Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 4. Those voting absentee by mail who did not have their ballots postmarked by May 28 may drop ballots off at any polling site on Election Day.
Artesians may cast their ballots from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the following polling sites:
• County Clerk’s Sub-Office:
602 S. First St.
• Central Valley Electric Cooperative:
1505 N. 13th St.
• Faith Baptist Church:
401 S. 20th St.
• Trinity Temple Assembly of God:
1507 W. Hermosa Drive
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.
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!
CARLSBAD — In early May, swabs collected from cave Myotis bats in the Left Hand Tunnel area of Carlsbad Cavern and near the Rattlesnake Springs day-use area tested positive for Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS).
The park is increasing efforts to mitigate the spread of whitenose syndrome to other areas. These steps will include the decontamination of caving and research equipment before and after entry and visitor footwear.
The fungus thrives in cold, damp places where bats hibernate for the winter. It attacks and grows while they’re in an inactive state of hibernation. This damages the bats’ skin and makes them become active, burning fat they need to survive the winter. The park’s colony of migratory Brazilian free-tailed bats is not expected to suffer the same impacts as species that hibernate.
CARLSBAD — The Eddy County Commission will have one public hearing on its docket during a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday in Carlsbad.
Following a period for public comment, the board will host the public hearing to consider an ordinance granting a non-exclusive franchise to New Mexico Gas Co. Inc..
Other items on the agenda include: • an informational presentation regarding the annual site inspection of the Eddy County Detention Center by the county commission, presented by warden Billy Massingill.
• the setting of a meeting to canvass the results of the June 4 Primary Election.
• a presentation and discussion on the Otis gymnasium.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, in Commission Chambers at the Eddy County Administration Complex, 101 W. Greene St., Carlsbad.
A celebration of life is scheduled from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the home of Jeff and Staci Sanders for Fred Lee Sanders of Granbury, Texas.
Sanders, 88, passed away Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. He spent his last night surrounded by loved ones, telling stories, visiting and laughing.
Fred was born Nov. 9, 1935, in Healdton, Okla., to Marvin and Lorene Sanders. He later attended Artesia High School, where he was known as Fast Freddy for his speed and agility. He was the star football player for the Artesia Bulldogs from 1953-55 and held the New Mexico pole vault record for 13 years.
After graduating from Artesia, he attended New Mexico Military Institute and Eastern New Mexico University, from which he graduated.
In 1959, Fred married Anita Kizer, and together, they raised their two children, Cheryl and Jeff, to adulthood.
Fred later moved to Texas, where he met Janet Pogue and re-married in 1994. He and Jan were able to retire and live out their dream of ‘lake life’ on Lake Granbury, where they entertained and were entertained by their lake family. Fred continued the dream after Jan’s passing in 2014.
Fred was an avid sportsman who loved to fish, hunt and ski, but golf was his forte. He continued playing golf into his late 80s and even played in a tough three-day tournament at 87, where he impressed and inspired all the young ones on the course.
He was an excellent dancer and cook and was known for his fish fries and Colorado Bulldog drinks. He was also a big prankster and loved to tell stories.
Those left to cherish his memory include daughter Cheryl Erickson and husband Tom; son Jeff Sanders and wife Staci; grandchildren Garrett Sanders and wife Taylor, Morgan Buckles and husband Matt, Danielle Erickson, and Parker Sanders and wife Josey; great-grandchildren Aubree, Hudson, Ellie and Emmie; stepchildren Kelly Ray and husband Greg, Mark Pogue, David Pogue and wife Lori, and Karla Harwell and husband Glenn; brother Sam Sanders; sister Kay Sanders; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Fred will also be sorely missed by his lake family: Dodie Reddell, Kathy Gavlak Arnold and Steve Hemphill, Kevin Gavlak, Chris and Gladys Gavlak, and many other friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Lorene; brother James; first wife Anita Kizer Sanders Berry; and second wife Janet Pogue Sanders.
Graveside services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, June 7, at Woodbine Cemetery for Charles Patrick Pinkerton.
Pinkerton, 65, passed away Friday, May 24, 2024.
He was born March 18, 1959, in Fort Smith, Ark., to James Miller Pinkerton and Letha Alta Pierce.
Survivors include son Jory Pinkerton; brother Phillip Pinkerton; nephews Wayne Wright and Caresa, Sonny Wallace and Danae, Jimmy Pinkerton, David Pinkerton, Danny Pinkerton and Michael Pinkerton; niece Teresa Marshall; and grandchild Whilley Elaine Pinkerton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Miller Pinkerton and Letha Alta Pierce; sister Octavia Wallace; brothers John Pinkerton and Jimmy Pinkerton; and nephew Billy Wallace.
Arrangements are under the direction of Muffley Funeral Home of Clovis. Condolences may be expressed online at www.muffleyfuneralhome.com.
MESCALERO — The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) and the Mescalero Apache Tribe will host a veterans’ benefits event this week in Mescalero.
VA and Tribal Veterans’ Service Officers, along with other knowledgeable advocates, will be on hand to assist veterans with the completion of VA claims paperwork from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, in the conference center at Inn of the Mountain Gods.
Claims will be reviewed on the spot with hopes of same-day approval. In addition, spouses and widows/widowers may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) when a veteran dies as a result of these presumptive disabilities.
Employees from the Albuquerque VA Health Care System will be available to enroll veterans in VA health care. As part of the PACT Act process, veterans may also complete toxic health screenings with VA clinicians. Assistance will additionally be available from the Las Cruces Vet Center, the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services and the VA Loan Guaranty Office.
If you served in the military in any capacity and are unsure if you qualify, you are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and allow VA staff to do research on your behalf.
CHAVES COUNTY — The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) arrested a Texas man last week on child sex crime charges as he was travelling through Chaves County.
A be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) was issued around 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23, for a man with an active warrant out of Midland County, Texas, on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Law enforcement were advised the subject, identified as 23-year-old Kyle Junker, was possibly travelling through southern New Mexico en route to Albuquerque.
NMSP officers were able to locate Junker’s vehicle approximately 15 minutes after the BOLO was released near mile marker 167 on U.S. 380 in Chaves County. Junker was arrested and booked into the Chaves County Detention Center without further incident.
Beth Menefee
Services are currently pending for Beth Menefee.
Menefee passed away Friday morning, May 31, 2024.
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