The vehicle involved in a fatal wreck Wednesday afternoon at 26th Street and Compress Road is towed from the scene. (Danny Scott – Daily Press)
The area of 26th Street between Compress Road and the Artesia city limits has reopened following a fatal wreck that occurred this afternoon at 26th and Compress.
The Eddy County Sheriff’s Office reported the accident just before 2 p.m. Wednesday, announcing that deputies were assisting the New Mexico State Police in the investigation of a single-vehicle wreck that resulted in a fatality.
No further details are available at this time. This post will be updated as additional information is released.
The affected area of 26th Street was closed to through traffic until just after 6 p.m.
Eddy County Commission Chair James Bowen opened the April 16 Eddy County Commission meeting by apologizing for “dropping the ball” on the proposed review of plans for a new Eddy County Complex that would include a new courthouse, new detention center, and new administration/facilities building.
“A project of this magnitude should receive public input and the public should be involved in the decision making on this,” said Bowen.
The commission voted to table the motion until the completion of two town hall meetings, one at the Eddy County Courthouse and one in Artesia. The Carlsbad meeting will run from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at the courthouse and may be joined via Zoom at us06web.zoom.us/j/89892439843. Artesia’s meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 29, at City Hall and can be joined via Zoom at us06web.zoom.us/j/86910912818.
In the previous several days, many Eddy County residents voiced their objection to building a new courthouse, including hundreds of emails, phone calls and social media posts. The current courthouse was built in 1891.
“Thank you for everybody that reached out,” said Bowen. “I spoke to 500 of you in the last 48 hours. Not one person was in support of anything going forward with the courthouse. It made me realize that I dropped the ball in not having a public town hall. I hope what we’ve done today rectifies that. I hope holding the meeting in the courthouse will allow everyone to see what we’re talking about. I encourage people to show up.”
“The public opinions matter very much,” said District 5 Commissioner Sarah Cordova. “We didn’t do our due diligence and get public input before this came out. The Detention Center has been a very big issue to me. We desperately need some changes in our detention center for our employees’ safety and the residents’ safety. Transparency is the most important thing we can do. Please make the time to come to the upcoming town hall meetings.”
District 2 Commissioner Jon Henry said the slowdown is necessary to make sure all potential possibilities are looked at.
“I also want to be clear this commission has no intention of selling or tearing down the current courthouse,” he said. “It’s an incredibly importance piece to Carlsbad. We would also never stop any use of the front lawn. I think we do need to have more community understanding and discussion.”
“I was born and raised in Carlsbad,” said District 1 Commissioner Ernie Carlson. “The courthouse is a centerpiece of the community and it’s a historical building. I would never vote to do anything that would degrade it, sell it, or tear it down. We need to do something that makes sure there’s preservation funding for that courthouse in the future.”
District 3 Commissioner Fred Beard commented, “That magnificent old building will still be closed to the public as long as it’s a courthouse. That is requisite security under state law; you’ve got to keep that place shut down. That courthouse is a museum. The southwest architecture in that thing is magnificent.”
An Otis resident spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting regarding the opening of bids to tear down the Otis gym. He said he doesn’t see any structural issue and asked to hold a town hall meeting regarding the subject before May 7.
The resident said he had heard the county plans to build a $600,000 splash pad at that location. Carlson said the Otis gym was brought to the commission about five years ago and the board was informed at that time it wasn’t repairable.
“The vote was to divest ourselves of that property,” said Carlson. “That was advertised and there wasn’t a single person to protest the Otis gym at that time. It wasn’t something that was done behind the scenes.”
Henry shared that the money for the splash pad is capital outlay money from Santa Fe.
The commission voted to change the county website address to end with the .gov domain. Eddy County currently has a .us domain of co.eddy.nm.us, which was originally issued to state and local governments. Now, .us domains are available to any U.S. citizen or foreign entity affiliated with the U.S.
Since 2023, the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), part of Homeland Security, began promoting that state, local and tribal governments register for a .gov domain since it is associated with official government information. This means all the county email addresses will change and anywhere these addresses are listed will be updated, such as business cards, which have a replacement cost of $230-$240 each for 500 cards.
The commission also voted to explore options for a new Eddy County logo. Eddy County Manager Roberta Gonzales brought forth the proposal to change the logo at the same time as the change to the .gov domain so as to make all the changes at once with business cards, letterhead, emails, marketing and branding tools, digitizing for embroidery, etc. The next steps would be putting together drafts of a new logo and have the commission vote on them.
Eddy County Sherriff Mark Cage reported three cadets will graduate from the Law Enforcement Academy next month. They also have 10 certified applicants to choose from right now and will be fully staffed fairly quickly.
“We are doing something right in Eddy County,” said Cage. “I’ve never seen this.”
The sheriff’s department has two deputies and the commander of the drug task force receiving awards from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. New Mexico was also awarded the national High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) award and Cage recently attended the awards ceremony. He said the award is due in large part to the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force who do incredibly good work. Cage also encouraged everybody to think about and act on creating secure parking at the courthouse for judges.
Eddy County Fire and Rescue Chief Joshua Mack reported the county has 30 first responders, 30 basic EMTs, eight advanced EMTs, and seven paramedics for a total of 48 licensed personnel. Mack also reported there are 10 staff actively testing and seven in classes right now.
The commission approved an over-hire for the Eddy County Payroll Manager position. The current payroll manager will be transitioning to a new position on Jan. 1, 2025, and this will allow the county to hire a new payroll manager by July 1 and provide six months of training.
The commission also approved a budget adjustment of $1 million for civil site and utilities design on the Corrales/West Loop intersection at U.S. 62/180 (National Parks Highway) in Carlsbad.
The commission voted to award RFP 24-02 to Emulsified Sealing Services for Eddy County and partnering counties.
Eddy County recognized the following employees with service awards:
Timothy Howard, Sheriff’s Office – 20 Years
Raymond Wissiup, Sheriff’s Office – 10 Years
Danny Smith, Sheriff’s Office – 5 Years
Garrett Silva, Sherriff’s Office – 5 Years
Michelle Boudrie, Sherriff’s Office – 5 Years
Gilberto Ramos, Public Works – 15 Years
Patricia Carrasco, Finance – 15 Years
Kenneth Dewey, Detention Center – 10 Years
The commission approved the following:
Resolutions:
R-24-34; G23SN0017A Region VI Drug Task Force Modification #2 – Pecos Valley DTF (Companion resolution to A-24-39)
R-24-35; G23SN0017A Region VI Drug Task Force Modification #3 – Region VI Admin (Companion resolution to A-24-40)
R-24-36; Eddy County Donation of Land Parcels to NMDOT (Companion resolution to A-24-41)
Twenty years after the creation and dedication of the three bronze sculptures that make up what locals call The Derrick Floor, the grassy knoll at Sixth and Main streets is transforming from a simple, historic landmark into a lively and interactive playground and picnic area.
In honor of the upcoming centennial celebration of the Illinois No. 3, the inaugural Artesian well, Artesia MainStreet (AMS) has distributed funds provided by a local benefactor to update The Derrick Floor park, which will now be named Oil Patch Plaza.
Referenced by AMS Executive Director Morgan Fox as “the brainchild of Elisabeth Jackson,” former director of the AMS, the Oil Patch Plaza will feature larger than life musical play equipment and five picnic tables.
Fox expressed the play area is meant to be as inclusive as possible for all ages, sizes and physical ability levels. As a result, most of the play equipment and two of the picnic tables will be ADA accessible. Though there will be no permanent shaded coverings over the tables or equipment, AMS will keep umbrellas close by for use during events and public gatherings, wind permitting. Irrigation will also be improved to ensure the area is as hospitable as possible.
The color scheme of the giant chime, xylophone and various drums complements local artist Kirsten Mauritsen’s topographical mural, installed last September on the Oil Patch Plaza pumphouse, the unofficial beginning of the Oil Patch project. The Artesia Arts and Cultural District (AACD), a part of AMS, will also be installing a new student mural on the west side of the Plaza pumphouse.
Though the student has not yet been announced, AMS and AACD hope for the mural to be completed in time for the Oil Patch Plaza’s grand opening on June 15, when the Plaza will host the “Kid Zone” section of the Centennial Celebration, featuring a water slide, snow cone truck, food trucks and foam fun.
Until the grand opening, excited or curious residents can view the area with caution but should avoid playing until construction is complete and all equipment has passed final inspections.
These projects and events are just the beginning of a lively summer at the Plaza. The Oil Patch Market, a farmers’ and makers’ market open to all artisans and food growers, will occur weekly on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to sunset beginning June 4 through Aug. 6.
AMS is currently offering free registration to two nonprofit booths and two booths manned by kid-creators, hoping to build excitement for the market before it begins. Inquiry forms are available now at artesiamainstreet.com/farmers-market.
(TJ and Jennifer Palma – For the Daily Press)(TJ and Jennifer Palma – For the Daily Press)(TJ and Jennifer Palma – For the Daily Press)(TJ and Jennifer Palma – For the Daily Press)
Most people would struggle to write their life story in a single word, but CJ Stroud has no such trouble: Perseverance.
It’s what got him through the various trials and tribulations in his life en route to where he is today: the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning quarterback of the Houston, Texans, an AFC South champion, a Pro Bowl selection, and a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist. It’s what continues to guide him through setbacks and adversity.
“To me, it comes down to this word that’s really been my life, my testimony,” Stroud told the crowd gathered Saturday at Bulldog Pit. “Everybody has a story; everybody’s going through something. […] But you can’t go through anything in this life by yourself. It takes prayer and communication.”
Stroud often credited his faith for his successes during his speaking engagement, a Red Zone event organized by local churches, businesses, individuals and the My Ashleah Foundation. When asked how he rebounds from setbacks as both an athlete and a man, Stroud said focus is key.
“That mindset that you won’t be denied no matter what life throws at you.”
Stroud said he once felt that playing football was his purpose but realized with the help of a friend that it’s merely his passion.
“You cannot be greedy or selfish with what God’s called you to be,” he told the crowd. “So I cannot ever in my life let my passion take over my purpose.”
The former Ohio State standout noted that, after his father was incarcerated when he was 11, his life could have taken another very different path. He credits his family, coaches, teachers, mentors and God with guiding him along the right one.
Artesia High School head football coach Jeremy Maupin was on hand for the event and noted that the program’s motto for the 2025 season will center around the concept of “culture.”
“We’re already part of a culture, we’re continuing to build a culture… how important is a culture in a locker room, and how do you build and maintain that year in and year out?” Maupin asked Stroud.
Stroud said that, in his mind, it boils down to two things: the people and the standard.
“What people do we have in the system and what standard are we holding each other to,” he said. “I want to be held accountable for everything, and that’s the standard.”
Stroud, a high school point guard and pitcher in addition to quarterback, also encouraged young athletes not to feel pressure to limit themselves to a single sport.
“Playing multiple sports is really a cheat code,” he noted. “There are a lot of good things about playing point guard — having the defender inf ront of you, being able to read the defense, make accurate passes, just like playing quarterback.
“In baseball, as a pitcher, there were different arm angles, different types of throws. […] If any of y’all kids out here are listening, play multiple sports. All things with a ball and a dream will get you to where you want to be when you add God into that, and that’s why I’m here today.”
Stroud also praised Artesia as a community that cares about its youth, saying he could “feel the love” the moment he arrived in town.
“The fact that you guys are pouring into the young people, that’s what we need,” he said. “It takes the younger generation to rise and to be the leaders, and it just keeps snowballing things. Social media has made it to where that stuff just hasn’t been cool anymore, and I challenge everybody in here to give back and give to the Lord. Even if it’s not much, not much in His eyes is a lot.”
Stroud, who has a long history of giving back to communities and individuals in need, also heads the CJ Stroud Foundation, launched by his mother. More information and options for donation can be found at cjstroudfoundation.com.
The Roswell Air Center has announced that a third daily flight between Roswell and the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport will be available beginning May 6.
The American Airlines flight will arrive in Roswell at 3:30 p.m. and depart for DFW at 4 p.m. each day.
The Roswell Air Center currently has two daily American Airlines flights to and from DFW, offering departures from Roswell at 6 a.m. and noon and arrivals from DFW at 11:29 a.m. and 11:29 p.m.
“American Airlines has had a long-term partnership with Roswell Air Center in offering passenger flight service to DFW, an American Airlines hub from which air travelers can transfer to connecting flights to a wide variety of destinations,” the Roswell Air Center said in a release. “American Airlines has indicated the third flight is being added based on the number of passengers using the two existing flights to and from Roswell.”
Passengers on any of the three departing flights from Roswell should arrive at the airport two hours prior to their flight time so that all travelers and baggage can be properly checked in.
The Roswell Air Center says airport managers, city officials and local economic development representatives are continuing their efforts to bring additional flight destinations to Roswell.
Artesia Police Department officers responded early Friday morning to the scene of an active break-in at A1 Tobacco and Vape in the 1400 block of West Main Street. (Brienne Green – Daily Press)
One Artesia man has been arrested on burglary charges and another remains at large following a break-in early Friday morning at a local vape shop.
Artesia Police Department (APD) officers were dispatched just after 2 a.m. Friday, April 19, to A1 Tobacco and Vape, 1404 W. Main St., in reference to a commercial burglary in progress. Upon arrival, police noticed a ladder behind the business that had been used to gain access from the roof.
Later investigation revealed that an outside structure at the pitch of the roof where an air-conditioning unit was once located had been pried open, and a hole was cut in the sheetrock below in order to drop into the business. Police were able to locate a flashlight and crowbar, in addition to the ladder.
Jesus Bravo
Officers subsequently made their way to the front of the shop, where they observed 23-year-old Jesus Manuel Bravo with his hands in the air. Bravo was unable to exit through the front doors, which were still deadbolted behind steel bars. Commands were issued for him to exit the building through the hole where entry had been made, and he complied.
Once in custody, a backpack was taken from Bravo’s person that contained 17 vapes and four pouches of kratom pills. The items were valued at $670. In addition to the damage caused to the roof and ceiling, glass shelving had been broken in order to take the items, and security cameras had been disabled, causing damage to the electrical system. Total estimated property damage is $16,500.
According to APD Cmdr. Pete Quinones, further investigation of video surveillance systems indicates that Bravo had an accomplice who had entered the business with him but was able to flee prior to law enforcement arrival.
Bravo was charged with commercial burglary, criminal damage to property (over $1,000) and possession of burglary tools. He was booked into the Eddy County Detention Center at 11:50 a.m. Friday, where a charge of parole violation was added, on which he is being held without bond.
He was previously convicted in 2021 of charges including two counts of non-residential burglary; larceny ($250 or less); larceny (over $500 but not more than $2,500); two counts of criminal damage to property (under $1,000); tampering with evidence; and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
In 2020, Bravo was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and conspiracy to commit contributing to the delinquency of a minor, as well as charges of non-residential burglary; criminal damage to property (over $1,000); criminal damage to property (under $1,000); larceny (over $250 but not more than $500); conspiracy to commit non-residential burglary; tampering with evidence; and possession of burglary tools resulting from an August 2019 break-in at Artesia Family Wellness Center.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call the APD at 575-746-5000.
That’s right: It is time for Artesia Clean & Beautiful’s 27th Annual Golf Scramble, scheduled for April 20.
I know you must be practicing because we have had some really nice weather except for a few days thrown in to confuse us, so pick up the phone, call Juan at the Pro Shop, and sign in. This is our only fundraiser, and we hope that you would consider becoming a Tee Box Sponsor as well.
We do realize that there are a lot of other nonprofits out there that are asking for support for their organizations as well, but rest assured that we deeply appreciate anything and everything that you do for AC&B, as we could not provide all of our programs without your help.
If you are new to our Scramble or have played before, you know we always have a good time and somehow, miraculously, we have always had nice weather on that day. We will have goodie bags, door prizes, and even sell mulligans to help you with that oops that might occur.
If you haven’t called Juan yet, do it now — 575-746-6732 — and get your spot lined up. As always, entry is $30, and cart and greens fees are extra. Remember, good fun, good fellowship, and helping out a worthy cause. What more can you ask for?
As always, do your part to help keep Artesia… Clean and Beautiful. It really does take the entire community to be involved. For more information on any of our programs, please contact our office at 575-748-3192 or come by 422 W. Main St. Follow us on Facebook at Artesia Clean & Beautiful.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Linda Stevens is the director of Artesia Clean & Beautiful. Contact her at 575-748-3192.)
The Artesia Chamber of Commerce joined staff of the Artesia Truck Driving School, 3205 W. Main St., last month in celebrating its official grand opening with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The school is available to train individuals and/or company employees for Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs). For more information, call 575-748-9766. (Photos Courtesy Artesia Chamber of Commerce)
The Artesia City Council appointed a new councilor for District 4 and elected its mayor pro tem during Tuesday’s meeting at City Hall.
Michael Bundt was appointed to fill the District 4 council seat recently vacated by Sam Hagelstein. No candidates ran for the seat during March’s municipal election. Bundt is a former economic development director for the Artesia Chamber of Commerce.
District 3 Councilor Jeff Youtsey was reelected as mayor pro tem.
During the Infrastructure Committee report, Youtsey reported the committee has reviewed proposed utility rate increases. A town hall meeting to discuss the rate changes will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in Council Chambers at City Hall.
“When you look at the cost increases compared to utility rate adjustments, it becomes obvious we are going to have to do something to maintain the level of service the city provides,” said Youtsey. “Costs are outrunning our revenue. The City of Artesia will still remain one of the very lowest-cost utilities in the state.
“As a reminder to the public, all of our City utilities are considered enterprise accounts totally funded by their users and by law must retain a healthy balance for emergency use. The City is obligated by law to keep these accounts healthy. We want to keep our utility rates reasonable, but we have to keep our utilities healthy.”
The council approved a resolution prohibiting outside food and drinks at the Artesia Aquatic Center. The resolution includes:
Prohibition of outside food and beverages:
No outside food or beverages are allowed within the Artesia Aquatic Center premises.
Exceptions to this rule include:
Coolers of 16 quarts or smaller to hold water and or baby food
sealed water bottles
baby food and baby formula.
Food policy in the party room:
Outside food is permitted in the party room only when the room is reserved for an event
All food and beverages must remain within the confines of the party room area and are not allowed in the general facility
Approval of food vendors:
Any food vendors wishing to provide catering services at the Artesia Aquatic Center must be approved by the city
Approved food vendors must comply with all health and safety regulations and standards set forth by the city and the Artesia Aquatic Center
The council also discussed changes to the hours of operation at the Artesia Aquatic Center. Both the food prohibition and hours of operation changes are efforts to help close the gap at the aquatic center.
“There is an anticipated $750,000 to $850,000 loss this year at the aquatic center,” said Community Development/Infrastructure Director Byron Landfair.
“We are also looking at fee changes,” said Summer Valverde, city clerk/treasurer.
“I don’t think we are ever going to close the gap enough to break even, but everything we’re going to do, we are going to give that a shot,” said Mayor Jon Henry.
The Artesia Aquatic Center will host a free open house event from 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 12, through Sunday, April 14. The public is invited to tour the facility, explore sponsorship opportunities, obtain discounted season passes, sign up for summer swim lessons, and enjoy food trucks. For more information, call 575-746-8525.
Landfair reported construction on the Splash Pad at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex has incurred some delays. There is a new requirement to include a shower in the building which is being explored. Construction on the Splash Pad will start in the middle of May.
Landfair also reported construction on the bathrooms at the youth soccer and football fields at Jaycee Park will begin by the end of April.
The council also approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 audit report after a presentation by Juan Garcia from Beasley, Mitchell and Associates of Las Cruces.
Garcia shared the City of Artesia is worth about $140 million with a healthy working capital of 19.55, which means the city can cover their bases about 19.5 times in the current year with current assets and current liabilities. He reported a $52-million fund balance.
“I think you all stand very well,” said Garcia. “I think you have the benefit of the value of your assets being high. So in the short term your cash flows might not be the highest of any other municipalities but you do have a solid base with the value of your city.”
In other business, the council approved an over-hire in the Artesia Police Department for an Evidence Tech I with an internal posting at this time.
The council approved the following requests for the use of city facilities:
Joe and Laura Tufano to use the Guadalupe Park gazebo for a birthday party from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 13
Artesia Chamber of Commerce and Artesia MainStreet to hold the Permian Basin Celebration – 100 Years of Oil & Gas June 14-15 in the downtown district.
Artesia MainStreet to hold an Oilfield Equipment Parade from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 15. The parade will gather in the Bulldog Bowl parking lot, head east down Main Street, and turn right at Second Street, contingent upon New Mexico Department of Transportation approval of the parade permit and proof of insurance and fees.
CYFD to hold a Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Walk from 10 a.m. – noon Friday, April 19. The walk will move from the CASA Office at 605 W. Main St. to City Hall.
The council granted permission to set a public hearing for May 28 to hear an ordinance for a proposed zone change from R1-B, single family district, to C, commercial use, for 601 S. 23rd St., a property owned by Beverly Still and Brad Knowlton. The intended use is RV storage, but anything slated for commercial use is an option. Residents living within 300 feet of the property will be notified.
The council approved the following Appointive Officers, submitted by Henry, in accordance with Section 3-11-5 of NMSA 1978:
Byron Landfair – Infrastructure Director
Kevin Hope – Fire Chief
Kirk Roberts – Police Chief
Summer Valverde – City Clerk/Treasurer
Jerry Conde – Human Resources Director
The council then approved and confirmed all current full- and part-time regular employees as well as all probationary and as-needed employees of the City of Artesia as of April 9.
As part of its consent agenda, the council granted permission for:
the hiring of Allison Sanchez, Infrastructure Department senior administrator, at a pay rate of $3,282.44 per month; and Luke Burns, communication coordinator, $5,150.08 per month.
the temporary hiring of school program positions at a pay rate of $12 per hour.
the resignations of June Fisk, Solid Waste Department Equipment Operator II, effective April 5; Amy Gallegos, police officer, effective April 11; and James Minter, police sergeant, effective April 12.
the retirements of Manuel Melendez, Solid Waste Equipment Operator II, effective April 1; and Myra Barnum, police Evidence Technician II, effective Sept. 13.
one solid waste employee to attend a Transfer Station Operator Certification Class in Santa Fe.
one police employee to attend Advanced Supervisor Liability training online.
two police employees to attend the Heroes Hiring Heroes Job Fair in Albuquerque.
two police employees to attend the Southern New Mexico Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect in Ruidoso.
one fire employee to attend the FDIC International Fire Conference in Indianapolis, Ind.
Charles D. “Chuck” Noland, a 1964 graduate of Artesia High School, passed away Monday, April 1, 2024, in Albuquerque.
He was the son of the late Clyde and Berdine Noland, who resided in Artesia in the 1960s. Clyde Noland worked in the oil and gas industry in the Artesia area, as well as in Oklahoma and Texas.
Chuck’s life in Artesia was reflected in the way he measured distances — from Artesia to anywhere else — his New Mexico drawl, and his fondness for small towns. He enjoyed attending his Artesia High School reunions, and he knew the antecedents of at least one person in each New Mexico town he visited.
After leaving Artesia, Chuck graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1973 with a degree in journalism. He later earned a Juris Doctorate from the UNM School of Law. He served as legal counsel for the New Mexico Department of Education before his retirement.
Chuck will be missed by his wife, Elizabeth; his sister, Margaret; and his two nephews.
