Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Cannon Connections: Argen Duncan Attendees at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9515 “Hail and Farewell” event Friday listen to a speaker. Once a month since January, the local VFW post has been recognizing Cannon Air Force Base 27th Special Operations Support Squadron personnel who are deploying or have returned from deployment. The Portales Veterans of Foreign Wars post is honoring deploying and returning airmen with a monthly ceremony. VFW Post 9515 is the only one in the state to hold “Hail and Farewell” cel...
Housing, quality of life and health care are top priorities for regional growth management, the regional growth planner has said. At the Local Growth Management Committee meeting Wednesday in Portales, Rick Draker of RM Draker and Associates gave a close-out report on the first year of regional growth planning work. Draker said the time the regional planning office received during Right Start presentations for new Cannon Air Force Base personnel had increased as per personnel requests. Base Deputy Civil Engineer Michael...
Housing, quality of life and health care are top priorities for regional growth management, the regional growth planner has said. At the Local Growth Management Committee meeting Wednesday in Portales, Rick Draker of RM Draker and Associates gave a close-out report on the first year of regional growth planning work. Draker said the time the regional planning office received during Right Start presentations for new Cannon Air Force Base personnel had increased as per personnel requests. Base Deputy Civil Engineer Michael... Full story
City officials have reiterated that they can’t ban firework sales or use, and said water demand exceeding supply has led to the recent water restrictions. The statements came at a town hall meeting on questions and concerns about fireworks and water Tuesday in the Memorial Building. Officials and citizens have expressed concerns about fire danger from fireworks, and the city recently banned most outdoor watering and car washing. “Of course, the drought has the majority to do with it,” said Mayor Sharon King of the water...
City officials have reiterated that they can’t ban firework sales or use, and said water demand exceeding supply has led to the recent water restrictions. The statements came at a town hall meeting on questions and concerns about fireworks and water Tuesday in the Memorial Building. Officials and citizens have expressed concerns about fire danger from fireworks, and the city recently banned most outdoor watering and car washing. “Of course, the drought has the majority to do with it,” said Mayor Sharon King of the water... Full story
Freedom New Mexico: Argen Duncan Attendees at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9515 “Hail and Farewell” event Friday listen to a speaker. Once a month since January, the local VFW post has been recognizing Cannon Air Force Base 27th Special Operations Support Squadron personnel who are deploying or have returned from deployment. The Portales Veterans of Foreign Wars post is honoring deploying and returning airmen with a monthly ceremony. VFW Post 9515 is the only one in the state to hold “Hail and Farewell” cel... Full story
The Portales Veterans of Foreign Wars post is honoring deploying and returning airmen with a monthly ceremony. VFW Post 9515 is the only one in the state to hold “Hail and Farewell” celebrations, although it’s a nationally supported program, said Ladies Auxiliary President Debbie Welch. The VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary come together to put on Hail and Farewell, which involves a ceremony, food and social time. Post Commander Charles W. Eaton II, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, said he’d like to see the events... Full story
City officials have set a special town hall meeting for Tuesday to address water and fireworks issues. Mayor Sharon King said she wants to provide more information about the water situation, update citizens on efforts to stop fireworks use until it rains and answer questions. Discussion isn’t limited to fireworks and water, she said. City officials on Thursday lifted an emergency water alert, saying water levels have returned to normal. The temporary emergency water restriction prohibiting residents from any outdoor water u... Full story
Elida and Portales have received grants for community projects. Elida was awarded a Community Development Block Grant of $400,000 for a senior and community center, while $427,000 was earmarked for street and drainage improvements in the Bogard Addition of Portales. Portales Capital Projects Manager Susan Baysinger said the West Gum Street from Avenue N to Avenue O, Avenue M from Ivy Street to Fir Street and West Ivy from Avenue K to Avenue N would have caliche subsurfaces and chip-seal surfaces replaced with double...
Drought is making this year more difficult for area farmers and ranchers, and they say federal aid programs are little help. Dry weather is causing increased input costs and low crop yields, while high fuel prices add to the trouble. Gene Massey, who grows dryland milo and wheat near Rogers, said the drought is widespread. “Just about any place in agriculture you can talk about, it’s critical,” he said. Floyd farmer Allen Deen said he hasn’t been able to plant dryland crops because of the lack of moisture. “We got some pret...
Freedom New Mexico: Alisa Boswell Roosevelt County farmer Gene Massey harvests some of his wheat crop Friday in Rogers, southeast of Portales. He said the yield is down from 20 bushels an acre last year to 5-12 bushels an acre this year. Drought is making this year more difficult for area farmers and ranchers, and they say federal aid programs are little help. Dry weather is causing increased input costs and low crop yields, while high fuel prices add to the trouble. Gene Massey, who grows dryland milo and wheat near Rogers,...
Local officials differ in their beliefs on whether illegal immigrants should receive New Mexico driver’s licenses. Former Gov. Bill Richardson instituted the issuing of driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. Current Gov. Susana Martinez wants the practice stopped and has asked for support from local governments. The Roosevelt County Commission adopted a resolution Tuesday supporting Martinez by a 3-1 vote. “Those poor guys need to drive,” said Commissioner Jake Lopez, who voted against the measure. “They need to go to wor...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared Roosevelt, Curry and Quay counties, along with 12 other New Mexico counties, primary natural disaster areas because of losses from drought, high winds and wildfires this year, according to a news release from the department. The declaration makes farmers and ranchers in those counties eligible for federal assistance programs. Producers in contiguous counties in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, including Parmer and Bailey counties, also qualify for the help, according to the... Full story
My food columnist role has expanded to include “cooking show hostess.” Sort of. Freedom New Mexico has started a parenting section that runs online and as a magazine, The ParentHOOD. I do a monthly online video demonstration of cooking with kids. The first demonstration, “Fruity Peanut Butter Pitas,” is at www.parenthoodnm.com. I’ve also filmed demos of cheese sausage balls and microwave fudge for later this summer. For the videos, I borrowed my friend Robin’s daughters: Rhenoda, 10, Isabel, 9, and Lea, 6. Rhenoda was...
At the Roosevelt County Commission meeting Tuesday morning at Roosevelt County Courthouse, commissioners: • Approved a resolution supporting the discontinuation of issuing driver licenses and identification cards to illegal immigrants. Commissioner Jake Lopez voted against the resolution, while Commissioners Kendall Buzard, David Sanders and Bill Cathey voted for it. Commissioner Scott Burton was absent. Lopez said illegal immigrants would drive whether or not they had a license, and he didn’t think they would be able t...
The new Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce promotions coordinator and Portales MainStreet director says she loves meeting people and hopes to give others fond memories like those she has of community events. Sandy Van Der Veen started work June 1. “So far it’s been really fun,” she said. Although she works at the chamber, more than half of Van Der Veen’s responsibilities involve MainStreet. “I don’t think I’m getting a whole lot less because I think Sandy’s going to be very sharp and very efficient,” said chamber Executive...
Relatives of artist and retired professor Dale Hamlett remember him as a lover of learning, art and family. Dale Hamlett, 89, died Monday. He was a distinguished professor emeritus in fine arts from Eastern New Mexico University, where he taught for 18 years until his retirement in 1987. Dale grew up on a farm in Missouri. He met Mozelle, his wife of almost 65 years, when they were attending college in Kirksville, Mo. “And really we met at church,” Mozelle said. “I was in the choir, and my husband was in the congr... Full story
When I acquired a dog in March, I was pleased he didn’t beg. When I ate or cooked, Caesar slept or watched me. Then came the night of the Fateful Bread Bite. While snacking on bread in the kitchen — by which I mean “corner of the living room with appliances” — I threw a bite in the dog bowl. Now, if I stand in the kitchen snacking, Caesar may well appear at my feet with perked ears and a doggie grin. At least he doesn’t generally beg if I sit at the table like a civilized person. Caesar doesn’t barge in every tim...
Despite the drought and wind, a cotton farmer says the crop is a good option in Roosevelt County this year. Farmer Colin Chandler said producers are planting only irrigated cotton now, compared to last year, when 30 percent to 40 percent was dryland. “I wouldn’t say our acreage is going to be down any,” Chandler said of the county cotton crop. “I would just say we’re going to see more irrigated and less dryland.” With high prices last year, Chandler said, farmers were able to get good contracts to raise cotton this year....
Freedom New Mexico: Argen Duncan Chet Chenault, left, and Colin Chandler check the depth of cotton seeds planted by machine last week in Chandler's field northwest of Portales. Chandler said cotton seeds must be planted about three-fourths of an inch deep. Despite the drought and wind, a cotton farmer says the crop is a good option in Roosevelt County this year. Farmer Colin Chandler said producers are planting only irrigated cotton now, compared to last year, when 30 percent to 40 percent was dryland. “I wouldn’t say our...
Efforts to raise money for the Portales annual Fourth of July Celebration have begun, and they include a new contest for boys. Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry said the chamber is working to raise a little more than $10,000 to have about the same size fireworks show as last year. Lodgers’ tax allotments provide $4,000, he said, but the chamber is looking to local residents to provide the rest. “It’s something that’s truly a community effort,” Terry said, adding that without donations... Full story
Argen Duncan: Portales News-Tribune Portales High School Principal Melvin Nusser gives graduate Katlyn Gore a hug after she received her diploma Friday night at Greyhound Arena. Nusser said the Class of 2011 was one of the biggest PHS had seen in some time. The 161 graduates of the Portales High School Class of 2011 walked the stage Friday night amid cheers and whistles at Eastern New Mexico University’s Greyhound Arena. Portales HS Principal Melvin Nusser said the class, which included 36 honors graduates, was one of the b...
Portales Municipal Schools has seen the number of special education students rise more than the overall enrollment increase, and administrators say they’re doing whatever they need to serve every student. At the May school board meeting, Director of Special Student Services Jacqueline “Jackie” Burns said the number of special education students increased 10.8 percent, while total district enrollment went up 5.1 percent, this academic year. As of last week, Burns said Tuesday, Portales schools have 604 special education stude...
The Roosevelt County Commission appointed Evelyn Ledbetter of Z-7 Farms Inc. as county assessor Thursday, but not everyone is happy with the decision. The commission voted unanimously on the matter during a special session at the Roosevelt County Courthouse. County Assessor Tex Belcher, who was re-elected in 2010, is retiring May 31, and Ledbetter is to complete his term, which runs through 2014. Commission Chairman David Sanders said an “awesome” group of candidates had interviewed for the position. “We put in some time...
Dora High School students ranked high in the crowd at the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference earlier this month. BPA adviser Colleen Tollett said Dora and Melrose students competed at the national conference. Dora’s parliamentary procedure team, composed of first-year competitors, took second place out of 30 teams, and the school’s website design team placed ninth among 32 teams. Some students competed as individuals but didn’t place. Melrose had no top 10 finishes, according to Business Profe... Full story
