Looking back 40, 30 and 20 years ago, the following are excerpts from the Artesia Daily Press from Dec. 20-26.
40 years ago
Dec. 20‐26, 1975
The Artesia girls’ cage squad put together a tremendous offensive and defensive effort in the second half of their battle with the Dexter Demons here Friday night to wallop their hard court foes for the third time this season, 37-17. Bulldog Gogie Moreno racked up an impressive 17 points in the match, eight from the field and one from the charity stripe to lead the Bulldogs to their eighth straight victory of the season.
—————
As reported in the Pinon News: Basil Holcomb went to Alamogordo, Monday of last week to answer a call for grand-jury duty. While there he saw a number of friends and neighbors that had been called for jury duty who were: Mrs. Alvaree Stewart, Roy Goslin, Alton Daughterty, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Meneen Brooks. Holcomb, Mrs. Stewart, and Mrs. Brooks were dismissed because of conditions over the mountains could be so bad through January and February, and sometimes impassable.
—————
Johnnie Wickersham accepted a plaque from Delta Omega Chapter ESA President Georgia Jean Turner for having been elected Outstanding Girl of the Year by the sorority. She is to compete in the District Epsilon Sigma Alpha competition in February. The winner at district will compete at state.
30 years ago
Dec. 20‐21, 1985
Members of the Artesia Downtown Lion’s Club descended upon Fenn’s supermarket Saturday to purchase food items for 15 local needy families. Lined up behind baskets of food were Dr. Max Wilson, Perry Conner, J.O. Bratcher, club president Royce Pearson, Howard Crausby, Charles Daboll, Bill Hunter, David Simons, Gary Sims, Milt Houston, Randy Hatley, Ronnie Jackson and Bill Greenhaw. Families ranged in size from one person to eight persons, Lion’s members said.
—————
Members of the Artesia Downtown Lion’s Club have named Scotty Stall Junior Lion for December. He is a senior student attending Artesia High School and is employed with B.J. Livestock. Stall includes in his interests hunting, fishing and camping. His future plans include studying forestry at New Mexico State University.
—————
As reported in the Pinon News: It was reported here that about nine thirty Thursday morning, it was snowing heavily in Alamogordo and the streets and roads were icy and snow covered and there had been twenty wrecks already reported. Mrs. and Mrs. Frank Scott had solar Heat installed into their home Friday of last week and Mr. and Mrs. Alton Daugherty planned to have it installed Monday of this week. They too would have had it done the past week, but the snow storm delayed the work.
—————
Bill Henry accepted the gavel for service in the coming year as president of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce board of directors from retiring president Lowell Irby. Bill Carpenter was named vice president of the board and Melvin Myers serves as treasurer.
20 years ago
Dec. 20‐26, 1995
The Leon Hendrix home, 3307 McGuire Ave., won the People’s Choice Award in the recent Greater Artesia Chamber of Commerce Christmas lighting contest. Taking second place among the 33 entries was the Dora Muniz home, 1004 S. Sixth St.
—————
As reported in Looking Back: December 1960 – The “worst winter in a decade” kept up an onslaught of snow and cold today, with at least an inch of flakes adding to an estimated eight or nine inches, which fell late last week and crippled traffic.
—————
The Eddy County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to furnish $5,000 to the campaign to get Carlsbad Caverns National Park reopened for the holiday season. The famed caverns – New Mexico’s most popular park – and other parks and monuments throughout the nation shut down last weekend as government functions halted in the latest federal budget showdown between congressional Republicans and President Bill Clinton.
—————
An emergency cotton pest regulation has been issued by the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, according to a news release from New Mexico State University. The cotton pest regulation calls for a plowdown of all cotton debris in Eddy, Chaves and Dona Ana counties in an effort to control the spread of pink bollworm.
—————
As reported in the Pinon News: George and Hazel Perry and Oza Holcomb were luncheon guests of Mrs. Mary Ann Anderson in her home on Perk Canyon, southeast of Weed, Saturday. They enjoyed it so much. They made plans to visit more often and to enjoy picnics when the weather gets warmer.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back is compiled each week by Daily Press Community Living Editor Teresa Lemon.)
