🌱 How XTERRA’s world championship move could spotlight Ruidoso in 2026

Coffee in hand, Ruidoso? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How XTERRA’s world championship move could spotlight Ruidoso in 2026
• Ruidoso community gathers to honor the life of Jimmie Morris Terry
• How an El Paso park now honors children lost in Ruidoso flooding

Also on today's calendar: A Ceremony of Carols & Christmas Lessons & Carols and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high of 61 and low of 43 degrees.
• Friday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 64, low: 42.
• Saturday: Sunshine and a few clouds, with a high of 65 and low of 41 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Triathlete's 2025 Race Series Report Shows Strong Growth, Evolving Priorities (triathlete.com) — Ruidoso is set to become a global off-road triathlon destination in 2026, when XTERRA moves its World Championship there for at least three years. A broader look at major triathlon series shows rising participation, more women and younger athletes entering the sport, and a growing emphasis on festival-style race weekends and community storytelling that XTERRA plans to showcase in Ruidoso.
   

2. Jimmie Terry (thehamiltonherald-news.com) — Ruidoso friends are invited to celebrate the life of Jimmie Morris Terry at First Baptist Church on Dec. 19, with lunch for out-of-town guests. The longtime ranch manager and Vietnam veteran retired to New Mexico in 2016, became active in First Baptist Church, and will be inurned with full military honors at Fort Stanton in April 2026.
   

3. Park renamed after family of kids who died during Ruidoso flooding (krqe.com) — Ruidoso’s devastating summer flooding, which claimed the lives of two visiting children, continues to ripple far beyond the village. Their parents, stationed at Fort Bliss, share how community support helped them cope as El Paso renames Fortaleza Park in honor of Sebastian and Charlotte Trotter.
   

4. New Turquoise Alert for missing Native people has been issued just six times (newsfromthestates.com) — Ruidoso was among the communities where a Turquoise Alert helped locate a missing Native person, but statewide the system has only been used six times since July despite 27 requests. Lawmakers and local police say strict interpretations of who counts as a “missing person” are blocking alerts, and they’re pushing for legislative fixes so more Native families can get rapid help.
   

📸 Around Ruidoso

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Ruidoso

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★ Featured events ★

Sunday December 21

• A Ceremony of Carols & Christmas Lessons & Carols
  Cathedral of St John, 318 Silver Ave SW, Albuquerque
  3:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 19

• Holiday Market at Enchanted Vine
  Enchanted Vine , 492 Fort Stanton Rd , Alto
  11:00 am
• Benny Bassett LIVE at Downshift Brewing Company's Hidden Tap
  Downshift Brewing Company's Hidden Tap , 2408 Sudderth Dr , Ruidoso
  6:00 pm
• A 1940's Radio Christmas Carol at ENMU-Ruidoso Student Success Center
  ENMU-Ruidoso Student Success Center , 701 Mechem DR , Ruidoso
  7:00 pm
• LIVE Music with Brian Marshall at Win, Place and Show Bar
  Win, Place & Show Bar , 2516 Sudderth Dr , Ruidoso
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Mescalero Annual Christmas Affair
  Mescalero Gym , 108 Central Avenue , Mescalero
  9:00 am
• Winter Indoor Market at the Ruidoso Elks Lodge
  Ruidoso Elks Lodge #2086 , 25916 US Hwy 70 , Ruidoso
  11:00 am
• The Nutcracker at Spencer Theater
  Spencer Theater , 108 Spencer Rd , Alto
  2:00 pm
• White Mountain Christmas at the Flying J Ranch — DiscoverRUIDOSO.com | Official Tourism Website for Ruidoso, NM
  Flying J Ranch , 1028 NM-48 , Alto
  5:30 pm

📣 Ruidoso Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Holiday Heroes Ruidoso Blood Drive — Village of Ruidoso Municipal Government
  541 Sudderth Dr , Ruidoso
  5:00 pm
• White Mountain Christmas at the Flying J Ranch
  Flying J Ranch , 1028 NM-48 , Alto
  5:30 pm
• Thirstday Night Trivia at Lost Hiker Brewing Company's Midtown Taproom
  Lost Hiker Brewing Co Taproom , 2536 Sudderth Dr , Ruidoso
  6:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Winter Indoor Market at the Ruidoso Elks Lodge
  Elks Lodge #2086 , 609 US-70 , Ruidoso
  11:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• #TuesdayPreparednessTip:
  Update your vehicle emergency kit each season. What you need for extreme heat isn’t the same as winter travel. Summer: extra water, electrolytes,… (Nextdoor )

• Village of Ruidoso, NM posted a job opening for Water/Wastewater Heavy Equipment Operator in Ruidoso. Apply here.
• Dollar Tree posted a job opening for Assistant Manager I in Ruidoso. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ruidoso here.

Ok Ruidoso! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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