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Police blotter

Michael Smith
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Police blotter

Feb 13

Arrest

Tori Dol Herrera Coss arrested for contempt of court, failure to comply.

Ruben Nathaniel Rivera arrested for violation of 911 ordinance.

Johnny Lee Sisk arrested for criminal trespass.

Fernando Eusebio Ramirez arrested for obedience to traffic control device, failure to register motor carrier, no insurance, aggravated DWI of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Dylan Arville Watts arrested for criminal trespass.

Jonathan A Bravo arrested for criminal damage to property, tampering with evidence.

David Araiza Hernandez arrested for failure to pay penalty assessment misdemeanor.

SUSPICIOUS

12:13 am – Officer dispatched to 2100 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

DOMESTIC

3:38 am – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 6th St. in reference to physical domestic.

WELFARE

6:39 am – Officer dispatched to N. 1st St. and W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

UNWANTED

7:41 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

Feb 15

GRAFFITI

10:00 am – Officer dispatched to S. 16th St. and W. Booker Ave. in reference to graffiti.

SUSPICIOUS

3:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

6:11 am – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

DOMESTIC

6:53 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to domestic.

UNWANTED

8:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 2200 block of W. Ray Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

VANDAL

10:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to vandal.

Feb. 16

Arrest

Eric Daniel Baynot arrested for failure to appear.

Nancy Ellen Baynot arrested for municipal failure to pay.

Danny Perez Galindo arrested for failure to appear.

Joseph Dill arrested for DWI, driving on streets laned for traffic.

ABUSE

9:35 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to abuse.

WELFARE

11:06 am – Officer dispatched to N. 6th St. and W. Chisum Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

WANTED

12:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. 15th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

DISTURBANCE

2:13 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 6th St. in reference to family disturbance.

5:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

GRAFFITI

6:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Ray Ave. in reference to graffiti.

INCORRIGIBLE

8:17 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to an incorrigible child.

WELFARE

11:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

Feb 17

Arrest

Curtis Wayne Hess arrested for battery.

GRAFFITI

8:00 am – Officer dispatched to S. 15th St. and W. Ray Ave. in reference to graffiti.

LARCENY

8:02 am – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of N. 1st St. in reference to larceny.

FRAUD

11:06 am – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Dallas Ave. in reference to fraud.

UNWANTED

11:49 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of N 4th St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

1:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Sears Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

WELFARE

3:49 pm – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Yucca Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DOMESTIC

7:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

8:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 1700 block of W. Clayton Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

WELFARE

10:37 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DISTURBANCE

10:45 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 4th St. in reference to disturbance.

Feb 18

Arrest

Cruz A Munoz arrested for failure to appear.

Paul Lalo Sanchez arrested for driving while under the influence of intoxication liquor.

Ciara Nicole Cheatham arrested for failure to appear.

SUSPICIOUS

2:12 am -Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Runyan Ave. in reference to suspicious person.

WELFARE

3:27 am – Officer dispatched to N. 1st St. and W. Yucca Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

3:54 am – Officer dispatched to N. 7th St. and W. Mahone Dr. in reference to the welfare of a child.

SHOTS FIRED

4:22 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired in the area.

4:45 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired in the area.

ALARM

8:36 am- Officer dispatched to 2100 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

RECKLESS

8:44 am- Officer dispatched to N. 1st St. and W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

HARASSMENT

9:24 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of w. Richey Ave. in reference to harassment.

10:39 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to harassment.

3:11 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Mahone Dr. in reference to harassment.

DISTURBANCE

5:28 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to disturbance.

WELFARE

7:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

STOLEN

7:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Quay Ave.  in reference to a stolen vehicle.

DOMESTIC

8:39 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. James Ave. in reference to domestic.

SHOTS FIRED

10:46 pm -Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to shots fired in the area.

Feb. 19

Arrest

Joseph Olivas arrested for DWI, traffic lanes, operator and chauffeurs must be licensed.

WANTED

8:43 am – Officer dispatched to S. 13th St. and W. Washington Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

9:21 am – Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to a wanted subject.

HARASSMENT

10:49 am – Officer dispatched to W. Richardson Ave. in reference to harassment.

SUSPICIOUS

11:34 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Mahone Dr. in reference to suspicious activity.

DISTURBANCE

12:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 Gilchrist Ave. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

12:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to suspicious vehicle.

ACCIDENT

2:42 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and N. 13th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

DOMESTIC

6:06 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Alvarado Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

ACCIDENT

6:25 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W Hermosa Dr. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

HARASSMENT

6:38 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 20th St. in reference to harassment.

WELFARE

7:03 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Ray Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

DOMESTIC

8:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 3800 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

SHOTS FIRED

8:57 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to shots fired.

WELFARE

9:13 pm – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

10:01 pm – Officer dispatched to 2200 block of W. Ray Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

Opinion: Trump: Insulter in chief

Michael Smith
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Opinion: Trump: Insulter in chief

Cal Thomas

Each time one thinks President Trump has reached the lowest level possible in insulting his enemies, he finds new depths to plunge.

Following a 6-3 ruling by the Supreme Court, which included three conservative justices he appointed, the president called the justices “fools,” a “disgrace to the nation,” and “unpatriotic.” His critics might say such language is a disgrace to the presidency. Calling people names, especially names that are incendiary in content, wins no arguments and creates opposition instead of a fair hearing for one’s counter arguments.

The president also claimed the court’s decision is “disloyal to the Constitution,” when the majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, cited the Constitution which the majority said does not grant the president the right to unilaterally impose tariffs under the emergency provision he cited. That right, under the separation of powers clause, is granted to Congress.

The Court might be reasonably criticized for the length of time it took to issue its ruling after billions of dollars have poured into the Treasury. It might also be criticized for saying nothing about whether any or all of that money should be rebated to the countries that paid the money and the companies that experienced price increases for their products as a result of higher tariffs.

Past Supreme Courts have been criticized by presidents who disagreed with their rulings, but nothing like this president has done. Name-calling is juvenile, unhelpful in achieving one’s goals, and is a bad example to especially young people.

There is enough coarse language in the culture without the president adding to it. Last week, CNN ran a story called “politics and profanity.” It was about how increasing numbers of male politicians are now using bad language to apparently boost their macho bona fides (though increasingly female politicians are joining their male colleagues in the F-bomb gutter).

Once, politicians kept their cursing mostly private. Now they do it openly. They are not alone. Films, TV and other “entertainment” contain filthy language that once would have caused a TV station to lose its license, or a film to be censored by a now- defunct board that imposed a censorship code.

Both President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have used profane language during their respective tenures and campaigns in the last decade. The trend is widespread. Some think the earthiness makes politicians more honest and relatable.

We once thought politicians were supposed to set an example, because they were elected to represent the people. While hypocrisy is always around, “the people” mostly expected their leaders to speak what was once called “the king’s English” and with a minimal level of respect.

Arguments for tariffs could include that nearly 100 countries apply baseline tariffs on U.S. goods. It is unfair that we don’t reciprocate with tariffs on them. The U.S. also has comprehensive free trade agreements in force with 20 countries.

The day after the court ruled, the president announced a 15 percent “global tariff.” We’ll see if that survives court challenges. He might even get Congress to approve them if he tried a measure of kindness and respect for our institutions, instead of pouring on gallons of vitriol when some disagree with him.

The president should also try attacking spending which has created an unsustainable $38 trillion debt. That would improve the economy more than tariffs ever could.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).

Feds ‘fail’ to clean up WIPP nuke waste, state says

Michael Smith
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Feds ‘fail’ to clean up WIPP nuke waste, state says

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

State officials are demanding changes in the federal government’s procedures for disposing of nuclear waste at a repository near Carlsbad.

The New Mexico Environment Department said on Feb. 11 the U.S. Department of Energy’s waste cleanup efforts have been marred by delays and misplaced priorities, and called on the agency to create a specific plan to dispose of nuclear waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in the state’s southeast corner.

The lab, where the United States’ first nuclear weapons were developed in a rural area about 40 miles northwest of Santa Fe and near the small town of Los Alamos, continues to be used for federal nuclear weapons research and production.

As at other nuclear facilities, operations at Los Alamos produce transuranic (TRU) waste, which consists of irradiated clothing, debris and equipment, and the Los Alamos waste is disposed of via burial at WIPP.

The waste is buried at WIPP in a salt deposit about 2,000 feet underground. The salt gradually collapses on the waste, burying the refuse and blocking radiation from escaping.

But the environment department recently voiced dissatisfaction with the amount of waste being disposed of at WIPP from outside New Mexico, arguing that more waste – about five times more than what was sent from Los Alamos – came from Idaho National Laboratory between 2021 and 2025.

That’s because the Department of Energy signed an agreement with the state of Idaho in 1995 to prioritize that facility’s waste for disposal at WIPP five years before the repository opened.

The agreement set specific benchmarks and schedules to remove TRU waste from the lab, and required that about 55% of shipments to WIPP be Idaho waste.

To solve the dilemma, the New Mexico Environment Department said it was proposing a modification to the Energy Department’s state permit, which would require “explicit standards and metrics” for disposal of Los Alamos waste at WIPP.

“Those agreements are great for those facilities. We’re trying to promote the same for our state,” said John Nance, chief of the state’s Hazardous Waste Bureau.

Los Alamos a priority

The change is necessary because the Department of Energy and its hired contractor that runs the WIPP site, Salado Isolation Mining Contracts, have “failed” to prioritize Los Alamos waste, read a letter signed by Nance.

The letter sent to Salado President Ken Harrawood and to Mark Bollinger, manager of the Department of Energy’s Carlsbad Field Office, charged that waste sent to WIPP from Los Alamos decreased to 191 cubic meters in 2024 and 225 cubic meters in 2023, compared with 473 cubic meters disposed of in 2022.

This decline came despite a clause added to WIPP’s state permit when the permit was renewed by the Environment Department for another 10 years in 2023 requiring that Los Alamos waste be given higher priority and that space at WIPP be set aside for it.

Specifically, the renewed permit called for the 12th disposal panel to be used for Los Alamos Waste but that won’t be available until 2035 – two years after the state permit expires – according to the Department of Energy’s Legacy Waste Plan submitted in November 2025.

Panels are mined out areas in the WIPP underground where drums of waste are placed for disposal. The permit gives approval to mine out the site’s 11th and 12th panels; the previous permit approved only eight.

A selling point for state approval of the 12th panel was its availability for Los Alamos waste during the 10-year permit period: 2023 to 2033, the letter read.

“There’s a difference between ‘we’ve prioritized and have space reserved’ and actually emplacing it,” Nance said. “We’re not seeing the emphasis on actually characterizing and emplacing that waste.”

Department of Energy spokesperson Valerie Gohlke said in an emailed statement that the agency was dedicated to cleaning up waste from Los Alamos when it is properly processed for shipment to WIPP.

Gohlke said Feb. 17 that the Department was reviewing the permit modification proposal and would respond in the future.

“The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management is advancing legacy environmental cleanup at (Los Alamos) and remains committed to public safety, efficiency, and transparency. We received Administrative Compliance Orders from the New Mexico Environment Department on February 11, 2026, and are in the process of reviewing them,” Gohlke wrote

Typically, permit modification requests are filed by the Department of Energy and its contractor at WIPP. The recent proposal marks a rare occasion when the state proposed its own alteration.

In its letter, the state said it aimed to require the federal government to establish a timeline and specific waste volume benchmarks for disposal of Los Alamos waste at WIPP.

Defining ‘legacy waste’

The federal government would also be called on to establish a definition of “legacy waste” a term typically used to refer to nuclear waste produced in the past, as in previous nuclear development at Los Alamos.

Nance argued the federal government’s current definition was a moving target, shifting to accommodate new projects and the ability to dispose of resulting waste.

He said the state considers legacy waste to be any waste generated before October 1999, when WIPP first opened.

“What we’ve seen is that based on certain situations, that definition can be skewed to allow for certain projects to move forward,” Nance said.

And when defined, legacy waste would also be prioritized over all newly generated waste around the country, while WIPP must establish conditions for disposal of Los Alamos waste that are “trackable and enforceable,” read the letter.

The Environment Department also issued three violations of state environmental rules to Los Alamos National Laboratory, citing the lab’s alleged failure to clean up waste and contamination the state worried could impact the local community.

Those included two fines of about $9.8 million and $6 million for alleged violations of groundwater chromium levels around the lab and violating a 2024 consent order to clean up the contamination, respectively.

Los Alamos was also required by the Environment Department to submit to the state supporting documents for a previous decision to defer cleanup of an 11-acre landfill containing nuclear waste near the lab.

“We have the only repository in our state, with that our legacy waste in our state should have a priority to it,” Nance said. “We as an agency are not happy with the lack of progress we’ve seen over the years.”

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

Malpractice bill exposed willful ignorance

Michael Smith
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Malpractice bill exposed willful ignorance

Sherry Robinson
All She Wrote

Sen. Joe Cervantes was litigating House Bill 99, the medical malpractice reform bill, on the Senate floor, and he had plenty to say.

Two days earlier, Cervantes, a trial lawyer and Las Cruces Democrat, had defanged HB 99 with amendments in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chairs. Now, in a floor fight, he was grilling Sen. Crystal Brantley, R-Elephant Butte, who was trying to strip the Cervantes amendments and restore HB 99 to its original language. Cervantes droned on about legal points in what Brantley, who is not a lawyer, characterized as “a back-and-forth, condescending debate.”

Cervantes said, “I don’t mean to embarrass you.”

Brantley responded: “You can’t embarrass me. I represent seven rural counties that don’t have good access to healthcare.”

HB 99, by Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, attempts to right a wrong by reforming a medical malpractice law passed in 2021 that has spiked doctors’ insurance premiums, multiplied malpractice lawsuits, amped up awards and settlements, and driven doctors from the state. With no limit on punitive damages, New Mexico has enriched trial lawyers as it threatens doctors with financial ruin.

Brantley’s amendment prevailed 25 to 17 with all the Republicans and a handful of Democrats voting in favor. The bill itself passed 40 to 2, and the governor has promised to sign.

It’s a victory for doctors and patients, but it came perilously close to failing. Democrats who opposed the bill tried repeatedly to ambush it. The most strident were Cervantes and his fellow trial lawyers Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, and Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe.

HB 99 not only exposed a lot of willful ignorance right up to the final vote, it spotlighted conflicts of interest.

Throughout the process, journalists have pointed out that Cervantes, Duhigg and Wirth make money suing doctors, but legislators were curiously silent on this conflict of interest.

Recently, Ed Williams of Searchlight New Mexico reported that Wirth had introduced House Bill 35 to fund an additional judge in the First Judicial District, where wrongful death and medical malpractice cases have proliferated in the last five years, according to a bill analysis. Many of the cases originate outside Santa Fe, but lawyers are venue shopping for a court more likely to award big judgements. Lawyers can receive up to 40% of a verdict or settlement.

Wirth has been working with Cervantes to bring wrongful death cases in Santa Fe, Williams wrote. “In other words, the senator who introduced a measure to help clear more cases through the First Judicial District is himself contributing to the extra lawsuits making that bill necessary.”

On the Senate floor, Wirth said it was “preposterous” that he could benefit from the bill. He represents estates and is paid hourly regardless of outcome – unless the malpractice bill discourages the number of cases.

After that story ran in The Santa Fe New Mexican, readers were outraged.

Ouida MacGregor, a former Santa Fe city councilor, berated Wirth, Cervantes and Duhigg for mixing business and legislation and for killing malpractice reform last year. “In my opinion, Wirth and Cervantes have tarnished the legislative process, the legal profession and bamboozled the voters who believed they were honorable. Both men should resign.”

Columnist Milan Simonich wrote: “Both senators should have excused themselves from every debate and all votes on a bill to cap punitive damages that juries can award in malpractice cases… Between the two of them, leadership was nowhere to be found.”

He called for their resignations and said the Senate should choose new leaders.

Wirth’s courthouse bill died, but the controversy prompted the New Mexico Ethics Commission to opine that there is no legal basis to keep attorneys from voting on bills that affect their law practice. It’s up to the Senate and House to come up with rules.

According to Senate rules, “The members shall not use their offices for private gain and shall at all times maintain the integrity and discharge ethically the high responsibilities of their legislative positions. Full disclosure of real or potential conflicts of interest shall be a guiding principle for determining appropriate conduct of the members.”

In other words, senators decide for themselves if they have a conflict of interest. Do you trust these guardians of the chicken coop?

Sherry Robinson is a longtime New Mexico reporter and editor. She has worked in Grants, Gallup, the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico Business Weekly and Albuquerque Tribune. She is the author of four books. Her columns won first place in 2024 from New Mexico Press Women.

Rick Smith: Goers and Senders in Missions

Michael Smith
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Rick Smith: Goers and Senders in Missions

Rick Smith

Calvary Missionary Baptist Church

There are four questions that need to be answered when it comes to missions and evangelism.  If you are a Christian, then you are either a goer or a sender.  Both are important and necessary to the spread of the gospel around the world.  In Romans 10:14-15 Paul asks four questions that tell us why we need both goers and senders.  Listen carefully what Paul said:  “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”  Now lets break it down so that we can understand our individual part in missions and evangelism.

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?”  We have the promise of scripture that “…whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).  This is not an empty call, or empty words, but the expression of faith in the promise of God.  Some treat God as though He was a cosmic genie to grant every wish.  Those that trust in Him will call upon the Lord.  But faith is not a feeling. We understand with our hearts and place our trust in the Lord.  And this faith does not come from us but from God Himself.  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8).

Since saving faith is reasonable, then we must ask, “and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”  We hear and read of stories of pagans in foreign lands whose hearts were already prepared to believe the gospel.  But until they heard the gospel message they were still lost in their sins.  This is the reason that we are commanded to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Until they hear the truth of the gospel the lost cannot respond in faith.  Some places seem to be ready for the message as soon as it is preached.  Other places are hard and need the soil plowed and cultivated before they can even begin to respond.  So the whole world needs to hear the good news of Jesus before they can respond in faith.

But “how shall they hear without a preacher?”  You will note that it is not doctors they need.  Nor is it teachers of agriculture that will save them.  They need someone to preach, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus to them.  I remember hearing as a young Christian the story of a missionary doctor who ministered to lepers.  As he would practice his medical skills on the poor leper, he would be telling them about Jesus and making the gospel clear to them.  We have many missionary doctors, missionary teachers, missionary agriculturalist, but their primary function is to bring the gospel to the lost everywhere. Meeting felt needs is useless if we don’t give them what they must have.  The must have Jesus and how shall they hear about our Lord Jesus Christ without a preacher of the gospel?

This next question is the need and the beginning point of missions.  “And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”  Remember that as a Christian you are either a Goer or a Sender.  God calls, but the church sends.  As a member of a local church your mission may be that of a Sender.  God has called a missionary to go to take the gospel to peoples far away, but the local church participates in his work by sending and supporting those that God has called.  Remember that Barnabas and Saul?  God called Saul on the Damascus road, but it was the Antioch church that separated him and Barnabas for the work, ordained them, and sent them.  They also supported them in prayer and financed their work.  That is the purpose of Senders.

We support the Goers by sending them, so that they can proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to those that have not heard in order that they may hear and believe on our Lord Jesus Christ.   Our missionaries are precious gifts of our churches to those who are lost, because once they hear God can save them.  And they will rejoice with us and say, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

If you have any questions, we invite you to visit with us this Sunday.   Worship at 10:50 A.M.  We are located at 711 West Washington Ave.  Check our sermon videos on Youtube @ricksmith2541.  Send comments and prayer requests to prayerlinecmbc@gmail.com.

WIPP contractor touts safety record

Michael Smith
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WIPP contractor touts safety record

Staff reports

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO) the contractor hired by the U.S. Department of Energy to run the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) announced two significant safety milestones last week: one full year without a recordable injury for a SIMCO employee, and surpassing 3 million consecutive safe work hours.

Recordable injuries are defined as any work-related incident resulting in death, days away from work, restricted work, loss of consciousness, or medical treatment beyond first aid.

“This achievement reflects the daily commitment of WIPP employees to follow established safety protocols, as every employee plays a role in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace,” read a statement from SIMCO.

SIMCO President Ken Harrawood said the announcement highlighted the WIPP’s “safety culture,” explaining that employees are encouraged to bring safety concerns to management and ensure issues are properly addressed. Every employee is empowered to stop work when they feel conditions are unsafe, Harrawood said, and are urged to participate in safety briefings, inspections and ongoing training.

”Over the past year, we completed several significant construction projects and exceeded our goal in receiving and emplacing waste from generator sites in New Mexico and around the nation,” added Ken Harrawood, SIMCO program manager. “Achieving these safety milestones, while also successfully accomplishing a substantial amount of work, is truly remarkable. More importantly, we are reminded that every employee deserves to go home healthy at the end of the day.”

At WIPP, the Energy Department disposes of transuranic nuclear waste (TRU), which is clothing materials, equipment and other debris irradiated during nuclear activities.

The waste is buried at WIPP in a salt deposit about 2,000 feet underground. The salt gradually collapses on the waste, burying the refuse and blocking radiation from escaping.

WIPP began operations on March 26, 1999, when its first shipment was received from Los Alamos National Laboratory. To date, WIPP has received and disposed of over 14,700 shipments from New Mexico and across the nation. This includes over 2.8 million cubic feet of TRU waste safely disposed, comprising over 220,800 containers.

Artesia boys’ basketball team reclaim district title

JT Keith
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Artesia boys’ basketball team reclaim district title

The Artesia Boys’ Bulldog basketball team missed out on this moment a year ago. This time, the Bulldogs stood on their home court at the Pit Friday night, hoisting the District 4-4A championship trophy after a 58-42 win over Goddard.

It was the Bulldogs’ third victory this season over the Rockets- and their second in less than a week- but Bulldog head coach Michael Mondragon said the matchup felt routine.

“This is what you expect,” Mondragon said. “Things got a little physical and chippy. This was for the district championship.”

Mondragon said that Goddard did a wonderful job of changing defenses and frustrating the Bulldogs’ offense. Goddard forced the Bulldogs into turnovers.

The game was not a blowout and seemed to be intense and chippy. The Bulldogs won without District 4-4A Player of the Year Charlie Campbell IV having his best game.

In fact, he was in foul trouble early in the second quarter, with coach Mondragon taking him out until the second half.

With Campbell limited, senior shooting guard Braylon Vega stepped into the scoring void. Vega attacked the rim, hit from the perimeter, and finished with a game-high 21 points, helping steady Artesia through back-and -forth stretches.

Artesia guard Braylon Vega shoots a shot against Goddard during action at the Pit on Friday night.

“It is not about one guy,” Mondragon said. “It is about a group of guys, and as long as we focus on that, and worrying about who is scoring the ball, and getting the dub at the end of the day, that is what matters.”

Mondragon said that during this time of year, he expects games to be a dogfight and for every team to bring its best, with the tournament starting on Saturday.

Artesia (21-5, 6-1 District 4-4A) hosted a seeding party on Sunday afternoon at the Pit to determine its opponent for Saturday, March 7.

“Wherever we go, we go,” Mondragon said. “We will enjoy this win tonight and watch Sunday to see where we will go.”

Scenes from the Artesia boys basketball game

JT Keith
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Scenes from the Artesia boys basketball game
JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press
Artesia forward Jack Byers stretches before the start of the District 4-4A Championship game against Goddard.
Artesia guard Charlie Campbell IV looks to score in the lane against Goddard during action at the Pit on Friday night.
Artesia guard Braylon Vega moves in the lane against Goddard as he looks for his shot.
Artesia guard Braylon Vega swoops to the basket for a layup against Goddard during Friday night action at the Pit.
Artesia center Clay Kindcaid puts up a shot against Goddard during Friday night action at the Pit on Friday night.
Artesia forward Corbyn Dominguez gets ready to take a shot against Goddard during action at the Pit on Friday night.
Artesia center Clay Kincaid looks to score after getting a rebound against Goddard in action at the Pit on Friday night.
Artesia guard Charlie Campbell IV lets a shot go against Goddard during action at the Pit on Friday night.
Artesia forward Tootie McNeil waits to check in during action against Goddard on Friday night.
Artesia guard Cael Houghtaling looks to make a pass against Goddard during Friday night action at the Pit.
The Bulldogs watch the action at the Pit during Friday night action against Goddard for the District 4-4A championship.

The Artesia girls basketball team lose district title

JT Keith
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The Artesia girls basketball team lose district title

The Artesia girls’ basketball team had come so far, and yet still had to do everything right to make the state basketball tournament. Instead, their shooting went cold at the worst possible time.

The Lady ‘Dogs ran out of shots and steam as the No. 4 seed Goddard Rockets came into the Pit and upset the No. 3 seed Lady ‘Dogs 49-30 Friday night.

Artesia opened with energy, racing to an 8-0 lead and looking ready to blow the game open. But the early surge quickly faded. The Lady ‘Dogs scored only five more points for the rest of the first quarter and led 13-11 entering the second quarter.

The undoing was that the Lady’s Dogs scored only two points in the entire second quarter and turned the ball over seven times. Allowing the Lady Rockets to take a 24-15 lead into halftime.

Artesia’s shooting struggles continued in the third quarter, and it scored only four points, while Goddard stretched its lead to 37-19 heading into the fourth quarter.

JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press Artesia guard Brookly Fuentes brings the ball up against a Goddard player during Friday night action at the Pit.

Artesia (14-13, 2-4 District 4-4A) still has an opportunity to make it into the state playoffs. Last year, the Lady ‘Dogs finished 10-17 and 2-4 in District 4-4A. With the No. 4-seed Rockets winning the district tournament and the Portales Rams as the regular-season title, the committee will have a difficult time choosing four teams from District 4A.

The New Mexico Activities Association will release the tournament seedings on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Artesia began the week ranked No. 18 in the MaxPreps poll, and only 16 teams qualify.

The Lady ‘Dogs beat Goddard in the final regular-season game and followed that with a 40-37 win over the No. 8 seed Lovington Wildcats on Tuesday.

Now, the Lady Dogs will have to wait to see whether their resume earns them a spot in the state tournament and what seed they might receive.

Sights from the Artesia girls District 4-4A championship game vs. Goddard

JT Keith
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Sights from the Artesia girls District 4-4A championship game vs. Goddard
JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press. Artesia basketball player Jenna Whitmite makes a free throw against Goddard during Friday night’s game at the Pit.
Artesia forward Jenna Whitmire tries to euro-step going toward the basket against Goddard.
Artesia forward Ashton Craft takes a jumper from the right corner during Friday night action at the Pit.
Artesia guard Brooklyn Fuentes looks to score against Goddard during Friday night action.
Artesia center Gracen Kuykendall looks to score against Goddard during action at the Pit.
Artesia forward Avery Frederick tries to block a pass from a Goddard player.
Artesia forward Jenna Whitmire tries to score, driving in the lane against Goddard during Friday night action.
Artesia forward Zaleigh Greer looks to score after getting a rebound from a missed shot.
The team listens to Lady ‘Dogs coach Candace Pollard during a timeout.
Artesia girls basketball coach Candace Pollard on the sidelines during action against Goddard on Friday night at the Pit.

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