USFS

Forest Service Burns Slash Piles in Gallinas Mountains; Smoke May Drift Into Estancia Valley

Crews with the Cibola National Forest plan multi-day pile burning on up to 645 acres southeast of Willard, starting Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Residents of Willard, Cedarvale, and other parts of the Estancia Valley may see or smell smoke this week. Firefighters with the Cibola National Forest and National

Public Notice

Torrance County Notice of Intent to Adopt Bond Ordinance

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT BOND ORDINANCE TORRANCE COUNTY, NEW MEXICO NOTICE OF MEETING AND INTENT TO ADOPT BOND ORDINANCE Torrance County, New Mexico (the “County”), hereby gives notice of a regular Board of County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., in the Commission

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events for October 26, 2026

Do you want to advertise your event in the Mountainair Dispatch? I'd love to publish it. Email todd@mountainairdispatch.com with the details to submit your event. There is no cost to publish upcoming events. Federal Government Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Quarai

weather alert

Flood Watch and New Severe Thunderstorm Watch Put Torrance County on Alert Through Late Tonight

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flood Watch for the Estancia Valley, Central Highlands, Sandia and Manzano Mountains, and South Central Highlands, in effect through late tonight (Saturday, October 24, 2026). The Storm Prediction Center has also issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, which includes Torrance County and

weather alert

Severe Thunderstorm Watch Covers Torrance County Until 9 PM as Storms Remain Possible

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, which covers Torrance County and 16 other New Mexico counties, in effect until 9 PM MDT this evening (Friday, October 23, 2026). A watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop, though none may form in

Torrance County

Torrance County plans zoning overhaul and rewrites economic development law amid transparency concerns

A proposed rewrite of the Torrance County zoning ordinance would cap backyard poultry flocks at 24 birds, bar the installation of mobile homes more than 30 years old, prohibit living in storage sheds, and tighten controls on cannabis grows. The Torrance County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-0 on

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events for October 19, 2026

Do you want to advertise your event in the Mountainair Dispatch? I'd love to publish it. Email todd@mountainairdispatch.com with the details to submit your event. There is no cost to publish upcoming events. Federal Government Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument The National Park Service has scheduled

Punkin Chunkin

Punkin’ Chunkin’ Today

Mountainair

Mountainair to auction three town-owned lots, seeks to address vehicle fleet

Council also commits $1 million in federal funds toward a $10 million wastewater project and tables a fix for flooding behind the post office Mountainair residents who have wanted a piece of land close to the center of town will get their chance on Saturday, November 7, 2026, when the

Public Notice

Mountainair First Notice of Public Land Auction

TOWN OF MOUNTAINAIR NOTICE OF PUBLIC LAND AUCTION The Town of Mountainair will conduct a public auction of Town-owned real property on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at the rear parking lot of Mountainair Town Hall. Properties Available: 1. 215 E. Broadway (R015157) – Mountainair Original

weather alert

Freeze Warning in Effect Friday Morning for Estancia Valley; Freeze Watch Issued for Saturday Morning

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Freeze Warning for the Estancia Valley, Central Highlands, and Northeast Highlands, in effect from 3:00 AM to 9:00 AM MDT Friday, October 16, 2026. A Freeze Watch has also been issued for the same areas, covering late Friday night

Events

Upcoming Events for October 12, 2026

Do you want to advertise your event in the Mountainair Dispatch? I'd love to publish it. Email todd@mountainairdispatch.com with the details to submit your event. There is no cost to publish upcoming events. Federal Government Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Quarai

Weather

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Southwestern Torrance County; Damaging Winds Expected

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for southwestern Torrance County, northeastern Socorro County, and northwestern Lincoln County, in effect until 7:30 p.m. MDT this evening (Sunday, October 11, 2026). At 7:00 p.m. MDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line

PNM

Download: A Resident's Guide to PNM's Mid-State Transmission Project and the PRC

A free, printable guide explains what PNM proposes, how the state approval process works, and how Torrance County residents can take part. The Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Pattern Energy plan to build a new 345-kilovolt transmission line, just over 100 miles long, across Torrance, Socorro,

Estancia Board of Trustees

Estancia trustees back desalination pilot bid and raise clerk's pay

ESTANCIA, NM — At the Monday, October 5, 2026 meeting of the Estancia Board of Trustees, Town Clerk Roy Hubbard said that Estancia residents are still relying on water hauled in by truck. The Estancia Board of Trustees voted to test a possible water source. Trustees took initial steps toward partnering

Events

Upcoming Events for October 5, 2026

Do you want to advertise your event in the Mountainair Dispatch? I'd love to publish it. Email todd@mountainairdispatch.com with the details to submit your event. There is no cost to publish upcoming events. Federal Government Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Quarai

Job Opportunity

Job Opportunity in Mountainair

The following is promotional content for Western National Parks. Full-Time Retail Park Store Manager Mountainair, NM | $18.75–$21.35/hour Do you love national parks and enjoy leading a retail team? Western National Parks (WNP), a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Forest

Torrance County Commissioners

Torrance County Commission Advances $150 Million Battery Storage Bond, Raises Senior Meal Funding Amid Economic Development Debate

ESTANCIA, NM — Bill Peifer of Moriarty opened public comment at the Torrance County Board of County Commissioners' Wednesday, September 23, 2026 meeting with a proverb and a charge: "When you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Peifer, of District 2, told commissioners the county has operated

Harvest Festival 2026

Manzano Mountain Retreat Harvest Festival 2026

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events for September 28, 2026

Do you want to advertise your event in the Mountainair Dispatch? I'd love to publish it. Email todd@mountainairdispatch.com with the details to submit your event. There is no cost to publish upcoming events. Federal Government Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Quarai

weather alert

Another Significant Flood Risk for Torrance County Monday Evening Through Tuesday Night; Back-to-Back Storm Systems Expected

If you feel like you have heard this warning before—you have. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued another Flood Watch for the Estancia Valley, Central Highlands, and east-central New Mexico, in effect from Monday evening through late Tuesday night (September 29–30, 2026). This is the

Estancia

Estancia still without a budget three months into fiscal year; trustees begin search for next police chief

Water storage rebounds, but a leaking main tank is now a priority; board also approves temporary EMS hires and an EMW Gas Association lease ESTANCIA — The Town of Estancia's water storage tanks are nearly full after a summer of shortages, town officials told the Board of Trustees on

Weather

No Torrance County road closures reported Tuesday, but flooding hits some rural roads; sandbags available through Wednesday

Emergency manager says crews are watching conditions as the Flood Watch continues. By now, most Torrance County residents have seen the rain for themselves. Some have also seen what it left behind in the roads. As of Tuesday afternoon, September 22, 2026, no county roads had been officially closed. Torrance

weather alert

Dangerous Monsoon Surge Brings Flooding Risk Through Wednesday Afternoon; Multiple Storm Rounds Expected

You've likely already heard the warnings from both the National Weather Service and Torrance County Emergency Management – and with good reason. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a Flood Watch for the Estancia Valley, Central Highlands, Sandia and Manzano Mountains, and a broad swath of central

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events for September 21, 2026

Do you want to advertise your event in the Mountainair Dispatch? I'd love to publish it. Email todd@mountainairdispatch.com with the details to submit your event. There is no cost to publish upcoming events. Federal Government Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Quarai