State Officials Remind Horse Owners to Vaccinate Against West Nile Virus

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – State officials are reminding horse owners to vaccinate their animals against West Nile virus.The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), in partnership with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and the New Mexico Livestock Board, encourages horse owners to contact...

“Ride the High Country”

Rosanne Boyett“A book is a dream that you hold in your hands,” Neil GaimanThis small paperback by Robert Nott includes numerous photos from “Ride the High Country,” a black-an-white Western film released in 1962.

Cibola Health Council Discusses Increasing Climate Change and Its Effect on Health

On April 17, a Cibola Health Council Meeting was held for nearly an hour and a half, with the main discussion being how community health is affected by climate change.Shelley Mann-Lev, from Healthy Climate New Mexico, addressed the rising temperatures and their consequences on public health, using...

Alamo Fire Destroys Six Homes in Grants, Injures Two Firefighters

GRANTS, N.M. — A fast-moving wildfire tore through a Grants neighborhood Sunday night, destroying six homes, injuring two firefighters, and leaving multiple families without shelter.Dubbed the Alamo Fire, the blaze began around 7:30 p.m. in an open field behind East Sage Avenue.

Co-op updates members at 2025 Annual Meeting

GRANTS, N.M. – Wildfire preparedness was a hot topic at Saturday’s annual Continental Divide membership meeting.During his presentation, the co-op’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert E. Castillo, shared a slide showing high-fire-risk areas in Cibola and McKinley counties identified by the Forestry...

Grants Farmers Market Returns May 3 with a Fresh Season of Local Food, Crafts, and Community

Diego Lopez, EditorCIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — The Grants Farmers Market is ready to bloom once again, officially kicking off its 2025 season on Saturday, May 3, at Fire and Ice Park.Open every Saturday through October from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the market is set to feature a vibrant mix of plant starts,...

Cibola's Economic Reality

CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — Behind the storefronts and past the sandstone bluffs, the real economy of Cibola County is made up of people: students and seniors, parents and workers, all trying to build something in a place that has long been overlooked.This C-section of the Cibola Citizen presents a...

Strong Homeownership, Quiet Struggles

CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — At first glance, Cibola County appears to be a community of homeowners, but this does not mean they are financially stable.With a homeownership rate of 70.5 percent, it outpaces the state average and reflects a deeply rooted population that takes pride in place.

Did you know?

Even though Cibola has a population over 26,600, not all are in the labor force. Many are children, elderly, incarcerated, or not seeking work—which affects workforce size.

The Money in Your Pocket

Cibola County generates millions in taxable sales every year—but not everyone feels the benefits in their wallet.The county’s median household income is $51,765, more than $10,000 below the statewide average of $62,268. That gap stretches even wider when you compare households by structure.