Looking back 40, 30 and 20 years ago, the following are excerpts from the Artesia Daily Press from Dec. 17-23.
40 years ago
Dec. 17-23, 1978
The Artesia Bulldogs jumped on Eunice early in the game Saturday night and kept the pressure on all night as they downed the Cardinals 76-62. Bobby Snowden chalked up 22 points for the winners to lead three other Bulldogs who were in double digits. “I was pleased with the win and pleased with the overall paly of all 10 of our players,” Coach Jim Wilburn said.
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“Big Wednesday” and “Gray Lady Down” were the featured movies of the week at Hermosa Drive-In, and “Damien Omen II” and Wilderness Family part 2” were the featured movies of the week at Landsun Theatre.
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Furr’s Supermarket customers received double gold bond Stamps through Dec. 24 on such special as round steak for $1.89 per pound, Farm Pac eggs for .74 per dozen, and Wilson whole or half hams for $1.98 per pound.
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A car which was apparently stolen from two Artesia men was discovered near Sitting Bull Falls, where it had been pushed over a cliff and burned, law officials said. The car, a Chevrolet Camero, had been parked at the Village West Apartments and the owners did not know it had been stolen until police contacted them about 2 a.m. today. Reports said the vehicle had been shot with a shotgun and undermined number of times, and then pushed over the cliff. It is not known if the vehicle was set on fire before it was sent over the cliff, or if it burst into flames as it plummeted down the embankment.
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As reported in Letters to Santa Claus:
Dear Santa,
I want a San Diego charger foot ball suit. And a train that has a railroad track.
Love, Joby Houghtaling.
Dear Santa,
I want a doll and a cats eye game. A pogo stick and a stuffed rabbit please and thank you,
Love, Lisa Waller
Dear Santa,
I have been a good boy sometimes. I want a hunting Knife and a wagon And some pajamas and some shoes
Love, Kevin Powers
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A sign which reads, ‘Hagerman-Dexter Express, Departure time: 8:10 daily’ will soon be erected at the Lake Arthur school’s bus stop, was designed to offer a “subtle hint” to the Hagerman and Dexter school systems to stop “encouraging” Lake Arthur students to attend the other school districts. Superintendent Dan Salzwedel said Lake Arthur, as all small districts, was involved in a battler for enrollment between other districts, with numbers being crucial for livelihood of the schools. Salzwedel said he was taking the matter lightly but hoped his sign delivered a message to the other districts.
30 years ago
Dec. 17-23, 1988
Aggressiveness was the key as Artesia High School’s girl’s varsity basketball team notched a 47-39 victory Friday over the Carlsbad Cavegirls at the high school boys gym. The win upped Artesia’s season record to 5-4 and avenged a 43-35 loss to Carlsbad earlier in the year. The Cavegirls fell to 7-3 on the season.
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As reported in the Pinon News: Jimmy Goss, and son “Spike,” have purchased timber from Pat Ramsey of the Pinon Ranch and have been hauling logs to their sawmill at Weed until this snow fell. They had moved logging equipment to the Pinon Ranch several days ago. Mr. Ramsey has been staying at the ranch the past week or more, as his foreman, J.B. Bouden, is on his first vacation since coming here more than a year ago. Ramsey is short several head of cattle they failed to gather in the fall roundup. They found some of them in the higher mountains that Roy Holcomb told them of seeing in his pasture, and some they haven’t’ learned about or found.
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Does every father secretly harbor a spark of hope that his son will follow in his footsteps? Well, hope or not, that is exactly what State Police Officer Tommy Ford’s son did. State Police Officer Scott Ford, 19, of Artesia became the youngest State Police officer in New Mexico after completing 14 weeks of training at the Department of Public Safety training Center in Santa Fe in November. His father, beaming with pride, was on hand to present the young new officer his diploma and salute. Scott has been assigned to the Las Vegas State Police district.
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“Iron Eagle II” and “Ernest Saves Christmas” were the featured movies of the week at Cinema Twin.
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As reported in Letters to Santa Claus:
Dear Santa,
I love you, Merry Christmas, thank you for the presents last year. I heard your bells last year. Can Rudolph talk? We will leave you some cookies out before you go.
Brandi Johnson
Dear Santa Claus,
I want a stroller and a Barbie house and I want a TV and a phone.
Love,
Shannon Briscoe
Dear Santa,
Please bring me Red ropers and a toy that is blue. I have been good. I will leave you cookies and milk.
Thank you
Cody Dowell
20 years ago
Dec. 17-23, 1998
The Artesia High School Bulldogs edged the Ruidoso Warriors, 62-60, Friday despite an enthusiastic crowd and a fired-up Ruidoso squad. “We got off to a real slow start,” said Coach Bubba Jennings. Ruidoso jumped out to a lead, 15-4, early in the game. With the Bulldogs on the Warriors’ turf for the first time since the state championship win in football, the crowd at the Ruidoso gym was trying to shake up the Bulldogs. “The crowd was really trying to rattle the kids,” said Jennings. “the kids did a great job of keeping their composure.”
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“Babe, Pig in the City” and “Rugrats” were the featured movies of the week at Cinema Twin.
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As reported in Letters to Santa:
Dear Santa, I want a bike, a trampoline and a tweety bird, a ferbe, gene pet, a cat, dog to, and a lot’s of presents too. I want some coat’s, a gene baby to. Santa please give the poor people some presents too. Thanks, for all the toys. I Love you Santa. Love, Angelica Perez
Dear Santa, I want a trampoline, a fake dog, and a swimming pool. I’ve been a good girl this year. We will leave milk and cookies on the kitchen table. Love, Samantha Matthews.
Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like a tent, a soccerbopper sword and shield. And I would like Bedtime bubba so I can sleep and a clock so I can wake up early. Thanks Santa, Bret Parrish. P.S. I would like to leave you cookies and milk, but I’ll forget.
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As reported in the Pinon News: It has been reported the former Fred Gage house here in Pinon has sold again and the owners are making a few repairs and have plans to move into it. It will be nice to have someone living there again.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back was compiled by Daily Press Community Living Editor Teresa Lemon.)