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A collection of 162 posts

Representative's Message to Area Veterans

Representative's Message to Area Veterans

US Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-1) conducted an event for veterans at Manzano High School in Albuquerque on June 17, 2025, at which Stansbury was joined by State Representative Debra Sariñana (HD-21), Harold Pope (SD-23), Frank Smith, a legislative advocate with the Military and Veterans Caucus (Smith unsuccessfully rant for HD-23)

Episcopal Protest of TCDF in Estancia

Episcopal Protest of TCDF in Estancia

On June 1, 2025, a group of roughly 100 protesters (including local Torrance County residents), leadership from the Episcopal Church, and members of the non-profit Volunteers for Immigrants in Detention-Albuquerque (VIDA) met at Arthur Park in Estancia to protest the Torrance County Detention Facility (TCDF). The group included multiple bishops

Surprise: NMDOT Plans Road Closures for the Next Four Weeks

Surprise: NMDOT Plans Road Closures for the Next Four Weeks

On the morning of Saturday, June 7, 2025, a road crew blocked traffic on US-60, just east of the Turner Inn on the edge of Mountainair. When asked how long the wait would be, the flagman, wearing a balaclava for sun protection, explained it should be an hour or so.

Mountainair Changes Sunflower Fest Rules and Hires New Treasurer

Mountainair Changes Sunflower Fest Rules and Hires New Treasurer

Summary In a regular meeting of the Mountainair Town Council on June 3, 2025, the mayor and town council honored treasurer Phyllis Noyce upon her retirement. The town council met in executive session before publicly deciding who would fill the treasurer vacancy. Finally, members of the public addressed their concerns

County Commissioners Pass Interim Budget But Take No Action on PERA Contributions

County Commissioners Pass Interim Budget But Take No Action on PERA Contributions

Summary In a special meeting of the Board of Torrance County Commissioners on May 22, 2025, the commissioners addressed two of the three matters on their agenda. Specifically, they addressed the approval of the interim budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) and Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) contributions. Nonetheless, the

USFS Seeks To Reduce Fire Risk near Torreon and Tajique

USFS Seeks To Reduce Fire Risk near Torreon and Tajique

MOUNTAINAIR, N.M. — On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the U.S. Forest Service issued a press release stating that the federal agency is seeking public comment on a proposed forest management project in the Manzano Mountains. According to USFS Ranger Shawn Martin, the project would utilize tree thinning, prescribed burns,

Mountainair Town Council Approves Cemetery Board and Interim Budget

Mountainair Town Council Approves Cemetery Board and Interim Budget

Summary The primary focus of the regular meeting of the Mountainair Town Council on May 20, 2025, was the appointment of five members to the town’s newly created cemetery board, the approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) Interim Budget, and starting the design process for the Mountainair Department

Audit Reveals Persistent Accounting Oversight Failures in Torrance County Financial Operations

Audit Reveals Persistent Accounting Oversight Failures in Torrance County Financial Operations

On April 23, 2025, during the meeting of the Torrance County Board of County Commissioners, Torrance County’s accounting auditor released its audit findings regarding how the county handled its assets and liabilities, revealing a mixture of accounting deficiencies and successes in a report by Jose Ortiz, CPA, an accountant

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,

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