One of Hobbs’ more anticipated restaurants is closer to opening its doors. McAlister’s Deli eyes a May start date for its Hobbs location and plans to hire dozens of employees in the coming months. Construction on the restaurant started last year at the corner of West County Road and Industrial Road, which is opposite Rosa’s Café and Tortilla Factory on …

Many FlyHobbs fares within range of Midland, Lubbock FlyHobbs gets better with time. How much cheaper than other area airports does flying out of the Lea County Regional Airport have to be to encourage business and leisure flyers to park for free at the local airport? Steve Vierck, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Lea County, said …

Members of the New Mexico Junior College board approved an increase in tuition beginning with this year’s first summer session. The increase, $1 per credit hour for in-district and out-of-district residents of New Mexico and $5 per credit hour for out-of-state students, was approved without discussion or objection from the board. What the change means in terms of dollars is …

Lovington schools to be more secure after spring break LOVINGTON — A new security system will be in place when Lovington Municipal School students come back from spring break. Superintendent LeAnne Gandy reported to the school board last Tuesday that visitors at each of the schools will soon be subject to a background check before they are permitted to enter …

New Mexico nuke repository studied for plutonium storage CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Energy has commissioned a national group of scientists to study the viability of diluting surplus weapons-grade plutonium and storing it permanently at the federal government’s underground repository in New Mexico. The panel of about 15 scientists from universities, corporations and laboratories around the nation …

Five Lea women honored at annual Heritage Tea event Approximately 120 women, mostly decked out in their favorite hats, silliest hats or prettiest hats attended the Western Heritage Museum and Cowboy Hall of Fame’s Women’s Heritage Tea last Saturday. This year, for the first time, five women who have made significant contributions to their community were honored at the tea. …

City starts process of renaming baseball field One of Hobbs’ longtime supporters of youth baseball may get a baseball field named after him. “The (Hobbs) community affairs board has had several discussions over the past few months related to honoring a Hobbs citizen by naming a field after them at the Jefferson Ballpark Complex,” said Hobbs Parks and Recreation Director …

Candidates file for 2018 Lea County races  PRIMARY ELECTION Tuesday, June 5  GENERAL ELECTION Tuesday, Nov. 6   County Sheriff JON MARTINEZ REP COREY M HELTON REP LORENZO VELASQUEZ REP   County Commission District 3 GARY G EIDSON REP DARRELL L POWELL REP   Magistrate Judge Div. 2 (Hobbs) WILLIE R HENRY REP (i) MIKE STONE REP   Magistrate Judge …

Lea County schools top state graduation rate According to the New Mexico Public Education Department, each of Lea County’s school districts dramatically has a higher graduation rate than the state average. In Hobbs, the graduation rate is 86 percent. In Lovington, it’s 85.6 percent. In Eunice, it’s 84 percent. The two smallest school districts show a larger grad rate, Jal …

Former Clovis store worker from Hobbs faces 149 counts of embezzlement CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — A 58-year-old former employee of a Clovis grocery store faces 149 misdemeanor and felony criminal counts accusing her of embezzling over $12,000 from the business over a two-year period, reportedly to help pay for medications for her father. Rosa Davis of Hobbs was arrested Wednesday …