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By Don Eskins Former Caveman Robert Castaneda, one of New Mexico’s most prolific prep gridiron receivers for the past two seasons, will be competing at the next level during 2026. On Wednesday, February 4, Castaneda made it official by signing a letter of intent to play for the NMMI Broncos. NMMI, a junior college located in Roswell, competes in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC). During 2025, the Broncos posted a 3-6 overall record and were 2-5 in conf

Carlsbad Medical Center recently presented several awards at its annual Employee Celebration, held January 23. In addition to service awards, Employees and Directors of the Year were recognized. These awards are the highest honors bestowed on hospital employees each year. “We have an incredible staff at Carlsbad Medical Center,” said Carlsbad Medical Center CEO Matthew Banks. “It’s a pleasure to recognize our employees for their dedication to our patients and the community, a

Artesia General Hospital (AGH) recently announced an expansion of its specialized healthcare services in Carlsbad. This move introduces dedicated Cardiology services with Elizabeth Madison, ACNP, and brings highly sought-after consultations with Board-certified General Surgeons Dr. Michael Mann and robotic expert Dr. Shyamal Pansuriya directly to the Carlsbad community. The expansion underscores AGH’s unwavering commitment to enhancing access to expert medical care across Sou

Southeast New Mexico College students, Keily Medina, Sammy Lopez, and Colette Christian received the New Mexico All-State Academic Team Recognition on January 28 at the State Capitol in Santa Fe. The recognition is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and the New Mexico Independent Community College Association. To qualify for the Academic All Stars Team, a student must be a PTK member in good standing, have a 3.5 GPA or above, be graduating in the Spring Semester, and be nomin

By Don Eskins Lady luck eluded the 16-7 Carlsbad Cavemen on Tuesday night, February 10, in a game that saw the 12-10 Clovis Wildcats slip past Carlsbad High 51-45. The clash took place in Clovis. “It was a tough game and tough environment, but we played even with the Wildcats throughout the game. With about 2:30 left on the clock, the score was all tied up,” said Cavemen head coach John Zumbrun. “But, down the stretch, Clovis was able to pull away.” Maliq Mills, with 12 point

Coach Matt Enloe Logs 100th Win By Don Eskins Down but not out, following a 70-24 loss to the talent-heavy and top-ranked Hobbs Eagles, the Carlsbad Cavegirls rallied to knock off the Clovis Wildcats 26-24 in Carlsbad on Tuesday night, February 10. Trailing at the half, 13-5, the Cavegirls regrouped to tighten up their defense and outscore the bewildered Cats 21-11 over the final two periods to pick up their 11th win of the season, versus 13 losses. "Holding Clovis to just 24

By Don Eskins The CHS swim team placed third at the District 3/4A swim meet held in Artesia on Saturday, February 7. CHS head coach Samantha Segura was more than happy with the effort she got from her team. “Our swimmers performed phenomenally at District, with many dropping time and several earning new personal bests. We are incredibly proud of every member of this team and the work they’ve put in to get here,” said Segura. “Now, for the next two weeks, our focus will shift

By Don Eskins Five Cavegirls, headed by regional champion Ellianna Campos, punched their tickets to this year’s state tournament at the Southern Regional Championships on February 6-7 in Roswell. Campos, only a junior, posted a glittering 5-0 record en route to claiming the Southern Regional title at 125 lbs. Also picking up passports to the Big Dance, which will take place at Rio Rancho on February 20-21, were, at 235, Atria Wells, 5-1, third; at 170, Sophie Westfall, 4-1, t

Sunvapor, Inc., a leading developer of low-carbon industrial process plants, and Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) have commenced joint operations of the country’s first solar desalination facility located at a commercial saltwater disposal well. The saltwater disposal well is operated by NGL Water Solutions Permian LLC, the largest produced water management company in the Permian Basin. “By hosting the Sunvapor pilot, we are evaluating how their technology can cost-effect

By Don Eskins Thirteen Cavemen wrestlers will be hoping to earn berths in this year’s state tournament at the Southern Regional Championships in Albuquerque on Saturday, February 14. The tournament will take place at the Duke City’s West Mesa High School. State tournament berths will go out to the top seven placers, plus a wild card selection in each weight class. Overall, the tournament will consist of 16 Class 5A teams, making the road to state a most difficult one for grap

A leading global travel booking site, Skyscanner, has selected Guadalupe Mountains National Park, home to the highest peak in Texas (8,751 feet), as one of only five U.S. destinations featured in its latest guide for tranquil solo travel, Elsewhereism. With January marking the peak travel-planning season, the guide highlights lesser-known destinations that help travelers avoid crowds and plan calmer trips for the year ahead. Google Trends data shows U.S. search interest in “s

By R. Gabriel Villalobos For architect Larry Mitchell, the landscape of Carlsbad is not just a collection of buildings, but a layered history book written in brick, tile, and terra cotta. Alongside his partner, Dean Cruse, Mitchell has spent over three decades weaving his professional life into the community’s fabric, with a growing passion for restoring the chapters that time has begun to fade. Their firm, founded in 2013 after each spent over 20 years with a local practice,