By EMIL WHITIS
Daily Press Staff Writer
Due to recent torrential downpours, Mike Deans and the Sons of Thunder Pyrotechnic Crew have been forced to reschedule their Fourth of July fireworks display. The show will now take place Monday at 9 p.m. in Jaycee Park.
Hayley Klein, director of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce, said Jaycee Park is like a swamp, making it impossible for Deans to move his equipment to the park. Klein also cited an 80 percent chance of rain on Saturday night as a major factor in the decision.
The Annual Artesia Coed Volleyball tournament has been postponed. Announcement of a new date is pending. Questions concerning the event can be answered by contacting Stacy Gowen at 575-746-2354.
All other events will continue as planned. The Firecracker Golf Scramble will commence Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Artesia Country Club, the Fourth of July Parade Saturday at 9 a.m. in the Bulldog Bowl parking lot and the Firemen’s Olympics immediately following the parade at 10 a.m. in Central Park.
Klein stated the decision to maintain the scheduled date for the parade was made because it was necessary to secure a permit from the New Mexico Department of Transportation to close Main Street (U.S. 82) as it is under the department’s jurisdiction. To reschedule the Chamber of Commerce would be forced to reapply for a permit allowing the street to be shut down on a different date. She said the process is too convoluted to attempt with the holiday quickly approaching.
With regard to the Firemen’s Olympics Klein stated, “It doesn’t matter if they get a little wet — they’re going to be wet anyways.”
She added it would be difficult to reschedule as the Artesia Fire Department was forced to obtain a food permit and the process would have to be duplicated in order to set a different date.
For more information concerning Fourth of July festivities in Artesia contact the Artesia Chamber of Commerce at 575-746-2744.

By EMIL WHITIS
Daily Press Staff Writer
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” wrote Thomas Jefferson in the second line of the Declaration of Independence.
On Saturday, July 3, 233 years and 364 days after the document was signed, Artesians will gather to celebrate the aforementioned words which have reverberated through time inspiring generations past and present to preserve the liberties Americans enjoy today.
“There will be something for everyone,” said Assistant Director of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce Debbie Bell. “The event was structured for the entire family to enjoy.”
At 8 a.m. prior to the beginning of festivities, a golf scramble will be held at the Artesia Country Club. For registration information, contact the country club at 575-746-2055.
The celebration will commence with a parade at 9 a.m. Saturday in Bulldog Bowl parking lot. According to Bell, the parade will include everything from fire trucks to tractors to floats and local youth groups.
The procession will march down 15th Street, hang a right at Main Street and continue east to Second Street before dismantling.
The Firemen’s Olympics and the Junior Firemen’s Olympics will begin directly following the parade at 10 a.m. in Central Park. All Eddy County firemen, including volunteers, will be eligible to compete in the adult event while children 12 and younger are encouraged to participate in the junior event.

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A Dodge Ram plows its way through approximately four inches of water collected at the intersection of Fifth and Main streets this morning. The New Mexico State University Agricultural Center located just south of Artesia reported .68 inches of rain had fallen since 7 a.m. at press time. Rain is forcasted throughout the weekend and may possibly affect Fourth of July festivities. Hayley Klein of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce advised citizens to contact the chamber (575-746-2744), listen to KSVP or visit the chamber’s Facebook page Saturday to remain informed in the event of rain.

(Right) Mark Crook, a former exhaulted ruler and trustee of the Artesia Elks Lodge 1717, and (left) Andy Davis of the Artesia Masonic Lodge No. 28 present (left center) Christi Champion, a reading and language arts teacher at Artesia Intermediate School, with a joint-sponsored check to cover tuition and expenses associated with her participation in a dyslexia training program to be held at the Scottish Rite Learning Center in Las Cruces. Champion will incorporate knowledge gained through the training program at AIS during the 2010/2011 school year. Also pictured (right center) is AIS Principal John Ross Null. For more information contact the Artesia Masonic Lodge at 575-746-2431.

By EMIL WHITIS
Daily Press Staff Writer
Artesia Mayor Pro Tem George Holmes tendered his resignation Tuesday night during an executive session of the Artesia City Council.
In a letter Holmes read to the council during a closed session, he cited a desire to retire as the reason behind his decision.
“(My wife and I) are lucky and have been able to make retirement work and are very fortunate to be able to travel and do things while we are physically able,” said Holmes.
He stated it was in the best interest of the city and his private life to step aside. Holmes reasoned were he to maintain the position, he would be holding the city and himself from accomplishing their divergent goals.

By TYLER GREEN
Daily Press Staff Writer
Peñasco Valley Telecommun-
ications (PVT) recently received $9.5 million in federal funds to expand their broadband services to customers living in rural areas.
The funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP).
On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed the Recovery Act into law, providing funds to the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce to expand broadband access to rural and unserved areas of the country.
The Recovery Act authorized the USDA with budget authority of $2.5 billion, which it is using flexibly to provide loans, grants and loan/grant combinations to expand broadband access in rural America. The USDA expects to use approximately $2 billion to provide grants, while the remaining funds will finance loans, for a potential total investment in rural broadband of $3-4 billion.
The Recovery Act establishes the rapid disbursement of the funds as an important priority for the BIP program to create jobs and stimulate the economy. The program also must be administered judiciously to ensure responsible use of public funds.
According to a program outline, to balance these objectives, RUS will favor projects that can commence construction promptly and demonstrate technical and financial feasibility, organizational capacity and the furtherance of other administration priorities. A commitment to transparency in the award process and rigorous reporting requirements will help ensure accountability.
The Recovery Act requires that at least 75 percent of a BIP-funded area be rural and “without sufficient access to high speed broadband service to facilitate rural economic development.”
During a ceremony held Tuesday, PVT was honored by USDA officials and statements from U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman and U.S. Rep. Harry Teague (NM-2) were read. …

Mariah Villegas (front) and Jessie Stevens of the Artesia Clean and Beautiful (AC&B) Task Force unload computers, printers and other electronic devices from an industrial-sized waste bin this morning in the southeast parking lot at the intersection of Fifth Street and Texas Avenue. Linda Stevens, director of AC&B, said the electronic devices were dredged up from the depths of Abo School Monday. Pointing at the industrial waste bin, which was filled to capacity, she said, “This is just from one room.” National Evolution, an electronics recycling company based in Tulsa, Okla., collects the waste once it has been sorted and packed. Stevens said from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday a dumpster will be placed in the southeast parking lot at the intersection of Fifth Street and Texas Avenue where electronic waste will be collected from the public. For more information, contact Stevens at 748-3192.

By BRIAN CLAYTON
Daily Press Staff Writer
Employees say from the day L&R Well Service was established, the company has always been very family-oriented.
L&R was established by Robert “Bobby” Loyd and Victor Rodriguez in 1988.
Although Bobby has since passed, employees do not hesitate to explain he still has a very strong presence in the business.
Bobby’s daughter and L&R employee, Cathy Hawkins, says Bobby’s name can be heard in their conversations nearly every day around the office.
Cathy and other employees enjoy sharing amusing stories of things her father said or laughing about his entertaining pranks.
Cathy says her father, along with her mother, Georgia, had a major impact on her everyday life as well as her professional career.
She explains the two worked well as a team not only in business but also in raising her and sisters, Debbie Tolle and Patty Talley.

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By BRIAN CLAYTON
Daily Press Staff Writer
Employees say from the day L&R Well Service was established, the company has always been very family-oriented.
L&R was established by Robert “Bobby” Loyd and Victor Rodriguez in 1988.
Although Bobby has since passed, employees do not hesitate to explain he still has a very strong presence in the business.
Bobby’s daughter and L&R employee, Cathy Hawkins, says Bobby’s name can be heard in their conversations nearly every day around the office.
Cathy and other employees enjoy sharing amusing stories of things her father said or laughing about his entertaining pranks.
Cathy says her father, along with her mother, Georgia, had a major impact on her everyday life as well as her professional career.
She explains the two worked well as a team not only in business but also in raising her and sisters, Debbie Tolle and Patty Talley.

Subscribe to the Daily Press e-edition online or visit your local newsstand for a copy of the Daily Press to read the full story.