Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Local Briefs May 21, 2008

PNT Staff Reports

Bank to close ENMU branch

Portales National Bank will close its Eastern New Mexico University Branch around the end of July, said David Stone, bank president.

“It was a painful decision to make,” Stone said. “My dad liked it, I liked it.”

When the branch opened, parents would give their children money to open a local bank account, he said. Now parents give college students debit cards.

“The need has passed,” Stone said.

“It costs a lot of money to maintain a branch,” he said. “It’s not paying for itself.”

The ATM at the university may stay or may be moved to the south branch on 18th Street, he said.

Stone said the ENMU branch opened around 1960.

Fire Department plans open house

The Portales Fire Department will host an open house at 301 S. Ave. C from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to celebrate Emergency Medical Services Week, said Fire Chief John Bridges.

The open house will include equipment displays and demonstrations.

Demonstrations include:

10:30 a.m. — Hazardous materials

11:30 a.m. — Vehicle extraction

12:30 p.m. — Tours of the fire safety house. Children will be invited to participate.

1:30 p.m. — Cardiac arrest resuscitation on a mannequin.

The public is invited to attend.