Gale Moore "Celebration of Life"

I spoke with Gale's cousin, Sharon, this morning and she told me that there will be a "Celebration of Life" for Gale in Glenwood in the near future. Sharon doesn't know the date/location yet, but when I find out I'll let you all know.

~ Lif Strand, webmaster

Services for Gale Moore to be announced

We're told that WNMU's Fine Arts Center has been offered to Gale's family for services and that Gale will taken care of through Bright Funeral Home.

Date and time for services will be announced here when that information is available.

RIP Gale Moore

It is with heavy heart that I have to confirm the death of Glenwood Gazette's Gale Moore.

Gale was the heart and soul of the Gazette and of Forever Frontier: founder, owner, publisher, editor, photographer, reporter, layout person, advertising department, collections department, delivery person and general grunt.

She will be sorely missed.

08/09/14  The website and archives will stay up for the time being.  I will hopefully be talking with Gale's family next week.  Soon as I have any confirmed info about the future of the Gazette I'll post it on the website, the blog and the Gazette's Facebook page. ~Lif Strand, webmaster

Lightning Storm Keeps Firefighters Active

SILVER CITY, NM, June 18, 2014, 2:00 p.m.-  Several thunderstorms passed through southwest New Mexico yesterday afternoon, peppering the Gila area with 1,700 to 2,000 lightning strikes and leaving only traces of rain.  Dispatchers and fire personnel are busy with numerous fire reports, most of which involve only a single burning snag and less than a quarter acre.  Fire starts are located across the Gila National Forest and currently total 14.  Engine crews, hotshot crews, smokejumpers, helicopter crews and air tankers have been responding to all smoke reports.  The Star Fire is the largest at approximately 5 acres and is located 6 miles south of Wall Lake in the Gila Wilderness.  The fire is burning in Ponderosa pine and is staffed with 3 smokejumpers, a hotshot crew, a helitack crew and three air tankers.  The storms did not produce significant rain and most remote weather stations across the forest reported only trace amounts of moisture.

While the Silver City area enjoyed a brief rain shower yesterday, fire officials remain concerned about the high fire potential that continues at all elevations.  “We encourage all forest visitors to continue fire safe practices, adhering to current fire restrictions which limit campfires to developed campgrounds with agency-provided metal rings and fully extinguishing their fires,”  states Gabe Holguin, Fire Staff, “We need to keep the number of human-ignited fires to a minimum.” Fireworks of any kind are never permitted on Federal Public lands.

In addition to highly trained local wildfire fire personnel, the Gila National Forest is hosting wildland firefighters from the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest regions who are assisting in suppression efforts.  Gila fire personnel will travel to these regions in the late summer to return support for their fire efforts.

Please contact the Gila National Forest at 575-388-8201 for any other information.

-USFS-

Gila NF Travel Management Decision

Travel management decision released

SILVER CITY, NM; June 10, 2014 – The Gila National Forest has completed its Travel Management Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Forest Supervisor Kelly Russell has signed the Record of Decision selecting Alternative G. 

With the publication of the legal notice in the forest’s newspapers of record, the start of a 45-day appeal period and resolution will begin.

Alternative G was selected after thorough analysis by forest specialists and evaluation of over 2,000 comments received during the formal public comment period from individuals, organizations, and elected officials.

 “I appreciate the public’s patience in this final decision on the designation of open roads, trails, and areas for motorized vehicle use. Implementation of the decision is expected in early 2015 once the appeal period has passed, and the official Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM), which displays the open road system, is available free to the public,” Russell said.

Russell adds that the decision is a change in use of the forest as cross-country travel will no longer be allowed. With any major change, time, tolerance, and education are needed as the process moves forward.

Highlights of the decision:

·         Approximately 96 percent of non-wilderness lands will be within two miles of an open road, about 99 percent within three miles.

• The decision is a designated system of roads, trails, and other areas for motorized vehicle use.

• The decision keeps open 3,334 miles of road, increases motorized trail opportunities from 16 to 179 miles and maintains a 3-acre area for motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle use. The 908 miles of roads closed are generally ½ to 1 mile in length. All closed roads will be accessible for emergency response.

• 3.3 million acres of forest remain open to all users; users can go anywhere on the forest if on foot, horseback, or canoe. Only the use of motorized travel is restricted to the designated open travel routes.

·         Hunters are allowed to drive up to 300 feet from either side of roads designated with a corridor to retrieve their big game.

Page 2 – Travel Management Decision Released

·         Camping continues with 1,316 miles of designated motorized dispersed camping corridors and 36 areas.

• Fuelwood cutters can use their motorized vehicle within designated cutting areas to gather their fuelwood.

Background: On July 2004, the Forest Service published proposed travel management regulations in the Federal Register requiring each National Forest or Ranger District in the nation to designate roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicles. The Gila National Forest began its analysis in 2006 and conducted numerous public meetings and open houses to solicit information from the public.

The forest will continue to provide information on the Travel Management decision via news releases, website, social media, and personal contacts. Forest managers are available to provide information and answer questions.

-USFS-

Glenwood Catwalk

Catwalk Recreation Area Scheduled to Reopen

Glenwood, NM; March 3, 2014 – The Gila National Forest is planning to reopen the Catwalk Recreation Area in conjunction with the Glenwood Dutch Oven Cook-Off April 5, 2014. This follows efforts by U.S. Forest Service and N.M. Department of Transportation personnel to improve road conditions along N.M. Highway 174, remove debris from picnic areas, and clear approximately ½ mile of the historic trail.

Debbie Cress, Glenwood District Ranger says, “Thanks to cooperation and coordination between state and federal agencies, we were able to accomplish a great deal of work in January and February.” The public is encouraged to visit and appreciate the beautiful scenery and trees along the creek. This will be a great opportunity for a trip to enjoy the Catwalk and all that the Glenwood area has to offer.

Short-term work to restore the Catwalk area includes:

• Completed channel work to return Whitewater Creek flows to the upper low water crossing. 
• Cleared sediment, logs, and other debris away from picnic tables.  
• Cleared landslides and stabilized handrails along the historic trail from the picnic area to the steps constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). 
• Removed metal debris from the picnic area and channel.

Installation of interpretive signs and removal of hazardous trees will occur in March prior to reopening the trail. The closure of the universally accessible trail and Whitewater Creek from the CCC steps to the junction of Gold Dust Trail #41 will remain in effect following reopening of the lower portion of Catwalk National Recreation Trail. Cress adds that the Forest Service intends to continue working with community members and interested agencies throughout the upcoming months to develop a long-term plan for the Catwalk.


Please contact the Glenwood Ranger District office for further information, (575) 539-2481.

Punky Moore
Acting Public Affairs Officer
Gila NF
575-388-8367

Catron County Solid Waste Update

by David Peters
Feb 3, 2014

The Catron County Commission has authorized a committee of citizens to investigate solutions to the solid waste problem in Catron County. A meeting was held on January 30, 2014 at the County Courthouse. The attendees were Cathlyn Snyder (county manager), Mark Atwood ( solid waste superintendent), Kate Fletcher ( accounts payable), Susan Johni Griffin ( county assessor), and Connie Shipley (county treasurer) representing the county. David Peters, Dell Gigante, Wayne Ashby, Bob Howell,Cindy Howell, and Charles Pollina representing the citizens. The purpose of the meeting was to establish the committee and gather background information to clarify the problems associated with solid waste disposal in Catron County.

We are in the process of forming this committee and are soliciting both your help and consideration. If you are interested in volunteering or have ideas or information you would like to share please contact Dave, Wayne, or Dell. (contact information below).

These problems have existed for many years and cannot be solved overnight. However, our objective is to have a solution before the next billing cycle which will occur in June, 2014. There is a lot of important information regarding the current situation that is too complex to discuss here. Dell, Wayne, and I are putting together plans for Town Hall meetings to explain the situation and answer questions. We plan for these to take place in Reserve, Glenwood, Datil and Quemado over the next few weeks.

We all want to be heard, but individuals taking an abusive attitude with the county will not help. Please be patient and allow this committee to work. We will find an answer. Carol Auffrey will be sending out more information when we nail down the Town hall Meetings. Please plan to attend and ask your neighbors to attend. Through Carol we will keep you updated as timely and accurately as possible. Accurate information, embracing creative solutions and the willingness to work together will get this job done. Thank you for being part of the solution.

David Peters
committee chairman
533 6027 coyotemoonranch@gilanet.com

Dell Gigante 772 5541 trailsend@gilanet.com

Wayne Ashby 533 6603

Carol Auffrey 7734991 himtnhideout@gilanet.com