RUIDOSO INSIDER

Ruidoso Council Approves High Loop Water System Upgrade

At the December 10, 2024, regular Village Council meeting, the Council voted to award the High Loop Water Systems Improvements Project to J & H Services Inc. This project will replace approximately 18,535 linear feet of existing 2-inch galvanized and 6-inch asbestos-cement lines to 6-inch C900 PVC with fire protection.

This area was deemed a problematic area due to the multiple main breaks that have occurred within the Country Club Subdivision. Due to this, the Village of Ruidoso 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 is coming out of GO Bonds and the budget.

The total project cost is $6,295,867.39 including NMGRT. The areas 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. The contractor was given a notice to proceed date of March 3, 2025.

Employee of the Quarter Awards Recognize Ruidoso’s Outstanding Team Members

The Village of Ruidoso honored its top team members for Q4 2024. The Finance Department was named Department of the Quarter for outstanding financial management. Individual awards went to Richard Butler (Public Works), Christy Coker (Administration), Amanda Castillo (Community Services), and Simon Haase (Public Safety). Mayor Lynn Crawford praised their dedication and positive impact on the community.

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Wildfire season is right around the corner, and it is important to be proactive and make sure your home is as safe as possible. Last year’s catastrophic South Fork Fire burned 17,569 acres and hundreds of homes. Many of the homes were burned due to embers igniting flammable material on and under decks or adjacent to the home.

The best way to prepare for wildfire season is to create defensible space around your home. Defensible space is a buffer zone between your home and surrounding wildland vegetation. This buffer is crucial because it reduces the risk of embers from nearby fires igniting your home. The National Fire Protection Association explains that “embers are burning pieces of airborne wood and/or vegetation that can travel more than a mile through the wind, igniting homes, debris, and other objects along the way.”

In addition to protecting your home, defensible space provides a safer area for first responders, enabling them to protect both themselves and your property more effectively.

The Ruidoso Forestry Department offers the following advice for homeowners:

» Homes should be cleared of all dead vegetation, including pine needles, leaves, and firewood piles for 30 feet or to the edge of the property. Firewood may be covered with a fire-retardant covering that prevents any spark from getting to the firewood.

» Trees in the “30-foot zone” should be thinned to minimal numbers, trimmed up high, and dead trees should be removed. Grass and other ground vegetation should be mowed regularly.

» Railroad ties, firewood, and other combustible items that are adjacent to a house should be removed as fire often travels through them, and they are difficult to extinguish.

» There should be no vegetation or flammable objects within 10 feet of the structure except for large live tree trunks that can be pruned to a height where a ground fire cannot ignite them.

» Wooden fences that butt up against a house or deck should be replaced with fences or gates of nonflammable materials.

» If there is a high or extreme fire danger, flammable materials such as furniture pads, wooden furniture, wooden toys, and anything else that is exposed should be placed inside the house or garage.

» If a deck is open underneath, there should be no lumber or other flammable objects stored there.

» Pine needles and other vegetative materials should be removed from the roofs of all structures.

» Propane bottles, fire starters, charcoal lighters, etc. should be placed as far as possible from any structure.

The Ruidoso Forestry Department encourages residents to examine a 100-foot radius around the property to find out if there is anything that could contribute to losing the home in a wildfire. More information about fire safety around the home during a wildfire is available at:

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA.

If you would like the Ruidoso Forestry Department to survey your home, please contact them at 575-257-5544. Information is also available on the Village of Ruidoso website under the Forestry Department.

Did you know that physical therapy plays a vital role in advanced wound care and healing? From restoring skin tissue function to reducing pain and accelerating recovery, physical therapists are key members of the wound management team. Discover how they treat common conditions like diabetic ulcers and venous insufficiency, and why partnering with a specialist can make all the difference.

Read the full article by Lisa Crenshaw, manager of Rehab Service, DPT, to learn more!

Ruidoso Middle School Earns Statewide Recognition for Excellence in Bilingual Education

Ruidoso Middle School (RMS) has been honored with the Bilingual Multicultural Education Program Recognition Award by the New Mexico Public Education Department, highlighting its commitment to bilingualism, cultural awareness, and academic success for English Language Learners. The award celebrates RMS’s progress from Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) status to “Traditional” status, thanks to innovative teaching strategies and dedicated educators. The award will be presented on March 7, 2025, at the State Capitol in Santa Fe. 

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ENMU-Ruidoso Sees Record Growth in Spring 2025 Enrollment

ENMU-Ruidoso’s Spring 2025 enrollment has reached 719 students, exceeding its goal of 705 and reflecting a 2.13% increase over Spring 2024. Student credit hours rose by 10.97%, and Full-Time Equivalent enrollment grew by 11.01%, highlighting strong demand and academic excellence. In-person and online registration options are available, with scholarships and financial assistance to support students.

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February was a very busy month for the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. We hosted our annual Lincoln County Day Legislative Reception in Santa Fe on February 5. With more than 110 attendees from Lincoln County, we were well represented. Thank you to Representative Harlan Vincent and Senator Nick Paul for their support of the event. February 5 was declared Lincoln County Day in the House of Representatives with twenty individuals from the Village of Ruidoso and Lincoln County representing our community and being acknowledged on the Floor of the House of Representatives. The Chamber hosts this event every year to give our Chamber members and residents of Ruidoso/Lincoln County the opportunity to attend the legislative session and meet many of our legislators and those individuals who are making the decisions that affect us. I highly encourage everyone to take the opportunity to attend this event next year.

Presidents’ Day Weekend, the Chamber hosted the Vines in the Pines Wine Festival. With 12 New Mexico Wineries and 2 local craft breweries as well as boutique vendors, this event is a favorite for locals and visitors alike. It brings many people to our area to shop, dine, and recreate over the three-day holiday weekend.

We are also busy working on the Ruidoso Art Festival, which will take place July 25-27, 2025, at the Ruidoso Convention Center. The application for this fine art show is open. Interested artists can apply for the event on zapplication.org. This show brings many fine artists to town, and many of our visitors plan their summer trips to Ruidoso to coincide with this event.

The Chamber is the organization that supports our community, and we work hard every day to make Ruidoso a better place to live, work, and play. Membership in the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce is an investment in the future of our community. If you are interested in joining the Chamber and working with us to support this community, please give us a call at 575-257-7395.

Exciting Year Ahead for Ruidoso Midtown: Major Events and Community Growth in 2025

The first few weeks of 2025 have been busy and a great start to the year. I have made it a point to meet many of our great Midtown business owners. If I have not met you yet, I will be by to introduce myself soon. I truly believe communication is important. As I meet business owners or managers, I am compiling a new contact list. This will help the RMA properly inform our Midtown businesses of upcoming events and important local news. With this information, Midtown can prepare for heavier foot traffic when there are events or holidays that may bring more people to town. It is always best to be on the same page.

We do have a few major events on the books that will certainly boost our Midtown economy. The Lincoln Forest Renaissance Faire will take place May 16-18, 2025, at Wingfield Park, and we are expecting over 5000 attendees. The Ruidoso Midtown Association is bringing back Brewdoso on August 9 at Wingfield Park featuring breweries, vendors, and entertainment from across New Mexico. Also in August, the Village of Ruidoso will host the XTERRA Ruidoso. XTERRA is an international triathlon bringing some of the world’s most elite athletes for swimming, biking, and running throughout Ruidoso. Athletes, families, and spectators from all over the world will be here to experience our incredible Midtown. September will bring the 4th Annual Ruidoso Oktoberfest. These are just a few events that will help to bring nationwide visibility to our Midtown businesses and Ruidoso as a whole.

It is important to mention last week’s New Mexico Main Street (NMMS) conference I attended in Santa Fe with Village Council members, the Parks & Rec Department, the Deputy Village Manager, and the Manager of Events & Strategic Partnerships. Having everyone there really showed others in NMMS just how closely our Village works together as one great team.

We were lucky that the conference just so happened to be at the same time as Lincoln County Days at the State Capitol. I also attended the Lincoln County Day Legislative Reception hosted by the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce. It was great to see our Mayor, Council members, Fire and Police Chiefs, ENMU- Ruidoso, Representative Harlan Vincent, Parks & Rec, RMA board members, business owners, and so many others representing our incredible Village. A special thank you to Deborah and Andrea from the Ruidoso Chamber of Commerce for hosting!

Learn more at RuidosoMidtownAssociation.com

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.

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