Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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The race is on again in Quay County's bid for the state's last racetrack and casino license. A spokesman said Quay County will ask the New Mexico Racing Commission next week to once again open applications. The request follows a state Court of Appeals decision on Thursday that upheld nullification of the license once held by La Mesa racino in Raton. "What it all means is there are no more holdups as far as Raton is concerned. Their licenses are gone," said Warren Frost, executive director of the Quay County Gaming Authority....
A presidential sequestration order will reduce payments to Quay and Roosevelt counties under the U.S. Department of Interior's Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. Failure to reach a deal on the national budget and avoid sequestration has resulted in a 5.1 percent reduction in the PILT program, which compensates counties for property taxes not collected on federal land. Quay, Roosevelt and De Baca counties use PILT money for general operations, including fire departments and other local services. Curry County has no...
An extended drought that has included the hottest and driest 24-month period on record in New Mexico has led to a historic low water level at one area lake. Several other area lakes are well below capacity, officials said. The water level at Conchas Lake in San Miguel County is at 4,155 feet, which is 45 feet below the spillway and the lowest the lake has been since the record set in 1954 when it was at 4,155.80, said Jason Latham, Army Corp of Engineers at Conchas. It doesn't appear the lakes will be recharged anytime soon....
Gun Control and drivers licenses for illegal immigrants continue dominating the spotlight as the 2013 Legislature's 60-day session passes the midway point. CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks Richard Carr, right, of Clovis fills in a firearm transaction record for a background check required to buy a gun, while John Collier of Clovis, a sales associate at Beaulieu Brothers Pawn City in Clovis, looks on. Proposed laws extending background checks are one of the hottest topics in Sant... Full story
The Eastern Plains Council of Governments amended bylaws Wednesday and joined others in opposing the listing of the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened or endangered species. The most significant change to bylaws is the removal of at-large organizations and the acceptance of special districts as members to EPCOG, said Sandy Chancey, executive director. Chancey said special districts include organizations such as irrigation districts and soil conservation districts. "We need to offer these organizations the best type of...
There is Super Bowl Sunday. But for eastern New Mexico, the warm-up is today's Salvation Army Souper Bowl. The annual fundraiser offers an enticing array of homemade and slow simmered soups. It's the sixth such event for The Salvation Army at 317 East Second St. in Clovis, an agency that serves Clovis and Portales. "This is our largest fundraiser next to our Christmas drive," said Salvation Army Maj. Jim Gallop. CMI staff photo: Tony Bullocks Linda Thrower of Clovis pours in w...
The sounds of Mariachi music culminated groundbreaking ceremonies Friday of the new Raintree apartment complex. "The construction of complex will help to fulfill the local need for housing," said Luis Ybarra, development coordinator. The two-story, 192-unit complex with units from one to three bedrooms will be built on Llano Estacado east of Faith Christian Family Church, said Vicki Lydick, co-owner. Lydick said the first phase of the project will see the construction of 128 units, with apartments being available for rent...
A federal court cleared the way Monday for construction to start on the first of the Ute Water Project. A U.S. District Court judge in Albuquerque denied the Village of Logan's request for an injunction preventing construction. The court ruled the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority complied with environmental laws, according to court documents. "This is really good news for the authority and it is critical for our dire water situation," said Authority Chairperson...
The attorney representing the South Shore Home Owners Association dropped a second lawsuit filed against the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority. Thomas Hnasko of Albuquerque dropped the suit on Thursday; it was scheduled to be heard Thursday in the 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe. Hnasko said the association argued that the authority violated a 1996 covenant requiring lots to be used only for single-family residences and connected guest homes. He said after reviewing the case, he believed the authority could...
Xcel Energy is citing increased energy demand as the reason for seeking a 14.4 percent increase in customer rates. Xcel filed the proposal Wednesday with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, according to company spokesman Wes Reeves. Reeves said there has been as much as a 60 percent increase in demand over the past 10 years, prompting Xcel to ask the NMPRC to authorize the increase in electric rates beginning in January 2014. "One of the highest examples of that demand is in the Hobbs area, which during peak demand...
TUCUMCARI — A Tucumcari man charged with killing 53-year-old Kimberly Draman confessed to police that he hit her in the head with a car jack, then accidentally backed over her with her car, according to court documents. Draman's decomposing remains were discovered Oct. 9 on private property near Tucumcari following a three-week hunt for the missing woman. On Monday, Frank Keller, 45, pleaded not guilty to an open count of murder in Quay County Magistrate court,according to Tim Rose, Tenth Judicial District, Chief Deputy Distr... Full story
A Tucumcari man charged with killing 53-year-old Kimberly Draman confessed to police that he hit her in the head with a car jack, then accidentally backed over her with her car, according to court documents. Draman's decomposing remains were discovered Oct. 9 on private property near Tucumcari following a three-week hunt for the missing woman. On Monday, Frank Keller, 45, pleaded not guilty to an open count of murder in Quay County Magistrate court,according to Tim Rose, Tenth Judicial District, Chief Deputy District... Full story
Keller A Tucumcari man pleaded not guilty to an open count of murder Monday morning in Quay County Magistrate court in connection to the death of Kimberly Draman, said Tim Rose, 10th Judicial District, Chief Deputy District Attorney. Rose said Frank Keller, 45, was charged Friday with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. Draman, 53, had been missing from Tucumcari since Sept. 13. Her remains were discovered Oct. 5 on private...
If passed, the 2012 GO Bond B question on the Nov. 6 ballot would spread $9.8 million across the state for equipment and supplemental library resource acquisitions, including print, non-print and electronic resources. For the property owners there will be a tax increase based upon the size of the projects and amount of money awarded to communities, said Tim Lyman, Curry County assessor. Lyman said the amount of increase is still not known and the Public Education Department will generate the tax rate to repay the Go Bonds....
Three Tucumcari residents are charged with crimes relating to the sexual assault of two children under age 13, said 10th Judicial Chief Deputy District Attorney Timothy Rose. Gutierrez Capen Bemis Robert Capen, 31, Richard "Andrew" Gutierrez, 40, and Brandy Bemis, 31, were arrested Wednesday, according to a press release from the district attorney's office. The arrests were the result of an investigation by officers of the Tucumcari Police Department in conjunction with the...
A declining water elevation and shoreline damage prompted the closure of the south boat ramp at Conchas Lake State Park, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials. "Heading into the holiday weekend we wanted to update the concerned citizens about the south boat ramp being closed," said Karl Martin, Albuquerque District chief, Lake Operations Branch. Martin said the ramp was primarily closed in the interest of safety. He said the extended drought in eastern New Mexico has had profound impacts on the lake elevation...
A declining water elevation and shoreline damage prompted the closure of the south boat ramp at Conchas Lake State Park, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials. "Heading into the holiday weekend we wanted to update the concerned citizens about the south boat ramp being closed," said Karl Martin, Albuquerque District chief, Lake Operations Branch. Martin said the ramp was primarily closed in the interest of safety. He said the extended drought in eastern New Mexico has had profound impacts on the lake elevation...
Gov. Susana Martinez made a campaign stop last Wednesday in Tucumcari to promote the candidacy of Angie Spears, who is running for state Senate. Spears is running against Pat Woods for the Republican spot in District 7, which covers Curry, Quay and Union counties. The June 5 primary is essentially the election, with no candidate in the Democratic primary. "One of the things that impressed me about Spears is her values," Martinez told an audience of more than 100 at the Tucumcari Convention Center. The governor said people... Full story
The weather is beginning to warm up, which means it's time for outdoor activities. CMI correspondent: Gilrobert Rennels Western Kingbirds are among the numerous species of birds found at the Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge, which is located 19 miles south of Muleshoe in southern Bailey County. Although it's not quite summer yet, more and more people are taking advantage of warmer temperatures and visiting area lakes, parks and attractions. For some it's the first boat ride or dive in...
The weather is beginning to warm up, which means it's time for outdoor activities. CMI correspondent: Gilrobert Rennels Western Kingbirds are among the numerous species of birds found at the Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge, which is located 19 miles south of Muleshoe in southern Bailey County. Although it's not quite summer yet, more and more people are taking advantage of warmer temperatures and visiting area lakes, parks and attractions. For some it's the first boat ride or dive in...
The Village of Logan filed suit Tuesday against state, federal and local agencies calling for the halt of construction, funding and advancement of any portion of the proposed Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, more commonly known as the Ute Water Project. Logan's suit against the defendants, including the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority and Bureau of Reclamation, cite the entities for violating federal policy in the planning of the Ute Lake Diversion Project. "The Environmental Assessment conducted by the... Full story
The Village of Logan filed suit Tuesday against state, federal and local agencies calling for the halt of construction, funding and advancement of any portion of the proposed Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, more commonly known as the Ute Water Project. Logan's suit against the defendants, including the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority and Bureau of Reclamation, cite the entities for violating federal policy in the planning of the Ute Lake Diversion Project. "The Environmental Assessment conducted by the...
