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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

By Misty Cryer Recognized in Carlsbad’s 40 Under 40 in 2024 and featured in a Teacher Spotlight published by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA) in 2025, the community of Carlsbad is likely familiar with Hannah VanScotter, a local educator at Carlsbad High School. At the New Mexico Association for Career and Technical Education (NMACTE) Conference in January, VanScotter was named NMACTE Career Technical Education (CTE) Teacher of the Year. “I will go on to the Regi

By Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library If you’ve visited the library lately, you may have noticed something remarkable: people are reading in more ways than ever before. Some browse the shelves for a classic hardcover, while others download the latest bestseller onto an e-reader or listen to an audiobook during their commute. This variety raises a question many readers ask: What is the future of books—print or digital? The truth is, both formats offer uniqu

By Michael Bromka Carlsbad Heights Lions ramp foreman Tom Dugger undertook three different projects on two consecutive Saturdays. Most recently, he and fellow volunteers built a modest wooden ramp on Valverde Street. Jay Francis helped Tom build a 2X4” understructure unit the day before. Fellow Heights Lions Michael Bromka, Bernie Sanchez, and Rick Wiedenmann joined them, plus ringer Bryan Burns, to unload lumber, pavers, and units to begin. Once they’d assembled the understr

Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) student and Phi Theta Kappa Chapter President Ciara Taff has officially been accepted as a candidate for International Vice President, Division IV, for Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. She has begun her campaign to represent Division IV, which includes Alaska, Alberta, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, the