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By R. Gabriel Villalobos On a clear spring morning in West Texas, when the wind is already lifting dust off the highway, and the sky feels impossibly wide, Margaret Peterson loads books into a van. Hardcovers and paperbacks, children’s stories and science texts, battered field guides, and cloth-bound classics—thousands of pages headed for people who, as she likes to say, “just need something good to read.” Peterson’s path to this work was anything but predictable. Trained as

By Rhonda Jones Sometimes, life gets in the way, and that happened to me, so I apologize for my absence. But I am always doing research, so, as usual, I do have some tips to pass along. I know the plant-exclusive journey can be hard at times, but the results make it so worth it. I am still concerned about some of the changes being made to the food pyramid and how it will affect the health of so many in our country. It is a fact that no long-term studies have been done on eati

By Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library Research is something we all do, whether we realize it or not. From planning a vacation, to writing a school paper, to comparing products before making a big purchase—research is part of our daily lives. But the truth is, with so much information available online, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start or how to separate reliable sources from misinformation. That’s where your library comes in. At the Carlsbad

The Board of Trustees of Southeast New Mexico College will hold a regular meeting on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 6:00pm in room 153 in the Instructional Building. Or join through Zoom https://senmc-edu.zoom.us/j/5043955605?pwd=eW96WDRySWhjSDFaNE5rSWkrd1NtZz09 Meeting ID: 504 395 5605 Passcode: SENMC In compliance with the Open Meetings Act, copies of the agenda will be made available at least 72 hours prior to the meeting and accessible on our website at https://senmc.edu. Pub

By Michael Bromka LVSG in Carlsbad represents local folks with vision impairments and outright blindness. Some have had such challenges since birth. Others have ongoing macular degeneration. At least one is blind due to an industrial injury. They’ve banded together as the Low Vision Support Group. LVSG meets monthly, either at “home” (Church St. Church of the Nazarene) or “away” on a field trip. Anyone local who deals with limited vision or blindness would benefit from the fe

By R. Gabriel Villalobos When Ethan Waddington and his brothers take the stage, the music that emerges is bluegrass, it’s cowboy music, but also something more. It’s the sound of four brothers from the North Dakota plains who have forged a unique musical identity from a lifetime of ranching and family harmony that ended up conquering Nashville’s biggest bluegrass stage. “We have this western vibe in our group,” said Ethan, the banjo player for The Waddington Brothers. “It’s k

By Michael Bromka One $2 bill recipient is affably remembered by Ann Halford in Carlsbad. The 75th birthday of Milton Limbert was approaching in the summer of 2023, and Ann planned to honor him. She addressed an envelope, inscribed the card’s message, enclosed something modest, affixed a stamp, logged its dispatch, and rollatored 20 yards to her Lakeview Village postbox. What follows is a second-hand account. “It chanced that our mutual friend was sitting in Milton’s living r

By Misty Cryer At the CHS Performing Arts Center, Carlsbad High School students will be adding their touch to the performance of “Little Shop of Horrors.” From acting to vocals, with lots of preparation of the setting and props, these students are geared up to deliver a memorable production of this classic horror/comedy musical. Performances are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on March 6 and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on March 7. “This is my fifth lead,” said Kaia Dolan, a senior at CHS. S

By R. Gabriel Villalobos On National Parks Highway, just past San Jose Boulevard, to the right on the property where there’s a Super 8 motel, an unassuming food truck parked off to the side is quietly becoming a local phenomenon. Edgar, whose family runs Birrieria Leo’s, still remembers a time when two orders in an eight-hour shift felt like a miracle. That was just three years ago. “It was that bad,” Edgar said, sitting in his truck. “We were ready to throw in the towel.” Th

By Misty Cryer Workforce development is a hot topic in Carlsbad. Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) has stepped up the game by developing workforce training classes, opening the SENMC Workforce Training Center @ the Formerly Joe Stanley Smith Elementary School, and publishing a Spring Catalog for Workforce Training. “Workforce Development is a little bit different than the academic side, where you go for an associate degree or a bachelor’s,” said Chris Spaulding, Interim Vi

Members of the Carlsbad Early College High School BPA chapter recently participated in the 2026 New Mexico BPA State Leadership Conference in Albuquerque, held February 19–21, 2026. Students competed in a variety of business and leadership events, demonstrating excellence in workplace skills, professionalism, and industry knowledge. There were over 620 student members who competed in 84 events over the conference. Of those members, only 280 students qualified to represent New

The Carlsbad High School chapter of Business Professionals of America has once again distinguished itself on the state’s stage in student leadership and career development—bringing home its seventh straight New Mexico BPA state championship. This achievement reflects consistency, commitment, and an exceptional culture of excellence. Unlike many competitions, the New Mexico Business Professionals of America State Championship is not determined by contest results alone. Chapter