Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Eastern New Mexico University Regents approved tuition increases Tuesday for next school year at all three university campuses. At the meeting in the Portales campus Administration Building, Student Regent Santana Chavez voted against all increases in tuition, room and board, and fees while Regents Randy Harris, Chad Lydick, Brett Leach and Marshall Stinnett voted for the measures. Presidents of all three campuses cited the Legislature-imposed tuition credit, which requires universities and community colleges to raise tuition...
Approximately 71,000 acres burned in Curry and Roosevelt counties in a massive grass fire April 17 — more than four times initial estimates, making the fire the area’s largest in more than 30 years. Melrose Fire Chief Kenny Jacobs said last week he drove the fire line to survey the damage and found it to be more than 4 miles wide in most places and covering 25 miles of distance. What he observed by far trumped early estimates that placed the fire in the range of 17,000 acres, he said. “This is the biggest fire that we...
Freedom New Mexico: Argen Duncan From left, Kenneth Workheiser of Transmatic Wrecker Service and Curry County Deputies Michael Brockett and Erica Romero man a roadblock on U.S. 70 near Southwest Cheese Company LLC during the grass fire April 17. Workheiser said he was there in case a fire truck needed help. Twenty-eight fire departments fought the fire with support from several law enforcement agencies and civilians. Sharna Johnson and Argen Duncan Approximately 71,000 acres burned in Curry and Roosevelt counties in a massive...
Argen Duncan: Freedom New Mexico Alisha and Steve Robertson sit on the wall of what used to be their master bedroom in front of the mobile home they plan to live in while rebuilding their house. Sunday's fire destroyed their home, but they said they have received a lot of help and love from the community. Two families whose houses burned in the 17,000-acre grassfire Sunday say they’re overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of kindness from the community. James and Roxie Lofton lost their home of 30 years, and their l...
For the second time in less than a year Roosevelt County teenagers are being charged with murder. Portales police on Wednesday arrested 16-year-old Erick Pina from Arch, 21-year-old Alonso Quinonez of Portales and 17-year-old Alberto Ramirez of Portales in Sunday’s shooting death of 25-year-old Jose Alfredo Charize Montoya. Police said Pina and others went to Montoya’s house to rob him, and Pina shot the victim in the head with a stolen .45 caliber handgun. “He went there to confront the victim and steal the (victim’s) vehicl... Full story
A Roosevelt County jury late Friday found 13-year-old DeAngelo Montoya guilty of fatally shooting 21-year-old Angel Vale last summer. After almost four hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts against Montoya, including second-degree murder, aggravated burglary, two counts of tampering with evidence and larceny. District Judge Drew Tatum ordered a diagnostic examination of Montoya before sentencing. He said he wanted as much information as possible before making the difficult sentencing... Full story
Freedom New Mexico: Alisa Boswell DeAngelo Montoya, 13, is escorted from Roosevelt County Courthouse Friday night after jurors found him guilty on all charges. District Court Judge Drew Tatum ordered a diagnostic examination before setting sentencing for Montoya. A Roosevelt County jury late Friday found 13-year-old DeAngelo Montoya guilty of fatally shooting 21-year-old Angel Vale last summer. After almost four hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts against Montoya, including...
Freedom New Mexico: Alisa Boswell Transport Officer Tim Morrison, left, and Officer Shane Dodson, right, escort murder trial defendant DeAngelo Montoya, 13, away from the Roosevelt County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon after the second day of his trial. Thirteen-year-old murder suspect DeAngelo Montoya handled items from the victim’s house, and the bullets and casings found near her body matched the gun found in an alley trash receptacle, experts testified Wednesday during the second day of Montoya’s trial. Montoya is cha... Full story
When I was growing up, my mom started making a pasta salad that’s still one of my favorites. (In fact, she made it last time she came to visit.) It’s cold, so it’s good for summer, and it has a nice variety of colors and flavors and a general light tanginess. It’s healthy, too. Mom got the recipe from a friend and adapted it. The pasta salad goes well with roast or grilled pork chops and a side of a green veggie like broccoli. Glenda’s pasta salad 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 cups spiral pasta, cooked and cooled 1 cup light mayonnais...
During the first day of trial, prosecutors portrayed a 13-year-old accused of murdering a 21-year-old college student last summer as a loner and critical thinker who shot the young woman three times. Defense attorney Chris Christensen reserved the right to make his opening argument later. DeAngelo Montoya of Portales is charged with murdering Angel Vale in her yard during the afternoon of July 22, 2010, after breaking into her home more than once. In his opening argument, District Attorney Matt Chandler said Vale and her fian...
Freedom New Mexico: Alisa Boswell DeAngelo Montoya, 13, left, is escorted from the Roosevelt County Courthouse by Transport Officer Tim Morrison Tuesday afternoon after the first day of his trial. He is accused of killing 21-year-old Angel Vale last summer. During the first day of trial, prosecutors portrayed a 13-year-old charged with murdering a 21-year-old college student last summer as a loner and critical thinker who shot the young woman three times. Defense attorney Chris Christensen reserved the right to make his... Full story
Tanya Baca is battling cancer. She was also one of more than 350 people who gathered to raise money for cancer research with Relay for Life from 6 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. today at the Greyhound Arena in Portales. “It touches my heart,” Baca said of the event. “It gives me faith that someday if my kids have to battle this disease, they won’t have to endure the challenges that I’ve had to because we’ll be closer to a cure.” After a year’s hiatus, Portales’ version of the traditional American Cancer Society all-night fundrai...
Freedom New Mexico: Argen Duncan Tanya Baca, who is battling cancer, and her 3-year-old daughter, Emily, look at a display during the Relay for Life cancer research fundraiser at Greyhound Arena Friday night. The event lasted until 10 a.m. Saturday, and event chairwoman Cathy Hess said about 375 people had registered to participate as of noon Friday. Tanya Baca is battling cancer. She was also one of more than 350 people who gathered to raise money for cancer research with Relay for Life from 6 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. today... Full story
Roosevelt General Hospital administrators attribute the hospital’s recent financial turnaround to growth and good business practices. RGH has turned around a $1.3 million operating loss in 2009 to a $1,234 positive operating margin in 2010, CEO Larry Leaming said. The operating margin is the difference between the hospital’s income and operational costs. “Basically, what we’re doing in the next decade is standing on the shoulders of the people who made (RGH) survive in the first decade,” Leaming said Thursday. Chief Financial... Full story
City officials from four counties met for a legislative update Monday in Portales. The New Mexico Municipal League held a district meeting at the Memorial Building. District 4 encompasses municipalities in Roosevelt, Curry, Quay and De Baca counties, and Portales City Manager Tom Howell estimated 50 people attended from all four counties. Portales City Councilor Gary Watkins, alternate director for the district, said the meeting went well, and municipal league staff members discussed bills in the past legislative session...
City officials from four counties met for a legislative update Monday in Portales. The New Mexico Municipal League held a district meeting at the Memorial Building. District 4 encompasses municipalities in Roosevelt, Curry, Quay and De Baca counties, and Portales City Manager Tom Howell estimated 50 people attended from all four counties. Portales City Councilor Gary Watkins, alternate director for the district, said the meeting went well, and municipal league staff members discussed bills in the past legislative session... Full story
The fourth annual High Plains Film Festival, held in conjunction with the Jack Williamson Lectureship, had twice the turnout of last year, an organizer said. This was the first year the two events operated together. “I think it was great to have a theme, and we were able to build an audience from the lectureship audience,” said film festival organizer Laurel Petty. The festival at Eastern New Mexico University included a public scriptwriting workshop Friday, screenings of the winners of the “Universe in 1/10 of an Hour... Full story
Leaders at the Roosevelt General Hospital Physicians Clinic are working toward increased hours. Earlier this year, the clinic expanded its hours to include five full days instead of four days and a half day on Friday. “The community definitely needs the clinic five days a week,” said hospital CEO Larry Leaming. Clinic Administrator Tina Hill said the added Friday hours are going well. Clinic staff members are more able to get patients in to see physicians, and every provider’s practice is growing, she said. In Febru...
The first New Mexico Equine Industry Summit opened communication and found common ground among state horse organizations, participants said. The summit took place Saturday at the Curry County Fairgrounds. Seventy people from 30 organizations attended. “I think it went well,” said organizer Jason Turner, New Mexico State University horse specialist. “I think there were a lot of good questions. From my perspective, we met our goals in that we opened the line of communication and found we have common interest.” New Mexico...
Peanut acreage in the Portales valley is down, but prices are high, a local grower has said. The Portales valley stretches from Floyd to Arch. Roosevelt County peanut farmer Wayne Baker said contracts for peanuts are offering $950 per ton for conventional peanuts and $1,400 per ton for organic peanuts, although farmers don’t plant the crop until May. He said he wouldn’t be surprised if the price went a little higher. “This is great,” Baker said. He remembers one or two past years in which farmers received $1,000 per ton for...
Area peanut researchers are focusing on developing varieties with disease resistance, drought tolerance, early maturity and peanuts with a long shelf life. Peanut breeder Naveen Puppala of the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Clovis and Soumailia Sanogo of NMSU’s Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science Department discussed their work at the annual New Mexico Peanut Growers meeting Tuesday at the Memorial Building. Puppala said he focuses his breeding in four areas: High oleic traits, which i...
Freedom New Mexico: Argen Duncan National Peanut Board Chairman George Jeffcoat of Alabama, left, speaks as New Mexico Peanut Growers President Wayne Baker of Portales listens at the peanut growers annual meeting Wednesday at the Memorial Building. Jeffcoat said the board has spent $16 million on research in its existence, and research keeps the peanut industry in business. Area peanut researchers are focusing on developing varieties with disease resistance, drought tolerance, early maturity and peanuts with a long shelf... Full story
Eastern New Mexico University is offering many pairs of helping hands to the community with its Eastern in Action program again this year. With Eastern in Action, university students and employees do free yard work, painting, cleaning and other jobs for members of the Portales community not affiliated with ENMU. The work day is set for April 16, and the deadline to sign up to have work done or to donate to the effort is 5 p.m. March 28. “If you could use any amount of help, fill out a form, because it’s our aim to give bac...
File photo Eastern in Action volunteers do yard work during the group's service day last year. With the program, Eastern New Mexico University students and employees volunteer to do various jobs around Portales once a year to give back to the community. Eastern New Mexico University is offering many pairs of helping hands to the community with its Eastern in Action program again this year. With Eastern in Action, university students and employees do free yard work, painting, cleaning and other jobs for members of the...
Like the rest of New Mexico, Roosevelt and Curry counties saw a leap in the Hispanic population in the last decade, according to the latest U.S. Census numbers. Roosevelt County’s Hispanic population age 18 and older grew 34.2 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to the census. The county’s adult Anglo population, on the other hand, decreased by 2.4 percent. In Curry County, the Hispanic population 18 years old and older increased 45.7 percent, while the adult non-Hispanic white population increased 9.6 percent, acc... Full story
