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By Misty Cryer The ConocoPhillips Small Biz Builder program, an initiative to strengthen communities, is designed to accelerate the time to launch and scale businesses for both aspiring entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in the early stages of business. A graduation ceremony for the program was held on Wednesday, November 19, at Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) for the 2025 class. Graduates were given the opportunity to deliver business pitches and network with other busines

By Michele Robertson This time of year brings about reflections of gratitude as Thanksgiving and the holiday season approach. Family and community top the list of individuals polled about what they’re grateful for at this moment in their lives. “My ability to dance,” Shannon N. “Education and the opportunity to make a difference in my community,” Sarah J. “Kids! And parenting,” Andie B. “The ability to stay home and homeschool my kids and everything God has graced me and my c

By Misty Cryer After serving the community of Carlsbad for more than two decades as a physician in her family medicine practice and as the medical director of several local entities, Dr. Kim Lark plans to enjoy her well-deserved retirement. Aside from her medical practice, she is also known for serving the community and nation with search and rescue. A retirement celebration will be held at the office, 2402 W. Pierce St., on December 9 for her patients. Originally from a subu

During the November 10 Special Commission Meeting, the Eddy County Board of Commissioners voted to move forward with the Municipal Housing Partnership Initiative, which allocates over $15 million to efforts by Eddy County’s municipalities—Carlsbad, Artesia, Loving, and Hope—to create new housing. Each municipality will first propose housing projects to the Eddy County Commission, with the goal of being awarded a portion of the allocated Municipal Housing funding. The Commissi

Carlsbad Public Library hosts a variety of programming for both kids and adults. Tuesdays at 10 a.m. is Toddler Time for children 16-35 months. Wednesdays at 10 a.m. is Preschool Time for children 3-5 years old and Thursdays at 10 a.m. is Baby Time for babies ages birth to 15 months. Registration is encouraged as space is limited. Call or come by the library to register. Story time programs will run through December 11 and pick back up February 3. There will be no story time

By Dr. Kevin Beardmore More than a month ago, I was looking for a particular feature on a new car. I was surprised by an answer provided by AI. It said that it was on a make and model I thought I knew well. I checked the maker’s website. The feature was not available as an option. Interestingly, I looked again recently. It now states that it was an option on the highest trim of a previous generation of that model. I tried rephrasing my query, and that affected whether th

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO) is pleased to award $20,000 in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) teacher mini-grants to 15 area teachers throughout Eddy and Lea counties as part of its continued commitment to local communities. SIMCO’s Mini-Grant program encourages, promotes and coordinates STEM education, along with a broader focus of incorporating a ‘hands on’ approach in the classroom. Awards ranged from $1000 to $2,000. SIMCO will prese

By Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library Libraries have always been evolving institutions. From ancient archives to modern public hubs, libraries have continuously adapted to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Today, as technology reshapes the way we access and use information, libraries stand at the forefront of change once again. The future of libraries is bright, but it will look different from what it does today. Here are some key trends shapin

By Rhonda Jones In 2012, I was part of the first graduating class of the Main Street Vegan Academy, located in New York City. It was an intense five days of training where we learned about all aspects of veganism, and I became certified as a Vegan Lifestyle Coach and Educator. I attended two more sessions and earned my masters in Vegan Lifestyle Coaching. Later, I wanted to teach clients about healthy eating through a whole food plant-based diet and took Dr. T. Colin Campbell

By Michele Robertson Writing is a form of expression. When putting pen to paper, or keystrokes to keyboards, thoughts become visualized. Sometimes the distraction of home can impede progress on writing projects, whether personal, school-related, or work-related. Joshua McDowell, owner of Dark Stranger Meadery, has started a branch of Shut Up & Write in Carlsbad, a global organization that creates space for writers to show up in a welcoming, distraction-free environment to wor

By Misty Cryer A lifetime of playing ball led to a full-ride softball scholarship for Carlsbad High School senior Faith Rivera, who recently signed a letter of intent to play for the Galveston College Whitecaps. This is just the first step in her well-thought-out plan to pursue a career in nursing. Faith is the daughter of Josh and Amanda Rivera. With a history of baseball and softball on both sides of the family, Faith said she has been playing softball since she was four ye

By Misty Cryer The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening of State Representative Cathrynn Brown’s legislative district office on Monday, November 24. The come-and-go event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors at the office on the fourth floor of the Eddy County Courthouse, 102 N. Canal St. “This will be my legislative district office,” said Rep. Brown, who serves District 55, including mo