The workforce housing development at 603 Mechem is taking shape as all the units are in place but not set. The contractor continues to finish pad sites, and all utilities are on track to be installed by February. As a reminder, the VOR is coordinating the transportation of these modular homes to the property to minimize disruptions and delays; however, there may be brief interruptions to ease the movement of the units through the Village. The Village is currently out to bid for landscaping services for the area. This work will start in February and work will be temperature dependent.

For those interested in living at 603 Mechem, a waitlist is being managed by Berkshire Hathaway. For more information on the qualifications, please call 575-257-4011. For additional details on the overall project, contact Michael Martinez at 575-258-4343 ext. 1006

RUIDOSO POLICE DEPARTMENT

Chief Lawrence Chavez retired at the end of November 2024 after 17 years of service with the Ruidoso Police Department. Chavez had served as Chief since June of 2021. He did an excellent job leading the department and working closely with administration. During his tenure, he mentored several employees including Deputy

Police Chief Steven Minner, who was recently appointed to the Police Chief position. Chief Chavez will be missed greatly but did an excellent job working through a succession plan to ensure the department would have continuity in operations and leadership.

Chief Minner will head the Ruidoso Police Department and Dispatch Center. Minner has been the Deputy Chief for the last two years and has been preparing for this role for quite some time. He has over 22 years of law enforcement experience and worked for the Capitan Police Department and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office before coming to RPD in 2010.

The Chief has worked his way through the Ruidoso Police Chief ranks and has excelled in every position he has Steve Minner held. Chief Minner is respected and supported in the community and surrounding areas. He looks forward to continuing to advance the department’s mission by focusing on recruitment and retention of officers to protect and serve the citizens of Ruidoso.

RUIDOSO FIRE DEPARTMENT

Chief Joe Kasuboski of the Ruidoso Fire Department officially retired at the end of December 2024. Kasuboski has been with the Village of Ruidoso since 2017 when he was hired as the Emergency Manager. In 2022, he was promoted to Fire Chief. Kasuboski has 30 years in state and local government and added value to the Village. During his time as Fire Chief, Kasuboski was successful in mentoring his staff and exposing them to different levels of municipal government. He also worked on a succession plan with the incoming Chief Cade Hall and made sure he was ready to hit the ground running. Cade Hall has been selected as the new Ruidoso Fire Chief as Kasuboski steps down. Hall has been at the Ruidoso Fire Department for 19 years and has been promoted through the ranks. He has demonstrated leadership every step of the way. One of his priorities will be to continue building their fleet so the department can be more responsive to large-scale needs in the area and other locations where services may be requested. He will focus on continued training for all firefighters and officers and will advocate for newer personnel to attend higher level technician-based classes. There will also be a renewed focus on educating the public regarding the RFD staff qualifications, as well as jurisdictions, boundaries, fire safety and the department’s response to emergency events.

New Mexico Legislature 2024: 2024 Legislative Capital Outlay

The 2024 Legislative Capital Outlay listing of funded projects for the Village of Ruidoso is below. The ICIP projects received the Governor’s final approval on March 6, 2024.

» Fire & Watershed Improvements ($500,000): Grant Agreement fully executed.

» Renovations to Fort Stanton Veterans’ facility ($450,000): Grant Agreement fully executed.

New Mexico 2025 Legislative Session Priorities Capital Outlay Requests

As approved by the Village Council in the ICIP, the Village has submitted a total of six Capital Outlay request forms for project funding consideration. The list of funding requests includes:

» Workforce Housing ($1,000,000)

» Bridge Replacement Construction ($3,000,000)

» Street & Drainage Improvements ($1,000,000)

» Sewer Infrastructure Projects ($1,000,000)

» Fire & Watershed Improvements ($750,000)

» Purchase & Equip a Mobile Command Unit ($2,400,000) 

As winter approaches, electrical hazards become a significant concern due to increased use of heating systems, holiday lights, and electrical appliances.

One of the most common risks is overloading circuits, which can lead to overheating and fires. Avoid overloading outlets by plugging only one high-wattage appliance into each socket and use extension cords rated for heavy-duty use if necessary. Never daisy-chain multiple cords together and always inspect cords for wear and fraying before use.

Holiday lights, a beloved winter tradition, also pose electrical hazards. Ensure that the lights are in good condition by checking for damaged wires or broken bulbs before hanging them. Always turn off lights when leaving the house or going to bed and never leave them unattended. Use only lights that are labeled as safe for indoor or outdoor use to avoid potential dangers.

In addition to lighting, be mindful of other electrical appliances such as space heaters, which can easily overload circuits or cause electrical fires if not used properly. Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet—never into an extension cord or power strip—and keep them at least three feet away from flammable materials.

Regularly check and maintain electrical systems to reduce the risk of fire and ensure a safe winter season.

The High Loop Water Systems Improvements Project was awarded to J & H Services Inc. during the December Village Council Meeting. This project will replace approximately 18,535 linear feet of existing 2-inch galvanized and 6-inch asbestos-cement lines with 6-inch C900 PVC with fire protection. This area was deemed problematic due to the multiple main breaks that occurred within the Country Club Subdivision.

Because of this, the Village went out for Water Trust Board funding and was awarded $3,645,695 through a Loan/Grant Agreement with the New Mexico Finance Authority. The remaining funding will come out of GO Bonds and the budget. The total project cost is $6,295,867.39 including NMGRT. The roads to be replaced are Coronado Drive, Lilac Lane, Lupine Loop, Wildwood Drive, High Loop Drive, Starlite Road, Poco Loco Drive, Shannon Lane, Rim Road, Madera Road, Arabella Road, and White Oaks Road.

ENMU-Ruidoso welcomes four new staff members: Adrian Balderrama as Integrated Education and Training Coordinator, focusing on adult education pathways; Dr. Patrick Brown as Science Faculty, teaching biology and chemistry; Micah Bray as Head Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country Coach, fostering potential in student-athletes; and Chelsea DeMott as Head Rodeo Coach, bringing competitive rodeo experience.

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Celebrating 31 Years of Service: Angie Lane’s Journey with Ruidoso Municipal Schools

Angie Lane, celebrating 31 years with Ruidoso Municipal Schools, began as a substitute teacher in 1994 before discovering her passion for food service. Now Food Services Director, she’s guided her team through challenges like COVID-19, adapting to regulations and evolving menus. With resilience and dedication, Angie continues to serve Ruidoso’s students with heart and innovation.

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Happy New Year from the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce! We are excited for a great year at the Chamber.

Each year we hold what I consider our most important event, our Legislative Reception in Santa Fe. We invite our legislators and cabinet secretaries to this event and always have a great turnout. This is our opportunity to meet one-on-one with our legislators and express our concerns. The Village of Ruidoso is working very hard to obtain financial help from the state to continue the cleanup and recovery of our beautiful village following the fires and flooding. They need your support and your voice in Santa Fe. Please consider joining us on February 5th for the Lincoln County Day Annual Legislative Reception at 5:30 pm at the Herve’ Wine Bar in Santa Fe. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce.

In December, we held the Festival of Lights Parade and what a great parade it was! This year’s theme was a Journey of Hope and Resilience and the floats in the parade depicted just how resilient our community is. Here is a list of the parade winners:

» 1st Place: MCM Elegante (Phoenix Rising Float)

» 2nd Place: Calvary Church (Manger Scene Float)

» 3rd Place: Smokey Bear Ranger District of the US Forest Service (Smokey Bear Convoy)

>> Honorable Mentions

• Ruidoso Animal Clinic

• Mountain Home Properties

• Elevate Dance Studio

• The Rugged Outlaws

We want to thank our Parade Marshals, former Ruidoso Police Chief Lawrence Chavez, and former Ruidoso Fire Chief Joe Kasuboski, both recently retired. They have both served Ruidoso in a stressful time and did a great job. Thank you to all who participated and those who braved the cold to come out and watch the parade. It is one of our very favorite events to organize.

Even after the tough year we have had, we are so blessed to live in this beautiful community that comes together and supports each other. Here at the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce, we work hard every day to make this community a better place to live, work and play.

We wish everyone a very happy and prosperous New Year!

LCMC Staff Recognized for Outstanding Contributions

Lincoln County Medical Center celebrates two staff members honored by Presbyterian Healthcare System. Michael Padilla, Pharmacist Clinician, was named 2024 Regional Advanced Practice Clinician of the Year for his exceptional care in rural settings and dedication to training future providers. Charles Wood, Security Supervisor, earned 2024 Security Leader of the Year for his exemplary leadership and commitment to safety during crises. Congratulations to both!

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Ruidoso Midtown Association Welcomes 2025 with New Leadership and Exciting Plans

Happy New Year Ruidoso! After a trying and interesting 2024, we look forward to the New Year and all it has to offer. January 1, 2025 is the first page in a 365-page book, and the Ruidoso Midtown Association plans to make it a good one. We are thrilled to enter 2025 with an extraordinary board of local businessmen and women representing the RMA and the Midtown district.

In addition, we are excited to announce that we have a new Executive Director - Tim Duckworth! He came to us from Texas and thought he would never leave there - that is until he started visiting Ruidoso about 14 years ago. After moving his daughter to college at the University of Arkansas, he moved his family to Ruidoso and now cannot imagine living anywhere else. Tim brings many years of experience in customer relations and project management to the RMA. He is looking forward to utilizing these skills to bring fun activities and economic growth to Midtown Ruidoso. We are delighted to see what he brings to our organization. With all the events planned for this upcoming new year, the anticipation is infectious, and we are eager to move forward with positive hearts and minds.

All of us at the RMA wish our Village a prosperous New Year! May it be filled with exciting opportunities and great achievements!

In mid-December, the Ruidoso Police Department hosted its annual Cops for Kids event. It was another very successful event in which 19 local children were treated to a holiday shopping spree at Walmart, ice cream at Sabor, and an afternoon filled with pizza, games and bowling at the Ruidoso Bowling Alley.

RPD sends a huge thank you to the following people who make this event possible:

» Santa’s Helpers for all the work they did organizing the outing

» McDonald’s for starting this fun day off with breakfast

» Walmart for their assistance in making sure every kid had a great experience

» Sabor for yummy ice cream

» Ruidoso Bowling Center for pizza, drinks and the bowling lanes

» Generous donors who step up every year in a big way

» Fellow law enforcement agencies who pitch in to help including Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, New Mexico Game and Fish, Carrizozo Police Department, Mescalero Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Mescalero Conservation

Stay Connected with Ruidoso

Mondays with the Mayor
Tune in to 1490Krui.com or 1490 AM radio every Monday from 8:00 – 10:00 AM to hear the latest from Mayor Lynn Crawford. Feel free to call or text with your questions.

Follow Us on Social Media
Stay up to date with all the latest news and events:

• Website: ruidoso-nm.gov

• Facebook: Village of Ruidoso

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