Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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Mike Linn: CNJ news editor Retired Maj. Gen. Josue “Joe” Robles Jr. served on the eight-member Base Realignment and Closure Commission during the last round of base closures in 1995. The San Antonio, Texas, resident and chief financial officer of USAA Financial Services talked about his experience on the commission and how the BRAC process works. Q: What were some of the reasons for base closures in 1995? A: Back then the reason a lot of the bases were shut down is because there were other bases that could do the same mis... Full story
He was an advocate of education, a man who symbolized strength in the midst of disease, calm in the wind of anxiety, and perseverance in the throes of doubt. Diagnosed with lupus at 18, former state Rep. Mario Urioste spent much of his life battling a disease that broke down his immune system, attacked his organs, deteriorated his tissue. Late Wednesday night the Clovis Democrat lost a lifelong battle with disease at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque. He was 51. “Just knowing what he (lived) through and (went) through, j...
Clovis Mayor David Lansford has thrown his support toward proposed legislation that would ban smoking in businesses and restaurants statewide, an issue that will pit health advocates against proponents of a live-and-let-live society. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque, is scheduled to be introduced Monday during a press conference in Santa Fe. Lansford, who in the fall spearheaded a movement to ban smoking in public places in Clovis, is scheduled to give one minute of testimony in support of the...
Chad Lydick, with Lydick engineers, explains the four different solution possibilities to the Clovis City Commission Thursday for storm water drainage retention for Copper Manor #2 in Clovis. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) The Clovis City Commission on Thursday accepted a fee to manage storm-water drainage for an area subdivision, a first-time move some say could set a costly precedent. Developers of Copper Manor II, a 38-lot subdivision near the intersection of Norris and Enloe streets, will pay a fee of $50,000 to avoid buil... Full story
Certified Medication Aid Brenda Walker, right, visits Jewel Sasser at the Retirement Ranch. (Staff photo: Eric Kluth) A government Web site that compares the quality of area nursing homes has been criticized for being too vague, poorly updated and sometimes displaying incorrect information. Officials say information on nursing homes displayed on the federal Medicare.gov Web site can be a useful starting tool for people researching nursing homes, but the site should be used as a guide rather than a complete measuring stick...
Mike Linn: CNJ News Editor Mike Miller knows how government works. He knows state lawmakers and he’s a “people person.” He likes to talk. In many ways the Portales resident is a prototype lobbyist, a profession that much like sports runs in seasons — in annual stints of 30 or 60 days. “Santa Fe is right up his alley,” Roosevelt County Administrator Charlene Hardin said. “He has a very good rapport with all off our legislators.” This weekend hundreds of lobbyists will point the nose of their vehicles toward Santa Fe, a tow... Full story
Clovis' Elliott Hita battles for a loose ball with Amarillo's Adam Highes on Saturday at Rock Staubus Gym. (CNJ staff photo: Mike Linn) Shot after shot mercilessly caromed off the rim in the final two minutes Saturday night for the Clovis Wildcats. And it didn’t matter who was shooting. Senior post Tigg Bunton missed two shots. Senior forward Dominique Easterlin missed another from point-blank range. Senior guard Jacob Jones saw his 15-foot jumper rim out. And senior point guard Tizrick Phillips’ 3-pointer went half way in...
Texas Tech safety Joey Garcia jokes with a Yucca Junior High student Monday during a visit to the school with fellow former Clovis High standout Hank Baskett, now a wide receiver for the New Mexico Lobos. (CNJ staff photo: Mike Linn) Three-sport Yucca Junior High athlete Jason Roberts listened intently Monday as two former Clovis High football stars talked about life in major college athletics. University of New Mexico wide receiver Hank Baskett and Texas Tech University safety Joey Garcia spoke to about 50 Yucca students...
NEW YORK — Four CBS News staffers were fired Monday following the release of an independent investigation involving a Portales native’s release of documents to the broadcast news organization this fall. The investigation said a “myopic zeal” led to the airing of a discredited story about President Bush’s military service, and that CBS officials’ public apology placed too much blame on retired Texas National Guard Lt. Col. Bill Burkett, the source of the documents and a Portales native who now lives in West Texas. The panel’s...
Curry County Sheriff Roger Hatcher spent six to eight weeks in the fall managing a construction project about two miles outside the Curry County line. His employer was Tim Ashley, one of five county commissioners responsible for setting the sheriff’s annual budget. Was the arrangement between the two elected officials a conflict of interest? Hatcher and Ashley say no. “If I would have thought that working for Tim Ashley would be a conflict I would have never taken the job,” Hatcher said. One political opponent is not so su... Full story
Tyler Schilling, 10, shows his Hampshire hog Saturday afternoon at the 39th annual Farwell Junior Livestock Show. (CNJ staff photo: Mike Linn) FARWELL — Hogs were grunting and lumbering around a small wood-chip arena Saturday at Farwell’s community center. The youngsters who raised them were using sticks to keep the animals from walking into a corner. The judge stood quietly evaluating the quality of the stock. The competition was on at the 39th annual Farwell Junior Livestock Show. About 80 junior livestock raisers sho...
A Curry County grand jury on Friday indicted Larry “Jake” Lucero, 38, of Clovis, in connection with the Dec. 26 slaying of 75-year-old Essie Thomas, according to a press release from the district attorney’s office. The grand jury charged Lucero with first-degree murder; kidnapping; and armed robbery, the release shows. The case against Dwight Wagner, Essie Thomas’ son, has been stayed pending a forensic evaluation, the release said. Wagner will be evaluated to determine whether he is competent to stand trial. Wagner is char...
The city of Clovis is getting more involved in the future of Main Street. It’s also getting more involved in the health and well-being of the city’s youth. City commissioners Thursday voted to designate downtown as the Clovis Downtown Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, meaning the city would be able to offer tax breaks and other incentives to business owners looking to set up shop in the city’s historical district. Commissioners also increased their legislative wish list by $2.5 million, money that would go toward a propo...
A Clovis man charged with killing his mother told police another man actually committed the homicide in an effort to collect on a drug debt. Dwight Wagner, 49, told police that Larry “Jake” Lucero, 38, killed Wagner’s mother, 75-year-old Essie Thomas, after the woman refused to hand over $300 for payment on a debt her son owed, court records show. Both men are in custody and face murder charges in connection with the death of Thomas, known to family as a church-going lady who loved to help people in time of need. District Att...
A Clovis man charged with killing his mother told police another man actually committed the homicide in an effort to collect on a drug debt. Dwight Wagner, 49, told police that Larry “Jake” Lucero, 38, killed Wagner’s mother, 75-year-old Essie Thomas, after the woman refused to hand over $300 for payment on a debt her son owed, court records show. Both men are in custody and face murder charges in connection with the death of Thomas, known to family as a church-going lady who loved to help people in time of need. District Att...
European starlings often group together during the winter months, especially at dusk as seen here Sunday near the corner of 21st Street and Sasser Drive. (Staff photo: Mike Linn) Richard Sharick watched as swarms of birds filled the sky Sunday evening outside his home in the 100 block of Sasser Drive. He’s been watching the same birds every night since October. Thousands of starlings circle above his home at about 4:30 p.m. each night, eventually landing in the evergreen trees that divide the ally behind his home from the L...
A Clovis man on Dec. 21 was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges he and two other suspects burglarized a Clovis home three times and hit a victim in the head with a hammer, a press release from the district attorney’s office shows. James Moten, 43, of Clovis, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary; conspiracy to aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon; aggravated battery; larceny; criminal damage; receiving stolen property; resisting arrest; and residential burglary, the release said. The crimes occurred on April 15, 20...
Wildcats’ Dominique Easterlin shoots over a Rio Rancho defender during Wednesday’s championship game of the Milk Cow Classic. Easterlin scored nine points in the win. (CNJ staff photo: Mike Linn) Tigg Bunton scored 30 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Clovis Wildcats pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 72-59 win in Wednesday’s championship game of the Milk Cow Classic at Rock Staubus Gym. It was the third-straight Milk Cow Classic title for Clovis (11-0) and the second straight year the Wildcats beat Rio Ranch...
Kevin Duncan of Muffley Funeral Home (center) removes the body of Essie Thomas, 75, from her home at 716 W. Grand Ave. on Wednesday as Agent Roman Romero of Clovis police follows behind. (Staff photo: Mike Linn) Police are investigating the death of an elderly Clovis woman as a homicide, and plan to charge a man today in connection with her death, officials said. Essie Thomas, 75, was found dead in the bathroom of her home at 716 Grand Ave. on Tuesday evening with injuries that led police to believe foul play was involved in...
Clovis Police Chief Bill Carey fought for raises for his officers, as seen here at a Public Safety Committee meeting in October. (CNJ staff photo: Eric Kluth) Mike Linn: CNJ news editor Clovis City Commissioner Isidro Garcia didn’t like the idea of funding a giant pay increase for Clovis police. The $714,000 was unbudgeted money, he said, and there was no plan to increase salaries for other city employees. So, against the backdrop of one of the most crowded City Commission meetings in recent memory, Garcia voted against a s... Full story
Tizrick Phillips scores on a layup over Pampa’s Clayton Hall during Tuesday’s win at the Milk Cow Classic tournament in Clovis. (CNJ staff photo: Mike Linn) Trading baskets between teams wasn’t exactly the trademark of Clovis’ semifinal game with Pampa. But in a game of runs, the Wildcats had by far the biggest — a string of 23 straight points in the first half — that was enough to force the Harvesters into playing catchup the rest of the game. Clovis (10-0) moved into the championship of the Milk Cow Classic with a 63-5...
Police are investigating the death of an elderly Clovis woman as a homicide, and plan to charge a man today in connection with her death, officials said. Essie Thomas, 75, was found dead in the bathroom of her home at 716 Grand Ave. on Tuesday evening with injuries that led police to believe foul play was involved in her death, officials said. Police said Wednesday the woman wasn’t shot or stabbed, but declined to release details about her injuries. A suspect in the crime has been charged with resisting arrest, disorderly c...
Western legend Billy the Kid has been dead for more than a century, but you wouldn’t know that from the headlines the legendary gunslinger made in 2004. An investigation spearheaded by a group of New Mexicans — namely Lincoln and De Baca County sheriffs Tom Sullivan and Gary Graves, and Capitan Mayor Steve Sederwall — sought to prove the Kid is buried in Fort Sumner. The effort brought renewed international interest in the legend, made the front page of The New York Times and was printed in roughly 2,000 newspapers acros...
Billy the Kid's grave in Fort Sumner is the area's top tourist attraction. Western legend Billy the Kid has been dead for more than a century, but you wouldn’t know that from the headlines the legendary gunslinger made in 2004. An investigation spearheaded by a group of New Mexicans — namely Lincoln and De Baca County sheriffs Tom Sullivan and Gary Graves, and Capitan Mayor Steve Sederwall — sought to prove the Kid is buried in Fort Sumner. The effort brought renewed international interest in the legend, made the front page...
If approved, Cannon Air Force Base’s proposed airspace expansion will allow pilots to better train for combat and decrease Cannon’s chances of ending up on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list, military officials and community leaders said this year. Cannon officials began the first of many steps to implement the airspace expansion — called the New Mexico Training Range Initiative — with a series of public meetings at the beginning of the year. A new round of public meetings — in Clovis, Roswell, Fort Sumner and Santa...
