Looking back 40, 30 and 20 years ago, the following are excerpts from the Artesia Daily Press from May 1-7.
40 years ago
May 1‐7, 1976
A menacing-looking thundercloud which passed over Artesia late Friday evening vented its fury on the Seven Rivers and Carlsbad areas by dropping golf-ball-sized hail on crops and orchards and creating what was identified as a small twister that uprooted two mobile homes in Seven Rivers.
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With six games remaining on the 1976 district baseball schedule, the Artesia Bulldogs have already wrapped up the title with their perfect 10-0 record. Along with the title this year goes the honor of hosting the Class 3A State Baseball Tournament, and Coach Mike Allen and his squad say they have serious plans to sweep that also.
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Smoke rising from the vicinity of Artesia’s new Pizza Hut and steakhouse complex on South First Street late Friday afternoon gave the appearance that the city’s entire south end was aflame. When city firefighters arrived on the scene, however, they found a tar burner being used to roof the steakhouse building had caught fire in the north parking lot. The burning tar created a high-rising smoke column, but fire department reports said there was little damage to the structure and no injuries reported.
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As reported in the Pinon News: Jake VanWinkle and sons helped Max Cartwright gather cattle and brand calves at Max’s ranch south of Pinon Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Don Merritt are busy trying to stucco their home in what spare time that they have. They rebuilt their home the past year following a fire that destroyed the former one.
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The Bulldog tennis team had a fine showing at the district tournament in Portales Saturday, especially in doubles competition, where the Big Orange netters captured first and fourth places to put the ‘Dogs in second place in the overall standings. The top-seeded doubles team of John Funk and Steve Messmer walked away with the first place trophy, while second-seeded Mike Williams and Billy Flowler ran into trouble in the semifinals and had to settle for fourth place.
30 years ago
May 1‐7, 1986
As reported in the Pinon News: Tuesday evening of the past week, members of the Church of Christ on Perk Canyon gathered at the David Anderson home for Bible Study. Mr. and Mrs. Charley Campbell from Carlsbad were guests at the study. The Campbells have a place in the Sacramento area. They have a mobile home and plan to go on to Truth of Consequences for Mrs. Campbell to take baths in the hot springs there.
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Nancy Anaya and Kayci Cockrell were named Athletes of the Week by AHS girls’ track coach Kenneth Parrish following their performances last week in the Lovington Invitational. Both qualified for state in individual events, Anaya in the 100-meter dash, Cockrell in the 100-meter hurdles.
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Artesia High School senior Paul Ryan, 18, won the Golden Hammer award for turning out the most projects in Len Flaming’s woodworking classes this school year. His projects included a roll-top desk, waterbed frame and headboard, a gun cabinet, and two cedar chests.
20 years ago
May 1‐7, 1996
Kyle Stewart, an eighth-grade student at Penasco School, received an award for finishing in the top 10 at the State Geography Bee in Albuquerque. Stewart was among more than 90 students who competed.
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He’s never lived any other place his entire life, and his 45-year devotion to one job throughout his adult life are accomplishments retiring Artesia Fire Chief Ray Castleberry values the most. Serving the public in his official capacity as fire chief or through volunteer work with the Boy Scouts of America, Castleberry said he is proud of the turns his life has taken.
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As reported in the Pinon News: One of H.A. Stringfield’s heifers had a calf Tuesday evening rather late. The wind was blowing, and it was very chilly, and the calf was trembling until it could not get up and nurse; so Mrs. Holcomb went to the house and warmed some milk and went to give it to the calf, but it still could not get up and the coyotes were howling nearby. So Mrs. Holcomb called H.A. Stringfield and he came, and they got the calf in the back of the pickup and hauled it to the barn with the cow following and got them both in the barn. Then she gave it some more as warm milk as she thought it could take. In a very short time, it got up and went to hunting some more milk, so they held it close to its mother and soon it got its supper and wall all right. The next morning, it was going strong, and the coyotes were gone.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back is compiled each week by Daily Press Community Living Editor Teresa Lemon.)