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  • Clovis police release identity of man in officer-involved shooting

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Editor's note: The name of the victim in this story has been removed from the initial report. Court records obtained the day after this story was published show the victim was sexually assaulted, information not previously available. The Clovis News Journal does not routinely name victims of sexual assault. Clovis' Paul Villanueva, 23, was the man shot by a Clovis police officer Wednesday evening while fleeing a residence on Sheldon Street, police said. According to a press release from the District Attorney's office,...

  • Clovis police release identity of man in officer-involved shooting

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Editor's note: The name of the victim in this story has been removed from the initial report. Court records obtained the day after this story was published show the victim was sexually assaulted, information not previously available. The Clovis News Journal does not routinely name victims of sexual assault. Clovis' Paul Villanueva, 23, was the man shot by a Clovis police officer Wednesday evening while fleeing a residence on Sheldon Street, police said. According to a press release from the District Attorney's office,...

  • Water board affirms support of Ute project

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    The city's water policy advisory board unanimously affirmed support of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System Tuesday, after City Commissioner Randy Crowder presented research on the viability of pumping ground water from Fort Sumner to Clovis. Crowder, who chairs the board, pointed to the Berrendo water project of 2009 as evidence that a proposal to pump water from the Pecos River basin is likely to fail. The Berrendo project was an attempt by a private company in Santa Fe to pump ground water from the Pecos River basin...

  • Teams prepare for annual Relay

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ Staff writer

    Clovis Relay for Life fed more than 400 cancer survivors last year at its annual event. File photo Relay for Life organizers hope to raise $140,000 from this year's event, according to co-chair Rebecca Holt. Glowing luminaria that lit the relay walking trail until dawn memorialized hundreds more who didn't survive. "I think every single person knows someone who has or has had cancer," said Cutter Burnett, Relay for Life entertainment chairman. Cancer survivor Marlene Bela call...

  • Weekly update - May 6

    Tonjia Rolan

    Police officer's case to proceed with motions The case of Clovis police officer Stephen Gallegos will proceed with a series of motions at 2:30 p.m. May 21 at the Curry County Courthouse, according to 10th Judicial District Court Senior Trial Attorney Tom Blakeney. Gallegos was indicted on charges of homicide by motor vehicle and great bodily harm by motor vehicle in January 2011. The charges stem from a November 2010 crash that claimed the life of passenger Mary Castillo and injured driver Edith Payton. Officer Gallegos was...

  • More than 300 gather for day of prayer

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    More than 300 worshippers gathered Thursday for the National Day of Prayer looked to the heavens for more than just guidance. CNJ staff photo: Tonjia Rolan Oyin Kokoricha, left, and daughter Ariel, right, attend Thursday's National Day of Prayer observance held on Main Street in front of the courthouse. Pastor David Swann of Faith Christian Family Church kicked off observance in front of Curry County Courthouse with a plea to the heavens for rain and an end to the drought....

  • Class profiles: Melrose High School

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Melrose High School made history this year, when Kendra Jacobs and Misha Riley received Pursuing Victory with Honor scholarships. It was the first time in New Mexico Activities Association scholarship history that two recipients were chosen from the same school. The scholarship is awarded to athletes and students involved in school and community activities. Melrose school Superintendent Jamie Widner, who graduated from Melrose High School 30 years ago, said "The traditional...

  • Clovis Community College raising student fees

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Clovis Community College will be raising student fees next semester, but not tuition, according to President Becky Rowley. Debbie Zurzolo, CCC's chief financial officer, said a student facility use fee of $10 per credit hour will help pay for debts on capital outlay projects. The Board of Trustees passed the increase Tuesday in an effort to balance $25 million in expected revenues with $25.5 million in projected expenditures for fiscal year 2012-2013. More than 1,600 CCC students enrolled full-time will see fees jump from...

  • Clovis Community College raising student fees

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Clovis Community College will be raising student fees next semester, but not tuition, according to President Becky Rowley. Debbie Zurzolo, CCC's chief financial officer, said a student facility use fee of $10 per credit hour will help pay for debts on capital outlay projects. The Board of Trustees passed the increase Tuesday in an effort to balance $25 million in expected revenues with $25.5 million in projected expenditures for fiscal year 2012-2013. More than 1,600 CCC students enrolled full-time will see fees jump from...

  • Meetings watch: CCC Board of Trustees

    Tonjia Rolan

    The Clovis Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 8 a.m. today in room 512 at CCC. Items on the agenda include: - A budget adjustment request for fiscal year 2011-2012. - A proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2011-2012. - Higher Education Department's fiscal watch report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012 - Labor Management Relations Board action. — Compiled by CNJ staff writer Tonjia Rolan...

  • In tribute: Crash victim, volunteer remembered for smile

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Crystal Sutherland was a volunteer, an employee and a Special Olympics contestant. Courtesy photo: Debbie Barela Crystal Sutherland, left, and her mother Debbie Barela. Sutherland died Wednesday in an automobile accident at the intersection of Norris and Seventh streets. She was 29. Sutherland, who was mentally challenged, worked three days a week at IHOP, assisting the dishwasher, washing floors and windows and cleaning bathrooms, according to restaurant manager Anna Davis....

  • Hot, dry weather contributes to moth invasion

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Moths are flying into refrigerators, landing in coffee cups, dive-bombing sleeping victims and plastering vehicles with their gooey carcasses, according to Clovis residents. Courtesy photo: North Dakota State University extension service at www.ag.ndsu.edu Officials say miller moths are an annual event, but the sudden population explosion is unusual and related to a hot, dry, early spring. "I was getting dressed the other morning and I had one as a brooch," said Judy Matthews, owner of The Patchwork House in Clovis. Officials...

  • Dry county

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Last year was sixth driest in recorded New Mexico history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association — and this year isn't stacking up to be much better. CNJ staff photo: Tony Bullocks A playa located on Llana Estacado Boulevard remains dry from a lack on rainfall. Clovis has seen just over a quarter inch of rain this year, according to Accuweather meteorologist Dave Samuhel. Samuhel said normal rainfall from January to April is 2.71 inches, based on a 3...

  • Four tribute artists, local country singer lined up for music festival

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Four tribute artists and a budding local country artist will join rock 'n' roll legend Chubby Checker in the entertainment lineup for the 2012 Clovis Musical Festival. The 25th annual festival is Sept. 7-9. Randy Petty, music festival chairman, announced Wednesday singer-songwriter Will Banister and the Mulberry Band will be the opening act when the festival concerts kick off Friday. Tribute artists scheduled to perform that night are: - Jerry Lee Lewis by Darrell Croy - Ritchie Valens by Ray Anthony - Buddy Holly by Johnny R...

  • Earth Day presentation promotes green message

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Students at Eastern New Mexico University ignored the age old advice, "Don't play with your food," Monday, at an Earth Day celebration that featured Frisbees as plates. CNJ staff photo: Tonjia Rolan Chris Garre, left, and folk singer-songwriter Gabrielle Louise present an Earth Day message about green fuels Monday at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. The students ate an outdoor picnic lunch from green Frisbees and rinsed them off for later use as flying objects. The m...

  • ENMU celebrates Earth Day

    Tonjia Rolan CMI staff writer

    Students at Eastern New Mexico University ignored the age old advice, "Don't play with your food," Monday, at an Earth Day celebration that featured Frisbees into plates. The students ate an outdoor picnic lunch from green Frisbees and rinsed them off for later use as flying objects. The message, said ENMU's recycling coordinator Kandice Kaiser, is "Go green. Recycle. We have the resources available so there's no reason not to do it." The students were serenaded with original folk music by singer-songwriter Gabrielle Louise...

  • Part of historic train may get movie role

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Walt Disney Pictures is interested in using items off an historic train engine that sat in Hillcrest Park for more than 50 years in a movie. File photo The railroad retired and donated engine number 9005 to the city of Clovis in 1954, after nearly 50 years of service. The steam engine was moved to Clovis Depot Train Museum in December. Phil Williams, owner of Clovis Depot Train Museum, said the motion picture company contacted him two weeks ago regarding the 1906 steam engine...

  • Proud grandmother

    Tonjia Rolan CMI staff writer

    Clovis resident Bobby Neumann III, 25, enjoys an outing with his grandmother, Wilma Dotson, also of Clovis. Wilma Dotson isn't living the life she dreamed of as a child growing up on the farm, but it's a life she's proud of. The Clovis grandmother, who once had top secret security clearance in Washington, D.C., has spent the last 25 years raising grandson Bobby Neumann III, who was born with Down's Syndrome. Dotson and her then 9-month-old grandson, Bobby Neumann III. What's...

  • Proud grandmother

    Tonjia Rolan CMI staff writer

    Clovis resident Bobby Neumann III, 25, enjoys an outing with his grandmother, Wilma Dotson, also of Clovis. Wilma Dotson isn't living the life she dreamed of as a child growing up on the farm, but it's a life she's proud of. The Clovis grandmother, who once had top secret security clearance in Washington, D.C., has spent the last 25 years raising grandson Bobby Neumann III, who was born with Down's Syndrome. Dotson and her then 9-month-old grandson, Bobby Neumann III. What's...

  • Clovis High senior spends day as county manager

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Clovis senior Taylor Ann Marez was chosen from four high school applicants to become "county manager for a day." CNJ staff photo: Tony Bullocks Clovis senior Taylor Ann Marez was chosen from four high school applicants to become "county manager for a day." Marez, an honor student and captain of the softball team, spent Friday shadowing Curry County Manager Lance Pyle, met state Sen. Clinton D. Harden of Clovis, hired a county employee and participated in a radio interview with...

  • Class profiles: Clovis Christian School

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Editor's note: This is the first in a series of profiles of the local high school graduating classes. Clovis Christian School was recently called "a gem on the prairie" in a report by the Association of Christian Schools International, and with good reason. A quarter of the school's senior class will graduate with a 4.0 GPA in May, having mastered calculus, chemistry and physics in the process. A third have been honored as Kiwanis student of the month based on character,...

  • Meetings watch: Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education

    Tonjia Rolan

    The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education met Tuesday and approved the following: - James Bickley and Ranchvale elementary school students competing in Destination Imagination were granted permission to travel to Knoxville, Tenn., for the global finals. - The designation of Jody Balch, deputy superintendent of operations, and John King, director of operations, to execute Public School Facilities Authority contracts for the district. - Purchase orders for kitchen and housekeeping supplies and other school equipment. — C...

  • Giraffes under increased security

    Tonjia Rolan CNJ staff writer

    Clovis' tallest toddler nibbled peacefully from tree branches Tuesday at Hillcrest Park Zoo, ignoring her mother and pricking her ears attentively to the sound of camera flashes. CNJ staff photo: Tonjia Rolan Hillcrest Park Zoo's 8-week-old giraffe, Jerrica, nibbles on leaves Tuesday, a new activity for the bottle-fed youngster. Jerrica, now 8 weeks old, appeared calm and unaffected by a March 21 incident that sent her crashing in fear through a PVC pipe barrier. The incident...

  • Our people: Clovis resident Leticia Zarate enjoys public speaking

    Tonjia Rolan

    Clovis resident Leticia Zarate is a media consultant for a television station. She enjoys public speaking, writing and photography. What is your greatest accomplishment? Zarate's three children, from left, Isaac, Sarah and Seth. After my divorce in 2007, I asked myself what is the one thing I could do, since I'm alone and can't depend on someone else to provide an income for me, what is the one thing I could do to help myself? I had helped my husband get his master's degree,...

  • Our people: Clovis resident Leticia Zarate enjoys public speaking

    Tonjia Rolan

    Clovis resident Leticia Zarate is a media consultant for a television station. She enjoys public speaking, writing and photography. What is your greatest accomplishment? Zarate's three children, from left, Isaac, Sarah and Seth. After my divorce in 2007, I asked myself what is the one thing I could do, since I'm alone and can't depend on someone else to provide an income for me, what is the one thing I could do to help myself? I had helped my husband get his master's degree,...

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