Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Celebrity deaths don't usually stand out to me, but Elvis Presley and his daughter are exceptions. Everything I know about Elvis and Lisa Marie Presley, who passed Thursday at age 54, comes from media reports. I never saw either of them perform in person, don't remember buying any of their records, and can't say I've even read that much about them. But I've admired them both for a long time. Here's why: Elvis died at age 42 in 1977. I heard the news while dusting the clock...
On this date … 1945: Eleven Clovis police officers, nearly the entire force, had resigned in protest of the anticipated removal of Chief Leonard Pinnix. Capt. Nelson Worley was one of the 11 who quit. City officials announced the next day that J.W. Manning would be the new police chief. Before year’s end, commissioners had ousted Manning and his successor, Roy Ansley. Worley was appointed the new chief on Nov. 22, 1945. Allegations of prisoner abuse and a stolen car pla...
On this date … 1947: The Bryson-Tanner Furniture Co., at 410 Main in Clovis, claimed “A new year calls for new things for your home” in a paid advertisement. A space-saving folding bed was on sale for $29.50. “Reflector type” floor lamps were $19.50 to $32.50. Platform rockers were $49.50. 1948: A newspaper ad claimed a medical test had “proved” Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound was a “great way to relieve ‘periodic’ female pains.” A spokeswoman declared, “It’s grand, girl...
Laura Leal was cooking at Leal’s restaurant late last year when the phone rang. With a staffing shortage, she didn’t hesitate to answer the call. It was from a competitor. “Are you a manager at Leal’s?” the caller asked. “Are you happy at your job? Because if you’re not, our restaurant is hiring managers.” The owner, cook and chief chili taster of one of Clovis’ more popular eateries laughs when she tells the story. But any business manager these days knows about the serious...
Jan. 8 On this date … 1955: Stagner and Sons had announced plans to build 78 new homes in Clovis, representing more than $500,000 in value. Homes were expected to sell for $7,000 to $10,000 each, plus the cost of the lots. 1956: Seven people had been arrested at the Garcia Pool Hall, 1001 W. Grand in Clovis, and charged with gambling. Four pleaded guilty and were fined $15 each. The others pleaded not guilty and were released on $25 bond. Augustine Urioste and Elijio M...
On this date: Jan. 4 1948: Playmoor Bowling Alley, at 115 Main St. in Clovis, was looking to hire "pin boys." The jobs were after school, until 6 p.m., and on Sunday afternoons. 1948: Hester Motor Co. in Clovis advertised for "female help." The car dealership wanted to hire a female bookkeeper who was 20 or older and "unencumbered." Anyone interested needed to apply in person. 1953: The former Grady's Food Market in Portales was being remodeled into a F.W. Woolworth store....
On this date ... 1903: Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway workers began construction on the Belen Cutoff – 268 miles of track that connected Texico and the Texas-New Mexico border to the AT&SF’s main line near Belen, south of Albuquerque. The new route, avoiding the mountains of northern New Mexico, led to the creation of Clovis in 1907. 1931: About 100 men, most armed with shotguns, gathered outside the Clovis News-Journal office on Main Street. Then, “bent upon blood...
On this date … 1972: A special meeting of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce Highway Committee was held following a crash near Fort Sumner two days earlier that left 19 from a Texas church dead. Clovis Mayor Chick Taylor and Fort Sumner Mayor B.J. Rogers criticized state officials for failing to make needed repairs on bridges throughout the region. The accident occurred when a bus carrying members of an Austin, Texas, church collided with a cattle truck on a narrow bridge. I...
On this date ... 1976: Owen Jones, a 26-year employee with the Bailey County Cooperative, had announced his plans to retire. Jones, who lived in Muleshoe, was first employed by the coop on Dec. 5, 1950, and had served as a system engineer since that time. Jones brought 26 special guests to his retirement party. He received a gold watch, fishing equipment and a scrapbook of photos from his quarter-century-plus on the job. 1946: Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett was born in...
The holidays are just about perfect on the Hallmark Channel. In real life, they can be stressful. We all want that Charlie Brown Christmas, but most of us can get a little grinchy sometimes. And memories of loved ones not around the family tables during the holidays can send us spiraling into depression, sometimes even before the presents are opened. For those of us not starring in a holiday Disney movie, the New Mexico Department of Health offers suggestions for facing the...
On this date … 1957: Four men were released early from the Curry County jail in observance of the Christmas holiday, the Clovis News-Journal reported. All four had served the majority of their sentences for petty larceny or issuing worthless checks. A man serving 30 days for stealing an iron had a stipulation attached to his early release – he was required to leave town and return to his home in Louisiana, the newspaper reported. 1954: Tennis champion Chris Evert was born in...
On this date ... 1972: Any time was party time at The Boothill Saloon in Clovis. A “special party” was planned each Monday, from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, according to an advertisement in the Clovis News-Journal. The first drink was free. 1963: Actor Brad Pitt was born. 1956: Fritch, Texas, native and comedian Ron White was born. 1946: Filmmaker Steven Spielberg was born. 1943: Rocker Keith Richards was born. 1886: Baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb was born. Pages Past is com...
On this date … 1982: A sampling of letters to Santa published in the Clovis News-Journal: Dear Santa, My name is Ramond How are you. This Christmas I would like a Racing Track. Also a waterbed. I will leave you some Tamales. Raymond Padilla 6 years old Dear Santa Clause, I have been a good girl this year. For Christmas I want a Western Barbie, an E.T. Speak and Spell, Annie Lipstick and PacMan Sponge and ghost soaps. I will leave you a glass of milk and a cookie. Jessica A...
On this date ... 1962: Four Portales Rams football players had been named to the United Press International’s all-state football team. Halfback Larry Ward, guard Otha Britton, end Jim Webb and center Bill Schumpert, all seniors, were selected to the Class A elite squad. The four led the Rams to second place in District 4A. Ward, a 165-pound tailback, rushed for 905 yards and scored 13 touchdowns, despite missing a game with injuries. 1964: Singer Sam Cooke, the “King of Sou...
On this date … 1941: The headline in a special edition of the Portales Daily News read “JAPS ATTACK U.S.” A secondary headline read, “50 Japanese Planes Loose Powerful Bombs On United States Fortifications in Hawaii” A story under the headline “Bulletin!” reported: “The United States is now at war with Japan, with Japan as the aggressor. “England is expected to declare war on Japan within the next hour. “This startling news was flashed around the world at 2:30 E.S. Time, as...
On this date ... 1982: Robert Spencer, longtime manager of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, died at Clovis High Plains Hospital following a “lengthy illness,” the Clovis News-Journal reported. He was 63. Spencer began his work with the chamber on May 19, 1957, CNJ reported. He retired on June 1, 1982. “He worked to improve highways, promote agribusiness and establish diversified industries in the Clovis area,” according to the newspaper. “He was instrumental in setting u...
Roosevelt County Manager Amber Hamilton received a pay raise and a contract extension on Nov. 15. No problem. The pay raise was a 15% increase, bumping her to $112,000 per year. The contract extension was for two years. Neither the raise nor the extension was particularly troublesome. Other county managers make more money; if county commissioners think she’s doing a good job, a two-year contract extension seems like a good way to ensure she stays around for a while. H...
On this date … 1835: Samuel Clemens, who wrote under the pseudonym Mark Twain for nearly 50 years, was born in Florida, Mo. He was born shortly after an appearance of Hailey’s Comet and famously predicted he would go out with it as well. Clemens died in Redding, Conn., in 1910, the day after the comet made its closest approach to Earth. He was still working on his autobiography, PBS.org reports. 1952: A letter to Santa Claus was published in the Clovis News-Journal from 3-y...
On this date ... 1962: Terry Stovall, 14, had received the Eagle Scout award, the first Clovis scout to earn the honor in 1962. A court of honor ceremony was held at Kingswood Methodist Church. “The Eagle Scout rank is the highest award attainable and only about one percent of Boy Scouts achieve this rank,” the Clovis News-Journal reported. In other scouting news, Chad Lydick and Tom Black had received their “Life” badges. A minimum of 21 badges were required for recepti...
On this date … 1977: Anyone needing something to do on Thanksgiving Day was in luck – dining, movies and shopping were all available. Clovis’ Holiday Inn offered a Thanksgiving buffet for $3.75 per person, Sambo’s Restaurant had a turkey dinner special for $2.95, while the Clovis Hotel Restaurant Buffet featured a Thursday special of turkey and dressing or baked ham with wine sauce for $3.50 Holiday movies included “The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training,” “Oh, God,” starrin...
On this date ... 1972: An early morning fire caused close to $10,000 in damage at the Thunderbird No. 2 restaurant at 221 Prince in Clovis. A police officer reported smelling smoke in the area about 1:30 a.m. but was unable to locate signs of a fire. The fire was located about 2 a.m. and police officers battled the blaze with fire extinguishers until firefighters arrived, the Clovis News-Journal reported. Fire Chief Joe Maddox said the fire started near deep fryers in the...
The year’s not over, but one political award of shame for 2022 has been locked up already. In the category of “most disrespectful public official,” the honor goes to Curry County Commission Chair Chet Spear whose smart mouth on Tuesday targeted Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce President Robyn Snowberger. Spear was unhappy that Chamber Executive Director Ernie Kos had not shown up in person to ask for a donation to the annual Clovis Music Festival. Kos was on speak...
On this date … 1967: A Racine, Wis., man had won the fourth annual sandhill crane hunt sponsored by the Muleshoe Jaycees. William Pugh’s crane weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces. Two other hunters, including another Wisconsin man, also bagged cranes that weighed more than 8 pounds. “We feel that the hunt was successful and hunters came from throughout this area with the two Wisconsin winners traveling the farthest distance to participate,” said Jaycee Bob Stovall. Hunt Chairma...
On this date ... 1952: Three Roosevelt County businesses had been hit by burglars, but the only significant loss was $40 from a Portales farm supply store’s cash drawer, soft drink and candy dispensers. An Elida service station reported two old automobile batteries were missing, but new batteries were left behind. The service station was also missing a gallon of milk. A Roosevelt County Sheriff’s deputy said it wasn’t clear if the three burglaries were related. Pages Past...
On this date ... 1987: The staff at Ellison’s Too Hair Salon was preparing for its grand opening. Discounts of 20% were offered on cuts and styles. Staff included Ellison Green, Barbara Marshall, Rudy Garcia, Day Beevers, Clint McIntosh, Karen Prichard, Debi Elmore and mascot Harry Hair. Ellison’s Too was located at 128 W. 21st in Clovis. Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens. Contact: [email protected]...
