Cibola County Drought Report

CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – As December begins, Cibola County remains firmly in drought, despite a relatively wet October and scattered fall storms.According to the latest data from NOAA and the U.S. Drought Monitor, all 27,213 residents of Cibola County are currently affected by drought.

Cibola Water Monitoring Report - December 3, 2025

CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – As 2025 draws to a close, Cibola County’s water data tells a clear and sobering story: despite scattered rainfall and brief summer storms, both Bluewater Lake and the Rio San Jose have ended the year at persistently low levels.Recently retrieved yearlong graphs from the U.S....

Ramah Man Pleads Guilty in Rifle Attack on Occupied Vehicle

GRANTS, N.M. – A Ramah man has pleaded guilty in federal court to firing multiple rifle shots into a vehicle occupied by three people after a near-collision on the Ramah Navajo Reservation in Cibola County.According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, a vehicle driven by John Doe swerved to...

Pinehill Man Indicted on Federal Child Sexual Abuse Charges

GRANTS, N.M. – A Pinehill man has been indicted in federal court on charges alleging he sexually abused two minors over a seven-year period.According to court documents, between February 2017 and February 2023, TJ James, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly engaged in sexual acts...

Bluewater Village Firefighters Respond to Structure Fire; No Injuries Reported

BLUEWATER, N.M. – Bluewater Village Volunteer Fire and Rescue responded to a fire at an unoccupied structure in the early morning hours last week, according to the department.Assistance was provided by the Milan Fire Department, Cibola County Rescue, and the Cibola County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Zuni Resident Indicted on Federal Aggravated Sexual Abuse Charges

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A Zuni resident has been indicted in federal court on charges alleging he sexually abused two individuals over a two-year period.According to court documents, between May 2017 and October 2019, Kyle Whiteeagle, 42, an enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin,...

Train Fire Extinguished

BLUEWATER, N.M. – Bluewater Village Fire Department crews quickly put out a small train fire reported the night of Nov. 15, officials said.

Poinsettia – Christmas Star Plant

Poinsettia’s botanical name is Euphorbia pulcherrima. It is native to Mexico and Central America and is very sensitive to cold weather and temperatures under 50 degrees. I have seen it growing in my uncle and aunt’s yard in Los Angeles.

Christmas Tree Permits Now Available for Mt. Taylor and Nearby Public Lands

CIBOLA NATIONAL FOREST, N.M. – Families in Cibola County can once again head into the woods to cut their own Christmas trees this season, with permits now available for both the Cibola National Forest and nearby Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.Cibola National Forest officials announced that...

Free Movies to be Shown at NMSU Grants’ Donn Webb Collection Room

Turning a page at the New Mexico State University Library, 2026 brings a change for locals who enjoy movies.For almost four years, the Double Six Gallery hosted movies on Saturdays. Viewers appreciated films, supported the arts and made friendships.