In Appreciation
Dear editor, San Rafael parish extends its sincere gratitude to each and every person, who made our annual fiesta a huge success. The first part of the fiesta began Friday night with a basket bingo. Saturday was setup day for Sunday’s activities.
Sunday morning, our eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Mitchell brown. Music by the old timer’s group and choir. The entrance procession with the statue of San Rafael was led by the Knights of Columbus. Activities and Bazaar after mass included a car show, food/drink concessions, a delicious meal, raffle and music provided by a local band. The joy of the traditional fiesta was reflected in the faces of young and old alike. San Rafael parish appreciates all the hard work and donations of every kind that made it such a blessing to all.
Special thanks to jerry Montoya for retablos of San Rafael and the holy family. To Carlos Marez for cross on the podium. To Johnny and Mary Ann Montoya for candle holders made by Carlos Marez.
- San Rafael Parish
Importance of the Commission
Dear editor, I have served on the Cibola County Commission for almost six years. Each of our five Commissioners bring experience, depth, talent to this Office. We all have our different backgrounds, education, political beliefs, and opinions. In spite of these differences, we have always sought to be respectful of each other and set any differences aside to serve the people of Cibola County. We come prepared for every meeting so that we can do the work of the people. We present, we discuss, we debate respectfully and work together to decide the best outcome for our county. We all work together to clean our communities and be worthy of any economic blessings that may come our way. We obey all laws and we never show disrespect to the public that comes before us and we consider every opinion.
Six years ago our County was in trouble and in danger of being taken over by the State of New Mexico. We all worked very hard to change how things were done in the past and our county is thriving! We stopped all junkets. We interviewed twenty candidates for County Manager and unanimously hired Kate Fletcher. Kate started team building under our direction and brought in Paul Ludi to solve our financial issues and reporting. Now we get our audits in on time and have won two awards for best audits in New Mexico! During the pandemic, we applied for and distributed property over $2 million in relief funds for businesses and didn’t have to send any back. We are constantly improving infrastructure. NM State deeded the National Guard Armory and gave us $3.5 million to rehab the building, which will become the Sheriff’s, 911 Dispatch, Emergency Services Complex, at no cost to our constituents. We just got word that we are receiving $6.2 million dollars over the next two years from the federal government. We provide funds for non-profits.
When you run for office, you should have a vision, not just made-up complaints. When you are blessed to win, you should be prepared to govern with dignity and respect for others. Those Commissioners running for re-election understand that. They are worthy of re-election in Cibola County. They know that government doesn’t work when you make it a circus side show. Please consider this when you vote.
Robert S. Windhorst, Cibola County Commissioner, District 4
Pill Collection a Success
Dear editor, I would like to thank all of the participants, sponsors and entities that helped support the recent prescript ion/non-prescription collection for the month of August 2022. The City of Grants-city Hall, senior center, Milan VFD, Grants GFR, Cibola County Sheriff's Office and Parkhurst Pharmacy were instrumental in collecting and helping dispose of 40 pounds of medications that will not wind up in a land fill or our sewer system protecting our precious water sources from potential contamination.
Just think a 'pill' weighs less than a gram, there are 464 grams in a pound; so, we collected 40 pounds of mediations-that's a lot of 'pills'.
Thanks to everyone and we will maintain collection sites at city hall and the Cibola County sheriff's office for the foreseeable future.
Sincerely, Robert Hays Fire Chief-Grants
Public Safety
Dear editor, I have heard several stories of how badly people are acting up around Grants. Not sure they are homeless, high on drugs or what. One businessman told me the Grants Police were refusing to remove people from his property for trespassing. Another lady and her neighbor both had to call to get police to remove a person acting crazy at their homes. Police took him away and said they would come back later to review the home security cameras, they never did as far as I know. At the end of the day police need to file charges under Section 30-14-1 Criminal trespass consists of knowingly entering or remaining upon the unposted lands of another knowing that such consent to enter or remain is denied or withdrawn by the owner or occupant thereof. Any person who enters upon the lands of another without prior permission and injures, damages, or destroys any part of the realty or its improvements, including buildings, structures, trees, shrubs, or other natural features, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and he shall be liable to the owner, lessee, or person in lawful possession for civil damages in an amount equal to double the value of the damage to the property injured or destroyed. The City of Grants has a City Court just for this kind of stuff the statute numbers are different but unless the police file charges on these people they will keep doing it repeatedly until something worse happens. I recently saw an advertisement for a Chief of Police for Grants I did not put in for its because I did not have the college degree they wanted, had all the other credentials. Now I hear they have hired a former female lieutenant that I worked with at Grants and Cibola County. Hope she can do better than some of the last chiefs. Some politicians get involved in running your police departments, or just look the other way until something bad happens. Today all police need body cameras, a civilian review board, good equipment, and training to keep them doing their jobs correctly. It never seems to get done because it cost too much money go figure!
Signed, Mr. Harry L. Hall USAF Veteran Retir Police/Sheriff Lt.