News
Poultry but no crowing roosters; City P&Z approves variances
GRANTS, N.M. – Robert Windhorst, City of Grants code enforcement officer, responded to Josephine Hurtado’s question about variances. Hurtado had commented that the P&Z Commission grants “a lot of variances” and wondered why the documents are not recorded with Cibola County. Windhorst explained to the Planning and Zoning Commission’s vice chair that variances are not recorded with the county clerk’s office. Landowners are told to keep the variance certificate with their deed, so that it is available for future inspection.
Recall
GRANTS, N.M. – Embattled City of Grants Mayor Martin “Modey” Hicks is in the hot seat once again. This time because a group calling themselves “Recall Mayor Modey” is actively seeking signatures to remove Hicks from his position.
Amending local soils
In most cases our local soil can be amended to make particularly good gardening soils. This can be a great savings in money and there is an almost endless supply of soil. Properly amended local soils can have superior water retention and plenty of nutrients for growing plants.
Southwest Yard & Garden; Peak Fire Blight season
I have got good news and bad news. I will give you the good news first. Fire blight, one of the oldest known bacterial plant diseases, only affects plants in the rose family. Celebrate that factoid for a nice long moment. The bad news is that the rose plant family includes lots of common ornamental and fruiting trees and shrubs that we love in New Mexico. According to Phil Lujan, Diagnostician for NMSU’s Plant Diagnostic Clinic, “We are smack in the middle of peak fire blight season and so far we have diagnosed at least seven positive samples from all around the state with another five more pending that just arrived from Bernalillo County.” Lujan added that ornamental pears, followed by edible pears, apples, and photinia are the “usual suspects.”