Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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New Mexico high school students were making their own rules this week but not before passing them through congressional houses in a series of lively debates. Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune Bianca Soliz, center, governor of New Mexico Girls State, writes her speech Thursday afternoon for that evening's inaugural ball. She enlisted the help of Darci Roe, left, and Kayleigh Wood. Junior girls from across the state came to Eastern New Mexico University for a taste of government and leadership experience as the...
Portales city officials had barricades ready near 18th Street Thursday night to make sure there wouldn't be a repeat of the events that took place in Wednesday night's storm. Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune Vehicles continued to drive through large puddles on 18th Street Thursday afternoon, an effect of Wednesday night's storm. Officials say 18th Street and Globe is one of the intersections in the Portales that is likely to flood in the event of a storm because it acts as a drain channel. Portales Police Chief Doug...
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner travels around New Mexico to hear about the issues of rural citizens. In his series of informal meetings called, "Give Your Two Cents to Terry," Brunner hopes to expand his knowledge about the challenges that rural New Mexicans face in areas including housing, water, job creation, and the expansion of broadband and electrical service. Brunner, a native of Chicago, was appointed to be the state director for USDA rural development by President Barack...
Roosevelt County court documents show all but one person charged with drug trafficking last month sold small amounts of methamphetamine to an informant. One of the suspects sold prescription drugs. The others sold amounts ranging from a half gram to two grams of methamphetamine, the records show. Street value of the meth ranged from $40 to $140 per sale, records show. Ten people were arrested May 23 in what police called "one of the city's largest drug busts," that followed a four-month investigation. Arrest warrants were...
If you're at least 18 years of age and a registered voter, you could be the next municipal judge of Portales. Although those are the only requirements for the position, the Portales City Council wants interested candidates to say what qualifies them as it searches to replace Municipal Judge Fred Arnold, who will retire June 30, according to a letter he wrote to the council that was read by Portales Mayor Sharon King Tuesday at the council's meeting. King was ready to ask for the approval of her appointee for interim judge,...
Doug Redmond is the choice to replace retiring Portales City Manager Tom Howell. The Portales City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve Redmond as the city's new manager. Redmond will resign as Roosevelt County Community Development Corp. director on June 30 and will start with the city on July 1 at an $82,000 salary. Howell, who served as city manager for five years, will stay with the city until September in a yet-to-be determined role. "I'm very excited. I'm looking forward to working with the mayor and the...
Roosevelt County Emergency Management Director Keith Wattenberger said Sunday night's thunderstorms were pretty intense for June weather. "It was raining so hard that you couldn't see a car-length in front of you," said Wattenberger about his drive around the county when he was checking for damages. "Usually we get (thunderstorms) earlier, but we're getting them kind of late this year. It's been a little bit of wait." Wattenberger said no damages were reported in Sunday and Monday's storms, which produced anywhere from half...
For those still in the dark about what the lesser prairie chicken is or why its existence is important, there is a community meeting Tuesday. The bird has been at the center of controversy since 1998 after it was identified as a candidate for federal listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a federal organization tasked with wildlife preservation. In recent months the chicken, native to New Mexico and four other states and known for its bizarre mating rituals, has been under consideration to be listed as "threatened"...
Roosevelt General Hospital CEO Larry Leaming says the ultimate goal of a state-run health exchange is to get uninsured people in New Mexico health coverage. But with that goal in mind, Leaming says it's not clear how the state will achieve that goal while making health care affordable. "Well if we're going to have an exchange, we should be the ones to design it," Leaming said. "I'm very much opposed to governmental bureaucracy. Even good ideas can turn into regulations." Leaming sits on the board of directors for the state's...
Roosevelt General Hospital CEO Larry Leaming says the ultimate goal of a state-run health exchange is to get uninsured people in New Mexico health coverage. But with that goal in mind, Leaming says it's not clear how the state will achieve that goal while making health care affordable. "Well if we're going to have an exchange, we should be the ones to design it," Leaming said. "I'm very much opposed to governmental bureaucracy. Even good ideas can turn into regulations." Leaming sits on the board of directors for the state's... Full story
Another suspect charged last week with drug trafficking in Portales is behind bars, according to Roosevelt County Detention Center staff. Francisco "The Tank" Lopez, 23, turned himself in, bringing the total to 11 who have been taken into custody as a result of four-month drug-trafficking investigation, police said. Ten Portales residents were arrested last week in a sweep by area enforcement. Six more subjects charged in the investigation remain at large. The suspects were arrested on felony charges of the possession, sale...
The search for a replacement for retiring Portales Schools Superintendent Randy Fowler will continue. The Portales schools Board of Education voted 3-2 Wednesday to re-advertise the superintendent position. Board President Alan Garrett and members Mary Lou Rowley and Rod Savage voted in favor of reopening the search. Vice President Antonio Sanchez Jr. and board member Ynez Rodriguez voted against the motion. "This is the single most significant decision of the board," Garrett said after the meeting. "We want to make sure we... Full story
Law enforcement officers from Roosevelt and Curry counties gathered at Eastern New Mexico University Tuesday and Wednesday to attend a training seminar aimed at improving their customer service. The classes were instructed by Harvey Hedden, executive director of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Hedden, a native of Wisconsin, has been a law enforcement officer for 32 years, serving in ranks from patrolman to chief. Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune Portales Police Chief Doug Jones,...
Members of the agricultural community are hoping they won't see a repeat of what happened late last year as Congress continues to work on a new farm bill. The bill, which many farmers were in support of because it included disaster assistance programs, never made it to the floor of Congress. Instead, the existing farm bill was extended as part of a last-minute fiscal cliff deal, bringing legislators and farmers back to square one in proposing a new bill. "In previous farm bills, there has not been any drought disaster relief...
David Hemley said if employers are using a candidate's credit score as an initial screening tool for hiring, they probably shouldn't because it's not indicative of that person's job performance. Hemley, a professor of economics at Eastern New Mexico University, is concerned that the unemployed in New Mexico may stay that way because a state senate bill that would have kept credit scores out of the hiring process was vetoed by Gov. Susana Martinez. "The thing is, I can see where that can be extremely discriminating," Hemley sa...
Joe Terry of Portales said his father's service inspired him to join the U.S. Army because he understood that it was something he had to do for his country. "He always said it was a responsibility of citizenship," Terry said. Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune Lt. Col. Travis Norton of Cannon Air Force Base talks about honoring the nation's fallen heroes Monday at the American Legion's 67th annual Memorial Day program in the Portales Cemetery. Terry carrying on that tradition of service was an example of what Lt. Col....
As the nation prepares to celebrate its fallen heroes Monday, Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Director Karl Terry wants to remind you of the efforts of one Portales High School class. The PHS class of 1958 saw fit to honor members of the armed forces who died while serving any war since the county's inception, and after four years of planning, unveiled its efforts with a war memorial dedication ceremony last year during Memorial Day weekend. Those who died in the numerous wars are featured on paver stones at the...
The class only meets once a week. The rest of the week, Portales High School journalism students are out in the field getting hands-on experience. Students say learning journalism and working on the Portales School News Page, which runs at the back of the Friday edition of the Portales News-Tribune, has taught them responsibility and teamwork. "You have to be responsible because a lot of people count on you to do your job," said junior Vanessa Chavez. "They count on you to do yours so they can do theirs." Christina Calloway:...
Marcus Sanchez said he saw a group of students whose futures may entail college, the U.S. armed forces and motherhood as he looked onto the crowd of his fellow Portales High graduates, but most importantly, he saw his friends. Sanchez was one of the seniors to salute his class before they made the grand walk across stage into adulthood. Portales High School graduated more than 140 students Friday night in Eastern New Mexico University's Greyhound Arena. CMI correspondent: Joshua Lucero Zack Green celebrates as he walks on... Full story
Thursday marked the end of a four-month long drug-trafficking investigation in Portales that led to the arrests of 10 suspects. Portales police said they are expecting seven more arrests. The suspects were arrested on felony charges of the possession, sale and trafficking of meth. Christina Calooway: Portales News-Tribune Silviano "Silver" Lucero, 24, of Portales is escorted Thursday into the Portales police station. Police say Lucero's arrest Thursday was the second of 10... Full story
Sunland Inc. Vice President Katalin Coburn said she's excited that Sunland is one step closer to getting its products back on the shelves as peanut butter production resumed Monday. Sunland is bouncing back from a salmonella outbreak that linked its products to 41 cases in 20 states last fall and shuttered its plant for months. Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce Director Karl Terry said the community never lost faith in the company that is the heart of the Valencia peanut capital and the country's largest organic peanut... Full story
The bright, colorful dresses, the inspirational songs, the flashes from hundreds of cameras and the poles that stand as strong as the community's tradition are what keep Portales High School's Maypole ceremonies going. Maypole Director Wendy Brooks said every year it's a different group of students, with different talents and different formal wear, but one thing that is consistent is the heart of the 85-year tradition. Joshua Lucero: PNT correspondent Portales seniors Marshall Chavez, right, and partner Emily Benavidez...
Portales city councilors concluded no new laws are necessary to enforce the prohibition of aggressive panhandling because there is a similar code that can be amended to include it. The Portales City Council gave a notice of intent Tuesday night at its meeting to rewrite a city code regarding peddlers. The council wants to outlaw aggressive panhandling. "We have enough laws to worry about, we just need something enforceable that makes sense," Councilor Keith Thomas said. A proposed ordinance was discussed for months after... Full story
The search for Portales Municipal Schools' superintendent continues after Grady schools Superintendent Ted Trice declined the school board's offer Monday night. Trice was one of four final candidates considered to replace retiring Portales schools Superintendent Randy Fowler. "They're very gracious to offer the job and I appreciate that but for now, (Grady) is the best place for us to be," said Trice about the decision he said he made with his family. "I've prayed about it. I think this is the best thing for my family." Board... Full story
The Board of Education of Portales Schools is set to announce the district's new superintendent Monday at a special meeting. The search for a new leader, which began after current Superintendent Randy Fowler announced his retirement in February, was recently narrowed down to four candidates. Among those four, David Van Wettering and Henry Montano currently work for Portales schools. The other two candidates, Ted Trice and Jim Daugherty, are superintendents of Grady and Elida schools, respectively. The candidates participated... Full story
