A total of 23 elected municipal seats are up for grabs in Lea County this year, with candidate filing set for Tuesday. The list includes positions for three mayors, 15 municipal commissioners or council members and five municipal judges. During office hours on Tuesday, anyone wishing to run for election or re-election to any of those seats must file a …

No illegal dumping needed with centers While the New Mexico State Land Commissioner takes steps to clean caliche pits on State Trust Lands in Lea County, Lorenzo Velasquez, the county’s director of Environmental Services, reminds residents there’s no reason for illegal dumping. His department manages both of the county’s facilities — the Lea County Landfill east of Eunice and the …

Candidate filing day is Tuesday FOR THE NEWS-SUN The City of Hobbs Clerk’s Office announced the filing date for candidates for the March municipal elections is Tuesday. Election Day is March 6 and commissioners for the following city districts will be voted on. • District 2 (northwestern Hobbs), currently held by Cynthia Calderon, to a two-year term. • District 4 …

Flu cases on the rise in Lea County The New Mexico Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of increased influenza activity in recent weeks. Jenny Bridgforth, RN, BSN, infection preventionist at Lea Regional Medical Center pointed out Hobbs and Lea County are not immune. “We’re just having an influx of flu in our area,” …

Navarro is first baby of year at Lea Regional Jocelyn Nayeli Navarro became the first 2018 baby born in Hobbs and she rested unaware of that fact, while surrounded by her excited sister, grandfather, mother and many other relatives. The newborn’s mother, Hobbs resident Silvana Palomares, 23, didn’t expect she’d have a New Year’s Day baby, despite a Jan. 6 …

The Hobbs Fire Department is investigating a structure fire that occurred at 2 am Friday morning at 113 South Shipp in Hobbs. No one was at home at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is pending upon a investigation.

CASA of Lea County names Volunteer of the Year Rhonda Phillips, a resident of Lovington, was named CASA of Lea County’s 2017 Ursula Wilcox Volunteer of the Year at CASA’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. CASA of Lea County strives to make Lea County a safer environment for abused and neglected children through trained volunteer advocacy and other child centered programs. …

CASA of Lea County names Volunteer of the Year Rhonda Phillips, a resident of Lovington, was named CASA of Lea County’s 2017 Ursula Wilcox Volunteer of the Year at CASA’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. CASA of Lea County strives to make Lea County a safer environment for abused and neglected children through trained volunteer advocacy and other child centered programs. …

  The first proposed hours of operation and admission fees for the Center of Recreational Excellence were discussed Monday night during a Hobbs Community Affairs Board meeting. CORE officials presented their proposals to the board to receive input and feedback before moving forward in presenting the fees to be considered by the Hobbs City Commission. “We want to start down …

EUNICE — Fifth-graders can make a loud noise with their joyful singing and jingling of bells, but they brought in healthy contributions for the Salvation Army at the Lowe’s Market in Eunice. The Fifth-grade Ambassadors spent a full day Tuesday singing yuletide jingles and ringing bells to encourage contributions be dropped in the kettle. Speaking over the din, sponsor Laura …