El Rito Media Staff Report
The duo of Chris Trew and Jeff Heath claimed the Eddy County based Pecos Valley Bassmasters team championship during the final tournament of the season.
Championships were held Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 at Champion Creek seven miles south of Colorado City, Texas, said Bassmasters president Joby Houghtaling.
Trew and Jody Jackson caught the biggest bass during the tournament.
Trew’s bass weighed six pounds and Heath’s weighed five pounds.
Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media
achedden@currentargus.com
Nella Domenici attacked Martin Heinrich as an “extreme, radical progressive” during their Monday night debate in Albuquerque and Heinrich fired back, dismissing Domenici as a multimillionaire who’s out of touch with New Mexico’s needs.
With the Nov. 5 general election just three weeks away, the first televised debate in the U.S. Senate race pitting Democratic incumbent Heinrich against Republican nominee Domenici was hosted by TV station KOAT, radio station KKOB and the Albuquerque Journal.
The candidates are scheduled for another debate later this month sponsored by the Congregation Albert Brotherhood.
Heinrich is serving his second six-year term in the Senate after previously serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and as a member of the Albuquerque City Council. Domenici, daughter of the late Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), is a businesswoman making her first run for elective office.
The hour-long debate saw moderators grill the candidates with questions touching on a wide range of issues, including public safety, immigration, crime, and energy. On abortion, Heinrich said the recent Supreme Court decision to allow states to ban abortion put the nation in “chaos” while Domenici said the issue could be addressed by preventing unplanned pregnancies.
Heinrich and Domenici were given 90 seconds each for opening statements and 90 seconds to answer each question, with 30 seconds for rebuttals when moderators deemed a personal attack was made.
Heinrich touted his record on sponsoring legislation to increase funds for border security technology, along with investments he secured for local law enforcement agencies as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Domenici said she supported building a wall at the U.S. southern border and that stronger prevention was needed to stop fentanyl and other deadly drugs from “pouring into our country.”
Domenici was given the first word and said New Mexico “was in crisis,” partially blaming Heinrich’s more than 20 years in public office. She said the state was No. 1 in crime and No. 1 in doctors leaving New Mexico. She said the state was No. 49 in child well-being.
“That’s your report card. That’s an F,” Domenici said as she turned toward her opponent during the opening remarks. “Martin is a radical progressive. New Mexico needs a new leader; it needs an independent leader like me.”
Heinrich said his father was a lineman, and that he knows well the “struggles working class families face.” He touted his work in the Senate to lower prescription drug prices and also to preserve the right to vote, the right to clean air and water, and the right “for kids to feel safe” in school.
He criticized Domenici, the former chief financial officer at investment firm Bridgewater Associates, for not being transparent on key issues and for being out of touch with New Mexicans.
“Meanwhile, my opponent, a multimillionaire, believes she can buy this election,” Heinrich said. “We know next to nothing about some of the most important issues and where she stands on them.”
In response to a question on how the Senate can address rising consumer prices, Heinrich said inflation worsened during the COVID-19 health crisis that began in 2020 but has declined steadily thanks to policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act that he supported in Congress.
“We’ve been able to manage inflation back down,” Heinrich said.
But Domenici blamed high prices on what she called “excessive spending” by Democrats and the Biden administration. She said the economy was also impacted because “we have not leveraged our oil and gas resources.”
New Mexico is second in the U.S. in oil production, behind only Permian Basin neighbor Texas. The Permian Basin is the nation’s busiest oilfield.
Domenici said Heinrich wants to derail the industry that the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico says brought the state about $15 billion in revenue over the last year.
“Martin Heinrich is the biggest threat we have to the oil and gas industry in this state. He wants to destroy the oil and gas industry in our state,” Domenici said. “Everyone wants diversity, but we should have a robust oil and gas industry, not just supporting our jobs and education but also America’s goal of being the leader of the free world.”
Heinrich argued that the Permian Basin and New Mexico’s oil and gas industry continued to see “record production” even with more stringent environmental regulations recently enacted at the state and federal levels. He said New Mexico and the U.S. should embrace renewable energy while also increasing transmission developments to bring more of that power to market.
All of this creates more jobs, Heinrich said, and can work alongside fossil fuels while insulating the economy from future declines in oil and gas prices.
“It is not exactly a burden to drill for oil and gas in New Mexico,” Heinrich said. “That is why we have record production levels. I am committed to make decisions that are consistent with our climate.”
Domenici confirmed during the debate that she planned to vote for former-President Donald Trump in the upcoming election, after frequently declining to endorse the GOP nominee since the race began. Heinrich endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden opted to not seek a second term earlier this year.
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 734-972-6855, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.
By Mike Smith
El Rito Media
msmith@currentargus.com
A presentation on renovating the current Eddy County Courthouse or building a new judicial complex south of Carlsbad awaits the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners during their meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 15).
The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. in room 211 of the Eddy County Administration Complex at 101 W. Greene St. in Carlsbad.
Eddy County Public Works Director Jason Burns wrote in a memorandum to commissioners that presentation of a four-month study would outline studies, analysis and strategies pertaining to the choice of building a proposed new judicial complex south of Carlsbad or renovating the decades-old current courthouse downtown.
Burns said commissioners deferred action on a possible new courthouse to be built along with a new detention center and administration complex at their May 7 meeting, pending completion of the study..
The new complex would be located at 1602 Corrales Road across the street from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office south of Carlsbad.
A potential move of the courthouse to the new location drew criticism from Carlsbad and Artesia residents during two public town hall meetings earlier this year.
“The County has conducted the necessary studies and has prepared a presentation to summarize the findings for the associated projects to accommodate the Fifth Judicial District Courts in Eddy County,” Burns wrote in the memorandum.
After the meeting, county officials are set to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the new administation and detention complex at the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office at 1502 Corrales Drive.
Mike Smith may be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.
By: Pastor David Grousnick
One day Jesus was in Judea, when a great crowd came to hear him preach (Mark 2). The children came also in great numbers. The disciples, perhaps caught up in their own self-importance, saw them as a nuisance and an annoyance and ordered them away. Their position doubtless was: This is serious business; we don’t have time for this; don’t bother the man.
It is hard to imagine the disciples taking such a position. It strikes us today as rather uncaring and cold. I can assure you, however, that I have been in churches that, in their own subtle way, were not child friendly.
I well remember a church congregation where a group of people bitterly fought opening the annual children’s Easter party to the community. The reasoning went something like this: We don’t know who these kids are. They will run wild through the building. They will damage the building. Now, doubtless they thought they were doing the right thing.
The disciples thought they were doing the right thing. Yet, Jesus took a very different position. Suffer the little children to come to me, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God. He then went on to proclaim: Unless you become as one of these, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Strange words. What did Jesus mean by them? Well, as always, there have been some who have taken the words literally, because they believe that everything in the Bible must be taken literally.
You may be interested to know a little historical footnote. In the 13th century, in what is today Switzerland, there was a popular movement that said that Jesus’ words (you must become as a child to enter the Kingdom of God) had to be taken literally.
Tens of thousands of people quit the farms and quit the mills and started playing ring around the roses and acting as children, for they reasoned that their eternal salvation was at stake if they did not. Finally, the government came in and forced people back to work. This actually happened.
Well, if we can mutually agree that Jesus’ words in this case are not to be taken literally, and that they require interpretation, then what is the interpretation?
The story is told of a prosperous, young investment banker who was driving a new BMW sedan on a mountain road during a snowstorm. As he veered around one sharp turn, he lost control and began sliding off the road toward a steep cliff. At the last moment he unbuckled his seat belt, flung open his door, and leaped from the car, which then plummeted to the bottom of the ravine and burst into a ball of flames.
Although he had escaped with his life, the man suffered a ghastly injury. Somehow his arm had been caught near the hinge of the door as he jumped and had been torn off at the shoulder.
A passing trucker saw the accident in his rearview mirror, pulled his rig to a halt and ran back to see if he could help.
When he arrived at the scene, he found the banker standing at the roadside, looking down at the BMW burning in the ravine below. Incredibly the banker was oblivious to his injury and moaned, “My BMW! My new BMW!” The trucker pointed at the banker’s shoulder and said, “You’ve got bigger problems than that car. We’ve got to find your arm. Maybe the surgeons can sew it back on!”`
The banker looked where his arm had been, paused a moment, and groaned, “Oh no! My Rolex! My new Rolex!”
The point of this humor in this context is to underscore the Disciples mixed up priorities.
A new principal was checking over his school on the first day. Passing the stockroom, he was startled to see the door wide open and teachers going in and out, carrying off books and supplies. The school he came from had a check-out system that required the teachers to indicate what supplies they had obtained.
Curious about the practice here he asked the school custodian, “Do you think it’s wise to keep the stockroom unlocked and to let the teachers take things without asking?” The custodian responded, “We trust them with the children, don’t we?”
Life and living are all about priorities!
Jesus wants us to trust in him and let the child within to be free. It is the only way to receive the kingdom of God. He wants us to give the child within the freedom to express itself, being creative, having fun and sharing emotions and feelings. He wants us to accept others who are different realizing that God makes us all and wants us all to be genuine, authentic human beings.
The end result is absolute joy and the opportunity to experience life in its fullest.
I pray you a wonderful weekend while you check your priorities!
David Grousnick, is the Pastor at the First Christian Church in Artesia.
At 40-years-old, J.D. Vance is the youngest person to be a vice-presidential candidate. Born James Donald Bowman into a home of drug addiction and abuse. His parents divorced when he was a toddler and he and his sister Lindsay were raised in the home of his maternal grandparents, from whence he adopted and later changed his name to Vance. After graduating from high school in Ohio, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served four-years as a military journalist, being deploying to Iraq in 2005, for six months. Using his G.I. Bill, he enrolled in Ohio State University, graduating summa cum laude, in two years, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in political science and philosophy. He then attended Yale Law School and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2013. After graduation, he worked for Republican Senator John Cornyn and then clerked for the U.S. District Court in Kentucky. Vance vocally opposed the Trump candidacy of 2016. After briefly practicing corporate law, Vance worked as a venture capitalist.
Also in 2016, Vance published his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, telling of the Appalachian culture of his childhood and the struggles of his mother’s drug addiction. In 2020, his story was made into a movie of the same name. The left calls Vance a “false prophet of blue America.”
In 2022, he was elected to the U.S. Senate for Ohio. After observing Trump’s first term, he reversed his opinion of President Trump, endorsing his second candidacy. Vance describes himself as a postliberal, meaning his political and social values changed after becoming a confirmed Catholic-Christian. Others describe him as a populist and national conservative. He opposes abortion, with exceptions of rape and incest, gun control, same-sex marriage and American military aid to Ukraine.
In the Senate
He serves on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the Senate Special Committee on Aging. He has sponsored 57 bills and cosponsored 289. He cosponsored a bill with Senator Ralph Warnock (D-GA) to lower the price of insulin. He voted against raising the debt ceiling of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Bills he sponsored are for getting seniors quicker access to medical care, E-verification of employment eligibility, proof of citizenship to vote, dismantle DEI programs in government, funding of the East Palestine derailment damage, limiting government surveillance of American citizens, restricting the Chinese government access to US capital markets, election integrity and a requirement for ICE to detain and deport illegal aliens who commit theft and other crimes.
In 2021, he made his now-infamous “cat lady” comment about childless women, which was resurrected when he was nominated for vice-president. He explained his remarks on the Megyn Kelly Show, saying, “It’s not a criticism of people who don’t have children [It] is about criticizing the Democratic Party for becoming anti-family and anti-child.” He has said that being “pro-babies and pro-family” should be the Republican Party’s highest priority.
Editorial comments:
By graduating from college summa cum laude with a double major in two years, it is obvious Vance is a smart and motivated individual. No doubt his desire to achieve came in his childhood after observing the poverty of Appalachia and the toll of his mother’s drug addiction. Being without family means, he smartly entered military service to obtain V.A. college benefits. Through his OSU academic achievement, he was an easy candidate for Yale Law. His drive to overcome has caught the attention of many influential mentors who have helped Vance to become the promise of tomorrow, in America. His postliberal Christian commitment scares some on the left who feel postliberals want to displace the elite in academia, religion and government with conservative leadership and values. The postliberal movement teaches people to think, not telling them what to think, as has been the case in education for the past thirty-years. It also speaks to removing DEI from government protocols, replacing it with qualified employees, without consideration of ethnicity or gender. Trump was encouraged by numerous advisors to select Vance as his vice-president candidate. Vance has been visible in the media as a CNN and Fox News contributor and appeared on numerous network shows. The Wall Street Journal says, he makes a better case for Trump, than Trump. After the Walz-Vance debate, it is easy to see he is more qualified in all areas to be vice president and should the need arise, president than Tim Walz. A spokesperson for the Democrat Party of New Mexico categorized Vance as a schoolyard bully who would steal your lunch money. Such is life in politics.
By: Hayley Klein
Executive Director, Artesia Chamber of Commerce.
Even if you are not watching, it is almost impossible not to hear about it. Yet, we seem to tune it all out on Election Day.
In a deeply polarized nation, we are fortunate to be pretty far away from ground zero. But the Permian Basin is a big part of the national conversation, even if we don’t call it by name. We just call it “Energy.” So, you’d think in the place that churns out much of the country’s energy resources, we would feel the energy to get to the polls, but we seem to have lost steam.
In the 2022 mid-term elections, statewide voter turnout was 52%. That is considerably better than the national turnout, which was 46%, the highest mid-term voter turnout since 1970, according to the Pew Research Center. Looking into our state’s 52%, Eddy County’s turnout was 49%, which is good compared to Chaves at 46%, Otero at 47%, and Lea at almost 38%. Meanwhile, up north, Los Alamos County boasted a 65% voter turnout, Santa Fe came in at 63% and Bernalillo at 54%, all contributing to bringing that statewide percentage up.
Compare all this to the 2018 mid-term election when statewide turnout was 55.6% and nationwide was 49%, the highest mid-term turnout since 1914. The counties in our area, including Eddy, had an average turnout of 5 points higher than in 2022.
Was it the 2020 presidential election that created a bit of a downturn? Well, during that election, the stakes seemed so high, and the dramatic political aftermath even higher. Joe Biden was running against incumbent Donald Trump, after he beat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Nationwide turnout was 66%, the highest presidential election turnout since 1900! Meanwhile in New Mexico, turnout was 68.7%! In Southeast New Mexico, Eddy turned out at 67%, Chaves 64%, Otero at nearly 65%, and Lea, sadly, at 56%. What got New Mexico to almost 69%? It was Santa Fe turning out 76.6% of its voters, Bernalillo 71%, and Los Alamos a whopping 81.5%. Wow!
Where are we, Southeast New Mexico? There are several so-called “reasons” not to vote, I suppose. Don’t know enough about the candidates. Don’t like any of the candidates. They don’t need my vote. My vote doesn’t matter anyway. I don’t have time. There are real responses to each of these concerns.
– It is not as difficult as one might think to get to know a candidate. There is plenty to read on any candidate. In our small communities, you have trusted friends and acquaintances who know about the candidates or may know them directly. And, often, the candidates make themselves available in our communities if you can find a little time to come ask questions and listen.
– You don’t have to love everything about a candidate to support them. Just pick the one you think will mostly closely align with your vision for your community, state and country. Look at their records. Ask some questions. There is one who will get closer to your interests than the others. Don’t set your expectations so high that the first time you don’t agree with your candidate, you blow them off. Do some side-by-side comparisons.
– Candidates need your votes. Many elections are closer than you think. Just a few percentage points more in turnout likely would make a difference.
– Your vote does matter. You may think your vote is wasted or elections are no longer fair, but a vote not cast is a vote definitely not counted.
– You do have time. Voting has become easy and accessible with early voting dates, absentee ballots, and voting convenience centers. Please spare a half an hour to vote. That’s about all it will take. If you have any doubt that you won’t be able to make on Election Day (November 5), then go vote early at the county clerk’s office. It’ll take you less than half an hour. And, you will be making a difference.
In the 2024 primary election, 25.5% of eligible voters in Eddy County turned out, although not high, still better than the statewide of just 23%. Primary election turnout never seems to be what a general election turnout is, but for us in Southeast New Mexico, primary elections can be very important. Most races directly related to our area of the state were settled in the primaries, and the winners do not face an opponent in the upcoming general election. Now, just because many of our candidates are uncontested this November, some statewide races are definitely contested and definitely need your vote.
Eddy County does make a difference to our state in so many ways. We are a net contributor to our state’s budget. Now, let’s be contributors to our elections, this year and in the years to come. If Santa Fe and Los Alamos counties can turn out in the 63% and higher range, so can we. We can do better, and we should. It’s our county, our state, our economy and our future. We need to show up for it.
Early voting is now open. Vote early at the County sub-office, 602 S. 1st St. Hours are October 8-18, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and October 19-November 2, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On Election Day you can vote at any of the following locations:
Eddy County Sub-office, 602 S. 1st St.
Faith Baptist Church, 401 S. 20th St.
Central Valley Election, 1403 N. 13th St.
Trinity Temple Assembly of God, 16th & Hermosa
For voter information or to register to vote, call Artesia Chamber of Commerce. We can assist you or point you in the right direction. (575) 746-2744.
Timothy James Walz was born and raised in rural, Nebraska in 1964 and is 60 years-old. After his father died, Walz moved to Houston, took courses in East-Asian studies. He returned to Nebraska and earned a bachelor of science degree from Chadron State College. His first job was a teaching position in Guangdong, China for WorldTeach. After a year, he returned to Alliance, Nebraska where he began teaching and coaching. There, he met his future wife, Gwen Whipple. Together, they ran an educational travel company, taking high school students to China, during summers. He has visited China 30 times. He earned his master’s in education. His political career began in 2006 when he was elected to the U.S. Congress. He entered the National Guard at age 17 and serve there for 24 years, retiring as a master sergeant, having never entered a combat zone.
In Congress
In Congress, he represented the southern district of Minnesota. The focus of his congressional campaign was his opposition to the Iraq War. While serving in Congress from 2007 – 2019. He is the highest-ranking retired enlisted soldier to serve in Congress. His congressional record ranges from moderate to progressive. During the 2008 financial meltdown, he voted against the TARP bill which used taxpayer money to purchase troubled assets from failing institutions. He also voted against loaning $14 billion in government loans to bail out General Motors and Chrysler. He voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. He supports job creation through government investments. He supported the Affordable Care Act. He has received endorsements from the National Education Association, the AFL-CIO, Teamsters Union, numerous lawyer’s organizations, Americans For Tax Reform, numerous veterans organizations and the NRA. After the 2018 Parkland high school shooting, he denounced the NRA. He supports worker’s rights, LGBTQ rights and increased gun control measures.
As Governor
He was elected governor of Minnesota, serving from 2019 until today. In March of 2020, he declared a COVID healthcare state of emergency, closing businesses, public gatherings, schools and churches, for the next 15 months. After George Floyd was killed by police in May of 2020, riots broke out in St. Paul and Minneapolis, where half a billion dollars in damage was done. Governor Walz took three days to deploy elements of the National Guard and received criticism from the right for not reacting quicker and the left for not taking more steps to remake policing in Minnesota. He accepted blame for not deploying the Guard quicker and later supported legislation preventing the use of choke holds by police. In 2021, he opposed a defund the police ballot measure in Minneapolis and signed legislation limiting the use of no-knock warrants. Minnesota’s Center of the American Experiment has documented under Mr. Walz that Minnesota has become a high-crime state where student achievement has fallen while educational spending has skyrocketed. Minnesota’s per capita gross domestic product has fallen below the national average and Minnesotans are fleeing to other states.
Walz and Trump are closer to agreement on mining in the Boundary Wilderness, a pristine area along the Canadian border where large deposits of copper and nickel ore exist. The Biden-Harris Administration wants to block the mining project for 20 years. Walz and Trump feel, if mined with environmental safeguards, the ore could supply the clean-energy industry and provide hundreds of local jobs.
Editorial comment:
While conservatives have attempted to make Tim Walz the Manchurian candidate for his 30-trip romance with China, I cannot find proof. China is an interesting place, whose people need to escape communism. On the other-hand, I do know how the CCP works Americans, funding those who could be used as “useful idiots.” I do see how he fits the CCP’s criteria as useful and perhaps willing. A good example is Eric Swalwell, who was curried by Chinese agent, Christina Fang, while he was on the city counsel of Dublin, CA. She helped him raise money for his congressional run. James Comer and his House Oversight Committee are looking into Walz’s CCP connections.
Walz’ record in Congress is mixed. He voted as a financial conservative on bailout issues and as a liberal for funding Obamacare. For electability reasons in Minnesota, he has leaned toward the progressive side, making him a good choice for Harris’ vice president, but with some moderate appeal for moderate voters. Walz is an overly kinetic campaigner who stays on the move, clowning and talking over and ignoring questions from media and the public. He was mostly quiet during the CNN, Dana Bash interview. At best, he was present. He did explain his statement of carrying weapons of war in war zones as bad grammar. I don’t believe his bad grammar excuse as he has a master’s degree in education? His was an embellishment of his military record. He also earns a fudge factor for his claim he was in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest in China. Oh, he misspoke again, he was in Nebraska. In the debate with Vance, he did not appear to me as presidential material, should the need arise.
By: Rebecca Hauschild
The Artesia City Council approved the design and installation of a pavement mural in the Heritage Plaza circle area of downtown Artesia. The council ok’d the mural during its Oct. 8 meeting.
The mural design is a geometric pattern that is an ode to the artist Taylor Ojeda’s native heritage. Ojeda is from Alamogordo and is an experienced muralist who recently won the People’s Choice Award at Colorado’s Fraser Mountain Mural Fest. The pavement mural project is sponsored by the Artesia Arts & Cultural District, which will oversee plans for the installation, prep the surface, pay the artist’s stipend, and provide signage.
* During the Safety committee report, Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Youtsey reported 37 accidents involving city employees within the last nine months, which averages out to one per week. “We have an average of 200 employees so these statistics tell us that our employees have a one in four chance of being involved in an accident in a year,” Youtsey said. “These statistics would be considered absolutely unacceptable in the private industry, and we should feel the same. We are going to address this. We have to take some steps.”
* Community Development/Infrastructure Director Byron Landfair reported the NinjaCrossTM retractable obstacle course has been completed at the Artesia Aquatic Center and opened to the public on Tuesday. The NinjaCrossTM course uses two or three lanes of the pool, hangs from the ceiling above the pool, is lowered during certain hours and raised when not in use.
* The council approved submission of a public celebration permit to the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department for the Balloons, Bands, & Brews festival which wants to utilize Pecos Flavors Winery to serve alcohol at an event on Nov. 1, 2024.
* The council approved closing the street from the alley way of 5th Street to Texas Avenue for HF Sinclair to hold the Veterans Mission Artesia 5k Run/Walk on Nov. 9, 2024, from 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
* The council approved amending Resolution 1883 regarding adoption of the 2024 Artesia Comprehensive Plan. The comprehensive plan “is a long range, general policy guide that provides a written and graphic description of existing conditions, community aspirations, and a “road map” to ensure the community vision is achieved through sound decision making regarding future growth and development, and capital improvements” according to the city’s website.
* Mayor Jon Henry invited the public to attend a meeting at 3:45 p.m. Nov. 11 at the First Church of Artesia to discuss the idea of creating an inclusive park in Artesia. “We are just starting these discussions,” said Henry. “These kinds of parks are not cheap, so a lot depends on funding. There are a lot of folks interested in it.”
* Henry asked for suggestions regarding a local pastor’s proposal for a day of prayer on Nov. 4, the day before the general election. “Details need to be figured out but maybe we could have an Artesia day of prayer to come together to pray for our nation,” said Henry. “Let me know if you have more thoughts on it.”
Hire:
· Abeslin Orquiz JR., Garage Apprentice, Mechanic at $2,756 p/mo
Resignation:
· Jason E. DeGray, Evidence Tech I, Police, effective Sept. 17, 2024.
· Thomas Tice, Equipment Operator II, Solid Waste, effective Sept. 23, 2024.
Travel and Training:
· Police – Permission for one employee to attend the IPRA Connect Conference in
Albuquerque, N.M.
· Police – Permission for two employees to attend the NASRO Conference in Grapevine, TX.
· Police – Permission for one employee to attend the Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes in Rio Rancho, N.M.
· Police – Permission for one employee to attend Verbal Judo Institute Webinar online.
· Police – Permission for one employee to attend Lead for Tomorrow in Hobbs, N.M.
· Police – Permission for one employee to attend the Type 3 AHIMT in Artesia, N.M.
By: Harry Bailey
Animal Shelter Supervisor
Unfortunately, in the Artesia area, we often see animals that have contracted Canine Parvovirus (CPV), and this virus is one of the most serious for puppies, adolescents, and mature dogs. It’s this serious because it is potentially fatal and difficult to treat. It can exist for an extremely long time in the environment and is shed in very large quantities by infected dogs.
There are two slightly different strains of canine parvovirus: CPV-2a and CPV-2b. While both cause the same disease, CPV-2b is associated with the most severe form. Thankfully, however, Parvo vaccines such as DA2PPC and DHPP give dogs protection against both strains.
If an unvaccinated dog encounters the virus. It can take anywhere from 6 to 10 days to show symptoms if contracted. Direct contact with another infected dog isn’t needed for the virus to spread. One of the most common ways for an unvaccinated dog to become infected is by ingesting the feces of an already-infected dog. But due to its environmental stability, this virus can just as easily be transmitted through the paws and hair of an infected dog, an unsuspecting person’s shoes, and clothes, as well as any surface or object that’s been unknowingly contaminated.
While Parvo can affect dogs of all ages, it most commonly affects unvaccinated dogs under the age of one. Puppies younger than five months are usually the most severely affected and the most difficult to treat. Treatments for infected animals are very costly and depending on when they receive the treatment can depend on the outcome. The best practice is to get with your veterinarian and ensure you have your animals up to date on their vaccines, as well helps to ensure a clean environment for your pet and others.
For more information and any questions you may have, please contact, Harry Bailey, Animal Shelter Supervisor at:
575-746-5043 or 575-513-1877
hbailey@artesianm.gov
From: Artesia Daily Press Staff Reports
Mental health is gaining attention across the country, but for rural communities, such as Artesia, it holds unique importance. With fewer mental health professionals and access to services often limited by distance, the need for increased awareness and solutions is more vital than ever. Fortunately, physicians are optimistic about the growing recognition of mental health’s role in overall wellness, and the expanding options available to rural residents, including resources from local healthcare providers like Artesia General Hospital (AGH) in both Artesia and Carlsbad.
Oct 10 marks World Mental Health Day and the objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
“Mental health is just as important as physical health,” says Ron Haugen, a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at AGH. “For years, many people have felt like they had to push through mental health struggles alone, but we’re starting to see that mindset shift. People are realizing that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness.” While rural communities face challenges—like long drives to see mental health specialists—there’s growing hope. Advances like telehealth, coupled with AGH’s expanding mental health resources, are bringing care closer to home.
The department has the following providers available
· Sarah Cordova, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, MSN sees adults and children ages 16 and older
· Honey Covin-Weeks, RN, MSN, PMHCNS-BC sees children ages 18 and younger
· Ron Haugen, DNP, CNP, CNS sees adults and children ages 14 and older
· Carlos A. Olivas, MSN, PMHNP-BC sees adults and children ages 4 and older
· Michael Parr, DNP, PMHNP-BC sees adults and children ages 16 and older
“Telemedicine has been a game changer,” explains Covin-Weeks, CNS nurse with AGH. “We’re able to reach people who otherwise wouldn’t have easy access to mental health care. Whether it’s therapy sessions or consultations, people can now get support without the barrier of travel.”
AGH has taken steps to support the mental health of its rural patients through telehealth services and new partnerships with mental health professionals. Patients can schedule virtual visits for counseling and psychiatric care, making it easier to receive treatment from the comfort of their homes. “We’ve seen a great response to these services,” says Haugen. “People are engaging in mental health care in ways they never did before. The convenience of telehealth allows them to prioritize their mental well-being without worrying about transportation or long wait times.”
In addition to virtual care, AGH offers several community-based initiatives to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. These programs focus on education and outreach, with workshops and support groups available for residents. “Mental health is just one piece of the puzzle that contributes to overall wellness,” says Haugen. “By fostering an environment where people feel comfortable reaching out, we’re creating stronger, healthier communities.”
AGH also offers mental health screenings as part of routine checkups, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive care during their visits. This proactive approach is helping to identify issues early and connect patients with the resources they need. “We’re seeing more openness about mental health, and that’s a positive shift,” Haugen notes. “It’s no longer something people have to face alone.”
Haugen is also hopeful about the future. “We have a long way to go, but every step we take toward normalizing mental health care makes a big impact. And with more rural communities investing in mental health resources, including AGH, I think we’re on the right path. Healthy minds lead to healthier communities, and when we care for our mental well-being, we can truly thrive.”
Services are available in Carlsbad and Artesia. To make an appointment, please call our offices at 575.736.8444 (Artesia) or 575.725.5562 (Carlsbad).
Additional information on the hospital is available at https://artesiageneral.com/
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