Looking back 40, 30 and 20 years ago, the following are excerpts from the Artesia Daily Press.

40 years ago June 2-8, 1984

A total of 72 golfers – some of them brighteyed and bushy-tailed, others not quite so active this early in the morning – get some words of wisdom form Bobby Branch, right, before teeing off in the second round of the Bulldog- Myco Invitational Golf Tournament June 2 at the Artesia Country Club.

———-Artesia High School Graduates Sam Peppard, left and Lynn Bratcher receive congratulations from Artesia Valley Lions Club president Bill Carpenter for being chosen as scholarship recipients by the organization. About 60 students applied for the stipend.

———-After years of declining enrollments the nation’s elementary schools are facing a rising tide of students, a new government study reveals. The number of Americans under age 5 climbed to 17.8 million as of the previous July, up from 16.3 million in 1980 and the most in that age bracket in 15 years, the Census Bureau reported in a study released May 31.

———-Colorado June 4 lost a six-year Supreme Court battle in New Mexico over the use of water from the Vermejo River. The nation’s highest court, by an 8-1 vote, ruled that Colorado had no legal right to divert water from the river, which flows from the Colorado mountains just north of New Mexico south through New Mexico and into the North Canadian River, a tributary of the Arkansas River. The dispute between the states first arose in 1975 when a Colorado court awarded the Colorado Fuel and Iron Steel Corp. a conditional water right to divert a substantial amount of water from the river’s tributaries. New Mexico water users obtained a court injunction against the proposed diversion, and Colorado officials then turned to the Supreme Court for help.

———-Bernalillo County Clerk Dolores Waller said it rained on her parade June 5, causing light early voter turnout in the primary election in the state’s most populous county. But she said she believed rainy weather in Albuquerque affected the turnout. Voter turnout throughout New Mexico was generally listed as light to moderate. Artesia followed the state trend in a light to moderate voter turnout that morning. A total of 676 persons had cast ballots by noon June 5, although skies were sunny and weather presented no problem.

———-A Senate committee passed an amendment that would authorize $58 million to upgrade 206 miles of state highway leading to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad. Artesia Chamber of Commerce manager Dave Dillard, a member of the board of directors of the Southeastern New Mexico Highway Commission, said U.S. 285 between Los Alamos and the WIPP site is the route to be upgraded with the federal funds. Dillard said the quality of upgrading will be similar to the two-lane highway between Vaughn and Encino, which features extra wide shoulders.

30 years ago

June 2-8, 1994

Rescue personnel remove one of the victims of a four-vehicle collision June 1 near Loco Hills. Police reported that at 4:25 p.m. June 1 a line of vehicles was stopped by a flagman one and a half mile east of Loco Hills on U.S. 82. The driver of the Chevrolet pickup, Jeffry Haidler, 23, of Hobbs, reported to the State Police he fell asleep, awoke and locked the brakes before colliding with one of the stopped vehicles and causing a chain reaction involving the Chevrolet, two Ford trucks and a Ford Explorer.

———-Artesia Junior High School student Brett Boneau shows the map and certificate he was awarded for winning the school-level National Geography Bee. The school-level bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the sixth annual bee, which is sponsored by National Geographic WORLD, the Society’s magazine for children, and Amtrak. Boneau won by answering a question on Indonesia.

———-Artesians Aaron Willbanks, driving, and Jonathan Parson and Paul Price, pushing, show the winning form they used competing with the Bennie’s Western Wear entry in the outhouse race at that year’s Old Timers’ Day in Hagerman. Bennie Mason said it was the fourth year in a row that the Bennie’s entry won the race, which is about 200 yards in length.

———-Members of Artesia Garden Club celebrate the signing of a proclamation declaring June 5-11 as National Garden Week in Artesia. Members shown with Mayor Ernest Thompson, center, are, from left, Dutch Ferriman, Norma Boling, Dorothy Frazee, Sharon Stall, Nancy Newlon and Carole Ciskowski.

———-Central Elementary students who were the top fund raisers in the American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart in April received their awards late last month. They are, from left, second-grader Calley Vandiver, third place; fifth-grader Court Rossi, first place; and third-grader Carin Riley, second place. About 100 students entered the event, with the school raising more than $2,000.

———-Eddy County Commissioners gave final approval to a $14 million budget after deciding to increase the number of deputies needed to provide security at district court to three. Judge James Shuler said three deputies are needed to provide security for the two courtrooms, witness rooms, public restrooms and hallways. A motion to add the third deputy to the 1994-95 budget was approved with the provision that if the third person was not needed, commissioners would be notified. Cost of adding one deputy to the county payroll totals $35,000.

20 years ago June 2-8, 2004

Commissioners approved an Alternative Sentencing Unit at the June 1 Eddy County Commission Meeting. The program incorporates a new Misdemeanor Compliance Program (MCP) to monitor offender’s compliance with the conditions of probation imposed by a district or magistrate court. According to Warden Leslie Johnson of the Eddy County Detention Center, the program is designed as a way to keep offenders out of jail, therefore reducing the cost to the county.

———-Local residents and owners of cabins burned by the 38,000-acre Peppin fire in south-central New Mexico are accusing the U.S. Forest Service of botching the early response to the fire. The exchange came at emotional meeting the night of June 2 that was meant to inform the public about the effort to fight the fire. It was the first opportunity for some people who lost cabins in the fire to confront the Forest Service. The lightning-sparked fire was reported May 15 in rugged terrain in the Lincoln National Forest in south-central New Mexico. It initially crept along the ground before exploding May 23. Lincoln National Forest ranger Buck Sanchez said the area was too rough and hazardous to safely deploy firefighters. But as he explained the decision, a woman in the audience shouted that the Forest Service chose to let the fire burn.

———-Recent Artesia High School graduate Miguel Duran consistently dominated the boys’ shot put competition throughout the course of his senior track and field season. Now, he’ll get one more opportunity to show off the skill that secured a 2004 Class 4A state shot put title. Duran was the only member of the AHS track and field program invited to the prestigious Great Southwest Track and Field Classic this year and he will compete against the best seven states have to offer June 4 in Albuquerque.

———-Ronald Reagan, the cheerful crusader who devoted his presidency to winning the cold war, trying to scale back government and making people believe it was “morning again in America,” died June 5 after a long twilight struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 93.

———-Curtis Tolle tees off during the second round of the 2004 MYCO Bulldog golf tournament June 5 at the Artesia Country Club. Tolle is competing in the tourney’s championship flight. The Bulldog will conclude June 6 with round 3.

———-Eric Duncan, a 2004 graduate of Artesia High School has received an appointment to the Air Force academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. He will report to basic training at the academy on July 1.

———- (EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back was compiled By Daily Press Staff)