Aug. 8, 2007 Local Briefs

Man sentenced for selling drugs

Ralph Urioste, 37, of Clovis was sentenced to four years in prison for selling marijuana to an undercover officer, according to a press release from the district attorney’s office.

His sentence will be followed by two years of supervised probation, the release said.

Undercover agents with the state police bought a half pound of marijuana from Urioste at his residence in November, according to the release.

Fire investigators suspect arson

Clovis fire investigators suspect arson and are looking into a vehicle fire that occurred just before 1 a.m. Saturday, according to Clovis Fire Chief Ray Westerman.

Police responded to the 600 block of West Seventh Street for a burning car. When they arrived, the fire had been extinguished by fire department personnel, a police report said.

The vehicle, a 2001 PT Cruiser, sustained heavy smoke and fire damage and had a broken right window. Attempts to contact the owner were unsuccessful, the report said.

The case is under investigation, and the Clovis fire marshal is working to determine the cause of the fire, Westerman said.

New cases accepted for tornado relief

The Eastern New Mexico Disaster Recovery Council will stop accepting new cases for tornado relief after Friday, according to a press release.

The council has seen requests for tornado-related assistance steadily decline. In the last three months, more than 300 cases have been opened with 230 of them closed, the release said.

Remaining cases can likely be closed in the next six to eight weeks, the release said.

The ENMDR Council was formed to provide long-term individual case management to victims of the March 23 tornado.

After the deadline, people with needs will still be directed to community resources but will not have a case manager assigned to them.

Anyone needing assistance with tornado-related damages can call 211 or 935-0211 before Friday.