Santa Fe News

Hannah Shankman had a busy night.

Santa Fe Gold Corporation today reported that its Summit silver-gold mine in southwestern New Mexico is expected to achieve commercial production during January 2012. Mechanized long-hole mining of the ore body began in December 2011 and has proved to be very successful. At the targeted production rate of 400 tons per day, output during 2012 is anticipated to increase by 400% from 2011 levels. Annual revenues over the life of mine are projected to approximate $40 million at recent gold and silver prices. Operating costs are estimated to be $364 per ounce of gold equivalent produced. Ore reserve grades over the life of mine are estimated to average 10.78 ounces per ton silver and 0.143 ounces per ton gold.

New Mexico’s Hispanic population over the next 100 years will grow to be the majority ethnic group, regardless of federal immigration policy, a local researcher and pollster predicts.

At the same time, the number of senior citizens in the state who depend on government services will increase, as budgets for programs to help them will shrink.

A Santa Fe doctor suspected of driving drunk and killing a four-year-old girl in a crash made her first appearance before a judge Tuesday.

Deborah Aaron, 56, said nothing as Judge Michael Vigil read the homicide by vehicle charge in court. More >

Deputies said a truck full of teens led them on a high-speed chase from Santa Fe down a narrow and slick rural road to La Cienega.

The nine-mile chase started on Agua Fria Street and ended when the driver crashed into a utility pole off County Road 56 in La Cienega around 1:30 a.m. Monday. More >

Columbus Silver Corp. says Santa Fe Gold Corp. (OTCBB:SFEG) has obtained conditional debt financing to complete its planned $10-million takeover of the Vancouver-based junior miner. More >

A Santa Fe man has 41 arrests on his record. Thirty-three-year-old Gerald Romero was told Monday morning that he failed a drug test in violation of his court-ordered electronic monitoring program and would be taken into custody. Instead of surrendering, he ran.

Romero was captured a short while later Monday and arrested for the 41st time and the eighth time in 2011.

Ski Santa Fe says it will open its Midland, Easy Street and Pine Flats Beginners Area on 18” of natural and man-made snow on Saturday. The Super Chief Quad Chairlift, Easy Street Beginner Chairlift and Pine Flats Conveyor Lift will be open. The Chipmunk Corner Children’s Center and lift will also be open.

All the ski area’s ski school, rental and dining facilities will be open and lift tickets will be reduced due to the limited opening. Adult full day rates are $48. Half day tickets are $38.

“Occupy Santa Fe” protest have had no violence, and no fights with city officials or police. A lot of the protesters in Santa Fe aren’t college kids. Protesters there have lived through the Vietnam protests and say this time they changed their approach to win the minds of the public.   More >

A 62-foot tall Sierra white fir from the Stanislaus National Forest in California will make a stop Thursday in Santa Fe during its cross-country trip to Washington D.C. where it will be displayed as the 2011 US Capitol Christmas Tree.

The tree will be on display at Santa Fe Place mall, according to Trackthetree.com.

A National Forest Service news release said the tree would be on display from 2:30-4 pm.