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By Misty Cryer The line of thinking that if an issue is observed, it is time to step up and do something about it is common in Carlsbad. Kristy Maley, State Chair for New Mexico’s Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), did just that. She is organizing the annual banquet that serves as a fundraiser for the foundation to help achieve its mission, with the assistance of Demetrio Rubio, the Texas Regional Director. From a family of hunters, Kristy said she has always hunted, and over the la

By R. Gabriel Villalobos For those who have caught live music around Carlsbad recently, there is a decent chance Cathy Queen was involved somehow. She might have been on stage, or she might have been the one who organized the whole thing. Queen, a native of Carlsbad, has quietly become one of the most prolific musicians in the Pecos Valley. Now freshly retired from a 41-year career with the Bureau of Land Management, she has traded her government job for a ukulele, a bass gui

Chloe Melvin is the daughter of Patrick and Elena Melvin and the sister of Chelsea Melvin (12). After graduation, Chloe plans to attend college and pursue a career in law. Chloe has been an inspiring leader at Carlsbad High School and has demonstrated her dedication to serving others through her roles as Color Guard Captain, Senior Class President, and Literacy Club President. She is also involved in Theater, Inspired by Science, Science Bowl, Quiz Bowl, Interact, Sources of

The Health Clinic at Southeast New Mexico College is piloting walk-in hours for the community, starting in April of 2026. Medical services are provided by Candace Byers, CNP. The Health Clinic is a teaching site for SENMC health programs so that patients may be cared for by students from our phlebotomy, nursing assistant, medical assistant, nursing, or health administration programs during their visit. The clinic sees adults for acute illnesses, flares of chronic illnesses, m

By Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library Libraries have been at the heart of human learning for thousands of years. From the clay tablets of ancient Mesopotamia to the vast digital archives of today, libraries have evolved alongside the societies they serve, continually adapting to new technologies and new ways of sharing knowledge. As we reflect on this journey, it becomes clear that while the format has changed, the mission of libraries—to preserve, organiz

By Misty Cryer A special evening to the community, Shine Carlsbad is about to happen. On April 17, this prom-type event for those with special needs, ages 16 and up, will be held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Pecos River Village. Registration is open now for guests and volunteers. “We normally have about 100 guests that come out,” said Jason Shirley. “We have about 150 volunteers that make the night happen,” he said. Guests usually show up decked out in prom gear, includi

By R. Gabriel Villalobos A piece of art was commissioned by a former Carlsbad resident and philanthropist–a horse sculpture with a fiery mane and flaming motif that spanned its sides all the way to the tail. Conceived as a fundraiser for an educational arts program, it stood silently for years in the lobby of an emergency response center; a quiet monument to resilience born from catastrophe. Meg Milligan has been thinking about that horse a lot lately. With 2026 marking the Y

By Jeff Campbell, Director of Marketing and Business Development Carlsbad has been growing steadily for nearly two decades. Industrial growth has remained strong in potash mining and nuclear, while oil and gas has grown exponentially. Manufacturing has grown in conjunction with the industries, reinforcing Carlsbad’s position across the state. Commercially, our market has seen dozens of new businesses open their doors. Since 2010, Carlsbad has added more than 10 new hotels, ov

A classic leadership seminar activity is selecting someone to be honored with a monument. I would choose el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, widely known as Malcolm X. Watching the documentary Eyes on the Prize in the late 1980s opened my mind to the civil rights work of the 1960s. Learning about the Freedom Riders who departed from the Western Campus of Miami University of Ohio—a campus where I lived just 20 years after that fateful trip—was one fact I did not forget. Some of the stu

By Don Eskins Carlsbad High School hosted the Eddy County Qualifier on Thursday, March 12. Competing with CHS were Loving and Artesia. "We had a good meet and were able to run all of our athletes," said CHS head track and field coach Charles Millar. "Our kids improved in almost every single event, which is awesome. "However, Sophia Trujillo was our only athlete to qualify for state. She qualified in the shot put with a throw of 35' 10", he said. "Right now, Sophia and her tea

By Don Eskins Carlsbad High School's powerlifting team, in only its second year of existence, is experiencing yet another great season. With only three weeks remaining on their schedule, the Cavegirls are ranked No. 1 in the state and the Cavemen No. 3. Last year, when all was said and done, the Cavemen finished second and the Cavegirls third. Participants in powerlifting compete in three different lifts — the squat, deadlift, and bench press. At meets, points are awarded to

By Don Eskins Cavegirl softball opens up 2026 play at home for the first time on Friday afternoon, March 20, against the always tough Centennial Hawks. Game times are set for 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Cavegirl Park. The Cavegirls will enter the twi-night doubleheader with a 2-2 record. The Hawks are currently 7-1 on the year. Their most notable win came via a 7-6 victory over Las Cruces. Their only loss, an 11-7 decision to the Mayfield Trojans. The Cavegirls will try to reb