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A collection of 154 posts

The History of a Town in a Building

The History of a Town in a Building

The former chamber of the Estancia Board of Trustees was empty — not just devoid of people but also of tables, chairs, pictures, and even the carpet that covered the floor. Trustee Morrow Hall explained that the carpet was the source of one of the problems with the Estancia Town Hall.

School District Report Card for Mountainair Public Schools

School District Report Card for Mountainair Public Schools

Mountainair Public Schools Report Card (2023–2024) – Summary & Accessibility Note This report card is being published on behalf of Mountainair Public Schools in accordance with New Mexico State Law. The Mountainair Dispatch is responsible for the analysis, however, not Mountainair Public Schools. All criticisms and concerns regarding the analysis

Torrance County Commissioners Extend TCDF Agreement and Consider Changes to Fire Department

Torrance County Commissioners

Torrance County Commissioners Extend TCDF Agreement and Consider Changes to Fire Department

The TCDF Contract As is often the case when television cameras are present, the Torrance County Commission meeting on March 26, 2025, dealt with the Torrance County Detention Facility (TCDF). Attendance was larger than usual, with a news crew from KOB-TV present, filming from behind county attorney Michael Garcia and

"Ox Fire" Breaks Out in Manzano Mountains During Dust Storms

"Ox Fire" Breaks Out in Manzano Mountains During Dust Storms

MANZANO, N.M. – Firefighters are responding to the "Ox Fire," a new wildfire that ignited in the Manzano Mountains on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. According to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the fire, burning within the scar of the 2007 Ojo Peak Fire, is estimated at 3

Strong Winds and Fire Danger Expected in Torrance County

Strong Winds and Fire Danger Expected in Torrance County

Torrance County and the surrounding region are bracing for extreme weather conditions as a high wind warning and red flag warning take effect this week. The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has issued a high wind warning from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM MDT on Tuesday, with wind

Immigrant Safety Act Would End County's Relationship with CoreCivic

Immigrant Safety Act Would End County's Relationship with CoreCivic

The Immigrant Safety Act, House Bill 9 (HB-9,) was introduced to the New Mexico House of Representatives on February 12, 2025. Representatives Eleanor Chávez, Angelica Rubio, Andrea Romero, Marianna Anaya, and Christine Chandler sponsored the bill, which passed through the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee that day with a

A Public Hearing Regarding A Private Family Dispute

Torrance County Commissioners

A Public Hearing Regarding A Private Family Dispute

The March 12, 2025 meeting of the Torrance County Commissioners focused on a family dispute appealed from the Board of Planning and Zoning. The Candelaria Family brought before the County Commission an appeal of a decision of the Torrance County Planning and Zoning Board regarding the burial of US Army

Pipe Work to impact three roads tomorrow

Pipe Work to impact three roads tomorrow

As previously reported, Mountainair Public Works will be conducting repairs to water pipes in the vicinity of US-60, Third Street, and Corbett Avenue. Mayor Peter Nieto confirmed that the water pipe work will take place tomorrow, March 12, 2025, and will impact those three streets. During the time of work,

Water Pipe Repairs in the Works

Water Pipe Repairs in the Works

Police Chief Paul Lucero opened the March 4, 2024, meeting of the Mountainair Town Council with a discussion of three breaking and entering cases, all in residential properties. Mayor Peter Nieto discussed the upcoming Hall of Excellence event and the election of the Pinto Bean Queen. He also mentioned installing

County Fire Chief to Depart

County Fire Chief to Depart

County Manager Jordan Barela confirmed that current Torrance County Fire Department (TCFD) Chief James Winham had indicated he intended to resign from the department. On February 26, 2025, Torrance County’s commissioners appointed Barela as interim fire chief (Barela will remain in his role as county manager as well). When

The Blue Nun's Story

The Blue Nun's Story

The story of Venerable María de Jesús de Ágreda, OIC, born María de Coronel y de Arana in 1602, begins in Ágreda, in the Northwestern portion of Spain known as Castilla y León. Like New Mexico, the region is arid and mountainous, with a steep canyon, Hoz de Llánaves, that

Stansbury Press Conference Addresses Recent Actions by Trump and Musk

Stansbury Press Conference Addresses Recent Actions by Trump and Musk

Congressional Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-1st-NM) conducted a press conference on Friday, February 7, 2025, addressing President Donald Trump's and Elon Musk's recent efforts relating to federal administrative agencies. Rep. Stansbury said that Congressional Democrats are fighting "the unprecedented assault we're seeing from the

EMS and Fire Departments Unveil Planned Facility

EMS and Fire Departments Unveil Planned Facility

The February 4, 2025, meeting of the Mountainair Town Council began with a moment of silence for Terry Ballejos, who had recently passed away. Mayor Peter Nieto explained that Ballejos was the sister of council member Richard Torres, mother of Carrie and Franchesca Archuleta, and the mother-in-law of Mountainair Public

Feds Raid Binally Cannabis Operations

Feds Raid Binally Cannabis Operations

Close to fifty federal agents milled about in the parking lot of the Torrance County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, January 23, 2025, just before 5:00 AM. Multiple agency command trailers were parked in front of the District Court and Criminal Investigation Division (CID) buildings. With the temperature hovering

Mountainair Ranger District Plans Prescribed Fire at Red Canyon Campground

Mountainair Ranger District Plans Prescribed Fire at Red Canyon Campground

As the cold air reduces outdoor activities in the Manzano Mountains, fire managers from the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands are preparing to conduct a prescribed burn in the vicinity of the Red Canyon Campground Piles of the Mountainair Ranger District. Pending favorable conditions, the burn may take place

Mountainair Town Council Votes To Clean Things Up

Mountainair Town Council Votes To Clean Things Up

The January 7, 2025, meeting of the Mountainair Town Council was primarily focused on Ordinance 01-2025, the proposed property maintenance ordinance. Nonetheless, the town council addressed multiple other matters as well, including the 2024 activities of Mountainair’s Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services (EMS), an Open Meetings Act resolution,

NMSU Extension Classes Teach Preservation and Prepping Skills

NMSU Extension Classes Teach Preservation and Prepping Skills

Throughout December 2024, New Mexico State University's (NMSU) Extension Program offered classes in Torrance County regarding dehydrating food for long-term storage and preparing and canning jams and jellies. On December 16, 2024, Maberry, CES County Program Director, Extension Family and Consumer Science Agent/4-H Representative, and Deborah Olivas,

MMAC Hosts Papier-Mâché Workshop for Community Members

MMAC Hosts Papier-Mâché Workshop for Community Members

On Sunday, December 8, 2024, the Manzano Mountain Art Council (MMAC) hosted a lively and hands-on papier-mâché workshop led by local artist Samantha Kaye. The event drew Mountainair residents eager to explore the art of sculpting with papier-mâché. Participants got their hands messy crafting unique creations, with some choosing to

Police Uniforms and a Possible Chamber of Commerce Return Addressed by Town Council

Police Uniforms and a Possible Chamber of Commerce Return Addressed by Town Council

On the corner of Broadway and Sunset Avenue, opposite the metal cowboy sculpture posting guard at the United Business Bank, Mountainair’s lone police vehicle sat in the growing dark. Sunset came to an end just before the Mountainair Town Council meeting began on December 3, 2024. During the department

Commissioners Discuss Multi-Million Building Projects and Return to Cannabis Issues

Commissioners Discuss Multi-Million Building Projects and Return to Cannabis Issues

$14 Million Administrative Offices Project Grants administrator Amanda Lujan and architects from Wilson & Company presented updates regarding the plans for the new Torrance County administrative building. Wilson's representative said the new design for the county administrative building would cost the county $22 million. Still, the representative said,

2024 Election Results

2024 Election Results

The New Mexico Secretary of State's office has released unofficial election results, and Torrance County had 7,199 ballots cast out of 10,478 eligible voters. The following are the state and local results of the various races, constitutional amendments, and bond questions. Winners are designated in italics.

Early Voting Continues Without Reports of Major Incidents

Early Voting Continues Without Reports of Major Incidents

Voters in Torrance County raised concerns after it was determined that the County Clerk’s office mailed out 140 ballots without return addresses. However, the New Mexico Secretary of State’s representative and Torrance County Clerk Linda Jaramillo assured voters that the clerk’s office was receiving ballots. No Major

Update Regarding the Torrance County Commission Meeting on October 23, 2024

Update Regarding the Torrance County Commission Meeting on October 23, 2024

In response to a reader's helpful question regarding the article addressing the October 23, 2024, meeting of the Torrance County Commissioners, I wanted to offer a few clarifications. I had written Linda Jaramillo, County Clerk, spoke on early voting. She stated that the deadline for absentee ballots had

County Faces IRS Penalty and Commissioner Threatens Speakers During Public Comment

County Faces IRS Penalty and Commissioner Threatens Speakers During Public Comment

The October 23, 2024, meeting of the Torrance County Commissioners began with congratulations for the absent chairman, Ryan Schwebach, as his son had won an FFA competition that led to the father-and-son duo advancing to competitions in Indiana. It then went into public comment, which addressed residents' allegations that

Willard Adjusts Voting Location

Willard Adjusts Voting Location

The Willard Village Council convened on Monday, October 14, 2024, absent mayor pro tem Edward Redondo. According to Mayor David Dean, Redondo was out sick. Council member Roberta Chavez was initially not present for the meeting, thinking it had been canceled due to Indigenous People's Day. After a

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