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Carlsbad woman shot during fight

Michael Smith
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Carlsbad woman shot during fight

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press

A fight between two men in Carlsbad last month led to a shooting and five felony charges for the alleged shooter who said he was “on a bender” in the days before the incident.

Wyatt Widener, 19, was arrested Oct. 1 after police said he opened fire with a Glock handgun on Antonio Tonrabene, 25, and Lateesha Delgado, 30, hitting Delgado in the foot.

Tonrabene was uninjured in the shooting.

Widener was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon conversion device, receiving a stolen firearm and two counts of tampering with evidence. He also faced a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

He was arraigned Monday, Nov. 17, before District Judge David Finger.

Officers responded to the scene in the 600 block of North Fifth Street about midnight Oct. 1 after Delgado called police to report she was shot in the foot by “stupid people,” read the criminal complaint filed in the case.

Police said Widener fled the scene after the shooting but was later apprehended in the 300 block of Mesquite Street and confessed to the shooting after saying he’d been “partying all night” ahead of the altercation.

Widener told police he pulled a modified handgun out of his jacket in response to aggressive actions by Tonrabene and fired several rounds from about five feet away. Widener said he took the gun apart and hid the pieces under a nearby truck then ran away from the area.

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

Why Jesus Came to save humanity

Michael Smith
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Why Jesus Came to save humanity

Rick Smith

It will soon be the Christmas season and our attention will turn to the Incarnation of Christ.  This is a good thing.  It is good to celebrate one of the greatest miracles of all time.  Secular people, and sometime we Christians, get so caught up with the Baby in the manger that we forget that Jesus came for a reason.  In 1 John 3:4-10 John gives us many reasons that Jesus came.

First of all, Jesus came to take away our sin.  For clarity in this difficult section I will be using the ESV translation.  “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.  You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.  No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” (1 John 3:4-6).  Jesus came to deal with our sin by His death on the cross.  Jesus came to free us from sin, not to free us to sin.  Those that belong to Jesus abide in Him and do not practice sinning.  Those that practice sin, who make it the pattern of their lives, prove to everyone that they are not of God – they aren’t God’s children.

Also, Jesus came to defeat our enemy the Devil.  “Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”  (1 John 3:7-8).  The Devil was a murderer and a liar from the beginning (John 8:44).  All deception begins with Satan.  When a person that claims to be a Christian lives like he has a license to sin, he proves that he is not a child of God.  The pattern of life for the believer in Jesus Christ is to depart from sin (Titus 2:11-14).   Christians purify themselves to be more and more like Jesus (1 John 3:3).

Then, Jesus came to make us the children of God.  “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 9-10).   No one that is truly born again makes a practice of sinning.  God will not allow one of His children to continue in any sinful practice.  The Holy Spirit will convict of sin and the child of God will repent.  If that doesn’t happen, then the Father will use the discipline of the local church to correct the wayward child.  He may cast him into the bed of affliction or chastise His child even to the point of death, but a true Christian is not going to continue in a sinful lifestyle (Hebrews 12:4-11).  And Jesus is preparing His bride for glory.  “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

”Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.” (1 John 3:7).  Jesus came to save us from our sin.  The reason that most people do not trust in Jesus is that they love their sin more.  The wages of sin is death, so those that live sinfully will experience the wrath of God.  That is why we call everyone to repent of their sins and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  May God make you wise to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

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.

Artesia Police make arrests, respond to a number of calls

Michael Smith
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Artesia Police make arrests, respond to a number of calls

Nov 8

Arrest

Jonathan Ray Romero arrested for battery against a household member.

Troy Leon Hopson arrested for aggravated DWI of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

DOMESTIC

12:30 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

4:12 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to physical domestic.

DISTURBANCE

7:59 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to disturbance.

SHOTS FIRED

8:50 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Cannon Ave. in reference to shots fired in the area.

INCORRIGIBLE

2:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to an incorrigible child.

VANDAL

3:09 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 14th St. in reference to vandal.

WELFARE

3:38 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

4:40 pm – Officer dispatched to 1700 block of W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

UNWANTED

4:07 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

5:27 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of S. 21st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

9:31 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 4th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

ARMED

9:41 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 5th St. and W. Main St. in reference to an armed subject.

Nov. 9

Arrest

Casey Josephine Ortega arrested for trespass and disorderly conduct.

Vicente Ontiveros arrested for municipal failure to appear.

UNWANTED

12:35 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 8th St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

SHOTS FIRED

3:23 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 14th St. in reference to shots fired in the area.

WELFARE

1:16 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

2:04 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 4th ST. and W. Park Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

SUSPICIOUS

5:45 pm – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of W. Mains St. in reference to a suspicious person.

5:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of N. Roselawn Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

10:37 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 5th St. in reference to suspicious activity.

Nov. 10

SUSPICIOUS

12:05 am – Officer dispatched to N. 14th St. and W. Bush Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

ALARM

2:53 am – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 13th St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

4:21 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Dallas Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

Nov 11

Arrest

Samarah Ann Lara arrested for battery against a house hold member.

WELFARE

9:17 am – Officer dispatched to W. Washington Ave. and S. 9th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DISTURBANCE

9:20 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to a family disturbance.

10:55 am – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Hank Ave. in reference to disturbance.

WELFARE

1:42 pm – Office dispatched to 600 block of N. 8th St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

INCORRIGIBLE

5:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. James Ave. in reference to an incorrigible child.

GRAFFITI

5:56 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to graffiti.

ARMED

5:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of Lolita Ave. in reference to an armed subject.

SUSPICIOUS

7:52 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

ALARM

8:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Main St. in reference to an alarm.

8:55 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. Roselawn Ave. in reference to an alarm.

10:07 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to an alarm.

Nov. 12

WELFARE

12:41 am – Officer dispatched to N/. 2nd St. and W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

4:23 am – Officer dispatched to 2400 block of Loma Rd. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

ACCIDENT

7:49 am – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

BURGLARY

9:01 am – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of N. 1st St. in reference to a burglary.

SUSPICIOUS

9:54 am – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Alvarado Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

WELFARE

9:58 am – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of S. 1st St. in reference to mental welfare.

LOUD

2:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 6th St. in reference to loud music.

RECKLESS

4:14 pm – Officer dispatched to s. 20th St. and W. Briscoe Ave. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS

8:38 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of w. Washington Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

8:42 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 20th St. and W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to suspicious activity.

Nov. 13

Arrest

Anthony Isiah Benavidez arrested for possession of burglary tools, burglary of structure.

Bryant Jordan Coddington arrested for burglary of structure.

SUSPICIOUS

1:56 am – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Main St. in reference to suspicious activity.

4:24 am – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of S. 21st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

WANTED

9:10 am – Officer dispatched to 100 block of W. Cleveland Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

ALARM

4:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

SUSPICIOUS

5:06 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 8th St and W. Richardson Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

6:35 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

THREATS

7:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Main St. in reference to threats.

DOMESTIC

8:05 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

LARCENY

9:49 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Sears Ave. in reference to larceny.

DISTURBANCE

11:01 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to a family disturbance.

Nov. 14

Arrest

James Todd Hughes arrested for stop sign violation, no drivers license, no insurance, false evidence of title and registration, consumption of alcoholic beverages, open container, driving while under the influence of liquor.

UNWANTED

12:06 am- Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

12:40 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

4:40 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

WELFARE

8:10 am – Officer dispatched to S. 4th St. and W. Dallas Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

9:35 am – Officer dispatched to S. Yates St. and W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to a suspicious person.

WELFARE

11:34 am- Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

BATTERY

12:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 13th St. in reference to battery.

DOMESTIC

1:43 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

DISTURBANCE

3:21 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 4th St. and W. Dallas Ave. in reference to disturbance.

WELFARE

7:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 3rd St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

SUSPICIOUS

9:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of w. Mann Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

9:53 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Sears Ave. and S. 20th St. in reference to suspicious activity.

Hatch herb crusted prime rib is a wonderful holiday dinner idea

Michael Smith
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Hatch herb crusted prime rib is a wonderful holiday dinner idea

Bruce Lesman

There’s something undeniably special about serving prime rib during the holidays. The aroma alone—roasted garlic, herbs, and that rich, savory crust—signals that the meal ahead is meant to be shared, savored, and remembered. Prime rib brings a sense of occasion to the table, yet it’s surprisingly simple to prepare and always delivers a show-stopping presentation.

This season’s featured entrée is a Hatch herb–crusted prime rib served with caramelized roasted vegetables and a chilled creamy horseradish. Slow roasting keeps the beef tender and perfectly pink, while the vegetables add color, warmth, and balance to the plate. It’s a complete holiday dinner that feels luxurious without being fussy.

Hatch Herb-Crusted Prime Rib with Roasted Vegetables & Creamy Horseradish

Serves 4–6

Ingredients

Prime Rib

• 1 (5–6 lb) bone-in prime rib roast

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped

• 2 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped

• 2 tbsp Hatch green chile powder or minced roasted Hatch chiles

• 2 tbsp kosher salt

• 1 tbsp cracked black pepper

• 1/4 cup olive oil

Creamy Horseradish

• 1 cup sour cream

• 3 tbsp prepared horseradish

• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• Salt & pepper, to taste

Roasted Vegetables

• 3 cups baby carrots

• 2 cups Brussels sprouts, halved

• 2 cups baby red potatoes, halved

• 1 red onion, cut into wedges

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Combine garlic, herbs, Hatch chile, salt, pepper, and olive oil to form a paste. Rub evenly over the roast and place on a rack in a roasting pan.

Roast at 450°F for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 325°F. Continue roasting until the internal temperature reaches 125°F for medium-rare (about 2–2.5 hours). Rest 20–30 minutes before slicing.

• Toss carrots, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, and onion with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread on a sheet pan and roast at 400°F for 35–40 minutes, turning once.

• Mix sour cream, horseradish, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.

• Arrange a slice of prime rib on the plate with roasted vegetables and creamy horseradish on the side.

Bruce Lesman holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Food and Travel and an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts, and has served as Corporate Food and Beverage Director for Cunard and Seabourn Cruise Lines as well as Vice President of Canyon Ranch Wellness Resorts.

You are the judge

Michael Smith
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You are the judge

Kevin Beardmore
Southeast New Mexico College

More than a month ago I was looking for a particular feature on a new car. I was surprised by an answer provided by AI. It said that it was on a make and model I thought I knew well.

I checked the maker’s website. The feature was not available as an option.

Interestingly, I looked again recently. It now states that it was an option on the highest trim of a previous generation of that model. I tried rephrasing my query, and that affected whether this fact was clearly stated in the results or buried in the details. It makes me wonder if I missed it the first time. Either way, it serves as another example of why we should not take AI results, often prominently displayed and seeming so straightforward in answering our question, as gospel.

The experience reminded me of when I taught middle school in the early 1990s and I was asked to coach the academic bowl team. Given that I had been on such a team in high school, I understood why I was tagged for the role, but my opinion of my own knowledge had been tempered by experience. Being an avid reader as a child, I had sponged up all sorts of random facts, but I had concluded that they were of little use. As a science teacher, I taught students to focus on asking big questions and pushed them to reconsider their preconceptions of the world around them. I openly derided my own abilities in quick recall as “Jeopardy knowledge” that wasn’t worth much, unless it allowed one to win big money on the game show of the same name.

Little did I know then that my outlook would evolve again. As my experience in curriculum development deepened, I realized that my knowledge had a much greater value. The facts that I had learned and the understandings that I had gained allowed me to judge the quality of ideas that others proffered. I wasn’t wrong about the importance of questions, but I had completely undervalued the need for knowledge in making sound professional judgments. The idea of “standing on the shoulders of giants” who had come before us, as Isaac Newton said, suddenly had much more meaning. My ability to critique poorly constructed arguments was not a product of logic or reasoning alone, but the confidence I had in facts and ideas that had become part of how I viewed the world because I, as well as the giants before me, had found them to have predictive value. They provided a foundation for future understandings. They helped me make sense of what was happening around me.

My mind has not changed about this, but I remind myself that my thinking may evolve again. In the philosophy of science, the fundamental understandings that underpin a field of study are referred to as paradigms. These are the theories that serve as a worldview, but even they undergo revision as knowledge accumulates. Change usually comes slowly before there is what American philosopher Thomas Kuhn terms a “scientific revolution” that produces a new consensus. The key is that it arises from evidence and the repeated testing of new explanations by a community of practitioners.

Answers provided by AI come from large language models based on the corpus of human knowledge, and thus they are often solid. But do not blindly follow. Be skeptical and check—and double-check—even what may sound true.

Our future depends on everyone’s careful consideration. Remember, you are the judge.

Kevin Beardmore, Ed.D., is President of Southeast New Mexico College. He may be reached at kbeardmore@senmc.edu or 575.234.9211

Ex-police chief convicted for exceeding authority

Michael Smith
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Ex-police chief convicted for exceeding authority

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@currentargus.com

Former Loving Police Chief Frank Methola was convicted Nov. 14 of impersonating a police officer, nearly four years after he was accused of making an arrest outside of his jurisdiction.

Methola, 54, was arrested on Nov. 29, 2021, and charged with a count each of impersonating a peace officer and battery – a misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor, respectively.

A 12-person jury found Methola guilty on both charges after a four-day trial held in Eddy County District Court before District Judge David Finger.

The charges stemmed from an Aug. 26, 2021, incident when Methola pulled over Cody Hill for speeding within Carlsbad city limits.

Police said Methola made the traffic stop after entering the Carlsbad city limits while driving south on U.S. Highway 285 in his Loving Police Department vehicle.

Methola, a commissioned Loving police officer, was dressed in his full Loving Police Department uniform, police said, but did not possess a commission card from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office allowing him to make traffic stops and arrests outside of Loving but within Eddy County.

Prosecutors at trial argued that Methola acted outside of his jurisdiction when he detained Hill, using a Taser and handcuffing him after Methola alleged Hill resisted.

Hill was never arrested or issued a citation.

Following the verdict, Fifth Judicial District Attorney Dianna Luce, who prosecuted the case, said the jury’s decision should send a message that “everyone is accountable to the rule of law.”

Luce said that while the misdemeanor charge held a potential sentence of 364 days, along with 182 days for the petty misdemeanor, her biggest goal was to put a conviction on Methola’s record she hoped would make it difficult for him to be hired in the future as an officer in the state of New Mexico.

“At the end of the day, what I argued to the jury was about the rule of law,” Luce said. “He (Methola) was not cross-commissioned in the city of Carlsbad. His jurisdiction did not give him any right to go into Carlsbad and arrest a suspect.”

Luce argued during the trial that a memorandum of understanding between the village of Loving and Eddy County did not give any additional authority to officers of one municipality within the county to make arrests in another. Luce also argued that Methola had the option of following Hill and calling Carlsbad police to assist and make the arrest.

The memorandum, which described how the county contracted with municipal law enforcement for policing outside of city limits, was a point of contention during the trial.

“I know it seems like a technicality, but the problem is that if a stop is bad, any such case would be dismissed,” Luce said. “There are a lot of specific requirements for traffic enforcement; there are a lot of things he (Methola) could have done differently.”

On June 2, 2023, Methola filed a motion to dismiss the case against him, arguing his pursuit of Hill began in Loving and continued as the alleged speeder ignored orders to pull over and drove into Carlsbad.

The motion also argued that state law allowed for officers to make arrests outside of their jurisdiction when in “fresh pursuit” of a defendant fleeing that jurisdiction.

Eddy County and the village of Loving had a “joint police services agreement” in effect at the time of the incident, read the motion to dismiss, meaning Loving police officers were allowed to make arrests in other Eddy County jurisdictions.

The agreement stated the village of Loving will “provide police services to the extent available or on an as needed basis.” It also listed fire and emergency medical services being provided to residents of Eddy County by the village as needed and determined by the Eddy County Commission.

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

Carlsbad woman shot during fight

Michael Smith
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Carlsbad woman shot during fight

Adrian Hedden

Artesia Daily Press

achedden@currentargus.com

A fight between two men in Carlsbad last month led to a shooting and five felony charges for the alleged shooter who said he was “on a bender” in the days before the incident.

Wyatt Widener, 19, was arrested Oct. 1 after police said he opened fire with a Glock handgun on Antonio Tonrabene, 25, and Lateesha Delgado, 30, hitting Delgado in the foot.

Tonrabene was uninjured in the shooting.

Widener was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon conversion device, receiving a stolen firearm and two counts of tampering with evidence. He also faced a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.

He was arraigned Monday, Nov. 17, before District Judge David Finger.

Officers responded to the scene in the 600 block of North Fifth Street about midnight Oct. 1 after Delgado called police to report she was shot in the foot by “stupid people,” read the criminal complaint filed in the case.

Police said Widener fled the scene after the shooting but was later apprehended in the 300 block of Mesquite Street and confessed to the shooting after saying he’d been “partying all night” ahead of the altercation.

Widener told police he pulled a modified handgun out of his jacket in response to aggressive actions by Tonrabene and fired several rounds from about five feet away. Widener said he took the gun apart and hid the pieces under a nearby truck then ran away from the area.

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

Keithley’s Korner

Michael Smith
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Keithley’s Korner

Internment ceremony held at Fort Stanton Cemetery

Tim Keithley

For the Artesia Daily Press

The remains of a group of veterans who have passed away without being claimed by relatives or family members will be interred at Fort Stanton State Veterans Cemetery next Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m.

“We’re asking the public to come and represent their families at the interment,” Mark Sierra said. He’s the Interment Specialist for Fort Stanton and helped organize the event for nine veterans who served in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

“This is the first time that we’re having this type of ceremony at Fort Stanton,” Mark said. “The state regularly buries those whose remains were unclaimed by family members at the state cemetery in Santa Fe. We were contacted by a funeral home in Alamogordo that was holding the remains of these veterans and we worked to proceed with including these veterans at our cemetery in Fort Stanton.”

The nine veterans include:

*Gerald Steadman Carke Jr. (1929-2011), U.S. Air Force A1C

*Myron Ray Stuffelbeam (1930-2024), U.S. Army Private

*Ronald Lee Burton Sr. (1939-2014), U.S. Army FSC

*James Cecil Johnson (1931-2010), U.S. Navy AMHC

*Lancer Charles Hicks (1925-2014), U.S. Air Force CM Sgt

*James David Simpson (1951-2015), U.S. Army PV2

*Roger Merrill Davis (1939-2020), U.S. Army CW3

*William Henry Miller (1948-2019), U.S. Air Force AIC

*Catheryn Marie Miller (1949-2019), the wife of William, records indicate she was enlisted in the Air Force for one year,

Mark said there has been a lot of work completed by a team at Fort Stanton including Supervisor Stephen McConnell, and Interment Specialist Jose Linareas in an effort to organize next week’s ceremony including the preparation of documents, authorizations and finding verifiable proof that each individual were honorably discharged in their respective military service. He said that many veterans that have passed away recently are in the same situation of having no living relatives to claim their remains.

“Each person that has served our country deserves the respect of a proper burial with military honors. The service next Wednesday at Fort Stanton will feature a full honor guard, obituary readings and a pastor leading our service.”

Noted for a complex history dating back to 1899 as a cemetery, Fort Stanton was named a state veterans cemetery by Governor Susana Martinez in 2019. The ground has been a military post cemetery, Merchant Marine tuberculosis cemetery, POW cemetery, and now includes burials for veterans and those associated with the fort’s various roles in history.

Originally from Colorado, Mark has been working at Fort Stanton Cemetery for the past year. “It’s the best job I’ve ever had,” Mark said. “I enjoy helping people and many times you’re working with them during a particularly difficult time. All of us should remember those who served our country and pay them back with the respect they have earned and deserve.”

The interment service will be held at the shelter near the columbarium of the cemetery.

Ruidoso News columnist Tim Keithley writes about the people and events in the community. If you have a story idea, contact Tim at tkeithley@zianet.com.

F-4 fighters join Gateway Freedom Monument in Alamogordo

Michael Smith
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F-4 fighters join Gateway Freedom Monument in Alamogordo

Staff Reports

Sunday morning was moving day for the F-4 fighter jet, which was transported from Alamogordo Regional Airport to take its formal resting spot at Gateway Freedom Monument, on the corner of US 54 and US 70. The City of Alamogordo project, spearheaded by the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce and Project RISE, is a testament to the city’s connection to Holloman Air Force Base. While the monument will remain a construction site for the rest of this week, the ground breaking was in March of this year. A ribbon cutting and F-16 flyover will be held on Nov. 24 at noon at the site. The event will recognize all of the people who have helped work on the project.

Solemn occasions for troubling times

Michael Smith
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Solemn occasions for troubling times

Rev. David Grousnick
First Christian Church

At the famous Lloyd’s of London insurance house, there is an historic bell that is sometimes referred to as the Bad News Bell.

In 1799, a large frigate ship, the HMS Lutine set sail from London to Hamburg, Germany. Hamburg was facing a financial crisis, and the HMS Lutine was loaded with gold and silver intended to help stave off a crash of the German stock market.

Unfortunately, a great storm caught the HMS Lutine, and she sank somewhere along the Dutch coastline. Of the 240 crew members on board, only one survived. All of the HMS Lutine’s cargo was lost at sea.

In 1858, divers found part of the wreckage of the Lutine, including the bell that had hung at the front of the ship. The bell was turned over to Lloyd’s of London, the insurance underwriters who had insured the HMS Lutine’s original trip.

The folks at Lloyd’s of London hung the bell in the underwriter’s office. They started a new tradition with it.

For many years, whenever a ship was late in arriving at its destination, a Lloyd’s employee rang the bell once to let all the brokers know the bad news. If the missing ship arrived safely, the bell was rung twice. The good news followed the bad.

In more recent years, the keepers of the bell have rung it to commemorate solemn occasions, such as the death of Princess Diana or 9/11.

In Luke 21:5-19, Jesus had to deliver some terrible news to his disciples. But he didn’t deliver it in the good news/bad news formula we’re accustomed to.

Jesus told them the bad news first, but then he told them the good news that God had already planned to help them persevere when events in the future became painful and chaotic.

Ever heard of Art Berg?

At the age of 20, Art Berg was a very happy man. Everything was going right. He was a gifted athlete and had started his own tennis court construction company. And he was engaged to a beautiful woman.

Leaving California one Christmas eve, he was headed to Utah with a friend. He was going to meet his fiancée and complete their wedding plans.

During the long drive, he fell asleep while at the wheel. His car hit an abutment and rolled down a hill. He was ejected from the car and found himself lying in the desert with a broken neck. He was paralyzed from the chest down.

He completely lost the use of his legs and arms. The doctors told him he would never work again. They concluded that he could never play sports again and would be dependent on others for the rest of his life.

One even suggested he forget getting married.

Art Berg was really afraid. It was the darkest moment in his life. The “end times” were upon him.

In the midst of his peril his mother came and whispered a few words in his ear. “Art, while the difficult takes time, the impossible takes a little longer.”

In other words, “don’t panic!” Suddenly, Art’s darkness was filled with a light of hope.

That was years ago. Art Berg became the president of his own company and was a professional speaker and author. He has back some of the use of his arms and legs and became able to drive. He traveled across the country sharing his message, “that the impossible just takes a little longer.” He even wrote a book by that name, a book about living with purpose and passion.

Art married his fiancée, and they had two children. He even returned to the world of sports, swimming and scuba diving and he became a world-class wheelchair athlete. In l993 Art was the first quadriplegic to race 32 miles in a marathon, all because he didn’t panic.

Don’t panic is the message of the day.

I pray you a blessed weekend. Come and see who we are at the First Christian Church, located at 11th and Bullock, across the street from Zia Intermediate school. Worship is at 10:30 and I bet you would fit right in!

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