Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles written by Grant Mcgee


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  • Residents band together to oppose elementary school changes

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 26, 2024

    Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories looking at Clovis Municipal Schools plans for closure and repurposing. The series will continue over the next three weeks. Since the announcement of the possible closure of Cameo Elementary School last week, residents have banded together in opposition of the proposal. “It’s a poor decision, that’s all,” community activist Josefita Griego said Monday. Forming a group called Save Cameo Elementary School and Lockwood Elementary, Griego said she wants to represent...

  • Roosevelt commissioners offer 'olive branch' on payment and not-payment of fees

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 26, 2024

    Roosevelt County Commissioners voted at a special meeting Monday to offer a figurative “olive branch” to the Portales city government regarding the payment and non-payment of fees between the two governments. Commissioners voted 4-1 to engage in “mutual in-kind” services immediately. Commissioner Rodney Savage voted against the measure. “We are all one community,” Commissioner Dennis Lopez said of the Roosevelt County/Portales relationship. In the action, commissioners voted to continue paying Portales for...

  • Cheech & Chong, guard geese: Interesting

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 26, 2024

    Cheech & Chong’s public relations people called Bossman at The News, wanted to know if we were interested in an interview when they came to Clovis. Who grew up in the late 20th century doesn’t remember Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong? The interview became my assignment. “The place’ll be packed,” The Lady of the House predicted. “A crowd? In Clovis?” I said. It was an interesting concept to me. So I visited Mike Wood, Great American, who works at the weed store they’d visit. He was confident there’d be plenty...

  • Highway project closes major overpass

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 23, 2024

    A long-planned project to improve U.S. Routes 60/84 where they pass through Clovis is underway, surprising some area motorists as to what the project actually means in terms of getting around town. Area residents apparently weren’t expecting the closure of the Prince Street overpass as evidenced by comments on social media. Candace Barela, public relations spokesperson with the New Mexico Department of Transportation District 2 office in Roswell said the overpass closed March 11 and “will be closed for 90 days, weather...

  • ENMU regents change fees

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 23, 2024

    It will no longer cost $30 to graduate from Eastern New Mexico University. ENMU has been levying the fee for years. Last year the fee generated $30,000 for the university. The action came at Friday’s regular session of the ENMU Board of Regents. Tony Major, Vice President Business Affairs and System Chief Financial Officer, put the proposal forward along with a proposal to lower ENMU’s online fee from $17 to $14 per credit hour. The remaining fees will transfer to the “mandatory student fee” of $106 per credit hour...

  • Curry officials hear arguments on sports complex

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 23, 2024

    Curry County commissioners on Wednesday heard arguments for building a county sports complex from a real estate advisory company. Steve Haemmerle and Emily Connor of Hunden Partners based in Chicago presented commissioners with a “Community reaction and sports complex study.” Haemmerle said the company has handled over 200 studies for youth sports facilities such as the one proposed for Curry County. In the study, Hunden surveyed more than 700 area residents to determine if there is a need for a sports complex....

  • Our people: Local loves her life backstage

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 23, 2024

    If you spend some time with Clovis' Christy Mendoza you may believe she speaks directly, forcefully. "I was taught to speak so everyone could hear. People think I'm angry, but I'm not," Mendoza said. Mendoza stopped by the offices of The News on Thursday to talk about her life. Q: So you were born in Los Angeles? A: In the Queen of Angels hospital. I lived there until I was 10 years old. Q: What are some of your memories of Los Angeles? A: Downtown L.A. The Bradbury Building,...

  • Residents overwhelmingly opposed to possible school changes

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 23, 2024

    Area residents at Tuesday’s school board meeting were overwhelmingly opposed to Clovis Municipal Schools’ plans to close and repurpose campuses. During the “open forum” portion of the session, eight people spoke to the board with concerns ranging from teacher/student ratios to classrooms being located in portable classrooms that wouldn’t stand up to eastern New Mexico weather. The room was filled to capacity with another two-dozen people waiting outside when the meeting began. Here’s a summary of some of the...

  • Our ancestor stories tell us about us

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 19, 2024

    I find it strange how some folks don’t know or care about their ancestors … what they did, how they lived, what they accomplished. I think that’s just sad. When I think about “my people” who lived long ago, I believe we honor them by knowing a bit about them. I learned a lot about some of my ancestors from my father’s mother, my grandma, a great storyteller. Grandma was one of seven children of an iron ore mining company superintendent and his bride. Grandma was from the Appalachian Mountains in western Virginia...

  • Our people: Clovis native has lifetime of stories

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 16, 2024

    Dudley Boone says he is distantly related to Daniel Boone, the noted figure in American history. Boone has been a military pilot, flown in combat zones, been a commercial pilot, worked for the Federal Aviation Administration and been a Santa Fe railroad engineer. Boone also has ties to Clovis. He was born here. The California man has businesses in Clovis and flies into town periodically to take care of things. During a recent trip he paused for a talk with The News about his l...

  • Boarding house didn't work out

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 12, 2024

    Some time ago I was pedaling my bicycle through an old section of Clovis, passing some houses that surely dated back a hundred or so years ago. I wondered if some of the big, old, rambling hulks had once been boarding houses. A boarding house is a place where people rent rooms … like someone might rent an apartment … .and part of the rent goes for “board” or meals with the boarders sitting around a big table chowing down. I once pondered having a place at an old-fashioned boarding house many years ago. I wouldn’t...

  • Planned site for center south of PRMC in Clovis

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    The site for the planned Regional Behavioral Health facility will be on West 21st Street south of Plains Regional Medical Center. The site was revealed when Clovis City Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday at a regular commission meeting to buy 16 acres of land and an adjacent smaller parcel at 2521 and 2521 1/2 W. 21st St. The cost, $361,942 plus closing costs, will come from $10 million in capital outlay money from the New Mexico Legislature for the facility. Clovis City Manager Justin Howalt told commissioners the prop...

  • On the shelves - March 10

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    The books listed below are now available for checkout at the Clovis-Carver Public Library. The library is open to the public, but patrons can still visit the online catalog at cloviscarverpl.booksys.net/opac/ccpl or call 575-769-7840 to request a specific item for curbside pickup. “The Osborns” by Joe Osborn. This book was given in Honor of Joe Osborn. This genealogy book takes us through six generations of the Osborn family. From Alexander Osborne (1705-1755) to Edgar Monroe Osborn (1870-1960) and five generations of...

  • Our people: Receptionist plans trip to South Korea

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    When you walk into the office at Westgate Self Storage in Clovis you might notice something about most of the pictures on the wall. They're of the South Korean "boy band" BTS. "I go fangirl over them," Beth Delavega said, laughing. Delavega is receptionist at the business. She spent some time with the News on Monday afternoon talking about her life. Q: Where were you born? A: I was born in El Paso, Texas. When I was two months old we moved to California. We moved around a lot...

  • CCC interim president to retire in July

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    Robin Jones, interim president of Clovis Community College in the wake of the resignation of Charles Nwankwo last year, will be resigning the position on July 1. “I’ve given 27 years to this college and it’s time to see whatever life brings. That’s all I have to say,” Jones told The News after Thursday’s regular meeting of the Clovis Community College Board of Trustees. Jones’ resignation was not discussed by trustees at Thursday’s session. Among the items that were discussed, Board President Lora Harlan gave...

  • Tarson, incumbents win Clovis city seats

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    Gail Tarson believes she won the District 2 seat on Clovis’ City Commission because she represents the conservative values and priorities of the community. “As a small business owner, I understand the importance of fiscal responsibility and economic growth. My commitment to upholding traditional family values resonated with many voters who prioritize stability and traditional principles,” Tarson wrote in an email to The News after Tuesday’s municipal elections. Incumbents won the day as voters returned Chris Bryant, H... Full story

  • CCC names five finalists for president's job

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 6, 2024

    Clovis Community College on Monday released a list of five finalists for its president’s position. Two of the finalists have Texas ties, the others come from Arizona, Oregon and Maryland. Interim CCC President Robin Jones was not among the finalists and it’s still not clear if she applied for the job though she said she had interest. Jones, who was out of town on Monday, did not respond to questions emailed from The News. CCC Trustees Chair Lora Harlan declined to say whether Jones applied for the job. All of the finalist...

  • Sound studio coming to museum

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 5, 2024

    A team of studio designers say they will be building a “cutting edge recording studio” in Clovis using vintage analog recording equipment combined with modern digital technology. The five men were on hand Monday for a press conference concerning the figurative groundbreaking in the Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum in the Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce building on Grand Avenue. Sam Berkow along with Aaron Willis, recording engineer Mark Salamone, producer/composer Lance Bendiksen and local electrical...

  • Roosevelt commissioners approve pay hikes

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 5, 2024

    Roosevelt County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved pay hikes for elected officials, their deputies and county employees. Effective on dates listed, pay will go up for the following elected officials, reflecting a 10% increase: • County sheriff from $71,500 to $78,650, Jan. 1, 2027. • County assessor from $66,150 to $72,765, Jan. 1, 2027. • Probate judge from $22,025 to $24,225, Jan. 1, 2027. • County clerk from $66,150 to $72,765, Jan. 1, 2025. • County treasurer from $66,150 to $72,765, Jan. 1, 2025....

  • May have to edit my mother's appendicitis story in future

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 5, 2024

    The Lady of the House has been enjoying “The Lassie Channel” since she found it out there in the great television universe. One afternoon there was an episode where everybody was in a dither because Timmy, the kid on the show, had appendicitis. “I haven’t heard much about appendicitis anymore. Do we still have appendixes?” I asked out loud. “I hear they’re treating appendicitis with antibiotics these days,” The Lady of the House said. “Seems they were always cutting those things out when they got infected....

  • Clovis surgeon's hobby is for the birds

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 5, 2024

    Titus Plomaritus got into falconry -- the use of birds of prey to hunt -- on a suggestion from his wife; something the two of them could do together. "She lost interest when she first saw a red-tailed hawk catch a squirrel and the rodent's eye popped out," Plomaritus told a Clovis Rotary Club luncheon audience Thursday. Plomaritus, a Clovis orthopedic surgeon, and his golden eagle, Louhi, were guests of the Rotarians. "She's named after the wicked witch of Norse mythology,"...

  • Our people: Retired Navy seaman likes shade trees

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 2, 2024

    Don Spinks retired from the Clovis Case Tractor dealership almost 30 years ago. That's when he started working at Guthals Nursery. "He is one of the most truthful men you'll ever meet. I wish more people were like that," co-worker Penny Summers said. The News dropped in on Spinks while he was working Tuesday as he shared a bit about his life. Q: Where were you born? A: Temple, Okla. Q: What brought you to Clovis? A: My wife was born in Carlsbad. We met in Dallas at the Case...

  • Big country act may appear at PAFRA rodeo in September

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 27, 2024

    A yet to be named “significant” country act wants to appear at this September’s world championship Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association rodeo at the Curry County Events Center. The news came from events center General Manager K. C. Messick at Tuesday’s regular Curry County Commission meeting. Messick declined to name the act but did say this Country artist approached him about appearing because the person is a big supporter of the military. “Right now we haven’t inked the contract. We’ll make a big...

  • Radio wedding for Big Deal and Barbie

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 27, 2024

    I was mindlessly surfing the Internet the other day, looking up this and that, this person, that person and I wondered about Bobby “Big Deal” Thompson, a fellow I knew long ago and far away. Well, he’s dead, he died a few years ago. He was 74. I mostly remember Big Deal for his wedding on the radio. It was back in a little town tucked back in the hills and hollows of Appalachia’s coal country. Bobby was what some might call a “character.” He was loud, he was boisterous, he was funny. Bobby made money in the...

  • Our people: Local twin has a story to tell

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Feb 24, 2024

    Larry Rogers likes to tell the story about the day he was born in Tularosa, on April 1, 1965. "My brother and I were born that day," he said. "I was born first. So the doctor said to my mother, 'There's another one in there.' "My mom was holding me and said, 'I just want to enjoy my baby. Stop telling me April Fools' jokes.' "Then my brother Terry was born." Rogers shared more stories with The News on Wednesday afternoon. Q: What brought you to Clovis? A: I was born in...

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