Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles written by Benna Sayyed Cmi Staff


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  • Q&A: Roper discusses sport, visit to area

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Texas Cowboy Hall of Famer and founder of the Professional Bull Riders (association) Cody Lambert stopped in Clovis on Friday to rope some calves. Cody Lambert Lambert, 51, rode bulls and broncs professionally for 17 years and said his calf roping at the Joe's Boot Shop Calf Roping rodeo was just for fun. Lambert retired from bull riding in 1996 and continued riding broncs. He rode calves and steers as child. He said he roped calves a little as a young man but did not start...

  • Ticket Feature - Arsenic and Old Lace coming to Main Street

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Arsenic and Old Lace will soon be on Main Street. The classic American drama, being put on by the community theater group Brickstreet Players, will provide entertainment for the entire family, according to director Jennifer Brandon. "It's a great play," Brandon said. "There is comedy. It's not something you have to analyze and really think about. It's just a chance to relax and have an entertaining evening." The play is considered a farcical dark comedy. In the play, drama critic Mortimer Brewster is forced to deal with his...

  • Easter brings blessings

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    We asked area residents why they feel blessed this Easter. Here's what they said: - Trevor Weaver, 22, a senior airman stationed at Cannon Air Force Base "I'm feel blessed that my grandfather came to visit from St. Louis and I got to spend a wonderful day with my girlfriend Bobbie. It feels great to be around family and friends." - Hyrason Weaver, 20, a skateboarder who moved from Crown Point to Portales a month ago "I feel blessed to be alive and to have the family I have. I have a big family out there in Crown Point. I...

  • Vietnam vets receive local honor

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Gregory Lopez and Harry Black remember the way they were treated when they returned from their tours in Vietnam, hence their appreciation for the Clovis City Commission proclaiming Friday as Vietnam Veterans Day in Clovis. "I sure wish we received a better welcome (when returning from Vietnam)," said Lopez, 66, of Clovis, who served in the 25th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army from 1969 to March 1970 in the Vietnam War. "When I came home (from Vietnam) being a veteran didn't mean much to people," said Black, 80, of Portales...

  • Vietnam vets receive local honor

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Gregory Lopez and Harry Black remember the way they were treated when they returned from their tours in Vietnam, hence their appreciation for the Clovis City Commission proclaiming Friday as Vietnam Veterans Day in Clovis. "I sure wish we received a better welcome (when returning from Vietnam)," said Lopez, 66, of Clovis, who served in the 25th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army from 1969 to March 1970 in the Vietnam War. "When I came home (from Vietnam) being a veteran didn't mean much to people," said Black, 80, of Portales...

  • Floyd jamboree showcases area talent

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Kevin Spears revisited the Floyd Lions Club Country Jamboree for the first time in more than 10 years Saturday night to watch his son Hayden perform songs by country music stars. "I'm always surprised at how much local talent we have," said Spears, 36, office administrator at the Ninth Judicial District Attorney's office in Clovis. "It's a good opportunity to showcase the younger talent. I think the jamboree is still going strong. It's kind of a hidden gem to the area." The... Full story

  • First United Methodist Church to study Lenten practices

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Sue Strickler and Pastor Michael Brunk want all citizens to interpret Bible scripture with different eyes. The members of First United Methodist Church lead a study of Lenten practices based on Adam Hamilton's "The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus" each Wednesday evening. Strickler and Brunk started the study to share the benefits of Bible scripture with all citizens. Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune Members of The First United Methodist Church of Portales study Lenten practices by watching a video based on Ada... Full story

  • Speaker: Plight not just our own

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Yvette Kaufman-Bell spoke to an audience of students of different races and nationalities about the accomplishments of black women Thursday at Eastern New Mexico University. Kaufman-Bell's speech, "Ain't I a Woman," focused on the plight of black women in the women's rights movement in the U.S. and the modern-day accomplishments of black women. Her speech tied into National Women's History Month, which is this month. Kaufman-Bell, 40, executive director of the state's office... Full story

  • Our People: The truth is the truth

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Sandra Cole was born and raised in Clovis. She said her parents Will and Hazel Moten moved to Clovis in 1942 to escape the racial oppression they experienced in east Texas and to find work. Cole said she belonged to a small black population when she was growing up in Clovis. She worked as a substitute teacher in Clovis Municipal Schools 1987-2001. She said she became known as a no-nonsense teacher during her years working as an educator. Cole retired in 2001 because of health...

  • Agape Fellowship International church gets new pastor

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Agape Fellowship International Church has a new pastor — Louis Accardi. Accardi, who previously served as a pastor for a Roswell church for seven years and moved to Clovis last August, took the position when the church's previous pastor, Houston Wallace ,recently died. Accardi said as pastor he would like to stay flexible and work with other pastors in Portales. "I think we have some good pastors in this town," said Accardi, who worked as a special education teacher in Roswell for a little more than 12 years. "I've lived h... Full story

  • Official: Burglaries increasing

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    A spokesman for the Roosevelt County Sheriff told county commissioners Tuesday that burglaries are on an unusual upswing. Chief Deputy Malin Parker said sheriff's deputies and the Portales Police Department are working to catch the suspects responsible for at least eight burglaries in the county the past month. Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Malin Parker said his department arrested a juvenile suspect Monday and is investigating multiple other suspects in the burglaries. He said his department has physical...

  • Residents weigh in on which ad was "Super"

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Never mind the game. What was your favorite Super Bowl commercial? A few area reactions: David Garcia, 40, assistant manager at a Clovis pizza restaurant: Garcia said he liked the Budweiser commercial in which a man raised a Clydesdale horse from birth and saw it join an elite team of Clydesdales. Horse and owner were reunited three years later after a parade. "The horses are representative of Budweiser. It made me happy when the horse broke off from the parade and went back to its old owner. It was just nice to see them...

  • CCC displays Taos pioneer art

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    The paintings of pioneer Taos artists are on exhibit at the Eula Mae Edwards Museum and Gallery at Clovis Community College. The exhibit showcases work from some of the earliest Taos artists, including Bert Geer Phillip, Ernest L. Blumenschein and Joseph Henry Sharp. The artists with works on display are deceased. The display is comprised of 25 oil and pastel paintings and sketches and one piece of pottery. The majority of the art was collected during the 1980s. Benna Sayyed:...

  • ENMU offering non-credit classes

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Eastern New Mexico University is offering non-credit classes for children and adults this semester. These courses are geared toward individuals who may not be enrolled as full-time students but who are looking to take classes that allow flexibility in their schedule. Christina Calloway: CMI staff photo Students in Julie Gawehn's zumba class practice a routine Monday at Greyhound Arena. Each class lasts an hour. "It's kind of a way of giving to the community in terms of opportunities to have different experiences," said Kim... Full story

  • Ministry shares faith

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    A moment of bonding between Charlie Crane and a group of international students from Eastern New Mexico University during a storm was the birth of the First Baptist Church international student ministry. A severe thunderstorm blew in as Crane and 13 ENMU students tried to set up camp at Ute Lake after a boating trip 20 years ago. Crane said he and the students became close that night and the ENMU international student's club sort of adopted him. Over the years the ministry has allowed Crane and his wife Martha to share the...

  • Local children compete in spelling bee

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Maura Mohesky made an important step toward competing in the national spelling bee in Washington, D.C., when she spelled the word wanderlust correctly Saturday at the Roosevelt County Spelling Bee. Mohesky, a seventh-grader at Portales Junior High, won the senior division of the county spelling bee and will advance to state finals March 23 in Albuquerque. Mohesky said the contest was a little challenging but was a lot of fun. CMI staff photo: Benna Sayyed Roosevelt County Spelling Bee junior division champion Ashley...

  • CCS fourth-grader repeats as spelling champ

    Benna Sayyed CMi staff writer

    Clovis Christian School fourth-grader Ariel Kokoricha spelled high-school level words with confidence Friday at the Curry County spelling bee. It earned Kokoricha the title of Curry County Scripps Spelling Bee champion, Her winning word was "strudel." Kokoricha and 23 others from eight schools across the county competed for the title and a chance to advance to state finals March 23 in Albuquerque. A panel of three judges wrote down each letter as students spelled words and...

  • Portales MLK celebration includes mayor proclamation

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, Edmond C. Rollins remembers his days as a young man in southern Louisiana when racial tensions were strong between blacks and whites. Restrooms and water fountains designated for "whites" and "colored" also come to Rollins' mind. Rollins, 62, senior pastor at Wannamaker Baptist Church in Dover, Okla., said he is proud to have the opportunity to share his experience with civil rights on Monday. He will speak at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally in Clovis following the annual...

  • Online classes convenient option for working students

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Amy Sears started college at age 33 to become an educator and to set a good example for her daughters. "I kind of got married, had children and then realized I wanted to get into college because I wanted all my girls to go to college," said Sears, who has four daughters ranging from 14 to 21 years old. "They see me going through school now. They want to go right after (high) school. They don't want to wait." Sears is part of a large percentage of adult students in the area who work, have returned to school and take online...

  • Police: Pair arrested in robberies

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    A cop's trained eye, a beefed up investigation and a frightened accomplice enabled Clovis police to arrest two men suspected of brutally beating and robbing two others in separate attacks, court records show. The suspects identified Monday as Daniel Murrell III, 23, and Terrill Smolar, 20, both of Clovis, were arrested and charged over the weekend. They're accused in connection with the battery and robbery of Clovis residents David Shober, 82, in his home, and the beating and robbery of Joe Garcia, 61, jumped near his apartme...

  • Church group knits for charity

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Jo Beth Massey knits shawls to be blessed by her and her fellow knitters to give to anyone in need of prayer. Massey, 63, said shawl recipients have said there is a special warmth and inner comfort felt when trying on a prayer shawl. Massey's group, the Prayer Shawl Circle at First United Methodist Church, is made up of six to eight women from the Portales area who meet regularly to knit and crochet garments to be blessed. Benna Sayyed: CMI staff photo Prayer Shawl Circle founders Jo Beth Massey, left, and Geneta Lowman knit...

  • ENMU spring semester begins Monday

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Spring semester classes begin Monday at Eastern New Mexico University. Here is information that could be helpful to students and those interested in learning a little about ENMU. Spring semester information: - Registration has started - To register for classes visit enmu.edu or visit the registrar's office in the administration building. - The drop, add and late registration period ends on Jan. 18. - Information: 562-1011 Tips for registration: - Returning students can register online at enmu.edu or visit the registrar's...

  • Counterfeit bills flood area

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    Portales police are investigating what Chief C. Douglas Jones referred to as a serious counterfeiting ring in the area. Police have received about 16 reports of counterfeit money received by cashiers at chain retailers and locally owned businesses throughout the past three weeks, according to Lt. Pat Gallegos, investigative commander with the police department. Jones said officers have recovered counterfeit 100s, 50s, 20s and 10s. The counterfeit bills have the same serial numbers, imperfect watermarks and ridges and lack... Full story

  • Lighthouse Mission stages Kids Auction

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    A walk through a west Clovis neighborhood on Saturday turned into an early visit from Santa Claus for Billy Jo Facio and her children. While walking, Facio discovered the Kids Auction at the Lighthouse Mission, an event that placed more than 200 toys in the hands of 72 children. Children from Portales and Clovis benefited. No money was involved. "I've never seen a kid's auction before and it's pretty cool," Facio said. Benna Sayyed: CMI staff photo Amber Facio, middle, picks up a collection of at least 15 teddy bear... Full story

  • Volunteers trade bibles for experiences

    Benna Sayyed CMI staff writer

    WT Whitecotton's volunteerism at the Bee Hive Homes of Portales allows him to trade Bible scripture lessons to senior citizens for knowledge on life. Whitecotton, a junior at Floyd High School and resident of Portales, has participated in the Third and Kilgore Church of Christ youth group since age 12. The group allows him and about six other youth to explore and strengthen their spirituality by serving others. Each month Whitecotton and fellow group members bond with Bee Hive residents through Bible study, devotionals,... Full story

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