RUIDOSO INSIDER

As temperatures rise and vegetation dries out, fire season brings increased risk to homes, communities, and natural landscapes. Understanding key fire-related alerts and practicing good fire safety can save lives and property.

Fire Safety: Fire safety begins with prevention. During dry conditions, avoid burning debris, using fireworks, or operating machinery that can create sparks near dry grass. Clear flammable vegetation at least 30 feet from your home, store firewood away from structures, and create an emergency evacuation plan with your household.

Fire Weather Watch: This is issued by the National Weather Service when weather conditions may soon become ideal for wildfire ignition and spread. This alert is typically issued 24 to 72 hours in advance. It serves as a heads-up to prepare, review emergency plans, check fire extinguishers, and stay tuned for updates.

Red Flag Warning: Also known as a Red Flag Day, this warning is more serious. It means critical fire weather—such as strong winds, low humidity, and dry fuels—is occurring or will occur shortly. During a Red Flag Warning, outdoor burning is typically prohibited, and residents are urged to avoid any activity that could start a fire.

Sign up for local emergency alerts (CallMeRuidoso.com) and check weather forecasts regularly during fire season. When conditions are volatile, every small action—from safely disposing of cigarettes to postponing outdoor chores—can make a big difference.

Since last year’s fires and floods, the Village has implemented a comprehensive tourism marketing strategy, including detailed advertising efforts, target markets, engagement metrics, and recovery trends.

The VOR’s marketing campaign focuses on a two-tier geographical targeting approach, with primary focus on nearby cities like El Paso, Albuquerque, and Dallas, and secondary focus on markets like Houston, Phoenix, and Southern California. The advertising strategy utilizes a diverse mix of traditional and digital marketing channels, including digital billboards, traditional print publications, social media, digital displays, email marketing, travel intender marketing, and various forms of sponsored content. The Village has invested in tourism promotion ($1.2 million, which includes participation in the NMTD Co-op Program) and fire recovery-specific messaging ($150,000, provided by the NMTD immediately following last summer’s fires and floods), generating more than 100 million impressions across multiple platforms.

Website traffic to DiscoverRuidoso.com has increased 68% year-over-year, with a notable shift in visitor behavior from viewing webcams to actively planning trips. Visitor data show promising recovery statistics when compared to other destinations affected by natural disasters, with Ruidoso experiencing only a 4% decrease in visitors year-over-year compared to Asheville, NC, which has experienced a 45% decrease post-disaster since the post-hurricane floods last summer. That number aligns with the national tourism trend, which indicates a 4% decrease in national travel due to concerns about the economy.

By December 2024, visitor numbers had returned to pre-disaster levels and continued to improve into February. The geographic breakdown of visitors indicates Texas and New Mexico as the primary sources of tourists, with Dallas surpassing El Paso as the top origin city in Texas, and new markets emerging in California and Tennessee which can be contributed to participation in the NMTD Co-op Program which is featuring Ruidoso prominently in their NM True advertising campaigns.

The first meeting of the Time Turner History Book Club was on May 8th. Since it was the first meeting, it was decided to stay close to home and discuss "The Three-Cornered War" by Megan Kate Nelson, which explores the Civil War-era conflicts in New Mexico. The monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the library, and the next meeting will be on June 12th at 12:30 PM. For June, the chosen title is The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann. It is a welcoming space to talk about books and history while exploring a wide range of topics. No knowledge of history is required!

The museum is opening a new exhibit in June on the Smokey Bear Hot Shot Crew. This group of elite wildland firefighters, based right here in Lincoln County, has a long history of battling fires across the country. The current exhibit, “Postcards of Ruidoso” remains on display through August.

The Friends of the Wingfield Heritage House are busy organizing as a new support and fundraising group for the museum. They have selected officers and are working on plans as they are off and running. The next meeting of the organizing group will be on the 4th Friday of the month at 10:00 AM at the Ruidoso Public Library. Anyone interested in helping this group is welcome and will become a great addition to this community. Please stop by!

The Humane Society of Lincoln County Annual Sales for Tails event is being held on June 21, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Highway 70 across from Motel 6. The annual sale is a fun day to enjoy shopping, food trucks, raffle prizes, and kids receive a FREE pet care activity book. It's also a great opportunity to meet some incredible dogs waiting for their forever homes!

There will be two raffles, with great prizes, on the day of Sales for Tails at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM - must be present to win! Tickets for the raffles are on sale now, priced at $2 per ticket or $ 10 for six tickets.

All proceeds from the resale shop provide crucial funding for the animal shelter. It enables the ongoing care of homeless animals while also providing free and low-cost pet resources for this community.

Anyone who is spring cleaning, moving, or downsizing and has items to donate can bring them to the resale shop for the annual sale! Simply drop off items at the resale shop, and our staff will assist with unloading. Alternatively, call 575-808-8540 to arrange free pickup for large or heavy items.

Come find great deals on gently used clothing, shoes, furniture, appliances, kitchen items, home decor, and holiday decorations.

On June 11, 2024, the Village approved to amend Utility Rates because of Master Planning and Rate Analysis studies. The studies not only increased rates to continue to meet operational needs but also to pay for needed infrastructure upgrades for all the utilities. The plan listed out increases that took effect on July 1, 2024 (FY 2025) and outlined rate increases for the next seven years.

Rates are in effect for the August billing for July consumption. https://www.ruidoso-nm.gov/water-rates

Visiting Lincoln County Medical Center: What You Need to Know

Whether you’re heading in for an appointment, supporting a loved one, or seeking urgent care, Lincoln County Medical Center offers a range of essential services on its easily accessible Ruidoso campus. This month’s update includes parking details, building layout, emergency department access, and tips for navigating the facility with ease. Plus, learn about current visitation policies and how staff are working to improve the patient and guest experience.

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Ruidoso High School Class of 2025: A Year of Excellence and Warrior Spirit

Ruidoso High proudly celebrates the Class of 2025, marked by academic achievement, leadership, and resilience. Valedictorian Anderson Beatty and Co-Salutatorians Jose Pinon and Mia Simpson were honored for their hard-earned success, while Distinguished Warriors Citlali Figueroa, Tyler Page, and Mia Simpson were recognized for their service and school spirit. From state-level athletic accomplishments to earning college credits and professional certifications, this graduating class exemplifies what it means to be a Warrior, both in and out of the classroom.

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Summer is here, and the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce is excited about our upcoming events. The Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet will be June 27, 2025, at the Inn of the Mountain Gods. This year’s theme is the Roaring ‘20s. We will induct our new board members and present our annual awards. Join us for a night of celebration, dinner, and dancing. Tickets are available at the chamber.

In July, we will host the 54th Annual Ruidoso Art Festival at the Ruidoso Convention Center from July 25 to 27, 2025. We will feature artists from all over the country showcasing a diverse range of mediums, including sculpture, photography, glass, painting, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, and more! Come enjoy an adult beverage and discover treasures to complement any lifestyle or budget.

The chamber welcomed several new members this month. Cory’s Eatery on the third floor of the Lincoln Tower provides a wonderful place to grab breakfast or lunch. Corinne and Fabian Prudencio have been feeding Lincoln County for many years with their food truck, and they now have a permanent location!

Shannon Loves Flowers has a new location in Midtown if you need flowers or a unique gift. ReNu Medical Spa provides medical and cosmetic dermatology services, and Facetyme by Gina will pamper you with the ultimate facial! Both are located at 708 Mechem.

The Ruidoso Valley Greeters recently awarded Craig Maldonado the Champion of Service Award. Craig, an employee of Alto Lakes Golf and Country Club, has always been willing to do whatever needs to be done. No task is too small or too large for him. During the South Fork Fire, Craig came to work every day at Outlaw, despite the club being closed. He cooked burritos and delivered breakfast and lunch to the First Responders in the area. He is truly an amazing person! He can be seen serving meals at Outlaw when they are overwhelmed with customers and Craig is ALWAYS working with a smile on his face. Thank you, Craig, for demonstrating what it means to be a Champion of Service!

If you are interested in becoming a Chamber member, we would love to answer any questions you may have and to discuss how we can help your business grow. Please contact us at 575-257-7395.

Midtown Ruidoso has been busy this year, working, planning, and partnering with numerous events coming to Midtown and Ruidoso.

The first Easter Egg Hunt at Wingfield Park was a huge success. A big thank you to the Ruidoso Parks & Rec department for a great family event. Also, thank you to the Midtown businesses who donated gifts and coupons for the prizes.

RMA offered a free grant education session for our Midtown businesses. The event was well attended, and the information was invaluable in helping our Midtown businesses and others find and apply for grants that can help revitalize our village. Thank you to Jordan Law for a detailed and educational presentation. We will be hosting a follow-up event in June. We will also host additional educational events this year to help Midtown and others in Ruidoso prepare for the future.

We are excited that the world-renowned IRONMAN Triathlon has announced its first events, taking place on July 11-12, 2026, here in Ruidoso. This is a multi-year partnership with IRONMAN, bringing athletes and visitors from all over the world.

RMA will host Brewdoso on August 9, 2025, at Wingfield Park, featuring New Mexico’s finest craft beer and wine, food trucks, live music, and plenty of family fun for all. Any vendors and patrons who would like to attend can reach out to us via social media or at RuidosoMidtownAssociation.com.

Sidenote, we are already preparing for Midtown Trick or Treat in Midtown in October…this year will be the best yet!

I would like to welcome two new businesses to Midtown: Shannon Loves Flowers (2313 Sudderth), which offers a wide variety of flowers, floral arrangements, and special gifts for all occasions. We also welcome Rustic Mountain Creations (2501 Sudderth #F) and their hand-crafted decor, air plants, succulents, and much more. Welcome to the Midtown family!

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ENMU-Ruidoso Expands Athletic Legacy and Celebrates Future Leaders

Exciting strides are underway at ENMU-Ruidoso as the college welcomes its first six student athletes to sign National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) letters of intent. Local standouts from Ruidoso and Mescalero will compete in cross-country and rodeo, while two El Paso athletes will join the new golf team. These signings mark a major milestone in the college’s growing athletics program, approved by the Board of Regents in 2023.

In partnership with the Inn of the Mountain Gods, ENMU also proudly honors the 2025 graduates of its Leadership in Training (LIT) program. Designed to develop future leaders through hands-on training and academic achievement, the LIT initiative continues to shape careers and strengthen our community.

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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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