Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Early voting for the June 2 primary has begun, with both the Curry and Roosevelt county clerk's offices reopened for that specific purpose. Other functions provided by the clerk's offices will still be handled on an appointment basis. With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, many voters are expected to take the path of absentee ballots. The state is not mailing out absentee ballot applications, but instead mailers have been sent that tell voters how to apply for an absentee ball...
CLOVIS — Curry County commissioners expressed appreciation for a newfound clean water partnership in response to PFAS groundwater contamination near Cannon Air Force Base, but indicated Tuesday morning they weren’t sure it was wise or even legal for the county to join. Commissioners spent much of their Tuesday meeting listening to a presentation by John Kern of the Clean Water Partnership — Cannon. Kern said the CWP is not affiliated with the base, but wants to “provide the leadership that helps develop a solid remedia...
CLOVIS — There were no action items, no votes to be taken during the superintendent’s report at Tuesday’s Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education meeting. But the report from Superintendent Renee Russ was by far the most voluminous and the most well received portion of the meeting as she spoke about the challenges and successes the district has had managing the COVID-19 pandemic on the fly. “We have employees who have shown extreme flexibility,” Russ said, “and just a willingness to step in stride with us at the distric...
CLOVIS - Different carrier, different planes, different direction. A quick transition was made Friday at Clovis Municipal Airport, with Denver Air Connection taking over Essential Air Service operations at the facility. The U.S. Department of Transportation selected Key Lime Air in February for a two-year order to take over for Boutique Air, which had offered Clovis residents service to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport since 2014. Denver Air Connection, a subsidiary of...
CLOVIS - Kent Pearson strolled into Clovis Municipal Airport on Thursday afternoon, then checked in, dropped off his rental car key and checked his bag like he's done at countless other airports. Then he was told to help himself to the front counter spread with sodas, a meat and cheese tray and dozens of cupcakes creating the Boutique Air logo with a border of vanilla and chocolate. Unaware of what he'd stumbled into, he asked himself, "Is this how they treat EVERY...
PORTALES — The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office on Monday said via its Facebook page it won’t enforce public health orders that have closed many small businesses. The post also encouraged business owners to “Keep doors closed and locked and limit your patrons in numbers. “We support your rights to open your business but ask that if you do, you do so discreetly and responsibly.” It also states the sheriff’s office won’t enforce “any mandates set by MLG or the NM Dept. of H... Full story
CLOVIS — A gross receipts tax increment first put in place 20 years ago is still in place, but Curry County Commission members have taken a first step toward redirecting its use. By a 5-0 vote Monday, the commission introduced an ordinance covering the county’s .125% environmental tax. If commissioners approve the ordinance following a public hearing in their May 19 meeting, the tax will on Jan. 1 be stripped of its current designation “for the acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance of solid waste facilities, wa...
CLOVIS — A gross receipts tax increment first put in place 20 years ago is still in place, but Curry County Commission members have taken a first step toward redirecting its use. By a 5-0 vote Monday, the commission introduced an ordinance covering the county’s .125% environmental tax. If commissioners approve the ordinance following a public hearing in their May 19 meeting, the tax will on Jan. 1 be stripped of its current designation “for the acquisition, construction, operation and maintenance of solid waste facilities, wa...
Amid non-essential business shutdowns and stay-at-home/shelter-in-place orders, Americans have faced numerous COVID-19 pandemic issues. Many of those were just as much supply-chain issues as supply issues. Take March 18 in Albuquerque, when a toilet paper manufacturer that primarily served wholesale distributors tweaked its supply chain and offered a public sale. Miles of cars lined up at Roses Southwest Papers Inc. and drivers frustrated by empty grocery store shelves forked over $35 in cash for 96 rolls of the new white...
CLOVIS — The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority will see some changes to its makeup less than four weeks from now. It spent some time Thursday preparing for just that. Effective May 20, the board will transition to a six-person board to reflect the departures of Melrose, Grady and Curry County from the authority. As first constructed in 2011, the authority board is currently at seven members with three from Clovis, two from Portales, one from Curry County and one that rotates annually between Melrose, Grady, Texico a...
PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University will pay outgoing Chancellor Jeff Elwell nearly six figures following a resignation he attributed to “serious health issues,” effective Friday. Documentation on Elwell’s departure was acquired through public records requests by The News. Calls made to Elwell and Board of Regents President Terry Othick were not immediately returned. Details of Elwell's health issues were not made public. According to the separation agreement created April 13 and signed by both parties April 17: • Elwell...
CLOVIS — The Clovis City Commission met quickly Tuesday afternoon, approving a resolution urging Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to reconsider public health orders that have shuttered local small businesses and non-profits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution, approved by a 6-2 vote, asks the governor to consider an “immediate modification of public health orders to restore functioning parts of our local economy that do not endanger public health, proliferate innovation into our workforce and businesses and support the...
CLOVIS — After approximately 45 minutes of discussion on how and why to send the strongest message possible to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Curry County Commission approved a resolution seeking a modification of public health orders for businesses to reopen with safeguards as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Before and after the 5-0 vote, commissioners agreed letters from the commission and business owners would also be needed to get the message across on how public health orders have devastated small businesses with s...
PORTALES — Add Roosevelt County to the list of entities looking to amend its own path forward dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. By a 4-0 vote, county commissioners on Monday approved a resolution asking the state to delegate authority to local governments during the pandemic and reopen businesses closed under public health orders, provided they implement the same mitigating practices required of essential businesses. Roosevelt County as of Monday had one positive COVID-19 case, and that person has since recovered, a...
PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University Chancellor and Portales campus president Jeff Elwell on Friday tendered his resignation, effective at the end of this week. The ENMU board of regents accepted the resignation in an emergency meeting, and named Patrice Caldwell as interim chancellor. Elwell, who joined the university in 2017, announced last month he would resign no later than June 30, 2021. It wasn’t immediately clear why the university’s 10th president is leaving so soon, and regents declined to give a specific reaso...
CLOVIS — The music part of the annual Draggin’ Main Music Festival is off, and the event’s budget has been slashed by 2/3, but organizers are still hoping to salvage some summer fun. The June 13-20 festival will still include classic drive-in tours, the Gearhead Gathering and the Main Street drag, and possibly 200 visitors with the New Mexico Harley Owners Group. Chamber board members on Wednesday approved a budget of $62,155 — far from the pre-coronavirus plan to spend $180,000. Festival Chair Thom Moore said the committ...
CLOVIS — Randy Petty said he put his life savings in his downtown Clovis furniture store because he believes in the community and its strength to survive. But his survival is being challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and state public health orders mandating he close while national chain competitors stay open. The Clovis City Commission agreed with him and other small business owners, and called a special meeting for 3 p.m. Tuesday to consider a resolution asking the state to let nonessential businesses and nonprofits r...
PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University Chancellor and Portales campus president Jeff Elwell tendered his resignation from the school, effective April 24. The ENMU board of regents accepted the resignation in an emergency meeting Friday, and named Patrice Caldwell as interim chancellor. Elwell, who joined the university in 2017, announced last month he would resign no later than June 30, 2021. It wasn't immediately clear why the university's 10th president in leaving so soon, and regents declined to give a specific reason d...
CLOVIS — In a Monday report to Curry County commissioners, the administrator of Plains Regional Medical Center commended his staff for its preparation and work in the “unprecedented times” brought to eastern New Mexico by the COVID-19 pandemic. Drew Dostal spoke with commissioners for around 25 minutes in Monday’s special telephonic meeting, and noted he expected the curve to reach its peak a few weeks later than originally anticipated — which he said, “speaks to the effect of social distancing.” Dostal joined PRMC in late... Full story
CLOVIS — Plains Regional Medical Center Administrator Drew Dostal, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, has agreed to regular discussions with The News. Here are parts of a Q&A conducted Monday: Q: Are there any COVID-19 patients in the Clovis hospital? A: No. Q: How many hospital employees have been tested? How many total employees does the hospital have? A: I do not know how many have been tested. There are people who are tested I don’t know about. (Dostal estimated PRMC has 610 employees.) Q: Have any hos... Full story
CLOVIS — In a special meeting scheduled to weigh in on an argument to the New Mexico Supreme Court, the Curry County Commission opposed an appeal by county clerks to hold the June 2 primary as an all-mail election. The state’s highest court was set to begin oral arguments on the matter Tuesday afternoon, and the county resolution that passed by a 4-1 vote is expected to be presented as an exhibit. A group of 27 county clerks across the state asked the court March 30 to allow a mail-in election because of safety and log... Full story
PORTALES — The last time Eastern New Mexico University regents met, they made a decision to postpone graduation ceremonies with the intent to either hold a replacement ceremony or cancel by Aug. 1. A virtual graduation floated at Friday’s virtual regents meetings brings ENMU no closer to either option, but might offer some temporary relief. John Houser, ENMU’s assistant vice president of marketing and communications, told regents the college is looking at a virtual ceremony that recognizes graduates while keeping expen...
Floy Wood was a tremendous salesman with an unrivaled work ethic, but family members said he worked just as hard to glorify God and be there for his family. Wood, who died March 20 at age 92, could always be counted on for a love of nature and an enthusiasm for life even as dementia and Alzheimer’s took its toll on the final dozen of his years. Born Feb. 19, 1928, in Clayton, Wood got his experience in work early at his father’s Wood’s Grocery and as a high school senior for the railroad. “He was in that greatest generat...
CLOVIS - This Easter Sunday there are few, if any, sitting in church pews. Despite the importance of the holiday to Christians around eastern New Mexico, church services have largely turned to an at-home exercise due to concerns on gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. There will, however, be a celebration, and it shouldn't be hard to notice. Any motorist is welcome to take part in the community Easter parade, with organizer Latriece Brooks noting it started when she asked...
CLOVIS - The three biggest words one would expect to hear at area churches just days from now are "He is risen," the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But most people will be hearing those messages not from wooden church benches but from home furniture and car seats. That's because of three other words - "stay at home," a new public health order from New Mexico in hopes to slow the spread of COVID-19. Churches have been exempted from the state orders, but most locat...
