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By Don Eskins It’s going to be a winner-take-all battle for the District 4/5A title when the Carlsbad Cavemen and Hobbs Eagles face off in Hobbs on Friday night, February 20. No doubt, with so much at stake, you can bet the farm that the Ralph Tasker Arena will be rockin’ when the ball goes up for the tipoff at 7 p.m. The JVs will take the floor first at 5:30 p.m. Carlsbad will enter the clash at 17-7, the Eagles at 16-9. In district play, both teams are 4-1. Coming into the

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

By Misty Cryer Prep is underway for “Dancing with the Eddy County Stars” of 2026. The lineup has been announced, and ticket sales, donations, and sponsorships are steadily rolling in to support the work United Way of Eddy County does to benefit the county’s residents and communities. This entertaining and impactful event is scheduled for March 20 at the Walter Gerrells Performing Arts and Exhibition Center. Cocktail Hour is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the competition running

By Misty Cryer Garth Grizzle and Corina Yrigollen are not strangers to the Janell Whitlock Valentine’s Day Dinner and Dance. In 2024, they were crowned King and Queen. By popular vote, this now happily married couple was named King and Queen again at the fifth annual event held on Valentine’s Day this year at the Pecos River Conference Center. Hosted by the Age Friendly Communities Council of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, this event pays tribute to the late Janell Whitloc

By R. Gabriel Villalobos If you live in Carlsbad and own a dog, this might not come as a surprise to you, but after winter passes, you can expect to have to make your pet’s grooming appointments a month or two out. For one local groomer, Theresa Chism, that busy season is a familiar rhythm. While the wait might not be so long in the cooler months, she confirms, “as the weather warms up...a lot of people get booked out farther. We have a pretty high demand for dog groomers rig

By Misty Cryer William A. Brooks (aka Bill Brooks) was born and raised in Carlsbad, graduating from Carlsbad High School with the Class of 1968. He is well known in the community, primarily for his contributions to the performing arts, including music and theatre. From performing with his brother as The Brooks Brothers, to performing in and producing musicals, including The Promise, Brooks said, "We toured the world, had music hits, and performed for several million people."

By Misty Cryer Talent abounds at Carlsbad Community Theatre, with a dedicated cast and crew bringing entertainment and laughs in a farce by Michael McKeever, Suite Surrender. The show, directed by Donia Dunlap, opens just in time to celebrate the season of love. Showtimes are February 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22. The Friday and Saturday shows start at 7 p.m., with Sunday matinees beginning at 2:30 p.m. Set in the World War II era at a glamorous Palm Beach hotel, two rival perf

By R. Gabriel Villalobos What began eight years ago as a mother’s mission to satisfy a “very girly” daughter’s love for custom tutus and bows has blossomed into a full-fledged, in-house apparel business serving schools, teams, and individuals across the community. Jessica Ontiveros, the founder and creative force behind the custom print shop, Custom Chaos, started her venture as a hobby to keep her daughter, Joselyn, happy. When her youngest son started school, she faced a ch

Jewel Monroe is the daughter of Jeff and Jo Lynn Munro and the sister of Jennifer Wenner (24) and Jessica Munro (21). Jewel plans to attend Texas Tech University, with a major in Sports Media with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She is involved in Cavegirl Soccer, the Educators Rising Program, and sports photography. Jewel is a member of the National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society and has earned A-Honor Roll recognition throughout high school. She is be

By Rhonda Jones I have never questioned the efficacy of a plant-exclusive diet, as my results have been great. When I decided to cut out all animal products back in 2009, my health improved drastically in just a matter of weeks. I lost weight, my digestive issues came to a stop, my blood pressure stabilized, my cholesterol went down, and my energy level increased. But lately, I am seeing posts on social media and headlines on TV that say Vegans and people not eating animal pr