Observations by a local poll worker bring up more questions
An insider's view of how elections are conducted at polling places by a poll worker for many years suggests nepotism and lack of training for election officers are a problem.
Kathleen Sloan
Kathleen Sloan has been a local-government reporter for 17 years, covering counties and cities in three states—New Mexico, Iowa and Florida. She has also covered the arts for various publications in Virginia, New Mexico and Iowa. Sloan worked for the Truth or Consequences Herald newspaper from 2006 to 2013; it closed December 2019. She returned to T or C in 2019 and founded the online newspaper, the Sierra County Sun, with Diana Tittle taking the helm as editor during the last year and a half of operation. The Sun closed December 2021, concurrent with Sloan retiring. SierraCountySun.org is still an open website, with hundreds of past articles still available. Sloan is now a board member of the not-for-profit organization, the Sierra County Public-Interest Journalism Project, which supported the Sun and is currently sponsoring the Sierra County Citizen, another free and open website. Sloan is volunteering as a citizen journalist, covering the T or C beat. She can be reached at kathleen.sloan@gmail.com or 575-297-4146.
Dominion sold to Liberty Vote, whose owner has Republican connections, but voting machines are the same
Trump may want more emphasis on paper-ballot voting and counting, but States still control voting. Despite our voting system vendor selling out to a Republican, it looks like nothing much will change, at least not in the upcoming election.
County Clerk Amy Whitehead answers questions about upcoming election
We asked tough questions of Whitehead and she answered promptly. That should make voters feel more secure about the election.
Truth avoided harmful consequences in T or C’s boil-water advisory
How many times have you experienced extremely low water pressure, yet the city issued no boil-water order? This time City Manager Gary Whitehead was responsible and truthful and issued one.
T or C nails down final tranche of money needed for WWTP renovation
We owe the one and a half year turnaround of the city's wastewater treatment plant problems to City Manager Gary Whitehead. He's saved the people a lot of time, money and liability.
Nolan Winkler’s new works are heartbreakingly good
AI Overview defines synesthesia as "a neurological condition where a trigger in one sense or concept causes an involuntary experience in another. There are dozens of distinct types, categorized by the trigger (inducer) and the resulting experience (concurrent)." Get ready to be triggered by Nolan Winkler's new works.
Emergency? Elephant Butte Reservoir is becoming a reservoid
The gross receipts and lodgers tax revenue figures for local governments don't bear out that low lake levels have caused that much economic damage. Are local governments' emergency declarations crying wolf?
T or C plans for next $25m in water system overhaul
But will this $2.3 million engineering plan and $25 million in construction be done to get water to the airport to attract business? And the people, once again, will be on the hook for building it, in the hopes they will come? Business is special interest. What about the people?
Zombies pass Sierra Vista Hospital FY2027 budget
A one-page budget, passed with no questions asked and turned into the Department of Finance and Administration three weeks late. That's the level of fiscal oversight our publicly-owned hospital is getting from our elected officials.
T or C and Sierra County ink MOU to deal with development at city’s edges
This MOU is too ad hoc, too open-ended, too unpredictable to ensure consistent zoning for new development just outside the city. State law gives T or C extraterritorial zoning authority. I say the city should exercise it, instead of passing this less effective measure.
Whistleblower De Gregorio wins one, loses one, in Spaceport malfeasance case
Zach De Gregorio filed a whistleblower and other complaints about four and a half years ago, which will soon go to a jury trial in October. He named the State of New Mexico, previous-State Auditor Brian Colon and the Spaceport Authority as defendants. Colon extricated himself via summary judgement.
Solid Waste costs are exploding to $4.5 million
I predicted the City of T or C's collection center would be used to bilk citizens out of money instead of serving their interests, and that has certainly come to pass. I didn't foresee that T or C polycart customers would be exploited to pay for Elephant Butte's polycart customers.