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Articles written by Kevin Baird Cmi Staff Writer


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  • ENMU grads prepare to take next step

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    After flipping their tassels from right to left, the Eastern New Mexico University class of 2013 tossed their caps into the air Saturday and Greyhound Arena exploded with cheers from students, family and friends. CMI staff photo: Kevin Baird Joseph Bone graduated Saturday with a bachelor's degree in aviation science. He is hoping to intern with Southwest Airlines as an airplane technician. Joseph Bone was beaming after receiving his bachelor's in aviation science. "I feel...

  • Residents 'relay big'

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    Area residents gathered at Ned Houk Park north of Clovis on Friday night to "relay big" and honor those who have battled cancer as well as raise funds to fight cancer in the Relay For Life. CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks Cheyenne Edwards, 5, of Clovis sings "God Bless America" during the opening ceremony Friday of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Ned Houk Park in Clovis. The relay began with cancer survivors, wearing their purple survivor T-shirts, taking the...

  • Weather service predicting dust storm

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    The New Mexico Environment Department issued an alert to New Mexicans on Tuesday about the health risks associated with dust storms. The alert was issued in time for a dust storms forecasted across the state today. The weather service forecast predicts wind gusts up to 50 mph today. A cold front is expected to arrive in the afternoon or evening. "Inhaling dust can cause a number of serious health problems and can make some health problems worse," the alert states. "The best precaution to take during a dust storm is to simply...

  • Hobbs sweeps Wildcats

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    The Hobbs Eagles capped off a District 4-5A doubleheader sweep of the Clovis Wildcats on Friday night with Joseph Campos tossing a six-inning, 10-0 shutout. Clovis (9-13, 0-4 district) lost 7-4 in the first game. "The kid was nasty," Clovis coach Shane Leatherwood said of Campos. "Not a lot of our kids have seen a curveball that hard." Campos had eight strikeouts. Peyton Lott pitched five innings for the Wildcats in the second game, striking out four. Centerfielder Michael Cordova led the Wildcats in the second game with two...

  • YMCA abruptly closes local operations

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    A group of angry residents clad in gym attire stood outside the Clovis Family YMCA on Friday afternoon. They had come to the YMCA to work out, and they were informed that it would be their last workout because the YMCA would be closed, effective Saturday. CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks The Clovis Family YMCA at Hilltop Plaza is closing effective Saturday because of continuing financial losses, according to the YMCA of Central New Mexico. The 10,000-square-foot health and...

  • Pentagon talks about closing bases

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    One Curry County commissioner is confident Cannon Air Force Base would be spared in a Department of Defense proposal that calls for another round of domestic base closures. "There's so much construction out there, and they just finished building C-130 hangars," Commissioner Frank Blackburn said. "It would be foolish to put Cannon on BRAC." The Pentagon has proposed $2.4 billion over five years to cover the initial costs of base closings, set the round for 2015 and indicated the closures would not be implemented until a year a...

  • New focus given to canola

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    Winter canola uses less water than winter wheat, and crop scientists will be teaching interested farmers about the benefits and challenges of growing this crop. Courtesy photo: New Mexico State University Canola has a variety of uses, including mill for feeding livestock and it can be converted into biodeisel, and will be the focus of a field day 9 a.m. Tuesday at the NMSU Clovis Agricultural Science Center, located 15 miles north of Clovis. Sangu Angadi, a crop stress...

  • "Just for Women" just a little different

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    Just for Women is being hosted by the Portales Women's Club, which celebrated its 110th birthday this year. Proceeds from the event will fund Eastern New Mexico University scholarships and the ENMU homecoming dance, among other charitable donations. Fast facts - What: Just for Women CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks Sheryl Borden of Portales and chairperson of the Just for Women committee puts a sign up in front of a classroom during Friday's set up at Greyhound Arena. - When: 8...

  • United lifetime recognized

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    A teary-eyed Hank Baskett Jr. received a standing ovation as he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Way of Eastern New Mexico for his dedicated service to the Oasis Children's Advocacy Center. Retiring United Way officials were also recognized at Thursday night's United Way awards banquet at the Clovis Civic Center. CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks Hank Baskett Jr. of Clovis, director of Oasis Child Advocacy Center wipes away tears Thursday night at the...

  • Taking heat

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    Irma Saiz, a detention officer in training, held her right hand up, next to her face. She dropped her hand to signify she was ready, and then a stream of pepper spray, which looked like buffalo wing sauce, hit her in the face. "I was ready, and it hurt a lot more than I thought it would," Saiz said. "I just wanted to get the course over with." CMI staff photo: Kevin Baird CMI photo: Kevin Baird After being pepper sprayed, Nathan Macias, left, tackles Sgt. Daniel Padilla. The...

  • Suspect's competency at question

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    District Judge Drew Tatum will issue a decision that will have ramifications for the mentally retarded Marcos Maestas, who was arrested in connection with an April 2010 robbery of a bank in Melrose. Maestas' three accomplices who were arrested with him have pleaded guilty, and they are incarcerated. Discussed during the Friday morning hearing was a motion, filed by the defense on Jan. 14, to dismiss the case for violation of Maestas' right to a speedy trial. "We have a (mentally) retarded person in jail who still has not...

  • EPCOG changing focus; selling three properties

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    EPCOG is getting out of the housing business The Eastern Plains Council of Governments agreed to sell three properties, including office space on Main Street, during an executive committee meeting Wednesday morning. "We've changed our focus," said Sandy Chancey, executive director of EPCOG. "We've down-sized considerably in the last three years because we're realigning our mission to better serve the communities." According to Chancey, the property at 420 Main St. was purchased to accommodate EPCOG staff, but with the...

  • Portales moves on to Albuquerque with win over St. Michael's

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    Hannah Cissell's three 3-pointers in the second half carried third-seeded Portales to a 37-34 victory over 14th-seeded St. Michael's in the first round of the state girls Class 3A tournament on Friday night at the Ram Athletic Center. "If she didn't knock down those threes," coach Clay Stout said, "we'd be in a world of hurt." Cissell, the only senior on the Lady Rams' roster, played her last game in Portales. She led the team with 11 points, while junior Savannah Vincent...

  • Rams sweep Lovington for district tournament titles

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    Zach Campbell's field goal with 11 seconds left sealed Portales High's 61-58 win over Lovington on Saturday night in the District 4-3A boys tournament championship game at the Ram Activity Center. CMI correspondent photo: Joshua Lucero Lady Rams guard Sheraya Cox looks for an opening as she makes her way around Lovington's Amariz Antillon in the second half of the Lady Rams' game against the Lovington Wildcats Saturday night at Ram Athletic Center. With the crowd on its feet, the Wildcats brought the ball down and Shadeau Lam...

  • Doggone fun

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    By the time the weekend is over, more than 200 dogs will have flashed their skills at the Clovis-Portales Kennel Club all-breed agility trials at the Curry County Events Center. The owner's goal is to guide their dogs through obstacle courses in the fastest time. The three-day trial continues today and Sunday. CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks Mica, an Australian shepherd owned by Kelsey Culbertson of Albuquerque, flies though the course Friday at the Clovis-Portales Kennel...

  • City approves prairie dog poison

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    Glenn Eagle did the math. He counted the number of prairie dog burrows on one acre at Ned Houk Park, multiplied it by the 3,200 acres in the city-owned park north of Clovis, and arrived at the estimate of 50,000 burrows — though not all the burrows are inhabited, he said. Eagle was one of several landowners with property adjacent to Ned Houk Park who approached the Clovis City Commission last week for help in eradicating the burrowing rodents. They are worried the f...

  • Since we've no place to go ...

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    While Monday's blizzard brought most of the area to a crawl, there were a few adventurous souls willing to brave the winter weather. We caught up with a few of them: Rick Thomas sat in his wheelchair eating a ham sandwhich in the parking lot of the Foxy Drive-in. The drive in was closed, but they still made the disabled Desert Storm Veteran a sandwich. "I didn't think too much of what they're calling a blizzard today," Thomas said. "Storms like this were common on the...

  • Rams squeak past Ruidoso again

    Kevin Baird CMI staff writer

    Zach Blaeser and Daniel Sanchez converted back-to-back steals into layups with a little less than two minutes to give Portales the lead for good and the Rams held on for a 65-64 District 4-3A win over Ruidoso on Friday night at the Ram Athletic Center. CMI correspondent: Joshua LuceroPHS senior forward Zachary Blaeser is guarded by Ruidoso's Jordan Padilla as he tries to find a teammate to pass to during the first quarter of Friday's District 4-5A matchup at the Ram Athletic...