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Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy
An outdoor reception at Western New Mexico University to say thank you and goodbye to Interim President Chris Maples and to welcome to incoming President Jose Coll took place at the WNMU Pool Patio Thursday evening, June 25, 2026.
NM Lt. Gov. Howie Morales thanked Maples and welcomed Coll to the university from which Morales graduated.
"We will miss you, Dr. Maples, but we know that you are leaving Western New Mexico University in a better place," Morales said. "I have met with Dr. Coll, and I appreciate the optimism that he brings to Western."
Sacaton Fire reaches 5,545 acres as Type 3 team takes command July 3
Map below
(Glenwood, NM, July 2, 2026) — The lightning-caused Sacaton Fire, detected Sunday, June 21, in the Gila Wilderness, continues to actively burn. The fire is approximately 12.5 miles southeast of Glenwood and 21 miles northwest of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. The fire is now estimated at 5,545 acres.
On Wednesday, the most significant fire growth occurred along the Iron Creek drainage, where the fire burned through heavy dead and down vegetation and pockets of mixed conifer within the 2012 Whitewater-Baldy Fire scar. Long‑range spotting, steady southwest winds and very low overnight humidity recoveries contributed to continuous fire behavior. The northeast edge of the Sacaton Fire has now reached the footprint of the Hummingbird Fire, which burned earlier this year in April and May.
Cassandra Brazeal
Cassandra Brazeal sentenced for the deaths of 2 people in house fire.
July 2, 2026 Silver City I Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced today that Cassandra Brazeal (36) was sentenced to 39 years imprisonment, for the murder of Mary Lou Maynes and Sara Maes. Brazeal had pled to 2 counts of second-degree Murder, each a second-degree felony resulting in the death of a human being and one count of Aggravated Arson, a second-degree felony.
The maximum penalty for each count of second-degree Murder is 15 years imprisonment and the maximum sentence for Aggravated Arson is 9 years imprisonment. Judge Foy imposed all three counts to run consecutively for a total of 39 years. The crimes were further determined to be classified as serious violent offenses. Meaning, Brazeal will serve a minimum of 85% of the time imposed by the judge according to New Mexico Law. Brazeal has already served 2 years, 6 months and 26 days in the Grant County Detention Center, for which she will receive credit toward her sentence.
Thanks to Stewart Rooks for sending this photo of the Sacaton Fire in the Gila National Forest
By Roger Lanse
On Wednesday afternoon, July 1, 2026, about 3 p.m., the Tyrone Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a grass fire on Highway 90 at MM 22, which is about half-way between the Continental Divide and Latigo Road.
According to Incident Commander Grant County Fire Manager Roger Groves, a horse trailer being pulled lost a wheel due to the lug nuts coming loose and resulting sparks ignited the dry roadside grasses.
The fire was about one-half acre in size. No injuries or property damage were reported.
(Silver City, NM, June 30, 2026) — The Gila National Forest has issued a temporary closure order for the northwestern corner of the Gila Wilderness. This order is in place to protect public health and safety in an area with active firefighting operations and fire danger associated with the Sacaton Fire. The order goes into effect at 8 a.m. on July 1.
The lightning-caused Sacaton Fire was detected Sunday, June 21, in the Gila Wilderness. It is currently about 3.5 miles west of the Mogollon Baldy Lookout and approximately 12 miles east of the community of Pleasanton.
Under this closure order, the public is prohibited from entering all National Forest System lands, trails, and roads in the closure area. Violation of the order is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment. Federal, state, and local officers, firefighters, members of an organized rescue team, and any others authorized by Forest Service permit are exempt from the closure order.
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