Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 184
From the intricately stitched stars to the vibrant red, white and blue patterns, Vietnam Veteran Jessie Strauch said she was absolutely in shock when her hands ran over her Quilt of Valor. She said memories of her years of service came flooding in when she touched the fabric. The memory of rigorous training drills, the adventure to every new move, and the laughs she often shared with her friends, all came back to Strauch in a "beautifully stitched quilt." Strauch, 73, said...
Clovis’ elected officials should set aside their personal beliefs and work to represent every city resident. That’s what resident Taylor McCoy said Thursday night as she spoke to candidates for the March 5 city election. McCoy spurred discussion on representation of minority groups such as the LGTBQ+ community. About half of the two-hour Curry County Democratic Party forum at Clovis’ La Casa Senior Center was centered around the issue. She said it was “heartbreaking” and she often felt “unrepresented” by the lack of attendanc...
Misty Bertrand Q: What is the purpose of the local government? A: The City Commission and the local government are there to protect the community through the ordinances and regulations. I feel like they should also be the voice of the people by representing our community on that larger level. Q: The city spent part of 2023 on efforts to ban abortion clinics in Clovis’ city limits. Are you interested in continuing that fight? Why or why not? A: I am sick and tired of this fight. This is a fight that has been going on my entire...
As the winter season continues, High Plains Humane Society partners have teamed up with Rezdawg Rescue to protect your pets against deadly infections. High Plains will be hosting a free vaccine clinic, with low-cost microchips, to help provide affordable care to families. The event is scheduled at the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico on March 2-3. The vaccines are sponsored by Rezdawg Rescue and Mile High Canine Rescue. The clinic will be held in a drive-up fashion from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointments are needed. Cash...
Who says "gossip" never benefited anyone? It helped Eleanor Shuler win her second straight Roosevelt County spelling bee on Jan. 18. That was the winning word for the fifth-grader who competed against nine other spellers at Eastern New Mexico University's Buchanan Hall. After finishing 12th in the state spelling bee a year ago, Eleanor said she's had a fire in her stomach to strive higher this year. "The spelling bee means a lot to me because I've put in a lot of work to get...
How do you spell success? For Charles Busija, it's hard work and faith. "When I won, I felt really happy because God led me through and helped me remember everything that I studied," he said. Charles, 11, is Curry County's top speller, having won the annual bee Jan. 19 at Clovis Community College. He competed against 25 other contestants who came from schools throughout the county. It wasn't easy. Charles said as the competition got smaller, and the words became progressively...
Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local officials. Sam Kelley was appointed Curry County assessor late last year following the abrupt resignation of Randa Jesko. Q: What are your plans now that you're county assessor? Are changes coming? A: My immediate plans are to take the greatest office staff I've ever worked with and have them recognized throughout the state. As far as local changes, we are always looking for ways to make the process...
Enamored by their stoic personality and versatility within the ranch, owner of Windrush Alpaca Ranch Rosemary Metcalf said she fell in love with alpacas as soon as she saw them in a farm journal. Metcalf said alpacas are not your everyday livestock, but the adventure in taking care of them is an experience she wouldn’t trade for the world. “The beautiful thing about alpacas is their gentle and very stoic personalities … They’re very low maintenance and I loved the versatility of the alpaca fiber provided,” Metcalf said. Win...
He was a dedicated leader. A friend of the community. A mentor to those who sought his guidance. That's how friends and family described former Portales Mayor Ronald Jackson, who died Wednesday evening. "He was dedicated. Ron was the type of guy who would go out of his way to help anyone and everyone. ... He always made friends easily," Jackson's brother, Roger Jackson said. Ron Jackson, 63, died at a hospital in Lubbock. Roger said his brother's medical condition had been...
Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local officials. Michael Brockett is the Curry County sheriff. Q: How is the crime business in the county these days? Seeing anything unusual, any trends? A: We are currently experiencing an increase in crimes of opportunity. Thieves are actively searching out unlocked vehicles and businesses and are taking advantage of what they find. I urge county residents and businesses to make sure they are locking up...
Portales Animal Services is hosting a free vaccination and registration clinic from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Memorial Building parking lot. Portales Community Services Director Kelly McClellan said the city received a grant, in the form of vaccine shots, by Petco Love for free pet vaccinations to community-owned pets. She said she’s hopeful Portales can host a similar event once a month. “Parvo season starts when the weather starts heating up and we are at the tail-end, hopefully, of a distemper outbreak, so we are...
The city of Portales will be looking into introducing a new water efficiency plan (WEP) and establishing a water advisory committee by February. That’s what area residents heard Thursday at a community meeting at the Memorial Building. City Manager Sarah Austin said the plan is being developed to provide the city with a framework for coordinating a response to water supply/production emergencies, including droughts and infrastructure or equipment failures. “The purpose of the WEP is to establish an effective and sys...
The man accused of starting the Clovis Walmart fire on Sept. 3 has been indicted on federal charges of arson and attempted arson, officials said. Ninth Judicial District Attorney Quentin Ray said Friday he has dismissed state charges so that Jimmy Guillen, 59, can be prosecuted under federal law. “They have a higher range of punishment and I think a different system may work better if there are any defenses that the defendant tries to bring up,” Ray said. Under state law, Guillen faced up to 25 ½ years in prison if conv...
Results from the statewide wastewater testing at New Mexico schools have been published on the governor's website. But local school officials said the results announced Tuesday leave them with more questions than answers. Testing for opioids and stimulants within schools' sewage water began in October, as part of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's recent public health order on drugs. "While we applaud what are surely good intentions on the part of the state, and we are always...
From operating heavy machinery to saving motorists in car crashes, Clovis High School students last week got a peek at everyday jobs through virtual reality. Clovis High School Principal David Fredericks said the goal of the Be Pro, Be Proud event was to provide insight and resources for students to prepare them for a future career. "I want our kids to see a wide variety, so that they have more knowledge with what they can be and see what careers actually exist within our...
Drawn inside due to freezing temperatures, Clovis and Portales-area residents on Monday celebrated civil rights and diversity on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In Clovis, the day began with an outdoor ceremony at Potter Park. About 20 celebrants braved 18-degree temperatures next to memorials of King and his wife Coretta Scott King in the city park. The event was originally planned as a march from Potter Park east on Seventh Street to Legacy Life Church at Seventh and Main...
New Mexico’s legislative session kicks off a 30-day run Tuesday with a focus on budget issues. But local lawmakers expect the Second Amendment and crime rates will also be hot topics of conversation and possibly new legislation. Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis, said she expects age limits to purchase guns, waiting periods for gun buys and guns in polling places will be among issues addressed before the session ends on Feb. 15. “The primary focus is going to be, besides the budget, the Second Amendment and gun control,” Reeb said....
Clovis’ mayor’s position and four City Commission seats will be contested when voters go to the polls on March 5. Thirteen city residents signed up Tuesday for six positions on the ballot. All positions are for four years except the seat Debbie Zamora currently holds in District 3. Zamora was appointed to fill the seat vacated by David Bryant and that position is for two years. Early voting begins Feb. 6. We asked each candidate for their background and “Why do you want this job?” Their responses follow: Mayor Mike Morris...
Rosemary Metcalf said she never had a barn cat while growing up in England. Now that she has a ranch in Clovis, she said she can't imagine them out of her life. Barn cats aren't just "tools" to protect the property; they are family, she said. "I don't consider any animal a tool. They are a living, breathing creature. They serve a purpose with rodent control, but at the end of the day they need to be cared for," said Metcalf, whose Windrush Alpaca Ranch is home to six barn cats...
The sign's been a part of downtown Clovis for 80 years, bringing attention to the railroad's presence in the city for 117 years. And now that fluorescent marker on the south end of Main Street is brighter than most of the community can ever remember. Late this summer, Clovis' George Krattiger heard the Santa Fe Railway sign might be coming down because of its state of disrepair. Krattiger, who also was part of a 1994 restoration project of the iconic sign, voiced concerns...
After months of training, the Eastern New Mexico University's Greyhound Sound has won Metallica's "For Whom the Band Tolls," marching band competition. Metallica had challenged marching bands across the United States to incorporate their music into the marching band's shows. The competition gave marching bands at high school and collegiate levels opportunity to compete for nearly $200,000 in music equipment. "I am so proud of our Greyhound Sound! They rocked the field, and it...
Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local officials. Michael Miller is the newly appointed mayor of Portales. Q: What inspired you to take up the role as mayor? Were you planning on running for the position in the next election anyway if Ron Jackson had stayed? Do you think Mayor Jackson did a good job? A: Mayor Jackson did a good job serving as mayor. I had no intention of running for the position but was asked by my colleagues on the council...
After 18 hours of induced labor, Kasper Montes arrived Wednesday as the first 2024 baby at Plains Regional Medical Center. Born at 1:33 a.m., Kasper is a treasure, said his mother, Maria Ortega. Kasper's name literally means bringer of treasure, she said. "It was an amazing experience," Ortega said. Kasper was born smaller than Ortega and his father John Montes expected – he's 6 pounds, 2 ounces and 19 inches in length. Ortega and Montes are from Clovis, with Kasper being t...
Clovis Community College has received 18 applicants for its president’s position, trustees announced at Wednesday’s meeting. Once again, interim President Robin Jones declined to say whether she plans to apply for the job, which became open when embattled President Charles Nwankwo resigned Feb. 1. “I am not able to put anything on record at this time,” Jones told The News after Wednesday’s meeting. She was named interim president after Nwankwo was placed on paid leave in August 2022. In March she said she was intereste...
After several years of dormancy, the city of Clovis is looking to revive the Local Growth Management Committee to better seek ways to support the mission of Cannon Air Force Base. Mayor Mike Morris presented a memorandum of agreement to the commission at its regular meeting on Thursday. Morris proposed the name of the committee be changed to Armed Forces Support Committee along with presenting amended duties of the committee. Morris said the goal of the committee would be to bring in elected representatives from the...
