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Carlsbad adds monument to Pecos River

Michael Smith
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Carlsbad adds monument to Pecos River

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

Three-foot-tall letters spell out the name of the Cavern City along the Pecos River.

The sign provides a backdrop for tourists to take photos, commemorating their visit to Carlsbad, and city officials say the monument contributes to the community’s pride in its natural beauty and rare flowing river in arid New Mexico.

The display, completed in September, was the work of a group of six women attending Leadership Carlsbad from September 2023 to May 2024. A ribbon-cutting to celebrate the completion is planned for Jan. 5.

The leadership course is led annually by the Chamber of Commerce with young professionals meeting monthly to learn about different aspects of the community and its industries.

Attendees are placed into groups and asked to complete a project for the betterment of the city. Jennifer Watson, 37, said her group designed the large, white letters to give tourism a boost and would like to see the display become as iconic as similar constructions in other towns, including the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.

The letters sit at the entrance of the Cascades at Carlsbad business park, on Park Drive to the west of the river near the Greene Street Bridge, along the city’s riverwalk.

The display was paid for through a partnership with the city, allowing the group to use about $15,000 in municipal lodger’s tax revenue.

Watson, who serves as manager of local bed and breakfast Fiddler’s Inn, said the monument could prove valuable for those looking to craft the perfect social media post or take memorable graduation photos.

The group asked visitors to the monument to post photos using the hashtag #DestinationCarlsbad.

“It’s a great spot for locals and tourists to go and enjoy another beautiful part of our city,” Watson said. “A lot of people congregate down by the beach area, but we really wanted to encourage people to enjoy the entire river.”

The group created the design, found a local contractor, Perfect Design, to finalize and build the monument, and presented the idea to Mayor Rick Lopez in January 2024.

It was built, complete with lighting for nighttime visits, by September of this year but an important question remained: whether to leave the letters white like the Hollywood sign or add a mural to symbolize several other landmarks in the community.

After months of debate, the group decided on the former in response to feedback online.

“Once we got it done, people started posting that they really liked the white color,” said group member Michelle Martinez, 42, who is also executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Carlsbad. “It really does pop.”

She said the sign was intended to remain for many years and will be maintained by the city of Carlsbad.

“We will be moving on, long gone and we want to make sure it stays good and continues,” Martinez said. “Partnering with the city is ensuring it will be part of the city long-term.”

Lopez said the project was one of his first upon assuming office in 2024, following his victory in the 2023 general election over City Councilor Eddie Rodriguez.

The mayor said the monument was part of a broader effort by the city to improve its riverwalk and beach areas, expanding on Carlsbad’s unique recreation opportunities.

“The whole point is to showcase our beautiful beach area,” he said. “It’s just another item to draw people down there. It makes it a destination.”

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

Hattie Harrison adjusts to college life

Michael Smith
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Hattie Harrison adjusts to college life

JT Keith
Artesia Daily Press
jtkeith@elritomedia.com

Hattie Harrison, a former Artesia All-State track and field star, is now a freshman at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Harrison recently came back to her hometown to support former teammate Kailee Padilla as she signed her own letter of intent to attend Western Colorado University.

Harrison told the Artesia Daily Press that the there are differences between high school and college, but the differences are subtle.

At first, attending college classes and track practice was a little stressful, but now she is adjusting to being away from home. She said after a couple of weeks, she could get into a routine. She said one of the most significant changes was that her classes were an hour long twice a week, unlike in high school.

“I think what differed from college than high school, it was a different atmosphere with different people, and I had to get used to those people and get myself out there,” Harrison said. “I had to get to know them, and they had to get to know me. … Once I got used to everyone and got to know everyone, it just started flowing.”

She said another change was the vastness of the West Texas A&M campus, as she had to walk everywhere. She said she gets cold on her walks and has to layer up when she goes outside. She said at first it was difficult to share a room or use a bathroom with so many girls in a dorm, but she is used to it now. She said she and her roommate, a track teammate, get along well and bonded instantly.

Harrison is majoring in biochemistry and wants to be a dentist or a science teacher.

What has helped her feel comfortable at school is the community’s openness and welcoming nature, she said. She has joined a church and some Bible studies. As she continues to adjust to college life, she hopes to join more clubs and become more active in them.

“I miss volleyball and basketball season in Artesia,” Harrison said. “I miss the atmosphere with the fans cheering us on when we play, and I miss our teammates bonding together.”

Harrison said she will run the pentathlon during the indoor track season and the heptathlon during the outdoor season.

This multi-sport athlete just ran her first indoor race of the year, the 800m (2:49.94). Harrison ran her personal best at the Colorado Running Company Pre-Holiday Invite in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Dec. 12-13.

Harrison said she competed in the high jump, 100m hurdles and long jump in high school.

“Competition is greater,” Harrison said about college. “It is a completely different level than high school. There is such great competition everywhere, at my school, and at every other school. I really enjoy that because I am going to continue to get better and better.”

Harrison said her primary goals are competing in the high jump and hurdles, and for the outdoor 100m hurdles, she would love to run a 14.1 or a low 14. For the high jump, she would like to jump 5-feet-5 inches, and she is getting used to the other events. She hopes to set more goals for the event next year.

After the holiday break, the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs will return to the track as they take part in the Corky Classic at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas, on Jan. 16-17.

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

Otero County Prison gives holiday gifts

Michael Smith
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Otero County Prison gives holiday gifts

Staff Reports

Throughout the month of December, Otero County Prison donated hand-crafted blankets, quilts, beanies and scarves to several organizations across New Mexico, Texas and Mexico, helping bring warmth and comfort to those in need during the holiday season.

These handmade items were created by Otero County Prison residents through educational and vocational programming. The initiative not only supports vulnerable communities, but also allows residents to contribute their talents to meaningful causes.

The donated items were distributed to the following organizations and community initiatives:

• Consulado General de México en El Paso

The Consulate distributed the donated blankets during a food pantry giveaway in El Paso, Texas, supporting local families facing food insecurity and financial hardship during the holiday season.

• Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) – Help New Mexico, Chaparral, NM

CPLC Help New Mexico provides a wide range of services to low-income individuals and families, including housing assistance, case management and community support programs. The donated blankets will help families stay warm during the winter months.

• La Casa Inc., Anthony, NM

La Casa Inc. serves victims of domestic violence by providing emergency shelter, advocacy and support services. The donated items will be used to provide comfort and warmth to individuals and families seeking safety and healing.

• Eastside Democrats – Senior Blanket Drive

Fifty blankets were donated to support the organization’s annual Senior Blanket Drive, which assists elderly community members who may be living on fixed incomes and facing increased heating costs during the winter.

• Otero Commissioner Gerald Matherly and Cheryl Matherly

Blankets were delivered to the Otero County Fair and Rodeo as part of Commissioner Matherly’s annual senior citizen drive, an initiative dedicated to supporting older adults throughout Otero County during the holiday season.

• Delice Bakehouse, El Paso, TX

Delice Bakehouse’s owner, along with her husband and daughters, regularly deliver hot meals, clothing, jackets and blankets to colonias in Juárez, Mexico. These colonias are highly underserved communities where many homes lack proper insulation and heating, making winter temperatures especially dangerous for residents.

“We are truly grateful to these organizations, who we know will put these handmade items to good use,” said Arlette Villa, Community Relations Manager at Otero County Prison Facility.

“Our residents are thankful that their artwork and efforts are being used for such meaningful purposes. We also extend a sincere thank you to the Education Department for overseeing and supporting these men and women throughout the process.”

Trout didn’t take a holiday in New Mexico

Michael Smith
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Trout didn’t take a holiday in New Mexico

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

The Christmas and New Year’s holidays did not impact trout fishing across New Mexico as ideal conditions were cited in late 2025 and early 2026 in lakes and streams across the state.

In Lincoln County at Grindstone Reservoir, fishing for trout was particularly good using Rainbow PowerBait.

At Dexter’s Lake Van, trout fishing was exceptionally good using Green or Yellow Garlic PowerBait.

In northern New Mexico at the Albuquerque Area Drains, fishing for trout was good using Rainbow Glitter PowerBait.

Fishing for trout at Monastery Lake was slow using mealworms.

Along the Pecos River, fishing for trout was slow using size-16 dry flies.

Along the San Juan River, fishing for brown trout was incredibly good when using RS2 and Grey Midge flies in the quality waters.

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.

Padilla signs with Western Colorado University

Michael Smith
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Padilla signs with Western Colorado University

JT Keith
Artesia Daily Press
jtkeith@elritomedia.com

Artesia senior Kailee Padilla plans to continue her playing career after signing a letter of intent to attend Western Colorado University and continue her education and volleyball career.

In the 2025 season for the Lady ’Dogs, Padilla earned first-team All-State honors, and in 2024, she was a second-team All-State selection. She was also the Offensive Player of the Game in the 2025 All-Star Game.

“The All-Star Game was so much fun,” Padilla said. “It was one of the best experiences I had playing volleyball. It was an entertaining game. I received the Offensive Player of the Game award. It was a great environment and a great group of girls. It was a great accomplishment to be named All-State. I have been working toward it since my sophomore year. I always wanted to make that a goal, and it feels good to accomplish that goal.”

Padilla said the decision was difficult and that she loves her family, with whom she is close. When she visited Western Colorado, she found an environment where she could grow as a person and in her relationship with God. She felt that was where God was leading her to attend school.

As successful as Padilla has been in high school, she said her favorite memories from her four-year career have nothing to do with playing in a game or receiving an award. She enjoys being with her teammates on the bus rides and overnight stays, where she learned about them and bonded.

“Congratulations on behalf of the Artesia Bulldogs,” Artesia athletic director Jeremy Maupin said. “It is always a blessing when you get to go play at the next level, and we are behind you and praying for you. We are excited for you, and we will follow you and your career. We know you put in a lot of hard work, and we applaud you for it. You are an inspiration to others, and the time you have put into this sport. We want to say thank you, and we are really excited for your future.”

Bulldog volleyball coach Alan Williams said he is praying for Padilla’s complete recovery from a basketball injury, looks forward to watching her play and hopes she lets her game do the talking.

“Kailee is super-brave and super-courageous,” Williams said. “I can remember last year, we were playing the semifinal game against Hope Christian, we were in the fifth game; it was double digits for both teams, and it was a game point for us. She gets a set, and she absolutely hammers the ball to win the game. At that point, many kids are scared because they do not want to make a mistake. Kailee Padilla is not that kind of kid. She is super-courageous; to me, that was something I enjoyed watching about her. I am looking forward to seeing that at another level.”

Padilla will play for head coach Sonia Morales-Jones, who joined Western Colorado in April 2025. In Morales-Jones’ first year, the Mountaineers went 1-25 overall and 0-14 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

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

Opinion: There’s plenty of good news to report for 2025

Michael Smith
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Opinion: There’s plenty of good news to report for 2025

Sherry Robinson
All She Wrote

In the spirit of the season, I’m devoting this week’s column to good news. Despite the dark times we think we live in, there’s a lot to buoy our spirits.

Let’s start with simple solutions to complex problems.

Bernalillo County used $7 million from the Legislature to buy and renovate an old hotel in October and open it weeks later as transitional housing for homeless people. It’s now the largest such facility for families in the city, reports the Albuquerque Journal. During 90-day stays, care givers help residents get their kids back in school, replace lost ID, find jobs and learn life skills. Compare this to the City of Albuquerque’s Gateway Center, which is so complex and tries to do so much that it’s taken years to get off the ground.

Turning to the economy, I was intrigued this year that despite constant worries about “uncertainty,” tariffs and recession, New Mexico saw a steady stream of economic development announcements. Many were substantial, and they were distributed around the state. It’s important because these companies can locate anywhere, and they said: We like what we see in New Mexico, we have confidence in the workforce, and we will spend a boatload of money here.

Pacific Fusion, Mantis Space, Castelion, and Quantinuum chose Albuquerque or Sandoval County after national searches. Pacific Fusion will build its first research and manufacturing campus, a $1 billion facility, to build a commercial fusion system. Mantis Space will build a headquarters and manufacturing hub where it will develop the first power grid in space. Castelion will build a solid rocket motor manufacturing campus. And Quantinuum will build a quantum R&D center, a salute to the state’s footprint in quantum computing.

The first time I read about fusion I was working for a coal-fired electric utility. I thought this energy source was so far in the future that I’d never see it in my lifetime. And now, thanks in part to research at Sandia National Laboratories, they’ll be in our back yard.

Outside the state’s urban center, Navitas Global will revive a mothballed ethanol plant in Portales to convert whey derivatives, a dairy byproduct, into biofuels and animal feed. In Santa Teresa, on the border, thyssenkrupp Materials opened a metals manufacturing services facility. And in Torrance County NewBridge will expand its hemp and CBD farming, processing, manufacturing and distribution businesses with a processing plant and canning facility.

Data centers are controversial, but they belong on this list. New Era Energy & Digital plans to develop an AI data center on 3,500 acres near Caprock in Lea County. Zenith Volts Corp. plans a data center on 8,500 acres near Roswell. And Project Jupiter, on 1,400 acres at Santa Teresa, is one of five sites in the massive Stargate Project. They would join Meta Platform’s data center in Los Lunas.

There’s noisy concern about water and power, especially for Project Jupiter, but I think New Mexico should look at its young people and welcome these opportunities. The data centers can’t be built without great oversight, and they have the potential to transform the economy, especially in rural areas.

Taken together, all these projects set us on a path toward the future. I’ve written about New Mexico’s business or economy for decades, and all this time people have said we need to diversify. Well, diversification is coming to us.

Finally, at this time of year we often recognize people who work day in, day out, regardless of economic challenges or political winds to make our communities better places to live. I’d like to give a shout out to one guy who’s made a huge difference – Shel Neymark.

Nobody has fought harder for the state’s smallest libraries, beginning with his own Embudo Valley Library in Dixon. Those of us with city-funded libraries may not realize that in small communities, libraries survive on donations, volunteers and the occasional grant, and yet they’re community hubs.

Many “are one broken water heater or damaged roof away from having to close their doors,” said New Mexico Magazine, which just named Neymark one of its ten True Heroes. In 2018 Neymark organized the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative and successfully lobbied the Legislators for an endowed fund.

I doubt that Neymark ever said, “I’m just one person. What can I do?”

The good news I’ve gathered here is what will fit in one column. There’s much more. And that’s what we need to remember in the coming year.

Keithley’s Korner predictions: Hello AI, bye-bye Jimmy Fallon

Adrian Hedden
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Keithley’s Korner predictions: Hello AI, bye-bye Jimmy Fallon

Tim Keithley
For the Artesia Daily Press

To welcome in 2026, your local columnist/horse race handicapper/radio announcer will lick a finger, point it into the wind and once again offer loyal readers and listeners my annual predictions.

Looking back on 2025, I see that somehow a few of my forecasts were correct including: local hotel rooms being crowded with construction workers; the governor’s EV mandate winding up in federal court; the New Mexico Lobos losing their basketball coach; much lower summer gas prices. I also predicted the winners of the 2025 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Here are my predictions for 2026:

1. The growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will dominate our lives in the coming year. All local businesses will use some form of AI and most of us will use it without even noticing. This change won’t come without making life easier for criminals and more difficult for authorities trying to determine the difference between what is authentic and what is fake. It is the scariest thing about our future and we have no way of knowing whether it will be used for good or bad.

2. Buy gold. Big time. Nearly all the major financial analysts including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are on record forecasting the price of gold could reach $5,000 per ounce in 2026. This week gold was selling to investors at about $4,350, a 65% increase in just one year.

3. Skier Lindsey Vonn becomes America’s sweetheart as a medalist at 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. Now 41 and having recovered from nine knee surgeries, Lindsey will medal in the upcoming February Olympics in Italy while competing in her fifth Winter Games for the United States. With a titanium knee and a recent World Cup victory, her success will become legendary in the world of skiing and beyond.

4. Patriotism returns with America’s 250th birthday. It will be cool again to show off being an American. This means plenty of red, white and blue will appear on flags, baseball caps, T-shirts, store windows and generally all around town as we celebrate the July 4, 1776, founding of the United States. America’s big birthday lands on a Saturday in 2026, setting the stage for a long and festive milestone weekend. Get a reservation wherever you’re headed – if it’s not too late already.

5. Deb Haaland wins New Mexico governor’s race. How I wish I could be wrong about this one, but there seems to be a lack of any conservative candidate with statewide name recognition to make a run at the governor’s office. Many political pundits I’ve spoken to agree that if you thought the current governor had liberal-leaning policies, “New Mexico ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.”

6. Steak prices remain out of reach for basic dinner. I got my wife something very expensive for Christmas this year – a pair of rich, flavorful, juicy ribeyes. I told her she could either use them as earrings or we could grill them with baked potatoes and asparagus. Her choice.

7. San Francisco 49ers win Super Bowl LX. The 49ers will use the running game of Christian McCaffrey to win the biggest game of the season on their home field at Levi’s Stadium. McCaffrey will be named most valuable player. And the halftime counter-show being produced by Turning Point USA will attract almost the same number of viewers as the Super Bowl production featuring Bad Bunny – which will cause NFL executives to reconsider “cutting-edge” performances in the future. Here come the Eagles (that’s the band, not the football team) in 2027.

8. The fiddle and steel guitar make a comeback to the “Nashville Sound” in country music. Top Nashville country music artists will go authentic and sound less-produced and more traditional this year with fiddles and steel guitars making a comeback. Ella Langley and Zack Top will be named top vocalists by the County Music Association in 2026.

9. “Tonight Show” is canceled. The era when America could laugh together ended years ago with the retirement of Johnny Carson in 1992. The talk show Carson hosted for 30 years may have held on for another three decades or so, but “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” will fall by the wayside due to cost concerns and one-sided political jokes. It was a good run but the end is overdue as late-night television ratings sink to all-time lows without a good reason for viewers to watch.

10.Artesia Daily Press readership continues on the rise. Local newspapers including the Artesia Daily Press will see dramatic increases in readership and advertising in 2026. (This appears to be extremely self-serving as I write it but it’s true.) As long as local newspapers stay focused on local stories about individuals, provide plenty of sports and event photographs and print interesting recipes they can be profitable. Local news MUST be local – that’s the kind of news readers want to read.

Happy New Year! Raise a glass to 2026 with a bright outlook for peace, prosperity and happiness. The coming year doesn’t have to be that great to be better than 2025 – that’s for sure.

Artesia’s top stories of 2025

Adrian Hedden
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Artesia’s top stories of 2025

Staff reports

Wildfires, politics and tragic criminal trials topped the list of the Artesia Daily Press’ most popular stories in 2025.

Online page views were used by the newspaper to devise the stories you read the most in the last year.

Here’s what online readers clicked on the most in 2025.

Top 5 in 2025


Feds to New Mexico: Burn, baby, burn – 5,248 views

This column by frequent contributor Sherry Robinson discussed widespread drought in New Mexico, and subsequent wildfires Robinson argued were worsened by climate change and low staffing at federal agencies.

Robinson criticized the Department of Government Efficiency, previously led by billionaire Elon Musk, which implemented broad workforce reductions at agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, which is tasked with overseeing fire prevention at nearby Lincoln National Forest.

Trial delayed for Alexee Trevizo accused of killing newborn at hospital – 4,590 views

Artesia High School student Alexee Trevizo was accused in January 2023 of smothering her newborn baby in a trashcan at Artesia General Hospital and charged with first-degree murder.

Her trial faced numerous delays, most recently due to a debate on the admissibility of video footage taken from Trevizo’s room at the hospital where she allegedly confessed to a doctor while police were present.

The issue was sent to the New Mexico Supreme Court for consideration after now-retired District Judge Jane Shuler Gray ruled last year to exclude the evidence. Verbal arguments were made before the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the matter.

Paid family and medical leave bill passes heads to Senate – 4,043 views

House Bill 11 was proposed during the 2025 Legislative Session to offer paid leave for families needing time off work for medical issues. The bill would have required employees to pay two-tenths of 1% of their earnings into the program, while businesses would contribute 0.15% of each eligible worker’s wages.

HB 11 passed the New Mexico House on a thin 38-31 margin, but died before a vote in the Senate.

Fishing conditions remain stable in New Mexico – 3,327 views

This look at fishing in southeast New Mexico explained that conditions in July remained favorable at bodies of water throughout the region. The article described fishing at the Pecos River, Lake Van in Dexter and Alto Lake.

Northern New Mexico’s lakes and rivers also maintained ideal conditions throughout the month, at Ute Lake, Tingley Beach and Conchas Lake.

New Mexico doctors: ‘We are exhausted and demoralized.’ – 3,003 views

Robinson’s column on healthcare described how lawmakers failed to pass a bill that could have addressed medical malpractice in New Mexico. She argued that New Mexico’s current malpractice law, enacted in 2021, lead to an increase in malpractice lawsuits, causing doctors to leave the state.

Senate Bill 176, Robinson contends, would have capped attorney fees and sent 75% of punitive damages to a new state fund that would improve patient safety, instead of to the plaintiffs. Punitive damages would only be awarded in especially “egregious” cases, Robinson writes.

SB 176 died in the Senate before receiving a vote.

The next five

Below are the headlines for the rest of the top 10 stories in the Artesia Daily Press for 2025.

 White Sands tests nuclear launch – 2,907 views

The winds of change are coming to New Mexico – 2,786 views

Once candidate gets real about New Mexico’s doctor exodus – 2,227 views

Artesia man accused of sex with teenage girls – 2,197 views

Lucero guilty of 1s degree murder – 1,776 views

Opinion: Christmas, then and now

Michael Smith
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Opinion: Christmas, then and now

Cal Thomas

Perhaps some of the worst people to explain the real meaning of Christmas are those who claim to believe in its central message, but have trouble communicating it. Like the secularists, they try to define it on their own terms rather than let God speak for Himself.

The reason for Christmas is easy to explain, but difficult for many to understand.

Why would a Holy God offer up His only Son to sinful people who would reject and ultimately crucify Him? Part of the reason I think is that too many of us define love as what we feel for another person, a pet, a favorite restaurant or a sports team. Feelings come and go (consider divorce, a bad meal, a dead pet and several losing seasons). Human love is conditional and often based on emotion, physical appearance and sexual gratification.

God’s love is different. It is He who defines the word by His nature and actions. If His love was conditional on how we feel toward Him, or our behavior, He would have stopped loving us and wiped out the human race as He nearly did in the age of Noah (look it up if you think that was only about saving animals and plants).

1 John 4:8-10 says it best: “God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

That last part is what’s difficult to grasp for many of us sinners. That’s because the very word “sin” offends and seems from another age. Today, if we consider we have faults it is because we are “dysfunctional,” or we blame others, such as our parents. But the Scriptures tell us we are born with a sinful inclination, which it also says is why we must be born a second time through a spiritual rebirth. Think of sin as a birth defect, though a medical condition can often be repaired. Sin can’t be repaired by human effort. A Holy God must judge sin in Jesus’ sacrificial death, or He must judge it in those who refuse to repent. Otherwise, He would not be holy.

See what I mean by easy to explain, but difficult to understand?

When Donald Trump first ran for president, I asked him because of his strong support from evangelical Christians if he had ever felt the need to repent? He said no, but perhaps someday he would. Repentance is a necessary act for salvation, say the Scriptures. It’s difficult for many to do that because of pride which “goes before the fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

So go ahead as the song from the musical “Mame” says, and “Haul out the holly. … For we need a little Christmas right this very minute. Candles at the window, carols at the spinet…” But let’s not reduce the real meaning of Christmas to decorations and manger scenes on the lawn. It is far more than that. It is God becoming a Man, living a perfect life, dying in our place and rising from the dead, which was witnessed by hundreds, so that God’s justice would be satisfied and we could spend eternity with him in a sinless and forgiven place called Heaven.

Focus on that and your Christmas Day – and every day – will be merry and bright.

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

Artesians celebrating New Year’s with a bang

Michael Smith
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Artesians celebrating New Year’s with a bang

Photos by Mike Smith, Artesia Daily Press

Artesia residents wanting to buy fireworks to celebrate 2026 made a last-minute stop at Amy’s Fireworks on First Street on Wednesday.

Manon Arnett-Wilson of Amy’s said fireworks sales started Dec. 28 and would conclude New Year’s Eve at 8 p.m.

“There is a one-week window to shoot fireworks for New Year’s (in New Mexico),” she said.

Arnett-Wilson said Amy’s Artesia location had been around for 26 years and Wednesday was the busiest day for the sales period.

“(Business) always comes at the end,” she said.

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