By LISA JIMENEZ
Daily Press Correspondent
Where some see waste, others see opportunity. Jamie Thomson and Chris Lemme of the nonprofit Silver City Recycles have partnered with the town of Silver City in a fairly simple yet profoundly promising demonstration project to transform solids from the wastewater treatment plant — a hazardous waste — into compost.
On behalf of Silver City Recycles, Lemme and Thomson presented a detailed proposal to Town Manager Alex Brown, who agreed to give the nonprofit $15,000 to fund the demonstration project. Human waste, even after processing, is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a biohazard and is currently disposed of in the landfill — a difficult and potentially dangerous process for landfill workers, and a costly one for the town. Disposal of this waste costs the town nearly $57,000 annually, and volatile airborne compounds are a potential health hazard to landfill workers, who “absolutely hate dealing with this stuff,” Lemme said.
“We’re really grateful to town management for partnering with us on this project,” he added. “In just one week, we’ve already succeeded in establishing that this is a viable project that can be scaled to provide compost for agricultural use, town parks and many other uses.”
Currently, this hazardous sludge is transported by truck to the landfill — a potentially risky process for the town, which would be liable for cleanup if an accident ever occurred and waste was spilled. Once processed through the wastewater treatment plant, the remaining sludge is dumped into large cement drying beds at the plant where, after drying, it is loaded into dump trucks for transport to the landfill. Some 125 tons, or 18 dump truck loads, of this hazardous waste are taken to the landfill each month.
In their pilot project, Lemme and Thomson mixed the waste with biochar, a charcoal which Thomson creates from tree trimmings, slash and other biomass. The process sequesters carbon when added to soil, keeping it from being released back into the atmosphere. They also added pecan shells, which they were able to obtain for free from orchards in Las Cruces, placed the mix on top of a large waterproof tarp to ensure that nothing could leach into the ground, and tested the temperature daily. The compost pile must reach and maintain an internal temperature of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that harmful bacteria, especially E. coli, are destroyed.
According to their readings, for more than a week, temperatures in the pile reached the mid-140s and stayed there consistently. The next step is to send a sample to a state-certified lab for testing to ensure that all bacteria have been destroyed, and the material can be safely used as compost.
“We’ve successfully demonstrated that this is a viable project, and a win-win for the town,” Thomson said, adding that the next steps will be to scale the project to divert all of the waste from the landfill and create massive compost piles — preferably at the wastewater treatment plant itself to minimize transportation and other logistical and capital costs.
“I’m confident that working with town staff, we can find a way to do the composting right here at the treatment plant, which is the easiest and least costly solution.”
In the meantime, both Lemme and Thomson continue to monitor the demonstration project compost and work with town management and wastewater treatment staff to determine next steps.
“This is a terrific, environmentally sound project,” said District 3 Town Councilor Stan Snider, a project champion and a former supervisor at the wastewater treatment plant. “I would really like to see Silver City start composting all its sludge. I’m really grateful to Chris and Jamie for demonstrating that we can make this work, and to Utilities Director Robert Esqueda and Manny Orosco, treatment plant supervisor, and his staff for their support and cooperation.”
For more information about the demonstration project, contact Chris Lemme at d.chris.lemme@gmail.com.
For more information about the town of Silver City, visit townofsilver city.org.

Lisa Jimenez is contracted by the town of Silver City as a freelance writer. She may be reached at lmjimenez13@gmail.com.

By LISA JIMENEZ
Daily Press Correspondent
As part of the Silver City Museum’s ongoing community conversation series, Curator Javier Marrufo will discuss his ongoing work on the Chihuahua Hill History Project, which tells the story of the Chihuahua Hill neighborhood through the voices and stories of the people who call the area home. The event is free of charge, and will be held Wednesday, July 31, from noon to 1 p.m. in the ABC Room of the Besse-Forward Global Resource Center on the Western New Mexico University campus.
“Given my lifelong connection to this neighborhood, I am truly fortunate that my career path allows me to study its history and to make meaningful contributions to our community,” Marrufo said. “It’s a privilege to be part of this storytelling project, and we are very grateful to the Chihuahua Hill residents, past and present, for their willingness to share a part of their lives with us.”
The presentation will give audience members a behind-the-scenes look at how Marrufo is working with professional folklorist Thomas Grant Richardson, Ph.D., to create the first comprehensive history of Chihuahua Hill. He will share excerpts from interviews with longtime residents of the community, whose stories and experiences have been documented and made public for the first time.
Through Marrufo’s eyes, participants will explore an important aspect of local history that until now has been largely overlooked, due, at least in part, to little documentation of Chihuahua Hill being readily available to the public. This project is a collection of the stories, photographs and memorabilia of the people of this historic and culturally rich neighborhood.
This community conversation is part of a lecture series supported by a grant received from the New Mexico Humanities Council, and is presented in partnership with the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning.
To join via Zoom, visit wnmu.zoom.us/j/8818268280.
For more information, contact Brittany Beers, community engagement manager at the museum, at 575-590-0230 or communityengagement@silv ercitymuseum.org.
Lisa Jimenez is contracted by the town of Silver City as a freelance writer. She may be reached at lm jimenez13@gmail.com.

By LISA JIMENEZ
Daily Press Correspondent
This Saturday at the Silver City Museum Annex, award-winning author Charmayne Samuelson will discuss her bestselling biography of Spencer MacCallum, the celebrated anthropologist credited with discovering the famed Mata Ortiz potter Juan Quezada and helping to make Mata Ortiz an international sensation.
On the same day, master Mata Ortiz potter Oralia Lopez will demonstrate her craft and present a selection of her work for sale. The whole event is part of the annual CLAY Festival, and will take place Saturday, July 27, in the Silver City Museum Annex, 302 W. Broadway in historic downtown Silver City.
Samuelson will present a slideshow about MacCallum and sign copies of her book at 10 and 11 a.m., and again at 1 and 2 p.m. She is the author of nine titles, including a Southwest mystery novel, four story coloring books featuring Southwest desert animals, a coffee-table photography book featuring wild mustangs of the Onaqui Mountains, a self-help book on hypnosis and meditation, and her latest release, “Spencer MacCallum: Memories — Mystique — Mata Ortiz,” the authorized biography.
“Spencer was a fascinating person who clearly had a mission in life,” Samuelson said. “When he purchased three pots at a Deming junk store, he became obsessed with finding the artisan who made them. He finally discovered Juan Quezada, a dirt-poor farmer/cowboy making pottery for the tourist trade in Chihuahua, Mexico. This was the beginning of Spencer’s determination to nurture this craft and bring it to life around the world.”
Today, more than 40 years later, Mata Ortiz pottery is known worldwide.
“In this biography, you will read how it all began,” Samuelson added. “The Spencer MacCallum story is the tale of an incurable explorer who meets his destiny!”
For more information, contact Brittany Beers, community engagement manager at the Silver City Museum, at 575-590-0230, or commu nityengagement@silver citymuseum.org.
Lisa Jimenez is contracted by the town of Silver City as a freelance writer. She may be reached at lmjimenez13@gmail.com.

By LISA JIMENEZ
Daily Press Correspondent
Major upgrades and improvements to 32nd Street are nearly complete, following construction delays that were due primarily to utility cables that weren’t buried deep enough.
Contractors were at last able to complete lane striping and final details on this east-west thoroughfare from Swan Street east, and the final section from just east of Gila Regional Medical Center to Pinos Altos Road is expected to be finished by mid-June. Improvements include new curb and gutter, significant drainage improvements, new sidewalks, drive pads, Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible intersections, lane striping to include bike lanes and new signage.
The project was funded by two grants totaling nearly $4.35 million — $2.176 million from the Colonias Infrastructure Fund plus $2.183 million from the New Mexico Department of Transportation — which together cover nearly the entire cost of the project. Approximately $332,500 will come from town revenues. The survey and design process was also covered by state transportation grant funds.
“We are grateful to residents for their patience as we dealt with these unforeseen delays,” said Peter Peña, public works director for the town of Silver City. “I’m pleased to say that at last we’re very near completion, and very soon we’ll all enjoy a beautiful new roadway that provides access to the hospital, medical offices and the new recreation center that is now under construction.”
Lisa Jimenez is contracted by the town of Silver City as a freelance writer. She may be reached at lm jimenez13@gmail.com.

By LISA JIMENEZ
Daily Press Correspondent
This Saturday, May 18, marks the second annual burlesque baseball game, at least in this century, and the Silver City Museum Society promises an afternoon of laughs, children’s activities and good, clean fun for the entire family.
The game begins at 1 p.m. at Old James Stadium on the campus of Western New Mexico University, when state Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill tosses the first pitch following the singing of the national anthem by musician Keana Huerta.
Burlesque baseball originated in Grant County in 1888 when the all-male teams — the “Fats” and the “Leans” (also known as the “Slims”) — donned creative costumes and entertained the crowd with silly antics and outrageous game rules.
After the U.S. Civil War, British burlesque troupes traveled the U.S. satirizing opera, popular music, politicians, business leaders, and favorite pastimes, like baseball.
“Burlesque was the first British invasion, before the Beatles,” said Bart Roselli, director of the Silver City Museum. “Burlesque baseball offered an opportunity for everyone to enjoy America’s favorite pastime.”
The term “burlesque” is derived from the Italian word burlo, meaning joke. By the 1920s, burlesque theater, competing with the new inventions of radio and movies, turned its attention to the female form and became more sexual in nature.
This year’s event features something for everyone, not the least of which will be crazy antics of the two 15-member teams, coaches and umpires. Trophies will be awarded to the winning team, as well as for best dance, best costume, best audience participation and other categories.
Free children’s activities include a bouncy house, running bases, T-ball, sidewalk chalk art and face painting. The D.A.R.E. — Drug Abuse Resistance Education — mascot will also make a special appearance, along with members of the Silver City Fire Department.
Open Space Brewing will be on-site offering locally brewed beer. Popcorn, hot dogs and nonalcoholic beverages will also be available for purchase, and souvenir game programs will be available. This event is a fundraiser for the Silver City Museum, and all proceeds will support educational programming and other museum events.
Sponsors include Griffin’s Propane, Silver City Food Basket and Ruth Seawolf and Associates, and event partners are WNMU, the town of Silver City, WILL community and the Silver City Museum Society board of trustees.
For more information, contact Brittany Beers, community engagement manager, at 575-597-0230, or communi tyengagement@silvercitymu seum.org.
Lisa Jimenez is contracted by the town of Silver City as a freelance writer. She may be reached at lmjimenez13@gmail.com.

By LISA JIMENEZ
Daily Press Correspondent
Annual police community engagement data shows that the vast majority of residents contacted feel that Silver City police officers are approachable and trustworthy, while residents’ top concerns are traffic-related, along with various consequences of homelessness.
The data is based on the Silver City Police Department’s ongoing “citizen contact” initiative, in which patrol officers simply ask citizens that they encounter during their shift if they may ask them a few questions. Officers are expected to complete at least five contacts each month, from which Chief Freddie Portillo compiles and analyzes information. Assistant Town Manager James Marshall reviews the data and helps follow through with any complaints, needs or concerns.
“This process helps us better understand citizens’ concerns, particularly around quality-of-life issues that aren’t necessarily reflected in regular crime data,” Marshall said. “I review the information each month and address any problems that I can, in conjunction with Chief Portillo and other town staff. For instance, I recently helped get some construction refuse cleaned up. Officers talking to people out on the street helps us identify such problems and take care of them.”
The initiative is one part of the department’s ongoing community engagement efforts, which also include participating in community events such as Halloween “trunk or treat” sites, the recent Easter egg hunt at Penny Park sponsored by Grant County Kiwanis, school-based programs such as D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), summer events for children or informal, off-duty conversations that officers experience simply by living, working and parenting in the community.
In 2023, Silver City police officers made a total of 495 unique contacts, of which 420 agreed that officers are trustworthy and 340 had no issues or complaints. Of the total, 31 people mentioned a traffic-related concern, and 24 said they were concerned about homelessness. Another 22 noted some suspicious activity, 14 asked about the frequency of patrols, eight mentioned a road- or sidewalk-related concern and six had questions about police procedure. Just 14 respondents said they felt that officers were not trustworthy, and 10 fell into the category of “disgruntled.”
“This data helps us to track how community members feel about our department, our effectiveness and to better understand people’s concerns,” Portillo said. “I’m gratified to see that, once again, residents feel that they can trust our officers and talk to them without fear. It’s important to remember that police officers are also part of the community, working hard to care for their families and enjoy a good quality of life, just like anyone else.”
For more information, contact Portillo at 575-538-3723, ext. 1243, or by email at fportillo@silvercitynm.gov.
For more information about ordinances or the town of Silver City, visit townofsilvercity.org.
Lisa Jimenez is contracted by the town of Silver City as a freelance writer. She may be reached at lmjimen ez13@gmail.com.

By LISA JIMENEZ
Daily Press Correspondent
After three years of planning, community input and architectural design and construction preparation, groundbreaking on the new Silver City recreation center at 32nd and Silver streets is only weeks away, according to Town Manager Alex Brown.
“I’m pleased to say that we are very close to groundbreaking, and are just waiting to finalize the schedule to be sure some of the key people who made this project possible can be here to join in the ceremony,” said Brown, particularly naming Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who he said was instrumental in securing state funding for the project and has been a supporter from the start.
The project began during Mayor Ken Ladner’s first mayoral campaign, in 2015, when several town residents talked about the need for a new recreation center in the community.
“I heard this over and over as I went from house to house,” Ladner recalled. “So when I was elected, I sat down with then-Senator Morales and we began to talk about how to make it happen. I’m so thrilled that at last we’ll be breaking ground on this project that is so important to enhancing the wonderful quality of life that we enjoy here in Silver City.
“I’m deeply grateful to Lt. Gov. Morales, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, steering committee members, Assistant Manager James Marshall, Council of Governments Director Priscilla Lucero, our state lawmakers and everyone who has provided input and guidance,” he continued. “It’s a tremendous asset to our community. I especially want to recognize and thank our town manager, Alex Brown, for his strong administrative leadership, which is absolutely crucial to making the project happen.”
The new $13 million recreation center will be constructed at the corner of 32nd and Silver streets, across from Silver High School, and is designed to increase recreational opportunities for everyone in Grant County and the region — with special emphasis on the needs of youth, veterans and senior citizens.
The center will total 27,426 square feet, divided into three multi-use courts for various sports, including basketball and volleyball, as well as pickleball, the nation’s fastest-growing court sport. In fact, each of the three 3,300-square-foot courts includes three pickleball courts, for a total of nine new courts in Grant County. A walking/jogging lane will surround the perimeter of the courts, which can also be viewed from a glass-partitioned walkway above. That walkway will lead to a 1,422-square-foot multi-generational lounge, featuring table games such as billiards, air hockey and pingpong tables, as well as a gaming area and seating areas which will be adorned with local artwork.
Also included in the layout is a 1,300-square-foot multipurpose room, which can be divided into two smaller rooms and will be available for rent for community meetings, workshops, parties and other events. An additional 800-square-foot group fitness room is also included in the final floor plans, which were developed by a community steering committee and actualized by the Dekker Perich Sabatini and Barker Rinker Seacat architectural firms.
Community input has been solicited throughout the planning process, town officials said, including several rounds of interviews, questionnaires, online surveys and other opportunities to ensure that educators, health care and recreation workers, and senior service organizations as well as Grant County residents have an opportunity to have their opinions and wishes heard.
The entrance will face east, and feature a covered entry plaza area with concrete benches, bicycle racks and some landscaped areas. Other features include a large storage area for movable bleachers, nets and other sports equipment, as well as lockers and restrooms.
The recreation center will also house offices for the town’s recreation department, which Brown hopes will become the key coordination center for sporting events and leagues throughout the county.
“Based on feedback and input from key steering committee members, we know that it will be much easier for coaches and others to organize recreational events, such as leagues, playoffs and championships, et cetera, if we have a one-stop shop where all of the county’s recreational assets and capacities are known, and their availability coordinated under one roof,” Brown said. “It will make it easier for everyone. These new courts mean more recreational opportunities for youth leagues as well as our seniors and veterans.”
For more information about the recreation center or the town of Silver City, visit townofsilvercity.org or call 575-538-3731.

Lisa Jimenez is contracted by the town of Silver City as a freelance writer. She may be reached at lmjimenez13@gmail.com.