Local Roundup: Five railroad cars derail at elevators

Five railroad cars carrying grain derailed sometime Sunday morning at Peavey Grain elevators on U.S. 60/84 just west of Clovis.

BNSF Railway Director of Public Affairs Joe Faust said there were no injuries and the derailment caused a minimal delay in operations.

The grain was headed to the elevators when the derailment occurred, said Jeff Mochal, a spokesman for ConAgra Foods, which owns the elevators.

“It honestly sounds like what happened is the BNSF (engine) was pushing some grain back into one of our mills and it sounds like five cars tipped over,” he said.

Neither Faust nor Mochal knew Monday what time the derailment occurred.

Faust said the cars were back on the tracks within about 12 hours of the derailment.

Curry County resident Frank Dottle, who lives near the site of the incident, said around 10 a.m. Sunday he saw three cars on their sides, their loads of grain spilled.

Dottle said railroad workers were still laboring to right the remaining cars and clean up the grain Monday.

Chamber award deadline nears

The deadline to nominate individuals for a Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce award is Dec. 21.

The annual awards include 2007 Citizen of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and the Heart Award.

Chamber representative Jenni Gee said the Citizen of the Year award goes to someone who has served the community in an extraordinary way.

Volunteer of the Year is awarded to an outstanding Chamber member who has served the mission and goals of the Chamber, she said.

The Heart Award honors an individual who has dedicated time, resources and heart to serving the underprivileged, youth, elderly or local charitable organizations in the community.

Nomination forms are available at http://www.clovisnm.org or at the Chamber office, 105 E. Grand Ave.

Winners will be announced Jan. 18 at the Chamber banquet.