COVID-19 Information

We hope that these updates have been helpful to you over the years. While we began putting them out during the start of my term, we significantly increased the number of them each week during COVID, because we knew there were a lot of people out there wanting more...

As the year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank the hard-working City of Carlsbad employees who have done such a great job for such a long period of time. The City of Carlsbad is a very busy place, especially during this period of historic growth. We...

This Christmas, as with every other year, we know our local churches are busy preparing for their worship services. It’s important to remember that these services are only a small part of what our churches have to offer, however. These same churches assist every...

The Potash industry has been the backbone of our community since 1929, and the industry’s generosity continues. Originally, potash was discovered in southeastern New Mexico in 1925 during drilling for oil and gas. Currently, Carlsbad has two large mines, owned by...

We know that the new “C” on top of the water reservoir on C Hill, and the Caveman and Cavegirl on both sides of the letter, have already attracted quite a bit of notice. The project was painted by local muralist Michael Fish, while Dale Davis did the original coat of...

While most school activities are out for the semester, athletic competitions will continue throughout the week. The Carlsbad Cavemen have won two basketball games in a row. The Cavemen beat Menaul, 69-37, and Del Norte, 53-30. They lost to Volcano Vista, 59-40. The...

As New Mexico’s legislators prepare for the 2024 session, any number of data points continue to show just how significant an impact the oil and gas industry has in the state.   New Mexico is headed for a $3.5 billion general fund surplus for the year running...

As always, the Riverwalk Recreation Center did an outstanding job with its annual community Christmas party. We especially enjoyed having the opportunity to recognize some of the individuals who made it possible. When you think about events around town, you can’t do...

If you are doing some extra Christmas shopping, don’t forget that a very special store is open at the model home located at 3816 Pat Garrett Street (in Oasis Model Homes) This is a Christmas store owned and operated by Sheila Walterscheid and family members. The small...

Congratulations to the five new cadets with the Carlsbad Police Department, who recently graduated from the Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Class A-23-50. The cadets will now embark on the field training phase within the Department. Carlsbad officers...

Some people have asked how the upcoming transition will take place at City Hall. The process will take place at 9 a.m. on Dec. 28th, 2023, at the Janell Whitlock Municipal Annex. That’s when the incoming mayor, Richard Lopez, will take his oath of office. Two new city...

Carlsbad High School and the Early College High School’s BPA Programs did it again. Following the competition in Artesia, the CHS BPA had 28 qualifiers for the State Leadership Conference in Albuquerque, while the ECHS BPA had 25. Top placers from the high school...

As we are wrapping up a few items from October’s energy summit, we wanted to take one more time to recognize the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors program. Ashley Bock is the head of the Ambassador Council, and every single member is deeply involved in this...

Several years ago our good friend, musician and minister Bill Brooks suggested that Carlsbad develop a hall of fame. Brooks said that such a project would be a great way to bring a community together- both its current and former residents. A hall of fame exhibit was...

We will be honoring five outstanding retired teachers as part of this year’s “Cavemen Strong” program, which will take place the evening of Dec. 7 at the college. This has been a great way to remind our educators that their contributions have never been forgotten. One...

There are many more holiday activities on the horizon, including the Carlsbad High School Winter Festival from 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 4. This event will take place on the CHS campus and include snacks, games, face painting, crafts and photos with Santa. The Carlsbad Fire...

Happy Thanksgiving Carlsbad!   As always, we have a lot to be thankful for. The Trinity Hotel held its annual Blessing Dinner on Nov. 22 and provided free Thanksgiving meals to everyone. Carlsbad Home Center gave away 100 frozen turkeys and 100 backpacks....

We’re pleased to learn that Carlsbad Caverns National Park will again offer visitors the opportunity to go on the Rock of Ages Lantern Tours in December.   This annual tradition will focus on some of key historic community members, guests, and staff who have...

It was a very busy weekend for fundraisers in Carlsbad. J.R. Doporto and a host of sponsors held the fifth annual fishing derby, which raises money for Carlsbad’s Boys and Girls Club. Families lined up along Lower Tansill Dam to participate. The trout, catfish and...

You’ve likely noticed some of the new artwork that has appeared around town. Many members of the community came together to put up several of these beautiful pieces, and the City of Carlsbad was proud to be a part of this effort. The large Zia Symbol in the corner of...

    Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Veterans Day celebration so special. We especially want to thank Alberto Villegas, who has been our point of contact on Veterans and Memorial Day celebrations for many years. Alberto always does a great job, as...

  Congratulations again to all of the winners of this week’s election: Rick Lopez (Mayor), Anthony Foreman, Mary Garwood, Lisa Anaya Flores and JJ Chavez (City Council) and Collis Johnson (Municipal Court). Carlsbad also has three new school board members:...

  One of Carlsbad’s outstanding nonprofits celebrated its annual gala last week with a number of inspirational messages from some of the men and women who have benefitted from the program. Lifehouse, who is currently in the process of adding several more sober...

  The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Committee is in the process of setting up its annual event. This year’s celebration will include a fundraiser dinner, a worship service and a march in mid January. Last year’s dinner drew a record attendance, and the...

  Guadalupe Mountains National Park is currently in the middle of its busiest season of the year. Every year, thousands of visitors trek to the park during the fall to observe the leaves change color. Color changes are taking place at Devil’s Hall, McKittrick...

  This is a very important week for everyone at Southeast New Mexico College. This week, SENMC is meeting with the Higher Learning Commission, who serves as an institutional accreditor for post-secondary institutions in the area. This on site-visit is for SENMC’s...

  We hope everyone in our community has a fun, safe Halloween or fall festival celebration. Door to door 'Trick or Treat night' in Carlsbad will remain on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Also on Oct. 31, the Carlsbad Police Department and Carlsbad Fire Department are holding a...

    Happy 100th anniversary to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. This week, the Park will be officially celebrating its anniversary. The centennial celebration has included activities all year, but the 9:30 a.m. ceremony and 10:45 a.m. cake cutting will be...

  This year, we had four outstanding local individuals receive “Spirit of the Workforce” awards. They were nominated by their peers, and a selection committee reviewed all applications and found them to be the winners. They received their recognition at the end...

  Our upcoming Hall of Fame induction will be a very special one. Rear Admiral Robert H. Wertheim, a Carlsbad native, will be inducted into the hall of fame at 11 a.m. Nov. 4 in a ceremony at the Carlsbad Museum. The ceremony is open to the public, and we hope...