Looking back 40, 30 and 20 years ago, the following are excerpts from the Artesia Daily Press from March 19-25.
40 years ago
March 19-25, 1977
One of the best basketball seasons in the history of Artesia High School became the focus of attention Monday night as more than 200 people turned out to honor the AHS boys’ and girls’ cage squads — both winners this year. Receiving top attention at the banquet were the Bulldog girls’ cagers and head coach Ronnie Null, who went all the way to give Artesia its first state 3A championship ever in girls’ athletics. But the Bulldog boys’ squad was not overlooked. Although head coach Rusty Heskett admitted his team fell far short of several goals set at the start of the season, he concentrated on the more positive aspects — the dedication and desire of the players and the fact that this year’s 13-11 slate was the first time since 1971 that a Bulldog boys’ basketball team finished the year with a winning season.
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As reported in the Pinon News: Thursday, high south west winds and blowing dust was very bad. Mr. and Mrs. Basil Holcomb went to Loving for cattle feed and the dust made visibility bad on the highway. At times the wind would whip the truck to one side if the driver was not very alert. When the Holcomb’s got back to Pinon, the wind had blown the roof off the post office and damaged several antennas. Mrs. Billy Walker, reported the wind had pushed one wall off the barn at the Blue Water ranch.
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“The Pink Panther Strikes Again” and “King Kong” were the featured films at the Landsun Theater, and “Burnt Offerings” and “Night of Dark Shadows” were the featured films at Hermosa Drive-In.
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Artesia netter Billy Campbell gave Artesia one of three match points Saturday against district rival Portales, taking out his opponent in singles tennis competition. The Bulldogs eventually lost the overall team match, however, 6-3.
30 years ago
March 19-25, 1987
If you find a key in your post office box, don’t panic. It just means you have received a package. The U.S. Post Office here has installed parcel lockers that allow box customers to receive packages after business hours, Superintendent of Postal Operations Mary Lou Stevenson said. Stevenson feels the lockers will be of greatest use during the Christmas season, when packages are abundant and postal business hits a peak.
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Four Artesia High School students won $200 scholarships at this year’s Eastern New Mexico University Talent Day. Participants competed in one of 26 areas, with a total of 80 scholarships awarded. Scholarship winners from Artesia were Michelle Mienke in home economics, Holly Vining in business administration, Lance Allen in business education, and Daniel Parker in education.
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As reported in the Pinon News: Mrs. Frankie Lacer of
Roswell, reported her son, Mike, received a broken nose in an accident while at a ball game in Roswell. Mike is in Sports Medicine, and stands all the ball games of the Roswell Military Institute. Harold Bryant, one of the Bryant brothers in the Sacramento store and stations had surgery on a knee the past week in Midland, Texas, and returned home the next day and was at the store and station Sunday visiting with neighbors and friends.
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The United States Achievement Academy announced John “Clay” Faulkenberry has been named a United States National Award winner in football. Faulkenberry was nominated by football coach T.W. Harvey.
20 years ago
March 19-25, 1997
Artesia internet enthusiasts can now view some of the works of an Artesia poet online. Carol Meeks of Artesia has had a great deal of her poetry published over the past several years. Recently, she was inducted into the International Poetry Hall of Fame. Part of that honor included having an internet homepage of her work, and that page is now available online.
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Receiving certificates for making the Border Conference All-Academic Team for football, volleyball and basketball during the 1996-97 school year were Park Junior High School freshmen Lee Livingston, Ross Duncan, Mark Joseph, Nolan Frederick, T.J. Harrison, Allie White, Amber Rutherford, Cari Jones and Randi Ray. Criteria for selection included grade-point average and membership on the school’s “orange” athletic squads.
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The Artesia General Hospital Auxiliary paid for the new automatic doors at the emergency room entrance of the hospital. The doors were paid for by the auxiliary at a cost of $11,795. Funds for the automatic doors came from bake sales and Thrift Shop proceeds.
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Michael Rogers struck out 11 Tigers and Gabriel DeHoyos belted a two-run homer to lead Artesia past Alamogordo 3-1 Saturday in the championship game of the 22nd Annual Artesia Invitational baseball tournament at Brainard Park. In his varsity debut after coming out late from basketball, Rogers scattered three hits over five innings and fanned 11 batters to notch the victory.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back is compiled each week by Daily Press Community Living Editor Teresa Lemon.)
