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The Carlsbad Elks Lodge No. 1558 proudly recognized academic achievement and community promise as 2026–2027 Exalted Ruler Lori Stears presented the Joseph Wertheim Memorial Scholarship to Carlsbad High School student Myka Char. Char was awarded a $4,000 scholarship, honoring both her accomplishments and her bright future ahead. The Joseph Wertheim Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to deserving students who demonstrate strong academic performance, character, and commitm

By Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library In a world filled with packed schedules, endless to-do lists, and the constant pull of responsibilities, finding time to sit down with a good book can feel like an impossible luxury. Yet for many readers, the desire to escape into a story, learn something new, or simply savor the rhythm of language never fades. That’s where audiobooks shine—offering a way to keep reading even when life doesn’t slow down. Audiobooks hav

By Misty Cryer The community is invited to attend the annual Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Walk on Thursday, April 30. The walk begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) office at 901 Debaca Street and ends at the Eddy County District Court at 102 N. Canal Street. An event featuring speakers, free food, and activities will follow on the courthouse lawn. “Any community partners that would like to come and bring a booth, contact Clarisa Saen

By R. Gabriel Villalobos In a world that often rewards speed over substance and volume over veracity, a new contest is unfolding in this corner of New Mexico. It doesn’t involve athletic feats or academic decathlons. It asks eighth graders to think about how they think. Rotary District 5520 covers most of New Mexico and a slice of West Texas, where a remarkable essay contest is proving that the next generation is paying closer attention than they get credit for. The Rotary Fo

By Sarah Jones. Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library When most people think of the library, they picture shelves lined with books, the quiet rustle of pages turning, and maybe a friendly librarian helping locate a new read. But today’s libraries are so much more than that. They’ve evolved into community hubs for learning, creativity, and connection. From digital downloads to hands-on experiences, your library offers a treasure trove of resources you might not even know e

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

To help address hunger in our community, Carlsbad Medical Center has donated 1,480 jars of peanut butter (and other nut butters) to Jonah’s House, the Carlsbad Community Kitchen, the Abundant Harvest Food Pantry, and Packs for Hunger. All of that peanut butter was collected by Carlsbad Medical Center and Pecos Valley Physician Group employees and medical staff members during its fourth annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive. Other local businesses, such as Financial Security

By Misty Cryer Many people experiment with the craft of crochet over their lifetimes and have unfinished projects to prove it. That is not the case for a young girl in Carlsbad who has mastered the craft of crocheting and often gifts her finished projects to others. Eleven-year-old fifth-grader Piper Daugherty said her Memaw taught her how to crochet. When talking about the types of projects she has done, she said, “I like making monkeys a lot.” Piper said that monkeys are an

By Misty Cryer The Prell family is well known in Carlsbad, with David serving as pastor of Blodgett Street Baptist Church for 23 of his almost 40 years in ministry and Jody teaching at Monterrey Elementary for 14 years before retiring. The couple also managed to stay active in the art community while providing custom artwork through JD Creations. Less well known is the fact that they purchased JoAnn’s Trophies a few years ago, which added to the selection of customized and pe

By Kyle Markstiener There’s a variety show coming up at the high school. Several of the theater kids wanted to do a scene from Hamilton, and they needed space to practice. I proposed the United Way’s boardroom, and my daughter, Amelia, took me up on the offer. Practice was set for 2 p.m., but Amelia came by about 45 minutes early to prepare. I could hear the scraping of furniture as chairs and tables were moved to turn our boardroom into a more suitable location for rehearsin

Faith Kluesner plans to attend an out-of-state college after graduation, where she will study biochemical engineering or biotechnology. She is the daughter of Melanie Crow and the sister of Jackson Crow (11). At Carlsbad High School, Faith is drum major for the marching band—a role that highlights her leadership skills—while also playing flute in the varsity concert band and competing on the varsity Cavegirl basketball team. She is also active at St. Edward’s Church and dance

On March 5, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced the 485 semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. Among those selected was Southeast New Mexico College student Sammy Lopez, Jr., who earned recognition from a highly selective pool of more than 1,300 applicants representing 224 community colleges across 37 states. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is one of the most prestigious opportunities available to community college