Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Bill Wood will be retiring after 23-years of playing the playing the pipe organ and has been a staff member to the music program at the First United Methodist Church since 1976. Wood first learned to play the piano after his parents bought a piano, an instrument that his mother played in her youth. In first-grade, Wood asked the kindergarten teacher to give him lessons. "I begged for the lessons. I wanted to play," said Wood. Jillian Holbert: Portales News-Tribune Bill Wood rehearses Sigfrid Karg-Elert's "Now Thank We All...
Girl Scout Troop 609 is starting a campaign to put a stop to pollution and bullying in Portales. The troop of Brownies (girls in their third year of Girl Scouts) came up with the idea to post signs throughout First and Second Street and run a radio campaign on Mix 107.5 by themselves. "They come up with all of the ideas and we just follow their lead," said Christina Wampler, the co-leader of troop 609. Jillian Holbert: Portales News-Tribune Matty Calhoun makes an anti-bullying poster at a Girl Scouts meeting. According to...
Daniel Ahrens, a senior-to-be at Los Alamos High School, is participating in New Mexico's Boy State this week. Boys State, an American Legion program, teaches high school students about civics by allowing the students to form city and state governments in the course of a week. Ahrens was elected to the city council among his peers and hopes to be elected governor by the end of the week. After he graduates from Los Alamos High School next year, Ahrens wants to study physics, environmental science and public policy so that he c... Full story
Recent Eastern New Mexico University graduate Mikaela Lombardo will be showing her flesh pottery and murals at the Show Me Your Venus art exhibition at the Yam Theater throughout this week. The exhibition is a collaborative effort among Lombardo, who heads the group, and five of her university friends comprised of graduates and graduating seniors. Lombardo said the exhibition is about taking classic, traditional art and bringing it into a contemporary setting. Jillian Holbert: Portales News-Tribune Amber Gutierrez, left, and...
Laura Merrick spent three months hand stitching a big pink quilt that has raised $1,500 so far for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. At age 90, this is no small feat. Merrick suffers from arthritis in her hands. "I don't quilt continuously because my back hurts, my eyes hurt so it takes longer for me to quilt," said Merrick. "I used to be able to quilt a quilt in two weeks." Jillian Holbert: Portales News Tribune Laura Merrick shows off her quilt. Merrick is raising money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer...
At the end of today, 164 Portales High School graduates will be turning their tassels and walking across the stage of the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhound Arena into their new lives. Here is what some members of the 2013 PHS graduating class had to say about their high school journeys and their futures: - Tatiana Castillo wants to study youth ministry in Waxahachie, Texas, after she graduates. At PHS, Castillo was active in choir, where she and her fellow students sang at community events such as the Christmas Light... Full story
Bradley Mitchell coaches the Cubs Little League baseball team and serves at the athletic coordinator at Portales Junior High School. Born and raised in Portales, Mitchell graduated from Eastern New Mexico University and taught history at PJHS for nine years before switching over to physical education this year. His wife Erin works as a kindergarten teacher at Brown Elementary. They have a 10-year-old son Brent, and a 7-year-old daughter Casyn. What is the best part about teaching kids sports? I like seeing them improve and... Full story
Another year has passed and a new legion of high school graduates are excited to enter the world of college and careers. After 13 years of school, these graduates will be finally free to make their own choices, mistakes and successes. Here are some of their stories: Roberto Mendoza Roberto Mendoza has been attending Floyd since third grade and will be graduating in a class of 16 students. Mendoza participated in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, basketball, baseball and track in addition to working part time.... Full story
Gay Luna and her two daughters, Tori and Devyn Alvarado, got straight to work building their home Saturday with the help of Habitat for Humanity during Women Build Week. With no previous building experience, the family had to quickly learn how to use a nail gun and power saw. "I just feels good because at the end we could say we built our own house," said Devyn. Jillian Holbert: Portales News Tribune Mother-daughter team Gay Luna (right) and Devyn Alvarado use a nail gun to at the Habitat for Humanity work site. Luna will...
The senior high school students of Dora, Elida, Floyd, Faith Triumphant and Portales will leap into the next phase of their lives when they graduate next week. Here are what some graduates have to say about their last few days in school: Jasi Roberts has been attending Dora since she was in kindergarten and will now be graduating in a class of 22 students. Jasi Roberts Roberts played volleyball, basketball, baseball and ran track in addition to participating in the Future Farmers of America and 4-H. Roberts plans to attend... Full story
Susan Baysinger was born and raised on a family farm outside the Quad Cities in Illinois. She earned both a bachelor's degree in history and political science and a master's degree in general education from Eastern New Mexico University. She also earned a master's degree in history and higher education at Southern Illinois University. She has been working for the City of Portales since 2008 as the capital projects administrator and was recently awarded Employee of the Quarter by the city. Susan Baysinger: Courtesy photo... Full story
Lindsey-Steiner Elementary School's gifted and talented social studies class put on the Night of the Notables on Monday in which students researched and presented historic American figures. The Night of Notables is an event comprised of student presentations on the figures they researched, giving students to show the community what they've learned and an opportunity to speak in front of the public. Costumes and display boards were used by students to complement their presentations. Jillian Holbert: Portales News-Tribune Nicho...
Kaylee Peterson and Elizabeth Hogue Another semester has come to pass and Eastern New Mexico University's spring class of 2013 will be graduating Saturday at the Greyhound Arena. Most students have put in four years of hard work to earn their bachelor degree and six or more years to earn their master's. This semester's commencement will feature Rep. Bob Wooley of Roswell, who will be talking about the current job market and what lies ahead for the graduates in the future....
Trenna McKinley has been dancing since she was 8 years old. McKinley, an eighth grader, will be transitioning into high school next year and said she will be performing with the Portales High School dance team. McKinley attends the Spotswood Wilson School of Dance as a student in addition to volunteering there as a teacher to younger dance students. When she grows up, McKinley hopes to be a solo performer in a dance company. Jillian Holbert: Portales News-Tribune Trenna McKinley demonstrates how to do an arabesque at the Spot...
Linda Milbery of Portales sat beneath a tent in Blackwater Draw wearing a tear skirt and learning how to flint knap obsidian as part of the Prehistoric New Mexico Open House this Saturday. After dulling one edge of the piece of obsidian with a grinding rock, Milbery used the sharp edge to smooth out a piece of wood that she was fashioning into walking stick. "It's a chance to learn the old arts, the old techniques, the old crafts, some things I've been interested in my whole life," said Milbery. Joshua Lucero: PNT Corresponde... Full story
Editor's note: This is the first in a series of features about the deaf community. An interpreter was used to speak with Jerradan Jones. Jerradan Jones hasn't let being deaf get in the way of living a normal life. Jones works a full-time job at his father's auto shop, raises his son, and spends time with his friends riding dirt bikes and playing video games. Darynda Jones was first clued into her son's deafness when she dropped some pans when he was sleeping in his crib close by and he didn't wake up. He was a month old. It... Full story
Tawna Luscombe grew up in Roosevelt County, living in Portales and Causey during her school years. After high school, Luscombe went to Clovis Community College and worked as an office manager and pharmacy technician before she became the children's librarian at the Portales Public Library. She has been married (Paul) for almost 15 years and has a 6-year-old son, and an 11-year-old daughter, both of whom are avid readers and active in sports. The family also has three Labradors, Rocky, Lucy, and Penelope and enjoys camping.... Full story
The end of the semester is quickly approaching and the Eastern New Mexico University theater students will be presenting their student-directed, written and acted pieces this week. The End of the Semester Student Showcase runs today through Thursday at the ENMU theater. Victoria Wright, a theater major, has written a piece that another student director will stage. She will also be directing a play written by another student. Jillian Holbert: Portales News-Tribune Eastern New Mexico University student director Rose Kelly...
After filling up on donuts and breakfast burritos, volunteers from around Portales sprung into action Saturday to help renovate the Recreation Center as part of Comcast Cares Day. The majority of the volunteers came from Portales High School's cheer, track, tennis and softball teams. According to Candra Reynolds, coordinator for the event and a Comcast representative, both the Recreation Center and participating high school athletic teams will each receive a grant from Comcast ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 in addition to the...
Editor's note: This is the final story of a three-part series on Eastern New Mexico University music students' recitals. A friend convinced Brittley Bates to join band in middle school. She chose the flute because it was one of the instruments that her parents played in high school. "I really fell in love with it when I got into high school," said Bates, a native of Hobbs. "I actually got to play harder music and all that stuff, and I really fell in love with it." Jillian Holbert: Portales News-Tribune Brittley Bates...
Martin Mendoza was recently given a 25-year service award by the Portales City Council for his services in the Parks and Cemetery Department. Born and raised in Portales, Mendoza's first job out of high school was for the city. Jillian Holbert: Portales News-Tribune Martin Mendoza pulling weeds in front of Portales City Hall. What's the best part of your job? Meeting different people. You're always meeting someone different. I've met all the city managers, the new mayors. What do you do at your job? A little big of...
After 14 hours of relentless walking around Eastern New Mexico University's Greyhound Arena, participants in the Portales Relay for Life finally got to stop at 5 a.m. Saturday. With 37 teams and over 370 participants, the Relay raised about $9,000 so far. Mark Clark, co-chair for the event, said money raised from the silent auction has not yet been accounted for and it is likely the total will be closer to $20,000, about what it was last year. Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune Locals provide country and bluegrass...
Walter Chambers has been working as an animal control supervisor for the Portales Police Department for nine years, since the age of 21. Born and raised in Portales, Chambers' first job was working for Eastern New Mexico University's housing department but decided to switch to animal control because of his love for animals. Chambers was trained at the National Animal Control Academy and was certified by the Texas Academy of Animal Control. Chambers talks about they day in the life of an animal control officer. Jillian...
Delaney Swift, a freshman from Portales High School, has been competing in Destination Imagination since the third grade. She and her PHS teammates won first place at the secondary school level for their improvisation challenge, Change in RealiTee, at the statewide competition in Albuquerque two weeks ago. Destination Imagination is a creativity and problem solving competition for students in grades elementary through college. The students are placed in teams and each team is given a challenge that they must then solve and...
The courthouse square was alive with creativity as kindergarten through college students wielded their chalk for the ultimate artistic expression at the Third Annual Sidewalk Chalk Competition. According to Dawn Wolf-Taylor, a board member of the Portales Arts Council, those in kindergarten through sixth grade were part of the free draw and were not eligible to compete for prizes. "They can start figuring it out for when they're older," said Taylor. This year's theme was science fiction so Ericka Necker, a student from...
