Don’t be surprised if you see smoke in the middle of town on Feb. 11 and 12. Carlsbad Fire Wildland Operation is conducting a prescribed burn in the area of Lower Tansill to Radio Boulevard/Boyd Drive. Extensive precautions have been made to ensure that the fire will stay within the prescribed areas. However, please use caution when driving in the area, due to the potential of low visibility. The fire department has also asked to keep drones out of the area during this time.
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We received an update on the brine well remediation effort on Tuesday, and the news is good. According to the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department, backfilling of the brine well cavity with sand is expected to be complete within the next few weeks. There was a slight pause last week due to the weather, but the filling process is going very well. Once the backfilling is complete, the state will be determining the depth of the sand put into the cavity and then begin depressurizing the cavern. The final step will be to demobilize the site, followed by well plugging and continued monitoring. Let’s hope the remediation process will continue to be successful.
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The New Mexico State Legislature is celebrating Behavioral Health Day on Feb 9 by honoring 21 New Mexicans for their contribution to championing behavioral health. We don’t know if any Carlsbad residents are being honored this year, but there certainly should be. Phillip Houston and the members of the LifeHouse program should certainly be on that list, as should Woods Houghton, Jeff Diamond and all of the former Avalon Ranch board members. Last year, the new Foundry Home created a refuge for teenagers. The Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance program also began offering counseling services to the area. We enjoyed recently meeting with Janell Taylor, the program’s regional director, and understand a grand opening is planned at the program’s new location. Carlsbad has come a very long way over the past few years in terms of behavioral health, and we hope the state ceremony includes some recognition.
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Carlsbad High School’s Choir is currently holding a fundraiser. In a letter to the public, members of the choir booster club introduced their director, Destiny Hunt, and outlined the choir’s two programs – the Choraliers and the Troubadors. The 39 member choir has held two concerts this year, and members did well in a competition. Donations to the choir can be mailed to CHS Choir Boosters, PO Box 871, Carlsbad NM 88221 and include “CHS Choir Booster” on the notation line.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway