Artesia residents gathered downtown Sept. 12 for the monthly Oil Patch Market at Heritage Plaza, where local vendors sold homemade planters, baked goods, snacks, caps and other unique items. Food trucks, music and family fundraising activities added to the event. The next market is scheduled for Nov. 7 during Balloons, Bands and Brews.
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Artesia native Krista Bartock remembered watching the attacks as a teenager and honored the first responders who never came home. The flight nurse handed out refreshments as firefighters and community members climbed Bulldog Bowl’s stairs 22 times, recreating the World Trade Center’s height and commemorating the lives lost.
A five-person emergency lift at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant plunged 1,600 feet after its cable snapped during testing, intensifying concerns about aging hoist infrastructure and workplace safety. While no one was injured, union officials and watchdogs criticized the Department of Energy and contractor SIMCO for inadequate transparency and prioritizing waste disposal over worker protection.
WildEarth Guardians has sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for missing a deadline to decide whether the Pecos pupfish warrants threatened-species protections. Native to southeast New Mexico and West Texas, the fish faces dwindling river flows, industrial water use and oil and gas development. Agricultural and industry groups oppose proposed habitat restrictions, citing economic and conservation concerns.
An investigation by Searchlight New Mexico examines how a 13-year-old Hobbs student who reported rape at school was disbelieved by administrators and police, disciplined with on-campus suspension and ultimately homeschooled. Experts say officials failed to apply trauma-informed, legally required scrutiny amid broader allegations of sexual violence and weak state and federal oversight.
Firefighters, some wearing full gear, and members of the public climbed the equivalent of 110 stories to honor those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The Artesia City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office covering mutual aid for emergency responses, investigative support and traffic enforcement.
For eight years, 2001 W. Bullock has been home to Micah and Kas Howard, who transformed the property by painting the red brick white, adding black eaves, a driveway, Bermuda grass and a front-porch sitting area. Rose bushes, zinnias and sunflowers—named for cherished loved ones—add color and personal meaning to their Yard of the Week.