RUIDOSO INSIDER

Council Approves Storm Drainage Plan, Fire Mitigation Agreement, and Honors Village Employees

October 14, 2025, Village Council Meeting Highlights:

» Approval of Task Order RFP #2024-004P-07 with Cobb, Fendley & Associates, Inc. for Completion of a Storm Drainage Master Plan.

» Approval of Agreement with Garrison Tree Services for Fire Mitigation, Forest Health, and Watershed Enhancement at Grindstone Lake.

» Adoption of Ordinance 2025-04 An Ordinance Amending the Village of Ruidoso Municipal Code of Ordinances Section 54-149 Architectural Design Standards.

» Presentation of Retirement Plaque to Adam Sanchez, Public Works Director, for his Service to the Village of Ruidoso from October 2000 through October 2025.

» Presentation of Employees and Department of the Quarter.

» Department of Quarter – Library

» Employees of Quarter

» Administration – Gina Corliss (Executive Admin Assistant)

» Public Safety – Jimmy Hernandez (Patrol Officer)

» Community Services – Dontrell Sims (Parks Maintenance Technician II)

» Public Works – Willie Herrera (Water Distribution Supervisor)

Next Council Meeting: November 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM in Council Chambers at Village Hall.

At the end of September, the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce representatives, New Mexico state officials, and local Kinetic team members gathered to commemorate the completion of Kinetic’s brand-new, fiber-optic network in Ruidoso.

The day marked an exciting milestone and a new chapter of connectivity for Ruidoso, which is officially considered a Kinetic ‘Gig-Ready’ community. This means more than 75% of the town now has access to Kinetic’s Next Generation Gigabit Internet. In fact, 8,000 homes and businesses across Ruidoso now have state-of-the-art internet, better supporting their needs for many years to come.

But what does being ‘Gig-Ready’ really mean? The benefits go way beyond just faster internet speeds.

Whether you’re working from home, running a business, accessing telehealth services and online learning, or just streaming your favorite shows, Kinetic Fiber is designed to empower every resident and set Ruidoso up for long-term economic success.

Residents who are interested in fiber service are encouraged to call Kinetic toll-free at 1-800-347-1991 or visit www.gokinetic.com.

Gina Corliss (Administration)

Gina’s exceptional organizational skills and dedication were instrumental in the success of the recent New Mexico Municipal League Conference. She spearheaded the planning efforts for this major event, which drew strong attendance and received outstanding feedback from participants. Her attention to detail and commitment to excellence ensured that Ruidoso showcased its finest to municipal leaders from across the state. This recognition reflects Gina’s consistent professionalism and the vital role she plays in supporting Village operations.

Dontrell Sims (Community Services)

Dontrell consistently demonstrates an outstanding work ethic and a can-do attitude that sets him apart. His willingness to tackle whatever needs to be done—whether it’s a routine task or an unexpected challenge—makes him an invaluable member of the team. Dontrell approaches each workday with genuine enthusiasm, and his positive energy is contagious among his colleagues.

Willie Herrera (Public Works)

Willie exemplifies dedication and positivity in everything he does, approaching each day with a smile and a can-do attitude that uplifts the entire team. Rain or shine, Willie consistently delivers outstanding work while demonstrating what it means to be a true team player. His reliable presence and unwavering commitment to serving our community make him an invaluable member of the Public Works Department.

Jimmy Hernandez (Public Safety)

Officer Jimmy Hernandez of the Ruidoso Police Department is Employee of the Quarter for Public Safety. Officer Hernandez has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to keeping the Village's citizens safe and has played a vital role in our public safety operations and in the safety and well-being of Ruidoso residents. His dedication to protecting this community exemplifies the highest standards of service.

Ruidoso Public Library (Department of the Quarter)

The Ruidoso Public Library team has distinguished itself through innovative and creative programming that engages residents of all ages and interests. From educational workshops to cultural events, they continually find new ways to connect with the community and foster a love of learning and discovery. Whether you’re a longtime patron or a first-time visitor, young or old, the library staff greets everyone with warmth and enthusiasm, creating an inclusive environment where all feel valued and supported. The library is a place where knowledge, creativity, and connection flourish.

As temperatures drop and winter sets in, many people turn to fireplaces and other heating methods to keep warm. At the same time, waste disposal — especially around holidays — increases, which can lead to an uptick in dumpster fires. While cozy fires can be comforting, they can also be dangerous if not handled properly. Here’s what to know to prevent winter fires at home and in the community:

Fireplace Safety Tips

A fireplace can be a safe and efficient way to heat a home — if used correctly. Every year, thousands of house fires are caused by improper use or maintenance of fireplaces and chimneys.

Do:

1. Have chimneys inspected and cleaned annually by a certified chimney sweep. Creosote buildup is a major cause of chimney fires.

2. Use only seasoned hardwood (dry for at least 6 months). Wet or soft woods produce more creosote and smoke.

3. Keep a screen or glass door in front of the fireplace to prevent embers from escaping.

4. Clear the area around the fireplace of flammable items like furniture, curtains, and decorations.

5. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the house and check the batteries monthly.

6. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it.

Don’t:

1. Don’t burn trash, wrapping paper, or cardboard in the fireplace — they can release toxic fumes or cause flash fires.

2. Don’t leave a fire unattended, especially overnight or when the house is vacant.

3. Don’t use gasoline or other accelerants to start or revive a fire.

4. Don’t overload the fireplace with too much wood.

What to Do If a Fire Breaks Out

1. Call 911 immediately – even if the fire seems small.

2. For a fireplace fire that spreads to a chimney or room, evacuate and close doors to slow the spread.

Stay warm. Stay alert. Stay safe.

As colder weather returns to the Sacramento Mountains, the Village of Ruidoso is ready to keep roads, sidewalks, and public spaces safe this winter. The Village’s Snow and Ice Removal Plan is now in place to guide how crews respond when snow begins to fall — ensuring that residents, visitors, and essential services can keep moving safely.

The plan details how Village crews, led by the Public Works Department, will respond to winter weather events. Collaborating closely with the Ruidoso Police and Fire Departments, Emergency Management, and Ruidoso Area Dispatch, snow response begins as soon as winter weather affects travel conditions.

When snow is in the forecast:

1. The Village of Ruidoso Office of Emergency Management will start coordinating VOR departments for snow and ice removal and provide updated forecasts to lead departments.

2. The Ruidoso Police Department will alert dispatch when roads become hazardous. Ruidoso Area Dispatch will then notify the Public Works department, and crews will mobilize and start clearing roads.

3. The Public Information Officers provide updates to residents through official VOR channels.

Priority Routes:

Snowplows work along priority routes to ensure critical areas are cleared first:

» Priority #1: State highways (Sudderth and Mechem), major arterial roads, and emergency/ Ruidoso Municipal Schools bus access routes

» Priority #2: Major arterial road extensions

» Priority #3: Residential streets and Village-owned parking areas.

Crews coordinate with the New Mexico Department of Transportation for state highway maintenance and the Ruidoso Municipal Schools to support school bus operations.

Tools, Equipment, and Teamwork:

The Village has dump trucks, pickups with plows and salters, graders, snow blowers, and support vehicles, with over 200 tons of salt and ice-melt materials on hand—and more ready to deploy as needed. During major storms, Public Works crews may work in rotating day and night shifts to keep roads clear and safe.

Stay Informed:

During major winter storms, the Village may activate the Emergency Alert System to inform the public of emergency or life-threatening situations.

» Follow official village social media channels for updates.

» Allow extra travel time and avoid unnecessary driving during heavy snowfall.

» Keep vehicles off the main roads whenever possible to help plow operations.

Stay safe and stay prepared!

With the arrival of autumn, we have much to look forward to, including the Thanksgiving season. And here at the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce, we are very thankful for the Ruidoso Valley Greeters!

Our Greeters are very active in the community, and one of the things we are most thankful for is that the Ruidoso Valley Greeters will once again be hosting the Christmas Jubilee! Taking place November 14 - 16 at the Ruidoso Convention Center, the Christmas Jubilee is a much-loved annual event here in Ruidoso. They will have over 70 vendors, so you can get all your Christmas shopping done at once —and maybe find a little something for yourself, too!

The Ruidoso Valley Greeters are the Chamber's philanthropic arm, and all proceeds from the Jubilee are donated back to the community. In the 35 years since the very first Jubilee, the Greeters have invested almost half a million dollars back into the community by pledging to our local charities. Some of the charities that have received pledges from the Greeters include the Humane Society of Lincoln County, Lincoln County Food Bank, Food 4 Kids Backpack Program, COPE, the Nest, and the High Mountain Youth Project. The list is too long to name all the charities, but these are just a few. We appreciate your support!

The Chamber just finished a wonderful AspenFest Parade and Party! The parade winners are:

1st Place: Canyon Hideaway’s entry titled “Oak and the Little Leaf Girl, Whimsical Forest Fairies.”

2nd Place: Inn of the Mountain Gods’ entry titled “50 Years of Storytelling” that featured a float honoring the journey from their humble beginnings to the vibrant, world-class resort they are today.

Best Decorated Vehicle: Cataleya Barcus, the newly crowned princess of the Mescalero Apache Elementary School.

The Festival of Lights Parade will be on Saturday, December 6, at 5:30 PM, and the theme will be “Muppets Christmas.” Let your imagination run wild, and let’s see some great floats for the Festival of Lights Parade!

Ruidoso Schools Lead Collaborative Discussion on Growth, Goals, and Student Achievement

Ruidoso Municipal Schools recently hosted a community-wide forum to discuss student success, academic progress, and the future of education in the district. The meeting brought together students, parents, educators, and local partners for an open dialogue on achievements, challenges, and shared goals. 

Read More —>

Ruidoso AARP Tax-Aide has been assisting individuals in the area (Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, Alto, Capitan, Carrizozo, Glencoe, Hondo, Lincoln, Nogal, Picacho, Roswell, San Patricio, Tinnie, and the Mescalero Nation) for the past 30 years. People receive free preparation of their federal and state taxes. A large portion of them are low-income and/or retired taxpayers and are eligible for state-related credits that provide them with an additional $50-$350. They cannot afford the cost (typically $200-$300) of having a professional tax preparer perform this function. In addition, this cost would often exceed the refunds they would receive.

Unfortunately, the number of people receiving help each year has been decreasing due to a lack of new volunteers. With just four preparers last year, we assisted 348 people, but we had to turn away hundreds more. With just two preparers on board for the upcoming year, only about 100 people will be able to receive assistance. Please consider helping this community by volunteering this tax season!

Chromebooks are provided, and volunteers are trained on the tax preparation process. Preparers must be comfortable using a laptop computer. Volunteers do not handle extremely difficult returns. Many of the returns are for people with only Social Security income. In addition, the remaining volunteers are very capable of providing assistance. Last year, the service was offered two days each week (Thursday/Friday), from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM. There is no commitment to both days, and even one day would be helpful. To obtain more information on how you can volunteer, call 575-694-2643 or email TaxAideRuidoso@outlook.com.

Construction is well underway and on schedule at Elk Meadows Apartments, a 72-unit community taking shape just north of the PNM facility on Mechem Drive.

When complete, the development will provide 126 bedrooms for local workers and families across two residential buildings and a community center that will offer supportive programs through Region 9 Education Cooperative and Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU).

Recent aerial photographs show steady progress on the site. Most underground infrastructure is complete, and Enriched Communities, LLC has poured the concrete slabs, with building framing now in progress.

Completion is expected in fall 2026, with leasing anticipated to begin in early summer 2026. Elk Meadows will deliver high-quality, affordable housing that strengthens the Ruidoso community.

For updates and more information, visit ElkMeadowsApartments.com.

Our Ruidoso Midtown welcomed fall with the wonderful AspenFest Parade sponsored by the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce. Midtown was packed with locals and visitors, enjoying the many floats, local heroes, and our friends from Mescalero. AspenFest at Wingfield Park had an incredible turnout on a day of perfect weather.

Downshift Brewing Company had its popular Oktoberfest event, bringing locals and visitors to Midtown. There was great Bavarian cuisine, German Blasmusik, local music, and a diverse group of vendors from around New Mexico. New winners of the Stein Hoist (Masskrugstemmen) emerged—flexing the power of their arms, and chicken dancers of all ages danced their tail feathers off!

We also had a visit from the mighty Dale Watson and his Lone Stars. This brought hundreds of visitors from around our neighboring counties (and even nearby states) to enjoy Midtown before the show.

With Christmas just around the corner, details for the Ruidoso Midtown Association’s Christmas Mixer are nearly set! We will have a one-and-done white elephant gift exchange as part of the holiday fun!

For year-round safety, be sure to sign up for weather alerts and Village notifications at CallMeRuidoso.com.

These updates are helpful for all seasons—winter is coming!

ENMU-Ruidoso Branch Community College’s Vice President of Student Learning & Success, Coda Omness, was recently recognized by the New Mexico Adult Education Association (NMAEA) recently as the New Mexico Adult Educator of the Year.

Over the past few years, Coda has guided ENMU-Ruidoso’s Adult Education program and her community through unimaginable challenges, including the devastating fires and flooding. Under her leadership and the new leadership of the Director of Adult Education Destini Taylor, the program has not only endured but grown—expanding its early childhood Integrated Education & Training (IET) program and providing scholarships to students so that they can get their early childhood certificate state license, as well as securing Government Results and Opportunity (GRO) funding to serve more learners.

She truly goes above and beyond to find funding streams that will allow them to serve more learners. Despite facing such a magnitude of challenges, she also continues to submit applications for new IETs, and will execute three in the fall of 2025: early childhood (ECECD), phlebotomy, and certified nursing assistant (CNA).

“Coda has been a strong voice for statewide progress, lending her support and leadership to the successful passage of the free High School Equivalency bill. What stands out most is her resilience, her commitment to students, and her unwavering belief that even in the hardest times, education lights the way forward,” said NMAEA Executive Director Jamie Trujillo.

Congratulations Coda!

At Lincoln County Medical Center (LCMC), we want to encourage the community to stay safe this respiratory season and take precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones from getting sick.

Fall and winter are times when viruses that cause respiratory disease, such as flu and COVID-19, tend to circulate more widely in the community. Due to the cold weather, people are indoors more often, making it easier for viruses to spread from one person to another.

There are many ways community members can protect themselves. First, prevent illness by getting a flu shot and staying up to date on COVID boosters. Vaccines help reduce the risk of illness, hospitalization, and complications—especially for vulnerable populations.

In addition, families should encourage good hand hygiene and be sure to stay home and keep kids home from school when sick.

If you start to experience respiratory symptoms, such as a fever and runny nose, you can manage your illness at home with rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications. If needed, our LCMC providers are available to provide care and to help manage symptoms. If you are having trouble breathing or have serious respiratory symptoms, please seek emergency care.

For more information and to view upcoming vaccine clinics, visit phs.org.

Stay Connected with Ruidoso

Mondays with the Mayor
Tune in to 1490Krui.com at FM 99.1 and AM 1490 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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