Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles from the September 24, 2023 edition


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  • Clovis commission fills District 3 seat

    Landry Sena, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 26, 2023

    Clovis city commissioners on Thursday named Debbie Zamora to fill the empty seat in District 3. Zamora, Douglas Pettigrew and Christopher Davis all applied to fill the spot after Commissioner David Bryant resigned last month. Bryant submitted his resignation on Aug. 23, after he had stopped attending city commission meetings in June, when Mayor Mike Morris accused him of lying about attending a taxpayer-funded training session in Santa Fe. "I do see the need to serve," Zamora...

  • Walk to spotlight substance abuse recovery

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 25, 2023

    The Curry County Health Council, in partnership with United Way of Eastern New Mexico, is hosting a “recovery walk” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Greene Acres Park, according to a county news release. “Recovery month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery from substance use disorder,” the release states. “Working together, we can promote and understand treatment and recovery options in our community to support those in need. “Whether you have a loved one, friend, or just want to walk to honor those in recovery, p...

  • Big honor

    Autumn Scott, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    The Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico is among 1,000 second-round finalists chosen for the Yield Giving Open Call. Yield Giving is an organization founded by MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of billionaire Jeffery Bezos. She uses her fortune from their divorce to give unyieldingly to non-profit organizations in the United States and its territories. According to their website, the organization has provided more than $14 billion to more than 1,600 non-profit organizations. The Yield...

  • Dispensary aims to bring life back to Glenrio

    Ron Warnick, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    GLENRIO - In this border town in far eastern Quay County, a sign for a long-closed spot along Route 66 once proclaimed it as the "First Motel in Texas" and "Last Motel in Texas." With the opening last week of Glenrio Smoke Stop, it can credibly claim to be the first and last marijuana dispensary in New Mexico. It also serves as potentially a competitor to the dozen or so similar shops that have opened in Tucumcari since last year. The Glenrio Smoke Stop sits just a few yards w...

  • Events calendar - Sept. 24

    Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Today *St. Helen Catholic Church 2023 Fiesta – 10 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Helen Catholic Church, 1600 S. Ave. O, Portales. Fun, games, food, live music. Theme basket and cash raffles; tickets available until drawing at 4 p.m. Information: 575-356-4241 Tuesday *Blood drive — 10 a.m.-2 p.m., bloodmobile, Wheatfields Estates, 4701 N. Prince St., Clovis. Register online at www.bloodhero.com. Advance appointments strongly recommended; all donors must arrive wearing masks. Information: 877-258-4825 *Afterschool S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, tec...

  • Jail log - Sept. 24

    Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Booked The following were booked into local jails (Tuesday - Friday): Clovis • Armando Soriano, 71, out-of-state fugitive • Patrick Martinez, 36, probation violation, parole violation, use of telephone to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend • Lacey Fox, 39, failure to appear on misdemeanor charge • Robie Long, 49, failure to comply with specific requirements – attempt • Tyler Meiwes, 36, probation violation • Sergio Chacon, 35, battery against a household member, resisting, evading or obstructing an officer...

  • Pages past, Sept. 24: Biggest bargain in town – a library card

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    On this date ... 1934: A Santa Fe railroad conductor was seeing “decided improvement” after suffering burns on his hands a week earlier. S.K. Cotton was tarring his roof, at 818 Gidding, when he saw 5-year-old Bobby Miller, whose clothes had caught fire. The boy had been playing in the yard near the fire where the tar was being heated. Cotton attempted to save the boy, severely burning his hands in the process. Bobby Miller died. Doctors said it would be months before Cot...

  • Roosevelt officials push to charge more for holding inmates

    Madison Willis, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Roosevelt County commissioners on Tuesday further pushed for the city of Portales to pay more for holding inmates at the county detention center. County Commissioner Tina Dixon led the discussion in updating the continued public service negotiations. Dixon said she has been discussing the matter of the detention center with the city and the City Council is still “matter of fact” about the facility and will only pay up until the inmates' arraignment. “Detention is one of those places we’re stuck at because as you can see the l...

  • Meetings calendar - Sept. 24

    Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Monday *Roosevelt County Crimestoppers — Noon, Aztec Room, ENMU Campus Union Building, Portales. Information: Darla Reed at [email protected] or 575-226-5237 *City of Clovis Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Committee – 5:30 p.m., North Annex, Clovis-Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main, Clovis. Information: 575-763-9654 Tuesday *Curry County Commission – 9 a.m., Commission Chambers, Curry County Administration Complex, 417 Gidding St., Clovis. Information: 575-763-6016 *Clovis Municipal Schools board — 5:30 p.m., B...

  • Curry, Quay score funds after storms

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    SANTA FE – The governor’s office issued two executive orders last week approving emergency funding for Quay and Curry counties after they were hit by spring storms. Both executive orders from Michelle Lujan Grisham provide up to $750,000 to each county for repairs and recovery efforts. According to a news release from the governor’s office: Curry County executives applied for funding to clear and repair damage after a series of storms between May 24 through June 5 in cities across the county, including Clovis, Texico, and t...

  • United Way approves food bank grant

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    The board of directors of United Way of Eastern New Mexico has approved a $5,000 supplemental grant to the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico, according to a United Way news release. The Sept. 3 fire that closed Walmart “for several weeks and maybe months,” has left the food bank “facing a significant gap because of the normal generosity of Clovis Walmart,” the release states. United Way is also asking others to help the food bank, which serves five counties. “We ask our community to reflect on the need to replace the 2,000 pou...

  • Pet of the week - Sept. 24

    Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Baxter is 117 pounds of love and lively enthusiasm in his Portales home, said his owner, Amanda Berg. The 9-year-old Rottweiler always plays the role of "playmate" with other dogs when Berg pet sits for active-duty members of the military. Berg said Baxter has always been patient when greeting new pups, but once they begin playing the fun never seems to stop....

  • Paw prints: Distemper outbreak reported in Clovis

    Madison Willis, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    In the past six weeks, several animal clinics and shelters have reported an increase in distemper cases in the city of Clovis. Retired Veterinarian Dr. David Hudson said the highly contagious and deadly disease has become a full on “outbreak” within the community. “As a veterinarian in this community for over 30 years, we would see cases of distemper but they were rare. I would see it for maybe a two-month period at a time, with only three to four cases. … Now it occurs several times throughout the year,” Hudson said. Dis...

  • In tribute: Longtime ENMU professor 'passionate'

    Landry Sena, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Kevin Wilson remembers Professor Sue Strickler's pop quizzes that weren't so fun at the time. It was his freshman year in the fall of 1996 at Eastern New Mexico University. Wilson, a longtime local journalist, was confident he was doing well in his American government class. Strickler thought the class wasn't reading the material. So, she decided to implement a series of pop quizzes. "They (the questions) consistently got harder as it went," Wilson said. "She said, 'if you...

  • Opinion: Governor's order has soured her term

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Seldom is a governor’s second term as bright as their first term; the gubernatorial luster loses its shine for one reason or another. With the late, great Bill Richardson, it was “pay to play.” With Susana Martinez, it was “pizzagate.” And now, with Michelle Lujan Grisham, it’s an overreaching public health order. Don’t get me wrong, Gov. Lujan Grisham is no lame duck. She still has three years left as governor of a state controlled by Democrats, so she still wields considerable power. But her order to temporarily b...

  • Letter to the editor - Sept. 24

    Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Baby box shows love, support for women It comes as a surprise to many that a state that promotes abortion tourism, such as New Mexico, would also have a law on the books that is incredibly compassionate to both mothers and their babies. The New Mexico Safe Haven for Infants Act gives parents of an infant 90 days old or less the opportunity to surrender their baby without fear of being charged with abandonment. Law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and fire stations have been designated safe haven sites throughout the state....

  • Opinion: U.S. cannot put mineral mining in jeopardy

    Jim Constantopoulos, Guest columnist|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    There is simply no credible way to address climate change without changing how we obtain vital minerals and metals needed for batteries to make electric vehicles and for storing energy generated by solar and wind. That is why it is so appalling to see the Biden administration call for a royalty tax on mining and a fee on all material displaced in digging. The last thing we need is an increase in the cost of mining in the United States and an erosion of government support, resulting in greater dependence on China for critical...

  • Opinion: Deaths in Ukraine exceeding Vietnam

    Rube Render, Local columnist|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    If you are the parent of an active-duty Marine, the last person you want to see out of the blue on your door step is a Marine officer in dress uniform. He is generally there with bad news. This is true in peace time as well as war. The same holds true for the other services, but I’m familiar with Marines. Military folk die even during peace time, and someone is designated to make casualty calls. During a war it gets worse. According to the Watson Institute, International & P...

  • Opinion: More choices than Red or Blue

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Politics changes hearts and minds. Not in a good way. The more partisan the politics, the worse the obvious damage. Politics brainwashes people. It drives reasoned thought right out of the human brain. Being too political doesn't do good things to your emotions, either. I try to warn people of this danger, whether they want to hear it or not. They usually don't want to. A mind damaged by politics can lead the victim to say things like "If you don't support my politician you...

  • Publisher's journal: Public records should be available to us all

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    It seems some of New Mexico’s public entities want changes to the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act. Mostly they want to charge taxpayers for the time public employees spend researching and compiling public information when it’s requested. Melanie Majors, director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, suggests you think of their plan like this: “When the fire department comes and puts out a fire at your house, they don’t say, ‘Mrs. Jones, here’s your bill....

  • Second man charged in August battery

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    A second man has been charged in connection with the Aug. 22 battery of Clovis’ Loydale Kirven. Kirven was shot in the leg after a verbal altercation turned violent, court records show. J.D. Pringle, 36, is in the Curry County Adult Detention Center without bond, charged with aggravated battery and transportation or possession of a firearm by a felon, records show. He is accused of shooting Kirven and was arrested soon after the incident. On Friday, authorities also charged Daniel Serna, 47, in connection with the case. It w...

  • Q&A: PRMC's new chief executive talks job, hospital priorities

    Landry Sena, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of state-of-the-entity interviews with local officials. Bill Priest is the newly hired hospital chief executive for Plains Regional Medical Center. Q: What is your background in healthcare? Where did you grow up? A: I've been in healthcare for 25 or 30 years now. I have been in healthcare leadership for roughly that length of time, I started off actually doing cardiac rehab. I worked with cardiac patients in the hospital on...

  • Ask the news - Sept. 24

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Is it OK to bury your deceased pet in your yard in Clovis? In a word: No. According to a Clovis city ordinance, when a pet is deceased its remains become classified as garbage and garbage and/or rubbish, according to the ordinance, is not allowed to be buried in Clovis. “Animal Control advised they will pick up (deceased) pets if the people call them,” City Manager Justin Howalt wrote in an email. Howalt attached the specific ordinance prohibiting the burial of pet remains to the email. The ordinance outlines the def...

  • ENMU bringing the party to downtown Portales

    Betty Williamson, Local columnist|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    Before there was an Eastern New Mexico University … or an Eastern New Mexico College … or even an Eastern New Mexico Normal School, there was a community that very much wanted an institution of higher learning in its city limits. We are only barely shy of a century after citizens of Portales banded together in “one of the most determined and united drives ever launched in this city,” according to the Feb. 10, 1927, Portales Valley News. That drive had one goal -- “Design...

  • Clovis Walmart opens mobile pharmacy

    Autumn Scott, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 23, 2023

    The Clovis Walmart on Thursday opened a mobile pharmacy, but a timeline for reopening the rest of the superstore remains unclear. Joe Pennington, director of the Walmart press office, said Friday the goal is to make the store whole again, but he had no specifics. "This type of situation, there's a lot in play. You know, at the end of the day we're going to try to reopen to customers as quickly and safely as possible, but I don't want to put a timeline on it," Pennington said....

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