Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles written by David Stevens


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  • Pages past, March 27: Clovis plagued by 'fume sniffing'

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 26, 2024

    On this date ... 1944: A four-engined bomber from Clovis Army Air Base crashed into a plowed field nine miles north of Clovis on a routine training flight. All nine men on board were killed. Rancher A.J. Kemp saw the crash and rushed to the scene. He said bodies were strewn over a wide area and wreckage was scattered for about a half mile. 1952: The 4 Lane Drive-In movie theater on East Mabry Drive outside Clovis was preparing for its “gala opening.” The first two shows were ...

  • Pages past, March 24: Streakers repant: Your end in sight

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 23, 2024

    On this date ... 1951: Fifty head of Brahman calves, each weighing about 300 pounds, were purchased for an upcoming calf-roping competition. Officials with the Clovis Mounted Patrol reported the calves had never been roped. Champion roper Homer Pettigrew, formerly of Grady but currently living in Chandler, Ariz., said he planned to attend the April 8 competition and would bring his top roping horse. 1955: Clovis house mover Homer Bennett was fined $106 for traffic violations...

  • Pages past, March 20: Kids with BB guns troubling Portales

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 19, 2024

    On this date ... 1940: Coach Rock Staubus’ Clovis High School football team had scheduled nine games but wanted three more to complete “one of the stiffest schedules arranged for a local team in several gridiron years,” the Clovis News-Journal reported. Teams on the schedule already included Clayton, Raton, Portales, Carlsbad and St. Michael’s College of Santa Fe. The season was slated to begin Sept. 13, but no opponent had been lined up yet. 1950: Johnny Reynolds of Dora wa...

  • Commission candidates share backgrounds

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 16, 2024

    Editor’s note: Primary elections across New Mexico are scheduled June 4, with early voting beginning May 7. The general election is Nov. 5. We asked candidates in contested Curry County commission races for their background and “Why do you want this job?” Here are their responses: Curry County Commission District 4 Seth Martin I am a fourth-generation farmer, small business owner, elected county official, and deacon at the 16th and Pile Church of Christ. I’ve been married...

  • CMS proposing elementary school changes

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 16, 2024

    Every elementary school in the Clovis Municipal School district may be impacted in some way when officials submit their Facilities Master Plan to the state later this spring. “There is potential for closure and repurposing” in recommendations that will be made to the school board on Tuesday night, Superintendent Renee Russ said. “There are shifts in boundaries, where some students and staff will transition, and other recommendations …” Deputy Superintendent Jay Brady tol... Full story

  • Court: New trial for daycare operators

    David Stevens and Madison Willis, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 16, 2024

    SANTA FE – The state Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a new trial for the Portales daycare providers who left two children unattended in a hot car in July 2017. Sandi and Mary Taylor in 2019 were each sentenced to 36 years in prison after they were convicted of reckless child abuse. One of the girls in their care – 22-month-old Maliyah Jones -- died, while the other -- 23-month-old Aubri Loya -- suffered serious injury before recovering. According to a news release from the Court: “In a split decision, the Court concl...

  • Pages past, March 13: Chicken fry steak $2.59 at Sirloin Stockade

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 12, 2024

    On this date ... 1950: A solid red flying saucer, traveling at an estimated speed of 1,000 mph, was spotted near Eunice in Lea County. Ruth Hedgpath and her husband C.E. Hedgpath both said they witnessed the object hovering about 500 feet. It was silent and left no vapor trail, they reported. 1951: Portales Builders and Supply, located on the Lovington Highway, claimed it offered 1,322 paint colors. “Pastels, accents, deep tones — all the colors you’ve ever wanted, for perfe...

  • Pages past, March 10: Winds blow, jail escapee shot to death

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    On this date ... 1941: The region was recovering from “the worst duster since the Black blizzard days of January 1935,” the Clovis News-Journal reported. A teenage Clovis newspaper delivery boy rode his bicycle into the side of a moving freight train, but was not seriously injured. Billy Martin had his head down, trying to avoid the sand blowing in a 50-mph wind when the accident occurred. Skid marks on the road suggested Billy heard the train just before impact. His bike, dem...

  • Publisher's journal: Blood relative explores century-old murders

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    Marlowe J. Churchill heard about his family's greatest tragedy many times growing up. He didn't really feel it until he visited the gravesite for his murdered great aunt and her eight children in Farwell in 2017. Tears ran down his cheeks when he placed his hands on the gravemarker and followed the letters of the nine names carved into the stone. "It surprised me, it really did," Churchill said about the emotion that raced through him when he first encountered his ancestors. "...

  • Pages past, March 6: Alamo falls, Peter Bailey remembered

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 5, 2024

    On this date ... 1836: Peter James Bailey III died, along with other Tennessee Mounted Volunteers, in the battle of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. For Bailey’s service to Texas, his heirs received land parcels that are now in Archer, Baylor and Hamilton counties. Bailey County in the Texas Panhandle is named in Bailey’s honor, according to the Texas State Historical Association. 1912: A slumber party had been given in honor of Misses Beulah and Georgia Stewart at the hom...

  • Pages past, March 3: State forces voting machines on local counties

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 2, 2024

    On this date ... 1951: Eastern New Mexico University was fighting for its life as a four-year college. State Comptroller Richard Strahlem had proposed the university's budget be limited to $374,487. The 1950-51 fiscal year's appropriation had been $414,000 and University President Floyd Golden had requested $629,000 for the 1951-52 fiscal year. Golden wanted the increase to raise faculty salaries by 25% and to hire additional instructors. Strahlem's position was that only Univ...

  • Publisher's journal: History makes way for more history

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 2, 2024

    I never visited the Dan Buzzard Memorial Law Library. And now I never will. The seven-decades-old building behind the Curry County Courthouse was demolished Wednesday morning to make way for a new magistrate court. I've always wondered about that odd little building – what's a law library? – and the man for whom it was named. While looking for those answers, I discovered one far more interesting: The building for more than 20 years was home to Clovis' first real public lib...

  • Pages past, Feb. 28: Hutcheson Texaco station robbed again

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 27, 2024

    On this date ... 1950: “Sands of Iwo Jima,” starring John Wayne and Forrest Tucker, was playing at the State theater in Clovis. “Clovis is cheering the Marines’ greatest hour,” a publicity ad reported. 1956: Two local men were sentenced to prison by Judge E.T. Hensley Jr. after pleading guilty to unrelated crimes. Nelson Foster, a 34-year-old farmer from Oklahoma Lane, received a one-to-10-year sentence for larceny. He admitted to stealing a rotary shredder from L. L. Collins...

  • Pages past, Feb. 25: Steed Mortuary moves to Pile Street

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 24, 2024

    On this date ... 1941: A Portales family had sent five sons into the armed services in the previous four months. Alexander, Joseph, Frederic, James and William Johnson had enlisted. A sixth brother, Neal, had tried to enlist but failed the physical exam. “Then there’s Ray,” said Frederic Johnson. “He’s 17. ... As soon as he’s old enough ... I reckon he’ll want to join us. After all, he sings tenor in our sextette.” 1941: After 31 years in the same location — 112 W. Grand Ave....

  • Pages past, Feb. 21: Construction begins on Texico High School

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 20, 2024

    On this date ... 1941: The Antler’s Bar promised “We serve and prepare your favorite drink the way you like it best.” The place to “Meet your friends” was at 111 W. Grand in Clovis. The phone number was 235. 1952: Edd’s Bar, located three miles north of Grady, encouraged customers to “Organize a party, come dance, have fun,” in newspaper ads. 1956: Clovis Junior High School officials had plans to install an iron barrier and fence around the campus as precautionary m...

  • Pages past, Feb. 18: Portales man becomes NM governor

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 17, 2024

    On this date ... 1917: Washington Ellsworth Lindsey became New Mexico’s third governor after Ezequiel C. de Baca died in office. Lindsey had been elected lieutenant governor in 1916. He was president of the Portales Townsite Committee from 1902 to 1911. A statue honoring the one-time mayor of Portales stands outside the Roosevelt County Courthouse. 1941: Curry County Clerk Mae Hood was reminding residents that county offices would be closed on Saturday in honor of W...

  • Pages past, Feb. 14: Portales preacher elects to stay

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 13, 2024

    On this date ... 1921: Two men accused of criminal activity from Nebraska to Texas and New Mexico had been arrested in Kenna. Local authorities became involved when the men gave a forged check to purchase a rifle and ammunition in Hereford. From there, they purchased gasoline in Bovina, then other guns in Texico and Elida, all with forged checks using different names. Officials said the men's journey began in Omaha, Neb., in a stolen Jordan roadster, which they soon traded...

  • Pages past, Feb. 11: 4-lane highway planned between Clovis, Texico

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 10, 2024

    On this date ... 1940: Clovis Floral Co., at 501 E. Fifth in Clovis, was reminding customers that “women love to get flowers” for Valentine’s Day. “Don’t puzzle over the fact — accept it; and order her Valentine flowers from our gay assortment of fresh cut blooms,” the store’s newspaper ad read. 1946: Officials were working on a plan to make the highway between Clovis and Texico into four lanes. Floyd Kennedy of Portales, the state highway commission chairman, said no details...

  • Pages past, Feb. 7: Bus driver was hero in record snowstorm

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 6, 2024

    On this date ... 1956: A Continental Trailways bus driver was recuperating in a Tucumcari hospital after walking 13 miles through a blizzard to bring aid to 15 passengers of his stalled vehicle. John D. Hearon collapsed just as he reached the community of Glenrio and reported the bus was stuck in drifts. Hearon was being treated for “snow blindness, exhaustion and exposure,” the Clovis News-Journal reported. 1956: Recent snowfall, which measured 13 to 17 inches, was bel...

  • Pages past, Feb. 4: Two lions born at Clovis zoo

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 3, 2024

    On this date ... 1937: Ruby Hauenstein, whom the Clovis Evening News-Journal reported “has charge of the sheriff’s office,” had implemented a new system of records for prisoners in the Curry County jail. Her record sheets showed name, date received, date released, days served, charge and disposition for each inmate. 1946: Clovis’ Hillcrest Park Zoo had two more potential lion kings. Queen, a 6-year-old African lioness, had given birth to a pair of male cubs. The father...

  • Opinion: ENMU regents' actions were sleazy

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 23, 2024

    Eastern New Mexico University’s president and system chancellor has a new contract. You’ll see no complaints from this space regarding the terms of that deal. James Johnston has proven himself a capable leader over the past 12 months. But the manner in which Johnston’s contract was awarded last week by university regents was sleazy at best. Beyond the flagrant disregard for the state’s Open Meetings Act – the law that requires “public business be conducted in full public view...

  • Pages past, Jan. 17: Traveling chess master visits ENMU

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 16, 2024

    On this date ... 1911: Roosevelt County commissioners ordered there be light in the county courthouse. “It is the order of the board that the court house be wired for lighting by the Public Service Co. as per contract to be hereafter agreed upon by the board and Public Service Co.,” the Roosevelt County Herald reported. Terms of that contract were not reported. 1931: Don Foster, previously the “popular, progressive and efficient superintendent of the Floyd schools,” had bee...

  • Her face was frozen; he had icicles in his mustache

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 16, 2024

    Oscar Villanes said he had icicles on his mustache. Kathleen Villanes said she hadn't been so cold since Goliath shut down Clovis for several days in December 2015. Adding to the chill: their Miami Dolphins lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 26-7, in what The Associated Press said was the fourth-coldest game in NFL history. But it was all worth it for the Clovis couple, who decided last Wednesday it would be fun to travel to Arrowhead Stadium for Saturday's football playoff...

  • Publisher's journal: Feels warm out - compared to February 2022

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 16, 2024

    If you feel like you’ve weathered a particularly chilly storm of late, it’s because you have. Sunday and Monday were the coldest days in the Clovis-Portales area in 13 months. The last time we felt temperatures cooler than the single digits registered to start this week was Dec. 22-24, 2022. Those lows were minus-1, minus-1 and 6 degrees, respectively, as recorded at the Agricultural Science Center north of Clovis. The coldest temperature recorded at the ag center in all of...

  • Pages past, Jan. 14: Ned Houk elected city commissioner

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Jan 13, 2024

    On this date ... 1956: Clovis Veterinary Hospital at 104 Hull St. offered “complete facilities for your pets.” Services included bathing, boarding, clipping and grooming. Dr. E. E. Kraus could be reached by calling 5442. 1957: Clovis voters elected three newcomers to the City Commission, tossing out three incumbents. Winners were Manzy Simms, Gerry Deming and Ned Houk. Losers included Wayne Clements, Ted Waldhauser and O.G. Potter. 1958: Nita Northcutt was the new pre...

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