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By Sarah Jones Libraries have long been seen as places of knowledge, discovery, and community. But beyond books and research, they also play an important role in promoting mental health and well-being. In an era where stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges are increasingly common, libraries offer a unique and accessible space for people to find comfort, resources, and support. Libraries as Safe Spaces For many, the library serves as a refuge—a quiet place where individ

By Don Eskins The Cavemen and Cavegirl cross country teams recently returned from the Albuquerque Academy Extravaganza. Overall, the Cavemen placed 11th in a field of 21. The Cavegirls finished 17th in a field of 18. Top performers for the Cavemen were Kaleb Vasquez, who placed 55th with a time of 17:56.81, and Aiden Mendez, who placed 58th with a time of 18:18:01. Leading the way for the Cavegirls were Rainelle Ruiz, who placed 62nd with a time of 22:23.13, and Soledad Mart

By Don Eskins After a week off to rest up and fine-tune their offense, defense, and special teams, the Carlsbad High Cavemen will return to the turf on Friday, October 24, to entertain the state’s top-ranked and District 3/6A leader, the Las Cruces Bulldawgs. The game, designated as Senior Night for the Cavemen, is set to kick off at 7 p.m. at the Ralph Bowyer Cavemen Football Stadium. With only two games remaining on this year’s schedule—No. 1 Las Cruces and No. 3 Hobbs—the

By Hattie Quinn (aired on KCCC930 AM on October 16, 2025) And now for “Something I Spotted in Carlsbad,” my personal reflection from around town. Last week, I took the Introduction to Podcasting class on a field trip to the candidate forum for Carlsbad local elections hosted by the Women for a Better Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Local and held at SENMC. RedRocket Media recorded the forum and live-streamed it on Facebook, where it can be watched in its entirety on their pages or

Eddy County Fire & Rescue Chief Joshua Mack has been named Fire Chief of the Year by the New Mexico Fire & EMS Expo. Chief Mack received the award during the annual event held in Socorro, New Mexico, on Saturday, October. 11. The award recognizes Chief Mack’s exemplary leadership, dedication to fire safety and emergency medical services, and his significant contributions to improving the preparedness and response capabilities of Eddy County Fire & Rescue. Under his guidance,

By R. Gabriel Villalobos With the cool weather setting such a fine mood at the beginning of each day, it can be easy to overlook the problems of the moment. On a beautiful Sunday morning, Eric Leudendorf was enjoying some coffee at Starbucks with his wife and kids. A casual conversation turned to the all too familiar topic of problems at work. WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) is where radioactive waste from nuclear research and weapons development is stored. It’s a deep geo

By Misty Cryer The artwork of Roderick Mead, one of Carlsbad’s most distinguished artists, is on display at Carlsbad Museum in an exhibit titled “Roderick Mead: An Artist in Four Mediums.” The artwork in the exhibit will be on display until January 3. An opening reception was held on October 11, featuring a guest speaker who took the audience on a journey through Mead’s life and artwork. Mead’s grandson also made comments at the reception. Edward Vanscotter, Director of the C

By Misty Cryer The nightmares from the big screen of the ‘60s come to life on stage as the Carlsbad Community Theatre presents “Night of the Living Dead Live,” full of special effects and a twist of comedy. Shows are scheduled for October 24-26 and October 31-November 1. Being the first show of the season, it is a great time to purchase season tickets from this non-profit organization staffed by volunteers who strive to bring the love of live theater to audiences and performe

By Michele Robertson On your mark. Get set…GO! Carlsbad is just a couple of weeks shy from hosting the Ocotillo Trail Endurance Challenge. The Ocotillo Trail Endurance Challenge will take place on Saturday, November 8, starting at 8 a.m. This trail race is brought to you by the Carlsbad Roadrunners club, will utilize the Ocotillo Nature Trail, and includes several race options. Race directors are Ron Haugen and Liz Cheli, avid runners and triathletes, as well as members of th

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Admin Assistant In 2023, I was lucky enough to join the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce team. Since then, I’ve helped move our billing system online, and worked behind the scenes to set up registrations, tickets, and logistics for some of our biggest events such as Christmas on the Pecos, Cars on the Pecos, Beerfest, the Golf Tournament, Leadership Carlsbad, and Carlsbad Under 40. A lot of what I do is behind the scenes. I am so lucky to work with an

Pecos Valley Physician Group- Carlsbad Medical Center. Director of Practice Management From the start of my career, I’ve been driven by one simple goal: to make healthcare work better for the people who depend on it. I have been in healthcare 10 years and as the Director of Practice Management, I currently lead 13 clinics across Carlsbad and surrounding communities, overseeing operations that impact thousands of patients every year. Beyond my professional role, I am deeply co

Mewbourne Oil Company Production Foreman I started in the oilfield in 2014 as a vacuum truck operator. In 2015, I had learned how to operate all the different types of trucks where I was employed, and I was promoted to a sales position. In early 2019, I had the opportunity to move in to a lease operator position at an oil company, and I took it. I was with that company until December 2020. I then had the opportunity to take a lease operator position at Mewbourne Oil Company,