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By R. Gabriel Villalobos Children climbed aboard fire engines, explored police cruisers, and peered into the cockpit of a medical helicopter Saturday as first responders from multiple agencies gathered for the city’s Touch-A-Truck event. The annual gathering, organized by the Carlsbad Public Library and held next to it, gave families a hands-on opportunity to meet the people behind the sirens. Among those on hand were the Carlsbad Fire Department, Carlsbad Police Department,

By Misty Cryer What started as a standard meeting with acknowledgments of departing staff, followed by service awards, intentionally turned into a surprise celebration honoring the international teachers from the Philippines who have served the school for the last five years. Seven teachers participated in an exchange program with J-1 Visas, which are now up, so they are returning home. Camaraderie was evident among the staff during the lively celebration, which was filled wi

By Misty Cryer A drone soccer league consisting of eight teams is expected to begin competing in Eddy County in the fall of 2026. The program is administered through Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC), and with teams across the communities, the league is designed for youth. Volunteers will be sought to train as referees and scorekeepers. Chris Spaulding, Interim Vice President of Workforce Development and Community Engagement for SENMC, credits Jerry Brian with initiating t

By Don Eskins Carlsbad High’s Cavemen and Cavegirl track and field teams will be in Clovis on Friday, May 8, to compete in the District 4/5A Tournament. While in Wildcat country, both teams and their individual participants will be shooting for district titles. Also at stake in Clovis is a trip to this year’s state tournament, set to take place in Albuquerque on Friday and Saturday, May 15-16. At the district meet, Cavemen and Cavegirl thinclads can punch their tickets to sta

By Sarah Jones, Carlsbad Public Library There’s something magical about reading a book that matches the season you’re living in. Just as we change our clothes, routines, and meals with the weather, many readers find their literary tastes shift throughout the year. Seasonal reading invites us to embrace the mood, energy, and atmosphere of each season—whether that means cozy mysteries in fall or breezy romances in summer. At Carlsbad Public Library, we love helping readers find

By Rhonda Jones The primary season is upon us, and we are privileged to have almost a full month to vote in the primary for the candidates who will be on the November ballot. Early voting started May 5 with election day on June 2, so there is plenty of time to vote. Unfortunately, voting turnout is usually low in a mid-term election cycle, especially in the primary, even though the primary determines who the candidates will be in November. This year, even Independent voters w

Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC) is proud to recognize its Mountain Lion Student of the Month, an honor established to celebrate students who embody the college’s core values. The Mountain Lion Student of the Month program was created to promote a culture of excellence, encourage active student engagement, and recognize outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, and community involvement. All currently enrolled SENMC students in good academic standing are eligible

By Don Eskins The Cavemen tennis team is currently competing at the Class 5A state tournament in Albuquerque. The event got underway on Wednesday, May 6, and will run through Saturday, May 9. At the District 4/5A Tournament in Hobbs on April 28-29, CHS qualified four players to compete in the individual state tournament. Lucas Bluth, the 2026 District 4/5A champion, and runner-up Sean Erosido qualified for singles play at the Big Dance. Steven Pham and teammate Alex Burns, ru

By Don Eskins The Carlsbad Cavegirls placed second, and the Cavemen third, at the District 4/5A Golf Tournament in Clovis on Monday, May 4. The Cavegirls, behind Averee Padilla, who placed third overall with an 82, carded a 359. Hobbs, with a 347, claimed this year’s girls’ conference title. Also contributing to the Cavegirl effort were Haddi May, 89; Madisyn Beavers, 92; Cecilia Mascarenas, 96; and Hailey Carter, 108. In boys’ competition, the Cavemen, paced by Chevy Thompso

By Don Eskins As seeds went out for this year’s Class 5A State Softball Tournament on Sunday, May 3, a lot of Cavegirl fans might have been holding their breath as they awaited the answer to a very good question. That question was, “Would the Cavegirls, having posted a 14-12 record, get a berth in this year’s Big Dance?” Well, the answer to that question was yes! The Cavegirls received a 15th seed for the tourney and will travel to Alamogordo on Friday, May 8, to take on the

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors announces its 2026 SIMCO scholarship program recipients. Helping to build brighter futures with its commitment to education, SIMCO celebrated the recent award of 20 scholarships totaling $20,000. These scholarships went to high school seniors in Eddy and Lea counties. They were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants. “SIMCO is committed to investing in our student’s post-secondary education. A college education can have a las

By Don Eskins You can bet the farm that Carlsbad High’s Tom Forni Cavemen Corral will be rockin’ with fans on Friday and Saturday, May 8-9. And why shouldn’t it? On those two days, in a best-of-three series, the Cavemen will host the Organ Mt. Knights during first-round play of the 2026 New Mexico Class 5A State Baseball Tournament. Game one of the best-of-three series is scheduled for Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. Game two will take place on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. Game