You get to help choose the top News-Sun stories of 2019. The local Top 10 will be presented in the Jan. 1, 2020, edition of the News-Sun Click HERE to take the survey and vote for up to 10 stories For a refresher on the stories, please click the links below: Multiple Hobbs businesses were swindled out of money they …

A charred Christmas tree, scorched Christmas stockings, a homeless family and five deceased dogs are the aftermath a housefire in south Hobbs. Shelley Moody worked the night shift at a local convenience store and had laid down to get some rest Monday morning when her 69-year-old-mother woke her up alerting her their home at 307 West Castle was on fire. …

In spite of the current oil and gas boom, most of the incorporated communities in Lea County are still just closing in on pre-bust gross receipts tax revenue. Two exceptions, one at each end of both the county and the economy, are Tatum in the north and Jal in the south. Tatum received about 31% less in calendar 2019 than …

Observing 80 years of service to the community, Hobbs Public Library officials celebrated on Tuesday. “We’re all proud of our library,” said Library Director Sandy Farrell on Monday. Libraries have changed over the years, from card catalogues that Farrell says she remembers fondly to modern computer-based catalogues. Books galore are supplemented with DVDs and audio material, a computer lab and a …

Observing 80 years of service to the community, Hobbs Public Library officials celebrated on Tuesday. “We’re all proud of our library,” said Library Director Sandy Farrell on Monday. Libraries have changed over the years, from card catalogues that Farrell says she remembers fondly to modern computer-based catalogues. Books galore are supplemented with DVDs and audio material, a computer lab and a …

LOVINGTON — The Lovington landmark Burger Builders hosted a dual celebration Thursday with about two dozen attendees congratulating both the new owner and a 37-year employee. With representatives of the city and the chamber of commerce at hand, previous owners Ronny and Kim Reeder helped new owner Martin Lara cut the ribbon signifying change in management. Meanwhile, main cook Mary …

Fifty years ago, men walked on the moon. Today, plans are being laid to slingshot to Mars from the moon while livestreaming. But for any taxpayer wishing to know the proportion of inmates at the Lea County Detention Center who are in the United States illegally, or the citizenship status of any particular inmate, it’s anyone’s guess. That’s because the …

Don’t be the scammer’s next victim. Xcel Energy’s media relations representative Wes Reeves warned the scammers are still out there, pretending to be Xcel employees and demanding money — or else. A Hobbs News-Sun reader reported Wednesday she just avoided being a victim. Identifying herself only as Veronica, the Hobbs resident said it all sounded professional and legitimate at first. …

Hobbsans are making it too easy for crimes to take place. Hobbs Police Department administrators are shaking their heads in disappointment over the number of vehicle burglaries and thefts taking place. Not because of the amount of crimes, which stands at 12 auto burglaries and 15 auto thefts since Nov. 1 through Nov. 15, but because of how easy the …

LOVINGTON — Lea County officials asked state representatives for a total of $16.56 million in capital outlay funding. With the second session of the New Mexico’s 54th Legislature set to begin in two months, two state senators and four state representatives elected from Lea and Eddy counties met last week with officials of local governmental entities to hear their presentations. …