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Murder charges dropped in 2022 shooting

Michael Smith
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Murder charges dropped in 2022 shooting

Adrian Hedden
Carlsbad Current-Argus
achedden@currentargus.com

Charges were dropped against a Carlsbad man accused of shooting and killing 33-year-old Mark Hinojos four years ago.

Ryan Saiz, 32, was arrested Feb. 24, 2022, and charged with one count each of second-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Nearly four years later, on Jan. 22, the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced it had dismissed both charges against Saiz, issuing a nolle prosequi filing meaning prosecutors believe they lacked enough evidence to proceed with the case.

Saiz was released from the Eddy County Detention Center shortly after the dismissal.

The case was scheduled to go to a jury trial on Feb. 24 before Fifth Judicial Judge Eileen Riordan.

Hinojos’ mother Tamara Davenport, 55, said the case was dismissed after the prosecution determined Saiz shot Hinojos in self-defense.

Justin Dominguez, spokesperson for the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, said the office “has no comment” on the Saiz case.

Following the dismissal, Davenport said in a Feb. 20 interview that her son’s death caused irreparable harm to her and several family members in the four years since the shooting.

She said she saw her son in the hospital shortly after the shooting, and said the memory of seeing his injuries continues to disturb her.

“We went 180 (degrees). I have nightmares all the time,” she said. “I stay up for days because I cannot go to sleep. I don’t want to see that anymore.”

When she heard the charges were dropped, Davenport said, she was confused why after four years of investigation and court proceedings, the district attorney’s office would change course.

“I dropped down to the floor and started screaming and crying,” she said. “It can happen to anybody, anybody’s family at any time. I just don’t get it.”

What follows is a compressed version of events leading to Saiz’s arrest, according to an arrest affidavit filed by Carlsbad police.

Police were called to the scene in the 1100 block of Normandy at about midnight on Feb. 5, 2022, finding Hinojos suffering a gunshot wound to his head. He was transported to Carlsbad Medical Center for treatment and died eight days later.

Also transported from the scene was Michael Wood, who had a gunshot wound to his chest.

Police initially spoke to Ryan Saiz’s brother, Richard Saiz, who said two masked men broke into his home, and that Ryan Saiz, who lived in a camper on the property, fired at them.

Richard Saiz told police Ryan Saiz was injured and fled the scene after the incident. When Saiz was found by police and arrested on an outstanding warrant two weeks after the shooting, he told them he saw the men entering his brother’s home, grabbed a gun and went inside to defend his brother.

Ryan Saiz told police he “walked into a gunfight.”

Wood disputed the Saizes’ version of events, telling police that he and Hinojos went to the house, but did not kick in the door as the brothers told police. Wood said a man he did not know opened the door before they knocked and that he suddenly felt a burning in his chest, apparently from being shot.

Wood said he did not “remember much” after that. He did not give police a reason why he and Hinojos went to the Saiz residence.

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

Vote now for Athlete of the Week

Michael Smith
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Vote now for Athlete of the Week

The Artesia Daily Press is letting you decide on the best local sports star each week. Go to ArtesiaNews.com and cast your ballot. You can also access the polling using the QR code.

Girls

This week’s Athlete of the Week choices include three Artesia girls basketball players: power forward Peyton Barela; another power forward, Zaleigh Greer; and teammate Jordan Rone, a threat anytime she steps across the three-point line.

Boys

Bulldogs guard Cael Houghtaling threw down a dunk against Goddard and Portales to get the crowd going; the victories led the team to a 20-5 record. Teammate Tootie McNeil also played a big role in winning a seventh consecutive district title for the Bulldogs. Jace Deans is always positive and willing to help his basketball teammates.

Results will be released in the March 5 print edition and online.

David Grousnick explains ‘Born again’

Michael Smith
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David Grousnick explains ‘Born again’

David Grousnick

A young girl who was asked to write an essay on “birth”

She asked her mother how she had been born. Mom, who was busy at the time, said “The stork brought you and left you on the doorstep.”

Continuing her research she asked her dad how he’d been born. Being busy, Dad similarly deflected the question by saying, “I was found in the garden. The fairies brought me.”

Then the girl asked her grandmother how she had arrived. “I was picked from a berry bush”, said grandma.

With this information the girl wrote her essay.

When the teacher asked her later to read it in front of the class, she stood up and began, “There has not been a natural birth in our family for three generations…”

We are in an interesting period of time right now between the end of an awesome winter Olympics, the beginning of the season of Lent and our journey to Easter joy.

For years, the opening of “The Wide World of Sports” television program illustrated “the agony of defeat” with a painful ending to an attempted ski jump. The skier appeared in good form heading down the jump, but then, for no apparent reason, he tumbled head over heels off the side of the jump, bouncing off the supporting structure down to the snow below.

What viewers didn’t know was that he chose to fall rather than finish the jump. Why? As he explained later, the jump surface had become too fast, and midway down the ramp, he realized if he completed the jump, he would land on the level ground, beyond the safe sloping landing area, which could have been fatal.

Changing one’s course in life can be a dramatic and sometimes painful undertaking, but change is better than a fatal landing at the end.

In John 3:1-17, this is the problem Nicodemus was having. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he is facing a fatal landing if he does not change directions. But Nicodemus knows only one way and that is the way of earth. It is the only way that any of us knows.

Jesus begins speaking of Heaven, of being Born Again. But Nicodemus is confused. “How can a person go back into his mother’s womb and come out again?”

There is a reason he has come to Jesus. He has an inkling that Jesus might be able to provide a missing important detail because Nicodemus senses he is headed in a wrong direction and he should change his course. But Nicodemus is hesitant. He’s uncertain about making such a drastic change. Why? What makes this remarkable man slow to take Jesus at his word?

Sometimes what we think is most familiar is also the most unknown.

Take the case of one Midwest family. The matriarchs of the family had passed along a time-honored recipe for the traditional Easter ham. Along with the list of spices and herbs, rubs and glazes, cook times and basting procedures, was the absolutely strict instruction that the last three to four inches of the ham must be cut off – completely removed.

This order was an fundamental part of the recipe that their great-grandmother had passed down. Grandma continued the practice, as did her granddaughter.

When the great-granddaughter was initiated into the secret recipe, she dared to ask “Why?” Why the necessary amputation of the end of that holiday ham. Neither her mother nor her grandmother had an answer.

Thankfully, great-grandma was still around and had a perfectly logical, if unexpected explanation. “My roasting pan was too short,” great grandma declared, “I had to cut off the last few inches or the ham would not fit in the pan.”

Although the conditions had changed for the ensuing generations of cooks, they had all continued to follow the old instructions, without knowing why, without embracing a new reality made possible by bigger pans for bigger hams.

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut. Thinking “outside the box” requires flexing some mental muscles, pushing out the walls of thoughts and expectations we find reassuring and familiar. There is perhaps no more faith-defining expression in Western Christianity than the concept of being “born again.”

Yet, after two millennia it is a phrase that is so familiar it has become unknown.

Journey with us to the celebration of Easter this year. We meet at 10:30 am and we gather at 11th and Bullock, right across the street from Zia Intermediate School. And when the Easter celebration feast is served, you will discover that we have a bigger pan for a large ham!!

Opinion: Four reasons New Mexico is so dangerous

Michael Smith
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Opinion: Four reasons New Mexico is so dangerous

Rep. Andrea Reeb
District 64

As a career prosecutor, I have a deep understanding not only of how our criminal statutes work, but also of the personal toll crime takes on families. For years, I have witnessed the devastation caused when loved ones are lost to violent crime. That loss, and the pain left behind, is what drove me to run for office. Simply put, I know what needs to change in our laws to prevent more people from becoming victims.

This year, however, it has become increasingly clear why New Mexico remains so dangerous. What follows may sound like “insider baseball,” but it is critical to understanding the problem.

The Legislature, dominated by progressive lawmakers, controls who serves on each committee. Bills dealing with public safety and crime are almost always referred to the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, or CPAC. That committee is made up of four Democrats and two Republicans. CPAC is where good public safety bills go to die.

Why? Because the four Democrats who serve on that committee are fundamentally opposed to keeping dangerous individuals off our streets. Their focus is not on protecting victims or preventing crime, but on theories about why people commit crimes, second chances, and the so-called “prison industrial complex,” rather than on what lawmakers can do right now to keep communities safe. It is no exaggeration to say that CPAC is a major reason New Mexico is so dangerous.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe in rehabilitation and addressing root causes. But as a prosecutor, I understand that the other side of that coin is accountability. Both are necessary. Unfortunately, the progressive women who control CPAC do not share that view.

As a result, bills that strengthen penalties, close revolving-door loopholes, and promote accountability are routinely tabled. They are denied a hearing in a second committee. They never reach the House or Senate floor for debate. Time and again, four progressive lawmakers on CPAC shut them down.

These four legislators are single handedly making decisions for two million residents. They do not care what polling says, nor do they seem to care when they hear the same devastating stories that I have heard for years as a prosecutor. Four people whose values on public safety simply do not align with the majority of this state, yet hold complete control.

During the last interim, House and Senate Republicans convened two public safety task force meetings, one in Albuquerque focused on crime, and another in Las Cruces addressing juvenile violent crime. At both meetings, we heard from fellow lawmakers, district attorneys, the Governor’s Office, victim advocates, educators, and others.

The message was clear: New Mexico must do more to keep people safe. These meetings didn’t just bring communities together across party lines; they produced common-sense legislation that should have broad support. Yet none of that work matters to the progressives who control CPAC.

The CPAC problem is real. Radical ideologies on public safety are blocking meaningful reform; reforms that would protect you and your family. That will not change until the public demands accountability. New Mexicans already know we have a crime problem. Now you know why.

New Mexico Rep. Andrea Reeb represents the state’s 64th House District, including parts of Chaves, Curry and Roosevelt counties.

Here’s the Smoke – Just Saying

JT Keith
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Here’s the Smoke – Just Saying

The Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team didn’t take the easy road this season. They didn’t get the smooth path, the clean bill of health, or the perfect lineup. What they got was adversity, and what they did was lace it up, huddle up, and fight every night like the season still belonged to them.

And now, somehow, it just might.

This team has had more momentum swings than a Disneyland rollercoaster. They dropped three straight. Won seven straight. Hit the floor again with three more losses. Then picked themselves up and won two when it mattered most. When most teams would have folded, these girls pulled the stakes tighter.

They refused to be done.

Artesia guard Jordan Rone shoots a jumper from beyond the 3-point line in a game against Lovington on Friday night at the Pit. JT Keith | Artesia Daily Press

A week ago, MaxPreps had them ranked No. 18, with a playoff field that limits it to 16 teams. People were talking about softball and track season. But the girls didn’t hear any of it. They believed there was still something left to chase.

What changed wasn’t luck. It was heart.

They rebuilt their season on heart, hustle, and hard-nose basketball- the kind you can’t teach and most teams never find -until they’re pushed.

Point guard Brooklyn Fuentes became the engine of the team, slicing through defenses and attacking the lane. Jenna Whitmire, finally healthy, brought her fearlessness back and reminded the team how to win tight games. Ashton Craft turned the second half of the season into her own highlight reel, rebounding, scoring, and sparking the team when they needed it. Gracen Kuykendall returned from injury and immediately reclaimed the paint, altering shots and setting the tone.

Then came the grit crew: Avery Frederick, who battled 6-foot-5 Lovington center Abbi Shouse without blinking. Zaleigh Greer, who defends like every loose ball is hers. Peyton Barela, steady defender and fearless driver. Desiray Savoie, instant energy off the bench. Jordan Rone, the three-point lifeline who hits big shots when they matter.

The Lady Dogs built their comeback on defense, the kind that hurts. They set a mission: don’t let opponents reach 40 points. Make every shot tough. Make every possession matter. Some nights they won with it. Some nights, like a 39-36 loss to Portales, they proved the formula even without the win.

Artesia guard Brooklyn Fuentes has become the sparkplug of team this season.

What matters is they never quit.

They’ve already stacked more wins than last season, 14 and counting, and now they’re one win away from a district tournament championship Friday night. A week ago, the postseason felt like a rumor. Today, it’s a real possibility.

What won’t show up in MaxPreps is this: the team found itself at the moment most teams fade. They learned how to fight together. How to trust each other. How to win ugly, win late, and win when people expected them to crumble.

Three major injuries. One season ender. Slumps. Setbacks. Pressure. And still they stand, tougher than when they started.

If you want a story about heart, grit, and a group of girls who refused to bury their season before the season buried them, this is it.

The Lady Dogs aren’t done. They’re just now becoming who they were meant to be.

Y’all stay right.

Northern ski resorts welcome new snow as season winds down

Michael Smith
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Northern ski resorts welcome new snow as season winds down

Mike Smith
El Rito Media
msmith@currentargus.com

A series of weekend snowstorms dropped varying amounts of snow in northern New Mexico as ski resort operators continue to deal with inconsistent winter temperatures during the final weeks of the ski season.

The big winner from the snowfall as of Saturday, Feb. 21, was Angel Fire, which welcomed 22 inches of fresh snow, according to the trade organization Ski New Mexico.

Taos Ski Valley picked up eight inches of snow as of last weekend and Sipapu received five inches. Red River Ski and Summer Area and Ski Santa Fe each added four inches of new snow to its base depth.

Christy Germscheid, executive director of Ski New Mexico, said snowfall was consistent for a four-day period last week.

“It helps solidify a base to see ski areas through spring break,” she said during a telephone interview from Angel Fire.

She said the new snow allowed additional terrain to be opened in northern New Mexico’s ski areas.

“It’s the world’s best marketing tool,” Germscheid said. “Low 50s in February are not the temperatures you want.”

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque predicted temperatures in the 50s for Angel Fire this week while highs in the 60s were forecast for Santa Fe and Los Alamos.

Germscheid was not optimistic that colder weather would arrive this week but said next week could be a different story.

“Next Wednesday (March 4) there’s snow on the horizon. It looks like that is when it’s going to start cooling off,” she said.

Forecasters said wetter conditions could develop with a weather system bringing in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

Germscheid is hopeful that resorts could add new snow as spring break nears for schools in New Mexico and Texas.

“Spring break is looking great. We want to finish strong with great conditions,” she said.

Latest snow totals as of Tuesday, Feb. 24

(Information provided by Ski New Mexico)

Angel Fire Resort had a 29-inch base with 66 of 95 trails open.

Pajarito Mountain had a base depth of 12 inches with 18 of 53 trails open.

Red River Ski and Summer Area had a base depth of 20 inches with 46 of 64 trails open.

Sipapu Ski and Summer Area had a base depth of 24 inches with 24 of 44 trails open.

Ski Santa Fe had a 38-inch base with 84 of 89 trails open.

Taos Ski Valley had a base depth of 40 inches with 99 of 120 trails open.

Note – snow conditions can change after this report is compiled.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.

CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL: Stuffed Cabbage with Hatch Chile Tomato Sauce

Michael Smith
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CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL: Stuffed Cabbage with Hatch Chile Tomato Sauce

Bruce Lesman

Some dishes don’t need reinvention — they just need a little finesse. Stuffed cabbage is one of those old-world comfort classics that carries generations of memory in every bite. Tender leaves wrapped around a savory filling, slowly simmered until everything melts together. This version keeps the soul of the dish intact while giving it a gentle Southwestern nudge with a smooth, mellow mild Hatch chile tomato sauce that warms rather than overwhelms.

The key here is balance. The cabbage is blanched just until pliable, never mushy. The filling uses an equal blend of beef and pork for richness without heaviness. And the mild Hatch chiles — roasted and blended into the tomatoes — bring a rounded, slightly sweet warmth, adding depth rather than heat.

Stuffed Cabbage with Mild Hatch Chile Tomato Sauce

Serves 4–6

Ingredients

• 1 large green cabbage

• ¾ pound ground beef

• ¾ pound ground pork

• 1 cup cooked rice

• 1 small onion, finely diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• ½ teaspoon dried oregano

Hatch Chile Tomato Sauce

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 cup roasted mild Hatch chiles, peeled and chopped

• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• ½ teaspoon sugar (optional)

• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Remove the core from the cabbage and blanch until leaves loosen. Peel off 12–14 leaves and set aside.

In a bowl, gently mix beef, pork, rice, onion, garlic, egg, and seasonings until just combined.

Fill and roll cabbage leaves snugly.

Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil, add mild Hatch chiles, tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasonings. Simmer, then blend until smooth.

Bake rolls covered in sauce at 350°F for 75–90 minutes until tender.

Bruce Lesman is a longtime culinary executive and food columnist. His career includes serving as Corporate Food & Beverage Director for Cunard and Seabourn Cruises, Lead Culinary Consultant for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Vice President of Canyon Ranch Wellness Resorts.

Steve Pearce faces confirmation hearing to helm BLM

Adrian Hedden
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Steve Pearce faces confirmation hearing to helm BLM

Adrian Hedden | Carlsbad Current-Argus

Former New Mexico congressman Steve Pearce faced a committee of U.S. senators Wednesday, Feb. 25 amid his nomination to lead the federal Bureau of Land Management.

A Republican from Hobbs, Pearce served as the U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s Second Congressional District in seven terms from 2003 to 2009, and again between 2011 and 2019.

He also chaired the New Mexico Republican Party from 2018 to 2024.

The Second District contains most of southern New Mexico, including its deep-red southeast corner consisting of portions of Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties. Pearce left the post to run for New Mexico governor in the 2018 election, losing to current Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

President Donald Trump nominated Pearce as director of the Bureau of Land Management in November 2025. The agency oversees 245 million acres of federal public land mostly in 12 states in the American West, including New Mexico, along with 700 million acres of underground mineral rights.

That means the bureau, a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is tasked with overseeing oil and gas development on public land, a key driver of New Mexico’s economy accounting for about half of the state’s fossil fuel production centered in the Permian Basin.

During Pearce’s Wednesday confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee he was questioned about his record as a supporter of the oil and gas industry, and the sale of public land to private industry.  

The full U.S. Senate will vote at a date not yet scheduled on Pearce’s confirmation for the job.

In his opening statement, Pearce touted his experience in oil-rich southern New Mexico, but also explained a balance should be reached between mineral development and other uses such as outdoor recreation.

Public land should be used to develop domestic energy and other minerals where possible, Pearce said, to ensure the U.S. was not dependent on adversarial nations.

“We must preserve the natural spaces so all people have access to the spiritual beauty of the outdoors, where hunting and fishing can be passed down from one generation to the next, where critical minerals can be developed, freeing us from dependence on China,” Pearce said.

“The security and economic health of the country, especially the western states, rests squarely on the shoulders of the BLM. We can and must balance the different uses of public lands. Local economies and future generations depend on us doing our job right.”

The committee’s ranking member U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), who frequently advocated for tighter restrictions on oil and gas and protecting public land from industrial development said Pearce’s nomination posed a “challenge” for the committee

Heinrich said federal law requires the bureau to manage public lands “as public,” and not owned by any one industr or “special interest.” Heinrich pointed to Pearce’s past support of the fossil fuel industry, which the senator said could prove problematic to the conservation of public land.

“Some of these positions that he has taken, he called for the selling off of public lands. That makes it challenging for me to view his potential tenure at the BLM as one of stewardship,” Heinrich said.

During his questioning of Pearce, Heinrich pointed to alleged plans he said of the federal administration under Trump to sell off large swaths of public land to industry for oil and gas and other developments.

The Bureau of Land Management currently holds quarterly lease auctions, offering tracts of public land for rent to oil and gas companies for production. Operators pay royalty rates to the bureau as a percentage of proceeds from oil or gas produced, with the host state receiving half that revenue.

Leases are generally for 10 years or as long as oil and gas is produced.

Heinrich said some sale of “isolated tracts” of federal public land were permissible for various projects such as local affordable housing, but he worried the Trump administration intended to sell the land “more broadly” to industry, rather than lease it, and questioned if Pearce would continue that effort if confirmed.  

“There is a concern among New Mexicans that a sale of public lands on a broader scale might be part of the new BLM agenda,” Heinrich said.

Pearce said his time as an elected official in rural New Mexico, both in Congress and the State Legislature, where he represented the state’s 62nd House District in Lea County, gave him an understanding of the different needs of different lands in the rural Southwest.

He said he did not believe the Interior Department planned “large scale” public lands sales, and said he would look to Congress for guidance on future policies and direction.

“From my time in office, I know that I would have understood better than another director of the BLM for this office the sensitivity of his piece of land or that piece of land,” Pearce said. “There is a monumental amount of work to be done.”

Mayoral candidates address voters during back to back Artesia forums

Michael Smith
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Mayoral candidates address voters during back to back Artesia forums

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@artesianews.com

Artesia’s two mayoral candidates in the March 3 election faced off in a pair of candidate forums Feb. 19 – one an afternoon session at Artesia Country Club and the other an evening encounter at the Ocotillo Performing Arts Center.

Terry Todd, 65, and Jeff Youtsey, 61, answered submitted questions from Artesia residents at the forums sponsored by KSVP radio and the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. The questions were submitted by KSVP listeners in advance of the forum via the station’s website.

Todd and Youtsey are running to replace outgoing Mayor Jonathan Henry who is not seeking reelection.

Todd a retired New Mexico State Police officer and former site director at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Artesia, said during his opening statement at the evening forum he is running to offer the community some fresh ideas.

Todd said he viewed his 10-year tenure at FLETC as good training for mayoral responsibilities and also touted his four decades in law enforcement.

“I bring a lot of experience,” he said.

Youtsey has spent 14 years representing District 3 on the Artesia City Council and for the past four years has also served as mayor pro tem.

He said he has the government experience to serve as Artesia’s next mayor.

Youtsey has worked for 28 years in the operations and health and safety departments at Navajo Refinery in Artesia.

Keeping Artesia safe brought up at forum

Both Todd and Youtsey weighed in on a question regarding public safety in the community.

Todd praised the Artesia Police Department for its work in keeping the city safe. He said keeping officers and paying them good wages are issues he will address if elected mayor.

“But wages isn’t the only thing,” he said, noting that it’s important for officers to “know they’re supported by the community.”

Todd said he wants to make sure law enforcement personnel have proper equipment and training.

“We need to make sure we have them properly staffed and covered,” he said.

Youtsey said that during his time on the City Council police officers have received proper training and money has been spent for the latest electronic equipment.

He said officers leave the department for higher paying positions with other law enforcement agencies such as the Eddy County Sheriff’s Department.

“It cost the city a pretty good penny to get us caught back up to Eddy County and we go through this cycle every four to five years either trading officers or trying to get the pay up,” Youtsey said. “I think right now we are on a pretty even keel, and I think if you watch the national news like I do, I think within 10 years a police officer might make $100 an hour.”

Youtsey said city governments will have to prepare to pay higher wages for law enforcement officers in the coming decades.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.

Eddy County jail project hiked to $3M

Michael Smith
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Eddy County jail project hiked to $3M

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press

A new jail in Eddy County will cost $3 million more than projected after the county approved a contract for the work with an Albuquerque-based firm.

Eddy County Commissioners voted unanimously to support the contract proposed by Bradbury Stamm Construction. The vote followed the commission’s Feb. 10 decision to enter negotiations with the company.

Commissioners approved an initial budget of about $155.3 million for the project at their Nov. 5, 2024, meeting. Design firm Studio Southwest upped the cost to $167.6 million in October 2025 when the plans were completed.

Bradbury Stamm’s most recent estimate, approved by the county via the contract, rose to $170.8 million – combining $159 million in construction costs with about $11 million in gross receipts tax liability associated with the project.

Andy Benson, senior architect with Studio Southwest, said at the commission’s Feb. 10 meeting that the rising cost of the project was related to Carlsbad’s remote location in the rural southeast corner of New Mexico.

He suggested much of the project could be built offsite to save expense and trucked to the new jail location.

Commissioners plan to pay for the project through a combination of budgeted county building funds and federal grant money from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The Rescue Act, signed into law by former-President Joe Biden in March 2021, created a $1.9 trillion package of relief funds amid the COVID-19 pandemic that included money for public infrastructure projects to help local governments grappling with economic fallout from the health crisis.

About $5.4 million was appropriated to the jail project through the act.

The project will see the Eddy County Detention Center rebuilt on the south end of Carlsbad across Corrales Drive from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office headquarters.

Construction is expected to begin in April and continue for about 30 months. No plans have been announced for demolishing or repurposing the current jail on Main Street in Carlsbad.

When complete, the 142,000 square-foot facility will be able to respond to growing needs to house inmates charged and convicted of crimes throughout Eddy County, said Warden Bill Massingill.

Massingill said the current location was built 30 years ago. Designed to hold about 70 inmates, it currently averages about 220. Massingill said the new jail will be able to hold up to 400 inmates initially and could be expanded to accommodate a population of 800 in the future.

Eddy County Manager Mike Gallagher said the detention project was devised through an evaluation committee that included representation from multiple departments such as the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, current detention center staff, information technology, Eddy County Fire and Rescue, and the Eddy County Manager’s Office.

“This has been in the works for the last four years, working on all the work that it’s taken to get here today,” Gallagher said. “Our evaluation committee was pretty robust.”

Before the vote, District 4 Commissioner Bo Bowen questioned why a local contractor was not hired for the work.

“The thing that I’ve been approached about is local contractors and why they weren’t chosen,” Bowen said.

Gallagher explained that the size of the project eliminated most local construction firms in the Carlsbad area from eligibility. He said smaller firms in the community lacked the ability to issue bonds for the work, given its large price tag.

Bradbury Stamm was chosen through a competitive bidding process, Gallagher said, explaining that New Mexico procurement codes do not allow local government bodies to give geographic preference to local contractors during the selection process.

“I think it’s important to note that every entity in New Mexico and across the country had the opportunity to apply for this. Because of the size of this project, many entities were excluded,” Gallagher said. “This was publicly advertised. It went through an open process.”

Other business

Commissioners also voted to fund a $2 million project to renovate and rebuild portions of the Otis Gym and Community Center, which is open to the public in the Otis community south of Carlsbad and north of Loving. The project will replace the gym’s exterior stucco and gym floor while upgrading electrical components, lighting and air conditioning.

Finance Director Roberta Gonzales reported Eddy County’s total revenue as of December 2025 at $228.2 million and a cash balance of $341.1 million. She projected the county’s balance would rise to $363.4 million by June 30, 2026 – the end of Fiscal Year 2026.

Fiscal years in New Mexico run from July to June 30 and are named for the calendar year they end within.

A $750 donation was approved from Built Concrete to the Eddy County DWI Program to help fund upcoming community events.

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

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