A mill levy funding healthcare in Artesia rejected earlier this year by voters, won apparent approval Tuesday as 1,657 people voted for it and 591 voted against it, according to unofficial results from the Eddy County Clerk’s office.

Six months ago, voters turned down the mill levy, which was enacted in 1979 to fund healthcare services for Artesia General Hospital.

Only 12% of the more than 10,000 ballots mailed in June were returned to the Eddy County Clerk’s office.

Hospital officials hoped that situations from the mail-only election would be clarified during Tuesday’s vote, along with a misunderstanding throughout the community of what the tax revenue would pay for.

During the June election, 638 voted against the mill levy and 608 voted for it.

Artesia General Hospital’s website indicated the mill levy would set $2.70 per $1,000 of net taxable property.

“In a rural setting, this community investment helps ensure access to a full range of essential healthcare services for local residents,” according to the website.

The mill levy would be around until 2029.

“I’m proud that our community voted to continue the mill levy. The mill levy is used for operational costs, provider recruitment, equipment purchases and maintaining emergency services,” said District 5 Artesia Special Hospital District Board member Karen Waldrip in a text message to the Artesia Daily Press Tuesday night.

District 5 Artesia Special Hospital District Board of Directors

Waldrip, the incumbent, retained her seat in District 5 despite two challengers.

The 42-year-old was elected in 2021 and is a pharmacist at Lowell’s Pharmacy.

Unofficial results shown she had 368 votes. Challenger Perry Williams had 145 votes, and David Romine had 69 votes.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served my district that last four years. I’ve received an outpouring of support from our community during my campaign for re-election and am especially thankful for those who helped me,” she said.

District 1 Artesia Public Schools Board of Education

Incumbent Jeffery David Conklin won re-election defeating challenger Dennis P Garcia with 396-136.

All results are unofficial and will be canvassed by the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners.

7 p.m.

The polls have closed. Waiting for results.

6:36 p.m.

Polls close in 24 minutes. Julie McGee, a deputy clerk with the Eddy County Clerk’s office, said 622 people had voted at the sub-office in Artesia today.

4:25 p.m.

Polls close at 7 p.m. At Faith Baptist Church, 337 people had voted as of 4:10 p.m. said Sandra Polk, presiding judge.

“Turnout was really steady. We’ve had no issues. (It’s) been a good day,” she said.

Artesia resident Jennifer Duff voted at Faith Baptist Church.

“Having a say in what’s best for Artesia,” she said of her reason for voting.

1:45 p.m.

Another reminder to get out and vote today as the polls close at 7 p.m.

In Artesia, a mill levy for the hospital is on the ballot along with races in the Artesia Special Hospital District Board of Directors and Artesia Public Schools Board of Education.

11:35 a.m.

Forty-nine people have voted as of late morning at Trinity Temple Assembly of God.

“Usually, it’s slower than this,” said Beth Nailon presiding judge.

9:55 a.m.

Voting numbers so far at the polling locations in Artesia:

Eddy County Sub-Office 132

Faith Baptist Church 115

Trinity Temple 32

Central Valley Electric 70

Eddy County Clerk Cara Cooke said 11,782 Artesia residents are eligible to vote in the Artesia Special Hospital District and Artesia Public Schools Board of Education.

She said 663 Artesia residents voted early.

7:15 a.m.

Ten people showed up at Central Valley Electric in Artesia minutes after the polls opened.

“We really need people to get out and vote, it really matters,” said Teresa Saxon, presiding judge at Central Valley Electric.

Poll worker Leah Boone said she enjoyed seeing people and helping them with the voting process.

“Having the right to vote is important,” she said.

Artesia voters are going to the polls today to choose candidates for school board, hospital board and a mill levy for Artesia General Hospital.

In place since 1979, the mill levy is not a new tax and sets $2.70 per $1,000 of net taxable property value within the Artesia Special Hospital District, according to information from the Artesia General Hospital website.

One of the Artesia Special Hospital District Board of Director’s seats is up for grabs today as District 5 incumbent Karen Waldrip faces opposition from Perry Williams and David Romine.

She was first elected in 2021 and during the campaign she said she was running to continue progress made during the past four years.

Williams, an Artesia native and project lead for Conoco Phillips, said he was running due to an important need for timely and quality healthcare in Eddy County.

Romine, a retired rancher, construction worker and business consultant, said he was running due to lack of perceived transparency with the current board.

The other contested race in Artesia is for Artesia Public Schools Board of Education District 1 where incumbent David Conklin is being challenged by Dennis Garcia.

Polls close at 7 p.m. and voters can cast ballots at Faith Baptist Church, the Eddy County Sub-Office, Central Valley Electric and Trinity Temple Assembly of God.

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press

A 29-year-old Carlsbad man was found dead at the Eddy County Detention Center on the morning of Oct. 9, hours after he was incarcerated and after jail staff said the man had a “medical emergency.”

Joel Barrett was arrested and brought to the Carlsbad jail at about 11:50 p.m. Oct. 8, according to Warden Billy Massingill, who said Barrett was in a general area awaiting processing when the “incident” began about 3 a.m.

Massingill declined to speculate on what caused the incident.

Medical personnel at the jail responded according to protocol and attempted to render aid, Massingill said. Barrett was declared dead by the Office of the Medical Investigator at about 5:30 a.m.

“The jail staff clearly rendered aid and did what they were supposed to do. We won’t know what caused it until we get the final report,” Massingill said. “We don’t want anybody dying.”

Massingill said the medical investigator was conducting an autopsy but had yet to determine the cause of Barrett’s death.

The warden said Barrett was put on a 15-minute watch when he entered the jail, meaning staff checked his condition every 15 minutes because he was “acting erratically.”

Inmates are normally checked every hour but checks can be made at 30-minute intervals or more frequently, Massingill said, depending on their behavior.

“We pulled him off the bench area and increased watch on him,” Massingill said. “Something happened between those checks.”

Barrett was originally pulled over by an officer with the Carlsbad Police Department while riding a bicycle because he did not have proper lighting and was subsequently arrested for an outstanding municipal court warrant, Massingill said.

Barrett allegedly resisted the officer, got into a physical altercation and was additionally charged with assaulting an officer.

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

Staff reports

Editor’s note: This story will be updated as more information is available.

An explosion at the oil refinery in Artesia led to three injuries as the incident was reported at about 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 31 and police ordered nearby residents to shelter indoors and avoid the area.

The Artesia Police Department was responding to the incident at the refinery owned by HF Sinclair-Navajo at 501. E. Main St., according to a department news release.

Artesia police Cmdr. Pete Quinones said injuries were reported, but no casualties as of about 2 p.m.

HF-Sinclair reported on the day of the incident that three were treated for injuries. The company did not divulge the names of the people or specify if they were workers at the plant or the extent their injuries

Police were called to the scene at 11:19 a.m., blocking roads going in and out of the refinery, part of which abuts U.S. Highway 285 heading north-south through town. An hour after police arrived, Quinones said the fires were out, and roads were reopened.

The company was continuing to monitor air quality impacts in the area from the blast and subsequent fire.

By 1 p.m., Artesia police said the explosion was extinguished by emergency responders and roads were reopened. All emergency staff cleared the area.

The Eddy County Office of Emergency Management said at about noon, Friday that an air ambulance was sent to the facility, asking people to avoid the area 1st and Main streets as well as U.S. Highway 82 and Bolton Road where a landing zone was prepared.

Police warned of “thick smoke” emanating from the refinery and drifting over the city, which could pose a danger to people nearby, the release read.

Air quality continued to be monitored after the scene was cleared.

“We are urging all citizens to stay clear of the refinery area and avoid any locations affected by the smoke,” read the initial release. “Please shelter indoors if you are in the path of the smoke and keep windows and doors closed.”

Katherine Tesillo was working at the front desk as assistant manager of the Spark by Hilton hotel at the time of the incident, across the street from the refinery.

She said she didn’t hear the blast but immediately noticed heavy smoke spreading into the area. The hotel remained in operation throughout the incident, Tesillo said.

“(I) saw smoke but did not see the actual explosion,” she said. “I heard sirens going off and I knew something was going on.”

In the wake of the explosion the New Mexico Environment Department said it was monitoring air quality in the Artesia area, aiming to address any hazards to local residents who could breathe in the resulting fumes.

The agency advised locals to follow guidance from emegency personnel, stay indoors and keeping windows closed to avoid air pollutants from flowing into homes.

“We’re working closely with local and state partners to see how this fire might affect air quality,” said Cindy Hollenberg, Air Quality Bureau chief. “State teams are on the way to Artesia to take a closer look and help support the response. Keeping the community safe and informed is our top priority.”

The refinery processes crude oil produced in southeast New Mexico’s Permian Basin oilfields, with a capacity of about 100,000 barrels per day, according to HF-Sinclair’s website.