Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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A Medicare prescription drug program that started Jan. 1 has caused nationwide problems as it seems to be creating consumer confusion, requiring people to choose from dozens of competing private insurance plans. (Staff photo: Eric Kluth) Consumer confusion reigns as the new Medicare prescription drug program starts up. The program, which began Jan. 1, requires people to choose from among dozens of competing private insurance plans. The most needy people in the program have a specific plan chosen for them initially; while...
Rep. Jose Campos thinks the winds of eastern New Mexico could fuel economic growth and the state’s energy options. Windmills would be advantageous to farmers and ranchers, and 200 windmills already spin in Quay and De Baca counties, Campos said. “Some (ranchers and farmers) are making more (money) on wind mills than on ranching,” he said. “This is helping people keep their land.” A bill to establish a state renewable energy transmission authority, written by the Santa Rosa Democrat, will make its way through committee...
Local legislators exhibit a party-line split in the debate over whether to raise up the state’s minimum wage. Rep. Anna Crook, R-Clovis, and Sen. Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, think if the minimum wage were raised from $5.15 to $7.50 as proposed, job cuts would result. “I think it hurts the economy. I’m opposed to raising it,” Crook said. “Businesses won’t hire as many employees if the minimum wage rises,” because they won’t be able to afford training the new hires, she said. Kernan agrees job cuts would piggy-back a minimum wage in...
Hundreds of community and business leaders gathered at Cannon Air Force Base on Friday night to honor those who fought doggedly to save the air base from closure in 2005. “It was one of the most challenging years of my 35 years of life in Clovis,” said 2005 Chamber of Commerce President Stacey Martin. Certainly, the year challenged the resolve of leaders in Clovis who did not expect Cannon Air Force Base to be included on the Department of Defense closure list. It also challenged the will of the region’s citizens. And fitti...
Samplings of recent calls received by Clovis-area law enforcement officers, according to reports: At 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday, police pulled over a vehicle on Fifth and Prince streets for a broken license plate light and found the 25-year-old driver in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. The driver was cited, arrested and released, the report said. ••• At 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, police responded to a residence on the 800 block of West Street, in reference to a burglary. The 27-year-old resident said someone stole more than $...
Foster families no more needy than others Regarding the “Making Clovis a Safer Place” story (Dec. 16 CNJ): For the last eight years my husband and I have been licensed foster parents in Curry County. I am also contracted with the state as the county’s foster parent liaison. As part of my duties I help recruit and retain foster parents. I was offended by the home-improvement store’s insinuation that foster parents are “needy.” We are required to have certain safety features in our homes before we can be licensed but we also...
President Bush’s State of the Union address Tuesday evening could prove to be one of his most memorable. America remains stuck in an Iraq war that has not gone according to plan or expectations. The administration is embroiled in questions of the legality of the president’s wiretapping approvals without court authority. The federal budget again is bleeding more mega-debt. And the tax cuts of the president’s first term, helpful to economic growth along with monetary policy and other factors, will be up for debate. In Tuesd...
I’d like to thank the citizens of eastern New Mexico. Looking back at 2005, United Way of Eastern New Mexico reaching its goal this year was a great tribute to the resilience and generosity of people of our area. To all who contributed — thank you. In the face of the unknown future for Cannon Air Force Base and after reaching out to help the victims of tsunamis and hurricanes, our community still remembered its neighbors-in-need here in Clovis and Portales. You did not forget that we depend on each other. The children and...
The following criminal dispositions were recently filed in the 9th Judicial District Court: • Tina Louise Le Clear, 38, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and is ordered to serve 18 months imprisonment and pay all fines and fees. She will receive credit for seven months and five days time served. • Jessie Hall, 41, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, concealing identity and is ordered to serve 18 months imp...
Going up against the conference’s leading rebounder, Midwestern State’s 6-foot-9 center Eric Dawson, Eastern New Mexico knew it was in for a tough night in the post. “The only gameplan was, we didn’t want him to have a career night against us,” ENMU coach Shawn Scanlan said. “And he didn’t.” The Greyhounds held Dawson in check and were deadly from the free throw line to earn a conference win against Midwestern State, 79-72, on Saturday at Greyhound Arena. Dawson, who averages 9.3 rebounds per game, tallied 21 points, six reb...
With the startup of the new Medicare prescription drug program, a nationwide problem seems to be consumer confusion. However, locals familiar with health care are optimistic that the program will eventually be an improvement over previous prescription programs. The program, which began on Jan. 1, requires people to choose from among dozens of competing private insurance plans. With confusion apparent, the government increased from 150 to 4,000 the number of workers at a pharmacy help line. The poorest people in the program...
I’d like to thank the citizens of eastern New Mexico. Looking back at 2005, United Way of Eastern New Mexico reaching its goal this year was a great tribute to the resilience and generosity of people of our area. To all who contributed — thank you. In the face of the unknown future for Cannon Air Force Base and after reaching out to help the victims of tsunamis and hurricanes, our community still remembered its neighbors-in-need here in Clovis and Portales. You did not forget that we depend on each other. The children and...
Rep. Jose Campos thinks the winds of eastern New Mexico could fuel economic growth and the state’s energy options. Windmills would be advantageous to farmers and ranchers, and 200 windmills already spin in Quay and De Baca counties, Campos said. “Some (ranchers and farmers) are making more (money) on wind mills than on ranching,” he said. “This is helping people keep their land.” A bill to establish a state renewable energy transmission authority, written by Santa Rosa Democrat, will make its way through committees and may h...
Most people who write a lot in their jobs — reporters, college professors, teachers and especially columnists, probably harbor the fantasy of writing a book someday. It was revealed recently that the dream could be easier than some of us thought. Earlier this month on the Web site The Smoking Gun it was revealed that James Frey’s best-selling book “A Million Little Pieces” about the author’s drug, alcohol and crime-filled life, may have been largely made up, at least regarding details of his criminal record. According...
Senior post Katherine Maples scored 27 points and pulled down 19 rebounds and senior forward Angie Faurot hit a tie-breaking 3-point shot with a half-minute left Saturday night as Midwestern State edged Eastern New Mexico University 81-78 in Lone Star Conference South Division women’s basketball at Greyhound Arena. Katie Robertson added 15 points and Tia Banks 12 for the Mustangs (8-11, 2-4 South), who won for the first time in eight road outings this season. ENMU (8-11, 0-5), which trailed by 10 points late in the half a...
Tracy Jordan has run the gamut with Eastern New Mexico University softball. Recruited before the 2003 season, Jordan has played under a different coach every season. “It’s certainly a challenge, but the team stays pretty much the same with a couple of exceptions,” said Jordan, who is from Rosamond, Calif. Ron Landshoot took over the program in 2003, then was replaced the next year by Kevin Blaskowski, who left after one season to start a program at West Texas A&M. Armando Quiroz was named head coach last season, but after...
Some Roosevelt County residents have already made their decision on whether they are in favor of, or opposed to keeping a property tax in place to help the Portales School District. Janet Collins, Roosevelt County Clerk, said as of Friday afternoon 27 people have returned ballots in early voting in the Portales school mil levy election. Collins says there are approximately 10,000 registered voters. Early voting began on Jan. 13 and continues through 5 p.m. Friday. County residents also have the option of actually going to...
Robert Montoya, Jr. a die-hard Pittsburgh Steeler fan from Portales, in a friendly, gesture extended an invitation to John Vestal Jr. an excited Seattle Seahawk fan from Clovis, to watch Super Bowl XL with the Montoya family on Feb. 8. However, Vesal said he’s going to devote Super Bowl Sunday to his dad and fellow Seahawk fan, John Vestal, Sr., and friends in Clovis and watch the game there. “I’m excited about the Super Bowl,” Montoya said. “We’ve gone to the (American Football Conference) championship games and lost the la...
Clovis guard Tori Northcutt grabs a rebound during the first half of Friday’s game against Artesia. The Lady Cats blew out Artesia 61-27. (CNJ staff photo: Jesse Wolfersberger) Clovis High’s girls were revved up Friday night. An anticipated showdown with Artesia, ranked third in the Albuquerque Journals’ Class 4A coaches poll, never materialized. Clicking on all cylinders from the outset, the Lady Wildcats — ranked No. 1 in Albuquerque paper’s Class 5A poll (see page 13) — improved to 19-2 with a 61-27 drubbing of the Lady...
With the kind of effort they put forth in Wednesday’s 75-69 loss to visiting Tarleton State, Eastern New Mexico University senior guard Jolen Montoya figures the Greyhounds would win most games. ENMU has been playing better of late and hopes to keep the higher level of play going when it hosts Midwestern State in a Lone Star Conference South Division game at 7 p.m. today at Greyhound Arena. Women’s teams meet in the 5 p.m. opener. “We have to come out every game with that same effort and intensity,” said Montoya, who had one...
The Farwell Steers won a nip-and-tuck game from Texas District 3-1A leader Sudan Friday night, beating the Hornets 36-35 in overtime at Farwell. No one scored in double figures for either team. Senior post Colton Sudderth led all scorers with nine points for Farwell (11-14, 3-2 district). The Steers forced overtime on a 10-foot jumper from the lane by junior guard Brett Howard as time expired, making it 32-32. In the extra session, Sudan (17-9, 4-1) had possession with about a minute left and played for a final shot. Howard...
Erminia Robles, right, a manager at Foxy Drive-In, makes $6 an hour. She said she'll stay at the Clovis restaurant regardless of whether the minimum wage is raised. (Staff photo: Eric Kluth) Judy Crisp spends six days a week inside a cramped cigarette shop on a bumpy Clovis side street. For every hour she spends there, she earns $5.75. That is 60 cents above the federal minimum wage level. The single mother of two teenagers said she can barely afford the apartment where she and her sons live. She cannot afford cable or...
Compiled by Kevin Wilson It’s been an unmistakeable feature of West Texas, and Cadillacs, for more than three decades. It’s been the subject of numerous magazine and newspaper stories, documentaries and even a theatrical film. It can be a day of fun for a family with a few cans of spray paint. The Cadillac ranch, located a few miles west of Amarillo near Route 66, features 10 Cadillacs. All 10 are buried halfway into the ground with the nose down, facing west. How to get there: Amarillo is located about 100 miles from Clovis,...
They were the type of numbers that Roswell should have been happy with heading into the second half. The visiting Lady Coyotes had just four turnovers and held host Portales without a field goal for a 7:20 stretch. The only numbers that mattered, however, belonged to Portales with a 20-17 lead. And 16 minutes later, the Lady Rams had a new number in their win column with a 50-34 triumph Friday night. Briana Hernandez scored 15 of her game-high 19 points in the second half for Portales (15-6), including a 3-pointer that keyed...
Prosecutors are petitioning the court to try a Clovis teen father as an adult for the death of his infant son, according to a release from the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Benito Valdez, 16, was indicted Friday by a grand jury on charges of child abuse resulting in the death of a child, child abuse resulting in great bodily injury, obstructing an abuse report and tampering with evidence, the release said. “After a careful review of all the evidence in the case including the medical records, my staff and I hav...
