The recreational trails grant for Cibola County was one of the items discussed at the McKinley County Board of Commissioners meeting Aug. 7.

The program is ran by the New Mexico Department of Transportation and provides federal funding for recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized trail uses such as hiking, bicycling, and off-highway vehicles.

Kate Fletcher, Cibola County manager, was at the meeting to ask the commission to become the county’s fiscal agent and adopt a memorandum of agreement stating so.

Fletcher said that neighboring counties have worked with Cibola County on projects for trails, such as the Zuni Mountain Trails...

All campus offices at UNM-Gallup will be closed for regular business on Aug. 13, from 8 am - noon, to allow faculty and staff to attend campus convocation.

Offices, which will be unavailable during this time, include registration, advising, financial aid, testing services, Zollinger Library, business operations (including cashier’s office), gymnasium, and all academic/faculty offices.

Regular services will resume at noon Aug. 13.

For questions, call (505) 863-7770.

 

McKinley County officials said Aug. 9 that they still do not know the cause of a fire that razed two large structures near the Gas Max business on U.S. Highway 491, north of Gallup last week

County Attorney Doug Decker said the county is still waiting for a report from the state fire marshal’s office which is investigating who or what caused the fire.

“Arson has not been ruled out,” he said, adding that he understands that electrical problems have been ruled out.

The fire, the biggest in the county in many years, took until the morning hours for county, city and surrounding area firefighters to put out because the structures housed everything from fireworks to hay.

Decker...

Gallup Police Department detectives identified the Native American man found dead on the west side of Silvermine Manufacturing, 303 E. Highway 66 on Aug. 8, as Nelson Thompson, 66 of Lower Greasewood, Ariz.

He was homeless, GPD Capt. Marinda Spencer said.

As a result of his injuries, police are asking for the public’s help with any information that may lead to a suspect, and are investigating the case as a homicide. Spencer said detectives are also investigating whether Thompson was assaulted at the scene or dumped there.

An autopsy will be performed, and police are combing the Second Street corridor for clues in to the man’s death.

Contact: Det. Kelvin Akeson (505) 722-2003 or...