El Defensor Chieftain

A lightning-caused fire on Sacaton Mountain has grown to 9,349 acres, closed NM-159 east of Mogollon and remains 0% contained. The Sacaton Mountain fire in Catron County reached over 3,000 acres on July 6. As of Monday, July 6,  lightning-caused wildfire burning on Sacaton Mountain in Catron County has grown to an estimated 9,349 acres, prompting evacuation orders for the Willow Creek subdivision.

The Community Theater, Youth on Stage presented a musical on Friday July 3 capturing the attention of the audience with eight songs, drawing applause and laughter. (Photos by Jessica Carranza Pino) The Community Theater, Youth on Stage presented a musical on Friday July 3 capturing the attention of the audience with eight songs, drawing applause and laughter.

The 250th Fourth of July celebration brought red, white, blue and fun to Socorro. The 250th Fourth of July celebration brought red, white, blue and fun to Socorro.

Jump to main content Graduation for Socorro Public Library's GED and ESL graduates was held at the Socorro Convention Center on June 25. (Photos Courtesy of Lena Chavez and Cheyenne Cortez) Graduation for Socorro Public Library's GED and ESL graduates was held at the Socorro Convention Center on June 25. (Photos Courtesy of Lena Chavez and Cheyenne Cortez) Graduation for Socorro Public Library's GED and ESL graduates was held at the Socorro Convention Center on June 25.

SANTA FE — New Mexico could become the first state to enact a moratorium on new data centers, under a proposal unveiled Thursday by four Democratic lawmakers. Amid simmering public debate over the environmental impacts of data centers, the legislators said they plan to push for the moratorium during next year’s 60-day session, which begins in January.

The Socorro County Senior Water Aerobics program meets at the Socorro Regional Aquatic Center Tuesdays through Friday. For more than five decades, the Socorro County Senior Water Aerobics program has provided local seniors with more than just exercise. Participants say the volunteer-led program has become a source of physical therapy, mental wellness, friendship and community support that many members depend on every week.

El Defensor Chieftain Support local news. Please select your privacy preferences to continue. Jump to main content #4 Gabriel Silva gets a hit and an RBI for Socorro on Saturday, June 27, in the first game for the Seniors Division team. Socorro’s four All-Stars teams played their first NM District 9 tournament in many years this past weekend, with games starting on Friday, June 26, and going through the weekend.

Sydney Martinez, 13, will have her masks on display at Underground Ink from July 1-31. A 13-year-old local artist will become the first young artist to exhibit at Ink Underground when her month-long showcase opens July 1. Sydney Martinez, who will be entering eighth grade this fall, has spent the past three years creating handcrafted animal-inspired masks using mixed media.

Jump to main content Compiled by Denise Ortega FEBRUARY 3, 1976 STATE POLICE Officer Andy Benavidez was making a routine traffic check and, in the process, found that the driver was transporting in his pickup six foot lockers and three suitcases full of marijuana. At street value, the marijuana was worth a quarter of a million dollars, Officer Benavidez estimated. The driver was en route to Colorado when he was picked up three miles south of Socorro.

Jump to main content The Socorro Amateur Radio Association conducts events such as a ham radio field day.File photo By Dave Finley Special to the Chieftain Amateur ("ham") radio operators from throughout New Mexico and surrounding states will gather in Socorro July 10 and 11 for the annual Socorro HamFest, featuring workshops, presentations, demonstrations, a banquet, a special tour of the Very Large Array (VLA), prize drawings, and an electronics swap meet.