Local Stories

The annual Cavern City adult tennis tournament was held over the Fourth of July weekend at the Lake Carlsbad Tennis Complex, drawing 56 players from Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. Carlsbad entrants fared well, winning four of the nine divisions offered, with three runners-up finishes and four consolation championships. Recent high school graduate Lucas Bluth brought home top honors in the 27-person Men’s Open Singles, then teamed with his brother, Clayton Bluth, to win the

By Don Eskins Former Cavemen hurler Nolan Perry, selected in the 12th round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, has been promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. But for Perry, the good news doesn’t end there. On July 1, as a result of his continued growth and stellar play, Toronto’s No. 3 MLB prospect and MLB’s 100th was selected to participate in the 2026 Futures All-Star Game set to take place in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 12. The

By Michael Bromka Carlsbad Heights Lion Tom Dugger has garnered a prestigious (and pricey) Melvin Jones Fellowship, voted this spring by seven of his peers. The Lions’ worldwide motto is “We Serve.” All conscientious Lions try to exemplify this assertion. Among such dutiful volunteers, a resplendent few attain the badge of Melvin Jones Fellow. Heights Lions outgoing President Bill Deringer, at our annual awards dinner, enumerated Tom Dugger’s recent service. “Of our 11 buildi

Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library or children, some of the most powerful learning happens at home. While schools and libraries play an important role in supporting literacy, families and caregivers are a child’s first and most influential teachers. Creating a home environment where reading is encouraged, enjoyed, and shared can have lasting benefits for a child’s development and lifelong love of learning. Reading at home does not have to be complicated or

By Hattie Quinn, News Director,, KCCC 930 AM On April 27, a heavy haul superload fell over on Hobbs Highway. Oversized industrial tanks, down on the road. The incident, reported by CDLstrong, showed exactly what happens when infrastructure fails: loads shift, securement breaks, roads give way. Recovery requires specialized equipment, traffic control, and a full shutdown. Precision-balanced, overweight loads need well-maintained level roads. This is what the industry’s impact

By R. Gabriel Villalobos For many low-income residents in Carlsbad, a beloved pet can be a lifeline, offering companionship and comfort in challenging times. But when financial struggles make it difficult to feed those furry family members, a local nonprofit steps in to bridge the gap. CPAWS, or Carlsbad Progressive Animal Welfare Society, has been a quiet force in the community for over two decades, ensuring that no pet goes hungry due to their owner’s economic hardship. At

By Misty Cryer Carlsbad Area Art Association (CAAA) recently opened registration for four five-day summer art camps for kids aged five and up, with each camp accommodating 25 campers. The July camps, held at The Artist Gallery, offer 10 hours of art instruction, materials and supplies, a camp T-shirt, and daily snacks to 100 registered kids free of charge, thanks to the generosity of camp sponsors. All camps filled up in two days. “One of our newest gallery members, Angie Joh

By Misty Cryer A surprise retirement party was held recently to celebrate Johnnie Bradford, the Housing Supervisor for Carlsbad Transitional Housing and Homeless Shelter, who has been there for over a decade. She has seen the organization grow into two programs with six transitional houses and the addition of the shelter. While many people have benefited during her service, she feels that she is leaving it in good hands. “The intricate value of the job is just awesome. It’s a