Southwest Yard & Garden Column & Blog

Critter Mysteries: Yellowjackets and Cottonwood Leaf Beetles QUESTION: We have a nest of what appears to be very busy yellowjackets on our property. We experienced a recent hard freeze and some snow, and the soil in my raised beds is frozen solid.

Cibola Citizen Shifts

has made a distribution change this week following the newspaper’s new $2 cover price. Because of the price change, the metal outdoor racks previously placed outside certain locations are no longer usable, and readers will need to pick up the paper from participating businesses instead.

A Legacy Etched in Dedication: The Extraordinary Service of Ina Jean Barnes to Delta Kappa Gamma

For over five decades, one name has consistently symbolized unwavering dedication, profound leadership, and transformative vision within the Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) Society International: Ina Jean Barnes.

Applications Now Open: 2026 Nuclear Energy Education Foundation Scholarship Program

GRANTS, N.M. - The Nuclear Energy Education Foundation (previously known as the enCore Energy Education Society) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Scholarship Program.

City of Grants Reminds Families of Summer Cleaning Schedule at Grants Memorial Park

GRANTS, N.M. – The City of Grants is reminding residents that summer mowing and cleaning operations are underway at Grants Memorial Park, located at 500 W. Roosevelt Ave., with regular maintenance scheduled every Wednesday from May through September.

Cibola County Hunters Invited to Share Photos, Harvest Stories with the Citizen

is inviting hunters across Cibola County to submit photos and short writeups from the 2025–2026 hunting season for possible publication.

State Urges Residents to Protect Homes amid Elevated Wildfire Risk

SANTA FE, N.M. – With New Mexico entering what state officials are calling an exceptionally dry fire season, the state Forestry Division is urging homeowners to take steps to protect their properties and their insurance coverage before fire season peaks this summer.

To’Hajiilee Man Faces Federal Charges After Two Navajo Nation Police Officers Wounded in Shooting

TO’HAJIILEE, N.M. – A To’Hajiilee man is facing federal charges after authorities say two Navajo Nation Police Department officers were wounded during a March 6 law enforcement response to reports of gunfire near a residence in To’Hajiilee, New Mexico.

City Council Discusses Various Projects

GRANTS, N.M. - The Grants city council held a meeting on March 18, which convened for a little over 4 hours. During this meeting, burns and recent cleanup projects were discussed, approvals were made, and ideas for the future development of property next to the Library were considered.

U.S. Extends Iran Deal Deadline as Strikes Continue and Missile Attacks Persist Across the Region

GRANTS, N.M. – The United States has extended a new deadline for Iran to reach an agreement with Washington to March 27, even as U.S. and Israeli forces continue airstrikes inside Iran and Iran continues launching missile and drone attacks at Israel and U.S.