Hobbs City Commissioner Dwayne Penick was brought to tears Thursday, talking about the new Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic he helped champion for the community. “This has been a long time coming,” Penick told the crowd of dignitaries, veterans and their families gathered to witness the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the clinic in the former …

Soon, veterans living in and around Hobbs will no longer have to make the grueling trip out of state, or many hours away, to receive the care the need. A new veterans clinic has a location planned, and has the green light to begin renovations in April. The project was placed on the “fast track” and completion is expected within …