Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles from the June 19, 2019 edition


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  • Custom Classic set for 36th go-around

    Peter Stein|Updated Jul 3, 2020

    CLOVIS — The Plateau Custom Classic has become as much a part of the local summer as heat, thunderstorms and more heat. Now in its 36th year, the Classic is still as big a summer tradition than ever. And once again, teams from around the panhandle and Eastern New Mexico will descend upon Clovis for a chance to play some really good competition, maybe win a championship. It begins Friday night and runs through Sunday afternoon. The event hasn’t done any leaps-and-bounds gro...

  • Unauthorized vehicle purchase resolved

    Kevin Wilson|Updated Jun 20, 2019

    CLOVIS — After two meetings and some legal wrangling, the Curry County Commission turned an unauthorized purchase into what its chairman called an opportunity. With a pair of votes Monday afternoon, the commission approved the purchase of a new vehicle for the county with the estimated $24,000 coming through treasurer’s office dollars, and the assignment of that vehicle to the county sheriff’s office for its process server. The county came into possession of the new Chevy Impala as a purchase by County Treasurer Debbie Sprig...

  • Tellez named Ram baseball coach

    Kevin Wilson|Updated Jun 19, 2019

    PORTALES — Portales High didn’t have to go too far to find its next baseball coach, elevating assistant Ruben Tellez to the position on Monday. Tellez, a longtime Spanish and English as a Second Language teacher at Portales Junior High School, had spent the last five years as part of Dusty Nusser’s staff. Nusser stepped away from the job last month, citing a desire to work in administration. Tellez was happy being the girls soccer coach, and he will continue in that posit...

  • Events calendar - June 19

    Updated Jun 18, 2019

    Today • Clovis Summer Reading Program: Tiny Tots Storytime — 10 a.m., Clovis-Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main St., Clovis. Information: 575-769-7840 • City of Portales Cultural Affairs Committee Juneteenth Historical Presentation — 10 a.m., south steps of Roosevelt County Courthouse, Portales. Speaker: Donald “Doc” Elder. Information: 575-356-6662, Option 3 • Portales Summer Reading Program Rocketeers: Yoda, the Green Jedi — 10:30 a.m., Portales Public Library, 218 S. Ave. B, Portales. Preschool storytime. Information: 57...

  • Some Relay for Life events set

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    PORTALES — There’s still no confirmed date for Portales’ Relay for Life. But a pair of preliminary events are already set, with the first coming Saturday to the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds. “We’re having the Relay Relaunch, which is our kickoff,” organizer Mark Clark said of the event, which will run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “It’s a community expo — arts and crafts, home and garden. Any kind of organization can come out, set up a booth and show their support for the community.” The event will be followed by a 7 p.m.-midnight dance...

  • Clovis man dies in rollover

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    A Clovis man was killed in a one-vehicle rollover Sunday morning in Lincoln County, according to a release from the New Mexico State Police. Sotero Acuna, 19, was driving a 2011 Toyota with a 16-year-old male passenger who was not identified by the NMSP. For reasons that weren’t known, the vehicle left a curved portion of U.S. 70 near mile marker 306 west of Roswell. The vehicle entered the median and rolled. Acuna was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries. The passenger sustained injuries and was t...

  • New president's house to be near current location

    David Grieder|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    PORTALES — It’s yet to be determined if the old building will stay or go, but a location for the Eastern New Mexico University president’s new residence and “public event venue” was selected Tuesday as “in the general area” of the existing residence at 1600 West Cherry Street in Portales. Further detail on the project – funded by a state appropriation of $650,000 — and a more specific site will follow consultation between a committee of five and whatever architect is selected next month from among six still being evaluated b...

  • Roosevelt road work starting

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    PORTALES — The Roosevelt County Road department will begin work today on two segments of South Roosevelt Road 3, and hopes to finish the work by Thursday. The segments of the road being upgraded from caliche to chip seal are between U.S. 70 and South Roosevelt Road ) and between South Roosevelt roads S and T. Residents are asked to drive slowly and watch for equipment and personnel. Information: 575-356-5942 or 575-356-5307....

  • We could all use more heroes

    Tom McDonald|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    “My heroes have always been cowboys, still are, it seems. Sadly, in search of, and one step in back of, themselves and their slow movin’ dreams.” — Sharon Vaughn, songwriter SANTA ROSA — Heroes are easy to find but hard to keep. Especially when we’re young, we need our heroes, or positive role models if you prefer, as examples of what courage, sacrifice and success are all about. We typically start with our parents, superheroes in our young eyes, while our imaginations gravitate toward mythical beings like the Man of Steel, t...

  • Market regulated just right amount

    Kent McManigal|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    I love watching the market work. I don’t call it “the free market” because if it’s not free it’s not a market. Under government rules and regulations what survives is a pale shadow of a market; the more rules, the dimmer the shadow. Fortunately even this shadow of a market is enough to make life better for everyone; much better than the more regulated alternative. I appreciate this. Under the unfree conditions that exist in America and other “civilized” places, the market ma...

  • Firefighters serve in ways we don't expect

    Updated Jun 18, 2019

    There is often a special relationship between communities and their firefighters. These are, after all, people willing to risk their own safety to protect lives and property in the face of out-of-control fire, something most of us find quite frightening. They’re well trained. They are provided with the tools and equipment to deal with any number of emergencies they’re likely to face. And it’s obvious, given their career choice, that they’re brave men and women. But the dangers they face are substantial, and most often a...

  • Racing commission meetings cancelled until further notice

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    ALBUQUERQUE — A working session, committee and regular monthly meetings this week of the New Mexico Racing Commission were canceled until further notice, while the prolonged racino award selection process remains tabled indefinitely. “At this time I cannot give the specifics as to the reasons why the meetings were canceled, and at this time I do not know if they’ll be rescheduled or if we’ll roll into the July meetings,” NMRC Executive Director Izzy Trejo told The News on Monday. Regarding the issue of if and when commissio...

  • ENMWUA representatives to present hopes for project

    David Grieder|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    PORTALES — For state officials with the money, and for any in the public with the interest, representatives of the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority will present this afternoon on their hopes with the Ute Water Project and the Interim Ground Water Project (IGWP) to supply water to member communities in coming years. “We’re going to talk about past, present and future, so it’s a really good opportunity for the authority to tell its story,” ENMWUA Chairman and Clovis Mayor David Lansford told The News. “It isn’t often...

  • Meetings calendar - June 19

    Updated Jun 18, 2019

    Thursday • Retirement reception for David Richards, Clovis city attorney — 3-5 p.m., North Annex, Clovis-Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main St., Clovis. Information: 575-763-9654 • Clovis City Commission — 5:15 p.m., North Annex, Clovis-Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main St., Clovis. Information: 575-769-7828 • Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority — 1 p.m., ENMWUA Offices, Sitterly Professional Center, 801 Pile Street, Clovis. Information: 575-935-4262 Tuesday • Roosevelt County Commission — 9 a.m., Commission Room...

  • Pages past - June 19

    Updated Jun 18, 2019

    On this date ... 1959: The Clovis Bowling Club, at 2400 W. Seventh, was offering beginner bowlers • Free use of bowling balls • Free bowling instructions • Free use of bowling shoes. The club also promised free coffee on Mondays. The phone number to call: PO 3-3761 Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens. Contact him at: [email protected]...

  • Soapbox winner may not go to Akron

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    CLOVIS — John Bamforth had no idea how to race a soap box derby car a week ago, but he knew it looked fun. On Saturday, he bested the Clovis field and took the qualifier for the July 20 Great American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. “I was super surprised that I won,” said John, 10. John and his brother Jacoby were both late entrants into the derby, an annual event put on by the Clovis Rotary Club. Their mother, Starla Bamforth, said she heard about the opportunity from a coworker. “The boy that was going to race already...

  • County fairs due in August

    Phil Mayes|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    Summer time: It’s simultaneously the carefree pinnacle of students' year and the Iditarod of parenthood. Unbridled freedom follows an unrecoverable nosedive to boredom and the impending zombie-child apocalypse. Still, more than any other season, summer offers numerous opportunities to forge lasting memories with loved ones. Enter the Curry and Roosevelt county fairs. Fair organizers are still finalizing some things with both the Curry and Roosevelt fairs. The Curry fair will be Aug. 13-17, and the Roosevelt fair Aug. 2...

  • Inmate's mom: My son would not kill himself

    David Grieder|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    PORTALES - Myra Abeyta and Ray Medrano still have far more questions than answers about what happened to their son, Manuel Silva Jr., 23, who died last week in the Roosevelt County Detention Center. Abeyta said she last spoke with her son Thursday, a day after authorities transported him from the Curry County Detention Center in advance of an August court date and one day before he was found unresponsive the following afternoon. She said he would "never, never, never" end his...

  • Clovis to consider vacancy

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    CLOVIS — Ladona Clayton isn’t leaving the Clovis City Commission until July 12. And when she does, the commission has 30 days to appoint another District 1 resident to fill the approximate eight months left on the term. But the commission figures there’s no better time than the present. It plans to discuss the vacancy and how it intends to fill it at the end of its new business at the 5:15 p.m. Thursday meeting at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library. The city charter requires the commission to appoint a regis...

  • Curry alcohol sales go to November vote

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    CLOVIS — Two counties in New Mexico do not allow alcohol sales — Curry and Roosevelt. Curry voters will decide in November if they’ll be taken off that short list. In a unanimous vote, the Curry County Commission on Monday approved a resolution calling for an election to allow adoption of local option provisions of the Liquor Control Act “to allow for the sale, service and public consumption of alcoholic beverages within Curry County.” While the specific questions regarding sales, service and consumption have to be determine...

  • Faith: Our children deserve better than world of selfishness

    Curtis Shelburne|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    Believe me, I write this column as no sort of spiritual giant; I don’t know my own weakness as well as I should, but I surely know it enough to see warning signs pop up everywhere when I’m tempted to feel self-righteous. And here comes that dangerous word: but. But surely anyone with any spiritual sensitivity at all doesn’t have to look long at our society to see that we are, as I heard someone put it, constantly swimming in a sea of selfishness. We do well to consider also...

  • Long live NM's unique and beautiful yucca

    Betty Williamson|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    If the yucca wasn’t already New Mexico’s state flower, its show-stopping display this year would be a good argument for designating it as such. Those tall and distinctive stalks filled with lush cream-colored blossoms have been downright breathtaking this season, adorning our roadways in every direction for more than a month. I wondered how this drought-hardy staple came to symbolize our state. Turns out, it almost didn’t. A scroll back through newspaper archives revea...

  • Remembering the plane-train days

    David Stevens|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    You could fly from Clovis to Kansas City for $47 in those days. If you were brave enough. Newspaper Editor Mack Stanton and Santa Fe railroader Charles Reichart were overheard discussing safety and health factors related to air travel. They made “a solemn agreement that each would hold the other’s head in the event air sickness overtook them.” That’s what the Clovis News-Journal reported 90 years ago this month, just before coast-to-coast travel became a realistic option for m...

  • Spring clean your life, not just your fridge

    Carrie Classon|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    Spring came late and so, appropriately, did the annual deep cleaning of the refrigerator. A lot of stuff gets tucked into the refrigerator over the course of the winter. Obsolete condiments band together and take refuge deep in the corners. A thuggish-looking jar of jam wearing a cap of mold sidles up to an empty bottle of horseradish sauce and they both evade detection by skulking behind an oversized bag of sun-dried tomatoes. A stray stalk of celery becomes separated from the pack and is left alone to mummify. Unnoticed...

  • What's happening - June 19

    The Staff of The News|Updated Jun 18, 2019

    • The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will begin online sales June 26 of hunting licenses that were not allocated during the big game draw. The sale will begin 10 a.m. at wildlife.state.nm.us. Customers are advised to review their online accounts prior to the sale and be signed on before the sale begins, as licenses are often purchased in a matter of minutes or seconds. Available are 763 deer, 85 youth-only pronghorn and four mobility-impaired-only-elk licenses. To purchase a leftover license, hunters must first purcha...

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