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  • Christmas gifts spark safety concerns

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 29, 2016

    CLOVIS — With the advent of children gleefully trying out bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller blades and similar items that may have been received as gifts comes a message imploring motorists and parents to be cautious. “Young people on low-riding toys or quick-moving bicycles can be missed if drivers are not watchful,” AAA Texas/New Mexico Representative Doug Shupe said. “We remind drivers to be on the lookout for excited children on new riding toys and encourage parents to go over traffic safety tips before letting...

  • YIR: Allegations, new faces mark Curry County's year

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 29, 2016

    The election of two new faces on the Curry County Commission and a state auditor's inquiry were among the notable events within the county's government in 2016. Robert Thornton delivered the biggest victory in June, unseating District 5 incumbent Tim Ashley while in District 4, Ben Smith garnered a win over Steve Gershon and Donald Harrell. Smith is the son of former Curry County Commissioner Albin Smith and will take the seat to be vacated with Wendell Bostwick term-limited....

  • Hold on to your hats

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 24, 2016

    The National Weather Service says residents in Roosevelt and Curry counties will have to settle for a windy Christmas in lieu of a white one. “Wind will have the greatest impact as we embark upon Christmas Eve leading into Christmas Day,” National Weather Service Hydrometeorological Technician Dwight Koehn said. “Eastern New Mexico will get the tail end of a trough, as Saturday’s high will be in the mid 60s while Saturday night will be mostly clear with a low of 35. There will be 20 to 25 mph winds after midnight.” Koehn sai...

  • Older adults get OK

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 23, 2016

    By Douglas Clark Staff Writer [email protected] During Thursday’s regular meeting the Clovis City Commission granted the Commission on Older Adults permission to alter how often it convenes. “The Commission on Older Adults would like to change their structures to meet every other month, rather than quarterly,” Commission on Older Adults Chairperson Donna Labatt said in addressing city commission members. “The commission had been meeting quarterly and to make it more effective we would like to have meetings more often t...

  • Principal: CHS getting good results

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 22, 2016

    CLOVIS — Clovis High School Principal Jay Brady is approaching the midway point of his first year at the helm and is bursting with pride daily regarding the results produced by student, faculty and staff. “In a half year my eyes have been opened to what it takes to handle everything that confronts kids in getting them from their sophomore year to their senior year to graduate,” said Brady, who most recently served as Marshall Middle School Principal. “I have been amazed by so many terrific things that go on in our school....

  • Curry County jail expansion approved

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 22, 2016

    CLOVIS — Curry County commissioners on Wednesday granted approval for ASA Architects to proceed with the design development phase for the expansion and renovation of the county jail. During the meeting ASA Architects President Ted Shelton presented the schematic design phase to commission members, after which the body agreed to move forward with design of a 96 bed facility, including a medical area. During Shelton’s presentation, the commission was weighing a plan for a 48-bed expansion, but Commission Vice Chair Chet Spe...

  • Clovis administration eyes new teacher signing bonuses

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 21, 2016

    Clovis Municipal Schools officials are considering financial incentives as a means of making teaching vacancies within the school district more attractive. During Tuesday’s regular board meeting Superintendent of Schools Jody Balch initiated discussion on offering signing bonuses to prospective teacher applicants. “We have six school districts within 45 miles that have a four-day work week,” he said. “And we know of others districts that have had signing bonuses. When (Assistant Superintendent — Human Resources ) Dr. (Kerr...

  • Arctic front to sweep through area

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 17, 2016

    CLOVIS — After experiencing high temperatures that hovered in the upper 60s Friday, Curry and Roosevelt counties are expected to experience a reversal of weather fortunes Saturday evening — with the mercury plummeting to single digits. "There will be an arctic cold front through the eastern plains of New Mexico, delivering a projected low of three degrees," said National Weather Service Meteorologist Jennifer Palucki, who noted this region most recently experienced single-digit temperatures Feb. 28, 2015, when it was 9 deg...

  • Clovis schools' new music director excited for opportunity

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 16, 2016

    When Yucca Middle School assistant principal Brandon Boerio recently accepted the position of Clovis Municipal Schools Director of Music Education, he quickly realized he was about embark upon a journey that would allow him to combine a pair of favored pursuits. "I'm very excited about the opportunity," said Boerio, who is in his ninth year with the Clovis school district after four years with Portales Municipal Schools. "I will remain in administration while also working...

  • Locals weigh in on Yahoo security breach

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 16, 2016

    CLOVIS — The aftermath of the Yahoo disclosure of a breach impacting in excess of a billion user accounts has resulted in varied reactions among professionals within the cyber security field and consumers. The New Mexico Technology Council (NMTC) is a member-driven association comprised of businesses, organizations and tech professionals working to promote the growth and success of New Mexico’s technology business sectors. NMTC officials said the technology community is the catalyst for inspiration and leadership that transfo...

  • President says CCC could face more cuts

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 15, 2016

    CLOVIS — During Wednesday’s regular board meeting, Clovis Community College President Becky Rowley said while the school managed to withstand a funding reduction during the state’s special legislative session, the potential for future trimming remains. “We did receive a 5 percent cut during the (legislative) special session a couple of months ago,” she said. “And that cut actually came in before we finished the final close out of our fiscal year. The final close on our fiscal year was even better than what we thought it was g...

  • Officials attempting to raise awareness on healthier eating

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 15, 2016

    CLOVIS — As part of Eating Healthier Awareness Month, Curry County officials are imploring residents to arm themselves with sound facts and maintain a healthier eating regimen. “This is part of an effort to remind everyone we can do our part to prevent a plethora of chronic and serious diseases, just by making better choices in what we eat,” said Curry County Retired Senior Volunteer and Foster Grandparent Program Assistant Susan Alman, who introduced the proclamation and is an advocate for educating the masses about eatin...

  • Citizens Bank celebrates 100 years

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 15, 2016

    CLOVIS — The Citizens Bank of Clovis will celebrate 100 years of service this week with bank officials crediting the organization's longevity to perseverance, stability, integrity and a fervent commitment to customer service. "After the first 50 years in business, the bank had less than $18 million in assets and a little more than $1.2 million in capital," said President Kent Carruthers. "With regard to the next 50 years, as of Sept. 30, 2016, there was $365 million in a...

  • Portales man sentenced on burglary, arson charges

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 15, 2016

    CLOVIS — A Portales man was sentenced to four years in prison during district court proceedings Monday after entering a guilty plea to two counts of aggravated burglary (armed after entering) and two counts of arson. Officials said the charges against Raheem Martinez, 20, stemmed from an effort to steal guns from three Clovis shops and set fires to divert police in the process in February 2015. Judge Drew Tatum issued the sentence, saying each count serves as a second-degree felony. Prior to Tatum rendering a decision, A...

  • Education may see more cuts

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 12, 2016

    CLOVIS — The heads of at least three local school districts are bristling at the possibility state funding for education will be further reduced next year, paired with the thought of cash balances being tapped to offset declining state revenues. During a meeting Thursday in Santa Fe, the chairman of the Legislative Finance Committee that drafts the state budget said lawmakers would be hard-pressed to leave out cuts to public schools. Sen. John Arthur Smith said lawmakers have to work to reduce deficits linked to a downturn i...

  • Officials: Grant will enhance airport runway

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 10, 2016

    CLOVIS — Clovis Municipal Airport officials said they have landed an $8 million federal grant that will greatly enhance one of the airport’s runways. “We’ve been working with the FAA and state aviation department to work on our crosswind runway and the primary apron in the tarmac area,” said Airport Director Kyle Berkshire. “We had been lobbying for renovation of the concrete apron with new markings. There had been a runway extension four or five years ago, so we’ll be working to finish out all of our pavements for commercia...

  • Clovis approves $10,000 for Travis Tritt concert

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 9, 2016

    CLOVIS — By a unanimous vote, the Clovis City Commission approved $10,000 in lodger’s tax funds to help promote a Travis Tritt concert set for Jan. 13 at the Curry County Events Center. Events Center Special Events Manager Joelle Reed appealed directly to the commission because the lodger’s tax board meets quarterly, and the Tritt concert was booked following the board’s October meeting. “He’s (Tritt) definitely a music star,” Reed told the commission. “We’re trying to make Clovis a concert-going community and we just need...

  • CCC pinning ceremonies this week

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 8, 2016

    CLOVIS — Clovis Community College's Allied Health Division will crown the achievements of Fall 2016 graduates within the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and Nursing programs with pinning ceremonies slated for this week. School officials said the PTA pinning will be 6 p.m. today at Clovis Community College's Town Hall, while the Nursing program pinning ceremony will be held 1 p.m. Friday at the Clovis Civic Center. Delilah Vargas and Samantha Walls are wrapping up work in th...

  • Madrid cases being negotiated

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 6, 2016

    CLOVIS — During a district court docket call Monday in advance of her trial on burglary charges, it was announced there could possibly be a resolution to 11 cases involving a Clovis woman also accused of setting multiple fires around the region. Angela Madrid appeared before Judge Drew Tatum with attorney Tye Harmon while Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Stover represented the state in the burglary case, which is slated for jury selection and trial Monday through W...

  • Locals weigh in on Levi's gun stance

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 3, 2016

    In the wake of Levi Strauss & Co. CEO Chip Bergh crafting an open letter to customers requesting gun owners not bring their firearms into the merchant’s stores when shopping for jeans, residents offered a variety of opinions on the decision. Bergh posted a message Wednesday to LinkedIn, a business and employment-based social networking service. “Providing a safe environment to work and shop is a top priority for us at Levi Strauss & Co.,” wrote Bergh, a former army officer. “That imperative is quickly challenged, however...

  • Portales parade delayed

    Douglas Clark|Updated Dec 3, 2016

    Citing weather concerns, the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce has postponed Friday’s Portales Christmas Light Parade, to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 9. “With the forecast calling for rain and wind chills in the low 20s before parade time, the Chamber wants to err on the side of caution and reschedule for next week,” said Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry via a media release. “We have a lot of small children in the parade and on the street watching. We don’t want them wet with freezing temperatu...

  • United Way encourages #GivingTuesday

    Douglas Clark|Updated Nov 30, 2016

    As part of a nationwide effort to bolster nonprofit fundraising and volunteering endeavors, #GivingTuesday was established five years ago — designated for the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Rooted in online communications, #GivingTuesday was initiated by the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Meanwhile, last year marked the beginning of #GivingTuesdayNM, which established a statewide New Mexico coalition to promote volunteerism and philanthropy during a season in which community need and consumerism are at peak levels. “It tak...

  • District report cards released

    Douglas Clark|Updated Nov 30, 2016

    New Mexico Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera released the 2016 School District Report Cards for each of the state’s 89 public school districts Tuesday, with Clovis Municipal Schools garnering a C letter grade while the Grady and Texico school districts weighed in with A grades. Melrose Municipal Schools received a B. The grade on Portales Municipal Schools’ 2015-2016 district report card was a B — up from a C for 2014-2015. Dora Schools received an A, while Elida, Floyd and Fort Sumner Schools all received a B. Officials...

  • Shopping small

    David Norton and Douglas Clark|Updated Nov 28, 2016

    Whether it was a nice lunch at the Do Drop Inn or a new pair of boots at Bar G Western Wear, the Portales square was buzzing with activity during Small Business Saturday. While Black Friday may bring mega sales and mega crowds, Small Business Saturday is about supporting hometown retailers. "Our sales carried over from Black Friday to (Saturday)," said Fern Goodson, who owns Bar G Western Wear in Portales with her husband Buz Goodson. "Several people have come in today and kne...

  • Ready, set, shop

    Douglas Clark and Eamon Scarbrough|Updated Nov 26, 2016

    Whether it be familial tradition, the quest for a bargain, retail therapy or an effort to maintain tranquility in the household - plenty of eastern New Mexico residents found themselves out and about in the Black Friday shopping mix. Since 1932, the day after Thanksgiving Day has signaled the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in America, with a vast number of retailers open early to offer promotional sales. "No matter where we've lived, we've always hit the stores...

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