FORT SUMNER — The De Baca County Commission on April 10 approved renewal of a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund the Wildlife Services cooperative program for fiscal year 2024. The Commission agreed to pay... — Updated 4/18/2023

FORT SUMNER — New federal regulations went into effect April 1 regarding the lesser prairie chicken; regulations that a number of New Mexicans and Texans see as usurping private property owners’ rights. On April 3, Texas... — Updated 4/11/2023

New Mexico’s minimum wage is increasing, effective Sunday, in accordance with an amendment to the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act signed into law by Gov. Lujan Grisham last April. Beginning Jan. 1, the state minimum wage will be... — Updated 12/27/2022

Drought conditions in Texas and throughout the U.S. continue to take a toll on cattle numbers, with higher calf prices and less beef production projected for 2023, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock... — Updated 11/29/2022

FORT SUMNER — The De Baca County Fair Junior Livestock Sale set a new record for the third straight year Aug. 13, as a combination of renewed interest and new donors proved to be the catalysts. For the first time in history, the... — Updated 8/23/2022

FORT SUMNER — De Baca County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a burglary in the early morning hours of July 19 at the Outlaw Herbs cannabis dispensary. About $2,000 in marijuana product was reported stolen in the burglary.... — Updated 7/26/2022

FORT SUMNER — Village councilors and Mayor Louie Gallegos fielded complaints over new water and sewer rates from a room full of residents during a regular council meeting July 11. The discussion over the rates, which took effect... — Updated 7/19/2022

FORT SUMNER — Increased scrutiny of off-highway vehicles, both in Fort Sumner and the surrounding area, has irritated some local residents, the De Baca County Commission heard during a special meeting July 5. But that enforcement... — Updated 7/12/2022

FORT SUMNER — Fort Sumner’s first legal cannabis dispensary opened Saturday. “Smokin’ Mike’s,” a recreational and medical dispensary, is owned and operated by local couple Fernando and Ashley Lopez. The business is... — Updated 6/7/2022

Fort Sumner Schools employees will see an average raise of about seven percent in 2022-23, as well as a return-to-work stipend at the end of the current year following action March 28 by the school board. Meeting in special session... — Updated 4/4/2022

Fort Sumner will implement its next sewer rate increase a year earlier than expected after action last week by the village council. Acting on a suggestion from auditor Geoff Mamerow of Southwest Accounting Solutions, LLC, the... — Updated 3/22/2022

The De Baca County Commission last week approved a memorandum of understanding with Quay County and the 10th District Attorney’s office to participate in a prisoner monitoring program. The program provides ankle monitors for... — Updated 3/22/2022

FORT SUMNER — The De Baca County Commission is moving forward with plans for dissolution of a nine-year agreement for trash collection with the village of Fort Sumner. In a meeting Dec. 27, the commission heard Chairman Scot... — Updated 1/11/2022

FORT SUMNER — Among potential adjustments to De Baca County's 2021-22 budget discussed at a special meeting May 14 are intergovernmental agreements with the village of Fort Sumner for solid waste collection, law enforcement and... — Updated 5/25/2021

FORT SUMNER — The Carlsbad Irrigation District is planning a large release of water from Sumner Lake starting this week. The release is expected to contain 8,000-10,000 acre-feet of water and will require about 3 1/2 days to... — Updated 5/25/2021

FORT SUMNER — The Chamber of Commerce board of directors has initiated a new interpretive signage project, which will offer historical background information for several graves within the Old Fort Military Cemetery. The cemetery... — Updated 5/11/2021

FORT SUMNER — A 30-year-old Louisiana man shot himself following an April 8 high-speed chase involving New Mexico State Police, De Baca County Sheriff’s personnel and Santa Rosa City Police. Jock Waylon Thacker, 30, whose last... — Updated 4/20/2021

FORT SUMNER — The village’s insurance carrier won’t cover damages to the roof and ceiling at the Old Fort Museum, Mayor Louie Gallegos reported at a special council meeting March 22. Gallegos said roof and ceiling repairs... — Updated 3/30/2021

FORT SUMNER — The village’s efforts to reopen the Bain Municipal Pool this summer are being met with a number of significant issues. During a special meeting March 22, Mayor Louie Gallegos told councilors that city crews will... — Updated 3/30/2021

FORT SUMNER — The De Baca County Commission on March 8 gave final approval for a 1/16 of a cent hike in the gross receipts tax. The hike, expected to generate about $12,000 per year for the county, was approved on a 3-0 vote.... — Updated 3/16/2021

FORT SUMNER — The village council, meeting in regular session March 8, approved a resolution for the De Baca County Sheriff’s Department to use Law Enforcement Protection Funds to purchase a new patrol unit through a program... — Updated 3/16/2021

FORT SUMNER — One person has been arrested and another is being sought in connection with the recovery of a stolen recreational vehicle Jan. 27 at a residence here. Kendra Ammons, 37, remains in the De Baca County Jail after she... — Updated 2/9/2021

FORT SUMNER — The COVID pandemic and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's public health orders have come to roost in De Baca County. A recent increase in the number of positive cases in the county — from one to 23 since Oct. 27 ... — Updated 11/17/2020

FORT SUMNER — The De Baca County Commission has issued a drought emergency request in an effort to bring attention to the struggles of drought-stricken county ranchers. In a unanimous vote, the commission approved a letter to be... — Updated 8/1/2020