News Staff

I am pleased to join the Permian Basin Centennial celebration. In many ways, it is a celebration of New Mexico’s national, pre-eminent leadership in energy production; its contribution to our energy independence and free world leadership; and a tribute to the men and women who work in the oil fields.

By any standard, in the past decade oil production in New Mexico has attained world-class stature. In 2023, New Mexico was producing about 1.8 million barrels per day (657 million barrels that year) of crude oil, 10 times more than it was producing in 2010, thanks to investments in new fracking technologies. This quantity places New Mexico just about even with the oilrich countries of Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Norway, and slightly above Nigeria and Qatar. If New Mexico were a nation it would rank about 14th in the world in oil production, well above the OPEC countries of Libya, Algeria, and Venezuela. Visionary as they might have been, it seems unlikely that Mary and Martin Yates, thrilled by the gushing black liquid at Illinois #3 in Spring of 1924, could have imagined that exactly one century later their descendants would still be drilling in a New Mexico now producing more oil than Qatar.

CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Second Grade Highest Honors Emilin Abernathy, Amias Chavez, LeeAnne Fischer, Jonathan Hunt, Kenedi Jorgensen, Krislynn Mondragon, Layla Ryan, Felicity Vazquez Honor Roll Isabella Box, Troy Cedillo Third Grade Highest Honors Addilyn Bugh, Joseph Casillas, Ella Crockett, Raynin Davis, Zakariah Delgado, Sofia Estrada, Jacob Fabela, Marisela Granados, Hannah Hacker, Ayla Jimenez, Jolene Martinez, Marcelo Moreno, Jose Orona, Addison Ramirez, Eduardo Reyes-Ruiz, Alan Rodriguez, Avaiah Rodriguez, Elijah Sanchez, Anthony Zamarron Honor Roll Zaria Bugh, Delicia Catano, Kyler Davis, Kynleigh Davis, Emily Drake, Jazmine Farmer, Josiah Martinez, Arely Samaniego Fourth Grade Highest Honors Caden Hack, Alexander Saenz, Caraline Roach, Jaylee Rodriguez Honor Roll Wyatt Abernathy, Xavier Barbosa, Nadia Brown, Sebastian Cazares, Zaedyn Mondragon, Alyssa Payan Fifth Grade Highest Honors Ezra Aguirre, Araceli Anaya, Yael Barbosa, CJ Hacker, Maria Hernandez, Jayce Horner, Xenia Munoz, Angel Najera, Khloe Nayares, Blake Newton, Madelyn Ray Honor Roll Evelyn Drake, Aiden Molina, Avalyn Rodriguez, Ariana Vasquez HERMOSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Second Grade Highest Honors Susan Alvarez-Villegas, Mac Armstrong, Ellie Bejarano, Isabell Chapman, Hannah Chase, Armando Chavez, Drew Cox, Emma Dabney, Holdyn Ezell, Abigail Garcia, Emarie George, Mila Hernandez, Ronin Hill, Victoria Lewis, Beckham Liles, Aiden Nguyen, Brekyn Parker, Izael Pinon, Tanzi Rogers, Parker Rosson, Kenleigh Sell, Sophia Soto, Kaylee Villegas, Rylee Waters, Leah Williams, Vada Wisen, Roman Witt Honor Roll Aaidyn Alvarez, Dristy Bhakta, Carter Crawford, Eli Desko, Zavaeh Gaytan, Leonardo Hernandez, Charlee Kosta, Charlie Perkins, Anna Rubio, Noemi Urquiza, Adrian Villalba- Enriquez, Hunter Watts Third Grade Highest Honors Taylee Cass, Eligh Cobos, Jaxon Davis, Chloe Gazdik, Torrance Hughes, Daegan Kuykendall, AnnMariee Lopez, Madilynn Martinez, Aniyah Muniz, Bentley Polito Honor Roll Jasiah Balencia, Luke Burton, Nylia Guajardo, Jakob Houghtaling, Rodrigo Rojo, Paisley Sallee, Ethan Sena, Titus Williams Fourth Grade Highest Honors Tracelynn Alcorn, Yule Aranda, Noah Azua, Weldon Bearowitz, Melany Borunda-Mendoza, Samuel Clemmons, Jackson Desko, Kyleigh Gage, Von Harper, RJ Martinez, A. Sophia Ramirez, Thalia Ramirez, Lucas Tilton, Ridgelea Tinker, Reid Townsend, Myles Turner, Reece Waters Honor Roll Ainslee Addington, Mari Baeza, Ximena Cardosa, Daryl Carson Jr., Grayson Esquibel, Joleigh Guy, Azariah Hernandez, Hunter Landreth, Misael Madrid, Maya Montoya, Leo Munoz, Aydenn Perales, Jesus Abraham Ruiz-Mendoza, Kathryn Sanchez-Ryno, Gemma Trevino, Landon Williams, Jazette Ybarra Fifth Grade Highest Honors Trinity Balencia, Brooklyn Chase, David Clemmons, Eastyn Guillen, Arianna Jimenez, Leigha Milligan, Chloe Miranda, Alfredo Rojo, Zuri Vasquez Honor Roll Ann Chapman, Gian De-Hoyos, Oliver Field, Jesus Montanez, Aria Reyes, Noah Schulz, Hayley Shields, Owen Welch ROSELAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Second Grade Highest Honors Ariana Carrera, Ka’rissa Fernandez, Mavis Franco, Nayloni Garcia, Damian Gutierrez, Jaylene Olguin, Isabelle Urban, Mauricio Vega Honor Roll Camden Austin, Guadalupe Barrera, Kayla Hernandez, Hector Hernandez, Michael Hirst, Xavier Luna, Ayled Nayares, Judah Sanchez Third Grade Highest Honors Ava Carrera, Alora Davis, Benjamin Hernandez, Jathen Lugo Honor Roll Jazmyn Archuleta, Lindsay Freeman, Aaliyah Gonzalez, Javon Gonzalez, Julien Grado, Cesar Herrera, Ruben Miranda, Jace Morgan, Fabian Segura, Messiah Tarin Fourth Grade Highest Honors Alicia Carrera, Julio Fraire, Leilani Juarez, MiReyah Ochoa Honor Roll Gabriela Alvarado, Luis Cabrera, Matthew DeLaRosa, Amarile Garcia, Alyssa Hernandez, Melina Segura, AubryAnna Soto Fifth Grade Highest Honors Anayeli Rubio Honor Roll Karla Chaparro, Kharma DeLaRosa, Axel Villegas YESO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Second Grade Highest Honors Giovanni Bahena, Alanah Barquero, Kaydence Bazyk, Olivia Bellinger, Gage Bilberry, Triston Caffall, Juan Calderon-Dala, Oliver Carmichael, Jae Carpenter, Autumn Chavarria, Samuel Colon, Lilah Davidson, Charles Decker, Naomi Delgado, Alana Escamilla, Emil Gay, Kaydee Goff, Gianna Hernandez, Blaiden Howard, Arianna Jimenez, Piper Johnson, Annabelle Joy, Zaxton Koone, Selena Kumar, Marcus Logsdon, Isabella Longoria, Nolan Lopez, Finley Maupin, Vaden Mendoza, Calina Olivas, Ivy Perez, Tennessee Poe, Matteo Rey, Emma Rodriguez, Roman Sanchez, Leiah Segura, Skylar Smith, Mia Tovar, Brianna Tran, Colton Weiler, Jensen Young, Gabriel Zuniga Honor Roll Zachary Beardsley, Addilyn Borges, Sadie Daley, Zaydenn Davis, Janessa Galaviz, Giovanni Gaziano, Laityn Grantham, Jaylene Gutierrez, Jeslyn Joy, Jayce Manzo, Jayden Miller-Castillo, Diego Orquiz, Necalli Ortega, Hudson Rodriguez, Julie Sanchez-Tovar, Kadence Sexton, Olivia Smithwick, Ever Tarango Third Grade Highest Honors Aerien Aguilar, Presley Aguilar, Ximena Avila, Jett Baca, Kai Banda, Jed Bilberry, Cassidy Combs, Mila DeHoyos, Easton Frederick, Elijah Garcia, Ellianna Jones, Briella Juarez, Scarlett Knowlton, Jamie Larsen, Matthew Larsen, Jordan Martinez, Major Mendoza, Claire Morgan, Cash Moziejko, Violet Newton, Amaia Olivas, Mia Padilla, Amari Perez, Olivia Rodriguez, Casen Scarborough, Natalie Valverde, Kariem Velo Honor Roll Greyson Acosta, Yzlani Astorga, Christian Bowen, Lucas Brito, Andres Chavez, Sawyer Dunnahoo, Vivian Foy, Carter Gamboa, Kale Johnson, Jaxon Juarez, Jeremiah Juarez, Corinne Kelly, Krosslyn Kirkpatrick, Delainey Parra, LeAnna Rodriguez Fourth Grade Highest Honors Zayden Archunde, Mato Baeza, Gavin Baldwin, Jayden Been, Emersyn Bellinger, Jase Bilberry, Braelyn Blanton, Tatiana Calderon, Adam Carnero, Caleb Clemmons, Grayson Dafar, Aubrey DeLeon-Russell, Madison Dean, Clyde Delgado, Annabella Escamilla, Chloe Garcia, Nataly Gilchrest, Mckinley Goff, Niko Gomez, Blake Haass, Kalli Kirkpatrick, Major Kitchen, Arianna Leon, Macee Lujan, Hanna Marbach, Ellyiana Mills, Francisco Orosco, Jase Ortiz, Ady Peck, Jace Pennington, Jackson Pennington, Jevin Quinones, Itzel Rey, Nicholas Reyna, Johnathan Roybal, Kate Ruiz, Madilynn Samora, Christian Sanchez, Frankie Joe Sanchez, Adeline Shipman, Renezmaye Speir, Kairi Spencer, Hailey Walton, Wilson Williams, Sofia Ybarra, Talon Young Honor Roll Valeria Aguirre, Keneth Aparicio-Vazquez, Catherine Beardsley, Wyatt Bradley, Jersey Cobos, Mia De-Haro, Adan Fierro, Jayden Hensley, Makayla Kenyon, Roselyn Madrid, Zendaya Martin, Jaxon Milligan, Myaa Perez, Chloe Platt, Ella Rand, Serenity Richmond, Jacob Sanchez, Virginia Schneider, Mila Villanueva-Cruz, James Williams, Lucas Zuniga Fifth Grade Highest Honors Ethan Alcocer, Gabby Anderson, Addison Avery, Jaxeb Baca, Sophia Banda, Ariana Beltran, Thayne Bowen, Alexio Carnero, J’ryn Carrasco, Clay Delgado, Anden Fierro, Khodie Florez, Ethan Gay, Kayti Greenwood, Kason Hamilton, Karsyn Jimenez, Brintley Johnson, Nairubi Klich, Kady Lopez-Crosby, Claudette Martin, Grace Morgan, Cooper Morris, Lola Newton, Daisy Ontiveros, Braisen Orquiz, Andrew Ortega, Xaryan Padilla, Tinsey Polk, Harper Reynolds, Danni Ruiz, Hazen Sanchez, Mayci Scarborough, Cataleya Segura, Tripp Sexton, Marlie Shetterly, Ethan Tran, Noa Torres, Aubrielle Valencia, Emma Vandevender, Carolina Wallace Honor Roll Max Akerman, Jennissi Astorga, Steven Bradley, Abigail Brewer, Aaralyn Chavarria, Sicily Coleman, Roman DeHoyos, Jose Dominguez, Jeselin Duarte, Melani Flores, Charlotte Folmar, Nehemiah Gonzales-Ferguson, Chloe Green, Beau Hocker, Amoni Kay, Kobe Kelly, Liam Lucero, Kylee Lujan, Alexa Melendez-Garibay, Giana Molina, Nico Munoz, Adelyn Ortiz, Mason Perez, Liam Joe Pino, William Reyes, Adan Rodriguez, Azriela Salinas, Samuel Shull, Navaeh Soto, Scarlett Taylor, Alex Valdez, Giovanni Valdez, JP Valdez, Braelynn Washichek YUCCA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Second Grade Highest Honors Natalie Bilberry, Avianna Cano, Hannah Castaneda, Kamryn Conklin, Jaxson Corbell, Pedro Cristan Jr., Hagen Crosier, Maya De Santiago, Carsyn Fisher, Izaiah Gonzales Jr., Ryleigh Goodloe, Abigail Granados, Danitza Guerrero, Liam Ivy, Maci Kennedy, Ximena Lopez, Eric Magallanes, Katie Marquez, Nehemiah Marquez, Irina Morales-Martinez, Caleb Nez, Braelynn Ortega, Emilio Ortiz, Mia Ortiz, Bexli Pollard, Brylie Pytel, Sophia Reza, Kiara Sanchez, Zander Sellers, Jaxon Sifuentes, Tyler Simpson, Eliz Tena, Jaixdyx Towler, Lane Tulk, Matteo Varelas, Anaveah Ybarra Honor Roll Ellington Bolen, Cason Crockett, Jayden Gonzalez, Cayden James, Brooklynn Levario, Johnathan Molina, Siera Munoz, Matthew Olivas-Montes, Bentley Orquiz, Audrey Reyes-Vazquez, Havrly Rosa, Amelie Ruvalcaba, Noah Segura, Yaritza Sotelo, Zane Valdez Third Grade Highest Honors Brooklynn Carrasco, Amiyah Catano, Uriel Cazares, Eli Chavez, Augustus Conklin, Meliana DeLaRosa, Alexis Diaz, Dakota Fletcher, Isabel Gastelum, Kayson Gomez, Aniello Granados, Josiah Ingram, Alessandra Jaquez, Alec Johnston, Hayden Lattion, Landin Letcher, Daniel Lieb, Karter Luna, Grace Manley, Daila Morales-Martinez, Abriena Morgan, Analysia Muniz, Daelyn Neel, Hannah Nez, Katy Paez, Victoria Pickell, Ryder Purcell, Allison Reyes, Amayrani Rodriguez, Logan Rodriguez, Trevor Roxas, Roslyn Ruvalcaba, Taylan Torrez, Lariah Trujillo, Alivia Velasquez, Conrad Walters, Elisabeth Williams, Jax Ybarra Honor Roll Zoel Aguirre, MaxiMae Barley, Brody Burnell, Byron Cruz-Martinez, Jude Fletcher, Kesslyn Heady, Baylee Levario, Zaiden Montez, Jonah Orona, Roman Sosa Jr., Khloe Thompson, Xykaya Villegas Fourth Grade Highest Honors Amira Ceniceros, Bristol Denison, Rylee England, Damian Felix, Klancee Folmar, Matt Fox, Presley Gaines, Jocelyn Gutierrez, Hannah Harcrow, Hollis Harrison-Madrid, Kenzi Horner, Andres Lopez, Sya Moreno, Chase Palmer, Bentley Pitts, Abri Polito, Martin Quiroz II, Devyn Thurman, Yareli Varelas, Skylar Wilde Honor Roll Aaron Adams, Andrii Cherba, Emmerie Moser, Jaelynn Padilla, Jameson Panzer, Brecklyn Parra, Josy Rivers Fifth Grade Highest Honors Analis Acosta, Kylynn Bilberry, Brayden Burnell, Laicey Franklin, Gianna Gabaldon, KeLeigh Greer, Payton Kennedy, Lucas Lay, Jesus Lucero, Julia Maldonado, Auvianna Muniz, Kaiya Murray, Khloe Ortega, Easten Plaster, Delayni Pollard, Harlow Purcell, Charley Stroud, Lucas Torrez, Lucia Torrez, Gabriel Vasquez-Avila, Kendall Wiley Honor Roll Alejandro Berdoza, Anallely Cazares, Dylan Garcia-Zamarripa, Braylee Letcher, Skye Manley, Zachary Mata, Gil Martinez, Bradyn Montoya, Alfredo Munoz Jr., Lillian Necaise, Ivan Ortiz, Suzan Rogers, Timothy Standard, Eliazar Tena, Raylan Wiley PENASCO SCHOOL Third Grade Highest Honors Ace Elkins Honor Roll Hallie Metcalf Fourth Grade Honor Roll Koy Burnett Fifth Grade Honor Roll Hayden Hall Sixth Grade Highest Honors Kendi Burnett Seventh Grade Highest Honors Allie Elkins, Kailey Fout .

The Artesia Public Library has officially kicked off its Summer Reading Program. The library staff said the planned programs invite children, teens and adults to join the fun with their theme, “Adventure Begins At Your Library.” “Summer Reading Programs are essential for the youth of the community,” said Library Supervisor Omar Acosta.

Artesia was represented Saturday at the Red, Green, Gold and Turquoise All-Star Softball games in Las Cruces by, from left, Mikenzi Carlo, Zowe Warren, Madison Martinez and Lady Bulldog head coach Sandra Pulido. Morning games in the all-classifications round robin saw Carlo, Martinez and Pulido's Turquoise squad end in an 8-8 tie against the Green team, while Warren's Gold team topped Aguilar's Red squad 9-4. See Page 2 for additional photos.

Today is Sunday, June 9, the 161st day of 2024. There are 205 days left in the year.

My absent hunger was the first sign something was wrong. Normally, even when I’m physically full, the suggestion of, say, a gooey cookie will open a vacancy in my stomach.

At 5:30 a.m., it was still dark when we — five cops, two city council members, and one city manager — took off from City Hall on bikes. Within a few minutes, the sun started creeping over the mountains, showing us the muted colors of the old adobes in the nearby neighborhood.

ARTESIA POLICE DEPARTMENT June 7 SUSPICIOUS PERSON 12:32 a.m. - Officer dispatched to Sonic in reference to a suspicious person.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church for John G.

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at Immanuel Lutheran Church for Ruth T.

ARTESIA -- The Artesia City Council will hold a regular meeting Tuesday with one public hearing on the agenda. The hearing will precede consideration of an ordinance that would vacate 50 feet of public right-of-way in the Charlie H.