Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 51
For the last four years, Aaron Standing has claimed Clovis, New Mexico as his home. For the Utah native, avid skier, and mountaineering enthusiast - eastern New Mexico was a far cry from what he was used to. But when Standing decided to purchase Eastern Family Dentistry and begin practicing as a dentist in Portales, he quickly came to appreciate what this area has to offer. During his time here, Standing and his wife have welcomed two children to their family. As a family,...
Stacy Henrikson is originally from Troy, Missouri, a little town north of St. Louis. She is the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Academic Clinical Coordinator of Education at Clovis Community College. She has been a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant for over 13 years, working in many different clinical settings throughout her career. Her role at CCC includes coordinating with clinics throughout the region to organize student clinical rotation sites as well as instructing...
Ashley Maestas is the Youth Services Librarian for the Clovis-Carver Public Library. But for the many local children and toddlers who frequent her weekly storytime she is known simply as, "Miss Ashley." Born and raised in Las Cruces, N.M., Maestas has been in Clovis for five years, going on six. She, her husband, Tim, and their two daughters came to this area to be closer to her in-laws. Maestas describes herself as an avid reader, who enjoys books of many genres and in any...
Stephen M. Hardin has lived in Portales for over 36 years now. But life did not begin for Hardin in the quaint, New Mexican college town which he has made his home. He was born in Calcutta, India and, in Hardin's own words, he was "immediately abandoned and left to die in the streets." Miraculously, Hardin was found and rescued by a group of nuns. Several months later he was adopted, along with another child, by his single mother - Janie Hardin. Still a baby, Hardin arrived...
Cristy Hill is a Clovis Wildcat through and through. Born and raised here, Hill ventured to Oklahoma City for college and then on to Lovington, where she worked for over a decade teaching Physical Education and coaching volleyball and golf. 20 years ago this year, Hill found her way home, and has left her mark on Clovis schools ever since. In 2019, she became Clovis High School's head counselor. Hill is a proud wife, mother of three kids, and grandma to two grandchildren. Q:...
Marcus Smith is no stranger to the Llano Estacado. Originally from Hereford, Texas, Smith migrated southwest across state lines in 2003 - a young man eager to play football with a scholarship for the ENMU Greyhounds. He had dreams to coach football, which he did briefly while pursuing his Master's in counseling. Career opportunities upon graduation shifted him away from his dreams of coaching and propelled him into a career in academic and mental health counseling. One dream...
At the end of this year, Eastern New Mexico University is saying goodbye to their Title IX Coordinator, Linda Neel. Neel has been working for the University in various capacities since 2013. But Neel's passion for higher education dates back much farther than that. Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Neel moved to the area at the age of 5, when her native New Mexican parents decided to come home and try their hand at farming. Initially, the family went to Muleshoe, TX before...
Editor's note: We continue our series of stories about local business owners and the unique merchandise and services they have for sale -- just in time for Christmas. Montana Thatcher was born in Clovis. She recently moved home after finishing college in Las Cruces at New Mexico State University. This year she struck out on her own as the proprietor of a new clothing boutique, Twisted Rayne's, located on the corner of 4th and Pile streets. Q: Where are you from? How long have...
Clovis is home to many people from all walks of life, who come here for many different reasons. For Ana Cox, moving to Clovis was a critical step in the healing process following the violent death of her younger brother. Born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the fifth of eight children, Cox remembers little of her native country. She has a distinct memory, however, of getting on an airplane and coming to the United States at age 5. Her family moved to McAllen, Texas, where she spent...
Its purpose is twofold – raise awareness for Hartley House services and raise money so its work can continue. The ninth annual Festival of Trees accomplished both goals, organizers said, raising $24,830 for the domestic violence shelter that services Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties. The Pavilion at the Curry County Fairgrounds hosted the gathering on Nov. 19. Officials said 45 decorated Christmas trees and wreaths were auctioned off – some multiple times as supporters bou...
For the last seven years, Quentin Ray has called Portales his home. Ray, a Grady native, and his wife Ashley (originally from Roswell) are in a busy chapter of their life. Time not spent at work is dedicated to their kids' sport practices and creating memories as a family of five. For Quentin Ray, his time at work is spent managing the cases assigned to him at the District Attorney's Office in Roosevelt County. He recently received the Professionalism Award from the State Bar...
Kristian Price was born and raised in lower Alabama. As a freshman in high school, she moved with her parents to the Ruidoso area. After graduating from Capitan High School in 2015, she set her sights on a degree in business administration, focusing on hospitality management, which she earned from Eastern New Mexico University. When her now husband made the move from Ruidoso to Clovis in 2018, the couple decided to put down roots in the area. Today, Price works as the grant...
Twenty years ago this month, Thomas Elliott Fite joined the Marines -- just 10 days after graduating from Clovis High. Following boot camp, combat training, and follow-up school, Fite was sent to Iraq for the initial invasion of U.S. forces, in March of 2003. Now, Fite finds himself in a much different position as a marketing manager for clients from New Mexico to California to Virginia. One of his jobs is brand manager for an "estate grown weedery," Estrella River Farms,...
Paul Dee Barnes enjoys the simple things in life. He grew up in Field, a small farming community northeast of Melrose, and has spent his nearly 80 years of life raising crops, children, grandchildren, and serving in his community. These things make for what Barnes describes as, "a good life." From 1991 to 2000 he was on the Curry County Commission; he also spent several years on the Texico school board. Barnes and his family today farm in the Pleasant Hill area, where they...
Born in upstate New York and raised outside of Philadelphia, Jon Barr never expected to wind up in Portales. But love has a way of finding a way -- and bringing people to unexpected places. Nearly 20 years after breaking up, Barr reconnected with his once girlfriend, Mary Ayala, via Facebook. She, now the dean of the Liberal Arts and Sciences at Eastern New Mexico University, was a Portales resident. Barr at the time had just finished his bachelor's degree in film. He...
Constance Williams, of Pampa, Texas, is no stranger to adversity. As a young child, she witnessed her parents' divorce. As a teenager she spent time in a domestic violence shelter with her mother and the separation from her older siblings. In high school, the small-town Texas girl became a big city-transplant to Dallas. Those formative experiences have all shaped her world view and perspective on her own life. But Williams considers herself -- above all else -- to be an...
Jenny Jeffery describes herself as an explorer. Originally from Franklin, Ohio, and a Midwesterner at heart, she arrived in the area in 1992 as a military spouse and wasted no time in making herself a part of the community. After volunteering for two years in the library with Portales schools, Jeffery knew she had found her calling. In 1997 she began taking library science classes at the Clovis Community College. From there, Jeffery has filled several librarian positions in...
Maria Chavarria is a native Clovis resident who has built a life based on her faith, family, and a desire to keep her community clean. A member of the congregation of Oasis en el Desierto, Chavarria considers her church membership to be one of her defining characteristics. She places a high priority on her involvement there. "I love Jesus, it's my main thing. I like to be involved in my church," Chavarria said. Chavarria's activity at church has brought her more than just...
Casey Jones is a fighter. From her early days growing up on her family's ranch in Roosevelt County, Jones said she learned that no matter how many times you get bucked off, you must always get back on the horse. A survivor of childhood abuse, Jones said she has found strength in her faith, healing through education, and joy in her hobbies. At the age of 20, Jones left home and embarked on a career as a flight attendant for United Airlines. She did this for 26 years before...
Originally from Oklahoma City, April Roberts met her Texico-native husband, Jason, in college at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. After marrying, the two decided to move back to New Mexico to farm. Growing up, Roberts' only experience with farm life was the time she spent at her grandparent's farm (which they ran for over 50 years). Roberts said some of her best childhood memories were walking out into the cotton field with her Pa. Those sweet memories with her...
CLOVIS - Growing up, Jenny Owens moved around a lot. Amongst all the moves, the Michigan-born daughter of a pastor spent several years in Clovis while her father worked at the Nazarene church in the area. Her family eventually moved to Arizona, where she now claims as her home state. After spending her college years in San Diego, and another few in Colorado, Owens' journey back to Clovis has everything to do with falling in love, planning a family and the benefits of...
Mitchell Mender grew up on the East Coast. Raised in a tightknit community on the New Hampshire/Vermont border, he's used to the fun of living in a "borderland." Mender said he enjoyed an idyllic childhood exploring the natural beauties of New England with his parents and two older brothers. Five years ago, Mender moved with his wife Robyn and young children to Clovis where he began work at the county prosecutor's office. For the last year, Mender has worked in Portales as a p...
Originally from Michigan, Amanda Lunt is a photographer with two dogs, and a baby on the way. She and her husband are recent transplants to the Clovis area - they arrived from Guam last October on military assignment and have been acquainting themselves with the community ever since. When she's not snapping photos, Lunt enjoys good television, baking and reading. Q: What is your favorite book? A: I don't have a favorite book, but Nicholas Sparks is definitely my favorite...
Lisa Howard has lived all over. From California, Texas, Arkansas, even a few years in England, the Alabama native has made herself a home in many different places. When she and her family came here in 2012 for her husband's military assignment at Cannon Air Force Base, she had no idea what Clovis had in store for her – or what she had in store for Clovis. But after just a few years in the area, when her husband retired from the Air Force and took a civilian position on b...
CLOVIS — The most recent wave of COVID-19 has doubled the number of positive cases in the Clovis Municipal School District. Loran Hill, recently appointed director of operations, reported the news to the Clovis school board at Tuesday’s monthly meeting. From the previous 14-day rolling period to the one that ended Monday, a 1.11 percent increase in positive COVID cases was seen among district members. That brought the total percentage of positive tests to over 2 percent district wide. This is the highest rate of positive cas...
