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A story to tell

Michael Smith
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A story to tell

By Rick Smith

Most of us know the story of the woman at the well found in John chapter four.  How that Jesus on His way back into Galilee had to go through Samaria, then as He rested at Jacob’s well outside of the village of Sychar Jesus had an interview with a Samaritan woman.  As a Jew speaking to a Samaritan would be one thing, but speaking to a Samaritan woman, especially one of questionable morality, was astonishing.  Even she considered it to be remarkable.  “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9).”  What took place following that is a perfect example of how to tenderly and compassionately bring someone to an understanding of Who Christ is for them.  But there is more here than that.  As it relates to our own discipleship, the reaction of this unknown woman to the discovery of the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world should be a pattern for us.  Her reaction to that discovery is found beginning with the words, “The woman then left her waterpot… (verse 28a).”

How is that significant for us?  Friends, it is a pattern that is followed over and over again in the gospels.  When Peter, James, and John answered the call of Christ, what does the Bible say.  “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him (Luke 5:11).”  In the same chapter in Luke we have the call of Matthew (Levi).  “And he left all, rose up, and followed him (Luke 5:28).”  The same is true in the heart’s desire of the Gadarene demoniac.  He “…that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him (Mark 5:15).”  With this woman at the well, she left what had been important to her to return to her village and to tell the people Who she had discovered.  She had a story that she felt compelled to tell.  Like the lepers in 2 Kings chapter seven, she saw it as her duty to tell what she had found. 

Having found living water she “…went her way into the city, and saith to the men.”  Now, before we get into her message, let’s consider for a moment who she told.  In many of the modern translations the word “men” is changed to “people”.  In the Greek, the word is “anthropos”, which is the root word to anthropology, or the study of man.  If she specifically returned to the village to tell the “men” then we have to determine who they were that she told.  Some say that it was the men of her household, the leaders of her family.  Others identify them as all the men of the village, which would make them the community leaders.  It is possible, considering her questionable lifestyle, that is was the men that she was involved with in her sin.  If this is true, then we have a modern example from a missionary overseas.  This missionary befriended, for sake of the gospel, the owner and women of a brothel.  Over time this missionary and his wife were able to share the story of Jesus.  The women one by one began to fall in love with Jesus and in the process they told what they had learned to the men that used them.  Over time the women, the men, and the owner of the brothel became followers of Jesus.  What was once a house of sin, became a house of God dedicated to worshiping and telling the story of Jesus.

What was the message that she told?  It was very simple and from the heart.  “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”  It was an invitation: “Come, see…”  It was an invitation to investigate what and Who she had found.  It was also a message.  You see, it was her story.  She was vulnerable and open about it.  Jesus had told her “all things that ever I did.”  It was call to discover for themselves if He is the Christ, the long hoped for Messiah.  It is what we must do if our loved ones, our community, and our country are going to come to Jesus.  Each person must go through the process of discovering for themselves Who Jesus is.

Her village turned out and followed her to Jesus.  At their invitation, Jesus stay with them two days.  After two days they could say to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world (verse 42).”  Her story became their story, because they came to believe His story – the gospel of Jesus.

If you have any questions, we invite you to visit with us this Sunday.   Bible study is at 9:45 A.M. and worship at 10:50 A.M.  We are located at 711 West Washington Ave.

Police blotter

Michael Smith
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Police blotter

Oct. 2

Arrest

Dwright M. Ontiveros arrested for battery against a household member.

ALARM

4:31 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 42nd St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

VANDAL

9:57 am – Officer dispatched to 3000 block of Browning Ave. in reference to a vandal.

ACCIDENT

11:12 am – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and S. 20th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

12:10 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Texas Ave. and N. Roselawn Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

12:15 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and S. 20th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

MISSING

1:09 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Cannon Ct. in reference to a missing adult.

ACCIDENT

3:54 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 26th St. in reference to  a motor vehicle accident.

WANTED

7:29 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Mahone Dr. in reference to a wanted person.

OVERDOSE

7:32 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to an overdose.

Oct 3

Arrest

David Ray Molina arrested for battery against a household member interference with communications, destroying, removing criminal damage property.

Luis David Navarrette Machuca arrested for aggravated assault against a household member.

Ammette Marie Valasquez arrested for battery against a house hold member.

SUSPICIOUS

12:16 am -Officer dispatched to 2500 block of W. Mann Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

THREATS

2:56 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S.  20th St. in reference to threats.

ACCIDENT

9:02 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of N. Roselawn Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

11:33 am – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WELFARE

1:16 pm – Officer dispatched to 1800 block W. Runyan Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DISTURBANCE

2:43 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. York St. in reference to disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

3:39 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

DOMESTIC

4:12 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. York St. in reference to physical domestic.

SUSPICIOUS

9:27 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Richardson Ave. and S. 3rd St. in reference to a suspicious person.

DOMESTIC

10:45 pm -Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to domestic.

WELFARE

10:59 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Catalina Dr. in reference to the welfare of a child.

Oct. 4

DOMESTIC

12:02 am – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. 6th St. in reference to domestic.

WANTED

11:09 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 13th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

11:15 am – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of Sierra Vista Rd. in reference to a suspicious person.

12:51 p m- Officer dispatched to S. 5th St. and W. Quay Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

UNWANTED

1:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

DISTURBANCE

2:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to disturbance.

VANDAL

4:51 pm – Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to vehicle vandalism.

ACCIDENT

5:42 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

HARASSMENT

8:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block on N. 10th St. in reference to harassment.

Oct 5

ACCIDENT

4:36 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 11th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

5:44 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. James Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

Oct 6

DOMESTIC

8:40 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of N. 20th St. in reference to domestic.

SUSPICIOUS

9:39 am – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to suspicious person.

HARASSMENT

12:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to harassment.

DISTURBANCE

4:41 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a family disturbance.

WELFARE

4:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DOMESTIC

7:35 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

SUSPICIOUS

9:03 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to a suspicious prowler.

10:13 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

Oct 7

Arrest

Zedrick T. Cole arrested for destroying or tampering with property, shoplifting, aggravated battery vs household member inflicting injury.

Timothy William Torres arrested for driving on suspended arrest clause battery against a household member.

BATTERY

9:47 am – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Cannon Ave. in reference to battery.

UNATTEND DEATH

10:24 am – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Chisum Ave. in reference to an unattended death.

SUSPICIOUS

3:16 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to suspicious trespass.

WELFARE

4:54 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Hermosa Dr. and S. 1st St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

RECKLESS

6:08 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 26th St. and W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS

6:18 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Mahone Dr. in reference to suspicious activity.

DOMESTIC

6:42 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to domestic.

WELFARE

8:48 pm – Officer dispatched to  900 block of N. 5th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

Oct 8

Arrest

Reba Flossy Plainfeather arrested for contempt of court failure to comply.

Jeremy Domingo Torres arrested for contempt of court failure to comply.

Lindsey Renee Rossing arrested for contempt of court failure to comply.

WELFARE

11:19 am – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of N. Pine St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

UNWANTED

1:20 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

1:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of S. 14th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

WANTED

3:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 N. 15th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

3:35 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 N. 15th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

3:36 pm – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Mann Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

DOMESTIC

5:10 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 26th St. and W. Grand Ave. in reference to domestic.

DISTURBANCE

6:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Main St. in reference to disturbance.

6:32 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of n. 10th St. in reference to disturbance.

Oct 9

Arrest

Adrian Michael Christino Guillen arrested for driving on revoked license.

ARMED SUBJECT

8:05 am – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of N. 1st St. in reference to an armed subject.

ACCIDENT

8:50 am – Officer dispatched to the 400 block of W. Shelton Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

FIGHT

3:11 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to a fight in progress.

SUSPICIOUS

7:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of N. 8th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

10:29 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of W. Main St. in reference to suspicious trespass.

Oct 10

WELFARE

12:11 am – Officer dispatched to N. Osborn Ave. and W. Chisum Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

7:54 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 26th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

ALARM

1:18 am – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

1:45 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of W.  hermosa Dr. in reference to a burglary alarm.

ACCIDENT

8:19 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

8:59 am – Officer dispatched to W. Richardson Ave. and S. 7th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

9:27 am – Officer dispatched to 200 block of N. 5th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

ARMED SUBJECT

8:23 am – Officer dispatched to W. Richardson Ave. and S. 6th St. in reference to an armed subject.

HARASSMENT

2:22 pm – Officer dispatched to 3300 block of W. Main St. in reference to harassment.

RECKLESS

2:28 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

ACCIDENT

5:03 pm – Officer dispatched to E. Hermosa Dr. and S. 1st St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

OVERDOSE

8:10 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 bock of N. 6th St. in reference to an overdose.

SUSPICIOUS

10:27 pm – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of N. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

DOMESTIC

11:01 pm – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of Cannon Pl. in reference to verbal domestic.

Oct. 11

DOMESTIC

1:08 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

ACCIDENT

10:01 am – Officer dispatched to N. 14th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

RECKLESS

11:54 am – Officer dispatched to N. 26th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS

1:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Bush Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

WELFARE

3:29 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Gilchrist Ave. in reference to altered mental welfare.

SUSPICIOUS

5:37 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Sears Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

DISTURBANCE

7:41 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 20th St. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

7:45 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of Gilchrist Ave. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

ACCIDENT

7:45 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 26th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

VANDAL

8:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 9th St. in reference to vehicle vandal.

SUSPICIOUS

10:32 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

1:49 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and N. 4th St. in reference to suspicious vehicle.

SUICIDAL

10:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 2400 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a suicidal subject.

Oct 12

Arrest

Luis Alberto Islava Chavez arrested for driving under the influence of intoxication liquor, proof, of insurance and registration.

LOUD

1:48 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 4th St. in reference to loud music.

SUSPICIUOS

3:41 am – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

THREATS

11:53 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to threats.

INCORRIGIBLE

3:04 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. James Ave. in reference to an incorrigible child.

WELFARE

5:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 13th St. in reference to the mental welfare.

Oct 13

WELFARE

9:42 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Lolita Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

10:31 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of S. 3rd St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

ACCIDENT

9:47 am – Officer dispatched to 2000 block of W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

DOMESTIC

10:51 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to domestic.

BURGLARY

1:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of W. Mahone Dr. in reference to burglary.

INCORRIGIBLE

1:15 pm – Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Logan Ave. in reference to an incorrigible child.

SUSPICIOUS

1:16 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

DOMESTIC

2:19 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St.  in reference to verbal domestic.

ACCIDENT

2:59 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W.  Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

6:03 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Main St. in reference to a suspicious person.

SHOTS FIRED

6:26 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to shots fired in the area.

Oct 14

BURGALRY

6:15 am – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to an auto burglary.

WANTED

8:03 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

ACCIDENT

8:06 am – Officer dispatched to Bulldog Blvd and W. Grand Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

DISTURBANCE

8:45 am – Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. 15th St. in reference to disturbance.

ARMED

2:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to an armed subject.

SUSPICIOUS

8:09 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of S. 5th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

Man dies in custody at detention center

Michael Smith
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Man dies in custody at detention center

Adrian Hedden
Carlsbad Current-Argus
achedden@currentargus.com

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 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.

NM health agency warns of upcoming change for some SNAP recipients

Michael Smith
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NM health agency warns of upcoming change for some SNAP recipients

Patrick Lohmann
Source New Mexico

The state agency that administers New Mexico’s food stamps program says as many as 32,000 residents’ eligibility could be impacted next month by new federal rules.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” President Donald Trump signed July 4 contains many changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food stamps, but most don’t go into effect until next year or later.

But Nov. 1, the bill will change how energy assistance payments are applied to SNAP eligibility determinations, according to an announcement Wednesday from the state Health Care Authority.

Before the bill, states like New Mexico would automatically lower a household’s calculated income by a standard amount if the household received assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP.

The deduction is important because it affects how much SNAP benefits a household receives. According to the federal Agriculture Department the standard deduction in New Mexico’s, known as the Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowance, is $408.

However, thanks to the law, that deduction is only automatic for households with members aged 60 or over or those with a disability.. SNAP recipients without those household members will have to jump through other hurdles, including showing utility bills, to receive the deduction.

HCA officials said the office will provide assistance to recipients with questions about the change.

“We’re reaching out early so families have time to prepare,”Niki Kozlowski, Income Support Division director at the HCA said in a statement. “If you’re unsure how this affects you, please contact us now, before your next renewal date, so we can walk you through what you may need to provide.”

The change goes into effect for new benefit applications or renewals beginning Nov. 1. The new requirements don’t affect current SNAP benefits before then, according to the news release.

5 arrested in oil theft ring

Michael Smith
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5 arrested in oil theft ring

Adrian Hedden
Carlsbad Current-Argus
achedden@currentargus.com

An alleged scheme to steal crude oil out of pipelines in the Carlsbad area and sell the product in West Texas led to federal charges for five men arrested last month.

The investigation by the Bureau of Land Management began in June 2025, when special agents received a tip that the men were using a vacuum truck to pump oil out of the lines owned by Plains All American Pipeline, storing it at a facility in Carlsbad and driving it to Texas for sale.

For their alleged roles in the plot, Maxwell Jensen was arrested Aug. 21; Thomas Rees and Christopher Ortega were arrested Aug. 25; and German Ortiz-Santillano and Christian Jesus Contreras Varela were arrested on Aug. 27 and 28, respectively.

Each of the five men faces two charges: interstate transportation of stolen goods, and aiding and abetting. A Mexican national, Contreras Varela, also faced a charge of possession of a firearm by an undocumented person.

What follows is a compressed version of events leading to the arrests, according to the federal criminal complaints filed against each defendant.

The alleged conspiracy was uncovered when agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation received a tip June 18 that Jensen was looking to orchestrate the theft scheme, planning to pay off oilfield employees to steal the oil from pipelines.

Surveillance tools such as tracking devices and recorded conversations revealed more than 20 alleged thefts between July 22 and Aug. 18 with the thieves stealing about 600 barrels per day – which at current prices is valued at about $39,000.

The oil was collected and stored at a location Rees managed through his company Hound Dog Energy in Carlsbad and then moved into West Texas for sale.

Surveillance at the storage yard identified three 500-barrel storage tanks and a type of vacuum truck typically used to haul water but known to law enforcement as also used by thieves to steal oil. A barrel of oil is about 46 gallons.

The vacuum truck was observed leaving the location on July 22, and federal agents followed the vehicle to a Plains All American Pipeline site where it was hooked up to the pipeline.

Agents observed the vacuum truck as it was driven to another pipeline site owned by the same company where they saw a Plains All American vehicle appearing to assist the vacuum truck driver, suggesting an employee was in the on the theft.

Days later, on July 25, police witnessed two crude oil hauling trucks with the company name 9G Logistics at the yard hook up their hoses to the storage tanks, appearing to fill up the haulers. The oil was taken south on U.S. Highway 285.

Agents followed the haulers into West Texas where they offloaded the oil into storage tanks that read Gibson Energy.

A tracker warrant was submitted and approved on July 29, and it was placed on the hauler. Data collected from the tracker showed a total of 23 trips to Plains All American locations in New Mexico between July 22 and Aug. 18.

Investigators said they believe each trip involved the theft of crude oil.

Recorded conversations between Jensen and a confidential informant revealed Jensen was working with Rees to store the oil at the Hound Dog location, providing Rees 25% of the profit from the illicit sales.

In additional recorded conversations Jensen, Rees and Ortega, a former member of the Bandidos motorcycle gang, discussed accepting loads of stolen oil at the Hound Dog yard.

During an Aug. 21 conversation, the informant said Rees bragged about receiving up to 700 barrels per day, later stating he received 2,400 barrels the week before.

Ortiz-Santillano, a Plains All American employee, was linked to the alleged conspiracy when officers followed his company truck – identified as the one present at the thefts – to a gas station on North Canal Street in Carlsbad.

Police approached Ortiz-Santillano and he told them he’d been working for Plains All American about two years and driving the truck for a year. He said he worked between Carlsbad and Highway 360 – the area where police believed the thefts were occurring.

He told police he was the only person who drove the truck.

On Aug. 27, investigators contacted Contreras who confessed to driving the vacuum truck to steal the oil. Contreras’ pickup truck was also searched, with officers finding a gold and black Glock handgun.

Contreras admitted to being in the U.S. without citizenship documentation and also to illegally possessing the gun.

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

State Police investigate alleged officer involved shooting

Michael Smith
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State Police investigate alleged officer involved shooting

Daily Press Staff Report

An alleged officer involved shooting near Carlsbad was under investigation, according to a news release from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office.

In the release, Sheriff Matt Hutchinson said deputies responded to a location sometime Sunday near the intersection of Hidalgo Road and McKittrick Road involving a man who was threatening someone with a rifle.

Upon arrival, a deputy was alleged to have shot the man, Hutchinson said in the release.

Hutchinson requested State Police investigate the situation.

Sheriff’s officials believe no suspects are at large and there is no known threat to the public.

The investigation was ongoing, and people are urged to contact the State Police Investigations Bureau with additional information.

This is a developing story, and more information will be provided, once it is available.

Art in the Park celebrates half-century

Michael Smith
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Art in the Park celebrates half-century

Photos by Mike Smith, Artesia Daily Press

Friday and Saturday the Artesia Arts Council celebrated 50 years of Art in the Park at Jaycee Park.

Members of the Artesia High School band played at Art in the Park on Saturday.

Kids and adults enjoyed feeding animals from Runyan Ranches at Petting Zoo at Art in the Park.

Kids interacted with farm animals at Art in the Park.

Kids enjoyed a bike ride at Art in the Park Saturday.

Kirsten Mauritsen (left) helped people make hand prints.

Party goers wait for goodies at Art in the Park.

Warm weather in southeast NM offers good fishing conditions

Michael Smith
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Warm weather in southeast NM offers good fishing conditions

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

Predicted high temperatures around 80 degrees offer plenty of opportunities for anglers in New Mexico’s southeast corner this weekend.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Brantley Lake between Carlsbad and Artesia was fair to good using plastic crawdads.

Fishing for catfish at Lake Van near Dexter was good using Cherry Kool-Aid soaked gizzards.

In Lincoln County at Grindstone Reservoir, fishing for trout was very good when using flies, PowerBait, Super Dupers and worms.

In southern New Mexico near Truth or Consequences at Elephant Butte Lake, fishing for catfish was slow to fair when using worms and minnows from the bank. Fishing for white bass, crappie and smallmouth bass was fair to good when using minnows and worms from the bank.

At Quemado Lake in western New Mexico, trout fishing was good using Pautzke Fire Balls.

In northern New Mexico, streamflow near Cimarron Wednesday morning was 13.4 cubic feet per second (cfs). Trout fishing was good to fair using Powerbait.

Along the Pecos River, streamflow near Pecos Wednesday morning was 116 cfs. Trout fishing was good using Pautzke Fire Balls.

At Red River, streamflow below the Red River Hatchery was 41.2 cfs. Fishing for trout below the Hatchery was slow using worms.

Streamflow along the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge was 207 cfs. Trout fishing was good using worms and Panther Martin Spinners.

Fishing for catfish was slow to fair at Bluewater Lake using hot dogs.

At Fenton Lake, fishing for trout was good using night crawlers.

Fishing for northern pike was fair using crankbaits and spinner baits at Navajo Lake.

Along the San Juan River near Archuleta Wednesday morning streamflow was 418 cfs. Fishing for trout was good at the Texas Hole using size-20 Parachute Adams flies.

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.

What is leftwing terrorism and who gets to decide?

Michael Smith
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What is leftwing terrorism and who gets to decide?

Trip Jennings

I have spent the last two weeks wondering what “left wing terrorism” is.

Back in the day, it was straightforward. A lone gunman shoots up a congressional baseball game and seriously injures a Republican congressman.

Leftwing terrorism.

An extremist sets Teslas on fire and firebombs the headquarters for the New Mexico Republican Party.

Leftwing extremism.

These days I am no longer sure.

I owe my confusion to President Trump and his administration.

On October 4, Stephen Miller, the president’s deputy chief of staff took to X, formerly Twitter, to explain that “There is a large and growing movement of leftwing terrorism in this country. It is well organized and funded. And it is shielded by far-left Democrat judges, prosecutors and attorneys general. The only remedy is to use legitimate state power to dismantle terrorism and terror networks.”

The day before, Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary, had poured gasoline on the already-large bonfire of political hyperbole to defend the decision to deploy the military to Portland as necessary to end “The left wing’s reign of terror” in the city.

Not to be left out of the metaphorical auto-da-fé, last week Kristi Noem, Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary, described Antifa — a loosely organized, leftist movement that opposes far-right, racist and fascist groups — as ”just as sophisticated as MS13, as TDA, as ISIS, as Hezbollah, as Hamas, as all of them. They are just as dangerous. They have an agenda to destroy us just like the other terrorists we’ve dealt with for many, many years.”

Um … I think I know what’s going on here.

First, Mr. President, I would counsel you and your team to take a time out. It worked on my kids when they were tiny. I recognize “spiraling” when I see it. Spiraling, if you are not familiar with the term which my kids introduced to me years ago, is a cycle of negative thinking patterns that escalate and become overwhelming..

Next, I’d tell you and your entourage what my mom used to tell me when I was a teenager and was so overly dramatic, she had a hard time taking me seriously. You and your team need to unplug from whatever crazy, end-of-the-world films, documentaries, podcasts, and political commentators you’re imbibing, at least for a while until you calm down.

I offer this advice not as a terrorism expert but as a journalist who played a small role in reporting on the 1995 bombing in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people and later covered 9/11 and the anthrax attacks in 2001 and their collective aftermath for months.

Street protests in Portland and Los Angeles and Chicago and any number of other large American cities are not terrorism. Not in any definition of terrorism I’ve read, at least. In fact, they are constitutionally protected. The Constitution enshrines both freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Protesting is about as American as the Boston Tea Party, which, as you will recall, was a galvanizing moment that fortified the colonists in their movement to throw off the tyranny of King George III.

But perhaps I am giving you and your entourage the benefit of the doubt when I shouldn’t. Perhaps y’all are not the over-caffeinated, hyper-stimulated grown-ups who resemble easily triggered teenagers. Perhaps, y’all are cynically exploiting the moment to target anyone that opposes the administration’s political agenda as “left-wing terrorists.” This includes federal judges appointed by you, Mr. President, who have blocked your actions. And conservatives and progressives who believe in the rule of law. And tens of millions of other Americans who just want to live their lives without having to sign loyalty pledges.

This explanation makes much more sense.

If you and your entourage are attempting to tamp down on political opposition, y’all are doing a remarkable job of channeling the spirit of Joe McCarthy and the Red Scare of the early 1950s. McCarthy’s hunt for communist influence across the country and infiltration across the federal government after World War II eventually led to nationally televised hearings.

McCarthy’s campaign eventually ended, due in part to his allegations that hundreds of communists had infiltrated the State Department and other agencies, including the U.S. Army.

During one of those hearings, in June 1954 McCarthy accused an attorney working with Joseph Welch, an attorney hired to represent the Army against McCarthy’s allegations, with having ties to a communist organization.

Welch responded forcefully.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?”

The moment undermined McCarthy’s popularity with the American public. Within six months, the Senate had censured him, and McCarthy spent the rest of his time in the chamber ostracized by his party and ignored by the press.

I guess my question in October 2025 is: Who will be our Joseph Welch?

Since 2005, Trip has covered politics and state government for the Albuquerque Journal, The New Mexico Independent and the Santa Fe New Mexican. In 2012, he co-founded New Mexico In Depth, a nonpartisan, nonprofit media outlet that produces investigative, data-rich stories with an eye on solutions that can be a catalyst for change.

Arizona State scores late touchdown to hand No. 7 Texas Tech first loss

Michael Smith
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Arizona State scores late touchdown to hand No. 7 Texas Tech first loss

Field Level Media

Sam Leavitt passed for a career-high 319 yards and a touchdown, running back Raleek Brown scored on a 1-yard run with 34 seconds left and Arizona State blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter before recovering for a 26-22 upset over No. 7 Texas Tech in a Big 12 game Saturday afternoon in Tempe, Ariz.

The Sun Devils went 75 yards in 1:26 for the winning score after Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond led the Red Raiders to a pair of touchdowns in the final 3:45 for a 22-19 lead.

Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson had 10 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown as the defending Big 12 champion Sun Devils (5-2, 3-1 in Big 12) posted their first victory over an AP top-10 team since beating No. 6 Oregon 31-28 in 2019.

A pass interference penalty gave Arizona State the ball at the Texas Tech 2 with 40 seconds remaining, and Brown scored two plays later.

The Red Raiders (6-1, 3-1) played without starting quarterback Behren Morton, who aggravated a lower leg injury in a 42-17 victory over Kansas last week. They had never trailed in a game this season and had outscored their first six opponents by an average of 35.3 points a game.

Hammond completed 22 for 37 passes for 167 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in his second career start.

Hammond scored on a 1-yard run with 3:45 remaining to cut the Red Raiders’ deficit to 19-14. Less than two minutes later, he followed his 12-yard scoring pass to Reggie Virgil with a two-point conversion run with 2:00 remaining.

Texas Tech reached the Arizona State 28-yard line with three seconds remaining, but Hammond’s pass to the deep left corner of the end zone was tipped and fell incomplete.

Texas Tech became the fifth undefeated FBS team to lose this weekend, joining Miami, Mississippi, UNLV and Memphis.

Jesus Gomez made all four field goal attempts for the Sun Devils. His 28-yarder to cap a 16-play, 69-yard drive made it 19-7 in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

His 34-yarder with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter gave the Sun Devils a 3-0 lead and his 47-yarder one minute into the second quarter made it 6-0.

Hammond completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Coy Eakin with 5:57 remaining in the first half for a 7-6 lead after Texas Tech was set up when Leavitt’s long pass to Tyson on fourth-and-1 fell incomplete.

Gomez’s 26-yard field goal made it 9-7 at halftime.

Leavitt hit Tyson on a 2-yard score for a 16-7 lead, three plays after David Bailey was called for roughing the passer, negating a fourth-down incompletion that would have turned the ball over on downs.

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