Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media
achedden@currentargus.com

Officials in Pecos, Texas, confirmed last Thursday that two people were killed when a train derailed on U.S. Highway 285 near the town’s downtown area Wednesday night.

The train, owned by Union Pacific, left the tracks and crashed into the Pecos Chamber of Commerce building after colliding with a tractor-trailer near Oak and Dot Stafford streets at about 5 p.m.

Two male employees of Union Pacific who were on the train at the time of the incident suffered fatal injuries, officials said. One man was initially reported dead at the scene and the other succumbed to his injuries later Wednesday night.

Three Chamber of Commerce employees suffered minor injuries and were released from medical care as of Thursday morning, officials said.

Pecos and Reeves County officials held a press conference at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday to update the public on the investigation.

Pecos City Manager Charles Lino said a car on the train held hazardous materials – lithium-ion batteries and car airbags – but said the cargo posed no risk to the public.

“Our emergency services division have everything contained,” Lino said during the press conference. “Things are a lot better today than they were last night. We have had communications with several businesses in that area. We have many roads blocked off.”

The area is a hub of oil and gas industry traffic on U.S. 285, about an hour’s drive south of the New Mexico-Texas border in the heart of the Permian Basin oilfields. Lino said detours for industrial traffic were being designated and asked motorists to avoid the area.

“Please be patient,” he said. “We have a lot people that travel the area. Try to stay away from the area. It will be open for business as soon as we can.”

Pecos Police Chief Lisa Tarango declined to release the names of the men who were killed and said officials were working to notify next of kin.

“We initially were given that there was one fatality and three injured. It’s now confirmed that there are two fatalities,” she said.

Tarango said clean-up is underway at the accident scene.

Ronald Lee, the town’s emergency services chief, said damage to the chamber of commerce building was “significant” and that workers were advised not to enter the building.

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

Eddy County commissioners handed out early Christmas presents to the county’s elected officials Dec. 17 – pay raises ranging from 69% for commissioners to 72% for the county treasurer to a truly eye-popping 96% for the Eddy County sheriff.

The Eddy County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a resolution establishing the new salaries, which will apply to officials who will be sworn in for new four-year terms on Jan. 7.

The massive salary hikes were made by possible by New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 4, which the state’s voters approved in the Nov. 5 general election. Passage of the amendment transferred authority for setting salaries for the county’s elected officials from the state Legislature to county commissioners.

Under the new pay scale, the county sheriff’s annual salary will nearly double from $78,000 to $153,000; the country treasurer’s salary jumps from $75,000 to $129,000; and commissioners get an $18,000 a year increase from $26,000 to $44,000.

County officials said the new salaries represent “an approximate average” of raises adopted by San Juan County and Lea County – two counties “that most clearly mirror Eddy County,” according to interim county manager Steve McCutcheon Sr.

Commission chairman James “Bo” Bowen said Eddy County considered the number of employees and total budgets of the other two counties determining the pay rates for Eddy County.

“San Juan and Lea County are the most comparable to us in oil and gas revenue and gross receipts (taxes) along with the number of employees in the budget that they are doing,” Bowe said. “Their budgets are very similar to ours. Also, the number of employees is very similar to ours. We just used those two comparable counties and used them for what we were doing going forward.”

Bowen said voters’ approval of the constitutional amendment giving counties the authority to set the salaries sent a message to county commissioners across New Mexico.

“The public has elected us as officials to make these decisions,” he said. “Anytime you have decisions like this, people tend to make the decisions on more of an emotional basis. We took the emotions out of this and looked at it with a very practical basis using things across the state looking at cost of living increases that these elected officials haven’t been eligible for, for the last decade. We feel strongly that the wages that were put forth today are where they should be.”

Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage, who is leaving office and will be succeeded in January by sheriff-elect Matthew Hutchinson, said the pay increases were needed.

“This is something that the state should not be in control of,” Cage said. “It should be the county and that’s what we did with this constitutional amendment. The people’s preference was heard. The people want the counties to be in control of county officials’ pay scales. I’m just tickled that Eddy County officials are going to be paid what they should be paid.”

Incoming Sheriff Hutchinson said commissioners “did their homework” by looking at pay scales in other counties.

“When I started to do this, I knew the pay scale was set at $78,000,” Hutchinson said. “I had heard about the amendment coming forward. I think this where the people of New Mexico voted it was a pretty resounding push that they wanted the counties to compensate their elected officials accordingly,” he said.

Cage defended the new pay scale.

“For eight years, I did not receive a raise as sheriff and if you look at the prevailing wage across the state for chiefs of police or look in neighboring counties in Texas or across the nation for sheriffs it is very reasonable,” he said. “It may look excessive to somebody – it’s the body of work you have to look at,” he said.

McCutcheon said burgeoning fossil fuel development and a growing population have resulted in increased responsibilities for elected officials.

“We need a living wage to sustain our county and our county officials. These numbers are not unreasonable,” he said.

Outgoing State Rep. Jim Townsend (R-54) said he was in favor of New Mexico counties being in control of elected officials’ salaries instead of the state.

“Many (counties) were dissatisfied that elected officials were not paid in equitable fashion,” he said. “I’m in favor of competitive salaries for people and it makes a big difference.”

In addition to Cage, several other officials are leaving office Dec. 31 and will not cash in on the pay raises: Commissioners Jon Henry and Fred Beard and Treasurer Laurie Pruitt.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

New Mexico’s ninth Schlotzsky’s sandwich shop arrived in Artesia Dec. 12 with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting presented by the Artesia Chamber of Commerce.

Franchisee Devyn Garcia said opening a restaurant was not something he planned as part of his business life but decided the new eatery was a challenge that appealed to him.

“I’ve just had kind of an entrepreneur mindset,” he said. “We’ve (he and his family) owned a set of small businesses here and there as well,” he said.

Garcia, 34, said he has owned a nutrition shop, an oilfield service business and a mobile detailing service. He also works in sales for Sunbelt Rentals.

Getting his sandwich shop to the finish line produced some headaches during construction and a soft opening, he said, but the local support he’s received made it worth the effort.

“The community honestly has been nothing but supportive,” he said. “This community has been right behind us. It is awesome.”’

After the grand opening, Garcia greeted a line of customers waiting for discounted sandwiches and a four-pack of Cinnabons.

“We really are focused on customer service, providing an awesome product,” Garcia said. “You are going to get the most bang for your buck here, whether it’s the size of the sandwich or the taste of the sandwich. That’s our goal.”

One of those in line was Kaleb Newton, who said Garcia is “one of my best friends.”

“I’m excited for him,” Newton said. “It looks like they have a good thing going here.”

Newton, like Garcia, is 34 and has spent his entire life in Artesia. He said new restaurants are good for the community.

“The more restaurants we can get in Artesia, the better,” he said.

Located near Artesia High School at 905 W. Main St., Garcia’s restaurant presents an off-campus dining option for students, said Jessica Bollema, communications coordinator for the Artesia Chamber of Commerce.

She said it’s the chamber’s job to connect new businesses with the community.

“Even though it’s a franchise. it’s locally owned and one of our favorite things is supporting local,” Bollema said. “I feel like they are going to do amazing things with that.”

“Having more eateries in town can attract more (business). The more you have, the more you get,” she said.

Schlotzsky’s opened in Austin, Texas, in 1971 and has more than 350 restaurants in the United States and overseas, according to the company’s website.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.

From Staff Reports

The Central Valley Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees have announced Chuck Pinson’s retirement from the co-op after more than 38 years. Pinson started at CVE in 1986 in the engineering department and, in 2001, took over as the General Manager. After many years of dedicated leadership, Chuck will step down and retire effective January 31, 2025.

At the same time, CVE is excited to introduce Wade Nelson as the incoming General Manager of Central Valley Electric Cooperative. Wade has worked in CVE’s engineering department for more than 25 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from New Mexico State University and is currently the co-op’s Manager of Distribution Engineering. Wade will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new position.

“We are incredibly grateful for Chuck Pinson’s leadership and commitment to the growth and success of Central Valley Electric Cooperative over the years,” said Chuck Wagner, CVE Board President. “Under Chuck’s [Pinson] guidance, we have achieved significant milestones and built a strong foundation for continued success. We wish him the very best in this next chapter.”

“We are also excited to welcome Wade Nelson as the co-op’s new General Manager. Wade has a proven track record, and we are confident that he will drive the co-op forward into the next phase of innovation and growth.”

Wade expressed excitement about taking on the leadership role: “Over the years, I have seen CVE grow into an exemplary cooperative thanks to the vision and leadership of Chuck Pinson. I am honored to continue building on that foundation. I am grateful to the Board for entrusting me with this opportunity. There are new challenges ahead, but I am fortunate to have the support of CVE’s exceptional employees. Together, we will work to uphold and advance the cooperative’s mission of providing reliable and affordable service to our members.”