Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Tia Littlefield has lived in a number of places around the USA: Kentucky, Indiana, Alaska, Texas and Illinois. She’s spent the last 29 years living here in New Mexico. The News learned more about her Tuesday as she prepares to move to Indiana. Q: Where were you born? A: Aschassenburg, Bavaria, West Germany. I don’t remember anything about it because I was 6 months old when we came back to the U.S. Q: How did you come to be in Clovis? A: I moved here in September 1995 from Richmond, Ind. My mother asked me if I would move her...
I was listening to one of my mix tapes on my hi-fi stereo cassette player the other morning while I was piddling around in the kitchen when a Dale Watson song came up. Now I don’t know if you’ve ever heard any Dale Watson, but he’s what I call “real country,” which is probably why you may not have heard of him. He might be “too country” for modern country radio. My favorite song of his is “A Real Country Song,” with the opening line, “Mr. DJ, won’t you please play, a real country song…” Watson has another song I like, the...
Curry County commissioners Monday voted to table a resolution moving a portion of county employees to a four-day work week. If the measure had passed, the following is what would be enacted according to the commission agenda: "Effective Monday, December 2, 2024, all Curry County administrative departments with the exception of the Curry County Adult Detention Center and the Curry County Sheriff's office shall begin a four-day work week. The normal workday schedule thereafter...
If you visit James Burns in his office you'll see a print of a framed map from around 1845 of The Republic of Texas, back when it included a portion of what is now New Mexico. The News learned more about this New Mexico businessman when we caught up with Burns after a return from a California trip this week. Q: Where were you born? Tell us about that place. A: I was born in Clayton, and I have to say, that part of the state holds a special place in my heart. There's something...
Roosevelt County commissioners on Tuesday heard more details about a planned solar energy farm that would bring construction jobs and a revenue stream for a number of school districts from the project’s industrial revenue bonds. The facility is described as “a proposed solar photovoltaic electric generating and storage project located within Roosevelt County…” Roosevelt County Manager Annette Kirk said the 2,200-acre Blackwater Solar Center LLC project would be located on Roosevelt Road 3, not far from an Xcel Energy substat...
Authorities at Cannon Air Force Base hope to begin pumping and treating PFAS-contaminated water in the southeast corner of the base in March. The news came during a virtual Zoom meeting Tuesday. Air Force Civil Engineering spokesman Chris Gierke said efforts to begin the process earlier were thwarted by supply chain difficulty in obtaining needed parts for the processing machinery. The last of the parts are expected this coming January. The session began with Cannon Deputy Wing Commander Col. Jeff McMaster acknowledging the...
Eastern New Mexico University’s Board of Regents on Friday approved a list of Capital Outlay requests for the upcoming 2025 state legislative session. The list was presented to the regents by ENMU Vice president of Business Affairs and System Chief Financial Officer Tony Major. In his presentation letter, Major described the list as “prioritized by need and by the fit of such requests with legislative interests.” The listed requests are: • $408,000 for an Animal Education and Research Center. • $450,000 for Allied Health Ed...
Curry County commissioners on Tuesday approved $15,400 in funding for a procedural audit on the management agreement between the county and Oak View Group 360 for the Curry County Events Center and Fairgrounds. The relationship between the county and OVG360 came under scrutiny by commissioners in September when a budget deficit overage was announced by Events Center management. The audit will review: n Prior reports related to the Management Agreement Procedure between Curry...
I got to thinking about an old friend the other day. My denim jacket. I was swapping stories with someone about my Sears catalog leather fringe jacket, kind of like the one Dennis Hopper wore in the 1969 flick “Easy Rider.” It’s not a very warm jacket so it doesn’t get much wear. I put it on when I want to bring out my “inner hippie.” But that denim jacket, that had some stories. I bought it back in 1972, the glory days of denim. Denim this, denim that, denim button-fly bell bottom jeans, denim shirts and such. It was a Le...
Clovis’ Friendship Center will soon be turned into a Clovis Fire Department training center, wellness center and office space. The changes were approved Thursday by the Clovis City Commission during their first regular meeting of November. According to details on the commission agenda, the Friendship Center formerly housed the Senior Services Department, Curry Resident Senior Meals Association and the city Internet Technology department prior to the construction of the Hillcrest Senior Life Center. “With the completion of...
Dennis Lopez will be wrapping up an eight-year term as county commissioner from District 1 in Roosevelt County on Jan. 1. "I want to thank all the residents of Roosevelt County. It's been an honor to represent them. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart," Lopez said. He shared more about his life in a talk with The News: Q: Where were you born and raised? A: I was born in Portales, raised in Portales, went to college at New Mexico State University where I earned a...
Clovis Community College brought on eight new faculty members this fall. CCC Executive Vice President Robin Kuykendall said the new instructors are • Emergency services instructor Samantha Griego • Nursing instructor Reyna Falcon • Nursing long-term care instructor Valerie Berwald • Health and physical education instructor Edward Kraus • Theater instructor and cultural arts coordinator Jessica Holt • Psychology instructor Jennie Piepkorn • Nursing instructors Kyli Thatcher...
Clovis' Felipe Martinez is a veteran of the United States military. Which branch of service? Almost all of them. His career included time in the National Guard, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force Reserve. Here's how it all happened: Martinez, now 88, said he got his start in Guadalupe County. "I was born in Cuervo, about 15 miles east of Santa Rosa. Then for some reason the family moved to Santa Rosa when I was 5 or 6 years old. In 1947 we moved to Clovis," Martinez said...
Some said Monday's meeting of the Ute Water Commission was contentious. Others called it a good discussion. A continuing "negative" advertising campaign by the village of Logan regarding the Ute Reservoir and the Ute Water Project was called into question by Commission Chair Mike Morris, highlighting the meeting at the Clovis-Carver Public Library's North Annex. "Would the village of Logan like to respond to their spending of public money to oppose the Ute Water Project?"...
I’ve changed the names in this story so I don’t get hassled by the guy who used to have my phone number. I’ve been getting phone calls from people in Georgia who want to know if I want to sell my house in Atlanta. I don’t have a house in Atlanta. But a guy named Monty apparently has a house in Atlanta. From what I can gather, Monty is from Georgia and once had a gig out west here with Uncle Sam’s Air Force or some civilian gig at Cannon Air Force Base. I first discovered this years ago when telemarketers from car dealershi...
Dannette Ewers doesn't mind if you call her an "Okie." The executive assistant to the president of Clovis Community College is a big fan of the state where she grew up. The News learned more about Ewers last week. Q: Where are you from? A: I am from Oklahoma City, Okla. I still call Oklahoma home and go to visit family at least twice a year. More often if I can. There's always lots of graduations, weddings, and new babies to meet. Q: How did you come to be in Clovis? A: My...
More than 12,000 Curry/Roosevelt County voters had cast ballots for the 2024 election by Friday morning. Early voting for Tuesday's General Election ended Saturday in New Mexico. State law requires mail-in ballots must be in the voter's relevant county clerk's office by 7 p.m. Tuesday if they're to be counted. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday across the state. Eastern New Mexico residents have few local decisions to make. In Roosevelt County, Democrat Jake Lopez faces...
Portales on Tuesday was set to unveil its “baby box,” a safe place where a baby, up to 90 days old, may be left without parents facing criminal repercussions. Formal unveiling for the Portales baby box at the city’s main fire station, 301 S. Ave. C, was set for Tuesday. The driving force behind the baby box has been Right to Life of Roosevelt and Curry Counties, according to organization Director Angie Smith, who is also chair of the Republican Party of Roosevelt County. The national agency that has pushed for baby boxes...
I’ve only seen one thing I consider a ghost. It was the night of Jan. 28, 1986. If that day doesn’t ring a bell, don’t worry, I had to look it up too: It was the day the Space Shuttle Challenger blew up. I was living in West Virginia then in a big ol’ 19th century ramshackle house that had been converted into apartments. Anyway, I was slipping into bed, when something white on the ceiling caught my eye. It was a hand. Once I turned my attention to it, it slowly fell down and in moments passed through the wooden floor....
The football field at Clovis High School's Leon Williams Stadium is to be named in honor of CHS retired head football coach Eric Roanhaus. "It's a very humbling experience," Roanhaus said Tuesday after the CMS School Board's unanimous vote at its regular October meeting. The idea was brought before the board at its September meeting. At that session Board members Shawn Hamilton and Paul Cordova were assigned to look into signage costs. After Tuesday's meeting, Hamilton said...
When The News caught up with Greg Garcia to arrange an interview, he was south of Roswell overseeing Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad repairs to track damage in the Oct.19 Roswell flash flood. Last week, the Clovis native shared some details about the rest of his life. Q: Where were you born? A: I was born right here in Clovis Q: Have you been here ever since? A: After I graduated high school I spent eight years in the Los Angeles area working for Southern California Edison. My wife was from Clovis as well and we made a...
Roosevelt County commissioners on Tuesday heard a presentation from Jodi Diaz, executive director of the Roosevelt County Community Development Corporation. Diaz outlined the RCCDC’s business retention and development activities of the past months. Diaz noted her team has worked to bring a Gus Macker basketball tournament to Portales in 2025. Commissioner Dennis Lopez expressed concern over lack of business growth in the Roosevelt County/Portales area. “Clovis continues to grow, but we only get a little bit (of growth),” Lope...
Curry County commissioners Tuesday approved an agreement between the county and the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Disaster Assistance Program for $2.3 million for repairs due to the super cell storm of May 24, 2023. The county has to provide $575,000 in matching funds as per the agreement. The strong storm featured heavy rain, large hail and three tornados near Grady. Damages included road washouts, broken windows and downed trees across...
Portales City Council on Tuesday approved a plan to have fire inspections for city and state buildings and commercial businesses not in homes done by the state Fire Marshal’s Office. Portales Fire Chief T. J. Cathey said changes began to happen when “we lost our fire marshal in 2020.” Personnel were sent to inspection training but due to an uptick in service calls the department had trouble meeting inspection obligations. “We will still do fire inspections for businesses located in homes as state fire marshal personn...
The Clovis Municipal Schools Board on Tuesday was lacking one member due to a resignation. It was reported by Board President Cindy Osburn during the session Board Vice President Sharon Epps tendered her resignation as District 1 representative effective Oct. 10. Osburn said Epps "resigned due to a personal issue." Epps could not be reached for comment. Osburn noted as per state regulations the board has 45 days from Oct. 10 to appoint a replacement for Epps. Osburn outlined s...
