On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, at the first community meeting with one of the Western New Mexico University presidential candidates, Regent Dean Reed noted there had been a change in the search with one of the five candidates, having withdrawn his nomination.

"We're down to four and Dr. Jose Coll is our first one," he said. "We will have another candidate for tomorrow, Friday and then a candidate next Tuesday and the last one on Wednesday."

He asked all those present who served on the Presidential Search Committee to stand. He noted that 14 had taken part in the search and their results had been sent to the search firm Anthem to determine the most qualified for the position. The committee received 22 preferred candidates and whittled it down to 10. "John Wertheim, co-chair of the committee, and I, as the chair did not have a vote in any of that process. Intentionally, we felt like the committee needed to figure it out."

"We then interviewed 11 candidates over two days about three weeks ago, with five on one day and six on the next," he continued. "The committee without our votes got the list down to five, with one alternate. It's very common when we get to this stage, one of the candidates can withdraw, because top talents always being recruited. So five were picked. I would venture to say the committee spent literally hundreds of hours collectively going through these very difficult decisions. Anthem also scored the candidates, and they said it was the tightest grouping they've seen in the last seven or eight years. That's how close these candidates were. "

Reed pointed out the large QR code on a poster and asked that people scan it and give their feedback on all the candidates that the public came to hear. "That information will go to Anthem, not to the regents. Anthem will accumulate the scores and give it to us in a nice neat package."

A closed session Regents' meeting scheduled for March 5, would allow them to review the findings and choose two to make offers to and negotiate with.

[Editor's Note: Please visit https://www.grantcountybeat.com/home/news-articles/wnmu-regents-hold-executive-session to see that no result were presented to the public.]

"By March 17, we will call a press conference, and we will announce the new president of Western New Mexico University," Reed said.

He then introduced Dr. Jose Coll, who works at Western Oregon University. "He's now interviewing for Western New Mexico, so he has to catch himself."

Reed invited everyone to stay after Coll's presentation to talk one-on-one with him, like a meet and greet.

"Thank you for making time from your busy schedule, if you were at the earlier Q and A," Coll said, "And then for those of you from the community who are coming in to hear a little bit about myself, my background, what motivates me? I have actually a remarkable kind of lived experience and story. I never would have imagined as a nine-year-old Jose, who was an immigrant from Cuba with his parents in 1980 doing the Mariel Boat Lift, that I'ld be actually having this dialog today, thinking to be a university president in this remarkable state."

By Lynn Janes

On March 5, 2026, the board of regents held a virtual meeting. The board consisted of Steven Neville, chair, Joseph "Dean" Reed, John Wertheim, Gregory Trujillo and WNMU student regent Keana Huerta. Dr. Chris Maples, interim president, also attended.

The board went into executive session to discuss the final four candidates for university president and property acquisition from Silver Consolidated School for the Sixth Street Elementary School building.

After coming out of executive session the board said only items listed in executive session had been discussed.

Meeting adjourned.

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley had a special meeting February 25, 2026. Reynaldo Maynes, Aron Phillips, Ester Gil, Robert Candelaria and Jason Cox attended.

At this meeting the council would be reviewing two candidates for police officer. Kevin Vigil, police chief, said he has been the only officer and has also had to be the code officer and animal control officer. He had two applications he had reviewed and interviewed both individuals and said he would be honored to work with them. He said he had worked with both in the past. "I know their work ethic is strong."

Vigil said, "Just like any of us we've all made some mistakes in our days. I feel like giving these individuals a second chance."

The council went into closed session

By Lynn Janes

The town of Hurley held a special meeting February 17, 2026. Mayor Reynaldo Maynes, and Councilors Ester Gil, Robert Candelaria and Jason Cox attended. Aron Phillips did not attend.

The council approved resolution no. 15-2025/2026 supporting and application to New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) for colonias infrastructure fund to design Chino Boulevard improvements.

It will have a loan component of ten percent or twenty percent. By doing the design plan now Hurley will have the project ready to go and make it easier to obtain the funding to do the project.

The second item for the special meeting had been to discuss the possible changes to the animal ordinance.

Grant County Sheriff's Office investigates a house fire that occurred Friday March 6, 2026.

On Friday March 6, 2026, at approximately 1 :52 PM. Deputies with the Grant County Sheriffs office along with fire personnel were dispatched to the 100 block of Arenas Valley Rd in reference to a structure fire.

During the time fire personnel were working on the fire they located a person inside the home who was deceased. The person was not identified at the time.