State Champions: Inside Carlsbad High's Culinary Program

State Champions: Inside Carlsbad High's Culinary Program

Carlsbad High School didn’t just win a state title this year. They won two — culinary and management, the first time CHS has swept both ProStart categories in the same year. Hattie went straight to the source: the Mountain Lion Studio hit the road to the CHS Culinary Arts Department the day after school let out, sitting down with instructor Amanda Hale and two of the students who helped get them there, Joslyn Frintz and David Balderrama. In this episode: Amanda Hale breaks down what ProStart actually is — Iron Chef rules for the culinary side (a 10-foot kitchen, two butane burners, no running water, no refrigeration), Shark Tank rules for management (pitch a fictional restaurant to judges like real investors) Joslyn talks through the dish that helped put Carlsbad on top, and the steep learning curve from her first year competing to this one David explains his role in keeping the team on time and on track during competition, and what changed in the team’s chemistry this year A conversation about long mornings, a first plane ride, a first trip to Whole Foods, and what it means to give teenagers a real taste of where their skills could take them. Part 2 of this series airs next week. Aired on KCCC 930 AM Radio and available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and through the Eddy County Dispatch (kccc930am.substack.com) or our website (www.kccc930am.com [http://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Already a subscriber? A one-time donation goes just as far. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

In Memoriam - June 14, 2026 - West Funeral Home, LLC.

This week, the Carlsbad community pauses to reflect on the lives of residents who have recently passed. These abridged records serve as a respectful tribute to those who helped build and shape the local area. While these summaries offer a moment of collective remembrance, the full life stories, service details, and spaces for family condolences are maintained by the funeral homes serving our community. In this episode, the community remembers those served by West Funeral Home — recent tributes and memorial announcements for Carlsbad residents. To read the complete life stories or to leave a message for the families, please visit the official memorial pages: West Funeral Home Obituaries https://www.westfuneralhomellc.com/obits [https://www.westfuneralhomellc.com/obits] Aired on KCCC 930 AM Radio and available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and through the Eddy County Dispatch (kccc930am.substack.com) or our website (www.kccc930am.com [https://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

In Memoriam - June 7 and 14, 2026 - Denton-Wood

This week, the Carlsbad community pauses to reflect on the lives of residents who have recently passed. These abridged records serve as a respectful tribute to those who helped build and shape the local area. While these summaries offer a moment of collective remembrance, the full life stories, service details, and spaces for family condolences are maintained by the funeral homes serving our community. In this episode, the community remembers those served by Denton-Wood Funeral Home — recent tributes and memorial announcements for Carlsbad residents. To read the complete life stories or to leave a message for the families, please visit the official memorial pages. Denton-Wood Funeral Home Obituaries https://www.dentonwood.com/obituaries [https://www.dentonwood.com/obituaries] Aired yesterday on KCCC 930 AM Radio and available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and through the Eddy County Dispatch (kccc930am.substack.com) or our website (www.kccc930am.com [http://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

CavernFest Weekend, a Silver City Getaway, and Everything Happening in Eddy County This Week

It’s hot, it’s busy, and a lot is going on in Eddy County this week. Today’s Mid-Week Matters covers a CavernFest-packed weekend at Lake Carlsbad Beach Park — free admission, live music, a 5K, a volleyball tournament, and a yoga class before the vendors even open. There are also free family events at the library and Cavern Theatre, a Father’s Day dance for the 40-and-up crowd, and a plant swap for the gardeners among us. The Quickies this week touch on federal legislation affecting Permian Basin oil and gas operations, Idaho resuming radioactive waste shipments to WIPP, a New World screwworm detection in neighboring Lee County, and a fatal hit-and-run on Standpipe Road that Carlsbad Police are asking the public to help solve. And for this week’s Weekend Wanderer, Hattie went to Silver City. She has opinions about the Murray Hotel, the sopapillas at Jalisco Cafe, and a pop-up chef who trained at Escoffier and whose food is absolutely that good. There are photos in the gallery. ICYMI, tune in Wednesdays at noon and 11 PM on KCCC 930 AM Radio — or find today’s episode anytime here through the Eddy County Dispatch. Mid-Week Matters is produced in partnership with Southeast New Mexico College Workforce and Community Education. Also available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and our website (www.kccc930am.com [http://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Already a subscriber? A one-time donation goes just as far. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

CavernFest, the Farmers and Makers Market, and What's Coming for Downtown

Community Forum | Tuesday, June 9, 2026 There’s a lot happening in downtown Carlsbad right now, and Denise Green, director of Carlsbad Main Street, stopped by the Mountain Lion Studio to break it all down on Communnity Forum. From a beach stage headliner to a neon alley project funded by the Creative Industries Division, the organization that quietly powers much of what makes downtown worth visiting is having a big year. CavernFest — This Weekend at the Beach CavernFest, now in its ninth year, is moving to the beach area along the river this year — a shift driven by courthouse facade work and the simple reality that more trees mean more shade. It’s still a free community event, and the lineup is stacked. Friday, June 12 A local young singer opens at 1 PM. Charlie and the Rangers perform later in the afternoon. The main stage kicks off at 6 PM with Zach Wilkerson as a solo act, followed by Slade Coulter. Headliner Rae Lynn closes out the night at 8:30 PM. Food trucks will be on-site Friday. Check the CavernFest Facebook page for the complete Friday schedule. Saturday, June 13 The day starts early with a 5K at 8 AM in partnership with the local Road Runners running group. Registration is still open — sign up on the CavernFest page or through the Road Runners’ Facebook. The race runs through Lower Townsville and finishes at the new Carlsbad sign before walkers head back toward the beach. At 9 AM, Desert Days studio owner Talissa leads a free yoga class at the beach. Vendors open at 10 AM. Noisy Water and Milton’s will both be set up in a beer garden near the stage. The Chamber of Commerce will have their train on site, courtesy of Permian Resources. Title sponsor: Chevron. Stage sponsor: Bad Bass Barbecue. Main stage Saturday: Zaki returns from Las Cruces, followed by Gannon Freeman and the CC Revs opening for headliner Easton Corbin, who takes the stage at 8:30 PM. Need a cool-down break from the heat? The Cavern Theater will be showing The Patriot at 2 PM and 6 PM on Saturday. Volunteers are still needed for the weekend. Contact Carlsbad Main Street to sign up. Farmers and Makers Market — Returning June 27 After a three-week break around CavernFest, the Farmers and Makers Market returns Saturday, June 27, at a new location: Halagueno Arts Park by the Carlsbad Public Library and Museum. The market runs June through October. The schedule this season: Saturday morning markets every week except the third week of each month, when a Thursday evening market takes the Saturday slot instead. Carlsbad Main Street is also actively looking for new vendors through the rest of the season. Coming Soon: The Neon Alley Project Carlsbad Main Street received a Creative Industries Division grant to develop the alleyway between Canyon and Canal and Fox and Mermod streets — the section in front of Milton’s. Plans include murals, neon LED signage, and QR codes linking to the history behind each piece of art. RFPs for muralists will be coming out soon. All this and more on Community Forum today at noon and 11 PM. Will you be there this weekend? What is your favorite part of CavernFest? Aired on KCCC 930 AM Radio and available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and through the Eddy County Dispatch (kccc930am.substack.com) or our website (www.kccc930am.com [http://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Already a subscriber? A one-time donation goes just as far. Our apologies. The dates were first listed as Friday, June 13th and Saturday, June 14th. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]