Pages past — Oct. 12

On this date ...

1976: Ronnie Brothers and James Patterson posed with a 5-foot rattlesnake for a front-page photo in the Clovis News-Journal.

Brothers and James spotted the rattler near the edge of Ute Lake. Patterson pulled it from the rocks with a stick and Brothers killed it with a rock.

There were nine rattles on the snake’s tail.

1956: A 12-year-old Clovis boy had been released from Memorial Hospital after losing a finger in an explosion.

Joel Young, who lived at 1804 Wallace St., was putting air in a scooter tire when the tire exploded, mangling his left hand.

The little finger on his hand was surgically removed and multiple broken bones in his hand had to be set.

1941: Eastern New Mexico College had hosted its homecoming with “hordes of ex-students coming from far and near,” the Clovis News-Journal reported.

Virginia Lee Meyer, president of the college’s musical organization, acted as toastmistress.

Seven ex-presidents were among those gathered, including Mrs. Virgil Caughran of Grady and Inez Ward of Portales.

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

www.highplainsyesterdays.com