LEVI HILLNEWS-SUN

The economic boom that is benefitingHobbs and Lea County will soon be high-lighted in several video productions thatare expected to call attention to howmuch the area has prospered in recentyears.

Last week, video production crewsworking for Energy Advances NewMexico, an alliance of energy companies,and the American Petroleum Instituteswept through Hobbs interviewing areabusiness leaders and officials for separatevideo productions on the oil and gasindustry’s effect on local economy.

Hobbs Chamber of Commerce PresidentGrant Taylor said he was contacted lastweek by both organizations for help inlocating good candidates for interviews.

Taylor said his feeling is that the videosproduced will be used as educationalvideos and possibly aired on television.

“They asked for Chamber’s help in iden-tifying people who directly or indirectlybenefit from robust oil and gas activity,”Taylor said. “I think it is going to be someadvertising that will run during theSunday morning political talk shows.”

Taylor said he helped both productioncrews locate candidates to interview andsaid he expects the videos to be a boom tothe area.

“It was so good that they did want tohighlight the great things happening herein Hobbs because we need more than onemessenger,” he said. “Southeast NewMexico can’t be the only one saying we do

Obituaries ......................2Opinion ..........................4Parenting .....................14

Podiatrist haswell-traveled past

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Inside Today

NNeewwss--SSuunnSince 1927 � No. 301 $1.25

JAL � EUNICE � HOBBS � LOVINGTON � TATUM � SEMINOLE � DENVER CITY

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2012

Community News

Does your home haveleaky doors or skimpyinsulation? These littlethings can lead toenergy loss and higherenergy bills. With XcelEnergy’s HOMEENERGY SERVICESprogram, Xcel partnerswith local contractors,called ParticipatingSponsors, who can fixthem quickly, efficient-ly and affordablyEnergy saving meas-ures, like sealing leaks,are free. Otherimprovements areavailable at reducedprices. For more infor-mation, visit xceleffi-ciency.com and chooseNew Mexico,Residential & Low-Income, and thenselect ParticipatingSponsors.

Zia Park is hosting the“Z-FEUD” at 2:30 p.mtoday. Teams consist ofOption Inc. against LeaCounty Special Rodeoand Merrill Lynchagainst WestTexas/Eastern NewMexico Notre DameClub. Also, Toys forTots will be on site toaccept toy donationsfrom until Dec. 9.With the donation,you can receive freeadmission to theStateline Showroomuntil Dec. 9.

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Future scientists?Mills fifth graders Tavi Brewer and Wesley Rivera-Rangel debate whether a compound in their test tray isa powder or crystal while URENCO employee Charles Pierce moderates. A team of Urenco employeestaught a lesson to fifth-grade classes Friday morning and encouraged students to pursue careers in science.

URENCO Communications Specialist Shannon Bushsupervises Mills Elementary "junior scientists"Hailey Smith, Britain Rutledge, Austin Criswell andIsaiah Escamilla during a Friday morning presenta-tion on how uraniums is enriched at the LeaCounty facility.

Brendan Nixon and Taylor Fonesca sift differentsize seeds into containers, an example of howURENCO uses a "separation" process to enrich ura-nium for nuclear power plants.

BETH HAHNNEWS-SUN

The City of Hobbs is taking a toughstance on synthetic drugs and LeaCounty could soon follow suit.

County commissioner Ron Black askedhis fellow commissioners and countystaff to consider drafting an ordinanceoutlawing spice and bath salts during ameeting Thursday.

Black, who lives inHobbs, said he is con-cerned businesses sell-ing synthetic drugswill simply close upshop in Hobbs andstart selling the stuffoutside city limits.

“My concern isthere’s nothing stop-ping them from mov-ing outside the citylimits to do their business,” he said.

During a Dec. 3 meeting, Hobbs citycommissioners passed an ordinanceallowing the city to take civil actionagainst businesses selling spice — syn-thetic marijuana — and bath salts — syn-thetic cocaine.

While the federal government is play-ing catch-up to chemists who manufac-ture the substances, many municipali-ties are looking to punish smoke shopsand other businesses that sell the sub-stances.

Black said he would like to considersimilar criminal and civil penalties forsynthetic drugs.

Interim county attorney ScottyHolloman said he plans to review Hobbs’ordinances before making any sugges-tions to the County Commission.

Sheriff Mark Hargrove, who is also amember of the Community Drug

County mayconsiderordinance tooutlaw spice

Oil’s impact on Hobbs highlightedHobbs

Mayor SamCobb is

interviewedby a produc-tion crew as

part of avideo point-ing out theoil and gas

industry’simpact on

the economyof Hobbs.

DANIEL RUSSELLNEWS-SUN

BETH HAHNNEWS-SUN

The state Environment Departmentis giving a northeast Hobbs propertyowner two options for sewage disposal— and an open air lagoon is not one ofthem.

County manager Michael Gallaghersaid he received notice from theEnvironment Department that the

Adobe Village apartments on NorthDal Paso will not have a 60,000 gallonsewage disposal lagoon.

Gallagher said during a CountyCommission meeting Thursday thatproperty owner Norm Rubin has twooptions — connect to City of Hobbssewer or an on-site advanced treat-ment system.

“The property owner has until Jan. 2to decide which option to pursue,”Gallagher said. “We should knowmore during the second week ofJanuary.”

Rubin applied for a permit earlierthis year to construct a 60,000 gallonsewage lagoon behind the AdobeVillage apartments on North Dal Paso.

The permit created a stir among arearesidents, many of whom spoke dur-ing a public meeting with theEnvironment Department during thesummer.

Several residents also approachedthe County Commission to requestaction against the proposed lagoon.

State nixes sewage lagoon option for apartments

Black

SEE SPICE, Page 5

SEE LAGOON, Page 5

SEE VIDEO, Page 5

HOBBS SCHOOLS PHOTOS

Lea County Oil Wives met onDec. 5 at the Hobbs CountryClub.

Christmas was the theme.Trees served as center piecesfor the tables and peppermintcandy theme on the fireplacemantel.

Hostesses were MeredithSnook, Emma Mobley, BillieEvans and June Carson. DoorPrize was won by June Carson.Leaco was won by VirginiaGrayson. First place Bridgewinner was Avis Hobbs andSecond place was Jean Bock.First place Canasta winnerwas June Henderson andSecond place was VirginiaGrayson. Two Guest ConnieByrd and Ellen Burns.

Members present were LouAllen, Shirley Bagley, BelindaBattaligni, Jean Bock, HelenBrasher, Sylvia Breckon, ZonaBussell, Betty Cantrell, JuneCarson, Pasty Cline, Golda

Cutler, Glenda Disney, JoanF e l k i n s , V i r g i n i aG r a y s o n , J u n eHenderson,Avis Hobbs,GwinJamerson, Eunice Kelly,Louise Livecy, Trudy Marsh,Charlotte McNeil, BettyMichaleson, Emma Mobley,Lynna Palmer, Dorothy

Runnels, Meredith Snook,Jackie Stanfield, BonnieTrammell, Jo Whiteand Rosalie Woodson.

Next meeting will be Jan. 9.Hostesses will be BettyCantrell, Virginia Grayson,Golda Cutler and LynnaPalmer.

great things for New Mexico.Hopefully, little by little, wecan have more people lookingat these industries more favor-ably so our part of the statecan continue to benefit fromthat activity.”

Lisa Hardison, president andchief executive officer for theEconomic DevelopmentCorporation of Lea County,said she provided the produc-ers working for API with dataon the area economy.

“It is wonderful to have anational organization look atour area,” Hardison said. “Anytime you can bring some atten-tion, it always opens up doorsand possibilities other busi-nesses will begin to look at thearea.”

Hobbs Mayor Sam Cobbinterviewed with the produc-ers working for API.

“API is doing a video detail-ing the impact of the oil andgas industry and the positiveimpact it is having on a num-ber of communities aroundthe country,” he said. “Theypicked three communities.”

He said he feels the video willgive the area more nationalexposure.

“I think it will give Hobbsadditional national exposurefor companies that may beinterested in coming toHobbs,” he said. “I think it willbe good for growth in the retailand industrial sectors.”

Cobb said his take on the APIvideo is it will be used as pro-motional material.

“It will definitely be on theirwebsite and they are going touse it in some promotionalvideos around the countrywhen meeting with people out-

side the energy sector,” hesaid. “It is an educationalthing. A lot of people don’tunderstand hydraulic fractur-ing and horizontal drilling.”

Carlton Carroll, a spokesmanfor API, said he knew the videowould be used in an advertis-ing venue, but did not have thedetails. A representative withEnergy Advances New Mexicocould not be reached for com-ment.

Levi Hill can be reached at 391-5438 or reporter2@hobbsnews.com.

Coalition of Lea County, sug-gested consulting retiredHobbs Police DepartmentOfficer George Montes.

Montes, he said, initiatedthe ordinances banningspice in Hobbs.

“The City of Albuquerque isactually looking at adoptingwhat (Montes) wrote,”Hargrove told the CountyCommission.

Montes attended the HobbsCity Commission meeting, butwas not present duringThursday’s County

Commission meeting.Black said he would like to

meet with Montes for insightinto a potential ordinancedesigned to crack down on syn-thetic drugs.

Although labeled “not forhuman consumption,” syn-thetic marijuana and bathsalts are known to mimiceffects of illegal narcotics.

The drugs became notoriousafter users were reported tostrip naked and attack people.One user in Florida madeheadlines when he bit anotherman in the face while high onbath salts.

Spice and bath salts arechemical combinations thatmimic active properties inillegal narcotics. The federalgovernment has banned someof the chemicals, but produc-ers have made others that arelegal to sell under federalguidelines.

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Now seeing patients in Hobbs, NM

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FROM THE FRONT PAGE 5HOBBS NEWS-SUN • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2012

County commissioner Ron Black pointed outthe two options offered by the stateEnvironment Department do not include any-thing on the surface of the property.

“I noticed the second option calls for sub-sur-face disposal,” he said. “That removes any pos-sibility of a lagoon.”

In a previous interview with the News-Sun,Rubin said he was shifting away from thelagoon idea because of its controversy and con-

cern of area residents.Connecting to the City of Hobbs sewer,

though, could cost more than $1 million.After Rubin applied for a sewage disposal per-

mit from the state Environment Department,the County Commission adopted an ordinanceregulating the disposal of human waste.

The Adobe Village project, though, would beexempt from a county permit because the coun-ty ordinance was not in place when Rubinapplied for the state permit.

Beth Hahn can be reached at 391-5436 orreporter3@hobbsnews.com.

Spicefrom PAGE 1

Lagoonfrom PAGE 1

Videofrom PAGE 1

KIMBERLY RYAN/NEWS-SUN

Masonic Lodge’s Chili and Stew DayJoanne Byrd stirs up a pot of chili Friday for Masonic Lodge's 47th annual Chili and Stew Day.

Neighbors

Lea County Oil Wives hold December meeting