Extreme fire danger remains

Drought conditions in New Mexico have only gotten worse in recent weeks.

According to an article that was published on KOB 4’s website on May 10, the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire has destroyed almost 204,000 acres of land. The fire started over a month ago.

Although Gallup and McKinley County haven’t experienced any extreme fires, extreme and severe drought conditions still remain.

McKinley County’s drought conditions put it in the D2 (severe) and D3 (extreme) zones on the Drought Monitor, which is put out by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National...

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ALBUQUERQUE — Girl Scouts in New Mexico will be working to help a very specific population group impacted by the devastating wildfires in the state May 14 –  animals.

Girl  Scouts will be collecting food and supplies for pets and livestock that have either been evacuated or abandoned due to the combined Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires.

The public is invited to contribute dog or cat food, hay, grains, or any additional supplies that can be donated to organizations addressing this immediate need in San Miguel, Mora, and Santa Fe Counties.

“Many Girl Scout troops leapt into action to collect and deliver toiletries, food, and clothing...

Business owners, residents to benefit

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., and Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., introduced the Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act May 11 to provide additional compensation to New Mexico residents and business owners impacted by the Hermit’s Peak Fire.

The Hermit’s Peak Fire Assistance Act would require FEMA to design and administer a program for fully compensating those who suffered personal injury, property losses, business and financial losses resulting from the Hermit’s Peak Fire.

The Hermit’s Peak Fire, which later merged with the Calf...

City: Water rate INCREASE needed to replace old pipes

If climate change isn’t a good enough reason to conserve water, hang onto your bathing cap: a stiff rate hike is on the way for Gallup water customers.

Estimates on the cost to business customers weren’t immediately available but the proposed increase, which will likely take effect on customers’ July water bills, will amount to $5.50 to $6 a month for lower-consumption residential customers, and $12 to $15 for residents who use more.

That’s on top of the sewer rate increase last year, and another  22.5% water rate hike will follow in another year. In the end, water rates will go up a little more than 50%.

The higher...