Dear Editor, The overwhelming generosity of the people of Grants, helped provide joy to children in need through Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts this season. Across the U.S., the Samaritan's Purse project collected 10.5 million shoebox gifts in 2024. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2024, the ministry is now sending over 11.9 million shoebox gifts to children worldwide.
Shoebox packers brought joy and hope to children around the world through fun, full, personalized gifts. For many children, this is the first gift they have ever received. Each shoebox gift is a tangible expression of God’s love, given to children in need around the world. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 232 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories.
Across the region, shoebox packers often shop for deals on shoebox items throughout the year, and many serve at a deeper level by becoming a year-round volunteer. Information about ways area participants can get involved year-round can also be found at samaritanspurse. org/occ.
Although local Grants drop off locations for shoebox gifts are closed until Nov. 17 – 24, 2025, anyone can still be a part of this lifechanging project by visiting our website.
These simple gifts, packed with love, remind children around the world that they are loved and not forgotten.
Sincerely, Hannah Murphy SAMARITAN'S PURSE
Positivity
Dear editor, Lee Alcon was a Village of Milan and Cibola County Magistrate Judge when I started out in 1986. One Christmas I got Lee a gag gift, an old western style hangman’s gallows, he promptly put on his city judge’s desk. We were required to be in the city judge’s court room which was at the police station once or twice a week.
Later, as a magistrate judge, Lee reported abuse to an inmate which had been taken before him at the new county jail and court complex. Headline news from the Cibola Beacon on April 2, 2004, new Jail Administrator John Gould and wife injured an inmate and kept it quiet for more than a week. I was called in and found the inmates’ injuries were bad and he was taken to the hospital. County Jail Employees refused to let me investigate the matter, so the New Mexico State Police were called in. They were denied access or found out the new administrator for the jail was already under federal investigation in Las Cruces where he was hired to be the first Warden of the new Cibola County Jail. Gould ended up in federal prison one of the few times I had to testify in Federal Court in Albuquerque. I was even offered the warden job after a Cibola County Manager, and Commissioner where indicted for misuse and wrongdoing but I stayed on with the sheriff’s office because Johhny Valdez wanted me to stay, and I owed it to him and Manuel Lujan for getting my start at the county.
I lost track of Lee after he went to Santa Fe and made if know I was not happy with legislators on the new law allowing sex changes and abortions for under 18 without the consent of the parents. Driving around town even today I see signs for Lee still up. Not knowing he had cancer, I sent Lee an email about new treatments I had learned about for my dad but never heard back. My brother-in law at 44 and a stepson of 52 died from cancer, as well as many other people I have known over the years.
I think I will remember the good times with Lee instead of the times when we did not agree, and hope others will as well.
Signed, Mr. Harry L. Hall USAF Veteran Retired Police/Sheriff Lt. 38 Yrs.