Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

3/21 Business digest

Clovis dentist graduates from dental program

Clovis dentist Dr. Glen Hisel graduated from Orognathic Bioesthetics International in Salem, Ore., where he studied chewing and its relationship to temporomandibular joint disorders, according to news received from his office. Fewer than 200 dentists have completed the program, the news release said. Dr. Hisel has practiced in Clovis for 14 years.

Small business owner honored as outstanding

Fathom McKeown of Clovis was honored as the outstanding client of the Clovis Community College Small Business Development Center at the Eighth Annual New Mexico Small Business Development Center Legislative Day awards, according to a news release from the business development center.

She founded her business, Re-Ink Spot, in her home, expanding it to a storefront with assistance from the SBDC and a Small Business Administration Low-Documentation Loan through First Community Bank (formerly AccessBank), the news release said.

The Re-Ink Spot specializes in computer printers and printing machine ink and toner cartridge recycling, and provides desktop publishing, fax and copy services, according to the news release.

In 2001, she and her husband, Leo McKeown, initiated a second business, Leopard Industries, which supplies the dairy industry aftermarket. They obtained another SBA loan and are applying their experience to this business.

The awards honor outstanding clients of the state’s 19 Small Business Development Centers, which give free advice on business planning, marketing, financing and management, according to the news release.

Portales grower wins corn contest

Kevin Breshears of Rheanie Farms, Portales, won first place in the A No Till/Strip Till Non-Irrigated division of the 2005 Corn Yield Contest of the National Corn Growers’ Association (NCGA), according to a news release from Pioneer Hi-Bred International. Breshears won with a yield of 69.79 bushels per acre.

The annual competition recognizes corn producers having the highest yields, and growers compete within a broad range of corn production classes.

Breshears, who planted the winning entry May 16, 2005, in fields grown to corn in 2004, earned one of 341 state titles won by growers planting Pioneer hybrids.

Pioneer, a DuPont subsidiary, helps growers by paying the corn yield contest entry fee and NCGA membership for all who enter the competition with a Pioneer hybrid, according to Jerry Harrington, sales and marketing public relations manager for the firm. Harrington said Pioneer also provides cash awards for growers who place in the state or national contest.

Cattle growers gather for board meeting

Cattle growers from across New Mexico will gather in Clovis Thursday and Friday for the New Mexico State University Cattle Growers’ “Short Course” and New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association spring board meeting, according to a news release from the cattle growers’ group.

Thursday’s program will begin at 10 a.m. and address animal identification and technology and the market outlook. Friday’s agenda will include nutrition and byproduct feedstuffs.

The events will be in the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main Street.

The NMCGA board will meet Friday after the educational program. Terry Caviness, president of Caviness Packing Co., Hereford, Texas, and Palo Duro Meat Processing, Amarillo, willl address the board on packing industry issues.

A social at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Holiday Inn, 2700 Mabry Drive, is open to the public. There is no charge.

Registration for the short course is $35, which includes lunch on Thursday.

For more information and to register, contact the NMCGA at [email protected] or at 247-0584.

Eldorado Exploration enters joint venture

Eldorado Exploration has entered into a joint venture with a private capital group to fund the drilling of the company’s Mesa gas prospect in Roosevelt County, according to a news release distributed by the company.

The investors will earn half of Eldorado’s 75 percent working interest for funding the drilling cost of the first well on the more than 11,000 acres leased, the news release said. After a discovery, Eldorado will pay its percentage share on any future wells drilled.

A discovery could indicate future revenues of about $2 billion to Eldorado’s net interest under the current leased oil and gas rights. An additional 20,000 acres will be sought immediately following a successful well.

Business Digest is compiled by CNJ News Editor Jean Verlich. She may be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail: [email protected]