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By Don Eskins With the new prep cross country season just around the corner, the Carlsbad Cavemen and Cavegirls will kick off 2026 with cautious optimism. And for CHS, there are a lot of good reasons to be optimistic. When the gun goes off to officially open up the new year at El Paso Eastwood on Friday, August 21, both the boys’ and girls’ programs will be toeing the line with a boatload of returnees, many of whom were CHS headliners during 2025. All told, six Cavemen and si

By Rhonda Jones Recently, in conversations with two good friends, I found out that both had stage three kidney disease. I was amazed, but I also have a good friend who is in stage five of her kidney disease and has been waiting several years for a transplant. She spends 11 hours a day on kidney dialysis. Kidney disease seems to be rampant right now, and I wondered why and what could be done to treat it. Of course, my thought is always a plant-exclusive eating plan, but would

By Misty Cryer For generations, the Eddy County Fair has been more than a week of entertainment and awards; it has been a place where traditions are passed from one generation to the next. The rumble of an old tractor engine has a way of carrying people back in time. The sight and sound of restored machines lined up in the parade and at the fairgrounds is more than a display of polished steel and faded paint for many; it is a reminder of family farms, hard work, and time spen

By Misty Cryer A local women’s organization—almost a century old—held its annual planning event recently. An interesting tidbit shared by Angie Barrios-Testa, President of American Association of University Women-Carlsbad, is that the Carlsbad branch was organized in 1928—98 years ago—five years before the state organization was established. The AAUW-Carlsbad is a branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), a national nonprofit organization. The local branc

By Rhonda Jones Let’s face it. Most of us are sugaraholics. Sure, you may not admit it, but it is hard to turn down a sugary treat. The problem with these treats is that they primarily contain highly processed white sugar that has little to no nutritional value and can really become addictive when mixed with chocolate. I have to confess that I love sweet stuff, especially chocolate, so I am always looking for a way to have my cake and eat it too. Of course, a plant-exclusive

Turning Back Time by Don Eskins Growing up during the early 60’s was quite an experience for young boys throughout Carlsbad, of which I was one. With fewer distractions (no internet, no cable TV or streaming services, no video games, etc.), youngsters were forced to focus on a much more limited range of life’s interests. And for us, what could have been more interesting than iconic head Cavemen football coach Ralph Bowyer and his charges? Yup, in those days, don’t think you

by Christina Mann, Wildlife Biologist I dropped by a friend’s property on Riverside Dr. They were outside this early morning, but they were not alone. Besides some relatives, my friend was being mobbed by Canada Geese; and gleefully exclaimed that almost 30 goslings had hatched out this year. I was both dumbstruck and disgusted. This home-grown feeding program was not only technically illegal, it had the potential for harm to all creatures involved. Juvenile geese were comin

The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce welcomed business leaders, community partners, and members to its Annual Banquet, an evening dedicated to celebrating outstanding achievements, honoring community champions, and recognizing the leadership that continues to drive Carlsbad forward. A highlight of the evening was the leadership transition from outgoing Chamber President Jeannie Watson to incoming President Emily Wirth. Watson was recognized for her dedicated service, vision, and

By Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library Books have a unique power in our lives. They can transport us across time and place, introduce us to people we may never meet, and help us better understand ourselves. One of the most meaningful ways to think about reading is this: books can be both a window and a mirror. When a book is a window, it allows us to investigate experiences beyond our own. Through stories, we can step into different cultures, perspectives,

By Misty Cryer In a town like Carlsbad where bodies of water surround recreation areas, one might assume that there is vast interest in survival swimming skills for children. The response to the sessions offered by Joslyne Longoria with ISR Carlsbad confirms that this is true. While her current sessions are full, she plans to hold sessions year-round and encourages interested parties to get on the waiting list. ISR stands for Infant Swimming Resource, where survival swimming

By R. Gabriel Villalobos A room full of women gathered this month for a community forum hosted by Women for a Better Carlsbad, a monthly meeting series that connects local women with policymakers and leaders shaping the city’s social landscape. The evening featured three speakers from distinctly different spheres: school board director Clancey McMillan, Sodality Foundation founder Ashly Key, and aligned energy healer Shawna Hicks. Together, they addressed teacher retention, f

By Misty Cryer Residents of Carlsbad may hear about or see Eddy County Health Council doing outreach around town at various events. It is obvious that they are concerned with improving health in our community, but many don’t know exactly what they do or how they work. The council has obtained nonprofit status and would like to get more community members involved so they can serve the county the best they can. “Our purpose is to facilitate opportunities for communications and