Before the game, there was a dedication of the Gary Sims Bleacher in the outfield against Goddard.
A look at the Artesia girls’ 14-4 softball win against Goddard
Before the game, there was a dedication of the Gary Sims Bleacher in the outfield against Goddard.
David Grousnick: The King and the humble lady
David Grousnick
First Christian Church Artesia
There is a beautiful legend about a king who decided to honor his greatest subject. When the day arrived, there was a large gathering in the palace courtyard. Four finalists were brought forward, and from these four, the king would select the winner.
The first person presented was a wealthy philanthropist. The king was told that this man was highly deserving of the honor because of his humanitarian efforts. He had given much of his wealth to the poor.
The second person was a celebrated physician. The king was told that this doctor was highly deserving of the honor because he had rendered faithful and dedicated service to the sick for many years.
The third person was a distinguished judge. The king was told that the judge was worthy because he was noted for his wisdom, his fairness, and his brilliant decisions.
The fourth person presented was an elderly woman. Everyone was quite surprised to see her there, because her manner was quite humble, as was her dress. She hardly looked the part of someone who would be honored as the greatest subject in the kingdom. What chance could she possibly have, when compared to the other three, who had accomplished so much?
Even so, there was something about her the look of love in her face, the understanding in her eyes, her quiet confidence.
The king was intrigued, to say the least, and somewhat puzzled by her presence. He asked who she was. The answer came: “You see the philanthropist, the doctor, and the judge? Well, she was their teacher!”
That woman had no wealth, no fortune, and no title, but she had unselfishly given her life to produce great people. There is nothing more powerful or more Christ-like than sacrificial love.
The king could not see the value in the humble lady. He missed the significance of the teacher.
Often, we miss the value of those around us. I think it would surprise us to know how often we miss the presence of Christ just as Cleopas and his brother missed the significance of the stranger on the road to Emmaus as recorded in Luke 24:13-35.
It is likewise easy for us to miss the significance of the resurrection.
Karl Barth, one of the twentieth century’s most famous theologians, was on a streetcar one day in Basel, Switzerland, where he lived and lectured. A tourist to the city climbed on the streetcar and sat down next to Barth. The two men started chatting with each other.
“Are you new to the city?” Barth inquired.
“Yes,” said the tourist.
“Is there anything you would particularly like to see in this city?” asked Barth.
“Yes,” he said, “I’d love to meet the famous theologian Karl Barth. Do you know him?”
Barth replied, “Well as a matter of fact, I do. I give him a shave every morning.”
The tourist got off the streetcar quite delighted. He went back to his hotel saying to himself, “I met Karl Barth’s barber today.”
How amusing! That tourist was in the presence of the very person he most wanted to meet, but even with the most obvious clue, he never realized that the man with whom he was talking was the great man himself.
It reminds us of that scene on the road to Emmaus, when later that first Easter day, two of the disciples walk for a while with the resurrected Jesus, and they, too, had no idea with whom they were conversing.
Do you want to walk with Jesus? Take the advice of Albert Camus:
Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow.
Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead.
Walk beside me and be my friend.
Know life. Know Jesus!
WWII Warhawk and Thunderbolt Headline Holloman Airshow Honoring Rosie the Riveter Legacy
Holloman welcomes WWII fighters P-40 Warhawk and P-47 Thunderbolt
Rosie the Riveter represented thousands of women working to build the machines that won World War II.
And they’ll be represented by two such aircraft during the Legacy of Liberty Airshow this weekend at Holloman Air Force Base.
The Curtiss P-40N “Warhawk” and a Republic P-47G “Thunderbolt” were both built by “Rosies” during the war and will both feature at the air show.
“Both these planes flying at the Legacy of Liberty Air Show were manufactured by Rosies,” Brian Finnegan explained.
He is director of educational programs and museum development for the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California.
“Women attending this weekend’s air show can be proud of the service of those who served our country by building these planes,” Finnegan said. “These two aircraft made a tremendous difference in the outcome of the war.”
Planes of Fame Air Museum is unique in that it is a “flying museum,” where almost forty of the museum’s 150 aircraft have been restored to flight.
The museum’s P-40N “Warhawk” was built at the Curtess-Wright plant in Buffalo, New York, in 1943, Finnegan said. There were 13,738 Warhawks assembled at the plant between 1941 and 1945.
The P-47G “Thunderbolt” was also built by Curtiss under a contract from the Republic Aviation Corporation in Farmingdale, New York. Approximately 15,600 P-47 planes were manufactured during the same time period. (The “P” in the plane’s name stands for “Pursuit” which was a term used to describe Army Air Force fighter airplanes during the war. The letter “F” for “Fighter” was used in later years, such as the F-16 today.)
“This P-40 was flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force during the war,” Finnegan said. “In 1945, it has the distinction of downing a Japanese balloon bomb over Vancouver Island. The plane has also been used in several Hollywood films including the 2001 film “Pearl Harbor”.
The P-47 Thunderbolt was considered the toughest fighter aircraft of World War II. It weighs 9,000 pounds with a 2,000-horsepower radial engine. The exact plane being flown in the Holloman air show was used as a training aircraft in the western U.S during the war.
“This is a beast of an airplane,” Finnegan said. “This plane was able to climb to 42,000 feet which was a tremendous advantage for a fighter plane.” The P-47 was equipped with eight fifty-caliber machine guns and was used in primarily in the European theater.
When the fighter planes are not booked at air shows throughout the country, the P-40 Warhawk and P-47 Thunderbolt are on display at the Planes of Fame Air Museum.
Holloman Legacy of Liberty Air Show 2026 Guide: Schedule, Parking, and Prohibited Items
The Legacy of Liberty Air Show will occur at Holloman Air Force Base Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, 2026.
A rehearsal for all aerial acts is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 17 and is only open to Department of War ID cardholders only.
Admission
General Admission is free and open to the public. There are some paid reserved seating areas available on the website: https://www.holloman.af.mil/Legacy-of-Liberty-Air-Show/ The reserved areas are subject to availability and may sell-out.
For the kids
There will be a number of STEM activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) for children to participate in as well as a Kids Zone that includes, coloring, games, Zorb ball, and activities in a children’s museum.
Security
For the safety and security of all guests, several items will not be allowed on base. All spectators will pass through a security checkpoint prior to entering the event. Everyone is subject to search and will be asked to provide proof of identification.
Prohibited items
- Weapons of any kind (including small pocketknives)
- Illegal drugs, marijuana in any form (including its derivatives such as THC and Delta-8)
- Alcohol or any other beverages in a glass bottle
- Backpacks and large bags
- Ice chests, tents, shade canopies
- Large beach umbrellas
- Pets (other than service animals)
- Drones, aerial toys, and remotely controlled aircraft vehicles
- Bicycles, roller blades, roller skates, skateboards, and scooters
Guests entering the premises with any forbidden items will be requested to either put them in an amnesty box or return them to their vehicle.
What is allowed
Diaper bags, small camera bags, and small purses are permissible. All other bags must be clear. All bags will be searched for prohibited items.
Folding chairs, strollers or small wagons for your children are allowed, along with a blanket or small personal umbrella to create shade. It is strongly recommended to bring hats, sunscreen and hearing protection.
Free Water: The public is encouraged to bring in a large, personal non-glass water bottle to stay hydrated. Water filling stations will be available.
For more information about the air show including the entire list of permitted and prohibited items, visit https://www.holloman.af.mil/Legacy-of-Liberty-Air-Show/. For questions, please contact the 49th Wing Public Affairs Office at 575-572-7381 or 49wg.paoffice@us.af.mil
Parking
The public will enter the base from the Main Gate off of Highway 70. Personnel and signage will direct them to the parking area on the flightline where the Air Show is being held. There is also handicapped parking available closer to the Air Show entrance. Parking is free.
Anyone with existing base access can enter through the West (Commercial) Gate and show their Department of War ID.
Vehicles with a mix of DoW ID cardholders, and non-DoW cardholders must enter through the Main Gate.
Legacy of Liberty Air Show Showcases F-35 Demo, Patriots Jet Team and Historic Warbirds
Legacy of Liberty Air Show features variety of historical aircraft
Patriots Jet Team
Six L39-jet team of retired pilots from the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels. (Story about Patriots Jet Team included in this special section.) The Patriots Jet Team flies Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft in their renowned performances.
F-35A Lightning II Demo Team
The F-35A Lightning II is the U.S. Air Force’s newest fifth-generation fighter. The Lightning II is a stealthy, multi-role, all-weather air-to-air and surface attack fighter. It is designed to enable direct attack against the most heavily defended ground targets. It will replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II’s, which have been the primary fighter aircraft for more than 20 years, and bring with it an enhanced capability to survive in the advanced threat environment in which it was designed to operate.
USAFA Wings of Blue Parachute Team
The primary mission of the Wings of Blue is to run the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Basic Freefall Parachuting course, known as Airmanship 490 (AM-490). The team serves primarily as jumpmasters and instructors, forging leaders of character through this unique training experience. The Wings of Blue has both a demonstration team and a competition team. The demonstration team travels across the country to airshows, events, and other venues to represent the Air Force in precision parachuting.
U.S. Army Golden Knights Jump Team
The U.S. Army Parachute Team, known as the Golden Knights, is a combination of expert teams and soldiers brought together by their love of skydiving. This includes parachute teams, aircraft pilots, and those who handle jump logistics behind the scenes.
P-51D Mustang
The Mustang was among the best and most well-known fighters used by the
U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Possessing excellent range and maneuverability, the P-51 operated primarily as a long-range escort fighter and as a ground attack fighter-bomber. The Mustang served in nearly every combat zone during WWII, and later fought in the Korean War.
MiG-17
The Soviet MiG-17 (NATO code-name “Fresco”) was designed to replace the famous MiG-15 of the Korean War. Although similar in appearance to the MiG-15, the MiG-17 had more sharply swept wings, a longer fuselage, an afterburner, and better speed and handling characteristics. The MiG-17 has served in the air arms of at least 20 nations throughout the world — including nations friendly to the United States — and was flown against U.S. aircraft in Southeast Asia.
P-40 Warhawk and P-47 Thunderbolt
Refurbished fighter planes from World War II era. (Story about these aircraft in this special section.)
DH-115 (Vampire Jet)
The DH-115 Vampire T.35 is a part of the Royal Australian Air Force’s Temora Historic Flight. The Vampire’s pod is constructed mainly of wood and the wings, tail and booms are made of metal. The aircraft was developed initially as a single seat fighter but was subsequently developed into a night fighter, fighter/bomber and trainer versions.
Aarron Deliu
Aarron Deliu is an Australian professional aerobatic pilot, international airshow performer and a commercial business jet pilot. He is the current reigning Air Masters Cup Series Champion, and the current Sky Grand Prix Champion.
Vanguard Squadron
The Vanguard Squadron is a US-based ethanol powered aerobatic team that has been dazzling airshow crowds since 1985. Ethanol adds power and performance to the squadron’s aircraft without any major engine modifications. The team has over 3,000 flight hours using 100% ethanol fuel.
Holloman 49th Wing Close Air Support Demo Team
Holloman Air Force Base personnel will participate in this weekend’s air show. There will be two F-16s and two T-38s in the sky and fighter jets will also be on display Saturday and Sunday.
North American B-25B Mitchell
The B-25 medium bomber was one of America’s most famous airplanes of World War II. The B-25s saw duty in every combat area being flown by the Dutch, British, Chinese, Russians and Australians in addition to U.S. forces. It was used extensively in the Pacific Theater for bombing Japanese airfields and beach emplacements from treetop level, and for strafing and skip bombing enemy shipping.
The schedule of performances during the air show will be determined by flight conditions and current availability. The show is expected to begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at approximately 3 p.m.
Got to https://www.holloman.af.mil/Legacy-of-Liberty-Air-Show for more information about the event.
Patriots Jet Team Headlines Holloman Air Show with High-Flying Aerobatics
Patriots Jet Team leads off performances at Legacy of Liberty Air Show
The Patriots Jet Team is made up of six pilots with decades of experience.
Featuring alumni from renowned air show performance groups the U.S. Thunderbirds and Blue Angels The Patriots will highlight the 2026 Legacy of Liberty Air Show at Holloman Air Force base this Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19.
The California-based team is the largest civilian-owned aerobatic jet team in the western hemisphere and is owned by one of the performing pilots, Randy Howell. After serving as a United Airlines pilot, Randy founded the six-ship team in 2003 that has flown in more than 1,500 air shows.
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dean “Wilber” Wright, who was stationed at Holloman three times during his U.S. Air Force career, will be the lead pilot for the Patriots Jet Team this weekend.
“Holloman is an amazing base to conduct an air show,” Wright said. “It is unique in that there is so much air space available from the surface to the moon.”
The Patriots Jet Team performs in six Czech-built Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft. Wright said the planes have an advantage over T-Bird and Blue Angel jets performing for air shows because they are “simple” jets to fly and to maneuver as a team.
“The L-39s work to our benefit because they can stay in front of the crowd at all times,” Wright said. “It is a family-friendly jet—they have one engine and no after-burners so they are a little less noisy and they have clearance to fly even as low as 6 feet.”
Wright compared the Patriots Jet Team performance to a perfectly choreographed dance routine in the sky. Every movement by each individual pilot is practiced countless times and complete concentration is required for the planes to safely fly so closely in proximity.
“When you’re strapped in the cockpit and ready to fly there is a focus that allows your training to take over,” Wright said. “Our pilots stay relaxed and focused on the mission. Everyone involved with the Patriots Jet Team are volunteers—we love what we’re doing and the live shows are the payoff.”
One aspect that makes each performance unique is the jet-loops they perform while red, white and blue smoke exhausts out of each plane simultaneously. Music accompanies the synchronized jets as they climb and dive giving thrills and amazement to everyone watching the skies.
“The Patriots Jet Team strives to leave the audience with a memory of our formations and air acrobatics,” Wright said. “We all enjoy doing the show and then we like to come out of our cockpits to hear all the applause and see the fist-pumps.”
The team is based out of Byron, California at the “Hanger of Dreams”, a 35,000-square-foot jet hanger that houses all the aircraft between performances. Howell and his family operate a non-profit called the Patriots Jet Team Foundation which raises money in support of science-related educational projects in their community.
Learn more at www.patriotsjetteam.com.
Artesia school shooting threat part of nationwide ‘swatting’ prank, police say
Adrian Hedden and Moriah Lovato | Artesia Daily Press
Editors note: Stay with the Artesia Daily Press for updates as information is made available.
Artesia High School was temporarily placed on a “shelter in place” order by local police Tuesday afternoon after authorities said they were investigating a potential shooting threat.
Investigators later discovered the call came from Louisiana and alleged that it was made to schools throughout the U.S. including at least one more in New Mexico at Ruidoso High School.
By Tuesday night, the call was deemed to be not credible, police said, but led to Artesia High and Junior High schools being let out early, following a brief shelter-in-place order which asked students and staff to remain in classrooms until further notice.
The caller was described as an unknown person who contacted the high school via telephone and said there would be a school shooting on Tuesday, said Commander Pete Quinoes with the Artesia Police Department.
He said the caller did not give a specific time or location, and that police were working to identify the person who made the call.
Investigators were notified of the possible threat at about 1:15 p.m. by a school resource officer and gave the shelter in place order “out of an abundance of precaution.”
Shelter in place means students and staff within school buildings were asked to stay in their classrooms and not move around campuses.
The incident was being investigated by the Artesia Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division along with school resource officers, the post read.
At least one officer was deployed to each school in the district, police said.
An alert sent out at 1:53 p.m. to parents of students in the district said classes were proceeding as normal, but that entrances to each school were secured amid the potential threat.
“At this time, there is no confirmed or credible threat, and the investigation is ongoing,” read a statement from the police department posted on Facebook at about 2 p.m. “The safety of students, staff, and the community remains our highest priority.”
Police Chief Kirk Roberts addressed the incident during the Tuesday, April 14 Artesia City Council, commending multiple law enforcement agencies for a quick response.
He said the U.S. Border Patrol and New Mexico State Police aided local police in investigating the call. Artesia Police Department (APD) determined the call came from Louisiana.
Chief Roberts reported the caller threatened multiple schools across the country, labelling the threat as “swatting”, a fake emergency call designed to trigger a heavy police response.
In response to praise from the council for APD’s decisive reaction, Chief Roberts used the positive feedback to commend a healthy relationship with the Artesia Public School District and the department’s habit of training alongside dispatch, fire and other emergency services.
“Building relationships gets you to a point where you can do this kind of stuff – where we can react quickly,” he said.
Ruidoso Municipal Schools in a Tuesday statement on Facebook said the Ruidoso Police Department received a similar “threat” against Ruidoso High School on the night of April 13, which was being investigated by law enforcement.
“We appreciate quick communication and the partnership with our school resource officer and the Ruidoso Police Department in addressing this matter,” read the statement. “We encourage all students and families to report any concerns immediately to school staff so that they can be addressed quickly and appropriately.”
For Mondragon, hardest goodbye came after final buzzer
JT Keith
Artesia Daily Press
jtkeith@elritomedia.com
When former Bulldog basketball coach Michael Mondragon stood in front of his players and their families at the boys basketball banquet, he was not just saying goodbye to a season.
He was saying goodbye to a chapter of his life without knowing it.
Tears flowed as Mondragon addressed his 10 seniors from the 2025 class — the last group he would ever coach on a basketball floor — his voice breaking as the weight of the moment settled in. These were not just players. They were young men he had believed in and grown alongside for years.
Next year, Mondragon will begin a new journey as principal of Roselawn Elementary School, trading locker rooms and late-night film sessions for classrooms and morning announcements. But the goodbye, the one that hurt the most, came with the realization that his time with this team — this family — was over.
Mondragon said losing a state championship still stings. It always will. But it is not the loss that lingers. It is everything that came before it.
He said he will miss the grind — players showing up early before practice to get extra shots, staying late after everyone else had gone home, the quiet talks in his office, and long summer trips. Most of all, he will miss the look in the players’ eyes — the belief that maybe, just maybe, they could become the next LeBron James.
Mondragon said he never had the heart to tell them they couldn’t.
Instead, he told them to believe. To work. To stay present. To trust the process. That with enough grit and heart, anything was possible.
Mondragon has always believed in the power of a dream. He has lived it.
That belief carried him to All-State honors in football and basketball and into a coaching life that was modeled for him by his father, aunts and family — a life he always knew he wanted. Coaching was never just a job. It was who he was. And now, he feels called to coach on a bigger stage.
Basketball, he said, was no longer enough.
Now, Mondragon wants to coach teachers and nearly 150 students at Roselawn Elementary, shaping lives the same way he has shaped programs for the past 16 years.
“It was just time,” Mondragon said. “After much prayer and consideration, I want to spend time with my family and watch them grow up. I want to help develop the future Bulldogs at the lower levels.”
Mondragon led with his heart in basketball, and the results followed. Over time, he became the school’s all-time wins leader with a 209-124 record, including a 58-21 mark in district play. He won seven consecutive District 4A-4 championships, reached nine quarterfinals and semifinals in 12 seasons, appeared in three state championship games and captured the 2025 title. This year’s team set a school record with 25 wins.
Still, Mondragon said the numbers were never the point.
Long after the final buzzer fades, he believes what remains matters far more than any trophy.
Mondragon wants to build a culture of family. As he heads to Roselawn, he wants to help develop boys and girls who will one day become good husbands, wives and productive members of society.
“It’s way more than basketball,” he said. “I love them (the team).
“They’re like my sons,” Mondragon said of the group. “I’ve been so close to them.”
One of his favorite memories came just weeks before the state tournament, when he invited the team to his home for a steak dinner. Players mixed with his children, assistant coaches and their families — a simple night, but one that captured how intertwined their lives had become.
Mondragon said moments like that were supposed to be emotional. If they weren’t, he said, then he wasn’t doing it right.
“I’m proud of the way they finished,” he said. “I’m proud of how they represented our school, our town, our program and themselves.”
For a coach who measured success by relationships rather than championships, that pride meant everything.
“Mike took the program in a really good direction,” Artesia Athletic Director Jeremy Maupin said. “He advocated for kids, and we will miss what he brought to the program.”
After the loss to Highland, Mondragon walked into the media center at The Pit in Albuquerque and paused before speaking.
“First of all, God’s good,” he said. “It has been a hell of a journey.”
For Mondragon, the journey isn’t over.
It’s just moving to a different court.
JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X @JTKEITH1.
State Sen. David Gallegos: If someone wanted to hold New Mexico back…
Sen. David Gallegos, and candidate for lieutenant governor
If someone wanted to devise a strategy to hold the state of New Mexico back from prosperity, growth, and a bright future, what would they do?
Certainly it wouldn’t be an easy task. After all, our state is naturally beautiful, and rich with diverse cultures and natural resources. It’s also home to some of the most amazing and kind-hearted people on the planet. So whatever their plan is, it would have to be sustained long-term; holding back a state like ours couldn’t happen overnight.
The first thing they might do is perhaps the easiest– simply refuse to address New Mexico’s current issues. Inaction would inevitably worsen the issues facing our communities like out-of-control crime, homelessness, poor educational outcomes, etc. Of course, to falsely reassure concerned New Mexicans, they would need to “say” publicly that steps were being taken to address these problems! But gaslighting is easy for those who want to hold us back.
Next, they would focus on damaging New Mexico’s top industries. If they could make New Mexico unattractive to large companies, investors, and innovative entrepreneurs, they wouldn’t have to worry about communities expanding or families being able to earn more with better job opportunities. Unsurprisingly, they would focus their attacks on the state’s vital oil & gas industry and stack the deck against those pesky small business owners by piling on taxes and burdensome regulations.. In short, they merely would have to drive out existing companies while discouraging any future business ventures.
Of course, they would also need to ensure that the next generation of New Mexicans are unprepared academically. And for those highest-performing students who succeed in spite of our 50th ranked education system, they would have to encourage them to take their talents elsewhere. This would accomplish two goals: making sure that the most talented young people leave New Mexico, while those who remain struggle to find meaningful opportunities. For the plan to really work, many of those young people who stay will instead choose to engage in illegal activities or not even want to work at all!
Speaking of not wanting to work, perhaps they would make New Mexicans generationally dependent on government assistance. They would raise taxes on hard-working families and businesses and then turn around and give those taxpayer dollars to the other half of the state. By creating more dependency on state government, they could protect their political future, as those receiving public benefits are sure to re-elect candidates who vote to continue and even expand these benefits.
Come to think of it, the progressive Democrats running New Mexico are already taking these exact steps. These radical leftists are indeed holding New Mexico back from prosperity, growth, and a bright future.
On the contrary, I want our state to move forward, not continue to slide backwards. I want New Mexico families to prosper. I want our children to choose to stay here to raise their families. I want our communities to experience less violence and more growth. That’s why I am advocating for common sense leadership. Progressives have a stranglehold on state government, and while some of them may claim to have good intentions for New Mexico, the reality is that their policies and “leadership” actively work to not only hold our state back, but to destroy it.
Ninety years of one-party Democrat rule has brought us here. I say: Let’s vote red instead and get back to common sense leadership instead of radical-left insanity.
*Senator Gallegos is an advocate and leader in his local community, serving on the Eunice school board for over 20 years. He retired from the natural gas industry after 30 years and currently works as a Senior Superintendent in construction. He has been married to the love of his life, Sonya, for over 45 years. Together they have two daughters and one granddaughter.
He served in the New Mexico House of Representatives from 2013-2020 and the State Senate from 2021.
New Mexico Sen. David Gallegos represents the state’s 41st Senate District and is seeking the GOP’s nomination to run for lieutenant governor.
Scenes from the Artesia baseball game against Carlsbad
