The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

New Mexico Secretary of Education Susanna Murphy will recognize Ranchvale Elementary School 1 p.m. Monday for being named a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School recipient. The school was recognized as one of three in New Mexico and...

Courtesy photo The Zombie Circus Extravaganza follows a circus that has a ringmaster, strongman, tightrope walker and the normal circus cast, but director Bryan Hahn said there is a twist. It might have been a nightmare to put... Full story

The James Polk Stone Community Bank will host its annual 9/11 community memorial ceremony 7:30 a.m. today, according to a press release. The ceremony will take place near the bank’s flag pole at the corner of Abilene and West...

Charges in an Aug. 13 Muleshoe homicide will be presented to a grand jury, Police Chief Brian Frieda said Thursday. Frieda said police have a “particular person of interest” in the case and are continuing to conduct interviews... Full story

Deadline for the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce 2009 Annual Awards is 5 p.m. Tuesday. A nomination form is available at www.clovisnm.org. A fax copy may be requested by calling the chamber at 763-3435. Categories include... Full story

Texico schools are planning a one hour delay for the school day on Friday. Clovis Municipal Schools will announce any weather delays for Friday at 8 p.m. Thursday via their Web site. Grady schools let out at 2:45 p.m. and Melrose...

The Clovis Municipal Schools music department is hosting the annual Tuba Christmas event on Saturday. Alan Dropps, music director for the district, said any high school, college or adult tuba or euphonium player is welcome to...

The Clovis Police Department will be trading doughnuts for dollars Friday as part of its annual Shop with a Cop fundraising drive. Starting at 6:45 a.m., officers will be at Daylight Doughnuts on North Prince Street collecting...

As part of an expansion and upgrade attempt, the Clovis Zoo has created a campaign to allow citizens to sponsor the animal/exhibit of their choice. Sponsorships will help support and maintain the homes, food and health of the... Full story

Clovis Main Street wants area residents to be comfortable while helping the organization raise money. Main Street Director Robyne Beaubien said those attending Saturday’s annual beer, wine and cheese Downtown Gala run the gamut...

A 20-year-old Clovis man was arrested Wednesday on charges of sexual exploitation of children. Jeremy J. Montano turned himself in to Curry County Sheriff’s investigators and was jailed in lieu of $25,000 bond. He is charged...

A fund has been established at the Cannon Federal Credit Union for the four daughters of Suzanne Urioste, who was killed in a car accident earlier this month. Cannon Federal is located at 4205 N. Prince St.... Full story

The Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $8.1 million contract to complete construction of a flight simulator facility at Cannon Air Force Base, according to a release from U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. Phil Howry Co. of West...

Central Clovis is experiencing a power outage that began at 3:15 p.m.... Full story

CNJ Staff Reports The following marriage licenses were compiled from court records from Feb. 14 through Wednesday: • Albert Sandoval Jr., 23, to Melissa Ann Reyes, 20, both of Clovis • Michael Allan Collier, 22, to Tina Dianna...

Samplings of recent calls received by Clovis-area law enforcement officers, according to reports: • Police responded to a report of an auto burglary at 12:28 a.m. Feb. 13 in the 900 block of West Street. The victim told police he...

The demolition of 278 Gemini Housing units, an asbestos abatement plan in 250 Chavez Manor units and the relocation of 90 military families will be the focus of two town hall meetings Thursday at Cannon Air Force Base, according... Full story

Cool temperatures, wind and snow swept across the area Friday. Strong winds whipped through the eastern Plains during the afternoon, gusting to 38 mph in Clovis in the early evening. Temperatures hovering in the upper 30s and low... Full story

The March 23 tornado that thrashed through Clovis has claimed another life. Walter “Snap” Cravy, 90, of Clovis died Thursday evening at Lubbock Covenant Hospital, according to his son, Thomas V. Cravy. Cravy said his father... Full story

CNJ staff reports For the second straight year, the Curry County United Way’s pledge drive surpassed the previous year’s drive. And for the second straight year, the campaign fell short of its campaign goal. The campaign’s...

Cannon Air Force Base is this year’s recipient of the Commander-in-Chief’s 2005 Installation Excellence Award for Air Combat Command, according to a Cannon press release. The award recognizes efforts of airmen at Department of...

CNJ STAFF REPORTS Early voting at the Curry County Courthouse has ended. Precincts 1-37 and voting locations in Curry County for the Nov. 2 election are as follows: 1. Broadview Fire Department, 3868 SR 209 2. Pleasant Hill Fire...

CNJ STAFF REPORTS Curry County officials say they will review applications for a new county manager on Monday and hope to begin interviews for the position two weeks later. The deadline to apply for the position is 5 p.m. on... Full story

CNJ staff reports MULESHOE — A Bailey County jury found a Muleshoe man innocent of a murder charge on Friday, District Judge Gordon Green said. Larry Brent Kitchens, 52, was found innocent of murdering Derwin Wyn Beauchamp, 43,... Full story

CNJ staff reports A child care center in Clovis was briefly evacuated about noon on Wednesday when workers smelled smoke in the building. A burned-out air conditioner motor caused the smell at Barbara Ann’s Child Care Center on...