RUIDOSO, NM – March 10, 2021 – At approximately 1:35 PM, Ruidoso Dispatch received a 911 call in reference to shots fired in the area of Chase and Wingfield. When officers arrived on the scene, there was a person in the roadway with gunshot wounds. A Ruidoso Police officer began life-saving measures until paramedics from Lincoln County Emergency Medical Services and Ruidoso Fire Department responded. The victim did not survive.

March 10, 2021: The New Mexico Department of Health updated the Covid-19 county map today with Lincoln County remaining on the yellow level. More counties in the state reached green and turquoise levels and only one, Guadalupe county, remains in the red level.

Beginning Friday, March 12, 2021, access to Grindstone Lake will require reservations on the weekends (Fri., Sat., Sun.) during the Spring Break holiday March 12 – March 21, 2021. Reservations can be made online at RuidosoParksandRec.com. There is no fee for the reservations. For more information contact Parks and Recreation at 575-257-5030.

After being closed for almost a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ruidoso Community Center will open its doors to the public again on Monday, March 8, 2021. One of the first events to kick-off will be the Friday $1 Pitch-In Breakfast which will start at 8:00 AM on Friday, March 12.

The following summary materials were presented at a Village of Ruidoso public meeting on February 25, 2021, conducted to communicate the results of a US 70/NM 48 Intersection Feasibility Study for the NM 48 corridor from the Mescalero Trail intersection to US 70. Next steps will include study finalization and a request for NMDOT funding.

SBA Prioritizes Smallest of Small Businesses in the latest Paycheck Protection Program updates that include a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees and allows sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these categories of applicants.

Beginning on March 8, 2021, crews from SAK Construction will be performing maintenance on sewer lines within the Village of Ruidoso. The work will continue through March 13, 2021. Please look for signs indicating that crews are working and approach the areas with caution. Please reference the following maps for specific street and date details.

On Wednesday, Feb. 24, the state of New Mexico published a revised Public Health Order, which permitted the operation of Recreational Facilities, Entertainment Venues, and Casinos for counties that meet the criteria. The Public Health Order also amended the "Red to Green" framework to allow for further eased restrictions on mass gatherings and tourism-related businesses. An updated Department of Health public health order can be found here and is effective Wednesday, Feb. 24.

The Village of Ruidoso and the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) District Two are set to begin a sidewalk upgrade project in Midtown beginning Monday, March 1st. The two entities are investing approximately $500,000 to upgrade and improve safety and pedestrian access throughout the area.

Police Chief Darren Hooker has announced that he will retire from the Ruidoso Police Department on March 31st. Hooker has been the Chief of Police since October of 2015 when he joined the department.

Mayor Crawford has issued Executive Order 2021-01 to provide the Fawn Ridge Property Owners Association immediate access to Village water due to a failure of its water wells in compliance with all local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday applauded the legislative passage of House Bill 11, a priority for economic relief that will now head to her desk for signature. Sponsored by Speaker Brian Egolf and Rep. Christine Chandler, HB 11 provides $200 million in grants to support New Mexico businesses to ease the hiring or rehiring of employees. Each business may qualify for up to $100,000 to be distributed in four quarterly payments.

The Smokey Bear Ranger District on the Lincoln National Forest will be burning piles tomorrow, Friday, February 19, 2021, on Forest Service land behind the district office near Mechem Dr. and Cedar Creek Dr. Smoke will be visible in Ruidoso. Please use caution when driving in smoky conditions.

The Village of Ruidoso is completing a feasibility study on the intersection of US 70 and NM 48. Proposed alternatives have been developed to enhance operations at the intersection as well as provide additional improvements to address access, capacity, and ADA accessibility issues along NM 48 west from US 70 to Mescalero Trail. Written comments and questions are being accepted now. Register today for Zoom meeting details.

The Smokey Bear Ranger District on the Lincoln National Forest is planning to take advantage of the recent snow to conduct prescribed burns in the Grindstone Project Area southwest of Ruidoso and in Southfork Campground starting as early as tomorrow, Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

Do you know of a pothole that needs to be repaired? Report it to the Village of Ruidoso Street Works Department for repair. Ways to report a pothole: • Online Pothole Reporting Form or call our Public Works Department at 575-258-4343.

Beginning on February 17, 2021, crews from SAK Construction will be performing maintenance on sewer lines within the Village of Ruidoso. The work will continue through February 18, 2021. Please look for signs indicating that crews are working and approach the areas with caution. Please reference the following maps for specific street and date details.

February 12, 2021: An arctic air mass will be moving through the state this weekend and is expected to bring record-breaking temps, significant snow, and strong gap winds to our area starting Saturday through Tuesday. The most significant precipitation is forecasted for Saturday and Sunday. As the front pushes through, expect extreme cold, dangerous wind chills, snow, and blowing snow Sunday into Monday.

On Wednesday, Feb. 10, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham reported that more than half of New Mexico is now in the Green or Yellow Levels with 14 counties, including Lincoln County, remaining at Red Level restrictions. In addition, the state of New Mexico rescinded its mandatory travel quarantine effective immediately.

The New Mexico Department of Health on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, announced the updated statewide COVID-19 map for the two-week period with seven New Mexico counties at the Yellow Level and one at the Green Level, reflecting an improving overall COVID-19 outlook for the state.