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By R. Gabriel Villalobos During a recent tour of the Carlsbad Police Department headquarters, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) got an up-close look at how the department is using a quarter of a million dollars in federal funding that he secured for infrastructure and technological upgrades. On May 7, the congressman saw how CPD is leveraging cutting-edge technology to combat staffing shortages and modernize policing in southeastern New Mexico. Hosted by Chief Jessie Ro

By Dr. Kevin Beardmore We have all seen a character in a show thinking through a choice with an angel whispering in one ear while a devil is doing the same in the other. But did you know that you might thank Plato and Freud for that? It is human nature to want to understand why people choose to act the way they do, and this need has ancient roots. Building on Thales’ concept of the soul (“psyche” in Greek), Plato proposed a tripartite theory. His allegory of the chariot de

By R. Gabriel Villalobos Children climbed aboard fire engines, explored police cruisers, and peered into the cockpit of a medical helicopter Saturday as first responders from multiple agencies gathered for the city’s Touch-A-Truck event. The annual gathering, organized by the Carlsbad Public Library and held next to it, gave families a hands-on opportunity to meet the people behind the sirens. Among those on hand were the Carlsbad Fire Department, Carlsbad Police Department,

By Misty Cryer What started as a standard meeting with acknowledgments of departing staff, followed by service awards, intentionally turned into a surprise celebration honoring the international teachers from the Philippines who have served the school for the last five years. Seven teachers participated in an exchange program with J-1 Visas, which are now up, so they are returning home. Camaraderie was evident among the staff during the lively celebration, which was filled wi

By Misty Cryer A drone soccer league consisting of eight teams is expected to begin competing in Eddy County in the fall of 2026. The program is administered through Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC), and with teams across the communities, the league is designed for youth. Volunteers will be sought to train as referees and scorekeepers. Chris Spaulding, Interim Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Engagement for SENMC, credits Jerry Brian with initiating t

By Sarah Jones, Carlsbad Public Library There’s something magical about reading a book that matches the season you’re living in. Just as we change our clothes, routines, and meals with the weather, many readers find their literary tastes shift throughout the year. Seasonal reading invites us to embrace the mood, energy, and atmosphere of each season—whether that means cozy mysteries in fall or breezy romances in summer. At Carlsbad Public Library, we love helping readers find

By Rhonda Jones The primary season is upon us, and we are privileged to have almost a full month to vote in the primary for the candidates who will be on the November ballot. Early voting started May 5 with election day on June 2, so there is plenty of time to vote. Unfortunately, voting turnout is usually low in a mid-term election cycle, especially in the primary, even though the primary determines who the candidates will be in November. This year, even Independent voters w

Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) is proud to recognize its Mountain Lion Student of the Month, an honor established to celebrate students who embody the college’s core values. The Mountain Lion Student of the Month program was created to promote a culture of excellence, encourage active student engagement, and recognize outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, and community involvement. All currently enrolled SENMC students in good academic standing are eligible

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors announces its 2026 SIMCO scholarship program recipients. Helping to build brighter futures with its commitment to education, SIMCO celebrated the recent award of 20 scholarships totaling $20,000. These scholarships went to high school seniors in Eddy and Lea counties. They were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants. “SIMCO is committed to investing in our student’s post-secondary education. A college education can have a las

By Misty Cryer The Halagueño Arts Park, which surrounds the Carlsbad Library and Carlsbad Museum, has been in development for close to a quarter of a century. The completion of the four building phases was recently celebrated. The early history of the site was featured in a previous edition of Carlsbad Local, with ongoing plans revealed. Julia Heaton championed the idea of developing an Arts Park on the grounds. She said she became interested in creating an Arts Park in 2004-

By Michael Bromka As befitted her self-dramatized grandeur, Brenda Rickell’s western epitaph might be “died with her boots on.” Truth underpins legend. Still working at 78, she keeled over in worn tennies. Timewise coworkers phoned 911 and administered CPR. EMTs rushed her to CMC, thence to UMC Lubbock. During a week of medical intervention, doctors diagnosed a non-survivable brain bleed. Life support was unplugged. Brenda held on thereafter, perhaps inwardly singing operatic

By Misty Cryer Last summer, some anxiety was expressed by parents due to the uncertainty of funding for the local Head Start program. Fortunately, the program did continue and is now operated by Youth Development, Inc. (YDI) who also offers a pre-K program, summer programs, and supportive services for families. The non-profit organization is currently accepting applications for the programs and has job openings. Janice Rodriguez of Loving is overseeing the Head Start and Pre-