Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Portales Mayor Sharon King has resigned as Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce executive director. King said she didn’t know when her last day would be because she had committed to help train her replacement. She said she would stay until the chamber board of directors was comfortable with her leaving, but no later than Feb. 28. King took over as executive director in 2007. “Really, it just boils down to it’s time to go do something else,” King said of her reasons for leaving. Despite what some people believe, she said, the... Full story
Portales Mayor Sharon King has resigned as Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce executive director. King said she didn’t know when her last day would be because she had committed to help train her replacement. She said she would stay until the chamber board of directors was comfortable with her leaving, but no later than Feb. 28. “Really, it just boils down to it’s time to go do something else,” King said of her reasons for leaving. Despite what some people believe, she said, the problem wasn’t the workload from being bot...
In a plea agreement, Roosevelt County farmer William “Billy Joe” Watson has pleaded guilty to transporting anhydrous ammonia for methamphetamine manufacture across state lines. Under federal charges, Watson was accused of buying anhydrous ammonia in Texas and in New Mexico and giving it to federal agents he believed were members of the Aryan Brotherhood criminal organization for use in methamphetamine manufacture. Earlier this year, he was acquitted of state charges of hiring Aryan Brotherhood member Donald Taylor to kil... Full story
In a plea agreement, Roosevelt County farmer William “Billy Joe” Watson has pleaded guilty to transporting anhydrous ammonia for methamphetamine manufacture across state lines. Under federal charges, Watson was accused of buying anhydrous ammonia in Texas and in New Mexico and giving it to federal agents he believed were members of the Aryan Brotherhood criminal organization for use in methamphetamine manufacture. Earlier this year, he was acquitted of state charges of hiring Aryan Brotherhood member Donald Taylor to kil...
Freedom New Mexico: Argen Duncan Eastern New Mexico University Associate Professor of Biology Darren Pollock talks about a beetle specimen in his office. He recently helped identify a just-discovered extinct species of prehistoric beetle, modern-day relatives of which live in Portales. An Eastern New Mexico University scientist has classified an amber-encased prehistoric French beetle that has modern-day relatives in Portales. A group of scientists in France recently asked Associate Professor of Biology Darren Pollock to...
An Eastern New Mexico University scientist has classified an amber-encased prehistoric French beetle that has modern-day relatives in Portales. A group of scientists in France recently asked Associate Professor of Biology Darren Pollock to look at pictures of a beetle they’d found encased in amber, which is fossilized tree sap. When he did, Pollock identified the insect as a newly discovered extinct species, part of a taxonomic family that still lives. “It’s significant in that we have a fossil of this family,” Pollock...
Work by a local peanut breeder to develop disease-resistant Valencia peanuts could benefit both farmers and consumers. Naveen Puppala, peanut breeder at the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center at Clovis, is collaborating with a researcher in Uganda to cross New Mexico Valencia peanuts with Ugandan Spanish and Virginia peanuts to find a Valencia peanut that resists pod rot. With that disease, a combination of three organisms causes peanut shells to begin to decay in the field. The new Valencia strains must...
With far more than 5,000 books, the long-running tradition of the Friends of Portales Public Library used book sale is returning this week. Library Director Denise Burnett said the annual sale was already established when she came on at the library 25 years ago. This year’s sale involves a variety of children’s and adult’s books from the community and the contents of 50 boxes donated from Eastern New Mexico University’s Golden Library. Friends member Betty Williamson said the event would have a large religion section because...
Two groups of Eastern New Mexico University students are reaching out to Portales families with food for Thanksgiving. The Voices of Inclusive and Committed Education Students club and the Communications 202 class are collecting Thanksgiving food for seven, possibly eight, Portales families, said VOICES treasurer Jaime Silva. This is the second year VOICES has done the drive, and the Communications 202... Full story
“O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!” With those words from “America, the Beautiful” and many other statements, participants in the 64th annual American Legion Veterans Day service honored veterans and current service members as the heroes in the song. The event included Don Paschke’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the 47th year, Joe Blair’s recognition of prisoners of war and people missing in action, and a proclamation by Mayor Sh... Full story
Lonnie Berry of Portales recently brought something new to my attention: pumpkin cornbread. He said he got the recipe from a woman at church. I tried it. Pumpkin cornbread is easy to make, healthy and tasty. It’s low fat, and by using Splenda and making half the flour whole wheat, you get a pretty guilt-free treat. And it’s still sweet. Pumpkin cornbread is basically pumpkin bread light. The pumpkin and spices are the dominant flavor, but it’s not as rich and heavy as regular pumpkin bread. It’s denser than regular cornbread,...
For the 64th year in a row, the local American Legion is honoring those who have served with their annual Veterans Day service. The event is open to the public. American Legion Post 31 and Auxiliary Unit 31 make a special effort to honor the area’s two surviving Bataan Death March survivors and the widows of four men who survived the death march but died in more recent years, said American Legion post Commander Joe Blair. Veterans Day focuses on living veterans, he said, while Memorial Day is for veterans who have died. B...
Courtesy photo: Tod Pinnell The Texico FFA poultry team, left to right, adviser Tod Pinnell, Fallon Scanlan, Erin Scanlan, Morgan Pinnell and Garrett Foote, took fourth place at the FFA National Convention in October. They're standing with Roy Brister, far right, of contest sponsor Tyson Foods Inc. Local FFA members recently stepped into national events, and in some cases, the national spotlight. Texico, Elida and Dora students participated in the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, and Texico FFA members competed in... Full story
Local FFA members recently stepped into national events, and in some cases, the national spotlight. Texico, Elida and Dora students participated in the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, and Texico FFA members competed in the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Mo. Both events were in late October. Texico FFA adviser Tod Pinnell said teams that won first place in their events at state conventions competed at the national convention, while state second-place teams were invited to the American Royal show. Also,...
The workings of bacteria could shed light on how to combat human digestive problems as well as antibiotic-resistant diseases, and an Eastern New Mexico University research team is seeking the beginnings of the answers. Professor of Biology Manuel Varela and his lab team of students and a post-doctoral researcher study two topics: How microbes eat and how bacteria avoid death by poison. Bacteria eating In the first topic, Varela said, the researchers study how bacteria take in sugar to produce energy. They work with a...
Freedom New Mexico: Argen Duncan Eastern New Mexico University microbiology master's student Jody Floyd finishes extracting DNA from the bacteria that causes cholera. ENMU researchers are seeking to learn more about how the dangerous and less-dangerous versions of the bacteria metabolize sugars differently in order to find better ways to fight cholera. The workings of bacteria could shed light on how to combat human digestive problems as well as antibiotic-resistant diseases, and an Eastern New Mexico University research...
The proposed $500 million Ute Pipeline is one of the most critical rural drinking water projects in the United States, New Mexico’s state engineer said Thursday. As one of several speakers at the Ute Pipeline news conference Thursday at the Yam event center in Portales, State Engineer John D’Antonio also said federal money is vital to the project. The conference was aimed to draw attention to the project’s need for federal money. The three members of the area’s Congressional delegation wrote support letters, and local l... Full story
Freedom New Mexico: Argen Duncan Portales Mayor Sharon King, left, and Clovis Mayor Gayla Brumfield listen to a speaker at the Ute Pipeline news conference Thursday at the Yam theater. They, Congressional aides and water experts talked about the urgent need for federal money for the pipeline. The proposed $500 million Ute Pipeline is one of the most critical rural drinking water projects in the United States, New Mexico’s state engineer said Thursday. As one of several speakers at the Ute Pipeline news conference Thursday a... Full story
In the wake of Tuesday’s bond elections, local leaders are making plans to spend the money earmarked for their entities or do without. Voters passed Bonds A, B and C, which provide money to senior centers, libraries and public school, respectively. Bond D, which would have provided money for universities and colleges, failed. Grady Senior Center will get $5,200 to buy and install meals equipment from Bond A. Eastern New Mexico University President Steven Gamble was hoping the school would receive $7 million for improvements i...
In the wake of Tuesday’s bond elections, local leaders are making plans to spend the money earmarked for their entities or do without. Voters passed Bonds A, B and C, which provide money to senior centers, libraries and public schools, respectively. Bond D, which would have provided money for universities and colleges, failed. Grady Senior Center will get $5,200 to buy and install meals equipment from Bond A. Eastern New Mexico University President Steven Gamble was hoping the school would receive $7 million for i... Full story
While adults were voting Tuesday, Lindsey-Steiner Elementary School students held their own mock governor election. The votes were expected to be counted Wednesday. Social studies vertical team leader Sharon Rowley organized the mock election. The fifth- and sixth-graders learned about candidates platforms and voting procedures before the mock election, said fifth-grade teacher Lee Ann Foster. She said she wanted students to know that everybody has a right to vote and it’s important to do so. “It’s their duty as citizens,” Fo...
Republican Kendell Ray Buzard won the District 5 Roosevelt County Commission seat Tuesday. Buzard received 70 percent of votes, winning over Democrat Rodney L. Payne, with 30 percent. County Clerk E. Janet Collins said vote totals could change when provisional ballots are counted Friday. Buzard will take over for current Commissioner Paul Grider, who has served two terms. Buzard said his win was great, and he had no specific agenda. “I intend to get in there and work hard and try to do a good job for the community,” he sai...
Republican Linda J. Short won the Roosevelt County magistrate judge position Tuesday with almost 77 percent of votes. Her opponent, Democrat James “Jim” W. Lee, had 1,018 of the 4,385 votes in the race. “I’m very happy,” Short said. Short plans to attend three weeks of new judges training starting Nov. 15 in Albuquerque and “go from there.” Unless the governor appoints her to start early, Short takes office Jan. 1. Visiting judges have been handling magistrate court cases since Judge Jane Martin retired in August. “I’m...
More than a year into the governor’s Graduate New Mexico initiatives, Roosevelt County schools have a number of programs aligned with the goal of giving more students a quality high school education. The initiative aims to bring 10,000 high school dropouts back to earn a diploma by fall 2011, increase graduation rates and close the achievement gap, according to information on the state Public Education Department website. Federal stimulus money is paying for the initiative. Floyd Municipal Schools Superintendent Paul B... Full story
Community donations of stuffed toy animals and handmade quilts have been helping local law enforcement officers comfort children in traumatic situations for years. Police officers and deputies carry the items in their cars. Sgt. Charlie Smart of the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office estimated he hands out 10 to 15 stuffed animals per year. “Those are wonderful,” he said. “They really help.” Portales Police Deputy Chief Lonnie Berry said local quilter Joyce Welch has been bringing quilts she and members of her homemaker...
