Pages past — June 28

On this date …

1970: Clovis police said they had wrapped up a series of recent burglary cases involving vandalism and stolen bicycles with the arrests of two teenagers.

The 13-year-old boys were caught “pilfering several automobiles” at the Memorial Hospital parking lot, Patrolman Daryl Rice told the Clovis News-Journal.

Six stolen bicycles were recovered.

1961: A 2-year-old Roosevelt County girl remained hospitalized three weeks after she was bitten by a rattlesnake while her mother worked nearby on the family farm near Portales.

Doctors at first feared Rhonda Evans might die from the bite, but now were confident she would survive. Swelling in the calf of her leg where she was bitten had gone down, but her foot “is black and swollen,” United Press International reported.

The child kept telling her father, “It bit me. You better chop his head off, Daddy,” according to UPI.

She seldom complained, her mother said, except to say that her foot itches.

1951: More than 100 Rotarians, Rotary Anns and guests attended the annual Clovis Rotary Club’s annual ladies’ night banquet at the La Vista.

Those in attendance included W. H. Duckworth of Clovis, the incoming district governor of Rotary International, retiring Clovis Rotary Club President E. C. “Army” Armstrong and incoming President Henry Kossman.

Principal speaker was Rev. William James, new pastor at Clovis’ Presbyterian church who was also a new Rotarian.

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

www.highplainsyesterdays.com