Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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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
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...
Environmentalists are concerned a new rule under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed lesser prairie chicken listing will weaken protections for the bird if it's listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The special rule, commonly referred to as the 4D rule, says incidental take, or inadvertent killing, of a lesser prairie chicken would not violate the federal act if the take happens through either conservation programs or agricultural activities. The bird, native to New Mexico and four other states and... Full story
The mother of a Portales High School student at the center of charges against former city police officer Victor Castillo told the court her daughter dreamed of becoming a police officer. Castillo pleaded guilty to 17 of 34 charges She said her then 16-year-old daughter's sexual relationship last year with Castillo shattered her trust of law enforcement officials and led to thoughts of suicide. "He has taken everything from us," said the victim's mother gasping for breath... Full story
A meeting to discuss the $500 million Ute Water Pipeline Project escalated into a screaming match Friday in Portales between residents who oppose the project and local officials addressing their concerns. At one point police — who were asked by city officials to attend the meeting for security reasons — asked an audience member to control himself or he would be removed from the meeting. Members of the Concerned Citizens of Curry and Roosevelt Counties made their plea, often times with yelling and passionate discourse, ask... Full story
Test production runs of Sunland Inc.'s facilities have been pushed back a couple of weeks to mid-April, according to Vice President Katalin Coburn. She attributes the setback to the continuing installations of equipment and delays in deliveries. Coburn says Sunland has rehired 85 percent of its laid off workforce and says they will be closer to 100 percent in the coming weeks as they prepare to reopen its nut butter plant that has shuttered since September. "We're looking forward to starting up in a couple of weeks," said...
Utter chaos will erupt when the announcer yells "go" as children dash out into the field to find the brightest of eggs and what takes days to prepare for will all be gone in a matter of minutes. CMI photo: Christina Calloway Portales Deputy Clerk Veda Urioste, joined by her dog Princess, stuffs the last few plastic eggs Thursday in preparation for the annual Easter egg hunt 2 p.m. today at the Portales Softball Complex. Urioste estimates about 3,000 plastic eggs were collected...
[email protected] Sen. Stuart Ingle says legislation passed to attract and retain businesses to New Mexico may not fix all of the state's problems but it's a step in the right direction. Ingle, R-Portales, hopes that lowering the corporate tax rate from 7.6 percent to 5.9 percent will help New Mexico compete with neighboring states to draw corporations. "Other states have lower corporate tax rates so we're trying to be competitive," Ingle said. "It certainly will be a great benefit to our local corporate businesses....
Ryan Willoughby ran into the Commons Area of Clovis Community College Friday on his way to take a test when he saw a photo that reminded him of home. CMI staff photo: Christina Calloway Joy Simon looks at her first place sculpture proudly Friday at the Pintores Art League Spring Fling exhibition on Clovis Community College's campus. "I was on my way to take a test and it just caught my eye," said the farmer of Farwell about a photo of a cowboy at sundown. The photo was one of... Full story
A Portales man was killed in a two-vehicle accident Thursday morning on N.M. 267. The accident also resulted in minor injuries for the driver of the other vehicle and a 45-minute power outage in Roosevelt County, according to New Mexico State Police. Richard Luckau, 34, of Portales was pronounced dead at Roosevelt General Hospital, according to State Police Capt. Jimmy Glascock. According to Glascock: - Luckau's 2010 four-door Pontiac was stuck by a 2013 Peterbuilt milk tanker truck driven by Brandon Kennedy, 32, of... Full story
Clerks in Curry and Roosevelt counties aren't budging on their position against same-sex marriage licenses. Clerks in both counties said Wednesday they are following state law when they say no to same-sex marriage licenses. And no means no, according to Curry County Clerk Rosalie Riley, despite efforts by others to convince county clerks otherwise. County clerks say they cannot legally issue same-sex marriage licenses because the application form, created by the state Legislat...
Rebecca Eminger compares her consenting to allow Southwestern Public Service Company to survey her land east of town on New Mexico 88 to opening a floodgate of problems. Eminger, 65, fears this one step will eventually lead to the condemnation of less than 6 acres of her land as a result of an eminent domain proceeding for SPS' Portales to Kilgore Project, which involves the construction of a 115-kilovolt electric transmission line. She was one of eight landowners who came...
Rebecca Lynn Eminger figures it's a David vs. Goliath type fight, but she's not going to give up a parcel of her land without a fight. In a court filing, Southwestern Public Service Company contends they need less than 6 acres of Eminger's land off New Mexico 88 for construction of a transmission line. SPS cites eminent domain as its right to the property. Eminger, 65, says the acreage is part of 42 acres of what was once used to graze cattle but is now in the Conservation Reserve Program that she wants to sell. She said the...
A new bill that would exempt some economic development information from public viewing is supposed to protect local development corporations from losing out on deals and possible litigation, according to Chase Gentry, executive director of the Clovis Industrial Development Corp. The House bill, sponsored by Anna Crook, R-Clovis, has been criticized by some as denying public information regarding public money, but Crook believes the bill is beneficial to the promotion of local development. "It is only in the time of negotiatio...
Melrose Mayor Tuck Monk said his village has a water system that was installed in the 1920s that desperately needs repairs, so he was pleased that the Senate approved funding for it. The consensus of area leadership's response to the state Senate's capital outlay bill is that they're grateful for what they can get from the $222 million approved Sunday for projects even though money was spread thin. As the bill moves to the House, 11 of 29 projects requested by Roosevelt...
Earning an extra dollar an hour could mean loosening the pinch in a person's budget but it still no way to live, says Michael Hatch of Portales who's tired of living the paycheck-to-paycheck shuffle. Hatch, 23, makes 33 cents over the state's $7.50 minimum wage as a convenience store employee. Hatch was a minimum wage earner not too long ago, but even at what he makes now, he feels his income limits him from the luxuries of life, and sometimes even the basics. An extra dollar...
A 20-year-old male inmate has given Roosevelt and Curry counties notice he may sue, alleging he was sexually assaulted by a Roosevelt County detention officer in December. In the tort claims notice, the man's attorney, Jennifer Burrill, said the Roosevelt and Curry detention centers failed to protect and provide adequate medical treatment for her client. The inmate was officially in the custody of the Curry County detention center, but according to the tort was transferred to Roosevelt County because he was attacked by an... Full story
Desperate times call for desperate measures, which is why Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, said funding is needed to reinstitute a cloud seeding program in Roosevelt and Lea counties. Ingle's bill to secure $150,000 for a weather modification fund, specifically cloud seeding, is working its way to the Senate floor. Ingle hopes the cloud seeding program will help with the lack of moisture in the area caused by what he considers one of the worst droughts in New Mexican history. "I'm having a hard time getting money," Ingle said....
Local legislators are relieved the state budget has been completed as the 2013 legislative session nears an end, but they say the next 14 days will be a scramble to get legislation heard and hopefully passed. "It's a mad house up there," said state Rep. George Dodge, D-Santa Rosa, who's district includes Roosevelt and Curry counties. "The last 14 days are the toughest." Dodge, who chairs the Agriculture and Water Resources Committee, said his concerns are focused on threats of water speculation. "There are entities that... Full story
Five months after being at the center of a nationwide recall that shuttered its plant for several months, Sunland Inc. is ramping up for full production by the end of March, according to Vice President Katalin Coburn. Sunland was linked to a salmonella outbreak in September that sickened 41 people in 20 states. "We're working furiously to get the plant ready for the test production," Coburn said. "Things are definitely moving in a positive direction." The test runs will be mon...
A blizzard that plowed through the South Plains, bringing the area to a standstill, was the worst the area has endured in more than a decade, according to a National Weather Service meteorologist. The storm packing 50 mph wind gusts left a wake of power outages and schools closings across eastern New Mexico and West Texas. Whiteout conditions led to several area roads to be closed, including U.S. 60/84 from just west of Clovis to Santa Rosa and I-40 near Tucumcari. staff... Full story
The Ramos family of Clovis can literally say nearly 240 pairs of hands have touched their home on North Thornton Street. Volunteers from Curry and Roosevelt counties as well as Cannon Air Force Base donated their time and skills to build the house for Roman and Erica Ramos and their two children through Habitat for Humanity of Roosevelt and Curry Counties. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that builds affordable homes for low-income families in the area and...
Rancher and farmer Lane Grau of Grady walked up and down the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds Event Arena Wednesday afternoon looking for the newest technology to improve his operation. As dryland farmers, Grau and fellow Grady rancher Jack Driever said they attended the 21st annual New Mexico Ag Expo, organized by the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce and New Mexico State University Extension Service, to look at tractors, skid loaders and other machines. Christina Calloway: Po...
Bethany Cota said she is going to make sure her house is clean and spotless as she awaits for her parents to return to their Portales home. After what they've been through, she just wants to make their return easier. Passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph walk along the deck before leaving the ship in Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. The ship with more than 4,200 passengers and crew members has been idled for nearly a week in the Gulf of Mexico following an engine room...
Roosevelt County Sheriff Darren Hooker is not alone in his stated refusal to enforce any federal gun ban, including assault weapons. Curry County Undersheriff Wesley Waller says Sheriff Matt Murray's office will not support or enforce a federal firearms ban if enacted. "We believe in and support the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, guaranteeing the right of the people to keep and bear arms and that right shall not be infringed," said Waller, who is the department's spokesman. Hooker and Waller stand...
