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NEWS:
Volume 3, Number 44
April 3, 2008
April 3, 2008
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& suggestions are welcome.
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& suggestions are welcome.
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Artesia360.com
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Special weather information
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
provided by:
Wendell L. Malone,
Area Skywarn Coordinator
Eddy & Culberson counties
| THE WEATHER BOX www.eddycountyskywarn.blogspot.com A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect for all of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico through tonight. Extremely critical fire weather conditions are expected through this afternoon and evening. Today: Areas of blowing dust after noon. Sunny, with a high near 82. Windy, with a west wind between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northwest wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to between 10 and 15 mph. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. South wind around 10 mph. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Southwest wind between 10 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 81. Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. |
| The United States government's national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow. The U.S. threat level is High, or Orange, for all domestic and international flights. Only small amounts of liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in carry-on baggage. See the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website for up-to-date information on items permitted and prohibited on airlines. |
Added funding to expand care and reach of local clinics
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici reported that he is part of a
broad bipartisan push to provide an additional $248 million in FY2009 to
support community health centers, including the network of clinics that
serve a growing number of New Mexicans.
Domenici, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is among a
majority of Senators requesting that a total of $2.31 billion be provided for
the federal Health Centers program in the FY2009 Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Bill. The
Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee will soon begin crafting this
spending measure.
“More and more New Mexicans rely on community health clinics for health
care. This funding would help existing centers and, in time, allow the health
network to grow in our state. It is important that this happen in a rural state
like New Mexico, where care is not readily available,” Domenici said.
In a request letter to the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee,
Domenici and other Senators said the funding would “represent an
investment in a longer-term plan to provide care in a health center to 30
million Americans by 2015.” Since 2001, Congress and the Bush
administration have expanded the Health Centers program to cover an
additional six million people, and to support 1,200 expanded or new delivery
sites.
There are 16 health care center providers in New Mexico, with almost 140
health delivery sites. These community, migrant, public housing, and
homeless health centers provide health care to poor and medically
underserved people, including those without insurance.
The primary health center providers in New Mexico which receive HHS
Health Resources and Services Administration grants include:
Albuquerque Family Health Centers Inc.; Albuquerque Health Care for the
Homeless Inc.; Ben Archer Health Center Inc., Hatch; DeBaca
Hospital/Family Practice Center, Fort Sumner; El Centro Family Health,
Española; El Pueblo Health Services, Bernalillo; El Rito Betterment
Association, El Rito; First Nations Community Health Source, Albuquerque;
Hidalgo Medical Services, Lordsburg; La Casa de Buena Salud, Portales;
La Clinica de Familia, Inc., Las Cruces; La Clinica del Pueblo de Rio Arriba,
Tierra Amarilla; La Familia Medical Center, Santa Fe; Mora Valley
Community Health Services Inc., Mora; Pecos Valley Medical Center Inc.,
Pecos; and Presbyterian Medical Services, Santa Fe. (To find a specific
local New Mexico health center, visit: http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc/.)
Domenici is an original cosponsor of the Heath Centers Renewal Act (S.
901), which is pending Senate consideration. This bill is a five-year
renewal of federal support for health care centers. The bill increases
funding authorizations up to $3.53 billion by FY2012.
The federal grants authorized through S.901 would assist participating
communities in finding partners and recruiting doctors and other health
professionals. The grants represent almost 25 percent of the annual
budget for most health centers, with the remainder provided by state and
local governments, Medicare, Medicaid, private contributions, private
insurance, and patient fees. Care often includes dental and prescription
drug services.
HUD money coming to New Mexico
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman announced that two New
Mexico organizations will benefit from funding being awarded through the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority will receive $50,000 through
HUD’s HOME Technical Assistance program, which helps communities
implement housing strategies that lead to more affordable housing in their
area. Strategies include making lower income homes more energy efficient,
promoting employer-assisted housing and encouraging private involvement
in the development of affordable housing.
The New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness will receive $40,000
though HUD’s Homeless Technology Assistance program, which helps
implement strategies that result in permanent housing solutions for persons
and families without a home of their own.
“This funding will help our state address its community housing needs,”
Bingaman said.
Domenici requesting $267 million for NM
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici announced Wednesday that
he has requested increased funding in the FY2009 Interior Appropriations
bill to help New Mexico counties offset revenue lost due to tax-exempt
federal lands within their jurisdiction.
Domenici, a senior member of the Senate Interior Appropriations
Subcommittee, which will be drafting the FY2009 Interior Appropriations Bill,
requested $267 million overall as part of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes
(PILT) program.
“Virtually every New Mexico county counts on PILT payments to fulfill their
communities’ basic needs,” said Domenici. “As New Mexico continues to
hold the highest percentage of federal lands, I believe it is important to
provide this program with adequate funds.”
Domenici’s request counters the President’s FY2009 budget which
recommends $195 million for PILT, almost $34 million below the $228.9
million supplied by Congress for FY2008. In February, Domenici
questioned Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne on the administration’s
rationale for the steep cuts to the PILT program.
All New Mexico counties, with the exception of Curry County, rely on annual
PILT payments. Last year, New Mexico counties received $22.7 million,
constituting the largest portion of PILT funding awarded to any one state.
New Mexico, with more than 22.5 million acres of federal entitlement lands,
has traditionally received the highest payment of all 50 states and
territories.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) bases PILT awards on tax-exempt
federal land within state jurisdiction. Funds are paid directly to local
governments, usually counties, in areas with federal lands such as national
forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges, lands used for federal
water programs, some military installations, and lands managed by the BLM.
An April Fool's Day blessing
Artesia360 photo
Rainee Bliss Hewett was born April 1, 2008 in Carlsbad. She weighs 9 pounds and is
19-1/2 inches long! Rainee has two sisters, Kylee and Zoee. Their parents, Matt &
Kate Hewett of Artesia are very proud of their April Fool's Day blessing.
DHS expedites border security advancements
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced
Tuesday its intent to issue two waivers of certain laws to expedite security
improvements at the southwest border. Congress gave the Secretary of
Homeland Security authority to waive all legal requirements necessary to
expeditiously install additional physical barriers and roads at the border to
deter illegal activity.
“Criminal activity at the border does not stop for endless debate or
protracted litigation,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
“Congress and the American public have been adamant that they want and
expect border security. We’re serious about delivering it, and these waivers
will enable important security projects to keep moving forward. At the same
time, we value the need for public input on any potential impact of our
border infrastructure plans on the environment – and we will continue to
solicit it.”
One waiver applies to certain environmental and land management laws for
various project areas in Calif. , Ariz. , N.M., and Texas, encompassing
roughly 470 total miles. It will facilitate additional pedestrian and vehicle
fence construction, towers, sensors, cameras, detection equipment, and
roads in the vicinity of the border.
A separate waiver was signed for the levee-border barrier project in Hidalgo
County , Texas . This roughly 22-mile project will strengthen flood
protection in the area while providing the Border Patrol with important
tactical infrastructure. In addition to environmental and land management
laws, this waiver addresses other legal and administrative impediments to
completing this project by the end of the calendar year.
A substantial portion of the project areas addressed by these waivers have
already undergone environmental reviews. In those areas where
environmental reviews have not yet occurred, the department will conduct a
review before any major construction begins. The department remains
deeply committed to environmental responsibility, and will continue to work
closely with the Department of Interior and other federal and state
resources management agencies to ensure impacts to the environment,
wildlife, and cultural and historic artifacts are analyzed and minimized.
The department also places a high priority on interaction with, and
feedback from, local officials, landowners and community members about
border infrastructure project plans. Since May 2007, more than 600
individual landowners have been contacted and over 100 meetings with
local officials, public open houses and town halls have been held along the
southwest border.
The department has used its discretionary waiver authority on three
previous occasions. Certain environmental restrictions were waived on
Sept. 13, 2005 to complete a roughly 14-mile stretch of fencing, as part of
the Border Infrastructure System, near San Diego , California . A second
waiver of environmental restrictions was used for additional border
infrastructure near the Barry M. Goldwater Range in southern Arizona on
Jan. 12, 2007. A third waiver of environmental restrictions was issued on
Oct. 26, 2007, allowing the construction of border infrastructure to move
forward near the San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area in
southern Arizona .
SOBRIETY CHECK POINT FRUITFUL FOR AREA POLICE
ARTESIA - The Artesia Police Department along with the New Mexico
Mounted Patrol conducted a Sobriety Check Point on Friday, March 28th,
2008 from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. This is part of an ongoing and intense
effort to effectively enforce DWI laws in New Mexico.
According to Sgt. Lindell Smith of the Artesia Police Department, police
checked a total of 263 vehicles traveling southbound into Artesia on North
1st Street. The vehicles were all checked for the driver consuming alcohol
or other controlled substances as well as compliance with state traffic laws
and city ordinances. A total of 20 traffic citations were issued during the
operation: twelve no insurance citations, one adult seat belt citation, two
child restraint citations and five other various violations were also cited.
Arrests are pending for the possession of marijuana under one ounce, the
possession of drug paraphernalia as well as the possession of
methamphetamines, stemming from an investigation conducted during the
check point.
The Artesia Police Department would like the public to know that DWI is a
crime that affects everyone. Please don’t drink and drive and be prepared
to pay the price if you do.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici reported that he is part of a
broad bipartisan push to provide an additional $248 million in FY2009 to
support community health centers, including the network of clinics that
serve a growing number of New Mexicans.
Domenici, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is among a
majority of Senators requesting that a total of $2.31 billion be provided for
the federal Health Centers program in the FY2009 Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Bill. The
Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee will soon begin crafting this
spending measure.
“More and more New Mexicans rely on community health clinics for health
care. This funding would help existing centers and, in time, allow the health
network to grow in our state. It is important that this happen in a rural state
like New Mexico, where care is not readily available,” Domenici said.
In a request letter to the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee,
Domenici and other Senators said the funding would “represent an
investment in a longer-term plan to provide care in a health center to 30
million Americans by 2015.” Since 2001, Congress and the Bush
administration have expanded the Health Centers program to cover an
additional six million people, and to support 1,200 expanded or new delivery
sites.
There are 16 health care center providers in New Mexico, with almost 140
health delivery sites. These community, migrant, public housing, and
homeless health centers provide health care to poor and medically
underserved people, including those without insurance.
The primary health center providers in New Mexico which receive HHS
Health Resources and Services Administration grants include:
Albuquerque Family Health Centers Inc.; Albuquerque Health Care for the
Homeless Inc.; Ben Archer Health Center Inc., Hatch; DeBaca
Hospital/Family Practice Center, Fort Sumner; El Centro Family Health,
Española; El Pueblo Health Services, Bernalillo; El Rito Betterment
Association, El Rito; First Nations Community Health Source, Albuquerque;
Hidalgo Medical Services, Lordsburg; La Casa de Buena Salud, Portales;
La Clinica de Familia, Inc., Las Cruces; La Clinica del Pueblo de Rio Arriba,
Tierra Amarilla; La Familia Medical Center, Santa Fe; Mora Valley
Community Health Services Inc., Mora; Pecos Valley Medical Center Inc.,
Pecos; and Presbyterian Medical Services, Santa Fe. (To find a specific
local New Mexico health center, visit: http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc/.)
Domenici is an original cosponsor of the Heath Centers Renewal Act (S.
901), which is pending Senate consideration. This bill is a five-year
renewal of federal support for health care centers. The bill increases
funding authorizations up to $3.53 billion by FY2012.
The federal grants authorized through S.901 would assist participating
communities in finding partners and recruiting doctors and other health
professionals. The grants represent almost 25 percent of the annual
budget for most health centers, with the remainder provided by state and
local governments, Medicare, Medicaid, private contributions, private
insurance, and patient fees. Care often includes dental and prescription
drug services.
HUD money coming to New Mexico
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman announced that two New
Mexico organizations will benefit from funding being awarded through the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority will receive $50,000 through
HUD’s HOME Technical Assistance program, which helps communities
implement housing strategies that lead to more affordable housing in their
area. Strategies include making lower income homes more energy efficient,
promoting employer-assisted housing and encouraging private involvement
in the development of affordable housing.
The New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness will receive $40,000
though HUD’s Homeless Technology Assistance program, which helps
implement strategies that result in permanent housing solutions for persons
and families without a home of their own.
“This funding will help our state address its community housing needs,”
Bingaman said.
Domenici requesting $267 million for NM
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici announced Wednesday that
he has requested increased funding in the FY2009 Interior Appropriations
bill to help New Mexico counties offset revenue lost due to tax-exempt
federal lands within their jurisdiction.
Domenici, a senior member of the Senate Interior Appropriations
Subcommittee, which will be drafting the FY2009 Interior Appropriations Bill,
requested $267 million overall as part of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes
(PILT) program.
“Virtually every New Mexico county counts on PILT payments to fulfill their
communities’ basic needs,” said Domenici. “As New Mexico continues to
hold the highest percentage of federal lands, I believe it is important to
provide this program with adequate funds.”
Domenici’s request counters the President’s FY2009 budget which
recommends $195 million for PILT, almost $34 million below the $228.9
million supplied by Congress for FY2008. In February, Domenici
questioned Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne on the administration’s
rationale for the steep cuts to the PILT program.
All New Mexico counties, with the exception of Curry County, rely on annual
PILT payments. Last year, New Mexico counties received $22.7 million,
constituting the largest portion of PILT funding awarded to any one state.
New Mexico, with more than 22.5 million acres of federal entitlement lands,
has traditionally received the highest payment of all 50 states and
territories.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) bases PILT awards on tax-exempt
federal land within state jurisdiction. Funds are paid directly to local
governments, usually counties, in areas with federal lands such as national
forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges, lands used for federal
water programs, some military installations, and lands managed by the BLM.
An April Fool's Day blessing
Artesia360 photo
Rainee Bliss Hewett was born April 1, 2008 in Carlsbad. She weighs 9 pounds and is
19-1/2 inches long! Rainee has two sisters, Kylee and Zoee. Their parents, Matt &
Kate Hewett of Artesia are very proud of their April Fool's Day blessing.
DHS expedites border security advancements
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced
Tuesday its intent to issue two waivers of certain laws to expedite security
improvements at the southwest border. Congress gave the Secretary of
Homeland Security authority to waive all legal requirements necessary to
expeditiously install additional physical barriers and roads at the border to
deter illegal activity.
“Criminal activity at the border does not stop for endless debate or
protracted litigation,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
“Congress and the American public have been adamant that they want and
expect border security. We’re serious about delivering it, and these waivers
will enable important security projects to keep moving forward. At the same
time, we value the need for public input on any potential impact of our
border infrastructure plans on the environment – and we will continue to
solicit it.”
One waiver applies to certain environmental and land management laws for
various project areas in Calif. , Ariz. , N.M., and Texas, encompassing
roughly 470 total miles. It will facilitate additional pedestrian and vehicle
fence construction, towers, sensors, cameras, detection equipment, and
roads in the vicinity of the border.
A separate waiver was signed for the levee-border barrier project in Hidalgo
County , Texas . This roughly 22-mile project will strengthen flood
protection in the area while providing the Border Patrol with important
tactical infrastructure. In addition to environmental and land management
laws, this waiver addresses other legal and administrative impediments to
completing this project by the end of the calendar year.
A substantial portion of the project areas addressed by these waivers have
already undergone environmental reviews. In those areas where
environmental reviews have not yet occurred, the department will conduct a
review before any major construction begins. The department remains
deeply committed to environmental responsibility, and will continue to work
closely with the Department of Interior and other federal and state
resources management agencies to ensure impacts to the environment,
wildlife, and cultural and historic artifacts are analyzed and minimized.
The department also places a high priority on interaction with, and
feedback from, local officials, landowners and community members about
border infrastructure project plans. Since May 2007, more than 600
individual landowners have been contacted and over 100 meetings with
local officials, public open houses and town halls have been held along the
southwest border.
The department has used its discretionary waiver authority on three
previous occasions. Certain environmental restrictions were waived on
Sept. 13, 2005 to complete a roughly 14-mile stretch of fencing, as part of
the Border Infrastructure System, near San Diego , California . A second
waiver of environmental restrictions was used for additional border
infrastructure near the Barry M. Goldwater Range in southern Arizona on
Jan. 12, 2007. A third waiver of environmental restrictions was issued on
Oct. 26, 2007, allowing the construction of border infrastructure to move
forward near the San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area in
southern Arizona .
SOBRIETY CHECK POINT FRUITFUL FOR AREA POLICE
ARTESIA - The Artesia Police Department along with the New Mexico
Mounted Patrol conducted a Sobriety Check Point on Friday, March 28th,
2008 from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. This is part of an ongoing and intense
effort to effectively enforce DWI laws in New Mexico.
According to Sgt. Lindell Smith of the Artesia Police Department, police
checked a total of 263 vehicles traveling southbound into Artesia on North
1st Street. The vehicles were all checked for the driver consuming alcohol
or other controlled substances as well as compliance with state traffic laws
and city ordinances. A total of 20 traffic citations were issued during the
operation: twelve no insurance citations, one adult seat belt citation, two
child restraint citations and five other various violations were also cited.
Arrests are pending for the possession of marijuana under one ounce, the
possession of drug paraphernalia as well as the possession of
methamphetamines, stemming from an investigation conducted during the
check point.
The Artesia Police Department would like the public to know that DWI is a
crime that affects everyone. Please don’t drink and drive and be prepared
to pay the price if you do.
Fund established for local hero
ARTESIA - The Artesia Fire Department
estimates that Capt. Sammy Martinez has
responded to over 10,000 emergencies in his
career. Now, he is battling cancer and the AFD
is requesting your help. Please go to our
community events section to read the letter from
Fire Chief J. D. Hummingbird and get
information on how you can help a local hero
who has devoted his life to helping others.
A Crystal Darkness to air in New Mexico
On April 10th, 2008, at 6:30pm, the communities
of New Mexico will fight back against Meth. In a
historic and unprecedented event, a 30-minute
documentary titled 'Crystal Darkness' will air in a
roadblock, which means it will be broadcast
simultaneously on all stations in the area,
among them KOB TV, KRQE TV, WB19, KASA
Fox TV, and Telemundo. A simultaneous
training program will be introduced into all the
schools in New Mexico to educate our children.
Follow up recovery efforts, fundraising, and
awareness raising could make this the most
important community campaign to hit our state
in decades.
For more information about the documentary or
about meth, visit Crystal Darkness on the web at
http://www.crystaldarkness.com/default.asp.
Brain-Teasers at the museum
ARTESIA - The Artesia Historical Museum & Art
Center is currently featuring “Brain Teasers”, an
interactive exhibit on loan from the ¡Explora!
Museum in Albuquerque. The exhibit is on
display in our Art Annex gallery now through
June 14th during regular Museum hours:
Tuesdays-Fridays 9-noon & 1-5; Saturdays 1-5
(please give us a call if you’d like to set up a
time to visit outside of these hours).
The exhibit features 20 different puzzles and
mind-challenging games for visitors to
experiment with, grouped around 5 tables. In
other words, this is an exhibit that you CAN
touch! The activities include knot-tying, number
games, tangram puzzles, balancing games, and
lots more.
Families are encouraged to visit and test their
team working skills, and school classes and
other groups are also welcome. We still have
some funding to sponsor school bus expenses,
on a first-come first-served basis, thanks to The
Chase Foundation—just give Nancy a call at the
Museum at (575) 748-2390.
ENMU-R hosting grand opening for CUB
ROSWELL - The public is invited to the Grand
Opening of the newly remodeled ENMU-Roswell
Campus Union Building (CUB) on Tuesday, April
15 at 12:30 p.m. Visitors can tour the new
cafeteria and meeting rooms and sample some
of the food served in the cafeteria. For the past
five months, the CUB has undergone an
extensive make over and is now ready to show
off to the community. The project called for the
renovation of close to 15,000 square feet of
existing space, as well as 4,667 square feet of
new construction. The new cafeteria features a
modern, spacious dining area. The kitchen,
service line, bathrooms, meeting rooms, and
service line were renovated, and the kitchen
equipment was upgraded. A new meeting room
was also added to the CUB. The $3.6 million
project was funded through local general
obligation bond funds.
The cafeteria opened to students and the public
the first week of March and can now seat 311
people, compared to 165 in the old space.
According to Food Services Director, Jim Baird,
the new cafeteria provides a variety of food
options and overall improved service to
students and other customers. Food venues
include the new Cougar Grill (hamburgers and
hot dogs), Crustano’s Sandwich Crafters
(specialty sandwiches), Sunset Strips (chicken
items and fries), Ancho Grill (Mexican), and
Bonici Eatery (Italian). Each of the venues have
warming chutes and signature salads with grab
and go items for less waiting. A full buffet will be
available each day, in addition to a soup and
salad bar and specialty coffee station. The
cafeteria is open to the public, as well as ENMU-
Roswell students and staff.
Dance concert scheduled
PORTALES—The Department of Theater and
Dance at Eastern New Mexico University in
Portales is presenting “Portals to the Soul,” a
student-choreographed dance concert at 7 p.m.
on April 9-12, and 2 p.m. on April 13 in the
University Studio Theatre.
Student choreographers including Rojun
Alexander, Josh Bullard, Sharon Bynum, Megan
Fajardo, Melanie Lucero, Desiree Markham,
Stephanie Miller, Domenic Nickles and Mary Ann
Sullivan will perform their new dance work as
well as guest choreographer and ENMU
alumnus Bryan Hahn and ENMU dance
faculty/artistic director Tomas Tamayo.
The concert will include dance performances
that reflect the spirit, mind, body, heart and
soul. Belly dancing, classical Javanese dance
drama, hip-hop, swing, jazz, theatrical and
modern dance.
Admission is $4
For more information, contact Shirlene Peters at
575.562.2711.
Guest Water Lecture Speaker April 3
LAS CRUCES - Dr. David Merritt, Riparian Plant
Ecologist from U.S. Forestry Service, National
Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State
University will speak from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday April 3, in Wooton Hall Room 105,
about The Success of Tamarix in Western
American Rivers: Unraveling Myth and Science.
His current projects include: response of
vegetation to Tamarix removal along the Rio
Grande and upper Green Rivers; processes
governing Tamarix invasion in the western US;
the role of hydrochory in structuring plant
communities; the effects of dams and diversions
on riparian vegetation, structured population
modeling of riparian plants; streamflow regimes
necessary to support riparian vegetation;
National riparian definition, classification, and
trend monitoring.
ARTESIA - The Artesia Fire Department
estimates that Capt. Sammy Martinez has
responded to over 10,000 emergencies in his
career. Now, he is battling cancer and the AFD
is requesting your help. Please go to our
community events section to read the letter from
Fire Chief J. D. Hummingbird and get
information on how you can help a local hero
who has devoted his life to helping others.
A Crystal Darkness to air in New Mexico
On April 10th, 2008, at 6:30pm, the communities
of New Mexico will fight back against Meth. In a
historic and unprecedented event, a 30-minute
documentary titled 'Crystal Darkness' will air in a
roadblock, which means it will be broadcast
simultaneously on all stations in the area,
among them KOB TV, KRQE TV, WB19, KASA
Fox TV, and Telemundo. A simultaneous
training program will be introduced into all the
schools in New Mexico to educate our children.
Follow up recovery efforts, fundraising, and
awareness raising could make this the most
important community campaign to hit our state
in decades.
For more information about the documentary or
about meth, visit Crystal Darkness on the web at
http://www.crystaldarkness.com/default.asp.
Brain-Teasers at the museum
ARTESIA - The Artesia Historical Museum & Art
Center is currently featuring “Brain Teasers”, an
interactive exhibit on loan from the ¡Explora!
Museum in Albuquerque. The exhibit is on
display in our Art Annex gallery now through
June 14th during regular Museum hours:
Tuesdays-Fridays 9-noon & 1-5; Saturdays 1-5
(please give us a call if you’d like to set up a
time to visit outside of these hours).
The exhibit features 20 different puzzles and
mind-challenging games for visitors to
experiment with, grouped around 5 tables. In
other words, this is an exhibit that you CAN
touch! The activities include knot-tying, number
games, tangram puzzles, balancing games, and
lots more.
Families are encouraged to visit and test their
team working skills, and school classes and
other groups are also welcome. We still have
some funding to sponsor school bus expenses,
on a first-come first-served basis, thanks to The
Chase Foundation—just give Nancy a call at the
Museum at (575) 748-2390.
ENMU-R hosting grand opening for CUB
ROSWELL - The public is invited to the Grand
Opening of the newly remodeled ENMU-Roswell
Campus Union Building (CUB) on Tuesday, April
15 at 12:30 p.m. Visitors can tour the new
cafeteria and meeting rooms and sample some
of the food served in the cafeteria. For the past
five months, the CUB has undergone an
extensive make over and is now ready to show
off to the community. The project called for the
renovation of close to 15,000 square feet of
existing space, as well as 4,667 square feet of
new construction. The new cafeteria features a
modern, spacious dining area. The kitchen,
service line, bathrooms, meeting rooms, and
service line were renovated, and the kitchen
equipment was upgraded. A new meeting room
was also added to the CUB. The $3.6 million
project was funded through local general
obligation bond funds.
The cafeteria opened to students and the public
the first week of March and can now seat 311
people, compared to 165 in the old space.
According to Food Services Director, Jim Baird,
the new cafeteria provides a variety of food
options and overall improved service to
students and other customers. Food venues
include the new Cougar Grill (hamburgers and
hot dogs), Crustano’s Sandwich Crafters
(specialty sandwiches), Sunset Strips (chicken
items and fries), Ancho Grill (Mexican), and
Bonici Eatery (Italian). Each of the venues have
warming chutes and signature salads with grab
and go items for less waiting. A full buffet will be
available each day, in addition to a soup and
salad bar and specialty coffee station. The
cafeteria is open to the public, as well as ENMU-
Roswell students and staff.
Dance concert scheduled
PORTALES—The Department of Theater and
Dance at Eastern New Mexico University in
Portales is presenting “Portals to the Soul,” a
student-choreographed dance concert at 7 p.m.
on April 9-12, and 2 p.m. on April 13 in the
University Studio Theatre.
Student choreographers including Rojun
Alexander, Josh Bullard, Sharon Bynum, Megan
Fajardo, Melanie Lucero, Desiree Markham,
Stephanie Miller, Domenic Nickles and Mary Ann
Sullivan will perform their new dance work as
well as guest choreographer and ENMU
alumnus Bryan Hahn and ENMU dance
faculty/artistic director Tomas Tamayo.
The concert will include dance performances
that reflect the spirit, mind, body, heart and
soul. Belly dancing, classical Javanese dance
drama, hip-hop, swing, jazz, theatrical and
modern dance.
Admission is $4
For more information, contact Shirlene Peters at
575.562.2711.
Guest Water Lecture Speaker April 3
LAS CRUCES - Dr. David Merritt, Riparian Plant
Ecologist from U.S. Forestry Service, National
Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State
University will speak from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday April 3, in Wooton Hall Room 105,
about The Success of Tamarix in Western
American Rivers: Unraveling Myth and Science.
His current projects include: response of
vegetation to Tamarix removal along the Rio
Grande and upper Green Rivers; processes
governing Tamarix invasion in the western US;
the role of hydrochory in structuring plant
communities; the effects of dams and diversions
on riparian vegetation, structured population
modeling of riparian plants; streamflow regimes
necessary to support riparian vegetation;
National riparian definition, classification, and
trend monitoring.
