From the Pecos Valley Newsroom

More tragedy in Carlsbad. Mayor Dale Janway sharing information not only about the child abuse death we reported yesterday, but also a domestic violence killing that happened on Saturday. A 48 year-old woman was found dead in her home in south Carlsbad. Janway said that the woman’s husband was believed to be responsible and had fled the scene. That man was later captured in Reeves County, Texas, apparently as he was trying to get to Pecos, Texas. There was an officer involved shooting there and the man is now recovering at a hospital.

The ROswell Recreation and Aquatic Center is making some changes to its hours of operation. Effective immediately and until further notice, the center will be closed on Saturdays. The center also remains closed on Sundays. Starting Monday, open gym hours and fitness activities will be Monday-Thursday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. A fitness-class schedule can be found on the Roswell Parks and Recreation Facebook page.

The indoor pool, open to lap swimming only (children younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult and able to adequately lap swim), will maintain its current hours for about another two weeks. The pool is open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Effective Aug. 17, the pool hours will expand to Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The changes in operation hours were made based on the public’s current use of the facility. Call 624-6719 for details regarding admission and activity fees.

Eddy County deputies executed a search warrant on Wednesday in the 800 block of North Guadalupe, in search of firearms, ammunition and illegal drugs. A statement from Sheriff Mark Cage says during the investigation, an improvised explosive device was discovered. The scene was secured while agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and New Mexico Bomb Squad removed the device. Cage says the incident is part of an ongoing investigation and several felony arrests are anticipated in the near future.

High school athletic directors across New Mexico are actively seeking to obtain schedules for the 2020-21 school year amid a pandemic, uncertainty and fewer games.

The Albuquerque Journal reports school districts are waiting for each other to finish crafting basketball, soccer and volleyball schedules. Meets, tournaments and matches are up in the air.

Meanwhile, the New Mexico Activities Association has eliminated regular-season tournaments and overnight travel for the upcoming school year.

The elk at Spring River Zoo may not be a full herd yet, but they are definitely a family. The zoo welcomed a new animal addition June 13 with the birth of a baby elk – and it’s a girl! The new arrival, named Alexis, weighed 36.2 pounds and was 30 inches tall at birth. Since then, she has been adding weight and growing taller just as a healthy young elk should. Her parents – mom Patty and dad Garrett – are the two adult elk that came to Spring River Zoo in 2018.

Roswell Poclie asking for help from the public in finding the driver that struck a 2-year-old child Tuesday night – and then fled the scene. The boy was seriously injured near Greenwood Avenue and Cherry Street while he was outside with his brothers. As the young boy tried to cross the street, he was struck by what the odler brothers described as a white car. The older boys said the adult man got out of the car and picked up the small boy, taking him to his mother in a nearby yard, but then he got into his car and left. The children described the man as Hispanic, chubby, and having a beard. If you know anything, call Roswell Police.

Roswell Animal Services will host the “Red, White and Woof” pet adoption event this Saturday (July 25) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pioneer Plaza (400 block of North Main Street) in downtown Roswell. Dogs and cats will be available for adoption for just $1 each. Similar adoption events are being planned once each month. Future events are expected to occur the third Saturday of each month. Check the Roswell Animal Services Facebook page each month for details of each event.

A search warrant executed in Eddy County netted investigators with a slew of high-powered guns and drugs. A statement from Sheriff Mark Cage says, on July 21st, deputies raided a home in the 2400 block of Western Way. 41 year-old Thomas Rojas, a wanted felon out of Carlsbad, barricaded himself in a shed behind the house. As deputies were preparing to deploy an attack dog, both Rojas and another man gave up. Inside the shed, several illegal firearms and drugs were found. More driugs and guns were found inside the house. Three children were also removed form the home and placed into protective care.

A 2nd Eddy County resident has reportedly died of complications caused by coronavirus. This is the first death since the outbreak began in mid-March, when Eddy County became the one of the first counties in the state to report a coronavirus death very suddenly. The patient was in his 50’s and from Artesia. Eddy COunty health experts say there were eight new positive cases reported on Sunday and five on Saturday, bringing the county to a total of 181 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Roswell Police – asking for some help in solving a local burglary of military items stolen from a home. A statement from the city says the items were recently stolen from the southwest Roswell home of a deceased veteran’s family. The burglary took place sometime between July 8th and 10th while the family was away. Among items stolen from the home are items related to the military member’s deployment in Afghanistan, where he was killed in action. The items are a black velvet bag containing “challenge” coins from various military units, numerous patches and flags, a bag containing the veteran’s uniform, and a Bible with letters from home. Other items taken during the burglary include a Sony TV, a bass speaker and a Yamaha keyboard.