5 things to know about last week

1. About three dozen area residents on Tuesday signed up to run for city-government seats around the region.

Municipal elections are scheduled March 6.

Ronald Jackson, a former Portales City Council member, was the only candidate seeking to succeed Portales Mayor Sharon King who said she will not run again for health reasons.

Jackson said he was “disappointed” that “we don’t have more community involvement.”

Indeed, most races around the region will be uncontested.

Exceptions are on Clovis city commission where three seats will be contested. Incumbents Juan Garza (District 1) and Fidel Madrid (District 3) are facing opposition. Two candidates also signed up for the District 4 seat after Tom Martin said he will not seek re-election.

2. Police on Monday released a report providing details about the Christmas Day shooting death of a 13-year-old Portales boy.

Police initially said in a news release, “indicators are leading to an accidental discharge of the firearm.” But the report also shows a man at the scene told police he threw a rifle in a backyard shed after the rifle accidentally discharged. The man said he “got scared” after realizing Justin King had been shot.

And Officer Jacob Montgomery’s report shows he was initially told by dispatchers “the wound was self-inflicted.”

King was transported to a Lubbock hospital, where he died.

District Attorney Andrea Reeb said the Major Crimes Unit was not activated following the incident, but “there defintely needs to be an investigation as to what occurred ...”

Portales police have declined comment beyond their initial news release.

3. Curry County’s newest commissioner wasn’t afforded much time for easing into the job.

Seth Martin, appointed to the commission in December by Gov. Susana Martinez, cast the deciding vote that will bring water to a proposed county barn south of Clovis.

Commissioners last year purchased three acres of land on Curry Road 6 so they could construct a barn that will house road materials and equipment.

The county paid $13,000 for the property.

Later, commissioners had second thoughts about the project when they learned it would cost about $525,000 for a water line to the building.

Commissioners Angelina Baca and Robert Thornton voted to approve the water-line cost at a Nov. 16 meeting, but Commissioners Ben McDaniel and Chet Spear opposed the plan.

Martin, who succeeded Ben Smith who moved to Nebraska in October, broke the tie.

Martin said he supported the plan because it allows other homes and businesses in the area to access city water. “With this extension, that opens up the opportunity for the county to grow,” he said.

4. Roosevelt County spotlighted its business community on Thursday with its annual Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Lifetime achievement awards were presented former Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative Executive Director Jerry Partin and Woody’s Jewelry store owners Chris and Danny Woodward.

5. Parmer County officials tried to help a thief or thieves, warning in a news release they may have stolen toxic chemicals that could prove deadly.

The release said six canisters of aluminum phosphate were among items stolen from barns northwest of Friona.

“Aluminum phosphate is a powerful agriculture pesticide which is ... deadly to pets and humans,” the release reads.

“If you are in possession of these canisters, do not open (and) do not get the product wet.

“If you are in possession of these canisters you may anonymously leave them at a local fire station.”

“5 things ...” is compiled by Staff of The News