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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

By Rhonda Jones When I was younger, I remember my mom complaining about prices every time she went to the grocery store. Poor mom would have gone on a hunger strike if she had gone grocery shopping at today’s prices. I often talk with individuals who say they would like to be plant-exclusive, but the price of vegetables is just too high. My reply to them is, “Have you seen the price of hamburger?” It is true that all prices have gone up, but eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, b

By Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library One of the greatest pleasures of working in a library is witnessing the spark when someone stumbles upon a book they never knew existed. Sure, big names and bestsellers get the buzz—but tucked quietly on our shelves—or reachable through interlibrary loan—are wonderful stories and voices that deserve your attention. Here are some underrated treasures you can (or may) find via Carlsbad Public Library’s collection—plus ti

By Michael Bromka LVSG in Carlsbad (the Low Vision Support Group) comprises half a dozen regulars reaching out in south Eddy County to ALL y’all today! Please ask kith, kin, neighbors, and congregants. Whom do you know whose vision is dimming? Please visit or phone. LVSG offers outreach to folks with diminishing eyesight. Hook us up before the lights go out—even more so if the sunlight has set. This writer belongs to LVSG, a worthy crew. Deborah Pinching is our fearless leade

By Michael Bromka In Carlsbad, Newell Crouch was known as “The Man with the Golden Camera.” Locals stopped by his studio to see a gold-plated camera, then on impulse got their picture taken. In the studio, he offered an array of backdrops. At his home on Beta Street there were landscaped settings. Gold was a gimmick, but his service and skills were real. The name “Newell” is uncommon. “I don’t know,” he said. “Blame my mother. It’s a doorpost, and I’ve lived up to it. In Texa

By Misty Cryer With a team of five, Cavern City Aces competed in the USATF Masters Indoor National Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center. In its second year, the local club walked away from the meet with remarkable accomplishments. The three-day event, organized by USA Track Field, attracts athletes aged 25-plus, offering them the opportunity to train and compete at a national level. Results for the teammates, provided by Michael Sims, founder of Cavern City Aces

By Misty Cryer Over the years, Hawgfest has been a favorite of locals while also attracting visitors from across the country. This family-friendly event brings the community together to have a good time. Starting April 23 and running through May 3, the event will be held at the Walter Gerrells Performing Arts and Exhibition Center, 4012 National Parks Highway. “It’s going to be bigger than it’s ever been; it’s 11 days,” said Curtis McKinney, when giving a preview. “With two b

By Misty Cryer The owners of a well-established local company, Bock Electric, have experienced a life-changing event with the purchase of Murrill Electric, a long-term local company that operates throughout southeast New Mexico. Both companies, community-minded and dedicated to providing an excellent workplace and customer satisfaction, will continue to operate separately from a central location. Bock Electric, owned by Carlsbad natives Cory and Ashley Bock, has been in busin

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