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Christmas to the glory of God

Michael Smith
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Christmas to the glory of God

Rick Smith

As Christians we should make it our goal to glorify God in everything.  That includes how we celebrate Christmas.  Far too long Christians have surrendered the celebration of Christmas and Resurrection Day (Easter) to secular society.  We are commanded to glorify God in every area of our lives.  “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31).  When we leave Jesus out or move Jesus to the background of our celebration of His incarnation and birth, we are dishonoring God the Father that sent Him.  Philippians 2:5-11 can be our guide in glorifying God in Christ during Christmas.

First, we need to humble ourselves like Jesus did when He came into this world.  “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:11).  How did Jesus humble Himself when He came?  Jesus emptied Himself of His divine rights and glory.  Anything that you feel that is your right, do as Jesus did and lay that aside and become a servant like Jesus did.  Give your life to bring salvation to those who are dying and going to hell.  Rescue them, snatch them from death and hell and proclaim the gospel to them in word and deed.  “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8).  Make any sacrifice to bring Jesus to those who are perishing.

Also, if God exalted Jesus, then to glorify God at Christmas time means that we must exalt Jesus.  “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:9).  God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that is, has “highly” exalted Jesus.  The angel told Mary, and then Joseph, to call the Baby in the manger “Jesus”.  Why did God do this?  Why this Name?  “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).  If Jesus has saved us, then His Name should be exalted and never used as profanity.  Do everything that you can to exalt – to lift up the Name of Jesus in honor.  Give Jesus the glory that is due His Name.

We should worship and honor Jesus every day of our lives, but during the Christmas season we can do it with a renewed purpose.  “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth…” (Philippians 2:10).   I think that we should renew our worship of our Lord Jesus Christ during the Christmas season.  It is a time that we focus our attention of Christ’s coming into the world to save sinners like you and me.  As we worship of our Savior we will also point the world to Jesus.  Our goal should be that God would save our lost loved ones and friends to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  During this time we should pray more, sing more, read the Bible and meditate on God’s word more, and tell others about Jesus more.  Perhaps along with “Merry Christmas” we should say, “God loved the world so much that He gave His Only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We should glorify God the Father by confessing and proclaiming Jesus Christ the Lord.

“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11).  If every tongue that confesses Jesus Christ is Lord glorifies God the Father, then shouldn’t you and I confess Jesus before men.  “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32).  How hard is it to let people know that you are a Christian and the Jesus is your Lord and Savior?  When was the last time you told someone that you belong to Jesus?

Under normal circumstances when we celebrate the birth of someone we focus more on their life and the impact he has had on others.  When we speak of Jesus birth, too often He is just the Baby in the manger.  I think that it would glorify Jesus more if we focused on His life, death, burial, and resurrection.  If we want to bring glory to God and our Lord Jesus Christ, then glorify Jesus in all that He is and has done for us.  Let everyone know that they need to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas season.  “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

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

Policing fraud in New Mexico’s SNAP program

Michael Smith
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Policing fraud in New Mexico’s SNAP program

Sherry Robinson

During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Texas and Oklahoma farmers who lost everything headed west. Before they joined the great exodus to California chronicled by John Steinbeck in “Grapes of Wrath,” they were hoping to find work picking cotton in New Mexico or harvesting beets in Colorado.

They were not welcomed. The Depression had brought hard times to everyone. Charities were tapped out, and locals didn’t want competition for the modest benefits of the government’s New Deal programs. Even so, people held deeply conflicting views. On one hand they recognized their need for help; on the other hand, they found it deeply shameful to accept charity.

Republicans and a good many Democrats suspected that some of the people on relief were loafers who could and should, somehow, be working.

Our work ethic runs deep in this country. When my husband tells me I’m a workaholic, I say I learned it from the best. The worst four-letter word my parents could utter about somebody was “lazy.”

Now we hear the same arguments in SNAP (food stamp) requirements. And we see echoes of the 1930s in New Mexico Republicans’ call for fraud investigations of the state’s program, the nation’s largest.

SNAP, which serves 460,000 New Mexicans, has been quite the political football this year. First, the so-called big beautiful bill cut the program substantially and increased hurdles for recipients. Then, as the two parties wrangled over Obamacare premiums and shut down government for 43 days, recipients panicked until the state jumped in with emergency funding to keep SNAP going.

Now U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins wants SNAP recipients to reapply, citing “fraud, waste and incessant abuse.” Our own Sens. Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich and other Democrats called it an unnecessary duplication of existing rules.

Here at home, Republican legislators got $50,000 during the second special session to audit SNAP for fraud. They point to New Mexico’s high error rate, which calculates over- or underpayments, according to SourceNM. The Legislative Finance Committee plans to look for errors by either the state Health Care Authority or SNAP recipients, but Republicans want a broader examination for fraud that includes eligibility checks, use of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, payments to undocumented immigrants, and nutrition standards.

This follows the report by KRQE of a Truth or Consequences man trading his EBT card for fentanyl. The case started with deputies looking into an overdose death. Sierra County Sheriff Joshua Baker thinks this happens more often than anybody thinks.

But the state Health Care Authority told KRQE this kind of activity is rare and that fraud indicators in the system normally flag misuse. The USDA says fraud cases account for less than 1% of SNAP users.

So the question becomes, what’s appropriate caution and what’s harassment?

My late colleague Harold Morgan once told a roomful of journalists to “look at the big numbers.” By that rule, the SNAP program needs more scrutiny. Its recipients are about 21% of the state’s population, the nation’s highest SNAP participation. And our error rate is one of the highest, which will cost us under the big beautiful bill.

Sheriff Baker said there isn’t much of a deterrent to somebody sick enough to trade food stamps for drugs. The addict in question has two kids and was using his card to buy both drugs and food. Baker wants to see purchase of drugs with food stamps become a felony, which leads to court-ordered rehab and treatment.

Obviously, oversight could improve, and Baker’s suggestion is reasonable.

But how much suspicion is an unhelpful relic of the past? If the user is a tiny fraction of recipients, is it fair to make the rules so onerous that you punish everyone? The USDA secretary’s demand for reapplication is harassment on top of the harassment built in to the big beautiful bill. As I’ve written before, most recipients are working – sometimes more than one job. And each attack on SNAP lengthens the lines at food banks.

The elephant in the room is that New Mexico Republicans are tethered to an administration that has weakened or fired watchdogs throughout federal government. Do they care about anybody else’s fraud or only the fraud committed by poor people?

It’s sad that at a time of year when most of us worry about over-eating, a lot of people have to worry about whether they will eat at all.

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.

First Baptist Church offers tour of Bethlehem

Michael Smith
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First Baptist Church offers tour of Bethlehem

Mike Smith

Artesia Daily Press

msmith@currentargus.com

A community Christmas project two years in the making will come to life Friday and Saturday at the First Baptist Church Total Life Center, 322 W. Grand Ave.

“One Night in Bethlehem” is an interactive program that takes visitors on a journey commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, said Ken Simons, a member of the event’s publicity committee.

The program retraces the steps of Mary and Joseph from their arrival in Bethlehem on what the Christian world now celebrates as Christmas Eve through the Nativity.

Simons said the idea for the program was inspired by his wife Delma who saw a social media post about a church hosting a similar program in 2023.

Simons said his wife approached First Baptist Church lead pastor Ty Houghtaling to ask if the church would coordinate the production.

“Planning has gone on for the last couple of years,” Simons said.

He worked on similar projects while serving in the United States Army in 1975 and 1976 and said his wife was instrumental in gathering pictures and other bits of information downloaded from various websites.

Houghtaling said the church got help from Artesia artist Kirsten Mauritsen who designed what amounted to theatrical sets for the production.

“It seemed like a fun challenge and something I could do,” Mauritsen said. “There was a lot of discussion and planning on what the stations would look like. I did sketches and sketched out everything. I’m a visual person.”

Sketches in hand, Mauritsen began painting the finished products on her garage floor.

Houghtaling said the program allowed First Baptist Church to reach out to the larger Artesia community.

“We have a great tradition of doing community events that highlight our faith,” he said.

Houghtaling said 64 church members will act as Roman soldiers, census takers, merchants and other characters as part of 14 scenes leading to the birth of Jesus.

“It’s all interactive,” he said. “It’s a gift to the people of the City of Artesia,” he said.

Tours start at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and the final tour ends around 8:30 p.m.

“Enjoy it, come and be a part of it, it should be a fun night,” Houghtaling said.

 Artesia Police Blotter

Michael Smith
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 Artesia Police Blotter

Nov. 26

Arrest

Danny Duarte Cobos arrested for failure to appear, resisting, evading, obstructing an officer, controlled substance, possession prohibited.

WELFARE

8:04 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 26th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

11:55 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 13th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

3:20 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

3:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Yucca Ave. in reference to a suspicious activity.

WELFARE

4:44 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

6:24 pm – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of S. 18th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

11:38 pm – Officer dispatched to 1700 block of Harrison Ct. in reference to a suspicious prowler.

Nov 27

SUSPICIOUS

12:33 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 26th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

7:31 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Main St. in reference to suspicious trespass.

ACCIDENT

8:49 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bush Ave. in reference to a hit and run accident.

WELFARE

9:52 am – Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. 25th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

VANDAL

1:56 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to a vandal.

WELFARE

7:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DOMESTIC

10:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. James Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

10:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to physical domestic.

WELFARE

11:40 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of N. 2nd St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

Nov 28

Arrest

Christina Ojeda arrested for battery against a household member.

SUSPICIOUS

12:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of S. 8th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

BATTERY

3:37 pm – Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Gage Ave. in reference to battery.

HARASSMENT

6:55 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Main St. in reference to harassment.

Nov 29

Arrest

Jonah David Valdez arrested for DWI Reckless driving, immediate notice of accident.

UNATTENDED DEATH

4:29 am – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Ray Ave. in reference to an unattended death.

ACCIDENT

11:18 am – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

ABUSE

3:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Ray Ave. in reference to abuse of an adult.

BATTERY

3:47 pm – Officer dispatched to N. Freeman Ave. and E. Richey Ave. in reference to battery.

DISTURBANCE

3:55 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to disturbance.

SHOTS FIRED

3:56 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to shots fired in the area.

PURSUIT

4:48 pm – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a foot pursuit.

ACCIDENT

4:48 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 24th St. and W. Mann Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SHOTS FIRED

6:12 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Clayton Ave. in reference to shots fired in the area.

SUSPICIOUS

8:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of Hermosa Dr. in reference to a suspicious person.

9:19 pm- Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 8th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

9:42 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of N. 6th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

11:37 pm – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of N. Roselawn Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

DOMESTIC

11:32 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to domestic.

Nov. 30

Arrest

Destiny Marie Lopez arrested for battery against a household member, interference with communications.

John Gabriel Granado arrested for aggravated DWI of intoxication. Battery against household member.

Harvey Segura Rodríguez arrested for criminal trespass, resisting, evading, obstructing an officer.  

HARASSMENT

1:59 am – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to harassment.

THREATS

3:39 am – Officer dispatched to 200 block of N. 13th Rural St. in reference to threats.

WELFARE

8:19 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

HARASSMENT

11:00 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 13th St. in reference to harassment.

LARCENY

11:19 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to larceny.

11:50 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 1st St. in reference to larceny.

SUSPICIOUS

11:50 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

12:17 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 7th St. and W. James Ave.  in reference to a suspicious person.

WELFARE

1:24 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block S. Kay St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DOMESTIC

5:46 pm- Officer dispatched to 700 block W. Quay Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

DISTURBANCE

9:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to disturbance.

9:41 pm- Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to a family disturbance.

Dec. 1

Arrest

Miguelito O. Duran arrested for sex offenders registration.

Albert James Scott arrested for contempt of court, failure to comply.

SUSPICIOUS

12:12 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

3:04 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

WELFARE

11:00 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

BATTERY

1:03 pm – Officer dispatched to N. Pine St. and E. Richey Ave. in reference to battery.

ACCIDENT

1:22 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Richardson Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

1:43 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

3:11 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

BURGLARY

2:03 pm – Officer dispatched to 1700 block of W. Main St. in reference to an auto burglary.

WELFARE

3:53 pm – Officer dispatched to 4000 block of W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

4:03 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Mahone Dr. and W. Main St. in reference to suspicious activity.

ALARM

4:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 2100 block of W. Main St. in reference to an alarm.

DOMESTIC

7:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

SUSPICIOUS

8:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

DOMESTIC

8:52 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to domestic.

WELFARE

10:57 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Runyan Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

Dec. 2

SUSPICIOUS

1:53 am – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to a suspicious prowler.

7:29 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Hank Ave. in reference to a suspicious trespass.

DOMESTIC

12:11 pm –  Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to domestic.

DISTURBANCE

12:53 pm – Officer dispatched to 2400 block of W. Main St. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

2:34 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Yucca Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

THREATS

3:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to threats.

BATTERY

4:37 pm – Officer dispatched to 3700 block of W. Lowell Ave. in reference to battery.

RECKLESS

8:02 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Richey Ave. and N. 7th St. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS

8:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Runyan Ave. in reference to a suspicious prowler.

BATTERY

8:56 pm- Officer dispatched to 1700 block of W. Main St. in reference to battery.

Culinary Confidential: Holiday Appetizers offer festive treats

Michael Smith
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Culinary Confidential: Holiday Appetizers offer festive treats


Bruce Lesman

The holiday season calls for elegant small bites—festive, flavorful, and perfect for entertaining. Below are three appetizers with full recipes included.

1. Mini Beef Wellingtons with Hatch Green Chile Creamy Horseradish

Ingredients

– 1 lb beef tenderloin, cut into 1-inch cubes

– 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed

– 4 oz mushrooms, minced

– 2 tbsp butter

– 1 egg, beaten

– Salt and pepper

– 1/2 cup sour cream

– 2 tbsp prepared horseradish

– 2 tbsp chopped roasted Hatch green chile

Instructions

1. Sauté mushrooms in butter until moisture evaporates; season.

2. Sear beef cubes quickly on all sides; season well.

3. Cut puff pastry into small squares and place a spoonful of mushrooms and a beef cube on each.

4. Fold the pastry into parcels, seal edges, and brush with egg wash.

5. Bake at 400°F for 15–18 minutes until golden.

6. Mix sour cream, horseradish, and Hatch green chile for dipping sauce.

2. Cranberry Brie Tartlets with Toasted Piñons

Ingredients

– 1 package mini phyllo tart shells

– 6 oz brie cheese, diced

– 1/2 cup cranberry sauce

– 1/4 cup toasted piñons

Instructions

1. Fill each phyllo tart shell with a small cube of brie.

2. Top with a small spoonful of cranberry sauce.

3. Sprinkle toasted piñons over each tartlet.

4. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes until the brie is melted.

3. Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rounds

Ingredients

– 1 large English cucumber, sliced into rounds

– 8 oz cream cheese, softened

– 1 tbsp lemon juice

– 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

– 6 oz smoked salmon, cut into small pieces

– Fresh cracked pepper

Instructions

1. Mix cream cheese with lemon juice and fresh dill.

2. Pipe or spoon a small dollop onto each cucumber slice.

3. Top with a piece of smoked salmon.

4. Finish with fresh cracked pepper.

About the Author

Bruce Lesman holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Food and Travel and an Associate Degree in Culinary Art. He has served as Corporate Food and Beverage Director for Cunard and Seabourn Cruise Lines and as Vice President for Canyon Ranch Wellness Resorts. He has traveled extensively around the world, experiencing global cuisines that inspire his culinary writing.

Around Town

Michael Smith
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Around Town

One Night in Bethlehem

First Baptist Church Artesia will present a free interactive event December 12 and 13 from 6-8:30 pm at 322 W. Grand Ave. For more information call 575-748-1308 or visit fbcartesia.org

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President Trump’s Prayer Initiative:

President Trump has asked that the American People come together and pray for our Nation weekly until July 4th, 2026.

Artesia will be holding its prayer gathering every Thursday at Lucky Duck Restaurant, 2209 W. Main St, Artesia NM at 10-11am.

Come and go during the hour. Everyone is welcome Come join and pray for our Nation.

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GUIDED MEDITATIONS

Are held during the summer at First Christian Church at 11th and Bullock on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. It is free and all are welcome.

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PHLEBOTOMIST PROGRAM

Applications are now open for Artesia General Hospital’s certified phlebotomist program. To learn how to apply and for more information on this career opportunity, call 575-736-8178 or email foundation@artesiageneral.com.

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GRIEF SUPPORT

A Grief Group meets at 1:30 p.m. each Tuesday in the Saint Damien Center at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 1111 N. Roselawn Ave. Free support is offered in both English and Spanish. For more information, contact Nora at 575-308-3248.

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P.A.L.S.

People about losing safely meets at 9 a.m. Wednesdays at the Senior Center. For more information, call the Center at 575-746-4113.

—————–

ALZHEIMER’S/DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP

Every other Tuesday  from 6:30pm-7:30pm at Artesia Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center -1402 Gilchrist Ave. RSVP to Helen at 575-746-6006.

Alamogordo resident celebrates 100th birthday

Michael Smith
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Alamogordo resident celebrates 100th birthday

‘He’s the life of the party,’ according to senior care workers

Sarah Rubinstein

Alamogordo News

With a lifetime spanning 100 years, Alamogordo’s John DiRisio says the best decision he ever made was moving to the area for a job at White Sands Missile Range. After living in Alamogordo since 1953, DiRisio celebrated his 100th birthday at The Aristocrat Assisted Living Center with cake and friends on Dec. 2.

After serving in World War II, DiRisio moved to Alamogordo to work as an electronics technician at WSMR, a position he held for 30 years.

“That is the best move I ever made, I wouldn’t trade it,” he said.

 However, it wasn’t the job that excited him as much as the woman he met at a nightclub.

DiRisio noticed Floread Bell from across the room and could sense that something wasn’t right. She looked uncomfortable as a drunk patron kept pestering her, so DiRisio broke up the scene and the two were together for more than 60 years.

DiRisio said Floread was very different from him. While DiRisio grew up in New York, she grew up in the Sacramento Mountains.

“She’d wear overalls and (be) barefoot; she looked like a hillbilly girl,” he joked.  

When they got together, she already had two teenaged sons. In addition to the family, together, they had a son, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“We never had an argument; we never had a fight. We never had any questions,” he said. “We got along just fine.”

DiRisio, who grew up in Fairport, NY, was deployed on D-Day in 1944 as a radio operator on a freighter going across the Atlantic in a convoy, heading to Iran to unload armaments for the Russians. At only 18 and as a “young high school kid,” he worked as an assistant radio operator, getting his license before leaving.

“I was a radio operator but the funny thing about it is you couldn’t transmit it because it was a secret,” he said. “So, all I had to do was listen to the radio and report to the captain what I heard.”

After serving as a merchant marine, DiRisio joined the Army, living in Honolulu, Hawaii, for a year. While he never saw any combat, he remembers seeing U-boats.  

“The guys down below (in the freighter) would pound on the funnel, and it sounded like trouble, like depth charges going off after a U-boat but they were just fooling around,” he said.  

DiRisio doesn’t remember too much from his childhood. He was the youngest of ten children in a full house. His mother died when he was born and his father never remarried.  

“We had a 10-kid family and some of my relatives would come over from the old country, Italy, and they’d stay with us for a little while,” he said.

DiRisio said he is proud of his grandson Jerrett Perry, executive director of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce.

“He’s a great guy and he’s well-known,” he said.

DiRisio has been living at The Aristocrat for six years. He plays chess every day on his computer.

“I enjoy beating people if I beat them, but I don’t beat very many people because these guys, they’re all over the world,” he said.  

Kenna Paige, activities director at The Aristocrat, said that John is a wonderful person and has a “beautiful competitive spirit” when involved in activities like cornhole and bowling.

“He’s the life of the party,” she said.

 DiRisio also loves listening to Western music and artists like Robert Wells and he still drives, going to Walmart occasionally and church every Sunday. His first car was a 1931 Essex that was given to him by a cousin.  

Now, DiRisio said family is the most important thing to him.

 “They’re the only thing I have,” he said.

Opinion:Raising the gasoline tax in New Mexico is unfair

Michael Smith
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Opinion:Raising the gasoline tax in New Mexico is unfair

State Sen. Jim Townsend

District 34

Protecting our citizens and their businesses and employees should be the Legislature’s top priority.

Recently an article in the Santa Fe New Mexican supported raising our gasoline tax rates. Gasoline gas tax hikes reverberate throughout our economy. Because of gasoline tax increases, we see higher daily costs of living including costs to commute to work and for visits to the doctor’s office. We see this tax imposing undue hardships on rural New Mexicans predominantly but it also negatively impacts everyone that commutes to work daily. This increase would be especially impactful in this time of high inflation which has harmed all New Mexicans.

Today New Mexicans, who buy gasoline as a needed fuel to get the kids to school, go to work, or to get their loved ones to a doctor, pay 17 cents per gallon on gasoline purchased. This is true unless your purchase was on tribal property where they are exempt from paying the required road tax. About 75% of the tax goes to the State Road Fund with the remainder of the tax going to local governments. Today New Mexicans pay one tribal entity $2M annually to not operate a gas station; reportedly, this was done to protect gasoline tax income. This is taxpayer dollars being used to prevent them from being self-sufficient, instead of addressing the real issue. Craziness.

I have been perplexed over the years as I have seen sitting legislators support the Electric Vehicle (EV) mandates at the cost of New Mexicans’ daily lives. Several of these legislators have purchased EV’s thinking it was a great idea only to realize that when they come to Santa Fe they don’t have enough battery capacity to get home. So, what do they do? They plug their EV’s into the Capitol circuits, recharging their batteries at the cost of their constituents. That may have been the clever idea they perceived in this purchase: subsidies provided by the taxpayer to purchase the vehicle and free power, provided at taxpayer expense, to get home. I bet many taxpayers wished Santa Fe would buy them a tank of gasoline when they came to Santa Fe to attend a legislative session. Oh, and by the way, how much road tax do EV owners pay? Not a single solitary dime. Zippo. Nada. If you are an owner of a gasoline vehicle today, they are about to ask you to pay more so that their EV’s can continue being subsidized and in some cases, to provide taxpayer-funded power to your legislator all while they pay no tax equal to the tax 98% of New Mexicans pay. Treating citizens in this manner is simply unfair.

Small businesses, farmers, and ranchers depend upon affordable fuel to transport their goods and services to the marketplace. Any increase in their input costs, the cost of production, or the cost to market, decreases their often meager profit margins. In rural New Mexico, the choice of public transportation does not exist. Three-quarters of New Mexicans do not have the possibility of a Rail Runner. Many of these communities do not have UBER-type services.

Recently, one of my colleagues, Senator Ant Thornton, was quoted as saying that ‘Math had left the building,’ referring to common sense approaches to businesses when addressed by legislators in our RoundHouse. He is 100% correct. Legislators were approving purchases of school buses for $450,000 each, when a diesel-powered bus cost $150,000. My point is: I agree with Senator Thornton, common sense and math have left the building when addressing road maintenance.

The easy way out is always to say, RAISE TAXES. It is what we have always done. We have to bring math and common sense back into the process, regardless of political party; math and common sense deserve a seat at the table.

Currently, we have approximately $9B dollars in the Early Childhood Fund, more money than we could ever deploy, especially in a declining population. Just a dividend of 5% on that raises approximately $450M a year, possibly a solid source for the road fund without touching the principal. We could stop the subsidies on Wind and Solar and save tens of Millions annually. We could impose fair taxation of wind generated power that New Mexicans subsidize for Arizona and California! Many legislators do not want to discuss that and most New Mexicans don’t realize that they subsidize electric power for California and Arizona. It is one of the most embarrassing things we do to our seniors and veterans on fixed incomes.

Recently, we passed a California initiative called the “Clean Fuels Program.” Currently, this is in the rule-making process but is estimated to raise fuel prices about 50 cents a gallon. That is coming soon and gasoline prices are going up, certainly in 2026 and that impact is before and will be in addition to any increases proposed in gasoline taxes.

In conclusion: we have plenty of money, we just need to stop and use our heads. We can’t keep saying ‘let’s raise taxes’ every time. Our job as responsible legislators is to use taxpayer money judiciously, to save taxpayer money every time we can and yes, to improve our roads through better management.

Sen. Jim Townsend represents District 34, covering Eddy and Otero counties.

Contractor hired to run Artesia Rec Center

Michael Smith
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Contractor hired to run Artesia Rec Center

Rebecca Hauschild
For the Artesia Daily Press

Florida-based Sports Facilities Management LLC will run the new multimillion-dollar Artesia Recreation Center when it opens early next year.

The Artesia City Council voted at its Tuesday, Nov. 25, meeting to approve a three-year contract that will pay Sports Facilities Management (SLM) $18,000 per month or $216,000 per year for management of the center, which is under construction near the Artesia Aquatic Center on Bowman Drive. SLM also has the management contract at the Aquatic Center.

Construction contractor the Jaynes Corporation broke ground Oct. 29, 2024, on the recreation center, a 46,900 square-foot facility that will feature a variety of recreational options including a fitness center and pickleball courts. The center also will function as a venue for community events.

Estimated to cost about $35 million, the center will replace Artesia’s existing 23,000-square foot recreation center, which was built about 45 years ago and no longer meets community needs, according to city officials.

Other business

The council amended a resolution related to the March 2026 city council elections to clarify that both District 4 council seats will be up for election, one for a regular four-year term and the other for the remaining two years of an unexpired term.

Community Development/Infrastructure Director Byron Landfair reported the 26th Street waterline project will be wrapping up by the end of the year and the 8th Street waterline replacement project will start in mid-January. The project will run along Main Street south to Washington Avenue on 8th Street. Remodeling will begin on the old police department building in February, Landfair said.

Recreation Supervisor Jayde Burnell spoke to the council about an opportunity to use Sports Connect, an online registration platform for all program registrations. Registrants would be charged an extra three dollars, and the city would be charged a 3.4% processing fee. For many programs this would increase the cost for participants from $40 to $43. There would still be an option to register in person and not pay the extra fee. The online registration includes signature of all agreements. More information will be presented to the council for a later decision.

Trout-fishing conditions remain ideal in northern NM, Lincoln County

Michael Smith
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Trout-fishing conditions remain ideal in northern NM, Lincoln County

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

Temperatures below freezing in portions of northern and southern New Mexico this week have not curtailed angling prospects for trout in the state’s lakes and streams.

In northern New Mexico at Eagle Nest Lake, fishing for rainbow trout was good using worms.

Trout fishing was good at Monastery Lake using Kastmasters, worms and PowerBait.

At Fenton Lake, fishing for trout was fair to good using Garlic PowerBait.

Trout fishing at the Seven Springs Kids’ Pond in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico was exceptionally good using salmon eggs.

In southern New Mexico, trout fishing was incredibly good in Lincoln County using PowerBait, multicolored Kastmasters and worms.

At Elephant Butte Lake near Truth or Consequences and at the Black River south of Carlsbad, various fish species were biting this week.

Fishing for white bass was slow to fair using shad-colored crankbaits at Elephant Butte. Fishing for striped bass was slow to fair when using jerkbaits.

Fishing for flathead catfish at the Black River was slow to fair using shad chunks.

This fishing report, provided by the New Mexico 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.

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