Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles from the December 22, 2021 edition


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  • Local scoreboard - Dec. 22

    Updated Dec 21, 2021

    BASKETBALL Prep summaries Saturday Boys Centennial 58, Clovis 52 Centennial (4-5) — Michael Bruder 2, Nicolas Serna 15, Dax Rios 11, Azael Dominguez 11, Ozias Aguilar 7, Sean Crawford 8, John Sierra 4. Totals 20 13-22 58. Clovis (0-7) — Brian Weiss 4, Luciano Webster 8, Manuel Gutierrez 3, Kash Roberts 2, Juan Hernandez 19, R.J. Nora 6, Andrew Hall 10. Totals 21 9-15 52. Centennial 13 14 19 12 — 58 Clovis 8 8 25 11 — 52 3-pointers — Centennial, Serna 3, Dominguez, Rios. Clovis, Hernandez. Total fouls — Centennial 18, Clovis...

  • Clovis woman gets 15 years for ID theft, forgery

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    CLOVIS — A Clovis woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison for charges of forgery, identity theft and fraud. Latoya Gutierrez, 35, was found guilty in November of 10 charges in association with an investigation conducted in 2019. According to a release from District Attorney Andrea Reeb, the investigation started when a Clovis bank notified police Gutierrez opened an account with a forged check. The investigation revealed five forged checks in total were signed by Gutierrez. District Judge Drew Tatum presided over the t...

  • Seven suspects arrested in raids

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    PORTALES — Seven suspects, six from Portales and one from Clovis, were arrested Monday on felony charges relating to drug trafficking, racketeering, witness intimidation and stolen vehicles in raids conducted by regional law enforcement agencies. According to a news release from the Roosevelt County Sheriff's Department: • Police seized methamphetamine, prescription pills and suspected fentanyl pills from multiple locations, as well as materials and equipment used to distribute the drugs in the community. • Police recov...

  • Opinion: Build Back Better plan built on deception

    The Detroit News, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    The true cost of President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan is emerging, and it isn’t pretty. Nor is it fully paid for, as the president and Democrats contend. The Congressional Budget Office last month issued a scoring on the plan that concluded it would add $367 billion to the federal budget deficit over 10 years. While certainly a lot of money, it wasn’t horrible for a roughly $2 trillion spending package. But then Republicans asked for a redo. They wanted the CBO to score the bill under the assumption the myriad so...

  • Teen arrested in shooting

    Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    LUBBOCK — Police arrested a 15-year-old boy Monday afternoon in connection with a shooting Sunday night that left two people injured at the South Plains Mall. Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between two juveniles in a common area of the mall between Dillard's and the movie theater, according to police officials. One person was grazed by a bullet while another person suffered minor injuries while trying to flee, officials said. The shooting prompted an evacuation of the mall, though stores also s...

  • Faith: This Christmas, ask him into our hearts anew

    Curtis Shelburne, Religion columnist|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    We want it to be perfect, you know. Christmas, I mean. We really do. Something deep within us wants the lights and the trees, the music and the gifts, the family gatherings and candle-lit worship — all of it — to be Christmas-card perfect. Do I claim to be an exception? No, I do not. Truth be told, though, it’s not so much that I hope each new Christmas will be more beautiful than the last, I just want to do a better job each year enjoying the beauty and joy, savoring each mom...

  • Late Cats rally falls short

    Dave Wagner, Staff writer|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    CLOVIS - Clovis High's boys continue to get so close to winning they can almost taste it. Not enough good things are happening at key moments, though, and the Wildcats headed into this week's Griego & Sons tournament at Rock Staubus Gym still seeking their first win. Centennial appeared to have control much of the way in Saturday's matchup at The Rock, but the Hawks had to hang on down the stretch before closing out a 58-52 victory. Centennial (4-5) never trailed and led by...

  • Lady Rams fall to defending Texas 3A champs

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    PORTALES - When they get to the New Mexico portion of their schedule early next month, Portales High's girls should feel pretty well-tested. They faced defending Texas Class 3A champion Brownfield on Monday and played tough against the Lady Cubs, who returned all five starters. In the end, though, Brownfield posted a 46-39 win at the Ram Athletic Center. "They're good," Lady Rams coach Wade Fraze said. "We played well tonight, just not well enough (to win)." PHS won't face a...

  • Lady Cats' Ledezma wins 138-pound title

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    ROSWELL — Senior Yazmean Ledezma took first place in the 138-pound division, helping Clovis High’s girls to a sixth-place team finish in Friday’s Rio Grande Invite wrestling tournament, hosted by Roswell High. The Lady Wildcats finished with 37 team points. Rio Rancho Cleveland took first place in the 19-school competition with 127 points, while Roswell Goddard was second at 96. Ledezma won by second-period pin over Mayfield’s Vania Garcia Aguirre and by first-period pin over Mayfield’s Mia Aguilera in her next two bouts bef...

  • Lady Blue's win streak ends at 13

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    NEW HOME — On the heels of a championship two days earlier in Texico’s Citizens Bank tournament, the Farwell girls basketball team saw a 13-game winning streak come to an end on Monday afternoon in a 56-49 loss at New Home. The Lady Leopards, ranked No. 7 in Texas Class 2A, pulled away in a tight one by outscoring the 12th-ranked Lady Blue 19-14 in the final stanza. Farwell (16-2), playing its fourth game in five days, went into halftime with a one-point lead. Sophomore Addy Burns led New Home (15-4) with 16 points, fol...

  • Lady Cats topple Taos

    Dave Wagner, Staff writer|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    CLOVIS - Heading into Monday's quarterfinal matchup of the Plateau Holiday tournament at Rock Staubus Gym, Clovis High girls coach Jeff Reed claimed he was nervous. As it turned out, there was little to worry about. The Lady Wildcats held Taos to seven first-half points and were never threatened in a 42-21 victory over the Lady Tigers. Clovis (8-3) advanced to Tuesday's championship semifinals against Atrisco Heritage, while Taos faced Los Lunas in the consolation semifinals....

  • Buffs collect 16 all-state selections

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    ALBQUUERQUE — The Melrose Buffaloes were well-represented on the New Mexico High School Coaches Association’s all-state team for eight-man football. So was its entire district. Of the 60 selections announced over the weekend by the association, 49 belonged to the five teams of District 2 — 14 for state champion Tatum, 16 for the state runner-up Buffaloes, 14 for semifinalist Logan, four for semifinalist Fort Sumner and one for Mesilla Valley. Leading the way was Michael Cardonita, who garnered three selections in total. He wa...

  • Pages past, Dec. 22: Family row results in two dead

    David Stevens, Publisher|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    On this date … 1921: The headline across The Portales Valley News read: “Most revolting crime in history of Roosevelt County.” A secondary headline reported a father had shot his son and daughter-in-law dead while they were eating breakfast. The newspaper reported Lewis Hawes was confined in the county jail, “as the result of a family row, facing the gallows as the result of his hasty temper.” When law officers arrived at the death scene six miles south of Portales, Lewis Haw...

  • Curry, Roosevelt report high infection totals

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    SANTA FE — With 92 new cases of COVID-19 reported Monday, Curry County had its highest weekend total in more than three months. But Monday’s release from the New Mexico Department of Health had staggering numbers for many other counties, with five counties recording triple-digit cases as part of a 3,110-case weekend. The top county for new cases was Bernalillo with 1,158. Roosevelt County confirmed 19 cases, along with two of the 37 reported deaths. The deaths, which put Roosevelt’s total to 75, were a male in his 50s and a...

  • Portales students, staff surpass food drive goal

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    PORTALES - Students and staff across Portales Municipal Schools had a goal to gather 12,000 non-perishable food items to help their neighbors in need this holiday season. They did much better, pushing more than 50% beyond the original goal with 19,376 total donated items. Family Engagement Specialist Ashley Bailey said the drive, which was organized by AmberLynn Mauldin, had collection points at each building in the Portales district. The items collected were donated to all...

  • Stockings were hung - and made - with care

    Betty Williamson, Local columnist|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    If you happen to pass Dallas Draper's home in Melrose on Christmas Eve, and notice that Santa's sled has been parked outside long enough that the reindeer are stomping with impatience, well, you should know there is a good reason. The jolly old elf will have 49 - count 'em - 49 stockings to take care of once he squeezes down the chimney. It could take a while. Those rows of hand-quilted, personalized stockings represent every member of Draper's extended family -- children,...

  • Opinion: Christmas a paradoxical holiday

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    Christmas is exhausting. These days, as a man teetering on old age and living alone most of the time, I’m just not motivated to get all dressed up for these holidays. My adult kids are having their own Christmases elsewhere this year, and I’m way too busy with work anyway; I don’t have time for a big holiday. I’ll be fine with a nice nap on Christmas Day this year. Not that Christmas is without depth for me, because it still means a lot to me — both as a religious and a secular holiday. When I was growing up, Christmas...

  • Opinion: US's Constitution was a mistake

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    There can be a difference between what a person likes and what they are willing to force on others. Most of my preferences lean conservative: liberty, family, and keeping government out of my life. The difference between me and political conservatives is that I don’t believe it’s ever ethical to use government or legislation to force my preferences on others. Therefore, I can’t be politically conservative. Another difference is I’m no fan of the Constitution. A fatal mistake...

  • Chamber to host breakfast

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    CLOVIS — The Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce, Clovis Economic Development and Eastern Plains Council of Governments will host a legislative breakfast 7 a.m. Jan. 6 in the chamber's board room at 105 E. Grand Ave., according to a chamber release. The breakfast will serve as the official presentation of the 2022 legislative priorities for the City of Clovis, Curry County, Clovis Community College, Clovis Municipal Schools, Clovis Mainstreet, CIDC, the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce and more. State l...

  • Clovis seeks election help

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    CLOVIS — The city of Clovis is seeking election board members, more commonly known as poll workers, for the upcoming municipal election. The city is seeking citizens from all 37 precincts to serve at five Election Day polling locations, an early voting site and an absentee board site. The election is scheduled for March 1. For information call 575-763-9632, or visit city hall at 321 N. Connelly Street....

  • Clovis fees to increase

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    CLOVIS — The city of Clovis will implement a 5% increase on landfill, refuse and sewer fees, effective Jan. 1. A release from the city notes the increase comes from a 2020 city commission vote to increase the fees for 2021 and 2022. With the new fees: • Monthly residential refuse rates will be $17.44 or $13.30 per dwelling in the case of multi-family dwellings. • Sewer rates will be $2.14 per drain with a minimum of $10.70. • Commercial refuse will continue to be billed monthly. • Landfill dumping fees will rise 5%. Infor...

  • Snow unlikely this Christmas

    Staff and wire reports|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, make sure you’re also dreaming of a far-flung trip because eastern New Mexico’s weather forecast isn’t calling for any snowfall over the holiday weekend. Two conditions are required for snowfall — precipitation and temperatures of 32º or lower. The National Weather Service is predicting a 0% chance of precipitation this week, and low temperatures are in the high 30s for the weekend. Todd Shoemake, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque, said snow this...

  • Lighthouse to provide food

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    CLOVIS — The Lighthouse Mission will provide free Christmas dinners from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Christmas Day, to those who can walk up or drive in to the lighthouse, at 407 L. Casillas Blvd., Clovis. Included will be “ham and fixings, and a dessert,” said Richard Gomez, executive director. The mission will also arrange to deliver meals to shut-ins and disabled persons, Gomez said. Arrangements for delivery can be arranged through Thursday by calling the mission at 575-575-762-1933, Gomez said....

  • Roosevelt adds cost of living increase for employees

    Kevin Wilson, Editor|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    PORTALES — Roosevelt County officials have acknowledged difficulties in hiring and keeping employees. Commissioners on Tuesday approved a series of measures they hope will curb some of those issues. The commission, by unanimous votes, added a cost of living increase for employees and agreed to pick up additional percentages of Public Employee Retirement Act contributions. County Manager Amber Hamilton said that PERA contributions are the biggest source of frustration for some of the entry-level employees. While it's a nice i...

  • Healthy activities boon to kids

    Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy, Local columnist|Updated Dec 21, 2021

    “The Clovis Municipal Schools is committed to the optimal development of every student,” reads the first line of our district's Wellness Plan & Implementation Guide. Although it follows state and federal guidelines, it has been tweaked to best suit our own community. Developed by the School Health Advisory Council committee, this sizable, living document is regularly adjusted to accommodate new or changing needs. The SHAC committee comprises CMS staff from a wide variety of...