Looking back 40, 30 and 20 years ago, the following are excerpts from the Artesia Daily Press.
40 years ago July 14-20, 1984
June 13 – boiling gray clouds begin to mass south of Artesia at 5:43 p.m. Counter-clockwise motion of air at 5:40 p.m. heralds development of funnel cloud. Twister first sighted at 5:54 p.m. four miles from city. At 5:47 p.m. funnel starts to dissipate after losing strength. Funnel reforms at 6 p.m., travels three miles and breaks up near Sherrell Acres.
———-Confirmation of connection between Lubbock Lake and Blackwater Draw archeological sites and the discovery of an unusual paint rock have kicked off the 1984 summer research at Lubbock Lake. A rare obsidian point unearthed at the Lubbock Lake National and State Landmark last summer has been identified as belonging to the same source as a piece of obsidian found in the 1950s excavations of Blackwater Draw site near Clovis.
———-The similarity between certain human genes and fruit fly genes that appear to serve a master control function could mean that much of what is known about fruit fly genetics can be applied directly to humans, researchers reported today. “Just by learning more about the processes of early development and early differentiation of the embryo occurring in flies, we’ll be making advances in the understanding of the development of humans,” said Allen Laughon of the University of Colorado at Boulder.
———-Eleven years ago, Sandy and Don Speir became the first man and wife team in New Mexico to enlist in the Army. Two children later, they remain in the military – although a different branch – and plan to stay as long as Uncle Sam will let them. Speir was drawn to the Air Force after earning his degree from New Mexico State University after the Army hitch. He expects promotion to captain by the end of this month on sign-up for another tour of duty. The Speirs, Artesia High School Graduates, recently returned to Minot AFB, N.D. after visiting here.
———-A fired security guard shouted “I’ve killed thousands and I’ll kill thousands more,” as he turned a McDonald’s into a slaughterhouse, shooting 20 people to death before police killed him. It was believed to be the worst one-day massacre by one man in U.S. history. Twenty others were injured, four critically, in Wednesday’s rampage, which lasted 90 minutes before a police marksman felled the gunman, James Oliver Huberty, 41, authorities said. His targets ranged from an infant girl to a 60-yearold woman. ———-Artesia Chamber of Commerce board of directors president Shirley Loop, left, presents the first-place trophy for the winning sheriffs posse in the Pioneer Days Rodeo parade to Eddy County Sheriff Jack Childress, center, and Ross Hyden, vice president and parade marshal of the sheriff’s posse. Lea County Sheriff’s Posse placed second place in the category. Ten members of the Eddy posse participated in the parade Wednesday.
30 years ago July 14-20, 1994
In 90 days, vehicles with tinted windows may be in violation of a new city ordinance. The ordinance concerning tinted windows was approved Tuesday by Artesia City Council. Under the ordinance, no person can drive a vehicle in Artesia where the driver and passengers are not “clearly visible” to an observer 50 feet away through the front window and side door windows. Speaking before the council, Police Chief Ernest Chavez stated the ordinance would help the safety of officers.
———-North Eddy County Crimestopper coordinator Pat Childress places a Crimestoppers’ bumper sticker on a vehicle. The program will soon conduct a fund raiser, the first one in 10 years, to replace funds given out in rewards. In 10 years of operation, the program has led to the arrest and conviction of 57 defendants, recovered more than $34,650 in stolen property and $7,700 in narcotics.
———-Intel Corp. has agreed to eliminate odors that some nearby Corrales residents contend have made them sick. The agreement was reached between the giant computer chip maker and the Corrales Residents for Clean Air and Water, a grass roots group that had complained about the odor. The group sent a letter Thursday asking the state Environment Department to use the agreed-upon conditions as part of the state’s draft permit. The permit is expected to allow Intel to eliminate an odor that has triggered two years of complaints and controversy about plant emissions.
———-Steve Markl, left, teacher- principal at Penasco School, and Karen Jackson of Hobbs are shown performing an experiment in the chemistry lab at Eastern New Mexico University. They were among 16 public school teachers from New Mexico to participate in the science portion of the Hands-On Science and Mathematics Institute at ENMU in Portales. The workshop was designed to dispel the fear of chemistry among teachers and show how hands-on chemistry can be incorporated into a science curriculum.
———-The mark left on Jupiter’s clouds by fragments of a comet is the most prominent feature ever observed on the face of the solar system’s largest planet, an astronomer said today. Steve Maran, an astronomer at the Goddard Space Flight Center, said a check of historical records dating back to 1610 show there is no previous recording of Jovian features as large as the scars left by the comet pieces. The black scar left by fragment G of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet is “visually the most prominent discreet spot seen on Jupiter ever,” Maran told an earlier morning news conference.
20 years ago July 14-20, 2004
An employee from Wade Construction cleans the common area of Artesia High School after today’s completion of a wall that covers most of the ceiling-tofloor glass windows that have been in place for many years. According to Assistant AHS Principal Jim Moor, the wall is part of the five-year improvement plan for the school.
———-The Bureau of Indian Affairs United States Indian Police Academy graduated its 100th class at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center today. The ceremony was held outside in the new BIA memorial and hundreds of family members and loved ones from all over the United States attended to watch the class of 28 cadets receive their diplomas after 16 weeks of training.
———-Drug enforcement officials marked a major milestone in a year-long drug investigation in southeastern New Mexico with the arrest Tuesday of 21 individuals on drug-related charges. Ten Artesians were among those arrested in the operation, which is believed to have helped undermine an organization responsible for the major portion of methamphetamine distribution in southeast New Mexico. According to a Pecos Valley Drug Task force press release, more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine were seized.
———-Consumer prices rose a modest 0.3 percent in June, half the size of the previous month’s advance and fresh evidence that inflation poses no immediate threat to the economy. The over-the-month increase in the Consumer Price Index followed a 0.6 percent spike in May, reflecting a big jump in energy and food costs, the Labor Department reported Friday. In June, energy and food costs went up, but not by nearly as much. That helped to moderate overall consumer prices and brought a little bit of relief to Americans who have been forced to dig deeper into their pockets to fill up their gasoline tanks and buy groceries.
———-Libby Johnston, Left, executive director of the Eddy CASA Program, and Arlas Blackwell, Artesia program assistant and volunteer coordinator, are looking for new volunteers for the program, which advocates for children in the juvenile justice system. CASA holds an open house today at 2 p.m. at the Artesia Chamber of Commerce.
———- (EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back was compiled By Daily Press Staff)
