The Wellhead goes from vision in garage to reality

By JESSICA CARNER
Daily Press Editor
The Wellhead Restaurant and Brewpub in downtown Artesia is celebrating 10 years in business this year.
Owner Frank Yates sat down with the Daily Press last week during an anniversary celebration held on the patio of the Wellhead to talk about the way his establishment came to exist, how the business has evolved during the first 10 years of operation, as well as what the future holds for one of Artesia’s favorite watering holes.
Yates said the idea formed to open a local brewery in the late 1990s when his brother Mike Stegall, who later became the Wellhead’s first brewmaster, began experimenting with making beer in his garage using a “little brew system” purchased for Stegall by his wife.
“(Stegall) started brewing beer in his garage,” said Yates, as he smiled, “I helped him a little.”
He joked, “We may have drunk a little too much of the product and got the wild idea to open a brewpub in Artesia.”

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By TYLER GREEN
Daily Press Staff Writer
An accident involving local teens that occurred Thursday afternoon has left a 16-year-old female critically injured after being struck by a vehicle.
According to a press release from the Artesia Police Department, two vehicles (referred to as vehicle one and vehicle two, respectively) were stopped for a red light in the left hand turning lane of eastbound Main Street, at Seventh Street, waiting to turn northbound onto Seventh Street.
Vehicle one was directly in front of vehicle two in the left hand turning lane when the driver of vehicle two exited the vehicle and approached the passenger side of vehicle one.
Vehicle one then turned northbound onto Seventh Street while the driver of vehicle two was maintaining pace with vehicle one at which time the driver of vehicle two, who has been identified as Branda Bartlett, was struck by the tire of vehicle one.
Bartlett was injured and transported to Artesia General Hospital and later transported to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, for treatment of her injuries.

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Pictured is original artwork of Juli Thurman currently on display at the Artesia museum’s art annex building. Original paintings, drawings and photographs from local artists Juli Thurman, JR Thurman, Mathew Sherman and Tyler Green will be on display at the Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center through June. An opening reception featuring an acoustic rock performance by SHILO will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. today at the museum. For more information, contact the art center by calling 748-2390.

Apparently, when it comes to wind, mother nature pays no mind to “reduced speed ahead” signs. In a photo taken this morning west of Artesia on U.S. 82, a sign warning motorists to slow down bends toward the ground as winds blow into town at a high rate of speed. The high winds, with gusts up to 70 mph, are expected to continue throughout this evening and into Friday.

Kenneth Randall, CEO of Artesia General Hospital, speaks to a gathering of Artesians Tuesday at a lunch meeting held at the First Baptist Total Life Center on how the recent federal reformation of the U.S. health care system will affect their lives. The Chamber of Commerce partnered with AGH to present several speakers at Tuesday’s luncheon.

Joe DeHoyos registers his daughter Angelina for kindergarten with assistance from Ida Pérez today at Grand Heights Early Childhood Center. Registration will be held again tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Grand Heights cafeteria. For more information, contact the school at 746-6282.

By EMIL WHITIS
Daily Press Staff Writer
Indigenous Artesia artists J.R. Thurman, Juli Thurman, Tyler Green and Matthew Sherman will present a combined collection of their work this week at the Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center. An opening reception, which is open to the public, will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. April 29, and the art will remain on display through the month of June.

The 2010 Artesia High School prom was held Saturday evening at the school. Around 9 p.m., family members and friends of prom-goers gathered to see the young men and women dressed in their best. Above, students Micah Hammond and Alyssa Rivera arrive at prom.

By EMIL WHITIS
Daily Press Staff Writer
Thursday morning, school buses navigated narrow rally-race style roads, ushering Artesia students to Sitting Bull Falls in the Lincoln National Forest. The sun was shining brightly over fifth grade students from Yeso, Yucca and Roselawn elementary schools as they found themselves surrounded by canyon walls and waterfalls in a wonderfully strange classroom.
The past week was National Environmental Education Week. In observance of the theme, Michael Salmon Jr. of the USDA Forest Service organized the 14th Annual Environmental Education Event.

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Rick Richardson, owner of Planter Box Tree Nursery, assists third grade Super Kids at Hermosa Elementary School as they plant a cedar elm tree Thursday on the playground.  “If you plant just one tree it will absorb the amount of carbon dioxide one person emits during his or her lifetime,” said Richardson.  He said during the first few years of a tree’s life it is extremely important to water it thoroughly. “If you give it the water it needs and don’t run over it with your bike or a lawnmower, it will grow,” said Richardson. Each student pitched in 50 cents to purchase the tree.