New boss clamps down at jail

From his stature to his personality, everything about Teddy Blair is large. Even his entrance to Tuesday’s Curry County Commission meeting to give his first departmental report as interim administrator of the Curry County Detention Center was grandiose.

Blair, 70, made a dramatic entrance to the meeting by tossing his black cowboy hat into the center of the room. Commissioners and attendees laughed as chairman Ed Perales jokingly asked Blair if his gesture meant he throwing in his name to become an elected official. Blair’s nonverbal response was to cross his fingers as if warding off an evil spirit.

The retired deputy sheriff, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs more than 250 pounds, was named jail administrator by Sheriff Roger Hatcher. He replaces Don Burdine, who announced his resignation Sept. 23 following an unannounced search of the detention center.

Blair’s antics continued as he sang lines from the 1978 Johnny Paycheck song, “Take This Job and Shove It,” and approached the podium whistling the theme song from Clint Eastwood’s classic movie, “The Good the Bad and the Ugly.”

Blair began his report by informing the Commission he had refused to allow a Clovis News Journal reporter to visit an inmate recently convicted of murder. The inmate had requested an interview. Blair said he counseled the inmate about speaking to the press and informed him that anything printed could be used against him.

The Commission expressed its concern over the legal ramifications of denying a prisoner visitation. Blair said the reporter would be granted a 25-minute visit during regular visitation times.

Blair was advised by the county attorney to refrain from offering any future legal advice to inmates.

Blair also reported using prison loaf to one pod of inmates as a form of punishment. Prison loaf is the day’s meal ground up, floured, baked and served in a bread-like form. Blair did not comment on the reason for the punishment.

The interim administrator concluded his time at the podium by saying he feels like he is “cleaning up the facility” and invited the commissioners to “drop in anytime.”

Additional agenda items discussed:

• Connie Lyman, election administrator, said new voter identification procedures will go into effect in 2006 which will slow down the voting process.

She also said Texico, Grady and Melrose will have access to mobile voting in 2006.

• Undersheriff Doug Bowman reported Hatcher has safely arrived in Virginia to begin 10 weeks at the FBI training academy. County manager Dick Smith said the training isn’t costing the county any money.

Two deputies have been hired and will eventually attend the sheriff’s academy.

Two expedition officers have also been hired to transport inmates.

• Blair reported the county currently houses 316 adult inmates, 64 in Texas facilities. As of Monday, 12 juveniles are currently in custody.

• Curry County Road Superintendent Danny Davis reported County Road 4, which leads to Southwest Cheese has been striped and stop signs are in place.

• Lance Pyle, personnel director, reported city and county employees will have the opportunity to attend county-sponsored health fair Saturday and Sunday. Flu shots, glucose screening and massages are a few of the services which will be available.

• Pyle asked the commissioners to approve 45 medical service claims totaling $35,583.

Three are from the Clovis Fire Department and 43 are from Plains Regional Medical Center.