Pages past — May 19

On this date ...

1976: Funding and instructors were in place; the only thing holding up the start of a DWI school in eastern New Mexico was lack of students.

Michael McGinnis, designated to head the school in Clovis, said students had to come from courts that made DWI school a condition of retaining a driver’s license.

After completion of the course, convictions would be dismissed. Magistrate Judge Jesse Porter of Portales said he opposed dismissals and that was one reason he had not sentenced anyone to take the course.

1971: Burglars ripped open a skylight above Town and Country Men’s Store at 308 Main in Clovis and stole about $10,000 worth of clothes.

Officials said a security patrolman chased suspects from the scene.

Clovis Police Detective Lance Somers said the burglars probably used a tire tool to pry open the skylight.

Clothes were scattered throughout the floor of the building and fiberglass insulation hung from the ceiling. Police said a cash drawer that had contained $50 was empty.

Store owner Homer Tankersley was out of town when the burglars hit.

1966: Native American dancers from four tribes were scheduled to perform at Greyhound Stadium.

Admission was $1 for adults and 50 cents for children.

The gathering’s guest of honor was to be Annie Wauneka, recipient of the highest civilian peacetime award in the nation. A member of the Navajo Tribal Council, Wauneka had been nominated by President Kennedy to receive the Presidential Medal for her efforts to improve living conditions among the Navajo.

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. For more regional history, check out his weblog at:

www.highplainsyesterdays.com