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Trout remain popular in Lincoln County lakes

Michael Smith
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Trout remain popular in Lincoln County lakes

Information and photos provided by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

Trout-fishing conditions have not changed at the popular waters in and around Ruidoso this week.

Conditions were fair to good at Alto Lake using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait and worms.

Rainbow PowerBait, worms, and flies were the baits of choice at Bonito Lake where trout fishing was fair to good.

Trout conditions were fair to good at Grindstone Reservoir using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait.

In western New Mexico along the Gila River, trout fishing was slow to fair using flies in the west fork.

In northern New Mexico at Bluewater Lake, fishing for tiger muskie was fair to good using Rooster Tail lures.

Streamflow along the San Juan River was 284 cubic feet per second (cfs) this week as fishing for rainbow trout and brown trout was slow to fair when using flies in the quality waters.

Streamflow below the Taos Junction Bridge along the Rio Grande was 630 cfs. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow using flies.

At Ute Lake, fishing for white bass, walleye and catfish was very good using 3- and 4-inch Gulp minnows and blade baits in 60 feet of water.

This fishing report, provided by the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Opinion: The folly of ‘energy transition’

Michael Smith
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Opinion: The folly of ‘energy transition’

Sen. Larry Scott
District 42

In 2019, our newly elected Governor issued an executive order mandating the greenhouse gas emissions be reduced every few years to culminate in a 100% reduction by the year 2050. The private sector has been making plans and trying to adjust to this mandate for the last seven years and those efforts are now coming home to “roost.”

It is an absolute fact the emissions associated with the generation of reliable, affordable, and available electricity correlate directly with economic well being and prosperity. Basically, wealth generation translates into higher standards of living with associated increases in energy consumption. The United States, for example, emits 17.6 tons of CO2 per capita making our country one of the highest on the planet. We are also, arguably, one of the richest countries on the planet. By contrast the people living in the lowest emitters in sub-Saharan Africa exist on incomes that average less than $40 per month. It only takes a bit of common sense to see that our current public policy would take New Mexico not in the direction of increasing prosperity, but rather in the direction of Africa. This is NUTS.

The petroleum and utility industries in our State have been trying to adapt to the mandates but, as the target reductions become more severe, they become harder and harder to achieve without sacrificing either availability, reliability, or affordability. Just one of the consequences here is now a three year wait for new industrial service requests for electricity in southeast New Mexico. We simply do not have the power.

A work around that was passed in our last legislative session, completely under the progressives emissions control radar, was a bill that allowed micro-grids to utilize fossil fuels (natural gas) to generate electricity as long as these did not connect into the larger utility system. A large data center project is now underway in the Las Cruces area that is projected to require some 2,000 megawatts of generating capacity, all of which will come from natural gas fired engines. One can appreciate the irony. On one hand our ETA (Energy Transition Act) required the closure of the San Juan coal fired power plant resulting in the loss of over 1,000 mostly tribal jobs in the four corners area. On the other hand, we are building a facility that will generate almost four times the emissions of the closed power plant. The difference is that the public cannot now participate in any of the electricity generated. It can’t be connected to the grid. Another consequence of the misguided path we are traveling is that emissions are actually going to be larger than they otherwise would have been had we just allowed high efficiency utility scale combined cycle natural gas fired generation.

SB4, the ‘Clean Horizons’ act was introduced in the 2025 legislative session to codify in statute the Governor’s executive order thereby making it much harder to change the course of this policy. While it made it through only one Senate committee last session, we expect to see it resurrected again in the 2026 session. It is not possible to over emphasize the folly of taking New Mexico down the path that leads to ‘third world’ status. Our Governor bragged recently during a town hall at NMJC that our resources were being exported to provide power “around the world.” Our State has been blessed with abundant natural resources right here in our back yard. It is unconscionable that we cannot utilize these to create economic opportunity, jobs, and prosperity for our own citizens.

Larry Scott of Hobbs is the state senator, representing District 42 in Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties.

Culinary Confidential Heavenly Deep-Fried Stuffed French Toast with Sweet Cream

Michael Smith
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Culinary Confidential Heavenly Deep-Fried Stuffed French Toast with Sweet Cream

Bruce Lesman

This indulgent French toast is designed for relaxed winter mornings when brunch feels like a reward. Golden and crisp on the outside, warm and creamy inside, it’s a dish meant to be shared slowly.

Ingredients:

– 8–12 thick slices brioche or challah (2 slices per person)

– 8 oz sweet cream cheese filling

– 4 large eggs

– 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk

– 2 tbsp sugar

– 1 tsp vanilla extract

– 1 tsp ground cinnamon

– Neutral oil for frying (about 2–3 cups)

– Powdered sugar for dusting

Method:

Stuff the bread generously, soak briefly in custard, and fry until deeply golden. Drain and dust lightly with powdered sugar. Serve immediately.

Serves 4–6 people

Classic Brunch Mimosas

A mimosa is the perfect companion to rich brunch fare—bright, celebratory, and effortless.

Ingredients:

– 1–2 bottles chilled champagne or prosecco (1 bottle serves ~3 people)

– 3–4 cups fresh orange juice (½–⅔ cup per person)

Serves 4–6 people.

Pour gently into flutes and serve at once.

Bruce Lesman is a professionally trained chef and longtime food columnist. He has cooked in fine dining restaurants, luxury resorts, and aboard Holland America Line, where he created his own interpretation of Cherry Garcia Baked Alaska for the Pinnacle Grill. His Culinary Confidential column focuses on approachable elegance, classic technique, and memorable food experiences.

God is good for the past, present and future

Michael Smith
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God is good for the past, present and future

Ty Houghtaling

I recently looked up the quote, “Past performance is an indicator of future success,” and the AI overview noted that this idea is widely debated. So, let’s debate it.

In the financial world, investors entrusted with your money tend to fall on one side of this question or the other. Some argue that market conditions are always changing, shaped by political leadership, economic shifts, and overall volatility, making yesterday’s successful strategies ineffective today. Others argue the opposite. They point to long track records of success and urge patience, insisting that proven strategies work overtime if you simply trust the process.

This same debate shows up in the professional leadership world. Leadership methods from the past are frequently challenged, with new approaches emerging in business, medicine, sports, education, and beyond. The thinking is that leaders must adapt to a society that constantly questions the status quo. Or, and this is a big or, some believe there is “nothing new under the sun.” What has been will be again. This perspective often surfaces when the news paints a picture of a broken world where problems seem to repeat themselves endlessly.

So which way do you lean? Is past performance an indicator of future success, or is it not indicative of future results at all?

As we begin a new year, this question becomes personal. Maybe there are things you want to do differently this year. You can. Just because you didn’t follow through in the past doesn’t mean you can’t do better now. Here’s a simple idea: try the “ten-second rule.” If something at home or at work needs to be done, and in the past you might have put it off until someone forced you to do it, pause and ask yourself, “Can I do this in ten seconds?” If the answer is yes, do it. Over time, practicing this rule intentionally can help you accomplish more, and end your days feeling a little more satisfied.

In the spiritual realm, there are a few important truths worth highlighting. God does not change. He is the same today as He was at the beginning of time, and He will be the same for all eternity. The Bible affirms this repeatedly; Malachi 3:6, Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 13:8, and James 1:17 are just a few examples. You and I, however, can change. Through faith in Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, we can be transformed from the inside out. Scripture assures us that whether we are a little lost or completely lost, we can be saved. Those walking in darkness can find the Light. Those who have lost hope can discover a new direction. The Apostle Paul wrote this encouragement to his protégé, Pastor Timothy:

“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

Jesus changes lives when we trust Him to lead us. Our past may reflect who we once were, but trusting Jesus changes who we are now. In fact, He is the only one who can truly change us in the spiritual realm, and for eternity.

God’s forgiveness and love change everything, and unlike so much else in this world, His forgiveness and love never change. Let this verse from Romans be your hope and motivation for the new year:

“But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Sloths arrive at Alamogordo zoo

Michael Smith
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Sloths arrive at Alamogordo zoo

Sarah Rubinstein
Artesia Daily Press

Two new animals will be hanging around the Alameda Park Zoo.

Two Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths were revealed to the public on Jan. 3, and since then they’ve had about 500 visitors, according to Palmer Shelton, the zoo’s education coordinator.

He said staff haven’t named the sloths yet because they want to get to know their personality more. He noted the five-year-old female sloth has a more social personality than the three-year-old male.

The sloths arrived from the Hemker Park Zoo in Minnesota, a zoo Alameda frequently works with, Shelton said, adding that the collaboration puts Alamogordo on the map, with sloths being very rare at zoos in New Mexico.

“It’s like the coolest thing ever,” Shelton said excitedly. “Almost nobody in the state has sloths.”

The Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths are found natively in the Northern half of South America like Colombia, Argentina and North Chile. These sloths are nocturnal and spend most of their lives upside down. They like to munch on leafy greens and vegetables but typically don’t make much noise, only sometimes hissing or giving a low growl.

“Their limbs are super strong, they can hold themselves up with just one finger,” Shelton said.

Shelton said the zoo hopes to train the sloths so they can eventually take them to events at schools or the library.

What else is happening at the zoo?

The Alameda Park Zoo has just updated its winter hours from January through February. The zoo will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays and be open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Plus, every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. staff will hold Zookeeper talks with a new animal. Animals will be revealed on the zoo’s Facebook page on Sundays or Mondays.

Opinion: Movies give us heroes. History gives us flawed giants

Michael Smith
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Sherry Robinson
All She Wrote

I’m starting 2026 by rethinking – and maybe even changing my mind about – an old issue.

After Taos Pueblo objected to the name of Kit Carson Park in Taos, the town council voted in November to change it to Red Willow Park; this pueblo calls itself the Red Willow People. To the town’s credit – and unlike the harebrained responses to similar issues in Española, Santa and Albuquerque – the Taoseños deliberated and discussed the question for months.

At least some did.

The name-change demand has stirred controversy three times since the 1970s, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Last year the town council organized a committee to rename the park, chaired by Councilor Genevieve Oswald. Because previous discussions didn’t include the pueblo, the council named a pueblo official, Jesse Winters, to the committee. The group met monthly last year and heard presentations, held forums and issued surveys. Winters gathered opinions from pueblo members.

From the beginning Oswald wanted to change the name, but she did enough reading to decide that she didn’t care for Kit Carson and believed the government made bad choices. She saw the renaming as an opportunity to “do better going forward.”

Kit Carson was a famous scout, soldier, Indian agent, rancher and trader. In 1862 and 1863 Gen. James Carleton ordered a reluctant Carson to undertake brutal, scorched-earth campaigns against the Mescalero Apaches and the Navajos. After their surrender, Carleton sent them to what became a concentration camp at Bosque Redondo. The Navajos’ terrible journey, called the Long Walk, and Bosque Redondo are traumas passed through generations of tribal members.

Kit Carson was then a hero in Taos, where Hispanic settlers had fought the Navajos for 200 years. But Carson’s stature in history hasn’t weathered well over time.

Carson’s biographer Hampton Sides has said, “He was on the ‘right’ side of history at many times and in many places in his lifetime.” Sides told the Journal that Taos Pueblo “just hated the Navajo, absolutely hated them and feared them” because of Navajo raids. I would add that Navajos, Apaches and Pueblos had a complex network of allies and adversaries. Navajos and Apaches might befriend one pueblo but raid another, and the pueblos fought amongst themselves.

History is what actually happened, not what you wish had happened. Taos Pueblo today may object to the park’s name, but historically the pueblo had good relations with Kit Carson.

However, in November Sides said: “(P)eople have a perfect right in subsequent generations to decide how they want to furnish their public parks and other public spaces – as long as the process is done with some thought.”

I’m a journalist and a historian. Wearing my historian hat, I have argued that figures like Kit Carson, Don Juan de Oñate, Geronimo and even Billy the Kid were products of their times. We can learn from their lives and their decisions, but we can’t view them through the lens of our own times.

Still, Sides’s comment made me think. Some communities have decided that they no longer want to honor Confederate generals, that those ubiquitous statues in the park are an affront to segments of the local population. New Mexico’s history is more complicated, but these are our debates too.

When I mentioned this change of heart to a historian friend, she responded: “If communities have the right to make changes – and I can see some of that logic, especially if they find new information or things were lopsided in the first place – but then 20 years down the road does a community again have the right to change and how much? … Change can be good or disruptive and cause people to renew their anger and hatred toward groups … And do we judge the times by our own era, or theirs, or a combo or what?”

It’s tricky, but I salute Taos for wading in.

Councilor Oswald said that “our work has always been about more than just a name, and we approached this task with care, recognizing the need to address historical harms and foster civic relationships. Our process was designed to be inclusive, transparent and rooted in community values.”

Mayor Pro-tem Marietta Fambro, who voted against the change, noted that only about 150 people among the town’s 5,000 residents and Taos County’s 33,000 took part in the renaming process. Most people likely don’t care.

And neither would Kit Carson himself. A shy and unassuming man, he was never comfortable with his national celebrity. “One of the ironies of this whole debate is that he probably just wouldn’t give a damn one way or the other,” Sides said.

I say that for communities, for the people who do give a damn, it’s a discussion worth having, and Taos has now given us a model.

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.

Murder trials to watch in 2026

Michael Smith
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Murder trials to watch in 2026

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press

Several Carlsbad area murder suspects could stand trial this year in Eddy County District Court.

All defendants in criminal cases are considered innocent of the charges against them until proven guilty as determined by a 12-person jury or through a plea deal with prosecutors.

Here are the top Eddy County criminal trials to watch in 2026.

Alexee Trevizo – 1st-degree murder

Trevizo was accused of murder in the January 2023 death of her newborn son at Artesia General Hospital. Police said Trevizo gave birth to the child in a bathroom at the hospital, then put him in a trash can where the child suffocated.

She was charged with first-degree murder on Jan. 27, 2023, and was released from custody ahead of the trial to attend her high school graduation and visit family in New Mexico.

The criminal case was delayed after former Judge Jane Shuler Gray ruled police body camera footage taken at the hospital and allegedly showing Trevizo confessing to a doctor that she killed her son was inadmissible.

In her ruling, Shuler Gray wrote that Trevizo’s statements in her hospital room were protected by doctor-patient privilege. The Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office appealed the ruling to the New Mexico Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments on the matter Sept. 4, 2025.

The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the evidence.

Jayden Mendibles – child abuse resulting in death

Mendibles’ 3-month-old daughter was found dead at the defendant’s home in November 2023, and police accused him several months later of beating her to death.

Mendibles, 23, of Artesia was arrested on June 21, 2024, and charged with a single count of child abuse resulting in death.

He initially told police the child suffered from fatal brain injuries after falling off a bed, but an autopsy of the infant listed “blunt force trauma” and homicide as the cause of death.

Prosecutors withdrew a motion to hold Mendibles in custody ahead of trial but he failed to appear in a subsequent hearing and a warrant was issued for his arrest on Oct. 31, 2025.

He was not in custody as of Wednesday, Dec. 31, and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 12 before District Judge David Finger.

Manuel Sanchez – 1st-degree murder

Sanchez, 44, was charged in 2020 with shooting and killing 42-year-old Brian Runnels then burying his body in a remote area of Eddy County in 2014.

Runnels was reported missing for six years, until the case was reopened in 2020. Investigators relied on the confession of co-defendant Brett Roark, 48, who said he witnessed Sanchez shoot Runnels and helped him bury the body.

Roark was also charged with murder but pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in a deal with the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office and was sentenced to seven years in prison. The prison time was suspended by the court, and Roark was released to a halfway house.

A jury failed to reach a verdict in Sanchez’s trial on Oct. 23, 2023, and a new trial is scheduled for Feb. 9 before District Judge Eileen Riordan.

Manuel Guillen – child abuse resulting in death

Two-month-old Khalanie Sue Moreno was found dead Sept. 7, 2024, in a shallow grave dug in a remote area off State Road 137, also known as the Queen Highway, in Eddy County.

The girl’s mother Brianna Stallings, 25, and her boyfriend Manuel Guillen, 32, were arrested after a months-long investigation into the death when Stallings confessed the child was smothered by Guillen.

Stallings said Guillen purposefully sat on the child to stop her from crying, contradicting her initial story that she accidentally rolled on top of the baby while the three of them slept in a car near the burial site.

Stallings told police the couple “panicked,” according to a criminal complaint, and buried the body nearby. She was charged with a single count of tampering with evidence.

An October 2025 jury trial for Guillen was continued and he was slated for a pretrial conference on Jan. 12. Stallings was charged with tampering with evidence and scheduled for a jury trial on May 1.

Leonard Tidwell – 1st-degree murder

Tidwell, 34, was originally charged with two counts of aggravated battery and possession of a firearm by a felon on Sept. 12.

On that day, at about 12:12 a.m., police found 39-year-old Carlos Montoya suffering from stab wounds at an apartment in the 800 block of McKay Street in Carlsbad. Montoya died at the hospital on Oct. 22 from his wounds, and Tidwell’s charges were upgraded to murder.

Tidwell was arraigned Nov. 24 and scheduled for a jury trial on July 1 before District Judge David Finger.

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

Candidates file for March Artesia city elections

Michael Smith
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Candidates file for March Artesia city elections

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

 Some familiar names could return to the Artesia City Council and a new mayor will take office after the March 3 municipal elections.

Tuesday was filing day for candidates seeking office in city government as candidates turned in paperwork with the Artesia city clerk’s office to secure places on the ballot.

District 3 councilor and current mayor pro tem Jeff Youtsey filed to replace outgoing mayor and State Rep. Jonathan Henry as did Terrance L. Todd, former site director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia.

Mayoral Candidate Terrance Todd

Youtsey, who ran unsuccessfully against Henry in 2022, said his 14 years as a member of the city council have prepared him to lead Artesia for the next four years.

“I understand the budget, I understand how the city works and I feel I’m the most qualified to take up the reigns and finish up some projects that we’ve begun that are very important and I feel like I have the knowledge and the tenacity for it and I’m ready to hit the ground running,” he said in an interview after submitting his paperwork to City Clerk Summer Valverde.

Council seats in Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 are on the ballot. All the candidates are seeking four-year terms except District 4 incumbent Michael Bunt, who is running to serve the final two years of a vacancy he was appointed to fill. No other candidate filed for the seat.

Artesia Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Youtsey filed paperwork to run for mayor during the March 3, 2026 Artesia Municipal Elections. Mike Smith | Artesia Daily Press

District 4’s other incumbent, Dickie Townley, is not seeking reelection. Two candidates filed for the post, former councilor Terry L. Hill and Charles Morgan Wagner II.

In District 1, longtime councilor Raul Rodriguez filed for reelection. No candidate filed to oppose him.

In District 2, incumbent George Mullen chose not to seek another term. Donovan Jacob Garcia, Nathan Norman Ryno and Joseph W. Wright filed to replace Mullen.

District 3 incumbent Wade Nelson decided not to run for a second term. Former District 3 representative Allen K. Bratcher filed to regain the seat he relinquished to mount an unsuccessful campaign for mayor in 2022.

The city clerk’s office still must verify the candidates’ paperwork before their names are officially placed on the ballot. Valverde said she expects the verifications to be completed by Jan. 9.

Other important election information

The last day for a candidate to withdraw from the election is Jan. 13, according to New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver.

Write-in candidates will be accepted until Jan. 13.

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

Artesia wins in rout over Pojoaque Valley

Michael Smith
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Artesia wins in rout over Pojoaque Valley

JT Keith
Artesia Daily Press
jtkeith@elritomedia.com

Just 10 games into its season, the Artesia boys team made the game of basketball look easy. The Bulldogs pummeled Pojoaque Valley 72-34 on Saturday at the Bulldog Pit.

Charlie Campbell IV led the Bulldogs with 17 points, and Braylon Vega had 11 points, along with three other players who scored in the double digits.

“We did what we were supposed to do,” Artesia basketball coach Michael Mondragon said. “Our beginnings were the topic of our discussion. Taking care of the ball and guarding have been inconsistent in our quarters at times. I thought we played pretty well for four quarters. In the third quarter, we were a little tired, and we weren’t rotating well with our press. We gave up some open looks with the 3-pointers. We are doing the little things and getting better. We are happy about the 4A win.”

Mondragon said his team is getting better, the football players are getting their basketball legs and overall, the team is doing the little things that will help them win. One thing Mondragon said he was happy about was the way the Bulldogs share the ball.

“That’s what makes it hard to stop,” Mondragon said. “We are a team. These guys love each other, and that makes this team so unique. They don’t care about accolades. You cannot do what we have done and are doing, and you don’t have selfless guys. As long as they play together, we will be tough to beat. Our guys care about one thing, winning and playing for each other and making sure they are doing things for each other.”

The Bulldogs have a big stretch of games coming up, with Carlsbad visiting the Bulldog Pit at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The teams met earlier this season, when the Bulldogs led the Cavemen until the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. Artesia lost that game 60-54 on Dec. 19.

Mondragon said the Bulldogs look forward to protecting the Pit in the game against Carlsbad. He said he would like the team to come out and play with energy, improving on the last time the two teams played in Carlsbad.

“We want to play our best basketball come the end of February and early March,” Mondragon said.

JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X @JTKEITH1.

Artesians look ahead to 2026

Michael Smith
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Artesians look ahead to 2026

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

As Artesia rolls in 2026, community leaders such as longtime City Councilor Raul Rodriguez are pondering the city’s future and setting goals for the new year.

Rodriguez, who has served the residents of District 1 for 24 years, said things are looking bright for Artesia with ongoing infrastructure projects and increased business activity.

“I hope not to slow the process down (and) to continue at a steady pace and to finish the projects that we’ve got going on,” he said.

Rodriguez said finishing up construction work on 26th street along with remodeling the former Artesia Police station at 702 W. Chisum Ave. and the current Artesia City Hall at 511 W. Texas Ave. are some of the major projects the city is working on this year.

“We have a bright future ahead of us,” Rodriguez said. “We are also looking at housing projects for the future. We’re trying to entice more businesses to come into the city.”

With the pursuit of fossil fuels continuing unabated in the Permian Basin of southeast New Mexico, Rodriguez said, Artesia has developed a progressive attitude when it comes to growth and meeting the demands of an increased population.

“Being progressive makes you want things to get done and it’s going to help the economy,” he said. “Just think, the future of technology, the future of everything is going to get larger and expand and we need to grow into it.”

Hayley Klein, Artesia’s brand-new city administrator, agreed with Rodriguez and added city government was pushing toward efficiency in local government.

“A smooth transition of responsibilities to a new administration will be at the top of the list. The newly created city administrator position is designed to help the administration meet its goals, work with the community, and represent the city’s interests around the state,” she said.

Klein said the community was on track to have a successful 2026 and looked forward to collaborating with community partners and citizens.

Artesia Police Chief Kirk Roberts said crime has decreased in the community since 2021. He is looking for that trend to continue this year.

“Operations will also include new progressive patrol and investigative tactics while leveraging software and new training capabilities intended to increase efficiency in operations,” Roberts said in an email to the Artesia Daily Press.
“Over this same period Artesia Police has been effective in recruiting and retention efforts that have resulted in moving from 40% of our allotted positions being vacant to only about an 8% vacancy rate. The increase in personnel available at all hours of the day will greatly improve the department’s ability to reduce crashes and conduct expanded crime prevention operations, Artesia PD’s second main goal for 2026.”

For State Sen. James Townsend (R-34), protecting jobs and creating additional employment for future generations are top priorities in 2026.

Townsend said funding public safety and helping area schools will be among the challenges facing the New Mexico Legislature in its upcoming session starting Jan. 20.

“We are blessed in southeast New Mexico with natural resources, great companies and caring educators and dedicated law enforcement officers,” he said in an email. “One of our jobs as legislators is to listen to them and help them succeed.”

Tommy Salsberry, general manager of the Spark by Hilton hotel at 203 North Second Street, says helping his family thrive and the hospitality industry grow are among his goals for this year.

“I get a great joy of being able to provide and be available for my family, whether its financially or motivationally,” he said. “Whether it’s immediate family or friends, I want to be able to be there.”

Salsberry has spent 10 years in the hospitality industry and has served as general manager at the Spark by Hilton for 10 months.

He’s hoping for growth not only at the Spark but for Artesia’s hospitality industry in general.

Stayce Smith, a popular radio personality who can be heard on KWMW 105.1 FM, said extra music is not the only item her 2026 to-do list. One big resolution: complimenting one person every day. Another: compiling her official “bucket list,”

“Even if I know I will never complete many of them the dreaming about it part can be almost just as fun,” she said. “I am also going to make sure I smile more than I frown and eat at least one green thing a week,” she said.

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

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