The Rockwind Grill restaurant will close Sunday until further notice after city leaders earlier this week delayed a decision about continuing catering services with the restauranteur that has held the contract at the municipal-owned golf course. City leaders said this week that Rockwind Community Links will operate as usual during the closure of the restaurant at 5001 Jack Gomez Blvd. …

A traffic stop 30 minutes before the Lea County’s Sheriff’s Office was called on a report of a suspicious death helped Lea investigators arrest a suspect on a charge of murder. On Friday, the Lea County Sheriff’s Office released a statement that Hobbs resident Albino A. Mendez-Solis, 30, was arrested in connection to the April 1 murder of Wilson M. …

Lea Regional Medical Center is celebrating the Healthy Woman for the 10th time. On Thursday, April 18, LRMC hosts its 10th annual Healthy Woman Anniversary Event at the Lea County Event Center with an Expo and dinner. The theme for the event is “Fiesta!” and the focus will be on all of the ways Lea Regional is here for you. …

Brent Van Dyke, who retired as president of the National Association of Conservation Districts, was honored by the New Mexico State Senate in a resolution adopted during the past 60-day session. The document presented to Van Dyke, listed his work as a working member of the agriculture community in Lea County and in Plains, Texas, as well as his membership …

LOVINGTON — The Lovington City Commission moved forward with a zoning ordinance Monday night that would create an economic district along two major thoroughfares through town amid concerns it would prevent homeowners from selling their houses to their children. “I’d hate to take someone’s home away, especially if they’ve lived there for years,” said Mayor David Trujillo. The City Commission …

EUNICE — Stephanie Murphy so enjoys being of service to the community and her church the Eunice Chamber of Commerce made her Citizen of Year for 2019. Seated at her table with family and friends near the conclusion of last week’s annual chamber banquet, Murphy jumped to hear her name announced for the honor. “It really, really surprised me. I …

LOVINGTON — Jason Ganaway was 10 years old when he would stand on a bucket and help his dad, Michael, dress hamburger buns. That was 26 years ago, when Jason’s grandfather Earl owned Olé Jax Drive Inn in Lovington. Year’s later Michael bought the restaurant from Earl and ran one of Lovington’s favorite spots to spend time with friends, enjoy …

Lea County’s job market is tighter. The N.M. Workforce Solutions Department released its latest unemployment numbers on Friday and Lea County’s market continues to see fewer unemployed. In February, the county’s unemployment rate was 3.8 percent compared to 4.1 percent in January 2019. A year ago, the county’s February unemployment rate was 4.3 percent. At the same time, the number …

SANTA FE — The first session of the 54th New Mexico Legislature closed Saturday, leaving lawmakers representing Lea County voters both pragmatic and disappointed. Largely due to the booming oil and gas industry, the 2019 session started with a record budget surplus, a projected billion-dollar surplus for this year, and more than a billion dollars anticipated above this year’s for …

JAL — The New Mexico Attorney General’s office concluded Jal’s city officials violated the Open Meetings Act in October 2017. The town’s newspaper, the Jal Record filed a complaint in November 2017 asserting city officials participated in a “rolling quorum.” “Our review indicates that the City Council did indeed engage in a flagrant violation of the Open Meetings Act,” assistant …