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Council Hires Familiar Face for Second Police Officer. Plus, Higher Trash Rates and a Fiscal Roadmap Update

The Village Council worked through a full agenda, unanimously approving several items, including a new police hire, rate adjustments, grant applications, and a financial compliance plan
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Taking Aim: Cloudcroft Schools Launch New Archery Program
NM Game & Fish Officer Anthony Chavez introduces NASP-- the National Archery in the Schools Program--to Cloudcroft
 • Hannah Dean
Cloudcroft's Top Cop, Returned: Schoolcraft on Re-Building a Department
Village PD Chief Roger Schoolcraft covers where the department stands, and how he thinks about policing a small mountain community
 • Hannah Dean
Former Cloudcroft Mayor Michael Nivison Dies at Age 82
Nivison’s family, his brother Randy, and his widow Roxanne, share his story with the Reader
 • Hannah Dean
Measles: Southern New Mexicans Recall Pre-Vaccine Era
A doctor who lives in La Luz and a woman from Las Cruces discuss having had the measles when they were kids.
Village Approves Returning PD Hire; Fire Risk Moved to HIGH; Egg Hunt Announced, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Cloudcroft PD Chief Roger Schoolcraft; Meet Chris Shaw; 1CAT, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Meet Mad Jack’s 'Left-Hand Man'
As James Jackson builds his next dream, he's left his mountaintop bbq in the hands of manager Chris Shaw — and while still for sale, Cloudcroft's…
 • Hannah Dean
Radio Stations Under New Ownership; Former Mayor Nivison Dies; La Luz Doctor Talks Measles; New Mt. Talk, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Radio Stations Get New Owners as Longtime Broadcaster Retires
Two Cloudcroft-licensed radio stations pass the baton
 • Chris Hearne
Otero County Measles Vaccination Rates for Ages 1-18 Hover at 88%
Herd immunity is achieved at 95% vaccination rates. NM Schools share their data amid recent Southern NM and West Texas outbreaks.
 • Jonny Coker
Sunspot Closed Indefinitely; Bears Continue in Playoffs; Crinklaw in Antarctica; Meet Beth Merrell, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Find Peace in the Mountains
Get to know Beth Merrell, owner and operator of Be in the Mountains Yoga & Massage Therapy
 • Hannah Dean
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Cloudcroft Reader
Cloudcroft Reader
The voice of the mountain. The most widely read publication serving the greater Cloudcroft community. Subscribe for free to receive our reporting.
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#top

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Rear View: Top 2025 Stories
With this year in the rear-view mirror, what stories did Readers, well...read? Plus, the Reader team makes our picks.
 • Hannah Dean and Chris Hearne
Wiley Wins Mayor Race; CHS Cross Country Goes to State; Prescribed Fire; FY24 VoC Audit Results, and More
Every trail tells a story. Stay informed with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Cloudcroft Woman Arrested in Wichita County, Texas on Murder Charges
Deana Thetford was booked into the Wichita County Jail on charges of murder and tampering with evidence
 • Hannah Dean and Drew Gaines
Two Sides of a Soured Deal: Defense Responds to Allegations in Apple Barn Lawsuit and Makes Some of Their Own
With new court filings and a judge’s receivership decision, we revisit the Old Apple Barn Lawsuit to hear what the defense has to say
 • Chris Hearne and Drew Gaines
Workshopping Cloudcroft's Water Challenges
The Village of Cloudcroft Council meets with CDM Smith engineering firm, Public Works, and concerned citizens to discuss water issues
 • Hannah Dean
54:17
Cloudcroft's Murky Accounting
Village administration discovers it's been living in a financial fog
 • Hannah Dean and Chris Hearne
Cloudcroft's Fire Chief Shares Village Emergency Alert Plan
As the South Fork and Salt Fires burn to our North, and thousands of people remain evacuated, Fire and EMS Chief Wuersching reminds Cloudcroft Village…
 • Hannah Dean and Chris Hearne
Ruidoso Fire Believed 'Intentional'
Cloudcroft Mayor says Cloudcroft stands by to help Ruidoso however possible and is working to prepare the Village if ever such an event occurs here.
 • Hannah Dean and Chris Hearne

#lodging

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What's Out There? Sacramento Camp & Conference Center
Take a look at the secluded haven in Sacramento, New Mexico, with the Reader
 • Hannah Dean
Village News: Lodger’s Tax and P+Z Meetings, Interim Budget
The Lodger's Tax funding ask, P+Z open seat, and the Village gets the interim budget in on time.
 • Hannah Dean
Hotel Cloudcroft on Burro ‘Closer to Opening’: Water Pressure Test Truck-In Scheduled at ‘No Cost to Village’
The newly remodeled hotel plans to open soon after passing tests and inspections, date TBA.
 • Hannah Dean
Cloudcroft Village Trustee Gail McCoy Shares Her Journey
Trustee, fitness instructor, B&B owner, and great-grandma Gail McCoy sits down with Cloudcroft Reader Senior Editor Hannah Dean to share her life story…
 • Hannah Dean
Cloudcroft Reader’s Lodging Guide: Part Two
Meet the owners, take a video tour, and plan your stay on the mountain with part two of our user-friendly guide.
 • Drew Gaines
Rebecca's Final Chapter
Ghost of Rebecca will no longer haunt fine dining at The Lodge as Cloudcroft resort rebrands its showcase restaurant, introduces new menu
 • Drew Gaines
The Lodge at Cloudcroft: A Century-Old Icon's Renaissance
Owner Joe Duncan shares the journey of restoring a mountain gem.
 • Chris Hearne
Alta Vista Motel Slated for New Owner, New Look, New Name
Big Daddy’s Diner owners plan to remake chalet-style motel
 • Hannah Dean

#water

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Council Hires Familiar Face for Second Police Officer. Plus, Higher Trash Rates and a Fiscal Roadmap Update
The Village Council worked through a full agenda, unanimously approving several items, including a new police hire, rate adjustments, grant…
 • Hannah Dean
Last Night's Village Meeting; Pineywoods Update; Meet Robin Faux, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Cloudcroft Stops Hauling Water: Plus, Key Takeaways from Last Night’s Meeting
Council also approves $738K equipment grant, $47K in lodgers tax funding to the Chamber of Commerce, employee raises, and begins planning for wastewater…
 • Hannah Dean
He Fell Waist-Deep Into a Hole. That's How Pineywoods Estates Residents in High Rolls Found Their Water Leak.
The Sacramento Mountains community faced a water crisis during heavy snowfall. Some residents have had service restored, with a boil advisory in effect…
 • Hannah Dean
Big Leak Found, Fixed; New Podcast; Snow Removal Program; P+Z Gains; Winter Storm Fern, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Public Works Finds the "Big One"
Contractor McKim & Creed helps locate a massive water leak on Columbine Blvd. in Cloudcroft. The Village water department fixes it.
 • Hannah Dean
Storm Batters Cloudcroft; Water News; NM Downwinders Eligible for RECA; Recommended Reading, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Cloudcroft Temporarily Hires Leak Detection Company
Public Works Supervisor JJ Carrizal calls in reenforcements.
 • Hannah Dean

#school

View all
Taking Aim: Cloudcroft Schools Launch New Archery Program
NM Game & Fish Officer Anthony Chavez introduces NASP-- the National Archery in the Schools Program--to Cloudcroft
 • Hannah Dean
Sunspot Closed Indefinitely; Bears Continue in Playoffs; Crinklaw in Antarctica; Meet Beth Merrell, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Cloudcroft’s December School Board Meeting: Takeaways
What'd you miss at last night's Board of Education meeting?
 • Hannah Dean
Basketball and Bonfires: A Cloudcroft December Weekend
Photos of the Mountain Top Tournament and annual winter Ullr Fest at the ice rink
 • Hannah Dean
Wiklund Talks Ice Rink; Your Council-Elect; Phone-Free School; Veterans Day; Cool Investment in Cloudcroft, and More
Every trail tells a story. Stay informed with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
7:47
Phone-free Classrooms in Cloudcroft
Cloudcroft Middle School saw a sharp rise in academic proficiency after locking away phones. Educators and researchers are watching to see if the…
Wiley Wins Mayor Race; CHS Cross Country Goes to State; Prescribed Fire; FY24 VoC Audit Results, and More
Every trail tells a story. Stay informed with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Fall in Cloudcroft: Photo Essay
See this classic October Cloudcroft weekend through pics of the school Fall Festival, Village Pumpkin Roll and parade, and more.
 • Hannah Dean

#villageCouncil

View all
Village Approves Returning PD Hire; Fire Risk Moved to HIGH; Egg Hunt Announced, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Council Hires Familiar Face for Second Police Officer. Plus, Higher Trash Rates and a Fiscal Roadmap Update
The Village Council worked through a full agenda, unanimously approving several items, including a new police hire, rate adjustments, grant…
 • Hannah Dean
Former Cloudcroft Mayor Michael Nivison Dies at Age 82
Nivison’s family, his brother Randy, and his widow Roxanne, share his story with the Reader
 • Hannah Dean
Cloudcroft Stops Hauling Water: Plus, Key Takeaways from Last Night’s Meeting
Council also approves $738K equipment grant, $47K in lodgers tax funding to the Chamber of Commerce, employee raises, and begins planning for wastewater…
 • Hannah Dean
Preview: Village Council Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17th
What's on the agenda and where to find the livestream
 • Hannah Dean and Chris Hearne
Big Leak Found, Fixed; New Podcast; Snow Removal Program; P+Z Gains; Winter Storm Fern, and More
Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
Cloudcroft's New Mayor Confronts Water, Budget in First Interview
Dusty Wiley discusses water leaks, frozen state grants, staffing, revenue, budget, and how he got here. Plus, WATCH: Jonny Coker interviews Wiley on the…
 • Hannah Dean and Jonny Coker
The Hunt for a Million-Gallon Leak, Bluff Springs Closures Extended, and More
Water woes continue to confound the village. Follow the story with the Reader, the Voice of the Mountain.
 • Reader Staff
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