CARLSBAD — Due to high to extreme fire danger in Southeast New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park has announced the immediate implementation of the following preventative measures:
Fire, charcoal and propane grills are prohibited.
Smoking is prohibited, except inside personal vehicles.
Open flames and cooking stoves are prohibited in the backcountry.
The increased fire danger is due to prolonged hot, dry and windy weather. These factors result in extremely dry vegetation that is highly susceptible to even the smallest spark.
The above measures will be in effect until the fire danger subsides.
Members of the Bulldog and Lady Bulldog tennis teams receiving special recognition at the end-of-season banquet pose with their awards. They are, from left, Kirklyn Miller, Top of the Ladder Award; Paul Miller, Best Overall Record; Anna Netherlin, Most Improved; Cutter Summers, Top of the Ladder Award; Abigail Jowers, Most Improved; Damian Lopez, Most Improved; Adrienne Harvey, Best Overall Record; Ethan Bunt, Rookie of the Year; and Alex Madrid, Fighting Heart Award. (TJ and Jennifer Palma – For the Daily Press)
ROSWELL — The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has announced that Roswell will be the new home of the world-renowned National Championship Air Races (NCAR).
Following a lengthy selection process by the RARA, and after demonstrating its commitment to carry forward this one-of-a-kind event, Roswell has been chosen to host the return of the air races in 2025. The event will continue to feature seven classes of racing, static displays, military demonstrations and more, welcoming fans back to the stands as the world’s fastest motorsport takes to the skies once again.
“We’re thrilled to bring our honored tradition of racing to Roswell and are confident that they have both the enthusiasm and resources to expand the future of our races for many generations to come,” said Fred Telling, CEO and chairman of the board for the RARA. “While Roswell was chosen, we are truly grateful for the overwhelming support, dedication and enthusiasm shown by all the communities who submitted their bids to host our event. It was incredibly difficult to select a final location as each venue had their own unique strengths and challenges. At the end of the day, we are thankful and deeply appreciative of the teams in Pueblo and Casper who invested their time and efforts in the process.”
This decision marks a significant milestone in the event’s history, as Roswell provides an opportunity to bring national championship air racing to a new part of the country while starting the next chapter for the organization. As the new home of NCAR, Roswell provides air race participants and enthusiasts an opportunity to see the event in a new light with a newly designed course and opportunities for new attractions specific to the location. Additionally, Roswell’s airfield will set the stage for the next generation of high-fliers to compete in an innovative and exciting environment.
“To know that Roswell will be the future home of the National Championship Air Races is a privilege and honor,” said Mike Espiritu, president and CEO of the Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation. “The event landing in Roswell is a testament to the collaboration and support of the region who have worked for the past year to make this dream a reality. We are confident that we can help the event grow and expand for many years to come.”
In April 2023, the RARA initiated an official request for proposals, receiving an impressive 38 inquiries from prospective locations across the country. Following this, 11 cities participated in bidders’ conferences, with six submitting comprehensive proposals. After a series of site visits conducted at each location by the RARA, factors such as the ability of venues to host large crowds, handle hundreds of aircraft, and support the large racecourse needed for the event were taken into consideration. With these and many other factors in mind, Casper, Wyo., Pueblo, Colo., and Roswell were chosen as the top three finalists.
The NCAR will take place at the Roswell Air Center, a former military base for the U.S. Army and Air Force. Today, the air center is one of the largest centers for the commercial aviation industries of the Southwest.
In addition to attending the air races, attendees can also enjoy a day at the Mescalero Sand Dunes, visit the Walker Aviation Museum, head to the Spring River Zoo or Carlsbad Caverns, and much more. Roswell’s annual UFO Festival is held every summer, where attendees from all over can experience something truly out of this world.
While preparations continue for the 2024 Reno Air Show and the 60th anniversary celebration in October, the organization is looking forward to planning the return of the NCAR in their new home in Roswell in September 2025.
“The New Mexico Tourism Department is excited to hear the news that the City of Roswell will become the new home for the National Championship Air Races and the economic prospects the move will present for southeastern New Mexico,” New Mexico Tourism Department Acting Secretary Lancing Adams said in a statement. “Major events have served as critical drivers of tourism and economic activity for communities throughout New Mexico. They offer destinations of all sizes the opportunity to share their unique heritage, natural features and local businesses with travelers from near and afar who are looking for a little slice of New Mexico True.
“With the selection of Roswell as the new home for the National Championship Air Races, New Mexico now has yet another great reason to share the Land of Enchantment with the world.”
ARTESIA — The State of New Mexico and Eddy County have released the unofficial results of Tuesday’s Primary Election.
Locally, a square-off between two Republican candidates for county sheriff was decided, and county residents helped settle a hotly contested race in State Senate District 42.
In the sheriff’s race, current Eddy County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) Undersheriff Matt Hutchinson of Carlsbad has unofficially edged out challenger and retired ECSO deputy Victor Martinez, also of Carlsbad, for the Republican nomination. Hutchinson will now face the Libertarian candidate, Andrew Kennedy of Loco Hills, in the Nov. 5 General Election.
In a Senate District 42 race, meanwhile, that has seen Republican candidates Steven McCutcheon of Carlsbad, the incumbent, and challenger Larry R. Scott of Hobbs warring over the alleged improper use of water permits, McCutcheon unofficially won Eddy County but not the district as a whole, with Scott taking the election on the legs of a wide margin in his home county of Lea.
Voter turnout was 22% statewide, with 230,436 ballots cast among 1,011,360 eligible voters. In Eddy County, 7,017 of 27,328 eligible voters went to the polls, a 25% turnout.
Following is a list of all unofficial results. Local results will be canvassed during a special meeting of the Eddy County Commission.
COUNTY-LEVEL SEATS
County Sheriff – Matthew Todd Hutchinson (R-Carlsbad): 3,278 * – Victor E. Martinez Jr. (R-Carlsbad): 2,376 – Andrew G. Kennedy (L-Loco Hills): 20 *
County Commissioner, District 2 – Hayley Klein (R-Artesia): 971 *
County Commissioner, District 3 – Philip John Troost (R-Artesia): 672 * – Justin D. Wilson (R-Carlsbad): 612
County Commissioner, District 5 – Sarah Marie Cordova (D-Carlsbad, incumbent): 251 *
County Treasurer – Patricia H. Carrasco (R-Carlsbad): 4,337 *
STATE-LEVEL SEATS
State Senator, District 32 Overall – Candy Spence Ezzell (R-Roswell, incumbent): 1,930 * – Chad A. Hamill (R-Hagerman): 1,404 Eddy County – Ezzell: 703 – Hamill: 347 Chaves County – Ezzell: 1,227 – Hamill: 1,057
State Senator, District 34 Overall – James G. Townsend (R-Artesia): 2,942 * Eddy County – Townsend: 1,239 Otero County – Townsend: 1,703
State Senator, District 41 Overall – David M. Gallegos (R-Eunice): 2,057 * Eddy County – Gallegos: 787 Lea County – Gallegos: 1,270
State Senator, District 42 Overall – Steven V. McCutcheon (R-Carlsbad, incumbent): 2,058 – Larry R. Scott (R-Hobbs): 3,226 * Eddy County – Scott: 820 – McCutcheon: 1,252 Lea County – Scott: 2,403 – McCutcheon: 806 Chaves County – Scott: 3 – McCutcheon: 0
State Representative, District 54 Overall – Jonathan Allen Henry (R-Artesia): 2,084 * – Christian Scott Ehmling (L-Artesia): 13 * Eddy County – Henry: 1,253 – Ehmling: 10 Chaves County – Henry: 36 – Ehmling: 0 Otero County – Henry: 795 – Ehmling: 3
State Representative, District 55 Overall – Cathrynn N. Brown (R-Carlsbad, incumbent): 2,143 * – John Jack S. Volpato Jr. (R-Carlsbad): 844 Eddy County – Brown: 1,837 – Volpato: 793 Lea County – Brown: 306 – Volpato: 51
State Representative, District 66 Overall – Jimmy G. Mason (R-Artesia, incumbent): 2,002 * Eddy County – Mason: 1,218 Chaves County – Mason: 206 Lea County – Mason: 578
Public Education Commissioner, District 9 Overall – KT Manis (R-Hobbs, incumbent): 12,109 * Eddy County – Manis: 4,211
Fifth Judicial District Attorney Overall – Dianna L. Luce (R-Roswell, incumbent): 12,941 * Eddy County – Luce: 4,294
Fifth Judicial District Court Judge Overall – Efren Andres Cortez (R-Lovington, incumbent): 12,598 * Eddy County – Cortez: 4,210
NATIONAL-LEVEL SEATS
President of the United States Statewide – Joseph R. Biden (D): 110,063 * – Uncommitted Delegate (D): 12,849 – Marianne D. Williamson (D): 8,874 – Donald J. Trump (R): 78,716 * – Uncommitted Delegate (R): 3,116 – Nikki Haley (R): 8,016 – Chris Christie (R): 2,423 – Vivek Ramaswamy (R): 881 – Lars Mapstead (L): 428 * – Uncommitted Delegate (L): 331 Eddy County – Biden: 809 – Uncommitted (D): 200 – Williamson: 149 – Trump: 5,171 – Haley: 251 – Uncommitted (R): 106 – Christie: 77 – Ramaswamy: 50 – Mapstead: 16 – Uncommitted (L): 8
U.S. Senator Statewide – Martin Heinrich (D, incumbent): 121,903 * – Nella Louise Domenici (R): 79,525 * Eddy County – Heinrich: 997 – Domenici: 4,404
U.S. Representative, District 2 Statewide – Gabriel Vasquez (D, incumbent): 29,487 * – Yvette Herrell (R): 23,096 * Eddy County – Vasquez: 840 – Herrell: 3,426
U.S. Representative, District 3 Statewide – Teresa Leger Fernandez (D, incumbent): 45,350 * – Sharon E. Clahchischilliage (R): 24,895 * Eddy County – Fernandez: 204 – Clahchischilliage: 1,248
* indicates candidates who will be on the General Election ballot in November
Members of the 2024 Bulldog baseball team receiving special recognition at the end-of-season banquet pose with their awards. They are, from left, Jett Whitmire, On-Base Percentage; Josiah Rodriguez, Most Stolen Bases; Ayden Huffman, Bulldog Award and Second-Team All-District catcher; Daelon Pacheco, Most Home Runs, First-Team All-District pitcher and Second-Team All-District first baseman; Frankie Galindo, Gold Glove and First-Team All-District outfielder; Nye Estrada, Silver Slugger Award, First-Team All-District pitcher and shortstop, and South All-Star selection; Rickey Armendariz, Leadership Award; and Jack Byers, MVP, Cy Young Award, Most RBI Award and First-Team All-District pitcher and third baseman. Additional First-Team All-District selections included utility player Kaden Beauregard and outfielder Jesse Armendariz; additional Second-Team selections included Jett Fuentes, shortstop, and Diego Morales, pitcher and DH. (TJ Palma – For the Daily Press)Members of the 2024 Lady Bulldog softball team receiving special recognition at the end-of-season banquet pose with their awards. They are, below, Kayden Apodaca, Top Arm and Second-Team All-District; above from left, Katrin Marquez, Most Improved and Honorable Mention All-District; Madison Martinez, Second-Team All-District and South All-Star selection; Kinsley Rodriguez, Second-Team All-District; McKenna Morrison, Biggest Thief, First-Team All-District and South All-Star selection; Mikenzi Carlo, Most Dedicated, First-Team All-District and South All-Star selection; Perseis Aguilar, Top Bat, Top RBI, Top Glove, Most Home Runs, Most Hits, MVP, First-Team All-District and South All-Star selection; and Elizabeth De La Riva, Honnorable Mention All-District. Not pictured is Zowe Warren, South All-Star selection. (TJ Palma – For the Daily Press)
During its annual Service Awards luncheon April 19, the Artesia Public Schools bid farewell to 10 staff members who will be retiring at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Pictured from left are Margaret Bustamante, Donna Williams, Donna Hammer, Christi Gonzales and Mark McAlister. Not pictured are Delma Carrasco, Billy Mondragon, Thad Phipps, Cody Skinner and Sylvia Wilson. (Photo Courtesy APS)Honored for 40 years of service to the Artesia Public Schools during the annual Service Awards Luncheon was Tammy Kiemle. (Photo Courtesy APS)Receiving 30-year honors was D’Mar Briseno-Ortega. (Photo Courtesy APS)Honored for 25 years of service were, from left, Dena Nelson, Eugenia Granados, Scott Simer and Melissa Burnett. Not pictured are Emily Bennett and Jeff Houghtaling. (Photo Courtesy APS)Staff members honored for 20 years of service include Manuela Alvarado, Murry Avery, Shani Avery, Robbie Harrison, Julie Horner, Jeanette Martinez, Jessica Martinez, Patricia Perez and Antonio Torrez. (Photo Courtesy APS)Staff members honored for 15 years of service include Tracy Bartley, Dusty Bean, Maria Lara, Sarah Savage, Kelli Smith, Vanessa Teel and Shawn Waller. (Photo Courtesy APS)Staff members honored for 10 years of service include Christy Aguilar, Anna Bilberry, Elisha DeHoyos, Jennifer Duff, Haley Ellett, Beatriz Fernandez, Emilio Gonzales, Vickie Grousnick, Rhea Lynn Kaufman, Victoria Kidd, Staci Lasater-Molina, Ciarra Marrufo, Angela Montgomery, Derek Montoya, Breanne Naylor, JJ Ortiz, Tiffany Ortiz, Celestina Prieto and June Willmore. (Photo Courtesy APS)Staff members honored for five years of service include Ranae Blackerby, Melanie Bejarano, Rosemary Braswell, Eva Cabezuela, Nubia Caro, Patricia Christie, Jeanette Delgado, Sherry England, Brenna Evans, Aurora Fierro, Maribel Flores, Jo Lynn Fulton, Estefana Lopez, Ramona Gomez Lozoya, Juan Marcos Muniz, Tanya Nolen, Dawn Perez, Candace Pollard, Nikia Rubio, Cassie Sanchez, Donna Sanchez, Taylor Sanders, Leigh Ann Thomas, April Waters and Angie Williams. (Photo Courtesy APS)
SANTA FE — Free admission to any of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs’ (NMDCA) eight museums and seven historic sites will be available this summer to active-duty military personnel and their families through the Blue Star Museums program.
New Mexico has a sizable active-duty military and National Guard population of more than 43,000 people and NMDCA offers these individuals a chance to explore the history and culture of the state throughout the summer.
Through this program, NMDCA museums and sites will offer free admission to active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve, and their families beginning on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2. The Arts and Military program of New Mexico Arts is launching a promotional campaign to bring greater awareness to this opportunity.
The eight NMDCA museums offering free admission include:
Museum of International Folk Art (Santa Fe)
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (Santa Fe)
National Hispanic Cultural Center (Albuquerque)
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (Albuquerque)
New Mexico History Museum (Santa Fe)
New Mexico Museum of Space History (Alamogordo)
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum (Las Cruces)
New Mexico Museum of Art – Plaza Building and Vladem Contemporary (Santa Fe) The seven NMDCA historic sites offering free admission include:
Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site (Fort Sumner)
Coronado Historic Site (Bernalillo)
Jemez Historic Site (Jemez Springs)
Fort Stanton Historic Site (Capitan/Fort Stanton)
Lincoln Historic Site (Lincoln)
Fort Selden Historic Site (Radium Springs)
Los Luceros Historic Site (Alcalde)
Blue Star Museums is available for those currently serving in the U.S. Military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard – including Reservists, National Guardsman (regardless of status), U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, and NOAA Commissioned Corps. The free admission extends to up to five family members. Qualified members must show a valid military ID. For more information about Blue Star Museums, including a map of participating museums, visit www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums.
Additionally, NMDCA has partnered with the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services to offer free passes to all New Mexico veterans with a service-connected disability rated 50% or higher, enabling these veterans to access every NMDCA institution once for free. Find out more about this program and others serving disabled veterans at nmdvs.org/state-veteran-benefits.
The Eddy County Commission approved a budget adjustment of $450,000 to start the design phase of the new Eddy County Complex in south Carlsbad during the May 21 commission meeting. The action allows Eddy County to contract an engineering firm to provide civil site and utilities design for the new complex, which will include a new detention center and new administration building.
Eddy County Public Works Projects Director Jason Burns later shared a Road Department progress report reflecting a plan that was put in place about five years ago.
“The plan is still moving forward,” said Burns. “The county has spent about $133 million in road construction since 2020 including blading roads during the winter. Our pavement quality index was 31.5 in 2019. In 2022 it was 42.9. Today we are at a 61.09. We are getting that number where we need to be. We are getting around to the roads now that aren’t used as much. We are still improving. We have an online reporting system and take calls/concerns and we track all of those and what we did to resolve the solution. Our roads are still a priority, and we continue to improve upon them.”
The commission presented the following service awards to Eddy County staff:
Sandi Tidwell, Motor Vehicle Department – 5 years
Larry Lopez, Facilities – 5 years
Clayton Ballard, Detention Center – 10 years
Michael Molina, Detention Center – 20 years.
The commission approved writing a letter in support of water reuse when it is economically feasible for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.
The commission also approved a request from Eddy County Detention Center Warden Billy Massingill to apply for corrections recruitment funds being offered through the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration. Funds will help cover salaries and benefits of newly recruited detention officers. The county would not be required to match any funds from this grant. Distribution of the award would be 100% the first year, 50% the second year, and 25% the third year.
The commission approved the installation of a community benzene monitor on county property in Artesia as part of a voluntary settlement between HF Sinclair/Navajo Refining, LLC, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Mexico Environmental Department.
Kavika Tupo, environmental projects leader, and Brett Arnsberger, projects execution manager, spoke at the meeting and said the benzene monitors would benefit the environment and the community. Refinery staff will pull tests from each monitor every two weeks, send the samples to a lab, and post the results on a public website. The six locations include private property north of the refinery, Guadalupe Park, Artesia Fire Department Station 2, Roselawn Elementary School, Artesia City Hall, and the Eddy County Clerk’s Sub-Office at 602 S. First St. The monitors will be placed on existing light poles at nearly 10 feet high.
Eddy County Sherriff Mark Cage encouraged constituents to check out the new public relations and recruiting videos on the sherriff’s social media pages. He also reported three cadets will graduate from the academy in Hobbs on Friday.
Eddy County Fire and Rescue (ECFR) Chief Joshua Mack reported two new ambulances recently arrived. One of them was placed at Station 6 in Happy Valley and the other will go to Station 2 in Artesia after radios are installed. The old ambulance from Station 2 will move to the Otis station.
Mack reported there were 262 requests for service in April including 21 for controlled burns, 58 with Artesia fire, 103 with Carlsbad fire, and 101 were handled just by ECFR. He also reported they had eight applicants for deputy chief and eight applicants for three lieutenant positions and five applicants for certified fire fighters.
Carol Hennington, Eddy County Information Systems director, shared that a new owl camera had been installed in the commission chambers and was being used to stream commission meetings live on Facebook. The camera turns automatically toward whoever is speaking.
Eddy County Manager Roberta Gonzales reported she went to the Eddy County Fairgrounds for a walk through a few weeks ago with Facilities Director Trent Moore and Commissioner Fred Beard.
“It was eye opening to see what we have out there,” said Gonzales. “We saw the condition the facilities are in and what kind of work needs to be done. We looked at immediate concerns and some of the long-term repairs and maintenance that are needed. There are some emergency things that need to be done before June events like the electrical panel to some of the lighting and the speakers in the arena. There were safety concerns and issues with the bathrooms.
“Trent and his team already got on some of those. After the major events this summer the county will come up with a long-term plan to do some of the major fixes and repairs. The team out there is doing a really good job and we look forward to working with them and getting that place fixed up to the way it should be.”
Beard said there has been some neglect over the years and the work is needed.
“There has been a lot of volunteer help that we so appreciate,” he said.
Gonzales reported Eddy County had sent out a survey for the consideration of a new logo for Eddy County.
“We’re compiling the information and will send it out to a couple designers and see what kind of designs we get back,” she said.
During commission comment time District 2 Commissioner Jon Henry clarified his previous comments about “access to justice” regarding the Eddy County courthouse location.
“I think we need to understand that better and take that into account,” he said. He also clarified the vote regarding the courthouse location.
“There is a rumor that the vote was two to three. It was a five to zero vote to leave the courthouse where it is. I think that shows the commission is listening.”
District 1 Commissioner Ernie Carlson shared his thoughts on county roads.
“Now that we’re getting the road in a lot better shape now we are getting complaints about speeding on the roads. It’s kind of a no-win situation,” he said. “Our contacts in the BLM told us that the oil field is about to go into turbo drive with the amount of permits they are getting and approving so the income will be coming in. However, there is drawbacks to that so now the hotel rates are going up, which will affect the tourist trade.”
District 4 Commissioner James Bowen reported he had attend the law enforcement memorial held outside City Hall last week in Carlsbad and it was packed. He also said the CEO of Mewbourne Oil Company was in town last week to meet with Eddy County and Carlsbad city officials to introduce themselves and share what they will be doing and how they are contributing back to the city and county.
“It was nice to see the number-one driller in Eddy County come down and introduce themselves and make face to face contact,” he said. “Building permits are at an all-time high and shows how invested these major companies are to our community and that’s something good for our future.”
Following an executive session regarding Burns’ contract the board approved the following changes: adding special projects to include major building and construction projects and renovations to his job description, a salary increase from $155,000 to $160,000 annually, and a personal vehicle stipend of $25,000. He will also be required to carry a $1-million combined single limit policy and will have to name Eddy County as an additional insured on that policy. Changes are to go into effect immediately except the pay which goes into effect in the next pay period.
Did Republican Sen. Steve McCutcheon, R-Carlsbad, steal water and try to hide it? Did Rep. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs, who is challenging McCutcheon for the N.M. Senate seat, do something similar?
In a come-out-swinging campaign for the Senate District 42 race, water has taken center stage and left McCutcheon defending himself over allegations he sought to circumvent New Mexico regulations to improperly permit a water well and then steal water from New Mexico.
An anti-McCutcheon campaign page funded by Scott’s campaign — www.realstevemccutcheon.com — includes photographs of documents about the water well in question, with a laundry list of allegations against McCutcheon.
“Steven McCutcheon is under a cease and desist order from the state for brazenly stealing drinking water from Carlsbad and Eddy County, and selling it at an enormous profit,” the website leads off after stating: “Steven McCutcheon is not who he pretends to be.”
The News-Sun reached out to the Office of the State Engineer and obtained documents concerning the well in question.
In an email response to the News-Sun, Maggie Fitzgerald, spokeswoman for the state engineer’s office, said McCutcheon was never issued an official court ordered cease and desist. Instead, she said he was issued a letter asking him to stop the water sales. The Aug. 30, 2023, letter regarding “Illegal diversion of water” from OSE states the “Permit holder Steven McCutcheon must immediately cease and desist water sales…” from the well in question and submit a plan or face legal action.
“The OSE did not issue a cease and desist order,” Fitzgerald said. “When the Water Rights staff became aware of the unpermitted use and contacted the permittee about the issue, he undertook the necessary steps to properly permit the activity.”
Had the water sales continued, Fitzgerald said the office would have started a formal cease and desist legal proceeding.
McCutcheon filed a permit to drill a new well for three acres of water rights a year in March 2023, according to OSE documents.
By August of 2023 it was learned by OSE staff the well, which was initially permitted to be used for livestock watering, was being used for commercial water sales.
“This was the fastest way to get the permit — not to mention free,” the website states of McCutcheon applying for the well as a livestock well.
But Fitzgerald said filing well permits such as for drinking or livestock are the same and not quicker one way or the other.
“Obtaining a permit for a livestock well is the same process as a permit for domestic use or drinking and sanitary use,” Fitzgerald said. “All three uses are permitted under the 72-12-1 statute.”
McCutcheon said he has never hidden the fact he was out of compliance and misused the well’s water.
He said the information was published last year on the State Engineer’s website and in the Carlsbad Current Argus newspaper when he filed for a change of use permit on the well.
“Yeah, I screwed up on that,” McCutcheon said, “but we were never trying to hide anything or not make it right. I feel like our good faith in trying to get this right is being overlooked.”
McCutcheon said he did not realize the well was not in compliance, and when he learned of it, he immediately set about correcting it.
Fitzgerald said McCutcheon applied for a change of use permit for the well at the end of August and the correct permit was issued by the OSE by Sept. 7.
Among the documents provided to the News-Sun is a series of letters, the last dated Dec. 14, 2023 concerning the illegal diversion of an estimated 65,000 barrels of water from the well designated for livestock watering to commercial sales.
The well, according to the documents, was permitted for three acre-feet a year of water withdraw and an estimated 8.41 acre-feet as pulled and sold commercially.
“Because McCutcheon never put a meter on the well, as is required by law, the state has to take his word for how much water he stole,” the campaign website claims.
Fitzgerald said the livestock well did not require a meter.
“Drinking and sanitary wells and commercial wells do require a meter,” Fitzgerald said. “The permittee (McCutcheon) installed a meter on the well to track the commercial sales. The information from the meter is how the OSE calculated the amount of water to be repaid. The well is now permitted with a drinking and sanitary purpose of use and does have a meter.”
The campaign website also claims McCutcheon has yet to pay back the water, but Fitzgerald said the repayment is in the works.
“The permittee has a pending application to transfer a water right to the well for the double repayment of water and also to permit the well for commercial use,” she said.
She said repaying the water is a lengthy process that requires transferring the prerequisite amount of water from another well owned by McCutcheon, in essence requiring him to use that much less water over the next year.
“He knew the laws about water. That’s how he knew how to steal it,” the website accuses, citing McCutcheon was appointed to the Brine Water Authority Commission by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2020.
McCutcheon said working with the state engineer’s office has been a lengthy process and said he was unaware the original permit was filed incorrectly as a livestock-use permit.
“I had assumed everything was good and in compliance,” he said, adding he owns multiple water rights and commercial water sales locations, relying on a water rights specialist to file the paperwork accordingly. “Honestly, it was I had assumed everything was right with the other water rights we had, but it just wasn’t.”
The state’s documents do list a third party acting as an agent on behalf of McCutcheon.
McCutcheon added the attack pieces and website have blown the issue out of proportion and do not take into account the intricacies of dealing with state regulatory agencies.
“I am just appalled at their behavior,” he said. “We have tried to be extremely transparent through this whole deal. When you are working with the regulatory bodies, you end up out of compliance sometime. I was out of compliance. We will make it right. It is really being blown out of proportion. They are accusing me of pre-mediated criminal behavior.
“It is a complete farce.”
While McCutcheon said he is appalled by the hit pieces against him, he has not sat idly by, instead firing back on a Facebook ad.
“My opponent has had 10 such state violations and while his attacks are hypocritical, I think he also knows how heavy the regulatory hand in NM can be,” the ad states. “Anyone in the oil and gas business understands this too.”
The News-Sun reached out to McCutcheon to seek clarification on the allegation Scott also violated water permitting laws, but did not receive a response.
Fitzgerald said the OSE has no records to back up McCutcheon’s claims. “We do not have any records of past violations for Larry Scott or Lynx Petroleum (the oilfield company in which Scott is a principal partner),” she said.
Scott said he’s never had any kind of water violation levied against him by any state agency.
“… He has misrepresented my voting record. He is now misrepresenting my business record,” Scott said. “I have never been issued a cease and desist order. I have never had a fine levered against my company for anything.”
The Lady Bulldog 1600 medley relay team of Makaylee Morillon, Sydney Boone, Gabriela Aguilar and Kaitlyn Addington pose atop the podium. (Photo Courtesy APS)Hattie Harrison poses for a photo after winning the girls’ 100-meter hurdles. (Jennifer Palma – For the Daily Press)Zane Baize celebrates his win in the 1600-meter run. (Photo Courtesy NMAA)Marco Soto poses with his medal after taking state in the boys’ shot put. (Photo Courtesy NMAA)
There’s a sense of urgency that comes with the final weekend of state sports championships in New Mexico.
Between athletes and fans rushing back and forth between softball fields in Rio Rancho, baseball fields on the outskirts of west Albuquerque, and the track and field complex at the University of New Mexico, it’s an ever-present feeling that there just isn’t enough time to get everything done.
It’s the same feeling that’s left when a team comes one step short of its goal.
Joy turning to agony in an instant — and vice versa — is a common theme in sports, and at the high-school level, it’s a lesson that prepares young athletes for adulthood. Win with class. Lose with dignity. There was plenty of both last weekend for the Bulldog baseball, Lady Bulldog softball and AHS track and field teams.
From the Diamond ‘Dogs reaching the Class 4A title game by way of an extra-innings win over District 4-AAAA rival Goddard, to the Lady ‘Dogs battling their way through the losers’ bracket to reach the championship final, to track athletes propelling their teams into hardware contention with individual state crowns — Artesia’s athletes may not have had time to achieve everything, but for what they did achieve, they gave everything.
BULLDOG BASEBALL
At the Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex in Albuquerque Thursday afternoon, the fifth-ranked boys in orange notched a significant coup against a No. 4 St. Pius program that had eliminated Artesia from the baseball playoffs in all five of the teams’ five meetings since 2011, defeating the Sartans by a final of 4-0.
Following a pitchers’ duel between Bulldog sophomore Jack Byers and Sartan senior Ruben Jepsen that lasted five complete innings, the Diamond ‘Dogs were first on the board in the top of the sixth when Daelon Pacheco — on with a leadoff line-drive single off the Pius third baseman — advanced to second and third on ground outs before scoring on a clutch two-out single to right-center by shortstop Jett Fuentes.
Byers got a fly-out to Jett Whitmire in right, a line-out to Kaden Beauregard in left, and a strikeout to seat the Sartans in order in the home half of the inning, and Artesia would add three big insurance runs to their tally in the top of seven on a two-RBI triple by Diego Morales and a base hit to right by Jesse Armendariz.
The Bulldogs then delivered their third consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half to end the game on consecutive ground balls to Rickey Armendariz at first and a ground out to Nye Estrada at second. Byers surrendered just two hits while striking out seven in a stellar seven innings of work.
The win set up a semifinal showdown between the ‘Dogs and the top-ranked Rockets, who earned their No. 1 seed by way of a 2-1 showing against Artesia in D4 play.
But as fans on both sides know, Artesia-Goddard is one of those “throw out the record books” matchups in every sport.
The Rockets were first on the board in Friday’s semifinal, plating one run in the bottom of the second on a Michael Mathison RBI triple. The ‘Dogs responded with the tying run in the top of three on a Jack Byers bases-loaded walk, but Goddard would go back up 4-1 in the home half on an RBI ground out and a pair of errors.
That score held until the top of the fifth, when Artesia cut its deficit in half on a Frankie Galindo RBI triple to right-center, and while sophomore relief pitcher Daelon Pacheco and his defense held the Rockets scoreless for the second straight at-bat in the bottom half, time was swiftly running out for the boys in orange.
Then came the sixth.
A leadoff walk by Diego Morales proved fruitful when the sophomore scored on an infield-single-turned-error by Kaden Beauregard. And with two away, Beauregard would join Jett Whitmire in touching them all on an inside-the-park home run by the latter after Goddard’s outfield lost the ball in the sun.
With new life, Artesia had a chance to potentially end things in regulation in the top of seven but left two in scoring position, and the ‘Dogs got out of a jam in the bottom of the inning following a leadoff two-base error, with Pacheco striking out two and getting a fly out to right to send the game into extras.
There, the Bulldogs went down quickly in order in the top of the eighth, while the Rockets followed a leadoff walk with three fly outs in the home half. The ninth got off to a much better start for Artesia, however, as Nye Estrada singled to left, advanced to second on a bunt single by Galindo and to third on a Byers fly out, and scored on an RBI fielder’s choice from Pacheco.
That gave the ‘Dogs a 6-5 lead with two away, but they weren’t done yet. Diego Morales kicked off a brief two-out rally with a triple to right that plated Pacheco, and Morales would come home on an RBI double from Jesse Armendariz to give Artesia a confidence-boosting pair of insurance runs.
Ground balls to Estrada at second and Byers at third and a big K from Pacheco ended the game, 8-5.
With that, the Bulldogs were on their way to their first 4A state title game since 2019, where waited the second-ranked Grants Pirates.
To that point, the Pirates had been squeaking past their state-tourney opponents, topping No. 10 Bernalillo 4-2 in the quarterfinal round and edging No. 6 Albuquerque Academy 6-5 in the semis. The ‘Dogs knew they were more than capable of getting the job done, and through two innings, it appeared they were on their way.
After a Byers sac-fly made it 1-0 Artesia in the first, two more runs in the second had the boys in orange up 3-2 going into the third. But Grants was able to turn the tables, taking a 5-3 advantage heading into the fourth, and try as they might, the ‘Dogs couldn’t make up the ground.
Artesia got a leadoff double from Jett Whitmire in the fifth, but he and Frankie Galindo — aboard with a wild pitch — were left standing. And what looked to be a stage perfectly set for another last-minute comeback — two runners on with no outs following back-to-back singles in the seventh by Jett Fuentes and Whitmire — came to naught as Fuentes was thrown out attempting to steal third and a pop-fly to the catcher and diving catch of a line drive to center by Byers ended the game.
“They really came together as a team,” head coach JJ Ortiz said of his athletes’ performance over the course of the tournament. “Everyone picking each other up; happy with the team chemistry.”
Sheer determination carried the ‘Dogs through several of their outings over the course of the season and at state, and that’s something of which Ortiz and his staff are proud.
“It really helps that all of our players play multiple sports, and by playing multiple sports, they’re all in big games,” said the coach. “And when they bring it to baseball, they’re ready for those moments. They really bought into all the things that we wanted to do and it really showed on the field.”
The Bulldogs will bid farewell this year to seniors Jesse Armendariz, Rickey Armendariz, Nye Estrada, David Hammond, Andrew Rodriguez, Josiah Rodriguez and Diego Wesson.
“The leadership the seniors brought was huge this year,” said Ortiz. “With them playing in a lot of big games in baseball, it helped to calm the nerves of the young players that we have.”
LADY BULLDOG SOFTBALL
At the Cleveland High School softball complex in Rio Rancho, the No. 5 Lady Bulldogs got the first round of double-elimination play off to an excellent start Thursday morning with a 7-0 win over fourth-ranked St. Pius. That game was delayed over an hour due to heavy rainfall in the area.
The Artesia girls took a four-run lead out of the bottom of the first in that contest, batting around in their inaugural trip to the plate and scoring on a Mikenzi Carlo RBI ground out and three consecutive bases-loaded walks from Kinsley Rodriguez, Makayla Lujan and Zowe Warren.
With senior pitcher Madison Martinez and her defense holding the Lady Sartans at bay, the Lady ‘Dogs would add insurance runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to ultimately round out the 7-0 final. Lujan — on with a leadoff triple — came home on a McKenna Morrison ground out in the third and also scored Artesia’s run in the fifth after reaching on a leadoff walk and coming around on a single up the middle from Perseis Aguilar. Carlo — aboard with a leadoff base hit — then scored in the sixth on a two-out single from Rodriguez.
Martinez tossed a four-hitter through seven complete with nine Ks. At the plate, Aguilar was 2-2 with an RBI, Martinez 2-4 and Lujan 1-1.
Top-ranked Gallup was able to turn the tables on the Lady Bulldogs Thursday afternoon, however, taking four runs of their own out of the first inning en route to a 6-2 win.
Minus that opening at-bat — which saw Gallup score on a Morgan Belone RBI double and RBI singles from Madison Martinez, Leia Tso and Yanabah Harvey — things were evenly matched between the Lady ‘Dogs and Lady Bengals. The Artesia girls got their first run on the board in the top of the second on a solo home run over the fence in center from pitcher Kayden Apodaca and cut their deficit in half, 4-2, in the fifth on an error.
The Lady Bulldogs also had multiple other chances to tie things up and take the lead, losing runners — and giving up double plays — in both the third and fourth innings on line-drive pick-offs and leaving eight total stranded on the bout. The Lady Bengals, meanwhile, plated their fifth and sixth runs — both unearned — in the bottom of the sixth on a Jazmine Marrufo base hit up the middle.
The early loss unfortunately tipped the Lady ‘Dogs into the dreaded losers’ bracket, which meant three win-or-go-home contests on Saturday for the right to a rematch with Gallup. It was a long row to hoe, but with not one but three come-from-behind wins, Artesia got the job done.
Artesia’s first game in the losers’ bracket Friday morning was likely giving 2022 for head coach Sandra Pulido and her upperclassman — through six-and-a-half innings, anyway. That year saw top-ranked Artesia tumble into the bottom half of the bracket following its very first game in Rio Rancho before battling its way back into the losers’ bracket semifinal with a trio of wins. The Lady ‘Dogs would trip on the last step up to the championship round, however, falling to a Lovington team they’d beaten for the District 4-AAAA title, 17-15.
This year, it was the Lady Wildcats who took the district crown and the No. 2 seed, and for much of the game, it looked as if they’d once again be playing state spoiler to the Lady Bulldogs as well. Lovington ended an early defensive battle with the game’s first run in the top of the fourth, and while Artesia would tie it up in the home half on a Madison Martinez RBI single, the ‘Cats would plate three more in the fifth to go up 4-1.
The Lady ‘Dogs were able to make that 4-2 in the sixth on an Elizabeth De La Riva RBI base hit, but with Lovington tacking on an insurance run in the top of seven, Artesia was down 5-2 going into its final at-bat of regulation.
Taking advantage of what presented itself, the girls in orange loaded the bases on a trio of Wildcat errors before scoring its third run on a Martinez RBI ground out. Following a strikeout, however, the Lady ‘Dogs needed a clutch two-out hit, and they got it from Kinsley Rodriguez, who sent a single into left to knot the game at 5-all.
With the International Tie-Breaker in effect, the Lady ‘Cats were able to go up 6-5 in the top of the eighth on a wild pitch, but Artesia got that run back in the bottom half on an RBI ground-ball single to right by De La Riva. The top of the ninth would be a seemingly disastrous one for the Lady Bulldogs, however, with Lovington scoring three on a Jocelynn Holguin RBI single and a two-out two-RBI double from Honey Morales.
Down 9-6, the Lady ‘Dogs were able to pull within two on a quick RBI double to right-center from Martinez, but following a fielder’s choice, Artesia was left with runners on the corners and one away. Makayla Lujan kept Artesia’s title hopes alive with a single swing, however, delivering a walk-off three-run homer that set the final, 10-9 in nine innings.
Artesia wouldn’t give its fans’ blood pressure a break moving forward, either.
Squaring off with No. 7 Aztec — the squad that had sent Lovington into the losers’ bracket with a 6-4 win Thursday morning — the Lady Bulldogs fell behind 1-0 in the top of the second but were able to tie things up at 1-all in the home half. From there, however, it would be three-and-a-half innings of suspense before Artesia was able to break the tie, 2-1, in the bottom of the sixth. They’d hold on in the seventh for the one-run win.
No doubt exhausted after 16 tense innings, the NMAA was not feeling sympathetic, launching Artesia into its third game of the day without so much as a 10-minute break. Taking on a No. 3 Silver team that had fallen to Gallup 4-1 Friday morning, the Lady ‘Dogs once again fell into an early hole, 1-0, in the first inning, and three more would go by before Artesia was able to answer.
The Lady ‘Dogs got the tie, 1-1, in the top of five on a Mikenzi Carlo RBI double that scored McKenna Morrison — aboard with a leadoff base hit — and after leaving a Lady Colt runner stranded at second in the home half, Artesia took the lead in the sixth on a Zowe Warren RBI double and an RBI base hit to left from Morrison.
Not in the mood for any more extra-inning affairs, however, starting pitcher Martinez and her defense proceeded to seat Silver in order in both their sixth and seventh at-bats to end the game and the long day.
And the suspense wasn’t over.
The Lady ‘Dogs headed into Championship Saturday needing two wins over the Lady Bengals to upend them for the title. Round One went to Artesia.
A solo shot over the fence in right-center by Kayden Apodaca proved to be all the girls in orange needed amidst a pitchers’ duel between the squads’ senior aces, Artesia’s Madison Martinez and Gallup’s Seniah Haines.
Martinez pitched her way out of a bases-loaded situation in the second and runners on third in the fifth and sixth at-bats. In a dramatic bottom-of-the-seventh, the bases were loaded again on a Haines walk and back-to-back base hits from Brenna Becenti and Jazmine Marrufo, but a fly ball to McKenna Morrison in center became a double play when Morrison gunned Haines down at home as she attempted to score on the tag.
It was more than anyone could ask for the Lady ‘Dogs to have fought their way back to the deciding game. And unfortunately, that’s where they finally ran out of gas.
On 10 hits to Artesia’s six, the fresher Lady Bengals compiled seven runs that the Lady Bulldogs couldn’t match. The Lady ‘Dogs scored once in the top of the third when Elizabeth De La Riva reached on a single and crossed on an error. They’d put runners on in all seven of their at-bats — including one in scoring position in the seventh — but were unable to string together the offense needed for a comeback.
“They came out and fought hard from Day One, and for us to be able to fight on Friday, win those three games and give everybody a heart attack, was just amazing,” head coach Sandra Pulido said. “We’re more than proud of these girls. It’s not the blue, but we can definitely be proud of bringing home the red.”
Pulido had high praise for her pitching staff and the role they played in getting Artesia to the final step.
“Pitching came in clutch for us,” she said. “The leadership they showed in the circle and the confidence they had all weekend was amazing. They battled up here for their teammates and battled for them all year, and we’re very proud of their performance.”
The Lady ‘Dogs will lose a host of program veterans to graduation this year in seniors Perseis Aguilar, Mikenzi Carlo, Ariana Chavez, Elizabeth De La Riva, Paola Gonzalez, Necel Jimenez, Madison Martinez, McKenna Morrison, Haley Tucker and Zowe Warren.
“A lot of these girls have been with us for four or five years, and just to see the growth they’ve had, not just over the four years but this year in general,” Pulido said. “They’ve grown, they became leaders, and they showed the underclassmen what it takes to be champions, how to fight and how to dig, how to play with heart, and how to play for each other. We’re sad to see them all go, but we’re excited to see what the future holds for every single one of them.”
AHS TRACK AND FIELD
While the baseball and softball teams were punching their tickets to the title rounds Friday, the track and field teams were across town getting the ball rolling with some thrilling individual championship wins.
The Bulldogs were first to the top of the podium, with sophomore Marco Soto taking the 4A boys’ shot put title Friday morning with a throw of 50’2″. Friday afternoon, junior Zane Baize claimed the 1600-meter run gold in a thrilling finish, passing both Los Alamos’ Benjamin Sanchez and Del Norte’s Jorge Garcia in the stretch with a time of 4:25.68.
That wasn’t the only excitement the ‘Dogs delivered on the track Friday, as the 800-meter relay team qualified for the finals with a prelim time of 1:28.46. That time broke the state record of 1:28.60 still held by Artesia’s 1991 relay team of Paul Bennett, Jeremiah Mullen, James Truex and Tim Foley. Unfortunately, the new record was broken Saturday by Los Alamos with a 1:26.19 after the Bulldogs were disqualified in the final.
The Lady Bulldogs added a pair of state titles of their own on Finals Saturday, with junior Hattie Harrison topping the competition with a time of 15-flat in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles and the 1600 medley relay team of Kaitlyn Addington, Gabriela Aguilar, Sydney Boone and Makaylee Morillon blowing past their opponents in that race with a 4:17.00.
Those championships helped both Artesia teams earn third-place finishes at the Class 4A State Meet, behind Los Alamos — which swept the girls’ and boys’ meet — and second-place Albuquerque Academy.
Other podium performances included:
Lorin Wagner, second, girls’ shot put, 39’11.5″
Zane Baize, second, boys’ 800-meter run, 1:56.78
Girls’ 400-meter relay, third, 49.75
Boys’ 400-meter relay, third, 41.96
Sydney Boone, third, girls’ 800-meter run, 2:20.67
