Local Stories

By Misty Cryer William A. Brooks (aka Bill Brooks) was born and raised in Carlsbad, graduating from Carlsbad High School with the Class of 1968. He is well known in the community, primarily for his contributions to the performing arts, including music and theatre. From performing with his brother as The Brooks Brothers, to performing in and producing musicals, including The Promise, Brooks said, "We toured the world, had music hits, and performed for several million people."

By Misty Cryer Talent abounds at Carlsbad Community Theatre, with a dedicated cast and crew bringing entertainment and laughs in a farce by Michael McKeever, Suite Surrender. The show, directed by Donia Dunlap, opens just in time to celebrate the season of love. Showtimes are February 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22. The Friday and Saturday shows start at 7 p.m., with Sunday matinees beginning at 2:30 p.m. Set in the World War II era at a glamorous Palm Beach hotel, two rival perf

By R. Gabriel Villalobos What began eight years ago as a mother’s mission to satisfy a “very girly” daughter’s love for custom tutus and bows has blossomed into a full-fledged, in-house apparel business serving schools, teams, and individuals across the community. Jessica Ontiveros, the founder and creative force behind the custom print shop, Custom Chaos, started her venture as a hobby to keep her daughter, Joselyn, happy. When her youngest son started school, she faced a ch

Jewel Monroe is the daughter of Jeff and Jo Lynn Munro and the sister of Jennifer Wenner (24) and Jessica Munro (21). Jewel plans to attend Texas Tech University, with a major in Sports Media with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She is involved in Cavegirl Soccer, the Educators Rising Program, and sports photography. Jewel is a member of the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society and has earned A-Honor Roll recognition throughout high school. She is be

By Rhonda Jones I have never questioned the efficacy of a plant-exclusive diet, as my results have been great. When I decided to cut out all animal products back in 2009, my health improved drastically in just a matter of weeks. I lost weight, my digestive issues came to a stop, my blood pressure stabilized, my cholesterol went down, and my energy level increased. But lately, I am seeing posts on social media and headlines on TV that say Vegans and people not eating animal pr

By Don Eskins Former Caveman Robert Castaneda, one of New Mexico’s most prolific prep gridiron receivers for the past two seasons, will be competing at the next level during 2026. On Wednesday, February 4, Castaneda made it official by signing a letter of intent to play for the NMMI Broncos. NMMI, a junior college located in Roswell, competes in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC). During 2025, the Broncos posted a 3-6 overall record and were 2-5 in conf

Carlsbad Medical Center recently presented several awards at its annual Employee Celebration, held January 23. In addition to service awards, Employees and Directors of the Year were recognized. These awards are the highest honors bestowed on hospital employees each year. “We have an incredible staff at Carlsbad Medical Center,” said Carlsbad Medical Center CEO Matthew Banks. “It’s a pleasure to recognize our employees for their dedication to our patients and the community, a

Artesia General Hospital (AGH) recently announced an expansion of its specialized healthcare services in Carlsbad. This move introduces dedicated Cardiology services with Elizabeth Madison, ACNP, and brings highly sought-after consultations with Board-certified General Surgeons Dr. Michael Mann and robotic expert Dr. Shyamal Pansuriya directly to the Carlsbad community. The expansion underscores AGH’s unwavering commitment to enhancing access to expert medical care across Sou