<![CDATA[Cloudcroft Reader]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UtEJ!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffe732187-1289-4594-a42a-87929a2092db_1024x1024.pngCloudcroft Readerhttps://www.cloudcroftreader.comSubstackTue, 16 Jun 2026 02:18:12 GMT<![CDATA[Water Rate COL Hike; Going Solar; Pickleball Tournament Results, and More]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/water-rate-col-hike-going-solar-pickleballhttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/water-rate-col-hike-going-solar-pickleballWed, 10 Jun 2026 17:57:54 GMT

Your Wednesday Review continues after this brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, The Cloudcroft Art Society:

CAS meets Sunday, June 14, 1:00 p.m. in the Old Red Brick Schoolhouse. CAS always welcomes new and returning attendees anytime, and one doesn’t need to want to exhibit or sell art.

CAS will have its ‘cooperative’ Art Gallery open every Saturday in June from 10 to 3 in the Red Brick building, with a dozen juried artists exhibiting pottery, lithograph prints, paintings in all media, fine art photography, smaller, affordable reproductions of original paintings and photography, gourdcraft, woodcraft, fused glass, other whimsical creations, and art cards.

Trails-and-Rails, Beerfest Weekend

Cloudcroft has a busy weekend ahead with the Trails and Rails run and Beerfest. Check out the Monthly’s video report, here:

Watch VIDEO

Cloudcroft Woman Sentenced to 18 Years for Killing Husband

Deana Thetford was sentenced to 18 years in prison for second-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and forgery in the death of her husband, Craig Thetford.

More on that story from KOB4 News https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/cloudcroft-woman-sentenced-to-18-years-for-killing-husband/

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]]><![CDATA[Council Approves Water Rate COL Hike, Dormant Solar Panels Begin Paying Off]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/council-approves-water-rate-col-hikehttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/council-approves-water-rate-col-hikeWed, 10 Jun 2026 14:43:45 GMT
The council applauds former Mayor Dave Venable, whom they presented the key to the village over the phone.

The Tuesday, June 9, council meeting drew a crowd to witness water rate approvals, infrastructure updates, a push for Sunspot, and real-time updates on a fire on the highway.

Mayor Dusty Wiley announced mid-session that Highway 82 between Cloudcroft and High Rolls was closed after a semitruck’s transmission caught fire near Osha Trail.

Wiley was relaying a text update from Fire/EMS Chief Erich Wuersching, who was on site at the fire.

Police Chief Roger Schoolcraft, who stepped out of the meeting to respond, returned around 7 p.m. to report the highway remained closed for cleanup but that traffic was being diverted through the Osha Trail parking lot.

No injuries were reported. The highway has since reopened.

After the fire (Photo: Cloudcroft Fire Department)

Water Rates, Water Loss, and a Solar Dividend

The board unanimously approved a 3.3 percent water rate increase effective July 1, tied by existing ordinance to the annual CPI-U figure published by UNM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, according to Village Clerk Jini Turri.

Trustee Matt Willett, a lodger who co-owns Cloudcroft Brewing Company and has a direct stake in water pricing, voted in favor of the increase.

Willett views the CPI bump as a floor. He pushed for a workshop with Public Works Supervisor JJ Carrizal to build a tiered rate structure that would charge high-volume and commercial users more per thousand gallons.

“Right now you get your first 4,000 gallons for a set amount and then every thousand above that it’s $6.27,” Willett said. “To me, that’s pretty cheap. A stepped approach would be reasonable, for sure.”

Willett noted the CPI adjustment hadn’t been made in several years, and Turri said she couldn’t say if it had ever been adjusted.

Trustee Danny Hardwick said, ”I also think commercial should be a higher rate, because you can make money off your water, and I can’t make money off my water.”

A water rate workshop with Carrizal is expected before the next billing cycle.

Carrizal’s infrastructure report covered several fronts. A 36 percent gap between water produced and water billed is under investigation; Carrizal believes it’s a metering or billing error rather than actual loss, but the cause hasn’t been confirmed.

At the wastewater plant, the clarigestor has been converted to a solids holding tank, and an inspector is scheduled for June 16 to assess the trickling filter before parts are ordered.

The meeting’s brightest infrastructure news: solar panels installed years ago for a water reuse project that never launched had been sitting idle, save for the plant workshop’s lights, feeding power back to the grid unused.

Carrizal’s team redirected that generation to the high-service pump building. The cost per kilowatt dropped from $60.09 to $38.73.

“With all those numbers, it’s about at least $10,000 a year in savings,” Mayor Wiley said.

“That system just sat there for years and years,” Carrizal said. The panels are about 15 years old and in serviceable condition; dust removal is the main maintenance requirement.

Pothole repairs are underway. Swallow Street is scheduled to be paved from Fox Squirrel to Fox next week, weather allowing. The new pickleball courts are nearing completion and will be worked on further this week, rain permitting.

Finance Report

Finance Director Sylvia Hall presented the village’s May bank balance: approximately $4.81 million across main accounts, $5.29 million across all funds.

There was no presentation on what funds out of the $5 million were already owed.

Several line items, including the recreation improvements fund at $304,000 and the EMS fund, which shows a negative balance, were flagged as inaccurate pending reconciliation of misallocated expenditures. The finance team is working through the corrections.

Village Finance Administrative Assistant Barbara Garcia described the process to the Reader after the meeting, which involves sorting through “thousands and thousands” of checks to reconcile allocations.

Catch up on the village’s budget here: https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/cloudcroft-clears-state-filing-backlog

Friends of Sunspot Ask for a Proclamation

Sunspot Solar Observatory education and public engagement employee Heidi Sanchez, speaking in her own capacity, and Dave Dooling of Friends of Sunspot presented to the council, asking the village to issue a “proclamation of support” that they can carry to state and federal representatives and to the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The issue: a January 5 mercury leak at the observatory’s main solar telescope prompted the NSF to order not just remediation of the affected dome but also the demolition of the entire campus, including excavation to four feet and backfill, according to Dooling.

Read Jonny Coker’s previous reporting on Sunspot, here: https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/plans-to-demolish-sunspot-observatory

“It is not just the telescope that’s coming down — it is all the infrastructure,” Sanchez said. “This place is fully established with water systems, internet, and electricity. Why are we going to completely tear all that down when there’s still decades of potential ahead of it?”

According to the pair’s presentation, the campus draws more than $150,000 revenue annually, including 12,000 visitors from 42 states and 18 countries, and serves more than 2,000 students regionally. The visitor center houses what they described as the third-largest scaled solar system model in the United States, sixth in the world. Proposed alternative uses include a STEM education park, a dark-sky tourism destination, a planetarium, university residencies, and an RV park on the former prefab housing lot, where utilities and driveways remain intact.

Sanchez said she has not received a response from NSF and that the public comment period’s end date still needs to be confirmed. Mayor Wiley said a representative from Senator Ben Ray Luján’s office was said to be monitoring the meeting.

Finance Director Raise Tabled

Hall requested a $6-per-hour increase that would move her to Level 3 under the village’s compensation plan.

Trustees declined to act. The board passed a motion to revisit at a future date, with a supervisor recommendation required.

Giving Their Flowers

The meeting opened with a key to the village presented to Dave Venable, who served as trustee and mayor from 1994 to 2003.

“It was my privilege to work with some of the finest, most wonderful people I’ve ever been associated with,” Venable said over the phone. “They made Cloudcroft the great place that it is today. So I want to say thank you to all the folks for what they did and what they are continuing to do.”

Appreciation plaques were also presented to Grover Sterling and Michael Martin, who have volunteered video and audio services, including YouTube livestreams of council meetings, to the village.

Trustee Keith Hamilton credited the late Debbi McCurdy with funding the emergency helipad at Elevation Park. “I will say this out loud: Debbi McCurdy, she is the one who made this happen,” Hamilton said. “And we miss her dearly.”

A dedication is planned for July.

The newly-laid emergency helipad landing pad at Elevation Park

Other Business

The board approved several items:

  • A resolution establishing a $45 returned-check fee, a 25-cent-per-page copy fee, and a $1-per-page fax fee;

  • A resolution formally declaring extreme drought conditions and banning the sale and use of fireworks in alignment with the governor’s executive order (the village already has a fireworks ban in place);

  • and EMS Records Destruction Certificate 2026-02, covering EMS medical records from January 2011 through December 31, 2015.

License agreements with Sacramento Mountain Senior Services and High Canyon Weavers and Spinners were approved with minor amendments. The Cloudcroft Life Opera Company’s agreement was postponed to a future meeting pending board review and insurance documentation.

P+Z Ordinance Workshop, Coming Up

Planning and Zoning Chair Rick Donnelly reminded the public that an ordinance workshop is scheduled for June 16, noon to 6 p.m., at the Village Chambers.

The session is open to the public; attendees are encouraged to bring discussion items. Donnelly said he hopes to have sample ordinances from comparable communities available for review and that what’s not addressed that day will be carried to a future meeting.

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for the second Tuesday in July. See you there.

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]]><![CDATA[Second Annual Pickleball in the Clouds Tournament Results, Photo Essay]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/second-annual-pickleball-in-the-cloudshttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/second-annual-pickleball-in-the-cloudsWed, 10 Jun 2026 03:20:11 GMT
Double-doubles champion: Cloudcroft’s own Tami Alexander won gold in Intermediate Women’s Doubles and silver in Intermediate Mixed Doubles

The second annual Pickleball in the Clouds Tournament wrapped up on Sunday afternoon with stands full of spectators, students, and community volunteers.

The event drew players from El Paso, Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Midland, Artesia, and Ruidoso to the village to play indoors at the Cloudcroft High School and Middle School gyms, which volunteers from Pickleball Addicts of Cloudcroft and We Love Cloudcroft had prepared for the tournament.

The village is laying a new acrylic surface on the outdoor Zenith Park courts this month. Their completion was delayed by rain, leaving them unready in time for this year’s tournament—they should be ready for summer play soon.

Sunday’s final championship game was filled with fierce play by Mixed Doubles teams, with Whitney and Jesse Emberley taking the championship in a battle against Tami Alexander and David Coor. Samantha and Bruce Odom won bronze.

Tami Alexander and David Coor battle Jesse and Whitney Emberly in the Intermediate Mixed Doubles championship game

On Saturday, the Advanced Men’s Doubles team of Tom Krall and Steve Marlow won gold. Jason Alexander and Bruce Odom took silver. Jaxon Spencer and Cameron Duchene won bronze.

Tami Alexander and Hannah Dean won first in Intermediate Women’s Doubles against Paula Allen and Joy Johns, who gained silver. Ronda Suggs and Gloria Vaccaro secured the bronze.

Men’s Intermediate Doubles team Kent Kaneer and Samuel Legarreta took gold, with Jerry Weaver and John Krall taking silver. Eric Rodriguez and Lucas McGuire won bronze.

Beginner Mixed Doubles team Josiah Quinlan and Hannah Prudencio took gold against Stacey and Caleb Dodd, who won silver. Micah and Adlai Gutierrez won bronze.

Sportsmanship awards went to Debbie Hood, Kathryn Langdale, and Brian and Theresa Donisthorpe.

Sponsored by a range of local businesses and paid for in part by Lodger’s Tax funding, proceeds from the tournament benefit We Love Cloudcroft, a local fundraising group that supports student programs.

Organizer Samantha Odom told the Reader that the tournament was a successful fundraiser and will send out a survey to players soon, asking about their time in “beautiful Cloudcroft.”

Pickleballers get together after a weekend full of friendly competition

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]]><![CDATA[Cloudcroft Clears State Filing Backlog, Submits Two Budgets Ahead of Deadline]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/cloudcroft-clears-state-filing-backloghttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/cloudcroft-clears-state-filing-backlogTue, 09 Jun 2026 12:21:01 GMT
On Thursday, May 28, the council held a special in-person and online meeting to approve the FY 2025-26 and 2026-27 budgets.

Cloudcroft has closed a years-long state filing backlog, submitting a rebuilt FY 2025-26 budget and an interim FY 2026-27 budget to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), meeting the deadline a day early.

DFA confirmed the submissions.

The FY 2025-26 final budget required a complete redo beforehand.

The version filed in December with the DFA under the previous administration had never been accepted, requiring the finance team to rebuild it from scratch and resubmit it, according to Finance Administrative Assistant Barbara Garcia.

Last year, the Reader filed a public information request for the FY 2025-26 budget from the Village of Cloudcroft. Along with loan remittances and schedules, correspondence with the DFA, and more, here is what we received via email in October 2025:

Export Budget 20261017
882KB ∙ PDF file
Download
Download

The Reader also filed information requests with the DFA, and in December 2025, received this FY 2025-26 budget PDF via email:

Fy 2026 1
380KB ∙ PDF file
Download
Download

Village Clerk Jini Turri said of the FY 2025-26 budget at the May 19 regular council meeting:

“The operating budget that we're currently in right now was presented to the state, which was never approved by the state. We will be going in and DFA will let be allowing us to pretty much wipe out all of that those numbers that are in there that are wrong and redo it.”

“There was a lot of zeros, there was a lot of exaggerations, and I understand the reason. A budget had to be put in (on time) to be in compliance, but it wasn't reasonable, and it was never approved.”

The New Numbers

FY 2025-26 Final Budget: The general fund closed with revenues of $1,987,725 and expenditures of $1,189,501, resulting in an surplus of $798,224.

The water and sewer fund posted revenues of $1,146,706 against expenditures of $1,395,434, a deficit of $248,728. The village will transfer $250,000 from the general fund surplus to cover that shortfall, according to Garcia.

FY 2026-27 Interim Budget: The council approved the interim budget for the coming fiscal year without dissent; Trustee Gail McCoy abstained because of her employment with the village-funded public library.

  • The general fund projects revenues of $1,782,295 against expenditures of $1,513,528, yielding a surplus of $268,767.

  • The water and sewer department projects revenues of $1,167,500 and expenditures of $1,138,180, resulting in a surplus of $29,320.

The total projected revenues for FY 2026-27 stand at $2,949,795, against projected expenditures of $2,651,708, resulting in a surplus of $298,087.

The budget submissions mark a significant milestone in a recovery effort Village Clerk Jini Turri began approximately five months ago, untangling years of financial records across multiple state reporting systems.

At a previous council meeting, Turri had set a December target for reaching full compliance.

Finance team members Sylvia Hall, Barbara Garcia, and Village Clerk Jini Turri were present at the meeting. The full meeting is available on the village’s YouTube channel at @CloudcroftNewMexico.

Trustees Danny Hardwick and Matt Willett attended via Zoom. Mayor Dusty Wiley and Trustees Keith Hamilton and Gail McCoy were present in the chambers.

MVD, Meeting Changes

Garcia confirmed that after the hiring of Motor Vehicle Department Clerk Malary Davis, the Village MVD's projected opening is set for late June or early July, upon completion of Davis’ training.

In May, the council voted to hold all regular council meetings on the second Tuesday of the month. The next council meeting is Tuesday, June 9, at 6 p.m. in the village chambers.

Here’s what’s on the agenda:

Agenda June 9 2026
226KB ∙ PDF file
Download
Download

See you there.

This report is derived from previous Reader reporting and attendance at the May 19 regular meeting, budget workshops, a YouTube video of the May 28 special council meeting, and confirmed budget numbers from the Village of Cloudcroft Finance Administrative Assistant Barbara Garcia and Mayor Wiley, and public information requests from the Village of Cloudcroft and the New Mexico Department of Finance Administration.

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]]><![CDATA[Fugitive Pleads Guilty; Election Results; Summer Guide; Leadership Cloudcroft; Pickleball, and More]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/fugitive-pleads-guilty-election-resultshttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/fugitive-pleads-guilty-election-resultsWed, 03 Jun 2026 13:14:18 GMT

Primary Election Results: Otero County

The results are in.

Jonathan Emery defeated Amy Barela by a narrow margin for Otero County Commissioner District 2.

Geraldine Yazza Martinez beat out Raul Robles and Cesar Ramos with 54% of the vote for Otero County Sheriff.

New Mexico Conservative News’s Chris Edwards delivers some local analysis:

https://newmexicoconservativenews.com/2026/06/02/otero-county-primary-election-all-precincts-reporting-confirm-upsets-emery-defeats-barela-by-45-votes-martinez-wins-historic-sheriffs-race/

Your Wednesday Review continues after this brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, Off the Beaten Path:

Leadership Cloudcroft 2026 Welcomes New Group

Leadership Cloudcroft, the educational and networking program developed by the Cloudcroft Reader, welcomes Gail Overstreet Stone, Michelle Chase, Bre Kincaid, Dylan Kincaid, Steven Henry, Julia Dingee, Jon Brinkmann, Adrienne West, Cori Abel, and Tracy Machado to this year’s cohort.

Kicking off with a private event at The Distillery in June, where they’ll hear from Mayor Wiley after six months into his term and a Southwest Sports representative on their plans for the ice rink.

In July, the crew will visit Cloudcroft’s wells and springs with Public Works, and in August, they’ll brainstorm at the “Responsible Tourism” forum with 2026 co-chairs and LC alumni Amy Coor and Rick Donnelly.

Follow Leadership Cloudcroft on Facebook and look for updates in the Reader to get involved and RSVP for any public events.

Follow Leadership Cloudcroft

Reels: Monthly Pickleball Update

Vivian Willett reports on the upcoming Pickleball in the Clouds Tournament with organizer Samantha Odom—and Plan B for if the new court construction is delayed by recent rains.

Watch VIDEO report

What We’re Watching: Gardening in Otero County, New Mexico

Russell Davis’s newsletter keeps it local.

Gardening in Otero County, New Mexico
Video: Floren Family Farms - A Pollinator’s Paradise
Read more
13 days ago · Russell Davis

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]]><![CDATA[Weed Fugitive Known as "Walter" Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/weed-fugitive-known-as-walter-pleadshttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/weed-fugitive-known-as-walter-pleadsWed, 03 Jun 2026 12:57:32 GMT
A routine driver’s license renewal in Cloudcroft led federal investigators to a longtime fugitive in Weed, New Mexico.

Stephen Craig Campbell, the man arrested in February 2025 at his Weed property after more than 40 years as a U.S. Marshals most-wanted fugitive, has pleaded guilty to federal charges, according to court documents.

Campbell, 73, pleaded guilty to stealing the identity of a dead fellow university student, a case the Reader first covered when he was arrested last year.

In September 2019, a man by the name of Walter Lee Coffman renewed his driver's license at the Cloudcroft Motor Vehicle Department (MVD). That renewal eventually led federal investigators to Campbell.

In the early 1980s, Campbell faced charges for allegedly planting a bomb at the home of his estranged wife's boyfriend in Wyoming.

An explosion injured Campbell’s estranged wife, resulting in the loss of a finger and other injuries, and caused significant property damage, setting fire to the home and a neighboring residence. Released on bond, Campbell failed to appear for his court date and subsequently became one of the U.S. Marshals Service's most wanted fugitives. Campbell has not been convicted of the Wyoming attempted murder charge.

Campbell had been living under Coffman’s name for years. Coffman was a fellow engineering student of the University of Arkansas who died shortly after graduation at the age of 22 in a 1975 car accident.

Earlier this week, Campbell pleaded guilty to misuse of a passport, possession of false papers to defraud the United States, aggravated identity theft, and being a fugitive from justice in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He faces up to 12 years in federal prison at sentencing.

Campbell also admitted to collecting about $140,000 in Social Security retirement benefits under Coffman's name.

Federal agents executing a search warrant at Campbell’s property found him armed and partially concealed. Agents recovered 57 firearms at the property and a large quantity of ammunition. Campbell acknowledged that as a fugitive from justice, he was prohibited from possessing firearms.

Sentencing is scheduled for September. Campbell faces a pending attempted first-degree murder charge in Wyoming.

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]]><![CDATA[Cloudcroft Summer: 2026 Field Guide]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/cloudcroft-summer-2026-field-guidehttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/cloudcroft-summer-2026-field-guideSun, 31 May 2026 14:03:01 GMT
Art & Wine in the Cool Pines returns to the Pioneer Village this August.

Sacramento Mountain summers are packed: outdoor fun, live music, events, trail races, disc golf, pickleball, cool-weather wandering, and dark-sky nights.

Whether you live here year-round, come up for the season, or are visiting for the first time, mark your calendars for cool-weather fun on the sky island.

For the Art Lovers

Dark skies remain a draw for hobby astronomers and scientists. Wildlife brings photographers and hunters to the mountain.

Local photographer Bobby Moberly is one example of the mountain’s summer appeal, regularly capturing wildlife and landmarks seen around the Sacramento Mountains. Moberly’s use of heightened color and dynamic compositions captures the thrill of seeing a bear, elk, or turkey up close.

Gallery stops include Samantha Odom Art on Burro, which shares a courtyard with The Little Gallery featuring local art and oddities, plus Aspen & Ivy for handmade local art and bespoke gifts. Step one street over for Off the Beaten Path, which lives up to its name with one-of-a-kind art.

The Burro Street Trading Post offers hand-carved and artisan pottery, sculptures, paintings, and more—all with a southwest flair or by indigenous artists.

Osha Trail Depot features local artists in a variety of media, with lots of landscape and floral paintings with a New Mexican vibe.

Want to try your hand at artmaking or refine your skills? Join the Cloudcroft Art Workshops for their summer series. Register for a 4-5 day course here: https://cloudcroftart.com/registration/

The annual Art & Wine in the Cool Pines at the Sacramento Mountains Historic Museum and Pioneer Village is happening August 7-9. Fine artists, regional wineries, and food trucks are sprinkled throughout the gorgeous historic campus. Perfect for a weekend date.

That same August weekend also brings newly organized events: a Quick Draw live art event and the Art Dash at the Lodge Pavilion. The Reader will follow up with more details soon.

Get Together

Summer’s marquee festival weekends start with BeerFest on June 13–14, followed by the Fourth of July Parade on Independence Day and the Christmas in July Jamboree on July 11–12.

BeerFest brings New Mexican breweries and wineries, live music, food trucks, and vendors to Zenith Park. The family-friendly event has entertainment for all ages. Seating can be limited for live music—bringing your own camp chair is a good idea if you plan to stay awhile.

The Sacred Heart Mission Catholic Church’s Annual Fiesta happens on June 13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come for games, music, folklórico dancers, a cake walk, tacos, enchiladas, posole, aguas frescas, hamburgers, and more at the mission-style church along James Canyon Highway.

The Chamber and the Village are accepting applications for the Fourth of July Parade. Deck out your car, truck, bike, or trailer and join the celebration. Register here: https://www.chamberdata.net/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=nmclcr&class=E

The Christmas in July Jamboree nods to Cloudcroft’s designation as the Christmas Capital of New Mexico. Find vendors and food trucks at Zenith Park for this event.

The Sacramento Mountain Historic Museum is putting on the first annual Museum Fest on July 18, where regional museums will display their attractions at the Cloudcroft Ice Rink. (Editor’s Note: The location was originally the Lodge Pavilion, but has changed, according to organizer Lynn Melton.)

The Weed, NM community is tuning up for the 30th Annual Bluegrass Festival, set for Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a Sunday Gospel Service to follow on July 19 at 9 a.m.

The all-day Saturday celebration will feature live bluegrass bands, food, door prizes, and a variety of vendors offering bluegrass-themed merchandise, plus new kids’ activities including face painting and an indoor bouncy house. Festival admission for bluegrass is $15 per person or $30 for a family group, while the Sunday event is free.

Live music remains a regular part of the season at Cloudcroft Brewing Co. and The Distillery. Keep an eye on Sparks + Rec Cannabis Lounge, the Lodge, and Noisy Water Winery for live music sets, DJs, and special events. Follow their social media pages for regular updates.

The Shady Pines Chamber Players’ annual cello concert at the High School Commons brings classical music to the village.

The Shady Pines Chamber Players (SPCP) concerts are also back for the season. The season 14 lineup includes the family-friendly, free Fairy Garden Strolls in the whimsical gardens at 200 Fox from 2–5 p.m. on select dates between June 26 and September 7, with visits also available by appointment.

The popular SPCP Cello Band, featuring a “mob of prodigal cellists,” performs Saturday, June 20 at 3 p.m. in the Cloudcroft High School Commons, followed by Austin-based swingy, bluesy, country act Tiger Alley on Saturday, August 1 at 7 p.m. on Shady Pines’ Bertha Stage.

All events are free, with donations encouraged to support Cloudcroft Schools Music Programs and help cover SPCP expenses. For information or to donate, email shadypinestwigs@gmail.com.

Follow the Cloudcroft Light Opera Company on Facebook to catch the latest melodramas at the Zenith Park Pavilion—family-friendly fun, where you boo the villain and cheer for the hero.

From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, historic Lodge hotel is now open for lodging seven days a week. The restaurant, 1899, will remain open Wednesday through Saturday evenings, while St Andrew’s Lounge will continue to be open at noon on those same days.

1899 serves a breakfast buffet every Saturday and Sunday morning, starting at 8 am. This buffet is included for hotel guests and open to the public for $18 per person.

Parks + Rec.

Wanderlust Running continues their Sacramento Mountain Trails series with:

  • Trails & Rails on June 13 at the Trestle Recreation Area, offering 8-mile, 3-mile, and 1-mile Kid’s Dash options.

  • The Cloudcroft Ultra follows on August 15, with a 53K, 9.5-mile, 4.75-mile, and 1-mile Kid’s Dash, starting and finishing at Zenith Park.

  • Finish the Series with the Cactus to Cloud Sky Race, October 17-18, a 50k and 32k race that boasts New Mexico’s only point-to-point ultra trail race and highest elevation course in the state.

Finish strong at Zenith Park at the Cloudcroft Ultra.

Arrive a few days early if you can. Cloudcroft sits at about 8,676 feet, and the race info specifically advises visitors to arrive early to acclimate to the altitude. Sign up at wanderlust.run.

For everyday play, head to disc golf at Zenith Park, where the Byron Ligon course was recently reworked into a beginner-friendly par-3 loop. Check out the Elevation Park community disc golf course, ranked number two in the state on UDisc.com for its basin views, mountain terrain, and challenging play.

Public pickleball courts at Zenith are being resurfaced this week, and the second annual Pickleball in the Clouds tournament adds a competitive weekend to the mix June 6-7. Register here: https://app.pickleballden.com/external-tournament/5468394

Golf the Scottish-Nine course at the Lodge resort and hotel, and keep an eye on the Lodge’s social media for night golf tournaments and scramble announcements.

The Sacramento Camp & Conference Center near Weed sits on a 300-acre campus. This year-round non-denominational Christian camp welcomes groups, families, and individuals with lodging options ranging from dorms and motel-style rooms to RV sites and tent camping. Recreation is plentiful — think horseback trail rides, zip lines, ATV tours, a rifle range, archery, paintball, and much more, plus annual children’s summer camps and conference facilities for up to 400 people.

Camp Mary White, a rustic girls and women-only outdoor camp near Mayhill, offers hands-on nature experiences. Backed by a nonprofit friends group established in 2003, the camp has a rich history dating back nearly a century and offers summer camp sessions and women’s retreats.

Get your best Sasquatch hunting gear ready for the Bigfoot Scavenger Hunt, presented by the NM Rails-to-Trails Association.

On Saturday, June 6, teams will hunt for Bigfoot silhouettes along National Forest Service trails. Registration is just $5–$13 per team, but spots are capped at 25 teams or 100 participants and tend to sell out fast.

Amenities Update

According to the Timberon Water & Sanitation District (TWSD), the Timberon Community Pool is not open this season due to “a lack of funds.”

The popular all-ages community pool in Timberon is closed this season.

For a public swim, head to the Grand Cloudcroft Hotel, which opens its pool to non-guests on Sundays from noon to 2 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

Cloudy’s Market is the stop for fresh meat, local produce, and high-end pantry goods. Find them at 102 Mexican Avenue in the heart of the village.

The Michael Nivison Public Library in Cloudcroft has a full summer schedule ahead. The library is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Storytime with Gail continues every Friday at 10:30 a.m.

The library will open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning June 13.

The library is also launching a summer lecture series with Sandra Barr. Sessions run on Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. on June 11, July 2, July 23, and August 13. A bonus lecture on van Gogh is set for July 16. The library is closed on those days, so attendees should use the side entrance.

Barr describes the series as “fun, chatty, not boring” — the same lectures she gave at the University of Arizona and Cornell. Topics cover Greek sculpture, architecture, painting, and culture, presented chronologically. Of the van Gogh lecture, she notes he is “very misrepresented in the movies.”

June kicks off with the announcement of a Photo Hunt on June 1, followed by a Daniel Tiger Scavenger Hunt on June 13 (noon–2 p.m.), a Book Tasting on June 15 at 5:30 p.m., and a Bug Hotel-making workshop on June 20 at 1 p.m.

July brings a Fourth of July celebration at the library from 1–3 p.m., a Nature Scavenger Hunt on July 10 at 1 p.m., announcement of Photo Contest winners on July 11 at 1 p.m., and a Nature Art Painting session on July 31 at 1 p.m.

August wraps up the summer with Battle of the Bands on August 1 at 1 p.m. and a Nature Scavenger Hunt on August 7 at 11 a.m.

The library is located at 90 Swallow Place in Cloudcroft. For more information, stop in during regular hours.

To get the local voice on village businesses, events, lodging, recreation, and shopping, Discover Cloudcroft now offers the insider guide to Cloudcroft. The Mountain Monthly, a 38-year-old local publication that Reader team Chris Hearne and Hannah Dean co-own with Justin Muñoz, powers the site.

Use the site to build out a stay around event weekends, music nights, and trail time.

Lend a hand keeping the village looking its best: local non-profit Keep Cloudcroft Clean announces monthly volunteer trash clean-ups on their Facebook page.

Check out the Cloudcroft Village and Lincoln National Forest websites for fire restrictions and other critical announcements before your visit.

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]]><![CDATA[Sunspot; Meet Jonny Coker; Ray Haller; Checkerspot Butterfly; Village Budget Meeting, and More ]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/sunspot-meet-jonny-coker-ray-hallerhttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/sunspot-meet-jonny-coker-ray-hallerWed, 27 May 2026 14:21:48 GMT
Cloudcroft local Jonny Coker has returned to the mountain, bringing his journalism chops to the Reader

Here’s Jonny Coker, Cloudcroft Reader Contributing Editor

The newest player in the Reader jam band, Jonny Coker grew up in Cloudcroft and has spent much of his journalism career covering local issues across southern New Mexico.

His work has appeared on NPR, KRWG Public Media, KUNM, The Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative, and others.

Recently, he’s reported on the Sunspot solar observatory’s planned demolition and the advocates against it, the Seven Cabins Fire, and local disc golf legend Ray Haller.

Your Wednesday Review continues after this brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, PVT:

Village Meets for Interim Budget Approval: Thursday, May 28

The Cloudcroft Village Council meets at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 28 in the village chambers with the approval of the FY 26-27 interim budget on the docket. See the full agenda, below:

Special Meeting Notice 5 28 26
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NYT: A Very Lonely Caterpillar, Possibly the Last of Its Kind, Has Died.

The Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly hasn’t been seen in the wild since 2022. The caterpillar was the last individual in human care.

New York Times reporter Catrin Einhorn shares the update on the Sacramento Mountains Checkerspot Butterfly: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/climate/a-very-lonely-caterpillar-the-sacramento-mountains-checkerspot-has-died.html

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]]><![CDATA[Cloudcroft's Top-Ranked Disc Golf Course: Ray Haller Built it]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/cloudcrofts-top-ranked-disc-golfhttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/cloudcrofts-top-ranked-disc-golfWed, 27 May 2026 13:03:25 GMT
Haller, self-proclaimed “Frisbee Geezer” at hole 12 of the Cloudcroft Community Disc Golf Course at Elevation Park

“I grew up on Walt Disney’s Motion Picture Ranch,” Ray Haller said, recalling when his father managed the sprawling property in Southern California. His dad’s work brought him to southern New Mexico during the filming of the 1971 movie Scandalous John.

Haller followed soon after.

“I came up here and thought, wow,” he said. “It was different than what I was used to, Southern California, the tropics. It was a small town. There was even a horse stable right in the middle of it.”

Fresh out of high school, Haller did his share of exploring the world. He lived in Mexico for five years, Australia for a stretch, and Kingston near Silver City. But Cloudcroft remained what he considers home base, and it’s where he began managing the town’s ice skating rink in the early ‘90s.

He walked into the Chamber of Commerce in the fall of 1992, with no experience running a rink and a self-described dislike of winter, and talked his way into the job anyway.

“They were so glad to see me,” he laughs. “They got me a coffee and a chair.”

Disc Golf Comes to the Village

It was around 1995 or ‘96 that a friend introduced him to disc golf, bringing a bag of discs up from Lubbock, Texas, where the sport already had a foothold. Ray was intrigued.

At the time, disc golf was gaining popularity, although long before formal courses, Haller remembers a looser version of the game.

“We got tired of just throwing [a Frisbee] back and forth,” he said. “So we’d say, ‘Okay, there’s a fire hydrant over there, you’ve got to hit it from here.’ We made a little course. We didn’t call it disc golf yet.”

By the late ’90s, Haller was all in. During his seven years managing Cloudcroft’s ice skating rink, he used his off-seasons to travel.

“I went around and played almost 300 courses around the country… for two springs in a row,” he said. “Then I decided, well, I think I know enough now how to put a course in.”

The result of that exploration was Cloudcroft’s first disc golf course, now called the Byron Ligon Disc Golf Course, a nine-hole layout in Zenith Park with ten metal baskets that Ray and longtime local teacher Mr. Booky fabricated themselves.

“I got sponsors from different businesses in town, $150 each,” he said. “We had ten baskets… and that’s how it was.”

Decades later, Haller would take on a far more ambitious project: designing what is now the Cloudcroft Community Disc Golf Course near the village’s old baseball field. The idea, he said, came casually over a beer with then-mayor Dave Venable.

“I said, ‘You could put in a pretty good course around the baseball field up there in the woods,’” Haller recalled. “Five minutes later, he says, ‘That’s a good idea. Go talk to Jini about it.”

Jini Turri, Cloudcroft’s village clerk, then and now, was, in Ray’s telling, the person who actually made it happen from the administrative standpoint.

“She was really responsible for making it real,” he said.

The Village agreed to cover the materials, including the baskets, signage, tee pads, and some tools. Ray contributed the design and all the labor.

“It took six and a half months to put in,” Haller said. “And when I realized I was going to have to build the thing, I was like, oh God.”

Six-and-a-half months and countless hours of chainsaw work and trail-cutting later, the Cloudcroft Community Disc Golf Course opened its 18 holes to the public in 2019.

“I had no idea what to expect,” Haller said. “We’re kind of far away from major cities.”

Now, Top-Ranked Community Course

Today, it holds a 4.6-out-of-5-star rating on UDisc from more than 500 reviews, consistently ranks as the second-best course in the entire state of New Mexico, and draws players from Holloman Air Force Base, Albuquerque, Texas, Oklahoma, and, on at least one memorable occasion, Budapest, Hungary.

“It’s kind of an odd horseshoe-shaped piece of property,” Haller said. “I jigsaw-pieced it together.”

Unlike flat, park-style courses, Cloudcroft’s layout leans into the mountain environment, with elevation changes, dense trees, and uneven footing. The result is a course that challenges players physically and has earned a reputation far beyond the village.

Haller doesn’t claim perfection in the course’s design. Still, he stands by it, noting the difficulty of working around the property boundaries of the national forest and the village maintenance yard. His advice to others on course design is simple. Choose the right land, and understand the game.

Haller’s happy with what the course has become, and he’s still playing, still learning, even after decades in the sport.

“I need that kind of exercise… going up and down those hills,” he said. “I’m glad people like it.”

Haller’s contributions to Cloudcroft stretch far beyond disc golf, but the course is his most visible legacy. In some ways, the Cloudcroft Community Disk Golf Course reflects the town itself. Scenic, a little rugged, occasionally crowded, but never dull.

“It’s a great area,” Haller said. “We’re an oasis.”

“If I can do it, anybody can.”

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]]><![CDATA[Sunspot Faces Sunset]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/plans-to-demolish-sunspot-observatoryhttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/plans-to-demolish-sunspot-observatoryMon, 25 May 2026 16:52:54 GMT
The Sunspot solar observatory is set for demolition this fall. The Friends of Sunspot want the National Science Foundation to rethink the decision.

The National Science Foundation is pressing ahead with plans to demolish the Sunspot Observatory campus in the Sacramento Mountains following a January mercury spill, and a coalition of former staff and community members is calling for a pause.

Dave Dooling, a former education officer for the National Solar Observatory who worked at Sunspot from 2002 to 2012, is the spokesman for the Friends of Sunspot, an informal coalition of former staff, residents, and observatory supporters formed in response to the demolition announcement.

The group is still organizing, with plans to approach local commissions and, eventually, state and federal legislators.

At a recent Cloudcroft village council meeting, Dooling and Heidi Sanchez, who oversees education and public engagement for the observatory, addressed the council during public comment, asking for support in opposing the demolition.

“Just because the telescope isn’t operational doesn’t mean the rest of the site’s still not viable,” Sanchez said. “To spend all that money to demolish everything – our tax dollars could be used better than that.”

Heidi Sanchez, speaking in her own personal capacity, has been vocal in opposing the planned demolition of the Sacramento Peak Observatory campus.

Sanchez, who said she was speaking for herself and not on behalf of NMSU, explained that the scope of what would be lost extends well beyond the telescope itself. The campus includes a fire station, post office, dormitories, housing, visitor center with a museum and gift shop, and of course, the people who live and work there.

“The people who work here are now out of a job, and they’re having to go look elsewhere for employment … you have people who live here,” she said. “We get tourism from around the world, and so those people that would come to New Mexico that have astronomy interests or science interests would no longer be drawn to this area.”

Sanchez said she understands the mercury removal must go forward, but full demolition beyond that would be a major loss for tourism and for the scientific training of students who choose to study in New Mexico.

“Most people are very upset, but they think the decision has already been made and there’s nothing they can do about it. And so that’s why I’m trying to be vocal, because I want people to push back on that decision,” she said. “Tearing [the site] down and not seeing that tower there, I think it’s going to leave a void in a lot of people.”

By Sanchez’s count, the Sunspot Visitor Center draws an average of 12,500 people a year and reaches more than 2,150 students through roughly 60 school and youth groups. The site’s structured outreach programs connect with more than 3,400 people annually and partner with organizations across the region, including White Sands National Park and Holloman Air Force Base.

Sanchez said that despite the current state of things, she hasn’t lost hope and would like to see community pushback lead to the National Science Foundation halting demolition plans.

“If people get vocal, speak up, and join efforts to rally together, we can potentially stop what’s happening,” she said. “There’s got to be a path forward for Sunspot in preserving this important scientific and cultural landmark for future generations to enjoy. Because once you start decommissioning, there’s no way to go back in time and fix things.”

What Happened

The Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope has stood above the Sacramento Mountains for more than 50 years, producing solar research and training generations of scientists.

On Jan. 5, a liquid mercury leak surfaced inside the Dunn Solar Telescope at the Sacramento Peak Observatory in Sunspot. Eleven days later, a crack was found at the weld between a mercury valve and the bottom of the telescope’s bearing.

On Feb. 24, NSF made its broader intentions official with the announcement that it would move forward with full demolition and site restoration of not just the Dunn Solar Telescope, but the entire Sacramento Peak Observatory campus, including residential and support buildings.

According to internal documents, hazardous materials experts had removed approximately 186 pounds of mercury from platforms inside the telescope as of Jan. 15. In March, NSF awarded a sole-source emergency contract to the structural engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti to lead structural stabilization and full mercury removal.

“No Immediate Need to Demolish”

While the NSF appears firm in its decision, Dooling argues that more should be done to try to save the Dunn Solar Telescope and the surrounding facilities.

“Give us a couple of years at least,” Dooling said. “There’s no immediate need to demolish it and make it disappear.”

Dooling calls the demolition decision premature and points to the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope in Arizona — an old scientific facility converted into an education center — as a model for Sunspot.

Dave Dooling, a former education officer at the National Solar Observatory and spokesman for Friends of Sunspot, is pushing for a halt to demolition to allow time for alternative proposals to take shape.

His vision, which he calls a “Sunspot Science Park,” would include an RV park for amateur astronomers, a science camp for students, and the reactivation of smaller telescopes on the site.

He also contends that the Dunn itself could be rehabilitated, either using a liquid metal alloy called Galinstan as a mercury-free bearing replacement or using rotating mirrors to get the telescope operating again.

“These would be great graduate study projects to figure out which would be the best way to rehabilitate that telescope and bring it back into operation,” Dooling said. “At minimum, it could be preserved and used as a museum with hands-on science exhibits, teaching how the sun works, how we study it, and how optics and light work.”

Demolition itself faces a lengthy regulatory process, including seasonal restrictions to protect the Mexican Spotted owl, biological surveys, geophysical assessments for karst features, and multiple environmental compliance permits. Dooling said that the process alone could buy the observatory time.

If demolition proceeds, the land would return to Lincoln National Forest management. In an email, a Forest Service spokesperson said staff are already thinking about what comes next.

“As the permit holder and the agency responsible for the facility, NSF is the lead decision-maker. NSF determined the appropriate scope of remediation, selected the cleanup method, and made the final decision regarding demolition as part of its mercury remediation contract,” the spokesperson said.

“Forest Service staff have begun internally discussing the future of this land and how it best serves the community. While no decisions can be made at this time, ideas have included establishing a recreation site, a campground, or even an interpretive location. These ideas are only conceptual and are far from implementation.”

Considering Costs

Dooling acknowledged that the odds are long, particularly given the upheaval across federal agencies and a proposed White House budget that would cut NSF’s operational funding roughly in half. But he is not ready to concede.

“Estimates on the cost of demolition 20 years ago, and this is an internal estimate at Sunspot in one of their annual reports, the cost of remediation would be anywhere from $7 to $30 million, which means today it would be on the order of $10 to $45 million when you factor in inflation,” Dooling said. “It would be more cost-effective for them to just let us sit there for a couple of years while we get some funding put together, get an organization put together that can pick up and run with it.”

A 2018 Environmental Impact Statement commissioned by the NSF put the cost of demolition at $14.1 million in 2015 dollars, far above the $2.2 million the NSF was contributing annually to keep the observatory running as of 2016.

Dooling argued Sunspot is well-suited to serve as an educational tool for future generations and that the site is needed to continue advancing humanity’s understanding of the sun.

“Our ability to forecast space weather is about as good as our ability to forecast the weather on TV back in the 1960s,” he said. “We need to do much better, because society is so technically fragile.”

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]]><![CDATA[Looking to Grow, Connect, and Give Back? Join Leadership Cloudcroft.]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/looking-to-grow-connect-and-givehttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/looking-to-grow-connect-and-giveSun, 24 May 2026 12:41:12 GMT
Leadership 2025 cohort think tank on village water issues after a morning field trip to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Apply Here

If you’ve been curious about what makes Cloudcroft tick—its water supply, its seasonal economy, its long-term planning challenges—this is the program that takes you behind the scenes.

Leadership Cloudcroft (LC) brings together residents who want to better understand their community and take action.

What 2026 has in store

The 2026 cohort will visit Cloudcroft’s wells and springs, connect with local leaders, and take part in a responsible tourism forum organized by LC alumni and board members Amy Coor and Rick Donnelly, who are co-chairing this year’s program.

Meet your 2026 co-chairs and new LC Board Members:

Amy Coor came to Cloudcroft the way many people do: on a camping trip, and chasing snow. She loved it enough to keep coming back, and eventually to stay. In 2020, she and her family relocated from Artesia, and she’s been deep in the fabric of this community ever since: Planning and Zoning Commission, Parks and Rec, Lodger’s Tax Committee, volunteer firefighter, track coach, fitness instructor, and race director for the High Altitude Classic.

She’s also a 2025 LC alumna now stepping into a board role. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back to a community I truly love being a part of.”

Rick Donnelly grabbed two bags in 1983 and headed Southwest, and he’s been exploring this part of the world ever since. He’s been coming to Cloudcroft and the southern Sacramentos since 1998, found his way to Twin Forks in 2021, and settled in the village in 2024. A commercial phone tech for Verizon, he currently chairs the Planning and Zoning Commission and brings a grounded, practical perspective to everything he does.

Also a 2025 LC alumnus, Rick is joining the board to help shape what 2026 becomes.

Leadership Cloudcroft 2025 Emergency Management forum, where local law enforcement and fire managers talked about public safety with cohort members and local leaders

What 2025 looked like

Last year’s cohort didn’t just sit in a room and listen to lectures. They got out. A few highlights:

Accepted participants will be invited to the LC 2026 Kickoff on Thursday, June 11, at The Distillery—an invite-only evening to meet local leaders, hear from Southwest Sports about their ice rink plans, and get a preview of the season ahead.

Alumni Review

“This program has been both a wonderful learning opportunity and a real eye-opener to the challenges Cloudcroft is facing. I’ve come away with a deeper understanding of how important it is for us to work together for a better future—bringing our individual strengths to the table, setting aside pride, and building a community that truly represents and serves its people. I’ve also learned that while we need to take these challenges seriously, we can’t lose sight of joy.”

“Leadership Cloudcroft is such a gift to this community—it not only equips leaders but enriches life for every resident.”

—Andrika Ruiz, local author, business owner, Village Library Advisory Board Chair, and 2025 LC cohort member

Applications are due May 27.

Apply here →

Questions? Reply to this email.

Sincerely,

The Leadership Cloudcroft Board
Amy Coor and Rick Donnelly, 2026 Co-Chairs

Hannah Dean, Executive Director

Special Thanks to Leadership Cloudcroft 2026 sponsors, Cloudcroft Brewing Company, and The Distillery:

Interested in sponsoring Leadership Cloudcroft 2026? Reach us at leadership@cloudcroftreader.com

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]]><![CDATA[Seven Cabins Fire; Stables Sold; Village Update; VFD Fundraisers, and More ]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/seven-cabins-fire-stables-sold-villagehttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/seven-cabins-fire-stables-sold-villageWed, 20 May 2026 21:49:53 GMT

Historic Stables Property Sold, Renovation Planned

The stables building near Burro Avenue has been purchased by Debbi McCurdy, co-owner of the Osha Trail Depot, who plans to transform the property into a multi-use event venue.

The new location for Osha Trail Depot, plus.

Angela Daniel confirmed the purchase and said local contractors experienced with historic properties are currently preparing bids and a timeline, with work expected to “begin soon”.

The ground floor of the building — where the original stables remain intact — is envisioned as a space for monthly trade days featuring local vendors, modeled after events like Fredericksburg Trade Days. The property also includes an existing one-bedroom, one-bath short-term rental unit.

The eventual plan is to offer the space for weddings and private events and to relocate the Osha Trail Depot shop to the stables location. A tentative opening target for the shop is August.

As part of the renovation, McCurdy is assembling a memory wall and is asking community members who have photos or memories of the Stables to share them. Submissions can be made in person at the Osha Trail Depot or via email: oshatraildepot@gmail.com

A different era in Cloudcroft village. Photo courtesy of the Sacramento Mountain Historical Museum

Your Wednesday Review continues after this brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, Cloudcroft Therapeutic Massage:

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Leadership Cloudcroft Wants You

The Leadership Cloudcroft 2026 cohort will connect with one another and local leaders, visit the village’s wells and springs, and take part in a “responsible tourism” forum organized by LC alumni and board members Amy Coor and Rick Donnelly.

Accepted participants will be invited to the LC 2026 kickoff on Thursday, June 11, at The Distillery--invite only--for a chance to meet local leaders, hear from Southwest Sports about their ice rink plans, and preview the season ahead.

Applications are due May 27.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/j5bfBwhYGqz3YGmm6

District 4 Volunteer Fire Auxiliary Hosts Raffle Fundraiser

The Otero County Volunteer Fire/EMS District 4 Auxiliary — representing the James Canyon, Upper Cox Canyon, and 16 Springs communities — is hosting a raffle fundraiser to support training and operational needs for the department. District 4 covers more than 167 square miles with fewer than 15 volunteers.

The drawing will be held Saturday, May 23rd at 2pm under the blue tent at the annual rummage sale in the Cloudcroft Elementary School upper parking lot. Winners must arrange pickup — prizes will not be mailed.

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]]><![CDATA[Seven Cabins Fire Grows; Local First Responders Plan to Honor Flight Nurse Killed in Crash]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/seven-cabins-fire-grows-local-firsthttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/seven-cabins-fire-grows-local-firstWed, 20 May 2026 20:40:51 GMT
The seven cabins fire as seen from an aerial firefighter on May 18. Photo: Southwest Incident Management Team 1 Facebook

The fire sparked by the medical plane crash burning in the Capitan Mountain Wilderness now covers 16,443 acres with 7% containment, according to InciWeb.

The crash that ignited the Seven Cabins Fire on May 14 killed four crew members, including Alamogordo flight nurse Sarah Clark.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a Beechcraft King Air 90 operated by Generation Jets crashed around 4 a.m. while en route from Roswell to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport.

The aircraft was on a medical transport mission carrying two pilots and two nurses. All four crew members aboard were killed. There were no patients on the plane.

The victims were Generation Jets pilots Keelan Clark and Ali Kawsara, and Trans Aero MedEvac flight nurses Jamie Novick and Sarah Clark. The crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA.

Fire Details

As of Wednesday morning, 787 personnel are assigned to the fire, supported by 36 engines, 30 water tenders, 6 helicopters, and 7 dozers, with 7% containment. Fire officials attributed the progress to lowering wind speeds and the arrival of a cold front.

In a Wednesday morning update from Southwest Area Team One, Operations Chief Brandon Woodward expressed optimism about the conditions firefighters are facing.

“With the weather that we have, we expect a lot of progress on the fire today,” Woodward said.

State Highway 246 remains closed between mile marker 19 north of Capitan and Mark Road in Chavez County. All roads, trails, and access to the Capitan Mountains wilderness area remain closed.

GO status evacuations remain in effect from Highway 246 to the ridgetop of the Capitan Mountains, between mile marker 13 and Boy Scout Mountain. Residents southeast of the fire should anticipate visible smoke. Air quality information is available at AirNow.gov.

Updated information is available on InciWeb, Watch Duty, or the Seven Cabins Fire Facebook page.

Local Response

Clark grew up in the Alamogordo area. In a written statement, the Cloudcroft Fire Department extended its condolences.

“Matt Clark, our friend and Otero County Emergency Manager, lost his daughter today. Our deepest prayers,” the statement said.

The Otero County Sheriff’s Office shared their own written statement, describing Clark as “well known and deeply respected throughout the Otero County first responder community … [she] excelled in her career because of her compassion, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to helping others in their time of need.”

Cloudcroft Police Chief Roger Schoolcraft, speaking at the Cloudcroft village council meeting Tuesday, told the council the community had already begun planning to bring her home:

“I know you’re all aware that we lost one of our first responders in the plane crash in Capitan.”

“Her father, Matt Clark, has been a friend of mine for about 30 years. Her brother Ben Clark was one of our deputies at the sheriff’s office. I worked with him before he went to Border Patrol.”

“The sheriff’s office has a couple of deputies tasked to make sure that when she comes home from Albuquerque, we honor her and we bring her home right.”

“We’re all going to be there for that,” he said.

“We are all reeling,” Hilary Kitzman, an EMT with the Cloudcroft Volunteer Fire Department (CCVFD), said.

CCVFD, along with other local fire departments, participated in the procession taking Clark’s remains to Albuquerque.

VFD Chief Erich Wuersching says CCVFD “will participate in honoring her during her return trip.”

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]]><![CDATA[Making Headway: Books, Budget, Courts, Tourism, Hires, Sunspot ]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/making-headway-books-budget-courtshttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/making-headway-books-budget-courtsWed, 20 May 2026 16:32:20 GMT
Dave Dooling and Heidi Sanchez address the cloudcroft council at the public meeting, advocating for Sunspot, friends of Sunspot solar observatory.
Sunspot Solar Observatory advocates Dave Dooling and Heidi Sanchez speak to the village about the scientific treasure south of the village.

A blue-to-orange ombré sky over Burro Avenue gave way to the fluorescent lights of Village Council chambers Tuesday evening, May 19.

There in the harsh light, Cloudcroft got what it’s been asking for: a plain-language update on the ongoing efforts to clean up the books and file the FY 26-27 budget, due to the state by month’s end.

Mayor Dusty Wiley called the meeting to order, with Trustees Keith Hamilton, Danny Hardwick, Gail McCoy, and Matt Willett in attendance. Department heads, board members, Lodger’s Tax applicants, and members of the public filled the room. Sunspot Solar Observatory advocates were there during public comment.

Village Clerk Jini Turri, who, for the past five months, has been piecing together the village’s finances one spreadsheet at a time, got the ball rolling.

Budget: “December Is Going to Be the Magic Month”

Turri stood behind the dais, passing the council printouts, addressing the crowd, and explaining where things actually stand.

“We are 99.99 percent done with fiscal year 2024-25,” she said.

The good news: working projections show no deficits in either the general fund or the water-sewer fund.

The harder news: two budget years remain open simultaneously, and every submission moves through three separate state systems — the village’s own records, LGBMS for state review, and finally the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). Each requires manual entry, and each is subject to being kicked back for revision.

The village has been untangling cash balances that previous administrations never properly rolled over, working alongside an outside accounting firm and third-party contractors.

Turri set a target.

“I think December is going to be the magic month,” Turri said, “I’ll be able to stand in front of you with my finance team and say, look — we did it. It’s all tied in together. Things look good. Let the games begin with the village all on board, doing everything it’s supposed to, in full compliance with the state.”

The 2026-27 budget must be submitted to the DFA by the end of May.

After meeting that requirement, Turri said her team needs to re-do the FY 25-26 budget filed with the state because the numbers were wrong and it was never approved by the DFA.

Treatment Plant: Two Problems, One Aging System

In April, the Reader reported that state-contracted expert Robert George wrote in a formal letter that the plant’s clarigestor — the steel vessel handling solids settling for both treatment systems — had deteriorated to the point of emergency. “Unlike many situations that are characterized as ‘emergencies’ in the realm of wastewater treatment, this actually is one,” George wrote April 14 to the New Mexico Environment Department.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Public Works Supervisor J.J. Carrizal reported a separate problem: the trickling filter’s rotary distributor bearing has failed — the spinning arm has stopped turning.

The last time this specific repair was done was approximately eight years ago, at a cost of $30,000. Carrizal has reached out to a Utah-based company that did the previous repair for two bids: one for the company to complete the work, one for village staff to do the work under the company’s on-site supervision.

“We need several men to help get it done,” said Scott Powell, the plant’s longtime operator, who has guided repairs and is nearing retirement. Last time, bearings and seals took more than two weeks to arrive.

Powell explained that the MBR side of the plant remains operational, providing partial treatment.

Bids are expected by the end of the week.

Pickleball Courts Get a Pre-Tournament Fresh Surface

The village’s pickleball courts are getting a fresh start before the Second Annual Pickleball in the Clouds tournament.

The village took decisive action to repair the surface, which is still pocked with dead spots, areas that absorb the bounce of the ball, after repairs last summer.

Since their introduction in the summer of 2024, the pickleball courts have suffered from dead spots. A resurface patch last summer helped, but after winter, new dead spots appeared.

Instead of trying another repair, Wiley decided to have the contractors tear it out and replace it with a traditional acrylic surface and moisture barrier — the same system used in Ruidoso and Roswell.

“The courts are three years old. We need to make sure that we get it right.” Mayor Wiley later told the Reader.

The village has contracted for work to begin on May 26. Crews will work days and nights to finish by June 5, ahead of the tournament’s June 6 start.

“We’ll have pickleball players show up for the tournament, and we want them to be really thrilled to come back to Cloudcroft,” Wiley said.

As for any expense in excess of the warranty coverage, Turri said, “Some of the proceeds that we collected from the ski area this last year will be sufficient to cover this.”

The new playing surface will have a one-year warranty.

“In It For the Long Haul”

Maitlyn Barnett was approved as a seasonal Library Aide. With her hire, the library will open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning June 13.

Malary Davis was hired as MVD Clerk, selected from 17 applicants through an interview panel that included Mayor Wiley and Chief Schoolcraft. Davis is known in the community through her work at the adjacent First National Bank.

Reader Contributing Editor Drew Gaines was hired for Public Works. Gaines stood and addressed the room.

“My wife and I want to make this our permanent home,” he said. “And in order to do that, I need some full-time work. I would love to serve this village in public works, working with J.J., working for the community. Even though I’m a journalist — and the Reader was my first job in journalism — I’ve done a lot more hands-on labor than I have in journalism. I have my Class A CDL. I’ve done roofing, a little bit of construction, stage hand work. I think this would be a good fit, and I’m in it for the long haul. We want to stay here and make this where we retire.”

The council approved the hires unanimously.

Ashley White, Utility Billing Clerk, received a $3-an-hour raise. White has stayed with the village through significant staff turnover and administrative upheaval.

“She was probably hired at a pay rate that was below her skill level and her production level,” Trustee Hamilton said.

Gail Overstreet Stone and Bob Higgins were both appointed to the Outdoor Lighting Advisory Committee. The committee was activated for the first time in the dark sky ordinance’s history at the April meeting.

Friends of Sunspot

During public comment, Dave Dooling — who served as education officer at Sunspot Solar Observatory from 2002 through early 2012 — and Heidi Sanchez, Education and Outreach Coordinator at the observatory, who runs the gift shop and serves as president of the Sunspot Community, asked the council to support efforts to stop demolition of the facility.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Feb. 25 that it would proceed with demolition of the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope and surrounding structures at Sacramento Peak Observatory after a mercury leak was discovered Jan. 5. The telescope’s 250-ton optical system floated on 120 gallons of liquid mercury sealed in a bearing. After assessing repair costs and environmental risk, NSF determined that removing the mercury — which will render the telescope inoperable — is the most prudent course of action, followed by site demolition and restoration. The site is on U.S. Forest Service land in Lincoln National Forest.

Advocates argue the demolition decision goes too far. Mercury removal is scheduled for this summer, possibly August or September. Demolition of the telescope structure would follow.

“Just because the telescope isn’t operational doesn’t mean the rest of the site’s not still viable,” Sanchez said. “To spend all that money to demolish everything — our tax dollars could be used better than that.”

Dooling outlined a vision for the site as a multi-use science park: solar astronomy, natural science, forestry, amateur astronomy, and potentially an RV park serving dark-sky enthusiasts. He noted the Dunn Solar Telescope’s design influenced many later instruments, including the 4-meter Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui.

“The more voices we have going to the governor’s office, state departments, or legislators,” Dooling said, “the more likely we’re going to be heard by NSF.”

The group was invited to return for a formal presentation at a future meeting.

(Editor’s note: Look for the Reader’s interview with Sunspot advocates to be published in the coming weeks.)

Traffic Enforcement, Holiday Presence

Police Chief Roger Schoolcraft kept his report short. Over the past 30 days, officers have issued citations to drivers who exceeded the limit by 12 or more miles per hour.

“Today alone, I issued five citations,” he said.

He reminded the room that drivers heading into the village eastbound pass four posted 35 mph signs before reaching the village boundary. Traveling 50 mph through those signs is not an oversight.

For Memorial Day weekend and upcoming holidays, Schoolcraft is flexing officer schedules to put two officers on duty simultaneously.

Fire Department: Grants, Dumpsters, Ambulance, Sirens

Volunteer Fire Chief and Emergency Manager Erich Wuersching covered several overlapping initiatives.

Hazard-tree removal, the Non-Federal Land (NFL) grant administered through the Soil and Water Conservation District is fully committed, with about one-third of the funds spent.

“Through this grant, through this partnership, we’ve been able to build a new prescription — a public prescription — and the state approved it last year,” Wuersching said.

NFL grants are no longer available at the federal level, so the village is pursuing a successor program.

“A similar grant that’s available through the state is called FAWRA (Forest and Watershed Restoration Act),” Wuersching said. “Those grant funds can also be spent on private and public lands. We’re going to apply for a much larger amount — significantly more than the $300,000 we applied for.”

“Because that’s a significant chunk of money, we’ll need a government entity with the capacity to absorb that. Let’s pay up front and get reimbursed,” he said.

Memorial Day Weekend bonus: a contractor from last year’s Clean & Beautiful grant cycle called to report that the final placement of dumpsters was never completed — because the village never told him where to put them. Those dumpsters arrive this week in time for a holiday visitor influx, fully paid for by the prior grant.

Wuersching plans to apply for the same grant again this year, seeking triple the amount last year, with the goal of expanding dumpster availability across all four seasons.

The new ambulance grant is funded — available after July 1 — with a planning committee already meeting. Fire station upgrades are in the permitting and engineering phase.

A grant will fund up to nine solar-powered emergency alert sirens, up from the current four, covering surrounding campgrounds. Most will be voice-capable for directed evacuation instructions; some will have southwest-facing cameras for smoke detection. Installation is expected this fall.

Lodger’s Tax Awards

State law requires lodger tax receipts to be used for tourism and promotion. Turri gave the Lodger’s Tax Advisory Committee a budget of $130,000 to work with. Over three months, the committee reviewed applications and recommended grants totaling $102,797 to the council for approval for FY 2026-27.

The awards cover a broad calendar of events:

  • High Altitude Classic;

  • Cloudcroft Lumberjack Days;

  • Cloudcroft Ultra, Cactus to Cloud, and Trails to Rails;

  • Cloudcroft Quick Draw (a new live-painting and auction event), and the Art Dash Party;

  • Pickleball in the Clouds,

  • Chamber Events of Christmas in July, Art & Wine in the Cool Pines, Labor Day Hoopla, Heritage Day Car Show, Christmas Market, Mountain Christmas Village, Mayfair, and Beerfest.

To spread the word, the village approved a total annual promotional spend of $13,020 with Mountain Monthly to purchase a full-page print ad and social media ads for the next fiscal year, highlighting village tourism and events. (Disclosure: Cloudcroft Reader owners Chris Hearne and Hannah Dean co-own the Mountain Monthly with Justin Muñoz.)

The council approved all recommendations, subject to the final budget.

Meetings Move to Second Tuesday

Effective immediately, regular governing body meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. The next meeting is Tuesday, June 9. Meetings are livestreamed on YouTube at @CloudcroftNewMexico.

After the meeting adjourned, the Reader asked Mayor Wiley if he — as mayor, lodger, and restaurant owner — was ready for Memorial Day weekend.

Wiley laughed, “I’ll probably be a cook too.”

Cloudcroft Reader is sponsored in part by great companies like Cloudcroft Art Society:

The Cloudcroft Art Society (CAS) meets on Sunday, June 14, at 1:00 p.m. in the Old Red Brick Schoolhouse (which also houses the Cloudcroft Library).

CAS will have its ‘cooperative’ Art Gallery open every Saturday in June from 10 am to 3 pm in the Red Brick building. CAS will have about a dozen juried artists in our gallery, exhibiting pottery, lithograph prints, paintings in all media (oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pastel ), fine art photography, smaller, affordable reproductions of original paintings and photography, gourdcraft, woodcraft, fused glass, other whimsical creations, and art cards.

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]]><![CDATA[Water Coverage]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/water-coveragehttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/water-coverageTue, 19 May 2026 12:09:38 GMTCloudcroft sits at 8,600 feet on the western flank of the Sacramento Mountains. The village pumps from a thin set of mountain wells, stores in aging tanks, and serves a year-round population that swells with tourists. Water has shaped every fight over the village’s future - budgets, growth, infrastructure, public trust.

Since launching in September 2023, Cloudcroft Reader has covered that fight closer than any other publication. Our reporting tracks the leaks, the lost gallons, the hauling contracts, the failing wastewater treatment plant, and the political decisions behind all of it. We follow the story from the Village Council dais to the well house, from the Hilltop Tank to Pineywoods Estates in High Rolls.

We report on water rights, nitrogen limits, federal permits, state grants, and the people doing the work. Our coverage extends to neighboring communities on the mountain - Pineywoods, Cloud Country West, High Rolls, Sunspot, Mayhill - wherever water shapes life on the mountain.

This page collects our water reporting in one place.

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]]><![CDATA[Bluff Springs' Road to Recovery: An Update]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/bluff-springs-update-road-to-recoveryhttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/bluff-springs-update-road-to-recoverySun, 17 May 2026 13:31:48 GMT
Last year’s illegal OVH activity at Bluff Springs isn’t the first time visitors have impacted the popular public site. Pictured: trash left behind at Bluff Springs after a busy 2024 weekend (Photo by Drew Gaines)

Bluff Springs is healing. Whether it reopens this August depends on whether visitors stay on designated routes.

On Aug. 12, 2025, the Lincoln National Forest closed four areas of the Sacramento Ranger District to dispersed camping, off-road vehicles, and campfires after illegal riders tore through a fragile mountain creek.

The agency cited “illegal off-highway vehicle use, resource damage to sensitive riparian areas, and ongoing restoration efforts.”

The incident was allegedly captured on video.

“The investigation conducted after last year’s incident directly resulted in citations issued to attendees and organizers,” said Amanda Ginithan, deputy forest supervisor for the Lincoln National Forest.

The creek at Bluff Springs has long been one of the most visited spots in the Sacramento Mountains, a gathering place for campers, hikers, and families seeking shade and running water high in Lincoln National Forest.

Hikers can still reach the springs on foot via the Willie White Trail (T113). What’s closed: dispersed camping, OHV use, the parking lot, the bathrooms, and the Willie White Spur (T112) bridge.

This article continues after a brief message. Thank you to our sponsor, Laughing Leaf:

The Forest Service does not formally count visitors at the site, but staff said the area drew heavy use before the closure, especially on weekends and holidays.

Crews seeded and mulched the damaged ground almost immediately, timing the work to stabilize soil ahead of monsoon season, when erosion risk peaks. After that first pass, managers stepped back and let nature take its course. That is why the closure itself sits at the center of the restoration plan.

“As long as recreators stay responsible and avoid disturbing these sites, we should continue to see healthy recovery when summer growth kicks in,” Ginithan said.

Early signs are encouraging. Field reports show vegetation returning and soil stabilizing in areas that took the worst damage.

OHV damage at Bluff Springs. (Photo by Noah Ratliff/U.S. Forest Service).

Fragile Ecosystem

Bluff Springs anchors a sensitive riparian ecosystem.

These ecosystems supply food, cover, and water for a wide range of wildlife and serve as migration corridors and habitat connectors. In the arid West, where water is scarce, that role matters more.

Ginithan described the Bluff Springs area as supporting “spring-fed wetlands, lush vegetation, and habitat for a variety of wildlife species, including several threatened and endangered species.”

The springs are home to several federally listed species, including the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse and the threatened Sacramento Mountains thistle, a plant that grows only on the travertine formations at sites like Bluff Springs. Travertine is a porous calcium-carbonate rock that forms when carbon dioxide is released from cool, mineral-rich spring water, the same geology that built the Bluff Springs waterfall.

The Scope of the Closure

The closure covers multiple areas around Bluff Springs. A second, overlapping order extends through Dec. 31, 2026, and covers the Bluff Springs Recreation Site itself: the parking lot, the vault toilets, and the Willie White Spur (T112) bridge. That order gives engineering crews time to finish maintenance and infrastructure upgrades.

The Aug. 31, 2026, deadline for the broader OHV and camping closure is a target, not a guarantee. Ginithan said the timeline could shift depending on conditions.

Specialists in wildlife, range management, and botany will conduct summer surveys. Those results will determine whether all areas reopen together or if some need more time.

There is a complication. Illegal OHV use has continued in the surrounding area, Ginithan said, including new damage near Bluff Springs.

“User-created damage occurring nearby may influence whether the closures are extended,” Ginithan said.

The Forest Service said it has no plans to make any portion of the closure permanent or convert the areas to hike-only use.

When the areas reopen, the agency plans a mix of deterrents: more signs, boulders, or fencing to block vehicles from leaving designated routes, and more law enforcement on the ground.

“The goal is to maintain access while protecting the recovering landscape,” Ginithan said, “and we’ll continue adjusting our management strategies based on how the area responds and how visitors behave.”

What Comes Next

Cloudcroft typically sees a surge in summer visitors, and the Forest Service said it is preparing, with extra field staff and law enforcement where resources allow. The agency will not release the season’s raw data, but Ginithan said it hopes to publish photos of the rehabilitation work so the community can see what a year of protection has done.

“Every responsible driver who stays on designated routes makes a difference,” she said. “It helps protect sensitive areas, supports long-term recovery, and keeps these places available for multiple uses in the future.”

For now, Bluff Springs rests. Springs running, soil knitting back together, grasses reclaiming the banks. Whether that recovery is enough to reopen the area on schedule will depend, at least in part, on whether the rest of the forest’s visitors leave no trace.

For maps and the current closure order, visit the Lincoln National Forest alerts page at fs.usda.gov/r03/lincoln/alerts or call the Sacramento Ranger District at 575-682-2551.

Cloudcroft Reader is proud to be sponsored in part by great companies like The Elk Shed:

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]]><![CDATA[Pickleball in Cloudcroft: Special Edition ]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/pickleball-in-cloudcroft-specialhttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/pickleball-in-cloudcroft-specialWed, 13 May 2026 19:44:17 GMTBig Dill in Cloudcroft: Pickleball Tournament June 6-7

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Pickleball Court Update: Public Works Installs French Drain

To remedy moisture build-up, JJ Carrizal and his team installed a French drain on the southern side of the pickleball courts at Zenith Park. The Reader will continue to report on updates and repairs.

Public Works Supervisor JJ Carrizal (front) plans the French drain with village maintenance employees Joe Scarfe (L) and Kris Parks (R).

Plan Your Stay: A Pickleball Weekend

DiscoverCloudcroft.com, the online visitors’ guide to Cloudcroft and the Sacramento Mountains. Use it to plan your trip and make the most of your visit. From the folks at Mountain Monthly, the high country newspaper since 1988.

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]]><![CDATA[Game On: Pickleball Finds a Home in Cloudcroft]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/game-on-pickleball-finds-a-home-inhttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/game-on-pickleball-finds-a-home-inWed, 13 May 2026 15:13:37 GMT
PAC Board member and village tournament winner ‘Coach A’ shares her love of the game with Cloudcroft Schools (Photo: Bre Hope Photography)

On summer mornings at Zenith Park, the sound carries before the players come into view: paddles striking plastic balls, players calling scores, and laughter rising from the public courts near the walking path.

For many people in Cloudcroft, that sound has become part of the season.

What began with one hand-marked court has grown into one of the village’s most visible public recreation scenes. Today, Cloudcroft pickleball includes organized play three mornings a week, beginner clinics, school instruction, a local club, and a June tournament that brings players from beyond the village.

Cloudcroft’s pickleball story starts with Kevin Tharp.

Before the current courts, organized play, and tournament talk, Tharp was trying to prove the sport could work here. He said the spark came from his wife, Kathy.

“Kathy really is what lit that fire under me,” he said.

Tharp was introduced to pickleball in Tucson after retiring and became deeply involved in the sport as a player and instructor. He taught and played in tournaments across the Southwest. When he looked at Cloudcroft, he saw a place where the game could take root.

At the time, he said, there was no pickleball presence.

“My wife, Kathy, was instrumental in saying, ‘Hey, Kev, will you go up there? You need to just start something,” he said.

What he found did not look promising.

“I looked at the courts and said, ‘ These are a mess, but we can make them work,” Tharp said.

After reaching out to village official Jini Turri and getting approval, Tharp laid out a temporary pickleball court on one of the old tennis courts.

“I bought the paint and the tape and markers, and I spent literally about three to four hours myself meticulously marking the court,” he said.

When he returned the next morning, the tape had been torn up and left in a pile.

“That’s how that started. It really made me angry,” he said.

Kevin Tharp’s early advocacy got pickleball rolling in the Village.

Instead of quitting, Tharp went back to Turri and asked for permission to make the court permanent.

“I said, ‘Well, if you’ll let me permanently stripe one court … we can do this,’” he recalled. “She said, ‘Do it.’”

That first striped court became the start of something larger. Tharp promoted the game, offered clinics, and helped build a regular player base. He said many of the people who play regularly today were among his early students.

“A lot of the people who now play regularly were my original students,” he said.

Tharp also became an advocate for pickleball with the village council. When recreation grant money became available, he argued that pickleball was not only recreation. It could also help the local economy.

“I went and gave them a major presentation and said, ‘You got to use those funds,’” he said.

Tharp still believes Cloudcroft should treat pickleball as an asset for both residents and visitors.

“It is one of the best vehicles to bring commerce and money to the village,” he said.He said hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and the Chamber should be promoting the sport to visitors.

“It’s a money maker,” he said.

He also points to the game’s broad appeal. “Anybody can play and enjoy it,” Tharp said. “Age and gender, you really can mingle.”

That mix of recreation, access, and social connection is what now drives the Pickleball Addicts of Cloudcroft, known as PAC.

Linda Hamilton, a Cloudcroft resident since 1983 and PAC board president, said the group formed around a simple idea: pickleball works best when people play together.

“If you don’t have any kind of organization,” Hamilton said, “people come and stay on their own court and don’t talk to anybody. That’s not the purpose of pickleball.”

PAC provides structured, welcoming play for local residents, summer seasonals, and tourists. The group plays on Cloudcroft’s public courts at Zenith Park, near the center of the village and easy for visitors to find.

Organized play is held Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings at 8 a.m.Hamilton said players can often be found there on other days, too.

“All summer, if the wind is good and the weather is good, you’ll find us,” she said.

Hamilton said the goal is to make the courts open and comfortable, especially for people who may be new to town or new to the game.

“Pickleball is as much of a social game as it is an athletic game,” she said. “We want tourists to walk in and feel like they can play with a group of locals. That’s what we want to see.”

That invitation matters. Many players first find the game by hearing it from the walking path, wandering over to watch, and being handed a spare paddle.

This summer, PAC plans to offer a dedicated beginners’ court, along with clinics from Tharp and other local instructors.

Tami Alexander, known to students as Coach A, is also helping introduce the sport to younger players. Alexander is a PAC board member and Cloudcroft Schools P.E. instructor. She is teaching a pickleball unit for elementary students.

Alexander also brings tournament experience. She placed first in women’s doubles and second in mixed doubles at last year’s Pickleball in the Clouds tournament, according to organizers.

Players who do not own paddles can usually borrow one at the courts. Paddles are also available locally at High Altitude and Sparks+Rec.

June Weekend Tournament

The sport’s local profile will grow again June 6-7, when artist and organizer Samantha Odom brings back the second annual Pickleball in the Clouds tournament.

Last year’s tournament drew 121 players, most of whom were from outside the village, according to organizers.

This year’s event is planned as a community fundraiser for We Love Cloudcroft and school athletic programs. Registration is through PickleballDen.com, search by city for Cloudcroft and find the tournament signup information.

The courts themselves are also in need of attention. Village courts are scheduled for resurfacing and repairs following player reports of continued dead spots. Details still to be confirmed include the cost, funding source, schedule, expected closures, and scope of the work.

For Hamilton, the courts are more than a place to play.

PAC members support each other on and off the court. Some players hav dealt with cancer, strokes, and mobility challenges. One member recently celebrated being cancer-free. The group is also grieving the recent loss of a beloved fellow player and friend.

The group sometimes gathers for potlucks after play.

“We try to invite whoever’s out here —from Texas, from wherever — to come eat and fellowship with us,” Hamilton said.

That is part of what has made pickleball stick in Cloudcroft. The game is easy to try, visible from the park, and social by nature. The weather can be ideal. On a good morning, players show up for the exercise and stay for the company.

“It helps a lot of people,” Hamilton said, “in all aspects of their lives.”

Press Play: Second Annual Pickleball Tournament in Cloudcroft

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Discover Cloudcroft: Plan Your Trip

DiscoverCloudcroft.com, the online visitors’ guide to Cloudcroft and the Sacramento Mountains. Use it to plan your trip and make the most of your visit. From the folks at Mountain Monthly, the high country newspaper since 1988.

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]]><![CDATA[Video Round Up: Mescalero HS Projects; I-10 Dust Storms; Sacramento Mt. Musuem]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/watch-these-mescalero-hs-projectshttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/watch-these-mescalero-hs-projectsSun, 10 May 2026 15:25:15 GMTMescalero Apache Students Develop Sensors for Early Fire Detection

In this episode of Indigenously Positive, reporter Bella Davis visits the Mescalero Apache reservation to learn how high school students are creating wildfire and flood sensors to protect their community from natural disasters.

Read more about the students’ work: NM In Depth

Watch VIDEO Report

Jonny Coker Reports: Deadly Dust Storms on I-10

Interstate-10 dust storms have claimed more than 50 lives over the last 40 years. While state and federal agencies have taken notice, the burden of emergency response has fallen on rural communities.

Jonny Coker reports with the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative.

Monthly Reel: Sacramento Mountains Museum & Pioneer Village

Vivian Willett visits with Museum Director Neila Farmer on a campus tour through historic buildings.

Watch VIDEO Report

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DiscoverCloudcroft.com, the online visitors’ guide to Cloudcroft and the Sacramento Mountains. Use it to plan your trip and make the most of your visit. From the folks at Mountain Monthly, the high country newspaper since 1988.

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]]><![CDATA[Deadly Dust Storms Burden Arizona-New Mexico Interstate Corridor ]]>https://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/deadly-dust-storms-burden-arizonahttps://www.cloudcroftreader.com/p/deadly-dust-storms-burden-arizonaSun, 10 May 2026 14:18:02 GMTOn a clear day, U.S. Interstate 10 near the Arizona-New Mexico border is a wide-open section of desert where drivers can see for miles.

But when the conditions line up, this corridor that crosses the Lordsburg Playa becomes engulfed in dust, and often leads to deadly pileups.

“There was one point I was doing five miles an hour on the interstate,” said Joseph Flores, a lieutenant with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department. “I was having to pull over just because it got to zero visibility.”

Lieutenant Flores was one of the first responders on scene during a 2025 storm that caused an 11-car pileup and led to three deaths.

“The dust was so bad that I couldn’t see my hand in front of me, but I could hear people screaming, yelling that they needed help. And I just couldn’t get to them at that point. I didn’t know where they were at. I didn’t know if I was still on I-10 or exactly where I was standing. But I knew that people needed help, and it was kind of just the most unsettling feeling,” he said.

A deadly dust storm sweeps over Hidalgo County in Southern New Mexico. (Still from footage courtesy of the Hidalgo Sheriff’s Department.)

These types of events are common. According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, there have been over 120 dust events that have caused 21 deaths in the corridor since 2012. In a county with less than 5,000 people, responding to these events takes a toll on first responders in the community, according to Hidalgo County Sheriff William Chadborn.

“It takes up every resource that we have in the county,” Chadborn said. “If there is a state police officer here, they’re tied up on that incident. The deputies are tied up on road closure or reroutes. And the same with the city.”

Beyond the headlines and crash reports, these storms are leaving a quieter toll on the people tasked with responding when things go wrong. Hidalgo county is rural, and resources are limited. When a pileup happens, it often falls on just a handful of people, according to County Manager Tisha Green.

“Most times it’s one or two deputies handling the entire situation,” Green said. “Sometimes inividuals from the road department, even myself, would go out and help set up cones, assist with not necessarily traffic control, but just out there assisting where we were needed.”

According to Green, there hasn’t been a consistent state police presence in the county, meaning that backup can come from as far as 60 miles away. To better handle emergency response, the county recently hired three additional deputies, a move Green said costs about $265,000 annually. Add in fuel, equipment, and stipends for volunteer firefighters, and the total climbs even higher.

“We’re getting upwards of close to $300,000 on what we’ve done to proactively react. But it’s been quite burdensome” Green said. “We’re going to do what we can to ensure safety the best we can. But we do need some assistance over here financially.”

To add to the logistics, fire response in the county relies on a volunteer department of 18 people, meaning uncertainty every time a call comes in, according to Fire Chief Tommy Chavez.

“We have 18 members, and it just depends on if it’s a weekend, if it’s a weekday. If it’s during the day, people can’t get out of work. Usually for these big incidents, everybody that can come, comes. Because we know it takes the maximum amount of people we have to try to deal with them. We might have 10 [or] 12 people. But there could be as few as four.”

In an effort to mitigate the cause of the problem, The New Mexico Department of Transportation has spent millions of dollars on initiatives such as vegetation restoration, cattle exclusion zones, and water retention work. The most recent mitigation work was done last fall, and more projects are in the pipeline.

Bill Hutchinson, who manages NMDOT’s roadside design program, has worked on this corridor for over a decade, and explained the complexity dealing with the landscape, which includes a fragile mix of dry soils, historic lakebeds and disturbed land, and said that climate change will make conditions worse.

“These are fragile lands. It’s not true playa, but it is uplands associated with the playa. And they are areas that are grazed under permit by the Bureau of Land Management in this instance, and the ongoing drought has made these areas even more fragile, and the cattle tend to break the surface and allow the dust to become airborn.”

Hutchinson said that his department is working with a number of different agencies to mitigate danger, including the BLM and State Land Office, who own much of the 16,000 acre zone.

“We have proposed that the entire playa be reclassified as what’s called an area of critical environmental concern, which is a BLM designation for sensitive lands,” he said. “This is a public health emergency we have down there. There are over 50 people who have died attributed to dust on I-10 in the last 40 years. So we have the documentation. We have gone through all the environmental analysis. It’s that particular proposal which was signed by the [NMDOT] secretary, is in the BLM hands and under their consideration.”

While many of the proposed solutions are complex, Lieutenant Flores pointed to a few simpler solutions, including installation of automatic gates on the interstate, and stressing the importance of not pushing through the storms.

“You do not have to drive through it. If you see that there’s dust building up, pull over to the side of the road, pull far enough over [and] turn off your vehicle. Stay in your vehicle. Turn your headlights off and keep your feet off the brakes.”

But until larger solutions take hold, Hidalgo County’s first responders will continue to do what they can.

“I just don’t know how you could ever explain to people what’s out there and what happens on a yearly basis up there.” Sheriff Chadborn said. “And I hope that someday either it starts raining or something happens where these guys don’t have to deal with it, because I don’t want my deputies to have to deal with that anymore.”

Dust storms can cause zero visibility in seconds. When encountering a storm, pull over as soon as possible, and completely exit the highway if there is an opportunity. Put your car in park and turn your vehicle off, and make sure all lights are completely off. Stay in the vehicle with seatbelts fastened while the storm passes. For more information, visit take5stayalive.com.

This report is supported by the Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative.

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