Update: 1-3-21
The New Year’s “Safe Ride” event went smoothly. According to our transit department, we transported 21 people with good attitudes and no problems using two buses and one clerk riding along to help dispatch. Traffic appeared to be fairly light most of the night. Popular locations were the Elks, Stevens Inn, Ocotillo bar and the Shade, according to Transit. The Carlsbad Police Department reported no major incidents during New Year’s celebrations here. Thank you to Carlsbad Transit for helping make sure everyone made it home safely.
The Carlsbad Fire Department did respond to four fires over the holiday weekend – these were fires associated with the cold weather, not fireworks.
Sadly, a Carlsbad man died in a rollover crash on New Year’s Eve, according to the Current-Argus. We offer our condolences to the family and friends of Matthew Fierro. Thank you as well to all of our first responders who worked long hours over Christmas and New Year’s Day.
School went back in session Tuesday. Please say a prayer for our students, teachers and parents as they continue to face a wide variety of unique challenges this spring.
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Please mark your calendars for Feb. 12. That’s the day the Rotary Club of Carlsbad is planning its annual Pancake Day. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased from any member of Rotary, with proceeds going to support the scholarship program.
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Update on the Carlsbad Martin Luther King Jr.’s Scholarship Committee: The Committee has decided not to hold an MLK Banquet this year, The Committee will still be holding a church observance on Jan. 16 at 2:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church as well as a march on Jan. 17. The march will begin at the Eddy County Courthouse and go to Martin Luther King Park. There will be a ceremony there featuring a presentation by local attorney Nate Banks, Esq., whose father participated in civil rights marches with Dr. King. Lunch will then be served. Thank you to the generous sponsors who make this annual event possible.
The Committee is also holding an essay/art contest for local students in grades 6 through 8. The deadline for this contest has been extended to Jan. 7. You can drop off your entries at Carlsbad City Hall or email them to kmarksteiner@cityofcarlsbadnm.com. The theme is “How would MLK Measure the Meaning of Life in the Midst of a Pandemic?”
Please consider supporting the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship committee by visiting https://carlsbadfoundation.org/.
Sincerely, Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway