(Glenwood, NM, April 22, 2026) — Widespread thunderstorms moved through the area Monday afternoon, igniting several fires across the Gila National Forest. Around 4:45 p.m., the Black Mountain lookout detected a small amount of smoke south of the community of Willow Creek in the Gila Wilderness on the Glenwood Ranger District. An engine crew was dispatched immediately but unable to locate the fire Monday evening. When they found the fire Tuesday morning, it was 0.25 acres and exhibiting moderate fire behavior. The Gila Interagency Hotshot Crew was mobilized Tuesday to assist the engine crew, and a large airtanker dropped retardant around the fire to slow the fire's spread and protect the community of Willow Creek.

The fire is burning within the 2012 Whitewater-Baldy Fire burn scar, where brush and large dead trees—both standing and downed—are abundant. The retardant did not halt the fire's spread, and crews reported that the fire continued to actively burn until 1 a.m. Wednesday.

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a regular meeting on April 16, 2026. Board members in attendance included Hector Carrillo, Gabriella Begay, Gilbert Guadiana, Agelina Hardin, and David Wilguess. Interim Superintendent Randal Piper also attended online.

Public comment none currently.

The board went into executive session to do the final interviews with Dr. Carla Spaniel and Dr. Verenice Gutierrez for the superintendent position and discuss the selection.

The board came back into open session affirming that no action had taken place in executive session and discussions had been limited to the items listed above.

By Lynn Janes

The Cobre Consolidated School Board held a special meeting on April 14, 2026. Board members in attendance included Hector Carrillo, , Gilbert Guadiana, Agelina Hardin, and David Wilguess. Interim Superintendent Randal Piper also attended. Gabriella Begay did not attend.

Public input

George Esqueda serves on the finance committee for Cobre Consolidated School District. He had gone online, downloaded the agreement and reviewed it along with the statement of work associated with the agreement with Vertex. They provide financial services to K-12 schools. He had reached out to Carrillo and Piper with some questions and wanted to meet. Carrillo had not been able to attend but he had met with Piper. A representative from PED (public education department) had been on the call a long with Begay for a short time. He realized the board could not comment because this will be public comment, but he would stay until they addressed it as an action item and would answer any questions on his concerns.

Action items

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley had a regular meeting April 14, 2026. Reynaldo Maynes, Ester Gil and Jason Cox attended. Aron Phillips and Robert Candelaria did not attend.

Senator Gabriel Ramos and Representative Luis Terrazas attended to provide a legislative update to the council.

Ramos started by introducing his new assistant, Andy Gomez. Working at the Legislature with Terrazas had made things work well because they can help each other passing information and knowing what will be coming up. He thanked everyone that showed up for Grant County Day it had meant a lot to them.

CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS LIKELY THURSDAY SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTH CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OF NEW MEXICO... Dry and breezy weather pattern Wednesday and Thursday will set the stage for critical fire weather conditions across the New Mexico fire zones for Thursday. A shortwave trough coming across the Southern Rockies will induce surface low pressure in the Southern Plains on Thursday. West winds of 20 to 25 mph are forecast with gusts to 35 mph during the afternoon. Minimum relative humidity values of 7 to 15 percent are forecast. Widespread tree mortality and die back fuels will increase the wildfire risk as ERCs climb towards the 90th percentile.

Southwest Mountains/Gila NF/Apache NF/GLZ-
Southwest Deserts and Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ-
South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ-
Capitan and Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ-
551 AM MDT Wed Apr 22 2026

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

Western New Mexico University held a week's worth of activities for the annual Great Race tradition. On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the event that started the whole event took place, with five pushcarts, with a driver and at least two pushes per cart, with pushers rotating out along the two laps of the route. The winners crossed the finish line in Old James Stadium after at least one run through the mud hole.

Stan Gerson, along with Jim Smith, founded the Great Race in 1967. Gerson, now living in the Los Angeles area, had the honor of waving the black-and-white checkered flag to begin each race. The first cart to leave was the Alumni cart pushed and driven by several WNMU alumni. The four student teams did not start until the Alumni cart had returned to the start line. 

The Kids Next Door team members pictured include Abigail Hannaman, Jacline Arroyo, Kota Cuellars, Christian Dunbar and Bethany Nicols.