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AROUND TOWN

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AROUND TOWN

YARD OF THE WEEK — Artesia Clean & Beautiful is sponsoring its Yard of the Week contest now through September. Colorful, attractive, wellgroomed lawns with curb appeal meet the qualifications. To nominate a yard worthy of the title, contact Linda at 575-513-0143 or the AC&B office at 575748-3192. —————– TALL PAUL — All ages are invited to enjoy the magic of Tall Paul from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Artesia Public Library. For more information, call the library at 575-746-4252. —————– TEEN ART — The Teen Summer Reading Program will hold Teen Art for ages 13-17 from 1-2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Artesia Public Library. Come decorate a sasquatch cookie. All supplies provided. For more information, call the library at 575746-4252. —————– CRAFTING FOR ADULTS — Adults ages 18 and up are invited to create pill bottle emergency kits at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Artesia Public Library. For more information, call the library at 575-746-4252. —————– FATHER’S DAY EVENT — Fathers are invited to join their kids for a special StoryTime, craft and games from 3-5 p.m. Friday, June 14, at the Artesia Public Library. For more information, call the library at 575-746-4252. —————– FILM SCREENING First Church Artesia, 402 W. Grand Ave., will hold a free screening of “Letter to the American Church” at 6 p.m. Friday, June 14. The public is welcome to attend. —————– SRP REGISTRATION — The final day to register for the Artesia Public Library’s children’s, teen and adult Summer Reading Programs will be Saturday, June 15. For more information, call the library at 575-746-4252. —————– CHASE SCHOLAR COMMUNITY SERVICE — Chase Scholars will be performing community service for senior citizens June 19-21. Students will be in groups with an adult supervisor and will be available for yard work, cleaning exterior windows, and various odd jobs. Students will not be painting. Sign-ups for those needing work done are available at the Senior MealSite, the Senior Center, the Artesia Chamber of Commerce, and KSVP. For more information, contact Ginny at the Chase Foundation, 575-746-4610. —————– ELECTRONIC RECYCLING — Artesia Clean & Beautiful will host its annual eWaste Event from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, June 21, and 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at the Eddy County Fairgrounds food court. Items to be accepted for recycling include all office-related equipment, fax machines, copiers, typewriters, CPUs, and consumer electronics including DVD and VCR players and video game consoles, radios, telephones and cell phones, server and telecom equipment, cameras and stereo equipment. There will be a $5 charge for large CRT monitors. Televisions and home appliances will not be accepted. For more information, call AC&B at 575-748-3192. —————– DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION — CARC Document Destruction will be at Artesia Clean & Beautiful’s eWaste Event from 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 21, at the Eddy County Fairgrounds food court to accept any residential documents in need of disposal, up to 100 pounds. No commercial documents will be accepted. For more information, call AC&B at 575-748-3192. —————– PRIDE EVENT — Artesia’s Fourth Annual Pride Event will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at Pizza Hut. The community is invited to attend to honor those who have made sacrifices to make the world a more accepting place. All ages and identities are welcome to come make new friends, spread love, and show allyship. —————– GREAT AMERICAN CLEAN-UP — Artesia Clean & Beautiful will continue scheduling cleanups through June 22. Volunteers may sign up any time at the AC&B office, 422 W. Main St., to receive supplies. For more information, call 575-748-3192. —————– GAME-DAY APPAREL — The Artesia High School Student Council has launched its game-day apparel for the 2024-25 season. Fans can now purchase a variety of products at great prices; there’s something for everyone in the collection so you can show your support for the team in style. All orders must be placed online by July 24. Use promo code BULLDOG to remove the shipping cost. Pick-up will be available at the AHS office Aug. 16 and 19. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gear up for the games and give back to the Student Council, and don’t forget to share with your fellow Bulldog fans! —————– LIBRARY BOARD The Artesia Public Library

is seeking to fill soon-tobe- opened seats on the Library Board of Trustees. Anyone interested should submit a letter of inquiry to Library Supervisor Omar Acosta at the library or by email to oacosta@artesianm. gov. —————– PHLEBOTOMIST PROGRAM — Applications are now open for Artesia General Hospital’s certified phlebotomist program. To learn how to apply and for more information on this career opportunity, call 575-736-8178 or email foundation@artesiageneral. com. —————– INTRO TO YOUTH SPORTS — The Artesia Center is offering a program for children ages 3-5 that introduces kids to sports in a fun, non-stressful environment. The program is held from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Center. For more information, contact Bernice at 915-2498934. —————– COMMUNITY FITNESS CLASS — The public is invited to attend a fun, free community fitness class, led by certified group fitness instructor Dottie Ellis, from 5:306:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Artesia Center, 612 N. Eighth St. —————– DRIVERS NEEDED — SENM Veterans’ Transportation is in need of volunteer drivers to transport veterans to and from doctor’s appointments. Anyone interested in volunteering is urged to contact Alice or Donna at 575622-0729. —————– WIDOW’S MIGHT Widow’s Might, a support group for widows at all stages of grief, will meet at 6:30 p.m. each Thursday in the classroom building on the east side of West Main Baptist Church, 1701 W. Main St. For more information, call 575-746-3528, email widowsmightnm@gmail.com, or visit widowsmightnm. com or facebook. com/widowsmightnm.

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GRIEF SUPPORT — A Grief Group meets at 1:30 p.m. each Tuesday in the Saint Damien Center at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 1111 N. Roselawn Ave. Free support is offered in both English and Spanish. For more information, contact Nora at 575-308-3248. —————– MEN’S PICK-UP BASKETBALL — The City of Artesia is hosting men’s pick-up basketball from 5-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Artesia Center, 612 N. Eighth St. For more information, call 575-746-9009. —————– TOPS — The Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club meets at 9 a.m. Wednesdays at the Senior Center. For more information, call the Center at 575746-4113.

Lady ‘Dogs compete in All-Star games

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Lady ‘Dogs compete in All-Star games

Artesia was represented Saturday at the Red, Green, Gold and Turquoise All-Star Softball games in Las Cruces by, from left, Mikenzi Carlo, Zowe Warren, Madison Martinez and Lady Bulldog head coach Sandra Pulido. Morning games in the all-classifications round robin saw Carlo, Martinez and Pulido’s Turquoise squad end in an 8-8 tie against the Green team, while Warren’s Gold team topped Aguilar’s Red squad 9-4. See Page 2 for additional photos.

Summer Reading Program rewards kids and adults — for getting lost in a book

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Summer Reading Program rewards kids and adults — for getting lost in a book
By ELIZABETH WEBB For the Daily Press

The Artesia Public Library has officially kicked off its Summer Reading Program.

The library staff said the planned programs invite children, teens and adults to join the fun with their theme, “Adventure Begins At Your Library.”

“Summer Reading Programs are essential for the youth of the community,” said Library Supervisor Omar Acosta. “They are a fun and creative way for kids to develop a love for reading that will establish a lifelong relationship with books that will be advantageous in every aspect of their life, especially in their academic pursuits.”

According to Acosta, the program helps kids keep their reading habits healthy during the summer months.

“Summer reading helps students to retain knowledge and skills learned in the previous school year,” he said. “It can strengthen their reading skills and build on their comprehension skills and general knowledge of the world.”

The annual Summer Reading Program draws massive participation, with 816 registered readers and 4,503 program attendees who read a total of 8,165 books last year during June and July.

The program also reminds people that the library is for more than books and reading — it’s a gathering place to share knowledge and have fun while learning.

According to Melissa Ochoa, Teen Services Librarian: “The program gives teens a place to socialize and connect with each other, to open a book, and to not just be home all summer.”

Adult Services Librarian Wendy Kilpatrick often reminds people that learning doesn’t end at a certain age. That’s why she also strongly encourages adults to participate in the Summer Reading Program.

“With our adult programming, we try to offer something for everyone,” said Kilpatrick. “If our goal is to foster a lifelong love of reading beginning at an early age, we have to continue to feed that love into the teen years and throughout adulthood.”

“Summer Reading Programs are a big part of making reading fun while at the same time offering fun and educational programs for everyone,” she added.

As far as program prizes go, they vary by age, and include:

• For Kids 12 and Under: When they read, they write down the title of the book they are reading in the box for that day. After they read for seven days, they bring in the calendar and get the prize for Level 1. Every 7 days is a different level and a bigger prize. At Level 2 they get a book bag. Other prizes include sunglasses, beach balls, binoculars, a compass. At level 6, they receive a book to take home and keep. If they complete the program by reading every day, they get a bag of school supplies. Additionally, for every level they get an entry into the grand prize drawing. Grand prizes include a Playday Wheel Barrel with toys, sticker books, Kids Adventure Set, Table Top S’mores Kit, art supplies, plushies and more. Kids can earn extra prize entries when they attend programs.

• For Teens 13 – 18: Teens receive a charm bracelet when they register. Teens log the amount of time they read on their reading log. After they read for five hours, they get to select charms for their bracelets. They receive an entry into the grand prize drawing for every five hours read. If they turn in a book review, they get a backpack tag for charms. Teen grand prizes include AirPods, a digital camera, and a gift card.

• For Adults 18 and Up: For every book read, they get to draw for a prize. Prizes this year include bookmarks, notepads, stress balls, mini flashlights and a mini screwdriver set. Each book read earns patrons an entry into the weekly and grand prize drawings. Weekly prizes include gift cards to local businesses and some other goodies for book lovers. Adult grand prizes are a cozy book lovers blanket, an Amazon gift card and a charcuterie board set.

The library will host dozens of free events, programs and activities for all ages.

One of the largest events will be a Family Field Day at the Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center on July 12 from 5-7 p.m. Families and individuals can compete in corn hole, ring toss, hula hooping, relay races, and more.

“I am most excited about this event because we’ll be able to get outside and focus on family time,” Kilpatrick said. “This is the first time we are holding an event like this.”

Other family programs include Family Chalk Party on June 28 from 5-7 p.m. where families will decorate the sidewalks and part of the parking lot with chalk. On Monday, July 8, at 10 a.m., the library will host a mural painting session with assistance from the Artesia Arts and Cultural District.

“Inevitably, a child that participates in our Summer Reading Program is going to have fun, be entertained by the performers and presentations that the library will host, they will learn new skills, and be encouraged to be imaginative and creative,” said Acosta. “Hopefully they will develop a sense of community and a love of reading that will stay with them for a lifetime.”

Registration for the Summer Reading Program is free and ends June 15. For a full list of events and activities, visit the Artesia Public Library website.

Eddy County warns public of phone scam

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CARLSBAD — Eddy County is warning the public to be on their guard following a fraudulent phone call that resulted in a resident being scammed.

On June 4, a caller with a 615 area code — associated with the Nashville, Tenn., area — placed a call to the family member of an Eddy County Detention Center (ECDC) detainee one day after the detainee had been booked into the jail.

The caller told the relative that ankle-monitoring services could be initiated for the detainee if the family member would simply send a payment of $800 via cash app. The family member unfortunately found the caller’s wording and tone so convincing that they …

… transferred the $800 payment before realizing that the call had been fraudulent.

When the individual attempted to call the 615 number back, they found their number to be blocked.

The county urges the public to be advised that ankle-monitoring service providers will never directly solicit money from a detainee’s family. At the time of a detainee’s court hearing, the family is advised regarding local vendors who provide ankle-monitoring services, at which point it is up to the family to contact those providers at their discretion.

The ECDC must furnish both the detainee’s family and the ankle- monitoring service provider with the detainee’s Conditions of Release document from the New Mexico Courts before ankle- monitoring service providers request a one-month-in-advance payment to initiate services.

Anyone receiving a phone call from someone claiming to represent ECDC or an ankle-monitoring service provider who asks for money or personal information is urged to hang up immediately and call the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office at 575-887-7551 to report the suspicious activity.

If you receive a call regarding an ECDC detainee and are uncertain as to whether or not it is legitimate, hang up immediately and call the ECDC directly at 575-887-7556.

City council to meet Tuesday

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ARTESIA — The Artesia City Council will hold a regular meeting Tuesday with one public hearing on the agenda.

The hearing will precede consideration of an ordinance that would vacate 50 feet of public right-of-way in the Charlie H. Smith addition of Smith Avenue to the City of Artesia, Eddy County, for a dedication circle and consolidation of Lots 1, 3, 5 and 7, Block 2; owners: Richard Leaton of the English Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the City of Artesia and Wesley Knowlton of Tiny Homes, LLC.

Other agenda items will include: • consideration of a lease transfer made between 2404 Parkland, LLC, to Robert M. and Pamela K. Eales and the City of Artesia.

• consideration of a resolution for the verification of Water Trust Board match contributions.

• consideration of a budget adjustment.

• the presentation of a report on final pricing results for Gross Receipts Tax Bonds Series 2024.

The council may also adjourn to executive session, in accordance with the State of New Mexico Open Meetings Act, to discuss pending litigation. Any action as a result of that session will be taken once the meeting has reconvened in an open setting.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, in Council Chambers at City Hall.

Ruth Eberle

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Ruth Eberle

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at Immanuel Lutheran Church for Ruth T. Eberle.

Eberle, 95, passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.

Interment will follow the services at Woodbine Cemetery, followed by a reception at the church fellowship hall. The family asks those attending to wear red, white and blue in Ruth’s honor.

Visitation will be held from 2-6 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Terpening & Son Mortuary.

Ruth was born April 19, 1929, in Roswell. She lived in Artesia for many years before moving to Frisco, Texas, in 2019.

Ruth worked for the Artesia Public Schools until her retirement in 1996. She was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.

She loved being with family and friends and enjoyed traveling the world. Ruth had the ‘gift of gab,’ never met a stranger, was very patriotic, and was an avid Artesia Bulldog fan.

Survivors include daughter LouAnn Pope and granddaughters Tiffany Pope Picazzo and Alexa Pope, all of Frisco; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, and son-inlaw James Pope.

John Madrid

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John Madrid

A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church for John G. Madrid.

Madrid, 85, passed away in peace, surrounded by loved ones. He has gained his wings and is flying in Heaven with the angels and his beautiful wife, Betty.

Interment will follow the services at 11 a.m. Saturday at Twin Oaks Memorial Park, followed by a reception at the church.

A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Grace.

John was born May 13, 1938, in Artesia to Juan and Ramona Madrid.

It was in Artesia that he met the love of his life, Betty Chavez. The two were married Feb. 27, 1960, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. They had just celebrated 63 years of marriage before Betty’s passing in 2023.

John obtained his master’s degree in education while he and Betty were raising their four children together in Artesia and Roswell. He was a few classes away from obtaining his PhD in education.

His teaching career began with the Roswell Independent School District, where he taught sixth grade for one year at Flora Vista/Nancy Lopez Elementary School. He then moved into the position of diagnostician until his retirement in 1998. He took a break and went back as a diagnostician consultant until his full retirement in approximately 2008.

John loved his job because of the help he knew he was giving to the many, many students he tested over the years to get the best education possible. He tested students for the gifted program and the special education program.

John’s next adventure in life was caring for the grounds at Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe for about six years. While there, he was blessed with the friendship of the Sisters/Nuns. In 2014, he realized it was time to relax and enjoy life with family.

John was a devoted Catholic. He was a good husband, dad, son, brother, Popo and Great Popo. He made sure everyone knew they were always welcome in his home.

Survivors include children Johnny Madrid, Barbara Young and Mark, and Eric Madrid, all of Albuquerque, Ramona Madrid of Roswell, and Bill Madrid and Sherene of Kilgore, Texas; sisters-in-law Rachel Contreraz, Jane Regenold and Patricia Chavez; grandchildren Sarah Young-Craycraft and Mike, Michael Young and Felicia, Jeremy Young and Michelle, Seth Young, Cera Silversmith and Dominic, Jessica Zamora, Amanda Madrid and Charlie, Jocelyn Madrid and Enrique, Ma-Kayla Gillispie, Nicholas Madrid-Kane and Emily Madrid- Kane; and great-grandchildren Isaiah Young, Damian Silversmith and baby girl (Joecelyn/ Enrique) due in October 2024.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Juan and Ramona Madrid; infant son Joseph; brother Joe C. Madrid; great-granddaughter Kristin Young-Almaraz; and wife Betty.

Public Record

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ARTESIA POLICE DEPARTMENT June 7 SUSPICIOUS PERSON 12:32 a.m. – Officer dispatched to Sonic in reference to a suspicious person.

BATTERY

12:51 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the 1000 block of South Heath Street in reference to battery.

INTOXICATED SUBJECT 2:10 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the 300 block of West Dallas Avenue in reference to an intoxicated subject.

RECKLESS DRIVING

5:33 a.m. – Officer dispatched to North 13th Street and West Richey Avenue in reference to reckless driving.

BATTERY

7:36 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the 1600 block of West Missouri Avenue in reference to battery.

June 6 ALARM

8 a.m. – Officer dispatched to Bob’s Auto Body in reference to a burglar alarm.

LOUD MUSIC

8:59 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the Abo Apartments in reference to loud music.

INCORRIGIBLE CHILD 9:51 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the 500 block of West Centre Avenue in reference to an incorrigible child.

UNWANTED SUBJECT 10:07 a.m. – Officer dispatched to McDonald’s in reference to an unwanted subject.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT 10:25 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the 100 block of Sunset Court in reference to disorderly conduct.

ASSIST

5:44 p.m. – Officer dispatched to North First Street and West Richey Avenue to assist the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office.

ALARM

6:10 p.m. – Officer dispatched to 128 E. Compress Road in reference to a burglar alarm.

ACCIDENT

7:19 p.m. – Officer dispatched to 2004 W. Mann Ave. in reference to a hit-and-run motor vehicle accident.

DOMESTIC

9:48 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 800 block of West Lolita Avenue in reference to a verbal domestic dispute.

OPEN DOOR

11:38 p.m. – Officer dispatched to 1810 W. Currier Ave. in reference to an open door.

June 5 DISTURBANCE

12:09 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the Abo Apartments in reference to a neighborhood disturbance.

ALARM

1:15 a.m. – Officer dispatched to 2812 Browning Ave. in reference to a burglar alarm.

FIREWORKS

4:52 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the Abo Apartments in reference to fireworks.

LOUD MUSIC

6:56 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the Abo Apartments in reference to loud music.

June 4 ARREST

10:42 a.m. – Jorge Molina, 38, of Artesia, arrested on a magistrate warrant for contempt of court, failure to comply.

VICIOUS ANIMAL

8:08 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the 200 block of West Gage Avenue in reference to a vicious animal.

WANTED SUBJECT

8:32 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the Public Safety Complex in refernce to a wanted subject.

RECKLESS DRIVING

9:22 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the 5900 block of Seven Rivers Highway in reference to reckless driving.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON 11:32 a.m. – Officer dispatched to the 1100 block of North 10th Street in reference to a suspicious person.

TRESPASSING

11:33 a.m. – Officer dispatched to Fenn’s Country Market in reference to trespassing.

TRESPASS WARNING

12:23 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 200 block of North 13th Rural Street in reference to a criminal trespass warning.

ASSIST

12:26 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 1000 block of South Ward Avenue to assist the Artesia Fire Department.

HARASSMENT

12:45 p.m. – Officer dispatched to Artesia General Hospital in reference to harassment.

TRESPASS WARNING

3:26 p.m. – Officer dispatched to North 12th Street and West Mahone Drive in reference to a criminal trespass warning.

3:41 p.m. – Officer dispatched to Allsup’s, 800 S. First St., in reference to a criminal trespass warning.

ASSIST

3:54 p.m. – Officer dispatched to First American Bank to assist the Artesia Fire Department.

TRESPASSING

4:03 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 300 block of South 11th Street in reference to trespassing. LOST PROPERTY

4:05 p.m. – Officer dispatched to 1903 W. Runyan Ave. in reference to lost property.

RECKLESS DRIVING

4:25 p.m. – Officer dispatched to North First Street and East Richey Avenue in reference to reckless driving.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT 5:24 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 1100 block of West Merchant Avenue in reference to disorderly conduct.

ALARM

6 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the Artesia VA Clinic in reference to a burglar alarm.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 6:01 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 1400 block of West Chisum Avenue in reference to suspicious activity.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON 6:02 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 300 block of West Cleveland Avenue in reference to a suspicious person.

ACCIDENT

6:19 p.m. – Officer dispatched to South 18th Street and West Centre Avenue in reference to a motor vehicle accident with no injuries.

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 7:22 p.m. – Officer dispatched to Roselawn Manor in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

SUICIDAL SUBJECT

7:27 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 1100 block of West Dallas Avenue in reference to a suicidal subject.

SHOTS FIRED

8:31 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 900 block of West Champ Clark Avenue in reference to shots fired in the area.

ABANDONED VEHICLE 8:34 p.m. – Officer dispatched to South Roselawn and West

Runyan avenues in reference to an abandoned vehicle.

HARASSMENT

9:32 p.m. – Officer dispatched to Roselawn Manor in reference to harassment.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT 9:59 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the Abo Apartments in reference to disorderly conduct.

DOMESTIC

10:35 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 1600 block of West Missouri Avenue in reference to a verbal domestic dispute. SUICIDAL SUBJECT

10:54 p.m. – Officer dispatched to the 1800 block of South First Street in reference to a suicidal subject.

EDDY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE June 8 RECKLESS DRIVING

12:14 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to Roswell Highway, mile marker 75, in reference to reckless driving.

INTOXICATED SUBJECT 1:02 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to Royal Services in reference to an intoxicated subject.

ACCIDENT

2:02 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to South 13th Rural Street and West Four Dinkus Road in reference to a motor vehicle accident with injuries.

OPEN DOOR

4:19 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to 26 Broken Arrow Road in reference to an open door.

UNWANTED SUBJECT 6:17 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to the 260 block of Broken Arrow Road in reference to an unwanted subject. An arrest warrant was served.

June 7 AUTO BURGLARY

4:43 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to 2719 W. Missouri Ave. in reference to an auto burglary.

THREATS

11:14 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to DT Tires and Roadside Service in reference to threats.

RECKLESS DRIVING

1:40 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to the 6300 block of Seven Rivers Highway in reference to reckless driving.

UNSAFE VEHICLE

2:09 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to Seven Rivers Highway, mile marker 63, in reference to an unsafe vehicle.

RECKLESS DRIVING

3:26 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to South First Street and East Castleberry Road in reference to reckless driving.

WANTED SUBJECT

8:25 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to the 40 block of Wildfire Road in reference to a wanted subject.

THREATS

10:11 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to the 200 block of North 13th Rural Street in reference to threats.

ABANDONED VEHICLE 10:19 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to Seven Rivers Highway, mile marker 61, in reference to an abandoned vehicle.

June 6 THREATS

12:49 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to the 20 block of Broken Arrow Road in reference to threats.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 2:21 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to South 13th Street and West Castleberry Road in reference to suspicious activity.

3:44 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to the 20 block of Broken Arrow Road in reference to suspicious activity.

VANDALISM

4:45 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to 2704 N. Bolton Road in reference to the vandalism of a vehicle. DOMESTIC

7:57 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to the 1000 block of West Fairgrounds Road in reference to a physical domestic dispute.

ACCIDENT

8:56 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to Seven Rivers Highway and West Atoka Road in reference to a motor vehicle accident with no injuries.

RECKLESS DRIVING

12:43 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to the 7100 block of Roswell Highway in reference to reckless driving.

FRAUD

1:22 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to Artesia Metals in reference to fraud.

RECKLESS DRIVING

2:11 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to Allsup’s, 1603 N. First St., in reference to reckless driving.

WANTED SUBJECT

3:25 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to First Street RV in reference to a wanted subject. An arrest warrant was served.

RECKLESS DRIVING

5:36 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to Seven Rivers Highway and East Fairgrounds Road in reference to reckless driving. An arrest was made.

ALARM

6:08 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to 128 E. Compress Road in reference to a burglar alarm.

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 6:09 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to the 300 block of South Haldeman Rural Road in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

INDECENT EXPOSURE 7:04 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to Brantley Lake, Champion Bay, in reference to indecent exposure.

SUICIDAL SUBJECT

7:05 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to Brantley Lake, Champion Bay, in reference to a suicidal subject.

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 10:56 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to North 26th Rural Street and Howard Drive in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

11:39 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to North 13th Rural Street and Roswell Highway in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

June 5 ASSIST

12:17 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to the Abo Apartments to assist the Artesia Police Department.

12:23 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to the Abo Apartments to assist the Artesia Police Department.

12:32 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to the Abo Apartments to assist the Artesia Police Department. LIVESTOCK

7:10 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to Bluestem Road, mile marker 9, in reference to livestock in the roadway.

WANTED SUBJECT

10:44 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to Artesia Magistrate Court in reference to a wanted subject. An arrest warrant was served.

ALARM

11:09 p.m. – Deputy dispatched to 1001 Pecan Ave. in reference to a burglar alarm.

June 4 LIVESTOCK

8:15 a.m. – Deputy dispatched to Lovington Highway, mile marker 126, in reference to livestock in the roadway.

The shadows turned from the sun

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The shadows turned from the sun
By Cassie McClure

At 5:30 a.m., it was still dark when we — five cops, two city council members, and one city manager — took off from City Hall on bikes. Within a few minutes, the sun started creeping over the mountains, showing us the muted colors of the old adobes in the nearby neighborhood.

We pulled up next to three people sitting outside a house. The police wanted to check the cleanup status codes they had requested, and the three explained they had tapped in to help the property owner. Breakfast was cooking on a little grill as two dogs tussled gently around it.

One of the men came out to be a witness to the work they wanted to do for their friend. The other man came to talk about having grown up in the neighborhood, gangbanging in the same streets, and now wanting to be its caretaker after doing his time.

“But the streets have changed,” he said, “The kids now are so quick to anger. It used to be we’d finish things,” he mimicked with a closed fist against a palm, “like that, but now it’s just,” and his gunshaped fingers rat-tat-tatted toward us. “There’s less for kids to do now.”

Sadness lingered against the dawn of the new day. The heat increased slowly but steadily as we rode on.

We stopped at another boarded- up property. The backyard was filled with bicycle parts, piles of trash, and a box of 8-track tapes under a dilapidated gazebo. An officer called into the blackened window frame, which had been covered with plywood up the day before. No one was there, but they had been overnight.

They explained the case: a son thought the mom had left the property for him in her will. She didn’t. He refused to leave and brought in friends and their drugs; the property had decayed around them in short order. The property was sold, and the son had threatened the new owners. The police supervised the move-out the day before.

Driving by a Walmart, a man sat slumped in a wheelchair. One of the officers veered over to check on him, calling him by his name. The man in the wheelchair woke up to curse the officer. After a few minutes, the officer rode over and told me his story. The police knew him. The man was on track to lose his legs from infection. His family lived in the city and wanted to help — as long as he stopped using. He refused.

At another location, a young woman spoke to us about her drug habit, never raising her eyes to us. She had three kids at her mom’s house she didn’t see. The officers offered to call for a local treatment facility to come get her. She wasn’t ready.

Even as we consider that police offering help has layered connotations — invoking real fear for many, especially people of color — what is the step for those who outright refuse treatment for substance abuse? That’s the challenge in our city, throughout New Mexico, the country, and the world: the gap between saying no to help and the possibility of change.

It’s that gap, somewhere in the twilight between the justice system and the various rehabilitation systems, that becomes a gaping hole — one that our neighbors fall into every single day.


(EDITOR’S NOTE: Cassie McClure is a writer, wife, mother, daughter, fan of the Oxford comma, and drinker of tequila. Some of those things relate. Contact her at cassie@mcclurepublications.com.)

Apologizing my way through appendicitis

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Apologizing my way through appendicitis
By Stephanie Hayes

My absent hunger was the first sign something was wrong. Normally, even when I’m physically full, the suggestion of, say, a gooey cookie will open a vacancy in my stomach.

This fateful day, though, I skipped breakfast, and then headed to lunch with a co-worker.

“Huh,” I thought. Every bit of bread and cheese and chia on the menu sounded repellent. I ordered a smoothie. It tasted like paste.

“Huh,” I thought, when the smoothie was not agreeing with me. “Huh,” I thought, driving down the highway later with a generalized maelstrom of pain.

“HUH,” I thought, hunched on the couch at home, sweating as the clock ticked ever closer to middle school pickup. “HUHHHHHH,” I thought, driving to the school tensed up like a tiny crab.

Now’s when you may remark, “Why didn’t she ask for help? Why didn’t she stop driving everywhere?”

These are valid thoughts! I figured I had menstrual cramps, even though I knew the timing was off, and this pain was different. I’d had a similar bout a few months earlier, and my gynecologist chalked it up to rupturing ovarian cysts. I experienced my first cyst rupture when I was 13: pain like a hot bolt of lightning.

For those of you without the benefit (?) of a uterus: Many of us walk around regularly with abdominal and pelvic pain that could take down an ornery bear. We tolerate the discomfort, headaches, bowel issues, bloating and bleeding while being told to smile in the shampoo aisle of CVS, while running corporate meetings and delivering packages and coordinating family lives. We have become adept at relaxing our facial masseters and putting others at ease so they may never know Bruce Willis is rappelling from a proverbial Nakatomi Plaza near our fallopian tubes.

Whatever this was, I’d been training for it my whole life. Not only are women cursed with recurrent physical pain, but we are also tasked with being likable.

I went home and lay down in the shape of a comma. The pain started to ease, and I thought, silly lady! You’re fine! The next morning, I felt sore but better, with plans to chalk the agony up to the Beautiful Mystery of Womanhood. Health care, who needs it?! I started work, yet I remained distracted by pain congregating ominously in one area.

Between each sentence I typed, the sensation nagged. I turned to Dr. Google, who offered the words “lower right quadrant” and “appendix.” I poked my lower right quadrant and began the calculus unique to Americans: weighing the cost-benefit ratio of urgent care versus primary care versus worst of all, the panic button known as the emergency room. I was lucky to have insurance, I reminded myself, and would be foolish not to use it.

My doctor’s office was able to fit me in with a nurse practitioner. She prodded.

“Ow.” “Can you jump up and down?” she said.

“I would rather not,” I replied. She wrote “STAT” on the CT scan order. I relaxed my masseters as the receptionists argued about who had to call the imaging center. I apologized to everyone, saying, “Whenever you can squeeze me in!”

At home, I checked my electronic portal, thinking there was no way I actually had appendicitis. They’d tell me to avoid cashew butter in smoothies. Or take an Aleve. Or see a therapist for anxiety manifesting in the lower right quadrant.

“Appendicitis,” it read. Huh! Not knowing what to do next, I took the dog out. During the walk, the on-call doctor phoned and said I should head to the emergency room, haha! We caught the appendix at an early enough stage that it had not yet ruptured, turned gangrenous and put my life at risk.

At the hospital, I chatted about favorite bourbons with the friendly surgeon who would soon laparoscopically snake into my belly in three places and cut out the rascally organ while I snoozed under general anesthesia.

“You’re very stoic,” he said, looking into my eyes. “When I saw you across the room, I didn’t believe you had appendicitis.”

After surgery, the nurse said I was her favorite appendicitis patient, which made me feel like I won The Hospital, which made me feel … huh? Like I should probably start examining the need to be liked and chill, even when losing a toxic organ. This work will be ongoing!

I spent a few days watching Anne Hathaway rom-coms. The surgery pain replaced the pain in my lower right quadrant, magically gone, kaput, no small mercy. The moral here is to listen to the language of hurt, respect bodily oddities, fight the urge to rationalize problems away, even if you fancy yourself some kind of smiley, friendlier John Wick.

I checked my online patient portal to read the surgery notes.

“Very pleasant 40-year-old female presents to ER with approximately a day and a half of abdominal discomfort.”

On my face crawled a vacant drugstore smile.


(EDITOR’S NOTE: Stephanie Hayes is a syndicated humor columnist whose work is distributed by Creators Syndicate. Contact her at facebook. com/stephhayeswrites.)

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