Looking back 40, 30 and 20 years ago, the following are excerpts from the Artesia Daily Press from Aug. 13-19.
40 years ago
Aug. 13-19, 1977
Sales during the Eddy County Junior Livestock Auction totaled $48, 418.17. Included in the total sales is $6,539.04 received from add-ons. There were 82 animals, including steers, hogs, rabbits, capons and lambs, shown and sold to the highest bidders.
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The Artesia Quarterback Club, an organization which supports the Bulldog football team, held its first meeting of the season Tuesday night at the Bulldog Bowl field house. New officers are Floyd Anderson, president; Johnny Fanning, vice president; Stanley Waldrip, director; Raymond Pearson, director; Gary Sims, secretary-treasurer; John Wilson, director; and Eddie Havins, director.
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As reported in the Bulldog Report: AHS football coach Mike Phipps said that for the first time since this season’s practices began, he was pleased with the Bulldogs’ passing game. “Our passing looked so good we stayed out there and practiced longer than we had planned,” Phipps said. Phipps said senior Toby Rhodes and junior Jed Fanning had the inside track for the quarterback position, while sophomore Stuart Taylor had also looked good in the signal-calling slot. On the receiving end of the passes in practice were Randy Brown, Randy Russell, Mike Anderson, Donnie Granado, Jerry Marquez, Roy Terpening, Henry Saiz and Luther Belcher. Asked how much the Bulldogs would pass this season, Phipps said that it would depend on the defenses of opponents. “If a defense forces us to pass, we’ll pass; if the defense forces us to run, we’ll run…I didn’t think we could throw until today.”
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As reported in the Pinon News: Pearl Smith arrived from Oakdale, Calif. Tuesday of last week to visit her mother, Edith Atkins, a sister, Oza Holcomb, and a brother and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Charley Atkins for a few days. Mrs. Smith is a nurse in the hospital in Oakdale and just has a short vacation.
30 years ago
Aug. 13-19, 1987
Allen Bledsoe of Artesia posed with his Grand Champion hog at the end of market swine competition at the Eddy County Fair. Reluctant to give out its name, Bledsoe claimed the pig was nameless until his mother came forward with the truth. The pig is called “Deep Freeze.” Bledsoe also took second place in the Showmanship category.
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Seven Artesia teenagers are participating in the Eddy County Fair for the last time as FFA students. They are, Becky Barley, Dee Dee and Amy Laumbach, Bill Mike Hefner, Winnie Joy, Allen Bledsoe and Linda Scarborough. No matter where they go, most of the seven said they will never be very far away from the ring. “It’s sort of sad, but you always know you can come back and help,” Dee Dee said. “I don’t think I’ll ever be out of it.”
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Sales during the 1987 Eddy County Junior Livestock Auction Saturday reached a total of $114,195, an increase of $26,320 from sales in last year’s show. A total of 103 steers, hogs, rabbits, broilers and lambs were shown and sold to the highest bidders.
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Artesia High School band students Jennifer Yates, a 1987 graduate, and Ryan Harrell, a junior, showed souvenirs of their three-week trip to Europe with the U.S. Collegiate Winds Band. In addition to patches the two collected in various countries and cities, Harrell brought home an authentic German beer stein and Jennifer brought back Nutella, a chocolate spread for toast. Both purchased timepieces in Switzerland.
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Carved wooden signs announced which coops contained the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion poultry entries at the Eddy County Fair. Both were won by Ty Bean of Stitch-N-Stock 4-H.
20 years ago
Aug. 13-19, 1997
Brent Lewis of Pinon and Brook Deerman of Hope competed in the Lea County Fair and Rodeo last week-end. Lewis finished in the top five in the second go in the calf roping competition with a score of 9.5 and earned $781.99. He had an average of 21.5, which gave him an additional $995.26. Deerman teamed with Larry Harris of Springer to win the team roping contest. The two won $124.33 each with a score of 5.1.
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Larrame Hammer of Artesia teamed with Eric Christenson, Sam Harry, Aaron Martin and Michael Fransisco, all from Los Alamos, to take three first-place medals in the International Youth Hunter Challenge conducted by the National Rifle Association Whittington Center. Those top places were in the responsibility test, orienteering and wildlife identification in the senior division, beating out 150 others.
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As reported in the Pinon News: Rudy Gabaldon of southwest of Pinon celebrated a birthday the past week, and his wife, Derlene, cooked him a supper Sunday evening and had some guests there to help him celebrate. Mrs. H.A. Stingfield fixed birthday lunch for her husband, her son, Mike, and Oza Holcomb and two neighbors Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Pete Peters of Artesia were invited to come and help them celebrate. They all seemed to have a very enjoyable day.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back is compiled each week by Daily Press Community Living Editor Teresa Lemon.)
