Looking back 40, 30 and 20 years ago, the following are excerpts from the Artesia Daily Press.

40 years ago June 30 – July 6, 1984

This B-25 bomber was one of seven planes which were flown into Artesia Saturday morning by members of the New Mexico Wing of the Confederate Air Force, and here it looms above interested spectators who give it a close inspection. This one and other vintage World War II aircraft appeared here as part of a barnstorming tour of Eddy County, flying on to Carlsbad Saturday afternoon. The purpose of the tour was to acquaint the general public with the activities of the New Mexico Wing of the CAF and to display the warbirds.

———-Dickey won the Artesia Adult League Basketball title this year by beating the Has Beens 62-56 in overtime Friday in the league tournament championship game at the high school boys gym. The team is composed of, from left, front, Dwayne Dickey, Brent Thompson, Adrian Cunningham, Tony Garcia; from left, back, Tony Tesillo, Lorenzo Brizeno, Ray Earl and Mike Aguirre. Not shown is Frank Dickey. The squad finished the season with an 11-0 record.

———-The nation’s largest teachers union issued a task force report Friday urging that public schools be “totally restructured” to meet the needs of tomorrow’s students. The report offers the union’s hopedfor vision of schools in a lengthy section, “Education in the Year 2001.” Education will start earlier, it said. New technology will enhance learning, but books, discussions, lab experiments, writing and lectures will still play major roles in learning. “Decisions about instruction will be made at the school level and not by bureaucracies in school system central offices or state capitols,” the report added.

———-New Mexico’s new laws intended to crack down on drunken drivers began at 12:01 a.m. Sunday. Any adult with a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent who is driving a vehicle is drunk and will lose his driver’s license for at least 90 days. A second DWI conviction means loss of a driver’s license for a year, while a third conviction means loss of driving privileges for five years.

———-The Daily Press sports a new look today as the newspaper, with others across the nation, converts to standard six-column widths to accommodate national advertisers. The standard size is called SAU for “standard advertising unit.” Until now, there was a wide variety of newspaper page sizes and a corresponding number of advertising dimensions. National advertisers had to produce ads to fit all these sizes, which proved costly as well as confusing.

———-The fourth annual run of the World’s Greatest Lizard Race is set for Wednesday in Lovington’s Chaparral Park as part of the community’s Independence Day celebration. John Graham, who calls himself the “head lizard,” said contestants have been scouring vacant lots and fields for lizards to race, although one enterprising person has entered an iguana. The lizards will run, seven at a time, along 16-foot ramps fenced to prevent any leaping lizards from getting away. Ribbons go to the first five finishers.

30 years ago June 30 – July 6, 1994

Glenn Robinson thought he was under pressure. The first of a record-tying nine underclassmen picked in the first round of the NBA draft, Purdue’s Big Dog put on a Milwaukee Bucks cap and pondered his soon-to-be multimillion-dollar career. Like Robinson’s selection by Milwaukee, which was almost a foregone conclusion, there were few surprises through the two rounds of the draft Wednesday night. What was noteworthy was the number of underclassmen selected in the opening round. Six of the first seven and nine of the top 16 picks were non-seniors, matching the record nine underclassmen taken in 1982. Three more early-entry picks were taken on the second round.

———-Fans hoping Michael Jordan will return to basketball will be disappointed, the Chicago Bulls general manager says. “Michael Jordan is not going to be back,” Jerry Krause said Thursday. “Fans should get used to the idea that Michael Jordan will not be back with this team. We want to see Michael in a Chicago uniform, a White Sox uniform.”

———-Members of a 4-H team from Eddy County, from left, 4-H Agent/Director Lee Watts, Ross Townsend, Sam Gutierrez, Drew Hendricks and Kris Patterson, traveled to Oklahoma City recently where team members were awarded a fifth-place trophy at the National Pasture & Range Judging Contest. The team qualified in July 1993 at the state 4-H conference to represent New Mexico at the contest. As the first-place team for New Mexico, the team was carrying on a long tradition for Eddy County 4-H, which has maintained first-place status in the range contest since 1985, and has traveled to national competition each year since 1986.

———-For Wendall Malone, there is nothing more interesting than watching the weather. Last week, Malone had another peak in his weather- watching career when he recorded the all-time state high temperature of 119 degrees. The record occurred at 4:32 p.m. on June 27 at his home nestled on a ranch in Lakewood. He said when he got home at little after 4 p.m., the temperature was already at 118 degrees. The previous record was held by Artesia, set in 1918 when it reached 116 degrees. The new record was reached during an abnormal heat wave.

———-A high-speed chase along U.S. 285 south of Artesia ended with an arrest of a suspect wanted in Carlsbad for armed robbery. The chase, which began in Carlsbad and reached speeds of more than 90 miles per hour, ended at 8:37 a.m. just north of Atoka grocery store, after the suspect’s vehicle, headed northbound, crossed over the center median into the southbound lane, hit a sign post and blew a tire.

20 years ago June 30 – July 6, 2004

As reported by the Daily Press earlier this year, Wal-Mart corporation is planning to create a super center here in Artesia. “Yes, we do have plans for a super center at the northeast corner of 26th Street and Eagle Draw,” said Daphne Moore, Wal-Mart community affairs. Late last summer a petition signed by 4,700 Artesians was presented to Wal-Mart officials requesting the company open a store here. At the time, [Moore] said there was no set time limit in developing a Wal-Mart in Artesia. That changed yesterday with the announcement that Wal-Mart would be breaking ground on the new center later this year or early next year.

———-Hundreds of people line the sidewalk for the “Spiderman II” promotion at Land of the Sun Theatre. People started arriving as early as 11:30 a.m. for the 1 p.m. premiere. Spiderman, played by Anthony Crawford, begins his descent down the Land of the Sun building. The web-slinger arrived at 12:30 p.m. to the delight of many Artesia youths who waited in line for autographs before the premiere showing.

———-Teresa Holguin was disappointed and shocked when the man who supplied alcohol to her 14-year-old daughter was sentenced to 18 months probation. Holguin’s daughter, Felisha, died of acute alcohol poisoning in February 2002 after drinking at a slumber party. Holguin worked with Gov. Bill Richardson during the last legislative session to push for change in New Mexico’s liquor laws. The law making it a felony to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 is one of the laws that take effect in New Mexico today. The new law applies to anyone who gives or sells alcohol to a minor. The maximum penalty is up to 18 months in prison and fines of up to $5,000.

———-The first-ever Junior Firefighters Olympics held during the Independence Day celebrations Saturday in Jaycee Park earned gold, silver and bronze for a dozen youngsters. Nine teams of three competed in four events, which included the Three-man Hose Relay, Bucket Brigade, Water Polo and a special Mystery Event. Several recreation aides from Artesia’s Summer Recreation Program were on hand to coach the competitors, who were divided into two divisions by age, 6-11 and 12-15.

———- (EDITOR’S NOTE: Looking Back was compiled By Daily Press Staff)