MILAN, N.M. – State Representative Eliseo Lee Alcon (Cibola & McKinley Counties - District 6) joined Village of Milan Fire Chief, Daniel Urioste, Milan Mayor, Felix Gonzales, Milan Trustee James Mercer, Assistant Fire Chief Michael Rivera, and Milan fire fighter-in-training, Isaac Gutierrez, for the unveiling of the new Can-Am Defender ATV. “I went with this model because it’s safer. The enclosed cab protects fire fighters from smoke,” Fire Chief Urioste said at the Milan Fire House on Tuesday.

MILAN, N.M. – With assistance from New Mexico State Legislators Eliseo Lee Alcon and Harry Garcia, Milan Police Department was able to acquire a new 2022 Dodge Charger.

The Lodgers Tax Board meeting took place on December 22; Arron Dean was the only board member absent from the meeting. The board met briefly for the approval of invoices.

GRANTS, N.M. – On December 21 the Grants City Council held a special meeting to discuss various items; all councilors were present at the meeting The first order of business was to approve Valerie Taylor to the Animal Shelter, Thomas McGaghie to the City Charter Advisory Committee, and Nathan Franklin to the Library Board. All three were approved by the City Council.

GRANTS, N.M. - According to the general manager of United Projects Chris Hartman, United Holdings Group is currently invested in restoring the Mt. Taylor Apartments located in Grants on Sage, Jackson, and Kingman to modern day standards. United Holdings Group is an investment company located in Albuquerque that focuses on properties that enhance the community. They are working with Real Property Management to make this happen. This will include various energy optimization changes such as highquality windows, insulation, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades. They will also have energy efficiency roof systems such as reflective TPO materials and Owens Corning Duration Shingles to help stabilize the interior climates of the buildings. This multi-phase project began about a year ago when United Holdings Group bought the property in an acquisition and it is projected to be completed by mid-2023. The final part of the project will be to work on the grounds landscaping. They are also working with the city in order to repave all of Sage Street and get touch up work for Jackson and Kingman. The project will also upgrade the plumbing infrastructure in the memorial with the city as well as fortifying the arroyo all the way down Sage Street in order to prevent any wash out damage in the future. According to Hartman, the apartments were originally built in the 1970s and haven’t had any significant changes made since then. There are 72 units with about 80 percent of the apartments being occupied. Some of the apartments that are being redone were almost to the point of needing to be demolished. The project is working on the damaged and empty rooms first, and as they complete them, they will ask renters to move over to the finished rooms in order to continue the project. Hartman stated that they see the potential of Grants in the growth of the community and are considering continuing their investments into it. The goal they have is to try to do a project of this magnitude at least once a year in the future.

ACOMA PUEBLO – Karl Shroulote, Sr., 46, of Acoma Pueblo pleaded guilty to sexual abuse on the pueblo. Shroulote is an enrolled member of the Acoma Pueblo. Sentencing has not been scheduled but he will not be remanded to prison until scheduling. This comes as part of a plea deal negotiated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Shroulote’s Federal Public Defender, Melissa Ayn Morris. While he is not remanded to custody at this point, Shroulote Raquel Ruiz-Velez represented the United States of America in this case, using information from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Acoma Pueblo Police Department.

LAGUNA, N.M. – Audra Lee, 38, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation was sentenced on December 13 to five years and 10 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon back in 2020.

A fire in the Village of Milan on December 26 was caused after a citizen with a burn permit lost control of the fire they started to eliminate overgrown weeds. The fire was in the area of Motel Drive. The citizen did have a burn permit and received minor burns but did not need to be transported to the hospital.

December 10 Delbert Yazzie, born in 2000: Warrant December 21 Nanette Nunley, born in1967: Municipal Warrant December 22 Hunter Shult, born in 2004: Warrant Samantha Belin, born in 1990: Driving while revoked/ Suspended December 24 Quentin Howard, born in 2001: Disorderly Conduct, Concealing Identity, Public Nuisance, Resisting Arrest.