Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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PORTALES - Roosevelt County has a new clerk, made official Tuesday with the appointment of Stephanie Hicks and recognition of her predecessor in the county's commission meeting. DeAun Searle was recognized for her years of service, holding the head clerk position since December 2013 and retiring this month. Commissioners in turn voted unanimously to appoint Hicks, her deputy clerk, to the position. The position will be up for election again in 2020. "I love my job and I'm...
CLOVIS — In spite of some noted opposition, horse racetrack and casino proposals in Clovis are expected to bring more new dollars to New Mexico than either of the proposals in two other cities, according to a feasibility study recently completed for the New Mexico Racing Commission. The commission contracted the Convergence Strategy Group to examine the five applications for the state's sixth racino license in relation to the communities in which the projects would be established. The ensuing report, updated Thursday, f... Full story
TEXICO — As construction on an interim groundwater pipeline is on track to start by year's end, board members of The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility authority last week were hopeful to keep that momentum going. "We could be on the cusp of putting out a bid package for Fixed Water 3 in twelve to 24 months," ENMWUA Chair David Lansford said in a meeting Thursday in Texico. Lansford referred to the next phase of the long-reaching project to connect local communities with Quay C...
CLOVIS — A SWAT team response and evacuation/lockdown on properties near the Clovis Apartments on Wednesday ended with the arrest of a Clovis man accused of kidnapping. Cesar Murillo, 38, was accused of holding a woman "against her will at gunpoint" in her apartment on the 1000 block of North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, according to court records. By Friday, however, court records showed the kidnapping charge was quashed as "additional investigation is needed in this m...
CLOVIS - Ryan Schaap isn't crying over spilt milk - he's "furious." The manager of Highland Dairy told The News this week his operation has lost about 15,000 gallons of milk daily since the Air Force advised the water serving the farm in southern Curry County was contaminated with chemicals associated with past military firefighting activities. The cows still need to be milked but nobody will buy their wares, imperiling the dairy and its 40 employees, Schaap said. "There is... Full story
CLOVIS - A sentencing hearing on last year's confessed library shooter is scheduled for next year. But before then, the judge will take some time to consider arguments presented Tuesday as to the teenager's eligibility for rehabilitation instead of life in prison. Nathaniel Jouett, 17, appeared calm and did not speak during a motion hearing that lasted all morning in the Curry County Courthouse, starting late as the court had to wait for availability in a courtroom large...
PORTALES - From the German prison camps of the "Great War" to the nebulous contours of the "War on Terror," Portales this year celebrated the range of military service among Roosevelt County sons and daughters for the centennial of the 1918 Armistice that first defined Veterans Day. "To forget our veterans is not only a shame, but it is the surest way to lead us into war and the eventual downfall of our great nation," said Cannon Air Force Base's 27th Special Operations...
CLOVIS — Almost two weeks into the ongoing investigation of a near-fatal shooting in Clovis, police on Wednesday charged a man with seven felonies after they say he fled officers on a moped. Ruben Lopez, 24, of Clovis, was charged with aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, among other charges, following the incident Oct. 26 that hospitalized Leroy Jaramillo with life-threatening injuries, according to court records. Investigators said the shooting took place at Jaramillo’s residence on the 300 block of...
PORTALES — A prominent local attorney is out of the practice in New Mexico for nine months after the state’s supreme court ordered his license suspended last week. Eric Dixon has just under 30 days now to settle his pending cases or find them new counsel, following which he is forbidden to practice law in the state for no less than nine months. He is also required to complete 10 hours of “ethics continuing legal education classes” and within two months pay court expenses of $2,654, according to court records. Rooseve...
CAUSEY — Mary Lee Terral wore many hats in the village of Causey — mother and wife, seamstress, church pianist, volleyballer and bookkeeper. And for over 40 years, she was the postmistress of the small community southeast of Portales. The latter role she held from 1976 to 2016, assuming the position from her mother-in-law Jennie Dee Terral. Between those two the post office was a generational family operation since 1938, and continues as such with only a slight int...
CLOVIS - The theme was "No Veteran Walks Alone," and that held up Saturday during the Veterans Day parade in Clovis. Not only did veterans walk and march in company, plenty of others rode on floats or horses to make for a spirited promenade down a Main Street lined with residents and visitors from out of town. Locals braved the wind and cold in the morning, many bundled in winter wear and waving miniature American flags to make for what the parade chairman said was one of the...
CLOVIS — Across more than 3,600 votes cast in Curry County’s contested magistrate judge race, in the end fewer than 200 separated the candidates. Janemarie Vander Dussen, the Republican victor, said it was “nerve-wracking” to watch the votes trickle in Tuesday, but that she was relieved to have the election behind her. Training for the position starts at month’s end, and next year she assumes the role in Division 1 as the county’s first female magistrate judge. “I am honored to be the judge, it was definitely a stressful eve...
CLOVIS - Unknowns remain, but state and federal officials did what they could Friday evening to address community concerns of the recently reported contamination to area water wells stemming from past military firefighting activities. The public town hall drew a crowd that filled Clovis-Carver Public Library's North Annex, hearing presentations and asking questions of more than 20 individuals representing state agencies as well as the "federal family," in what one...
CLOVIS — Where else but the High Plains can a shooting tournament at a gun range raise enough money to sustain a local safe house? Maybe a few other places — but it definitely occurred last weekend with the "Top Shot Tournament" benefiting The Oasis Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) in Clovis. "In the darkest hours is when you come up with some of the most creative answers," CAC's Director Cheryl Little said of her idea for the event, in cooperation with the general man...
CLOVIS — With a flourish of pens and a light round of applause among board members, the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority signed off on the latest additions to an "incredibly significant" development for the project's storied history. In a special meeting Monday morning, board chair and Clovis Mayor David Lansford called the contract for the "Finished Water 2" interim pipeline "one of the biggest deals that's happened in eastern New Mexico. "This is a proud day for me...
TEXICO — It was a downed airplane rather than a locomotive that held up traffic Monday night at the train tracks in Texico, the site of an emergency landing in which none of the occupants were seriously injured. "We are good, just sore!" Cammy Reed wrote in a message Tuesday to The News. "God took care of us and I am grateful." Reed and her husband Jeff, both 54, were passengers on the flight piloted by their son, who managed a landing that astounded officials. "We are a... Full story
PORTALES — Keith Parrish has lost cases so far in state and federal courts, but the former corrections officer is not done with his claims that he was overworked and undercompensated while employed by Roosevelt County. Late last month a judge ruled in favor of the Roosevelt County Board of Commissioners on Parrish’ civil complaint alleging breach of contract, but his attorney started the appeal just days later and still wants a trial on the matter, according to court records. Eric Dixon wrote that Parrish was owed com...
OASIS STATE PARK - Good fishing takes patience, sure, but you still need the fundaments. There was a little bit of both at Oasis State Park's 26th annual "Kids Fishin' Clinic" Saturday morning outside Portales, with organizers leading six educational stations for almost three dozen children. The idea was to lure more young people into the outdooring life. "I like to see people bringing their kids out here," said Clovis' Deb Whitecotton, who assisted with the event. "Get them...
CLOVIS — Is the city of Clovis “ripped in half,” over the prospect of a racino, as a state legislator said last month? Are its elected leaders evenly divided on the matter? While there is surely some dispute on the issue, at least half of Clovis’ city commissioners are publicly in support of the city hosting the state’s sixth and final horse-racetrack and slot gaming casino, while only one has specifically opposed it. The remaining three of eight commissioners declined to take an explicit public position on the matter wh...
ALAMOGORDO — A former airman was arrested Tuesday in Alamogordo in connection with computer fraud charges from his time stationed at Cannon Air Force Base. Michael Weber, 22, of Alamogordo, was arrested at his residence there and appeared at federal court in Albuquerque the same day, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Investigators allege Weber placed a “spam bot” onto his supervisor’s government-issued cell phone on Jan. 16, which “allegedly caused the cellular phone to receive a long string of...
Though it’s only Clovis, Tucumcari and Lordsburg that might host the state’s sixth racino, there are plenty of voices outside those communities that want their input known before the New Mexico Racing Commission makes its decision. Most recent are two developments: first, the Lea County Commission urging NMRC to consider Tucumcari over Clovis as it says the latter could draw business from their Zia Park casino and racetrack in Hobbs. “A new casino in Clovis will simply shift jobs and revenue from Lea County to our neigh...
CLOVIS — The New Mexico Department of Health last week began testing about 85 private Clovis water wells inside a four-mile radius of a possible contamination from Cannon Air Force Base. Samples were collected Wednesday through Friday, but “analysis and return of results can take up to 3.5 weeks,” NMDOH’s Communications Director Paul Rhien said in a message to The News. Rhien said NMDOH “received over 100 calls” in the weeks following a communication from the state’s Environment Department that sites in a four-mile are...
CLOVIS — A local state representative is not convinced the New Mexico Racing Commission’s planned award of a sixth racino is a “foregone conclusion.” Nor does he think Clovis is clearly in support of hosting one. Rep. Randal Crowder, R-Clovis, said as much before state officials in a meeting last week of the Legislative Finance Committee in Santa Fe. “This sixth racino has just literally ripped the city of Clovis in half,” he said. “The mayor is opposed to the racino, about half the city commissioners are opposed, half... Full story
CLOVIS — A man was in critical condition Tuesday in a Texas hospital after being shot twice last week in Clovis. Leroy Jaramillo, 55, of Clovis, was flown to Lubbock in critical condition after being shot once each in his neck and shoulder. Officers were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. Friday to Plains Regional Medical Center, where they initially contacted Jaramillo. “Detectives were dispatched, were able to locate the scene and began their investigation,” said Clovis Police Department Capt. Roman Romero. Romero declined to id...
The General Election is Tuesday. But voting is already fast and furious across the region. That's the word from election administrators for Curry and Roosevelt counties, who told The News on Monday they had seen more turnout from early and absentee voters than in previous recent elections, and in some cases by a long stretch. In Curry County, voter turnout has already surpassed that of the primary election in June, according to Clerk Annie Hogland. The numbers so far also...
