Local News

Cassie Frank is a 2020 graduate of Kirtland Central High School. Her Diné clans are Díbéłzhíní, Bit’ahnii, Táchii’nii, and Tábąąhí. She is a full-time student at San Juan College, studying Business Administration. Upon completion of her associate’s program at San Juan College, Cassie plans to continue her education at Arizona State University (ASU) where she plans to pursue her master’s degree. Following graduation from ASU, she plans to open a business in her hometown, Farmington, New Mexico.

Crews arrived to find signs of a fire that burned the interior of the residence sometime early Thursday morning. The fire burned itself out, but not before likely causing the death of the resident.  The resident was found by a family member who checks in each afternoon. 

The flu shots are available on a first come, first serve basis for adults ages 18 and older. Drive-thru flu shot clinics are scheduled from 9am-12pm (or until vaccine supplies run out) on Saturday, October 23, 2021 and again on Saturday, October 30, 2021 in the north visitor parking lot at San Juan Regional Medical Center.

The initial investigation indicated a 2019 Maserati passenger car, driven by a 27-year-old male from Surprise, AZ was traveling east on Navajo Route 5. Near milepost 15, for reasons unknown the Maserati drifted into oncoming traffic of the westbound lane and collided head-on with a westbound 2021 Volvo SUV. The driver of the Volvo, Michael Shannon McCraren (50) from Tucson, AZ sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Office of Medical Investigator. A passenger in the Volvo, a 48-year-old female from Tucson, AZ sustained unknown injuries.

Dion’s will open near E. Main Street & 30th/Gila in early 2022. The interior design will feature a new, modern look, though several classic Dion’s elements like a viewing stand for kids to watch pizza being made and a pick-up window for call-ahead, online, and app orders will be present.

The initial investigation indicates a 1989 grey Ford F250, driven by James Cummins (81) of Farmington, NM was traveling south across US Highway 64 from County Road 5322 to County Road 5323. For unknown reasons, a white Ford F250 traveling west on US Highway 64 struck the grey Ford F250. Cummins sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

The student had a drawn map of the school and written plans for a shooting. Through investigation, the SRO identified another student, a 15-year-old female, who had contributed to the plan and possibly a third student, another 15-year-old male. The map detailed a specific date the students wanted to carry out the plan and listed items they needed to gather. The investigating SRO spoke with the students’ guardians and confirmed they didn’t have access to any firearms in their homes. 

A Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued before the end of the year to solicit contractors to engage the planning process. There is no set timeline for the process yet but grant funding must be spent by 2024. Prospective consultants may contact San Juan County’s Purchasing Department for more information about the RFP process and for the documents as soon as they are available. Projects to build new railways are rare across the country. San Juan County will be working closely with the Federal Railroad Administration on the project, which is overseeing the grant.

A passenger in the Sentra, Susana Palacios-Valencia, 48, of Farmington, NM sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased by the Office of the Medical Investigator.  A second passenger in the Sentra, a 24-year-old was uninjured.  The drivers of the Sentra and the Jeep sustained injuries.   Their conditions are not known. 

Werito began going in and out of the residence, brandished a firearm, and threw a grenade at deputies.  In an effort to get the suspect out of the house and comply with commands, two flash bangs were deployed.  When that was ineffective, tear gas was introduced into the residence.  The suspect exited the residence around 10:57am pointing a firearm at deputies and deputies fired their weapons.  Medics were staged in the area and responded immediately after the scene was deemed secure, however Werito succumbed to his injuries on scene.

Based on the approved plans, Hilcorp was required to maintain a minimum sanctioned SVE run-time, collect initial and annual gas samples, and submit regular status reports to the OCD. Hilcorp failed to comply with the outlined terms, conditions, and provisions of their approved plans.

The theater was originally built in 1974.  The 7,770 square-foot theater includes a newly remodeled lobby, ticket booth, dressing rooms and a special Connie Gotsch display case. Also encompassed in the renovation is new carpet, tile, 294 auditorium seats, with upgrades including new house and stage lighting, and a modern TV and video system. 

The Farmington New Mexico Temple will be the state’s second temple. The first temple, the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple, was dedicated March 5, 2000.

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 5pm was the deadline for candidates to file their intent to run in municipal elections on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 in San Juan County.

The City of Farmington is exploring and giving serious consideration to building an All Abilities Park on the seven-acre parcel of property. If built, the park will be the first fully-inclusive accessible and adaptive playground in San Juan County.

There were 117 new COVID 19 cases and one additional death in San Juan County reported on Friday by the Department of Health

The total number of deaths is now 1,454. The report indicates that 32,524 individuals have recovered from COVID-19. 343,869 COVID-19 tests have been administered. The overall total number of positive COVID-19 cases is now 34,360.