazola gave the first county report at the April 11, 2023 Grant County Commission work session.
"We have three officers in training and another one starting next week," Andazola reported. "We also have another pending job offer. We have two openings right now. I want to thank Human Resources for getting interviews set up quickly. We will also work with Workforce Solutions. We have two pending to potentially go work at the Sheriff's Office and another two who are applying for other positions, so we will continue our recruitment."
He said Lt. Rios, Sgt. Gnader and Officer Thayer had completed the Special Response Team school, with Gnader finishing in the top five. "I would like to thank the El Paso County Sheriff's Department for their inivitation." He also noted that he has hosted training, including one in defensive tactics.
Grant County Commission work session held April 11, 2023, part 2
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 14 April 2023 14 April 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 2 of a multi-article series on the Commission work session on April 11, as well as on the regular meeting on April 13, 2023. This covers the second work session presentation.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
The second presentation at the Grant County Commission work session on April 11, 2023, commissioners heard from Rosalinda Natividad, founder and chief executive officer of Incite Network LLC talking about the Grant County Comprehensive Grants Plan.
"We are working together on this plan for the use of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding," Natividad began. "We want a continuing conversation. We prepared a grant plan and three grant applications for your review, as well as multiple potential grants. We also in the plan talked about whether you should hire a full-time grant writer or work with a contractor. We put in an overview of your goals. We brought in feedback from the different departments. You'll also see thoughts of potential projects."
Cobre maps strategic plan
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 13 April 2023 13 April 2023
Photos and article by Lynn Janes
On March 21, 2023, Cobre school district held a public forum to map the needs of the schools. The board hired a company out of Albuquerque, CES Educational Services. This meeting will help decide what the plans will be for the next three to five years to move the district forward.
Part of the service entails the company coming in and doing a needs assessment of the district because every school has different needs. The approximately 105 participants identified 63 needs in this meeting. The people that attended included teachers, students, and other community members.
They started with asking people to tell them what need they felt the district had. They listed those and then broke people out in groups and they broke that down to a total of 33 needs and then sat down and broke it down to 10 needs. They ranked those needs from the most important to least. A point system had been used to break it down and rank the needs.
Man at midnight flees from officers
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 13 April 2023 13 April 2023
By Roger Lanse
On Wednesday, Apr. 12, 2023, at five minutes past midnight, a Silver City man on a motorcycle began to lead Silver City Police Department officers on a chase from Broadway through streets in the southwest section of town. Originally, the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the motorcycle because he could not see a license plate or a license plate light on the bike, according to a SCPD incident report. The rider was wearing a black hoodie, a black hat and jeans, and carrying a black backpack.
From Broadway, the report stated, the pursuit continued south on Texas Street, west on Spring Street, south on Arizona Street, south on Pinos Altos Street, west on Sonora Street and south on Cooper Street. The speed of the motorcycle was about 30 mph and the pursuing officer could now see a partial Arizona plate. The motorcycle then turned east on Chihuahua, south on Arizona Street, east on Garcia Street, south on Texas Street, west on Alice Street, south on Arizona Street, west on La Capilla, and south on Victoria Street.
Grant County Commission work session held April 11, 2023, part 1
- Category: Front Page News Front Page News
- Published: 12 April 2023 12 April 2023
[Editor's Note: This is part 1 of a multi-article series on the Comission work session on April 11, as well as on the regular meeting on April 13, 2923. This begins with the first work session presentation.]
By Mary Alice Murphy
The first presentation of the day featured Phoebe Schoeder, representing the New Mexico Department of Health and reporting on the Grant County Community Health Council efforts addressing community needs.
"This will be a brief report on what the Housing Insecurity Taskforce and the Health Council are working together on," Shroeder said. "I've been working with SPIN (Supporting People in Need) and the Gospel Mission to determine the needs of the community. We are seeing that needs are typically monetary. When I contacted the NMDOH, I learned we will be introducing the harm reduction mobile unit. The first time it will be in use will be on April 22, in conjunction with the Toss No Mas Earth Day clean-up that day. We will be going out to SPIN and the Gospel Mission introducing the services. We will also be working with individuals to get them the services to help them get off substances and connecting them with the mental health services if warranted. Additionally, the Homelessness Taskforce has been working with SPIN and the Gospel Mission to work with the San Vicente Consortium to meet concerns head on. As well as that, we are working on the Community Health Action Plan, that NMDOH is doing in conjunction with health councils across the state. Grant County had chosen to focus on mental health and substance abuse and focusing on those experiencing housing insecurity as well."