The Town of Mountainair has adopted a property maintenance ordinance designed to ensure the community remains clean, safe and welcoming for all residents. The ordinance sets guidelines that hold property owners responsible for following to help keep the town beautiful and free from hazards. According to Mayor Peter Nieto, the guidelines include maintaining weeds to […]
Estancia
Posted inEdgewood, Estancia, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Big Changes are in Store for The Independent in 2025
Happy 2025. It’s a new year and we have a new way to deliver the news you care about. This year, The Independent News is transitioning from a once-per-week print and email news source to a daily, digital format with an expanded bi-weekly print product. Why the change? Even in our rural areas where we’re […]
Posted inEdgewood, Estancia, Moriarty, Torrance County, Uncategorized
East Mountains Beware: Winter Storms to Bring Widespread Snowfall
Starting Jan. 7, New Mexico is set to experience significant snow coverage, high winds and frosty temperatures. While no heavy snow is expected, the icy temperatures can impact travel and outdoor conditions. Precautions are advised to deal with the light coating since the snow is set to reach a maximum of six inches, with the […]
Posted inEdgewood, Estancia, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Mountainair announces first inductee into 2025 Hall of Excellence
The Town of Mountainair announced Larry Gustin is the first inductee into the 2025 Mountainair Hall of Excellence on Jan. 7. Larry Gustin, a lifelong resident of Torrance County and owner of Gustin Hardware in both Mountainair and Estancia, will be honored posthumously along with seven other individuals at a March 29 ceremony. Mountainair Mayor […]
Posted inEstancia, Moriarty, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Iris Hewett
Iris R. Hewett of Moriarty, passed away Christmas morning in Belen. Iris was born on July 28, 1935, in American Fork, UT to August and Ella May (Thayne) Leplat. Her mother, Ella May, was born/raised on a ranch outside Casa Grande, Mexico. Ella May was taught at a young age to handle a pistol by […]
Posted inEstancia, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Historic Hearing Carlos Doe v. ICE Set a Precedent for Future Cases Against Torrance County Detention Facility
One of the most critical migratory cases occurred on Dec. 19 at the 520 Gila Courtroom in Albuquerque’s Federal Courthouse. This federal court hearing is the first to defy the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 2022 decision to re-certify the Torrance County Detention Facility in Estancia, New Mexico, as law-abiding with federal standards to […]
Posted inEstancia, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Puffing, Painting, Improving the Community
A community club will be hosting a cannabis-themed Winter Solstice celebration in Estancia this month, where participants are invited to create artwork and find potential solutions to problems facing their Torrance County community. The Estancia Valley High Society and Thriving Roots are teaming up to put on their Winter Solstice Puff and Paint event Dec. […]
Posted inEstancia, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Jaramillo has been serving Torrance County for nearly a quarter century
In the November election, former Torrance County Clerk Linda Jaramillo was elected county commissioner, and although she might be its newest member, she’s no stranger to the commission chambers, and no stranger to New Mexico; she’s lived here for 70 years. Her history of public service began in the medical field and continued into politics, […]
Posted inEstancia, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Substitute Teacher at Estancia High School Accused of Criminal Sexual Penetration of a Student
An Estancia woman is facing six felony charges including criminal sexual penetration of a minor and child solicitation by electronic communication device while she was working as a substitute teacher at Estancia High School. Estancia police say some of the alleged crimes happened on Estancia Municipal Schools property. Police say Michaela Ford of Estancia, 30, […]
Posted inEstancia, Moriarty, Torrance County, Uncategorized
Missing ballots counted and added to Torrance County total count just in time for Election Day
Even though 140 absentee ballots were mailed in October without a return address, Torrance County Clerk Linda Jaramillo said the missing labels did not impact validity, and counting them was no issue. They were inspected with enough time to be returned before Nov. 5. The voting centers in Torrance County closed at 7 p.m., and […]