Occidental Petroleum today announced donations totaling $90,000 to first responder organizations in Lea County to support the purchase of new equipment. “As a part of the Lea County community, we appreciate the outstanding job the sheriff and local fire departments do keeping us all safe,” said Barbara Bergersen, Senior Vice President for Occidental’s Permian Enhanced Oil Recovery business, which has …

Missing man’s family member suspect foul play Sara MacNeil/News-Sun A man who hadn’t left El Paso since he was a child drove to Hobbs for a construction job June 21 and disappeared three days later. Four months after he went missing, Jorge Alberto Sanchez, 26, hasn’t been found and his aunt, who raised him, is left with more questions than …

Clovis parents paid promptly for thefts Hobbs Municipal Schools made prompt payments to the parents of Clovis football players after the players’ belongings were stolen from a locker room at Hobbs High School late last month, say HMS officials. HMS superintendent TJ Parks said he authorized the payments from the school district’s central office fund so that the visiting Wildcats …

A 27-year-old man who went missing in Hobbs at the end of June still hasn’t been located after four months. New Mexico State Police released a statement this week about the missing man, Jorge Alberto Sanchez, whose car was found abandoned on Highway 190 going toward Ozona, Texas. Sanchez, of El Paso, was last seen leaving work June 21 in …

Fair, rodeo event draws 20,000 more attendees Sale of Champions up 30 percent Net cost to county down 13 percent CURTIS C. WYNNE NEWS-SUN LOVINGTON — Lea County’s biggest event of the year continues to grow as its net cost to the taxpayers drops, according to data presented to the county commission Thursday. Fairgrounds Manager Jim Kemp recapped expenses and …

LOVINGTON — The Lovington Municipal School District is getting into the housing business. The school district’s board of education unanimously approved the purchase of five duplexes, housing 10 two-bedroom apartments during its October school board meeting. The apartments are located on south 9th Street across from the Lovington football stadium parking lot. In a time where Lovington faces expensive housing …

Young’s Homes, one of the largest independent oil industry housing providers in the region with thousands of homes in Hobbs, will celebrate 60 years in business on Friday with a luncheon. “We will break bread at 11:30 then I will honor some people that have given this business, in some cases, their lives,” said business owner Daniel Johncox. Young’s Mobile …

In the race for New Mexico’s sixth racetrack and casino, the Economic Development Corporation of Lea County is rooting for Tucumcari. The New Mexico Racing Commission is weighing benefits of five applications for another “racinco” — one for Lordsburg, one for Tucumcari and three for Clovis. EDCLC president and CEO Steve Vierck said, “After much review, EDC’s position is that …

LOVINGTON — If the county commission agrees, as expected, gate admission fees and times for the 2019 Lea County Fair and Rodeo will stay the same, including free Wednesday entry. Fair and Rodeo Board Chairman Larry Wheeler pointed out at Tuesday’s board meeting the county changed the time for this year’s fair to start charging a gate fee from 1 …

Healthy start in Lovington with Wellness Center Lovington celebrated the opening of a new wellness center Saturday with a ribbon-cutting, and the center is already off to a healthy start with over 500 registered members. The $16 million project, that created over 100 construction jobs, was funded by the hospital district, which began the planning phase two and half years …