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  • City ready to target redevelopment

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer During the coming weeks, city and organization leaders will target vacant buildings in Portales as possible locations for new businesses. A meeting was held Tuesday to discuss economic development and what path the city should take to try to encourage those in the community and outside of the community to open a business in Portales. Councilors also reviewed rules for distributing economic development funds to business prospects. Portales Mayor Orlando Ortega, Portales City Manager Debi Lee, city... Full story

  • Buffalo Soldier Hill name change now official

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer If a hill located near Lingo is ever mentioned in a federal map from now on, it shall be called Buffalo Soldier Hill honoring African-American members of the United States Cavalry. Buffalo Soldier Hill is located in Lingo, a town 40 miles southeast of Portales near the Texas border. Bob Julyan, the chair of the New Mexico Geographic Names Committee, presented the proposal to change the name on Oct. 12 in Portland, Ore. and the U.S. Board and Geographic Names committee members approved the change....

  • Factory Direct expansion to double store’s size

    Tony Parra

    Store representatives said customers will have a better idea of what their house will look like once more showrooms are added to the Factory Direct furniture store in Portales. June Merrick, co-owner of Factory Direct furniture, said she is hopeful for having expansion complete at the furniture store by Jan. 2. Merrick said at that time the new building addition to the north part of the furniture store will be open to customers. In the meantime they’re open now during the construction “The expansion will give us the opp...

  • Portales city council sets sights on U.S. 70 project

    Tony Parra

    Portales Mayor Orlando Ortega and city councilors have U.S. Highway 70 listed as their top construction priority for funding from the New Mexico State Department of Transportation during Tuesday evening’s city council meeting. The money would be requested through Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership program to improve state highways during the 2006 legislative session. If the state legislators grant the $20 million for the project, construction can begin as soon as next year. Such a project would be constructed fro...

  • Distribution of road money sparks county contention

    Tony Parra

    A dispute arose during Tuesday’s county meeting over the issue of how much money should go to each district for road repairs. An issue that Tom Clark, county commissioner, said he was willing to take to court in the form of a lawsuit. The issue at hand is just how much money each district is entitled to. Clark believes the citizens of district 3 are unfairly losing money to that district because of changes to the amount of funds each district receives. Roosevelt County Commissioners receive money from the state of New M...

  • Experts say pollution trend needs reversing

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer Experts in the fields of political science, meteorology, geology and science for the most part felt that air pollution is causing global warming but also felt it would be difficult to change the mindset of government officials and general public members to conserve energy and stop air pollution. Ken Leap, a meteorologist, formerly of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and James Constantopoulos, associate professor of geology, were the first two speakers of the public forum on...

  • Some dairy owners want aid program scrapped

    Tony Parra

    Some local dairy owners would rather the government do away with a program set up to help dairies. They believe it’s hurting the dairy industry and milk market and they’re actively lobbying against the program. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, indefinitely postponed a vote scheduled for Oct. 6 on a budget-cutting farm bill, mainly because of problems with one subsidy — the dairy price-support program. Chambliss told The Associated Press he didn’t have enough su...

  • Some dairy owners lobbying against income loss program

    Tony Parra

    Randy Lozano sprays cows udders before attaching them to the milking machine Friday at Sky Country Farms dairy. (Freedom Newspapers: Leslie Spence) PORTALES — Some local dairy owners would rather the government do away with a program set up to help dairies. They believe it’s hurting the dairy industry and milk market and they’re actively lobbying against the program. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, indefinitely postponed a vote scheduled for Oct. 6 on a budge...

  • ENMU campus evacuated after receiving bomb threat

    Tony Parra

    The Eastern New Mexico University campus was evacuated Friday morning after the Portales Police Department dispatcher received a bomb threat, according to school officials. After a three-hour search with nothing suspicious found, the campus was re-opened around 1 p.m. Campus police and resident hall assistants evacuated faculty and students from the campus after receiving a threat from an anonymous person at 10 a.m. “We’re in the process of evacuating the university and conducting room to room searches,” Chambers said short... Full story

  • ENMU campus evacuated after receiving bomb threat

    Tony Parra

    The Eastern New Mexico University campus was evacuated Friday morning after the Portales Police Department dispatcher received a bomb threat, according to school officials. After a three-hour search with nothing suspicious found, the campus was re-opened around 1 p.m. Campus police and resident hall assistants evacuated faculty and students from the campus after receiving a threat from an anonymous person at 10 a.m. “We’re in the process of evacuating the university and conducting room to room searches,” Chambers said short...

  • Program celebrates 10 years

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer Parents went to James Elementary on Thursday night to stay involved with their children’s education and saw first-hand the things their children are learning at school. It was part of the 10-year anniversary of a professional development program in which college students work with James Elementary teachers to instruct students. The celebration on Thursday allowed parents to view third-graders participating in different math and science projects. During the family night, the third-graders tried t...

  • Red hot lover: PHS’s Cyrano opens to acclaim

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer Audience members enjoyed the opening night of the Cyrano de Bergerac theater production by the Portales High School students on Thursday night, but the actors still feel like they could do better. More than 150 people showed up to watch the students perform in the Cyrano de Bergerac play, directed by Bill Strong, the Portales theater teacher. High school students acted out the love story of man with hideous looks who falls in love with Roxane played by Amy Flen. Richard O’Hare played the part o...

  • Portales prepares for flu vaccine

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer Many health providers in Portales are anticipating having enough flu shots go around this fall and are hopeful to begin receiving shipments for the general public in late October and early November. Carol Morgan, nurse manager for the public health office in Portales, said she is hopeful of having vaccines and being able to administer flu shots at the 32nd Annual Peanut Valley Festival from Oct. 22-23. Debra Herman, doctor of pharmacy for La Casa de Buena Salud, said La Casa de Buena Salud...

  • Schools plan to upgrade technology

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer Portales school district representatives are looking forward to an upgrade of the school’s technology in the way of improved phone lines, improved connectivity and faster Internet downloads with the help of the Yucca Telecommunications’ recently announced fiber-optic project. Randy Fowler, Portales School District superintendent, and school board members discussed the advantages with Mike Rackler, director of technology, during Wednesday’s school board meeting. Yucca Telecom representatives will...

  • New store brings unique gifts to Portales

    Tony Parra

    Owners of a new downtown business want to bring a uniqueness to Portales in the form of gifts and collectibles. Tressie Stroud is the owner of the new business, NoWhereElse, which will be located at 214 S. Main Street next to Herb’s Barber Shop. The NoWhereElse store will have unique gifts such as collectibles, biker leather-jackets, vests, chaps, along with housewares and silver-finish animal abstract figurines, to name a few. “We wanted to open a unique gift store that had gifts you couldn’t find anywhere else in Porta...

  • CRP changes affect 45,433 acres in Roosevelt County

    Tony Parra

    Roosevelt County residents rely on the agricultural economy and sometimes news from the United States Department of Agriculture means bad news for county farmers with farm land in the Conservation Reserve Program. James Bostwick, chairman of the New Mexico Farm Service Agency committee, said this announcement will hit farmers in eastern New Mexico the hardest. According to a press release from U.S. Congressman Tom Udall (D-N.M.), there are 1,664 farmers and ranchers currently enrolled in the CRP. Bostwick said there would be... Full story

  • Domestic violence awareness observed in local area

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer Domestic violence leaves behind victims in its wake no matter what the community. Portales and Clovis communities are no exceptions. And whether it’s law enforcement, church members, shelter workers or district court workers, there are people who try to help domestic violence victims. During nationally-recognized “Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” eastern New Mexico organization and agency members will have a panel discussion to talk about domestic violence and what victims can do. Orlando Uliba...

  • Peanut crop early, better than usual

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer Up until this week it was all good news for peanut farmers, but they’re not out of the woods, yet. Many peanut fields still need to be harvested and until there are consecutive days of warm weather and no moisture, those fields remain at risk. But yields so far this year have been good, according to farmers and mill operators. “It’s been fast and furious,” said Leonard Stanton, a peanut sheller for Hampton Farms mill. Stanton said his shortest day during harvest season so far has been 12 hours. St... Full story

  • Rains threaten harvest of bumper peanut crop

    Tony Parra

    Up until this week, it was all good news for peanut farmers, but they’re not out of the woods yet. Many peanut fields still need to be harvested and, until consecutive days of warm weather with no moisture come, the crop remains at risk. Still, farmers and mill operators say that, so far, yields this year have been good. “It’s been fast and furious,” said Leonard Stanton, a peanut-sheller for Hampton Farms mill. He said his shortest day during harvest season, so far, has been 12 hours. On an average day, he said, he works f...

  • Officials: Domestic violence cases increasing

    Tony Parra

    No matter where it happens, victims are left behind in the wake of domestic violence. In Portales and Clovis, many reach out to try and help these victims, including law enforcement officers, church members, shelter workers and district court workers. October is the national Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and a panel discussion on the 20th will involve the concerned residents of eastern New Mexico in a discussion of domestic violence and what victims can do. Orlando Ulibarri, legal assistant for the Domestic Violence...

  • TV producer gives students dose of reality

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer A television producer’s message to university students on Thursday was clear — anyone can be a success in the entertainment business, but it takes hard work and a belief in yourself. David Wallach, a six-time Emmy-winning television producer, spoke to Eastern New Mexico University students at the Becky Sharp Auditorium and gave them advice on what to do to try to get into the entertainment industry. Wallach has worked for many television networks such as CNBC, FOX, A&E, PBS and NBC during his 15... Full story

  • Farm bill drawing local attention

    Tony Parra

    Agriculture committee members from eastern New Mexico have the support of Roosevelt County commissioners in lobbying efforts on the farm bill which could hurt area farmers. Blake Curtis, president of the Ag 50 of Eastern New Mexico lobbying group, told commissioners during Tuesday’s commission meeting that stipulations in the 2006 farm bill will reduce the amount of acreage which can be re-enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. Curtis said such a move would mean farmers from Roosevelt, Curry and Quay counties would l...

  • City council addresses racism concerns

    Tony Parra

    A Portales woman voiced her displeasure for how the north part of Portales is perceived by people and let it be known during the Portales City Meeting on Tuesday. Rachel Randall, a high school graduate from 1960, said there is a public relations problem in Portales. She said the perception of the north part of Portales is something that’s not talked about. “I grew up in this town and I love it,” Randall said. “Where on the map is Taco Town?” Randall was referring to the derogatory term used to describe the north part of P...

  • Business favor truck by-pass

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer Residents and business owners in Portales wouldn’t mind seeing a truck by-pass in Portales to help alleviate the amount of traffic going into the downtown area and reduce the wear and tear on First and Second streets. Buzz Goodson, co-owner of Bar-G Western Wear, said he would like to see a truck by-pass in Portales. Goodson and his wife, Fern, own Bar-G Western Wear which is located in the downtown plaza. “Our roads are beat up in the downtown area,” Buzz Goodson said. “Some of the vehicle...

  • New hours met with mixed reviews

    Tony Parra

    Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer Portales Recreation Center Director Johnny Ledbetter said it’s too early to tell what kind of effect the change of center hours will have on the membership, but some children would rather it go back the previous hours. The Portales Recreation Center has gone almost two months with new hours in an effort to cut costs and a concern of not enough family time for children at their homes. Starting on Aug. 16, the hours of operation changed to 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday through Friday. “I like the...

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