Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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PORTALES — The Roosevelt County Community Development Corporation and the city of Portales finalized the purchase of the Portales Inn last week when they signed an agreement with Ambience Hospitality LLC. The historic property, located at 223 W. Second St., is slated for redevelopment by the Albuquerque-based company, which an RCCDC press release referred to as an award-winning, "new nationally recognized hotel chain" that manages hotels and properties throughout New Mexico a...
PORTALES — The costumed superhero was what science fiction writer Melinda Snodgrass referred to as a "uniquely American creation," just like baseball and jazz. "I wondered, why was that? Was this an example of the American conception of we're the best, we're the strongest, we've got the coolest people?" she said, adding that the American sense of self was developing the same time the costumed hero came into play in the 1930s. Snodgrass and Michael Cassutt, both the guests o...
PORTALES —The trial for a Portales man accused of rape has been moved to the next docket due to forensic evidence delays. During a pre-trial conference for Roy Brown, 29, Thursday afternoon in district court, District Attorney Andrea Reeb requested a continuance of the case due to certain lab results not yet being back from the state lab. Brown is charged with first-degree criminal sexual penetration for an alleged home invasion and rape of a Roosevelt County woman in June 2016. “I strongly oppose it,” Brown’s attorne...
PORTALES — A varied set of questions awaited the third candidate for Eastern New Mexico University president as he was greeted with concerns surrounding fine arts, liberal arts, retention and more. After giving a brief introduction of himself in which he shared an extensive background in New Mexico and Texas, including four degrees from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Charles Crespy of Michigan answered questions from faculty members Wednesday afternoon. "As w...
PORTALES — University finances seemed to be the theme of the afternoon with the second candidate to be Eastern New Mexico University's next president as he faced a faculty forum Tuesday. A few faculty members asked candidate John Fritch of Iowa about how he will content with state budget cuts and low finances. Fritch said there are two parts to dealing with the financial situation, which is affecting universities all over the nation. "The first is how do you make a university...
PORTALES — Roosevelt County commissioners decided to table a new road policy at their Tuesday morning meeting after expressing concerns about its content. Road Superintendent Ricky Lovato told commissioners that the changes to the policy include a fee for digging culverts and for new cattle guards, as well as administrative fees. Commissioner Shane Lee asked Lovato if someone would be charged if they needed a cattle guard moved from one location to another. Lovato said that probably wouldn’t be the case, but any resident ask...
PORTALES — A more than 40-year-old tradition continues for Eastern New Mexico University as residents and university faculty pay tribute to the world of science fiction this upcoming weekend. The 41st annual Jack Williamson Lectureship will be held Friday on campus with guests of honor Melinda Snodgrass and Michael Cassutt, as well as many other New Mexico science fiction writers in attendance. Michael Cassutt produced and/or wrote for The Outer Limits; Eerie, Indiana; Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Twilight Zone, while M...
PORTALES - Addressing wind energy and land contracts with the Conservation Reserve Program appeared to be the main focus for additions to Roosevelt County's Land Use Plan this week. The county held a total of five meetings in the last two weeks to receive input from county residents on their land use plan, which has not been updated since 1993. Although no residents showed to the two meetings held in the county courthouse, several residents showed to the three rural meetings...
PORTALES — Although the Portales Industrial Park has been placed on the back burner for the time being, it has by no means been forgotten, according to local economic development officials. After completing an engineering study and master plan for the park in 2012, there has been silence from Roosevelt County Community Development Corporation officials on further developing the land, which lies southwest of Portales. "One of the problems we had was we didn't know what land w...
PORTALES — A New Mexico federal court dismissed a 2015 lawsuit against Roosevelt County commissioners last week. Former Roosevelt County Detention Center employee Keith Parrish accused the county of owing him back pay for overtime worked earlier in the year before ending his employment in June 2015. The dismissal stated that the case was dismissed with prejudice “pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act.” “ ... the Court concludes that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact ... Specifically, the court conclud...
PORTALES — Area agriculture officials and producers all agreed on Friday that local agriculture isn't producing in a major category — its own perspective. New Mexico Department of Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte, along with New Mexico State University extension program officials, visited the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds Friday afternoon as part of the annual Ag Expo to hear from local producers about their concerns regarding the ag industry. "I think we all realize bec...
FLOYD — A couple with a heart for taking care of others were the recipients of the Citizen of the Year award at this year's Floyd Jamboree. Floyd Lions Club member Paul Benoit presented long-time Floyd residents Leon and Waynell Nall with the award during the music show Saturday night at the Floyd High School gymnasium. Benoit told audience members that Leon Nall has lived in Floyd his entire life with his father having also ranched and farmed there. "Also, in receiving t...
PORTALES — A lot of reminiscing was taking place during lunch hour Friday at the Jake Lopez Community Center Building on the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Portales Ag Expo, chamber of commerce Executive Director Karl Terry shared the beginnings of the annual event to those gathered for the annual pork chop luncheon held in conjunction with the Expo. Terry told those gathered that in 1993, it all started with Dallan Sanders and Chase G...
PORTALES — The trial of a former Portales man accused of child molestation was vacated Friday as District Judge Donna Mowrer ordered a competency evaluation. Rocky Banda, 36, of Amarillo, was arrested in February 2016 and charged with 24 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child, as well as criminal sexual contact with a child and bribery of a witness. His victim was allegedly molested over several years. Clovis attorney Benjamin Herrmann was appointed by the courts as Banda’s standby counsel after Banda chose to rep...
PORTALES — Roosevelt County residents were a no-show Tuesday at the first town hall meeting to discuss the county’s Joint Land Use Plan in the county courthouse. Several Elida residents showed to the second town hall meeting Wednesday in the Elida Community Center, but most expressed to county officials that they did not know where to begin with giving input on the plan because they did not understand what they were giving input on. “We feel like it’s a very important process, and (it’s important) that the county has (a la...
PORTALES — A new 522-megawatt wind farm is on its way to Roosevelt County, according to officials of Invenergy. Xcel Energy signed an agreement with the energy company Tuesday morning to buy the Sagamore Wind Project facility once it is completed. Krista Jo Mann, senior business development manager for the Invenergy, said the power will go into the eastern power grid. Mann shared plans for the project with Roosevelt County commissioners Tuesday morning, saying that the p...
PORTALES — Ranchers and dairymen have a new means of saving water but they also face a new danger, according to officials of the Roosevelt Soil & Water Conservation District. Mike Cone, chairman of the SWCD board, told Roosevelt County commissioners at their Tuesday meeting about his organization's recent "shade ball project." "What the whole theory and concept is on them is that you cover a body of water with them and number one, it helps with evaporation," Cone said of t...
Hundreds gathered outside the Curry County Courthouse on Monday night. They prayed, sang hymns and lit candles in tribute to three young airmen who died in a training exercise a week ago. "While it is important for us to take this time to mourn their loss," Col. Ben Maitre told the crowd, "so should we also take the time to celebrate their lives as dedicated service members, sons and men of courage. Because that's exactly what Andy, Kenny and Drew were, and that's what they...
PORTALES — New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte is taking advantage of this year’s Portales Ag Expo by reaching out to his local constituents. Witte will be at the Jake Lopez Community Center at 3 p.m. Friday for a “listening session” to hear concerns from local farmers. “It’s really an opportunity to go out and talk to local folks and get to know them and talk about ag issues,” Witte said. “We want to make sure we hear from current New Mexico farmers what’s important with the next farm bill and what needs to be...
FLOYD — It all started in 1917 with 38-year-old Chicago business leader Melvin Jones telling members of his local business club that they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities. In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions Clubs International Convention and challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." The rest is history. And it was this history that drew Floyd Lions Club member Wade Carter into joining his local Lions Club. “I’ve always been conc...
PORTALES — An Eastern New Mexico University student was arrested Tuesday for allegedly raping another student. Joel Torres, Jr., 18, was charged with criminal sexual penetration, a third-degree felony. He is at Roosevelt County Detention Center on a $10,000 cash or surety bond. Eastern New Mexico University police in November responded to a dormitory on the campus for a welfare check in which police made contact with a female student. The freshman student told police she had been sexually assaulted about two weeks prior, acco...
CLOVIS - A Clovis mother and son are expected to spend the next three years on probation - including 18 months without contacting each other - after reaching a plea agreement in an incest case on Wednesday. Monica Mares, 36, and Caleb Peterson, 20, were arrested in February 2016, accused of having a sexual relationship with one another. "Everything that needed to be said has been said in court," Peterson said after the proceeding. He declined additional comment. Mares left... Full story
PORTALES — Mischief makers breaking into the operations for the city water tanks could be endangering lives, according to Portales police and city officials. Portales Police Department Detective Charlie Smart said the city and law enforcement believe teenagers or youth have been breaking into the operation unit building at the city’s water tanks on Johnson Hill, off of U.S. 70 between the city and New Mexico 202, and tinkering around in the building. “It really appears that someone is just playing in there, just turning valve...
PORTALES — The Portales Ag Expo turns 25 this month. The event is to be held March 24-25 at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds. Current Clovis economic development director Chase Gentry, who was the executive secretary of the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce at the time the event began in 1992, said in Ag Expo's first year, it had six board members, but "it all came together by everyone working together, the city, the county." He said one of the event board members had g...
Changes are coming to the annual Floyd Country Jamboree in its 67th year, according to Master of Ceremonies Dave Nash. The new changes entail attendees having the luxury of not just listening to classic country music but dancing to it too. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Nash said. “I may slip off (stage) and do a little circle myself. I love dancing. I think a lot of people are going to like that change.” The Floyd Lions Club event is set to take place at 7 p.m. March 23-25 in the Floyd schools gymnasium, and the b...
