‘Reaching new heights’ Final beam placed at future Heizer Middle School Andy Brosig/News-Sun It’s not everyone who can say they watched their new office grow from the ground up. Eligio Gonzalez, principal at the current Heizer Middle School on East Stanolind Road in Hobbs, can. He’s seen the progress on the 126,000 square foot, $90.5 million school building on the …

NMJC enrollment on the rise Levi Hill/News-Sun Enrollment is booming at New Mexico Junior College, so much so the college is looking at building a new on-campus student housing facility. The NMJC Board of Directors voted unanimously Oct. 16 to select Dekker Limited as the vendor to design and oversee construction of the new student housing facility on the campus. …

Supporting our schools without raising taxes: The 2025 Hobbs Municipal Schools Mill Levy Gene Strickland/Hobbs Municipal Schools Superientendent As Hobbs Municipal Schools prepares for the upcoming Mill Levy election on Nov. 4, it’s important for local voters to understand what this measure means for our community — and our wallets. This levy is not new; it’s a continuation of a …

Jack Maddox Distinguished Scholar named For the News-Sun The JF Maddox Foundation has named Brynlee Day of Hobbs the 2025 Jack Maddox Distinguished Scholar. Brynlee is a senior at Hobbs High School this fall. She is the daughter of Jordan and Laura Day. Brynlee is interested in pursuing a degree in occupational therapy at Washington University. “I am so incredibly …

NMJC board sets up $50 million ‘savings account’ Dorothy N. Fowler/For the News-Sun The New Mexico Junior College has set aside $50 million to help secure the school’s financial future. The NMJC Board of Trustees established the Educational Success Endowment Fund during its regular meeting Thursday. College legal counsel, Scotty Holloman and vice-president for finance, Josh Morgan, presented the proposal …

Stepping into their future CTECH students sign SkillsUSA intent letters Andy Brosig/News-Sun Hobbs senior Makenzee Box believes she probably wouldn’t have her future plans set up without the programs at the Career Technical Education Center Hobbs. And the CTECH Culinary Arts student isn’t alone. Fourteen students gathered Tuesday with family and friends in the upstairs walkway at the school to …

Using seniors to help seniors Caleb A. Gallegos/News-Sun When you’ve been teaching for 62 years, along the way you’re bound to learn a few clever tricks — including how to use high school seniors to help senior citizens in a way that fulfills two needs with one deed. Long-time Hobbs educator Wilma Brooks, who teaches at the Hobbs Alternative School, …

Five Hobbs teachers earn Veteto Awards   Andy Brosig/News-Sun   It’s not for fame. It’s not for glory. And it sure isn’t for the money. So why do teachers teach? “I think teachers teach because they feel like they’re making a difference.” Those were the words of Mark Veteto on Tuesday, president of the Veteto Foundation he founded almost two …

Celebrating community and the joy of reading: Read Across Lea County By Elizabeth Wieser March in Lea County brings a celebration of reading that is more than just an event. It’s a true testament to the power of community collaboration and the volunteer spirit. Read Across Lea County, a collective initiative between the United Way of Lea County’s “United We …

Investing in our teachers: Building excellence from within   Gene Strickland Hobbs Municipal Schools superintendent At a recent meeting of the Hobbs Municipal School Board, I stood proudly in front of Board Members and our community and congratulated three of our elementary school teachers for completing their National Board Certifications. These certifications, which are voluntary and extremely rigorous, are the …