LOVINGTON — A week after the June 2 primary election, Lea County Clerk Keith Manes said his office is still receiving absentee ballots. “They’ve been trickling in,” Manes said on Wednesday. “If we don’t get those at the polling place, or in my office, by 7 p.m. on Election Day, we don’t count them. There were six the day after …

LOVINGTON — A week after the June 2 primary election, Lea County Clerk Keith Manes said his office is still receiving absentee ballots. “They’ve been trickling in,” Manes said on Wednesday. “If we don’t get those at the polling place, or in my office, by 7 p.m. on Election Day, we don’t count them. There were six the day after …

The N.M. Department of Health has listed 12 people as recovered form the coronavirus in Lea County as of May 22. The information, obtained by the Valencia News-Bulletin after it made an inspection of public records request, shows Lea County at that time had 21 people who had tested positive for COVID-19 and 12 of those were fully recovered. The News-Bulletin …

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 121 additional COVID-19 cases. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are: 31 new cases in Bernalillo County 2 new cases in Chaves County 2 new cases in Cibola County 18 new cases in Doña Ana County 3 new cases in Eddy County 1 new case …

Del Norte Park’s playground equipment is getting an updated look. The old playground was said to be 20-years-old with and expired warranty, which led to the decision to revamp the playground and begin building new play equipment this week, according to Bryan Wagner, Parks and Open Spaces Director with the City of Hobbs. “We had a lot of parts that …

LOVINGTON — As of now, the fair and rodeo is on. The 2020 Lea County 85th Annual Fair and PRCA Rodeo heads this way, set for July 31-Aug. 8. “The fair board, the commissioners and I are planning the 2020 Lea County 85th Fair and Rodeo,” said Jim Kemp, fairgrounds general manager. “As of right now, that’s the direction we’re …

Both the U.S. Senate and Congress have passed a bill that would allow for sweeping reform to the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The changes in this PPP revision are aimed at making lending terms better for restaurants, retailers and other businesses. Small businesses around the country, including many in Lea County, have taken advantage of the program …

After going five days with no new positive tests for COVID-19, the state announced Lea County added three new cases on Friday. The total brings the county to 29 cases since the coronavirus began being tracked. In nearby Eddy County, it now has 28 cases. To the north of Lea County, Roosevelt county has 42 cases and Curry has 62. …

EUNICE — The City of Eunice will begin its own solid waste pickup Monday, as residents were requested by social media to help with the transition. The city plans to switch out Waste Management polycarts for new city polycarts this week. “Council had a special meeting at lunch Friday and approved a resolution to cancel the contract with Waste Management,” …

Claire Newey is 17, going on 18 and she’s Hobbs High School’s 2020 Salutatorian. She’s been in Hobbs schools her entire academic career and credits the school for her academic success. As Claire sees it, “There is a lot of opportunity for Hobbs students if they just take advantage of what’s offered.” That’s what she’s done, concentrating not only the …