Brevin McCool not only is a fierce competitor in baseball, but for most of his educational career he has also been in competition for the  Hobbs High salutatorian or valedictorian spot with classmate Shelly Driskill. Even though competition plays a big part in his day-to-day life, service to others also takes center stage often, though he humbly doesn’t like to …

For the second consecutive year, New Mexico Junior College graduates received their degrees, certificates or high school equivalency diplomas through a virtural ceremony. The ceremony took place Friday, May 7, with a broadcast from inside Watson Hall. The graduates, their parents and friends were able to watch the commencement via Facebook or Livestream. It was the school’s 53rd consecutive graduation. Director of …

The Covid-19 interruption of normal school activities means summer learning opportunities in Hobbs will be stepped up. In addition, the Hobbs Online Learning Academy (HOLA) designed for an entire district of at-home learners will remain in place next year for a small group of students who found they excelled at independent study. Hobbs High School will offer a traditional credit …

EUNICE — Smiles abounded at Mettie Jordan Elementary School as a state-of-the-art science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) center was unveiled recently. The project was a joint effort between longtime partners Devon Energy and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation — it was the first new STEM center installed by the organizations since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. Devon …

Workmen smooth out concrete at the site of the new Hobbs Municipal Schools Career and Technical Education Center (CTECH) near Hobbs High School. When completed, the Hobbs CTECH will be the premiere vocational education facility of its kind in the state and region. Video by Blake Ovard/News-Sun

Last year, the traditional Hobbs High School Senior Bash was cancelled due COVID-19 restriction but organizers still handed out bags full of gifts and prizes to seniors at a private community prom event held in Texas. As Lea County continues to return to the normal way of life, this year’s HHS Bash committee is hoping to return to the more …

NEW YORK (AP) — Students can safely sit just 3 feet apart in the classroom as long as they wear masks but should be kept the usual 6 feet away from one another at sporting events, assemblies, lunch or chorus practice, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday in relaxing its COVID-19 guidelines. The revised recommendations represent a …

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health announced on Monday that all K-12 educators, early childhood (EC) professionals, and staff will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine beginning today, March 8. In keeping with a White House directive, the state will offer first shots to these groups over an approximately three-week period, as follows: • Week 1 (beginning …

Teachers in the Hobbs Municipal School District may not have had children physically in the classroom for most of the year, or gone to conferences, meetings or educational get-togethers, but they will be getting a bonus for the year’s exceptional work environment. “This really has come about just because of the … we have changed the way teachers have taught, …

Hobbs Municipal Schools Board of Directors heard the finalized 80-day numbers for student enrollment, and the number of students enrolled is at its lowest point in more than five years. The numbers, previously presented, were finalized on Jan. 19, but presented to the board at the regular monthly meeting Tuesday night. The 80-day enrollment numbers comparison to last year shows …