JAL — City Manager Matt White said he’s expecting a noncompliance letter from state regulators regarding Jal’s sewage treatment plant. With an estimated 5,000-6,000 people crowded onto an infrastructure initially supporting just over 2,000 residents, the town of Jal both rejoices and bemoans the current oil and gas boom. Test wells surrounding the city’s sewage treatment plant and lagoons have …

$330 million potash mine moving forward For years the idea of potash mining in southern Lea County was met with head-shakes and raised eyebrows and the general idea of believing it when it happens. Last week PolyNatura made the idea closer to reality by announcing it has entered into an agreement with the Nitron Group, LLC., for the supply of …

Matt White picked as Jal city manager JAL — On a unanimous vote of 5-0 at the Jal City Council meeting Thursday night, former Eunice mayor Matt White was chosen the next Jal city manager. Having lost his bid in March for a fourth term as mayor, White applied for the vacant seat in Jal left by the resignation late …

Eunice wins home meet, Jal and Tatum progress toward goals TOM MULHERIN NEWS-SUN EUNICE – It seems like the Eunice boys and girls’ track and field teams are running all over their opponents so far this year, and though head coach Gabe Gay-tan says team wins don’t matter to him until state, the Cardinals and Lady Cardinals excelled again Monday …

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 …

Hwy. 128 has 2nd fatal wreck within a week NEWS-SUN STAFF REPORT A southern Arkansas man died Monday morning after a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 128 in Lea County. It is the second fatal crash within a week on the state highway which travels east/westbound from the New Mexico-Texas state border, through Jal to N.M. 31 near Loving. At …

Early voting closes Friday at 5 p.m. Early voting in the Hobbs municipal election closes at 5 p.m. Friday, with other communities in Lea County shutting down the polls when the city/town halls close for the week, either today or Friday. Hobbs voters wishing to cast ballots before Election Day must do so at the City Clerk’s Office in the …

Man accused of ramming Jal police car, fleeing police The Jal Police Department apprehended a suspect in a Friday police pursuit through the city after he allegedly fled a traffic stop, “intentionally” rammed into a police car and abandoned his vehicle to run on foot. Around 8:41 p.m. Friday, Jal police pulled over a Dodge pickup truck after seeing it …

53 candidates file in Hobbs, Lovington, Eunice, Jal, Tatum Below is a listing of candidates scheduled for the March 6 municipal election in Hobbs, Lovington, Eunice, Jal and Tatum.   Hobbs Commissioner District 2 (northeastern Hobbs) — Cynthia Calderon (incumbent), Christopher R. Mills, John Paul Henderson. Commissioner District 4 ( southern/southwestern Hobbs) — Joseph Calderon (incumbent), Kerry T. Manis. Commissioner …

Superintendent Brian Snider, choked up and seemed on the brink of tears Thursday during his introductory remarks to a standing room only crowd at the grand opening of the town’s new $15 million elementary school. “I congratulate you,” Snider said, “for being part of the community that has brought this building into existence.” Snider also noted that the pervasive odor …