Marshall Mecham
Artesia Daily Press
marshallmecham21@gmail.com

Eddy County stresses fireworks safety ahead of Fourth of July

Manager Manón Arnett of Amy’s Fireworks says safety is crucial for customers looking to celebrate this Fourth of July.

Arnett’s mother, Amy Arnett, started the business in 1981, and the Artesia shop at 1615 N. 1st St. offers a variety of fireworks to Artesia revelers. There are also locations in Roswell and Carlsbad.

With each purchase, Arnett said, the customer receives a list of safety tips that advises users to avoid igniting fireworks indoors, to light just one device at a time, to have water handy in case of fire and to dispose of the materials safely even after they are used.

“We sell really cool fireworks that are legal, tested and meet state standards for safety,” Arnett said. “Nearly every safe product is unsafe if you use it incorrectly, and nobody wants that.”

June was national Fireworks Safety Month, organized to deliver information about fireworks safety ahead of Fourth of July when many Americans use fireworks to celebrate the nation’s 1776 Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.

Fireworks have caused an estimated 9,700 injuries in the U.S. each year since 2019, according to a July 4, 2024, report from usnews.com. Between 2008 and 2023, the U.S. saw an average of 9.9 deaths per year due to fireworks, the report read.

Jarod Zuniga, Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal at Eddy County Fire & Rescue, has 22 years of experience dealing with fireworks and said safety awareness is crucial.

“It is super important, both for safety of people and of property,” Zuniga said. “Every year, we have calls for people being injured.”

“I was in law enforcement … a bomb technician, so I’ve got experience with explosives and trained for safety in that,” Zuniga said. “Every year, we end up with some minor injuries, and I’ve worked several major injuries where people have lost parts of hands.”

In addition to the dangers associated with igniting fireworks, Zuniga said, users should be mindful of the debris that comes back to the ground, which can be flammable.

“The people not understanding is a challenge,” Zuniga said. “Many people believe that when the firework shoot goes up that it is consumed … and don’t think about what’s going to come back down. While a good portion of the powder is consumed, that cardboard and packing still comes down.”

Lt. Andrew Swanson of the Carlsbad Police Department, said fireworks can impact pets as well as people.

“Pets will flee and become lost to their families … what may seem like a celebration to you may be a burden on others,” he said.

Swanson said fireworks pose a special danger to children and Independence Day partiers who might be impaired by alcohol.

“Never allow children to handle fireworks,” Swanson said. “Never handle fireworks under the influence of alcohol or drugs, wear protective eyewear, never reignite a dud, have water nearby and soak any malfunctioned (firework) in water. Light one firework at a time. Obey the law.”

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
ahedden@elritomedia.com

Family members of Elijah Hadley, the 17-year-old Mescalero youth shot and killed by an Otero County Sheriff’s deputy in June 2024, sued the county for wrongful death as the murder case against deputy Jacob Diaz-Austin proceeds in 12th District Court.

Hadley, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe in south-central New Mexico, was killed June 25, 2024, when Diaz-Austin, 28, of Las Cruces fired upon the boy after responding to a call for a welfare check at about 10:45 p.m. on U.S. Highway 70. The initial report described a person in a roadway median in an area between Tularosa and Mescalero, according to a news release from the New Mexico State Police.

It was later reported that Hadley was carrying an airsoft gun when he was shot by Diaz-Austin. An airsoft gun is defined as a replica of a real firearm that shoots plastic pellets instead of bullets.

The argument that Hadley was unarmed and defenseless when Diaz-Austin shot him was the basis of the lawsuit filed Wednesday, June 25, against Diaz-Austin and Otero County in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

The sheriff’s office and Otero County did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

According to the suit, Hadley was walking along the roadway and tossed aside the airsoft gun when he was approached by Diaz-Austin. The victim never pointed the gun at the deputy, read the suit, or threatened him.

The deputy fired at Hadley four times, read the suit, injuring him before firing separate bursts of nine and five shots over the course of three minutes. The deputy then reloaded, read the lawsuit, and fired at Hadley four more times.

Diaz-Austin was not injured in the incident. Hadley was pronounced dead at the scene.

The total of 22 shots left gunshot wounds to Hadley’s shoulders, back, arms and feet, read the lawsuit, and an autopsy confirmed the death as a homicide.

“Elijah was a son, brother, uncle, nephew, friend, student, artist, and a good person. He should still be here today. Our family will not stop until justice is done,” said Hadley’s mother, Eva Hadley, in a statement issued with the lawsuit.

Attorneys for the family argued the shooting violated Hadley’s Fourth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution against “unreasonable search and seizures” and “excessive use of force.” The fatal shooting also violated the boy’s Fourteenth Amendment right, read the lawsuit, to “due process and equal protection of the law.”

The lawsuit asked that damages be assessed at trial for physical and emotional pain experienced by the family, lost wages, punitive damages, the value of Hadley’s life and attorney’s fees.

“By looking the other way in the death of Elijah, the Otero County Sheriff’s Office sent a terrible message to residents and visitors of the county, but the Hadley family will not be intimidated,” said Christopher Dodd, an attorney for the family.

Diaz-Austin was charged with first-degree murder on Jan. 13, after he was cleared in September 2024 by an internal investigation conducted by the sheriff’s office. The 12th District Attorney’s Office “conflicted out” of the case, according to court records – likely due to the defendant’s association through his job with the local court system.

In March, following a preliminary hearing, the 12th District Court judge ruled there was enough evidence to proceed with the case, prosecuted by the Second District Attorney’s Office but proceeding in 12th District Court.

“We believe the evidence is as overwhelming as it is appalling,” said Tyson Logan, another attorney representing the family. “It’s clear that Elijah’s tragic death was unnecessary and that this kind of callous, reckless use of lethal force by a deputy simply cannot be ignored.”

On June 2, the court denied the prosecution’s motion to move the case to the Third District in Dona Ana County or another court outside of the 12th District. The motion cited friendly behavior observed between Diaz-Austin and security staff from the Otero County Sheriff’s Office – his coworkers – at12th District Court in Alamogordo during the preliminary hearing.

A trial was scheduled for March 20, 2026.

Diaz-Austin was placed on administrative leave from the Otero County Sheriff’s Office pending the outcome of the trial, according to a Jan. 14 news release from the office.

“OCSO affirms its commitment to the rule of law and allowing the criminal justice system to do its work,” read the release. “OCSO further acknowledges that this incident has been traumatic and divisive for the community and is committed to ensuring the judicial process is followed according to law.”

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

Sarah Rubinstein
Alamogordo News

This past Saturday morning, a fatal collision involving a Union Pacific Railroad train and a person identified by a railroad spokesperson as a “trespasser” occurred.

The train struck the victim near Eddy Drive and Mesa Verde Ranch Road. They were pronounced dead on the scene, but no train crew were injured. 

The accident did not occur at a crossing, “meaning the person was not trying to cross the tracks where they are supposed to do so,” according to Kristen South, senior director of corporate communications and media relations with Union Pacific Railroad. She also said they are working with the Alamogordo Police Department on the investigation.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 263 people died by train collision in 2024. The last fatal train collision in Alamogordo was in 2018, according to previous coverage.

Marshall Mecham
Artesia Daily Press
marshallmecham21@gmail.com

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, June 21. Trump also announced the Iran-Israel ceasefire on Monday, June 23. Since then, tensions mounted in the Middle East as Israel and Iran were both accused of violating the ceasefire, launching missiles at one another despite U.S. calls for an end to the confrontation.

On Sunday, Trump called for an end to the war, attempting to renegotiate another ceasefire, while Israeli military ordered Palestinians to evacuate areas in northern Gaza before intensified fighting against Hamas.

Throughout the military escalation, Artesia residents shared mixed reactions to the fighting and U.S.’ role in the international conflict.

Here’s what some Artesia residents said about the situation in the days after the attacks, and which political party they identify with.

Dean Howard, 65, Artesia, Republican Party

“I think President Trump is right about bombing the nuclear sites. He was right to bomb Iran because those people are not our friends, they’re our enemy. We need to pray for all nations’ concerns. This is a world effort because it causes distrust. We got to make our voice heard, and we’ve got to step out and vote. I’m not against the protest; I’m against the rioting and the violence but we have to make our voices heard.”

Scott Taylor, 59, Artesia, Republican Party

“I have to commend Trump for doing it. I didn’t think he would do it because of all the downside risks. This was the best possible outcome that anybody could hope for. I was very happy about the ceasefire. I knew if Israel agreed to a ceasefire, that they were convinced that Iran’s nuclear capability was destroyed because that was the whole reason they attacked them.”

Artesia resident Wally Pando, 19, Artesia, Democratic Party

“I think the bombings, and just the wars in general, are completely unnecessary. Our president has failed, and really, flat-out lied when he stated there would be ‘no new wars’ yet goes ahead and bombs nations like Iran, who are repressed through the presidents’ call, over these imaginary nukes.

“I am not for a world where the only way to achieve peace is to bully other nations by wiping them out with bombs. The ceasefire for a conflict that he himself created and resulting in Trump getting a Nobel Peace Prize is outrageous. Conflict does not need to end with the loss of innocent lives and destruction of land. It should end with peaceful negotiations.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

Photos by Mike Smith, Artesia Daily Press

Monday, Artesia firefighters joined the public in painting a mural near Eagle Draw. Painting is open to the public.

City of Artesia deputy fire chief Josh Stites helps paint the Community Mural near Eagle Draw on Monday.

June Gooding painted the Community Mural on Monday near Eagle Draw.

A sign welcomes people to the Community Mural painting on Monday.

Artesia firefighters and police officers joined the general public Monday in painting the Community Mural.

Sarah Rubinstein
Artesia Daily Press

Up to 14 million acres of public land in New Mexico will be eligible for sale to private buyers according to the federal reconciliation bill currently making its way through the Senate.

U.S. Forest Service land and Bureau of Land Management land in places in southern New Mexico such as Alamogordo, Cloudcroft, Tularosa, Carlsbad and Ruidoso will be eligible for sale.

However, according to the bill, between .50% and .75% of the land across Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming will be sold.

The bill text does not rule out the sale of public land to foreign nationals, stating: “Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall publish a notice soliciting nominations of tracts of Bureau of Land Management land and National Forest System land for disposal by the Secretary concerned under this section from interested parties, including States and units of local government.”

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) issued a statement of condemnation of the action on the bill.

“There’s been no public input and no consultation with the communities who live, work, and depend on these lands,” he said in a press release.

Those who oppose the bill will protest Monday outside the Western Governor’s Association’s annual meeting in Santa Fe, according to a press release by the Center for Biological Diversity.

New Mexico, being a less urban state than most, relies on its public lands, said deputy Southwest director of the Center for Biological Diversity Brian Nowicki.

“(People) love the access, and they love the ability to get straight out into nature,” he said.

“It is extremely difficult for me to understand how the Forest Service would be able to just determine that they were going to liquidate American public lands and did not have the input and cooperation of the city and state in making that happen,” Nowicki added.