Peeler Marketing and Production
Peeler Marketing & Production LLC is a local marketing agency that is servicing Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. The owner Gavin Peeler, a Southeast New Mexico native, has an extensive background in IT and marketing helping businesses to bridge the gap between systems and storytelling. Providing website management, marketing plan consulting, event videography, drone services and commercials- Gavin has helped Artesia and surrounding communities capture the spirit of Southeast New Mexico. Contact Peeler Marketing & Production LLC at 575-706-8551 or visit peelermp.com to help your business grow today!
Vasquez warns of food insecurity amid GOP cuts
Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
Seniors from throughout Eddy County rely on meals served at the Alejandro Ruiz Senior Center on Pate Street – meals that U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez worried could be at risk amid a continual funding battle in Congress.
Vasquez said during a visit to the center Friday, Aug. 8, that recent Republican actions to claw back funds for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would result in worsening food insecurity, especially in rural areas such as southeast New Mexico.
SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, was created in 1939 to provide access to food for low-income families, the elderly and others with limited resources.
“When it comes to senior centers like this, we need more budget, more funding,” Vasquez said. “Not less.”
The Southeast New Mexico Action Corporation uses SNAP funding to pay for meals it offers at the senior center at no charge to residents in need throughout Eddy County and the region. Last year, the corporation estimated it served more than 115,000 meals.
Angela Courter, regional manager at the Non-Metro New Mexico Area Agency on Aging, attended a roundtable Vasquez hosted at the senior center and said funding cuts were already impacting nonprofits such as the Action Corporation.
The agency provides about 80% of the program’s budget, which is also supported by donations from the city of Carlsbad and other entities. Courter said the federal cuts mean the Agency lost $200,000 this year, compared with its overall budget of about $400,000.
“We are under, we’re in the red at this point. The problem is that nonprofits like the Southeast New Mexico Action Corporation are treading water as it is,” she said. “Across the state of New Mexico, we are seeing programs not able to pay their bills. It’s going to be a very, very difficult year for us.”
Sherra Hester, executive director of the corporation, said the program cannot subsist entirely on donations, and that strong federal funding was needed to sustain the program and feed local seniors.
The ‘Big Beautiful bill’
The cuts to SNAP came via President Donald Trump’s recent funding bill – known by supporters as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” – which was signed into law on July 4. The bill required more SNAP recipients to work 20 hours a week to receive benefits, and altered many ways a family’s income is calculated in order to receive support.
This and other restrictions to the program imposed by the bill could mean 3.2 million Americans will lose their food assistance entirely. That total includes 1.3 million who could be kicked off the SNAP program, mostly the elderly, children and those unable to work, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
All told, the bill would lead to about $286 billion in SNAP program spending cuts nationwide over the next 10 years, read the report.
In New Mexico, about 455,200 people use SNAP to purchase food, according to ProgressNow New Mexico. That’s about 21% of the state’s population of about 2.1 million, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
In some New Mexico counties, such as rural San Miguel County in northern New Mexico which includes the city of Las Vegas, up to 30% of families use the program, ProgressNow reported.
Vasquez called the SNAP cuts and broader efforts to reduce federal spending outlined in the GOP-backed funding bill “sloppy and arbitrary.”
“That is causing the funding freezes that are impacting these local programs. We all want to get rid of fraud, waste and abuse, but this is not the way to do it,” he said.
The SNAP program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, led by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins who on Aug. 4 announced “unhealthy foods” such as soft drinks would no longer be eligible for SNAP benefits in West Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
To implement the restrictions, Rollins signed a series of food choice waivers that altered the definition of “food to purchase,” expanding the range of excluded items beyond just alcohol, tobacco, prepared hot food and hygiene products that were previously the only ineligible items.
She previously signed waivers for Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Idaho and Utah.
Rollins said in a news release that the agency was working to “Make America healthy again,” while “protecting taxpayer dollars.”
“At USDA, we play a key role in supporting Americans who fall on hard times, and that commitment does not change. Rather, these state waivers promote healthier options for families in need,” Rollins said in a statement.
At Carlsbad’s senior center, that means items such as Jell-O could be strictly regulated, as the program is now required to use only sugar-free products. In the case of Jell-O, that doubled the price from $40 to $80 a case, Courter noted.
“Without funding, there is just no way,” she said.
Congress has not passed a federal budget in two years, Vasquez said, relying instead on annual continuing resolutions, a practice he said leaves the federal budget for federal programs such as SNAP and funding for organizations like the Action Corporation “flat” and unable to account for increasing food costs and other expenses.
“If we were to focus more on the budgeting process, and the committees were doing their jobs, we would have an actual budget to vote on before the continuing resolution kicks in,” he said. “The most pressing thing is to pass the budget, but also to advocate for those increases and know what to ask for.”
Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.
What You See Is What You Get
Ty Houghtaling
We have all heard and agree to some degree that when it comes to life, “what you see is what you get.” Sometimes, a purchase from eBay gives more than we expected, but usually, what we saw on the website is basically what we got in the mail. I have been thinking through this concept as it applies to relationships. I’ve been asking myself, “How do I see people?” Do I see them as objects that can either help me out somehow or be a barrier to me, or do they even matter at all? Do I see people as “normal” (whatever that means) and well-adjusted? Do I see them as people? What is a person? God would say that each individual person is made in His image. God has said that each person is important to Him and has value (Psalm 139).
I’ve read a good book that talks specifically about how the way we see people will determine how we treat them. It also discusses how we deceive ourselves and justify our treatment of others based on faulty information about them, usually evidenced by how they respond to our treatment. I had a college coach who, on one of the plays where things went horribly wrong, asked me if I fumbled the snap. I told him, “No sir, I just hesitated.” He later publicly blasted me in front of the team for lying to him about the play, saying that I had told him I fumbled the snap when, after watching the film, he saw that I had not fumbled. It turned out the QB coach had told him that I fumbled, and he hadn’t even listened to me when I said I hadn’t. Oh well, I didn’t play the rest of the year, and he got fired at the end of the season, and it is all history. He saw me as a liar who couldn’t be trusted; I saw him as a jerk who didn’t listen, and we treated each other just as we saw one another.
Jesus saw people differently than they even saw themselves. He saw their confusion and called them to believe in Him. He said anyone could call on Him and receive new life! It was an invitation to find truth, hope, and eternal security. Knowing who we are in Christ changes everything about how we see ourselves and how we see one another. John’s gospel records the seven times Jesus referred to Himself as “I am.” In each case, Jesus was saying He was God and He was the answer to our greatest needs. He really is all we need to understand who we are and see others for who they are. When you look closely at Jesus, what you see is what you get, and He is everything we could ever hope for.
Yard of Week
Thirty-three years ago, 1701 La Cima became the home to David and Angela Bratcher and the yard transformation began. These things don’t happen overnight and 15 years ago a professional landscaper was called in to create the beautiful landscape that you see today. A wonderful brick walkway meanders through the yard bordered by Crepe Myrtle, roses, pampas grass, rubber rabbit bush, Artemisia and many more. The side yard has a fabulous tall yucca with other varieties of yucca, Crepe Myrtle and lantana. The plush lawn just highlights the varying shades of the green shrubs and trees.
Congratulations and Thank You for all of your hard work.
Back to safer schools?
Cal Thomas
As President Trump prepares to head to Alaska to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop the killing” in Russia and Ukraine, what is being done to stop school shootings in America as millions of children begin returning to their schools this week?
In my school days we had two drills – fire drills and hiding under desks in case of nuclear war. Now there are drills about what children should do if an active shooter is in their school.
According to the American College of Surgeons, there have been more than 2,000 school shootings in the U.S. since 1970, including K-12 grades and college campuses. The number of school shootings has more than doubled in the past decade, with 2022 being one of the deadliest years on record.
Some other facts: The victims have been predominantly children and the perpetrators mostly white. Handguns have been the preferred weapon. The incidents have not been limited to a particular region but evenly distributed across the country.
A US Secret Service analysis of nearly 40 years of school violence found that roughly three-quarters of school shooters’ guns came from the home of a parent or close relative. An estimated 4.6 million American children live in households with at least one loaded and unlocked firearm, according to a report published in 2022 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Schools have implemented new strategies to thwart people with guns gaining entry into school buildings and classrooms, but given how some have eluded those strategies it appears to be less than 100 percent effective.
Preventive measures include identification badges that allow entry into the school building, assessment teams to measure the safety level of individual schools and mental health support for students and staff. On that last point, how many times have we heard from students who tell us after a shooting they suspected something was wrong with their classmate, or they heard him making threats. Students need to be encouraged to say something to teachers or administrators if they see or hear something. More emphasis on bullying would also help. Perhaps a team of students could be trained to reach out and befriend kids who feel isolated and bullied.
If parents have a child who is depressed, angry or who spends too much time obsessing about firearms, they can do more to head off violence and stop being in denial. An intervention might be held with them, police and mental health experts.
It is a stain on America that police cars are parked outside of schools today and armed guards are outside and inside many churches. Back to school used to be fun for most of us. Catching up on what our friends did during the summer, seeing a favorite teacher, playing on sports teams if we were athletically gifted were just some of the reasons that the end of summer was not so bad. We took for granted a safe and learning environment.
Now, just as with police officers who go off to work each day with a spouse and kids secretly wondering if they will come home at night, parents must be thinking the same. This should no longer be allowed to happen to America’s children. That it does says there is something seriously wrong in our country and everything possible must be done to put an end to school shootings.
Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).
County appoints community services director
Staff reports
Debra Hampton is the newly appointed eddy county community services director, bringing more than a decade of dedicated service and a wealth of experience in law enforcement, community outreach, mental health and substance abuse treatment.
The Eddy County Commission approved her appointment at the July 29 meeting, along with a salary of $132,516 per year.
Her tenure with Eddy County began at the Eddy County Detention Center in 2013. Starting as a detention officer, she advanced to the Eddy County DWI Program, where her contributions over the following 11 years were instrumental in the program’s development and success, earning the appointment to her current leadership position.
Hampton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in General Studies/Elementary education with a minor in criminal justice, as well as a Master of Science in Addiction Studies; all from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
In her new role, Hampton is focused on enhancing residents’ well-being by bridging community needs with Eddy County’s available resources. As a liaison between local government and the public, she will encourage stronger engagement, increase resource accessibility and work directly with the public.
Hampton said she approaches every interaction with warmth, and said her favorite motto is “A simple smile and a kind heart can light up even the darkest day,”
She also said she hopes to help Eddy County build a more “resilient, inclusive, and thriving community where every resident will feel valued and supported.”
Outside of work, Hampton enjoys staying active at Anytime Fitness, spending time with her family, and spoiling her grandchildren every chance she gets.
A proud mother and grandmother, she moved to New Mexico in 2011, fully embracing the Eddy County community and wholeheartedly dedicated to serving its people.
“(This role) brings her experience and education full-circle, calling upon her scholarly credentials in the arena of treatment, her boots-on-the-ground work experience at the Eddy County Detention Center, and her intersection with local non-profits and residents engaging in treatment and recovery through her role as DWI program director,” said County Manager Mike Gallagher. “Debra is the right person at the right time and is uniquely equipped to steer the Community Services Department into the future while amplifying its impact on our community.”
Jackie D. Martin
April 4, 1954 – August 7, 2025
In Loving Memory of Jackie Dean Martin
Jackie Martin, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully with her three devoted daughters by her side. Born on April 4, 1954, Jackie lived a life filled with love, laughter, and an appreciation for the simple but beautiful things in the world around her.
Jackie had a gentle spirit and a green thumb that could make anything grow. She found joy in tending her gardens, caring for her plants, and watching flowers bloom under her careful hands. She loved the peace of a quiet fishing trip and the unconditional companionship of her faithful dogs. Her home was never without the cheerful chatter of her treasured bird, Bruno, whose songs brightened her days.
Jackie also had a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature’s treasures, especially rocks. She loved the thrill of hunting for them, each stone telling a story, each one unique, just like the moments she cherished in life.
She is survived by her loving daughters Beverly (Richard) Garlets, Shelley (Buddy) Simmons, and Verna (Harold) Jones, as well as her grandchildren Ashley Vallow, Erica (Trey) Burch, Skyler (Hailey) Chavez, Seth (Brittany) Jones, Haley (James) Brady, Alisha (Colton) Resigner, Tiffany (Drew) Bailey, Trey Simmons and 15 great-grandchildren, each of whom carry a piece of her heart. Jackie’s family was her greatest treasure, and she poured her love into every hug, every shared story, and every moment spent together.
Jackie is preceded in death by her brother Butch and her precious baby boy, Shawn Wayne. Though she will be deeply missed here on earth, her family finds comfort in knowing she is now in the arms of her sweet Shawn, rocking him at last in the peace of Heaven.
Her life was a testament to kindness, resilience, and the beauty of a nurturing soul. Jackie’s love will continue to bloom in the hearts of all who knew her, just as the flowers she tended so lovingly will continue to grow.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date
Anna Ramirez
Aug 23, 1963 – July 25, 2025
With heavy hearts and immense gratitude for a life beautifully lived, we announce the passing of Our Dear Anna Marie Ramirez.
Her sunrise brought joy to us on August 23,1963 in Artesia, NM, though Albuquerque, NM was her home. She was raised Catholic but found her faith in the natural world that God created. She believed God loved you just the way you are and that everyone should strive to be the person their dog thinks they are. Anna Marie loved visiting new places from Alaska to New Zealand and exploring historical sites, especially Canyon De Chelly.
She loved walking her pups, dressing up and going to afternoon tea, festivals at Las Golondrinas, feeding her chickens in the early morning hours, Masterpiece Theatre, musicals, opera, antique stores, Stephen King, Jane Austin, tulips, flowery dresses, peanut butter Snickers, Dr. Pepper, participating in Wreaths Across America, anything Disney, Flow, Down Gilead Lane, the color yellow and especially movie night with Gary and their pups.
As a daughter, she was her parents’ joy, always helpful, thoughtful and loving. As a sister and aunt, she helped raise us and loved us unconditionally. To her partner Gary she was his everything, as he was hers. As a friend (everyone she met she considered a friend) she was always the person you could lean on.
Anna was a veterinary receptionist for most of her working career at various animal clinics; Adobe, Academy, & most recently VCA Wyoming. She loved taking care of animals at the clinics, their homes and sometimes taking care of their humans as well. She fostered many animals over the years and risked her safety several times climbing fences or on busy highways to rescue animals in need. She was fearless.
She will be deeply missed by her parents, Adam & Kathy Ramirez, sister Amy Melissa Alaniz, nephews Maxim & Zane, brother Adam Joseph Ramirez, wife Alma, nephew Esai, niece Eliana, & honorary niece, Nathalia Rodriguez, her partner & love of her life Gary Dixon, his son Isaac, their pups, T-bone & Dobby as well as many creatures great and small, and many family members and friends that loved her dearly.
Her sunset left a glow in our hearts on July 25, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to New Mexico Animal Friends or PACA, Peoples Anti Cruelty Association, as these were very dear to her heart.