Nor-Lea gifts $300,000 for training equipment to NMJC New Mexico Junior College President Kelvin Sharp may have stood behind the large check for a photo, but he kept the real one pretty close inside his suit jacket. “I’m keeping the real check with me,” he said with a smile. Sharp and everyone with NMJC has a good reason to smile, …

Cowboy Fort honored for sculptures depicting western life A Tatum man known as the “Storyteller in Bronze” for his realistic sculptures depicting western life has been named as one of the recipients of the 2018 Annual Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. Curtis Fort will be among the artists recognized at the Governor’s Arts Awards ceremonies Sept. 14 in …

Faith in action: 300 youth in Lea for ministry project To be in Hobbs for just a week, 130 youth and adults from five different churches in central Texas hope to leave their mark before leaving on Saturday. More than 170 other volunteers are in Lovington. Only 15 years old, Amanda DeHart, of Hutto, Texas, said this year’s Central Texas …

How fast can you sack? Albertsons’ sackers show skills in second annual competition If you get Cristal Herrera to sack your groceries after shopping at Albertsons Market, then you should know that she’s one of the best sackers the store has. That’s because Herrera proved victorious Friday morning outside Albertsons Market as she bested five co-workers to win the store’s …

Lea voter turnout worst in N.M. Lea County had the dubious distinction last week of posting the worst voter turnout rate among counties in the state, while a handful of New Mexico counties exceeded 50 percent voter turnout in the 2018 primaries. According to data from the New Mexico secretary of state’s office, 18.54 percent, or 4,663 of Lea County’s …

Smokin’ on the Plaza starts today The ninth annual Smokin’ on the Plaza returns to downtown Lovington this week with different foods, games, competition and live music. Lovington MainStreet’s barbecue event is today and Saturday where 40 to 50 barbecue competition contestants will vie in a cook-off, while about 4,000 visitors are expected each day. The annual event is moving …

Call of gun fired leads to drug, firearm, child abuse charges Hobbs police made four arrests Saturday morning on different charges, including drug possession, firearm possession and child abuse after officers responded to a south Hobbs residence following a report of a man firing a gun outside. Around 7 a.m. Saturday, Hobbs police officers went to the 100 block of …

Museum set to open O’Connor exhibition Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was a cowgirl all her life, even after she became the first female Supreme Court Justice. A new exhibition, “The Cowgirl Who Became a Justice: Sandra Day O’Connor,” is set to open Thursday at the Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame. The exhibit showcases the youthful …

Museum set to open O’Connor exhibition Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was a cowgirl all her life, even after she became the first female Supreme Court Justice. A new exhibition, “The Cowgirl Who Became a Justice: Sandra Day O’Connor,” is set to open Thursday at the Western Heritage Museum and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame. The exhibit showcases the youthful …

The Virgin Mary statue at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Hobbs, N.M., is weeping again on Saturday, June 9, according to worshipers.