Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Col. Robert Johnston is the new commander of Cannon Air Force Base. Johnston takes over from Col. Jeremy Bergin. Johnston assumed the post Monday at a change of command ceremony presided over by Lt. Gen. Michel Conley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command. Johnston is plenty familiar with Cannon. He "was a squadron commander here from 2018-2020 at the 9th Special Operations Squadron, and prior to that he was the operations officer at the 9th SOS as well from... Full story
The U.S. Department of Defense will be establishing a “STARBASE” program at Cannon Air Force Base. It’s an acronym for Science and Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Exploration and community leaders are excited about the possibilities. The announcement came Friday from the office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. STARBASE allows kindergarten through 12th-grade students to participate in hands-on curriculum with military installations where they solve scientific challenges related to aeros... Full story
Tina Dziuk's office job as executive director of Clovis Economic Development may not offer up a clue that her family roots are in the trucking industry. And while she can't drive an 18-wheeler she can "pull a horse trailer through rush hour traffic in Dallas, and that's good enough for me." Dziuk shared more details of her life with The News recently. Q: Where are you from? What do you remember about growing up? A: My life began in Flagstaff, Ariz., but we moved to New Mexico...
A company hired to recruit business to Clovis is bringing in three new retail stores and two new restaurants, its spokesman told city commissioners on Thursday. Commissioner Helen Casaus is not impressed. Madison Neal of Retail Strategies of Birmingham, Ala., told commissioners two new businesses are expected to open this year, while three more will open in 2025. Neal did not name the businesses but told commissioners Retail Strategies has engaged with 152 prospects about locating to Clovis. Among those, 110 gave feedback,...
Give Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and her Cabinet a problem, and they will find a solution. At least that was her message Monday at Clovis Community College as the governor and about two dozen members of her Cabinet and administrative staff appeared in a town hall meeting. The state's top ranking Democrat fielded questions from about 100 local residents. The "Cabinet in Your Community" group was scheduled to host a similar meeting Tuesday on the Eastern New Mexico University...
When I get the Coronavirus, I think of my closest encounter with death. It was back when I was about 13 or so in the seventh grade. I was dashing across a side street that intersected with one of the hometown’s main drags. Suddenly a car made a rocketing turn off the main drag right in front of me, maybe only a foot away. “WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING DUMB KID,” the driver yelled. Well, he didn’t say “dumb kid” but that’ll have to do for a family newspaper. On the other side of the street I stood for a bit, thinking about...
Today is Jeremiah Woodruff's birthday. And what does this 18-year old want for his birthday? "I want to live another year," he said. Who is this Elida High School graduate? "I'm a boy who just graduated high school, coming into the world looking for a nice place to work. I have the initiative to go far in life," Woodruff said. The News caught up with him Monday after he got off work as a Roosevelt County ranch hand. Q: You were born in Elida? A: No, I was born in Clovis. I gre...
The Roosevelt County Commission on Tuesday passed a resolution calling on the New Mexico Legislature to petition for a convention of the states. The action falls under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. Roosevelt County became the fifth New Mexico county to adopt the resolution, joining Hidalgo, Colfax, Otero, and Catron, according to Myles Culbertson, the Dona Ana County man spearheading the drive. “Actually, Roosevelt was a county that took the initiative pretty much on their own. Catron was the same way,” Culbertson sai...
Joe Biden dominates most newscasts these days as the nation debates his presidential future following the June 27 debate with former President Donald Trump. Democrats concede Biden's debate performance was poor, but some argue one bad night should not force him out of the race. We asked area residents for their views: Portales' Krista Pietsch, a registered Democrat: "Even before (the June 27) debate, I did not believe President Biden was a viable presidential candidate. Much...
Somebody was telling me a joke the other day that dealt with yoga. "What did the dyslexic cow say in yoga class? Ooooooom." A good laugh was had. "That reminds me of something I said on the CB radio back in my trucking days," I said. Yes, once upon a time, about 22 years ago, I went to trucker's school in Arkansas, got my commercial driver's license and hit the road driving an 18-wheeler. I call it "My year I saw America." Other truckers accused me of being a spy from the...
Clovis Municipal Schools board meetings will be televised beginning July 23, CMS board members were told at Tuesday's June board meeting. The CMS governing body, under state mandate, will join other school districts in televising or providing audio of their regular sessions. The mandate comes from section six of Senate Bill 137 from this year's state Legislature. District 7 State Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview, described SB137 as amending the New Mexico School District Campaign...
Two months ago, Rebekah Warren was the subject of a story in The News. She was one of more than 20 New Mexico students, 2024 graduates, who received a Daniels Scholarship. So who is Rebekah Warren? "I am a daughter of the Most High. The Lord has provided for me all my life," Warren said as she sat for an interview. "I'm excited to start on my own and learn what it's like to live in the real world," she said. Q: Are you from Clovis? A: I was born and raised in Clovis. I'm a thi...
There will be a new place serving alcoholic beverages at the Curry County Fair this August -- the west patio of the fairgrounds pavilion. Curry County commissioners at their regular meeting Tuesday approved a request from Events Center and Fairgrounds General Manager K. C. Messick for the operation during the county fair Aug. 13-17. “It’s a good revenue source, about $5,000 to $6,000 in added revenue,” Messick said to commissioners. There was a measure of discussion on the matter. Commissioner Seth Martin was concerned the c...
A DeBaca County man, convicted in April in the shooting deaths of his friend and friend’s wife in his home in Fort Sumner, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison. Kelby Randolph, 55, was sentenced Friday by Judge Waylon Counts for the double homicide of Arizonans Brian Beaver, 48, and his wife Rachelle Beaver, 38, in October 2022. Counts sentenced Randolph to 15 years in prison on each count of second-degree murder with a year added to each count on a firearm enhancement. Counts suspended 10 years of the 32-year sentence s...
The poultry show at this year’s Roosevelt County Fair has been canceled. The news came in a posting on the fair’s website: “After long and thoughtful discussion and at the recommendation of the New Mexico State Veterinarian’s office, the Roosevelt County Fair Board has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2024 Poultry Show. We look forward to seeing you in 2025.” The Roosevelt County Fair is scheduled Aug. 20-25. “They have an issue with all fowl right now, and we didn’t want to add insult to injury. We’re just tr...
I’ve always found it interesting that some townfolk think it’s just fine to point their pistol, rifle, shotgun in the air and squeeze off a shot or two of live ammo seemingly without a care in the world as to where that bullet or those shotgun pellets might land. I mean, when I was a kid I was curious about where would what went up come down. But I used a slingshot. How close would it land near me? I’d drop a marble in my trusty slingshot, pull the thing back, aim it straight up in the air and let ’er fly. I think the clo...
Law enforcement officers with the New Mexico Attorney General's office told Clovis' business community on Tuesday they can put a dent in retail theft by working together. Antonio Vargas, Jon Talley and Andrew Herrera also represented New Mexico Organized Retail Crime Association, which they urged attendees to join. The AG men gave a presentation to over 35 people. The group represented Burns Do It Center, Diamonds Evermore, S&S Supermarket, Albertsons, Walmart, Western...
Isn’t the school year over? What’s with all the cars every day at the Sixth Grade Academy at Marshall? Most of the cars seen daily packing the parking lot at Marshall are associated with the school system’s “Camp Wildcat,” according to Clovis Municipal Schools Superintendent Renee Russ. “Well, I can’t confidently say that ‘all’ of the cars at Marshall are there because of the summer camp, but it seems to make sense that many or most of them would be related to the camp,” Russ wrote in an email. Camp Wildcat, is a popul...
To many people in the area, Jimmy Hailey has been the face of the Clovis Wienerschnitzel fast-food franchise since the 1970s. It turns out, he's just one of three brothers and a sister who have owned and operated the business over the years. That has changed. The business has been sold to a new owner and Hailey is semi-retired. He sat with The News on a sunny Monday morning at "The Der" and shared some things about his life and the "Hailey Special." Q: So you're from Clovis?...
Clovis City commissioners on Thursday voted unanimously to renew the city’s contract with the Oakview Group for the management of the Clovis Civic Center. But officials also said they will request proposals from competing management groups when this contract expires in one year. This is the third renewal of the contract, city officials said. Commissioners on April 18 tabled the OVG/Clovis Civic Center contract to discuss potential changes to the agreement. City Manager Justin Howalt reported discussions were held with OVG a...
I heard if one could walk a full hour every day, a person could knock a pretty good hole in that danged ol’ condition some folks call “The Sugar,” more widely known as diabetes, which I have. I’ve been concentrating so much on my walking I was neglecting my bicycle riding. And I like my bicycle riding: The relative quiet, the breeze in my ears. I would’ve written “wind in my hair,” but I don’t have much of that. So I went riding through Clovis around noon on a Sunday. Soon I found myself on L. Casillas Boulevard. My r...
Clovis' Randy Petty is not related to Clovis' legendary record producer Norman Petty, NASCAR racing legend Richard Petty or rock 'n' roller Tom Petty. The part owner of Clovis Furniture Exchange & Mattresses Too is a newly licensed Realtor who describes himself as the son of David and Joann Petty. "I know how to find people who know things, but I don't know anything. I know how to rally people around me for all of us to succeed," Petty said Monday, while talking with The News...
Federal funds are coming to Curry County to help with the county’s Retired Senior Volunteer and Foster Grandparent Programs. A federal grant of $85,476 will be coming from the federal AmeriCorps program. Curry County Manager Lance Pyle made the announcement Tuesday along with AmeriCorps Portfolio Manager Maryon Bradshaw, Curry County RSVP Coordinator Diana Casidy and County Commission Chair Robert Thornton. Thornton praised senior volunteers saying it was a senior volunteer who helped his father in his last months of life. D...
Curry County commissioners on Tuesday raised concerns about costs associated with the Curry County Events Center as it prepares to host the annual county fair in August. One commissioner said costs have increased more than $200,000 since he took office less than two years ago. “When I came on board (as a commissioner) the loss was put at $550,000. Then it was $650,000, now it’s $771,000. I’d like to get back to the $550,000 deficit,” Commissioner Brad Bender said. Commissioner Seth Martin and County Manager Lance Pyle al...
The Josh Abbott Band, A.J. Castillo and Jaime Deanda will headline the Curry County Fair entertainment in August. “The entertainment is booked and ready to go,” Curry County Fairgrounds and Events Center General Manager K. C. Messick told Curry County commissioners on Tuesday. The fair is scheduled Aug. 13-17. “Hispanic Heritage Night is Aug. 15. The show features A. J. Castillo with special guest Jaime Deanda,” Messick said. A “Battle of the Bands” featuring six bands is set for Aug. 16, Messick said. “Country Music Night i...
