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By Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library Standing at the entrance to the Carlsbad Public Library is a quiet yet powerful testament to the transformative power of reading: a sculpture simply titled The Reader. Created by local artist Wren Prather-Stroud, the piece captures a moment that is both intimate and universal—a figure perched atop a stack of books, immersed in the world of literature. The head of the figure, rising above the pyramid of volumes, symboli

By Don Eskins Eight Carlsbad High School Cavegirls have been named to the 2026 All-District 4/5A Softball Team. Leading the Cavern City’s barrage of talented players named to this year’s team was junior Katrina Ortega. Ortega, named to the All-District First Team as a pitcher, was also selected as the District 4/5A Player of the Year. As CHS’s number one hurler, Ortega was 5-2 during conference play. While inside the circle, she registered a minuscule ERA of just 1.02, allowi

By Don Eskins Carlsbad High linkster Chevy Thompson, who has played his way onto the All-District 4/5A Golf Team for the past three years, is on his way to compete at the next level. The former Caveman and 2026 graduate of CHS made it official on Tuesday, May 19, by signing a letter of intent to tee it up with the University of the Southwest Mustangs during the 2026-27 school year. USW, located in Hobbs, is an NAIA school that competes in the Red River Athletic Conference. Th

With an estimated 700,000 to 1 million knee-specific operations performed in the United States each year, arthroscopic knee surgery has transformed the treatment of joint injuries, providing patients with a minimally invasive option that supports faster recovery and improved outcomes. This advanced surgical technique allows orthopedic specialists, including those at Carlsbad Medical Center, to diagnose and treat a wide range of knee conditions with precision, while minimizing

By Michael Bromka In Carlsbad, the Eddy County NAACP focuses on local matters. Their biggest push is raising funds for the annual Daniel Johnson Scholarships to defray the tuition of college-bound students. These are awarded via application and an essay submitted to the committee for blind review, regardless of the applicants’ ethnicity. They also offer dues and moral support to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s state and national networks. This

In Fall 2025, Southeast New Mexico College established the Mountain Lion Student of the Month and Student of the Year awards to recognize students who exemplify the college’s core values of Persistence, Resilience, Respect, Resourcefulness, Inclusion, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence. Throughout the academic year, students are nominated by faculty and staff for their leadership, service, academic achievement, and positive contributions to the campus community. From the mo

Nine Eddy County residents will each receive $2,500 scholarships from the United Way of Eddy County, thanks to a partnership with ConocoPhillips and a very successful Cinco De Mayo Golf Tournament. Thanks to the generosity of participants and sponsors in the May 2 “Cinco De Mayo Scramble,” $68,000 was raised for the local nonprofit. Funding from the tournament was then split between the scholarship effort and the organization’s general program fund. The United Way has previou

By R. Gabriel Villalobos There was a time not long ago when a 26-year-old worrying about the taste of store-bought meat and the trustworthiness of government supply chains would have sounded like a fringe sentiment. But here in the dusty plains of southeastern New Mexico, Samantha Cooper represents something quieter, and perhaps more significant: a generational pivot back to the land. “The meat started tasting worse in stores and started making my husband and me sick,” Cooper

By Misty Cryer Tobias Chacon, son of Robbie and Denise Chacon, was named valedictorian for Loving High School (LHS), with Jayce Munoz, son of Arturo and Dawndri Munoz, earning the title of salutatorian. An interesting part of their story is that these young men are cousins who, in their sophomore year, set a goal to graduate at the top of their class. “I played basketball my whole high school career,” said Tobias, adding he managed to play football his senior year. “I also wa

By Misty Cryer Valedictorians and salutatorians of the Class of 2026 represent the top of the class in their local high school. Included are Carlsbad High School (CHS), Carlsbad Early College High School (CECHS), Jefferson Montessori Academy (JMA), and the Carlsbad Enrichment Center (CEC). The students honored are celebrated for their academic excellence and achievements, as well as their commitment to future goals. Yuki Ye, daughter of Jinfeng Ye and Quioyu Huang, is CHS’s v

Yuki Ye plans to attend college after graduation, where she hopes to study political science or international relations. She is the daughter of Jinfeng Ye and Qiaoyu Huang and the sister of Brian Ye (19). At Carlsbad High School, Yuki has been involved in Taekwondo, Business Professionals of America (BPA), and the National Honor Society. Through BPA, she has competed at a high level, qualifying for nationals three times and earning sixth place in Legal Office Procedures at th

By Don Eskins Carlsbad High came up just short of realizing their dream to bring a state championship back to the Cavern City in 2026, following an 11-2 loss to the second-seeded 27-4 Cleveland Storm during semifinal round action of the Class 5A New Mexico State Baseball Tournament in Albuquerque on Friday, May 15. Riding high and hopeful after upsetting the third-seeded 25-4 La Cueva Bears 10-2 during quarterfinal round play on Thursday, May 14, the Cavemen, seeded sixth, co