Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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CLOVIS - Hoyt Pattison was a longtime state legislator, a longtime lobbyist after that and a farmer throughout. But at his heart he was an innovative problem solver. Pattison, who died Wednesday at 91, was a lifelong resident of Clovis, with notable exceptions for his college time at New Mexico State University, his service in the U.S. Air Force and his annual treks to Santa Fe for 11 terms as representative for District 63. First elected in 1962, Pattison served from 1963 to...
CLOVIS — Survivors of the 2017 shooting at the Clovis-Carver Public Library, and those who still remember the two library workers killed that day, will never forget that dreadful August afternoon or the court hearings that put shooter Nathaniel Jouett in prison for 30 years before the possibility of parole. They’re now fighting the New Mexico Legislature on Senate Bill 247 — a measure that would in the worst case reduce Jouett’s sentence to 15 years and in the best case make them relive that fateful day in parole hearing...
Don’t blow it, Texas. The eyes of the nation are on the Lone Star State these next few months after its governor, Greg Abbott, lifted mandates on face coverings and restrictions on how many people can enter businesses and other facilities. We’re about to find out if individual responsibility might gain credibility as an option in a land where government control grows bigger every day. It’s important to note what Abbott actually did when he made his announcement to “open up Texas,” starting Wednesday. Liberal media and some...
Online meetings are becoming way too familiar and relaxed if you ask me. It’s been a year now of Zoom meetings, webinars, online theater, remote court hearings and virtual Legislature. I’ve experienced it all — with the exception of the court hearing. I’ve run some of these virtual events and I’ve lurked in the background on even more. Here are my observations for those of you not getting as heavy a dose of this craziness. Half the people don’t know how to unmute before they...
Since COVID-19 vaccines began in December, multiple headlines have appeared illustrating concern and uncertainty from many U.S. residents. Area residents appear to be no different when it comes to having mixed opinions on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines and whether or not they want to receive one. Roosevelt County resident Meggan Trudeau said she does not intend to get the vaccine. She said she does not believe the COVID vaccines are dangerous, but she does not...
On Sunday, I went to Lubbock and visited seven businesses. I felt safe at all of them, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, but I got my share of security theater. For those unfamiliar, that’s performing a clear gesture so people feel secure while doing nothing to accomplish meaningful security. Example: Two different stores put me in a 50-yard line with 6-foot markings to separate me from other customers, then made me walk by them when the next register opened. I thought about that Monday, when I photographed the A...
PORTALES — Ruben Tellez says this spring’s Portales High boys soccer team will be a combination of veterans and young players, although the Rams will be counting heavily on their seniors. Tellez has moved to the boys program after coaching the Lady Rams for the past four years. Both teams are looking to get things turned in the right direction after struggling during the 2019 fall campaign. “We have a lot of young players, but we’re going to be senior-loaded,” Tellez said. “Possibly, 10 of the 11 starters will be seniors.” T...
PORTALES - Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the start of high school sports in New Mexico in 2020-21 has been a long time coming. For Portales High senior Mattison Blakey, the wait has been even longer. Blakey has seen action this week for the first time since sustaining an injury to her left knee in basketball in late December 2019, and she's helping the Lady Rams try to make what they hope is a run to a Class 4A state volleyball title. The Lady Rams dominated the first set...
PORTALES - High school football brings with it plenty of nail biters, and plenty of three-touchdown victories. Fans at Greyhound Stadium saw both Friday night, as Portales topped Moriarty in one of the closest 21-0 victories imaginable. The visiting Pintos, coming off a 2-9 campaign in 2019, hardly looked the part and actually posted advantages of 202-198 in yardage and 11-9 in first downs. But Moriarty went 0-for-3 in the red zone, while the Rams went 1-for-1 and got a...
MELROSE - Coming into this season, Melrose has won five of the last six 8-man state football championships. In this vastly-different and abbreviated campaign, the Buffaloes would love an opportunity to make it six out of seven. If Friday's season-opening 48-12 win over Logan is any indication, they just might be able to do it. Freshman Michael Cardonita started at quarterback, throwing a 20-yard TD pass to senior Tate Sorgen on the Buffs' first possession, then switched roles...
On this date ... 1946: Superintendents from the New Mexico Education Association were recommending pay raises for all school teachers. Superintendents numbering more than 75, from all sections of New Mexico, had recommended teacher salary increases of at least $200 per year to their various city and county governing boards. Starting teachers were receiving annual pay of $1,500 to $1,800, The Associated Press reported. The new recommendation was for a minimum salary of $2,000 annually for beginning teachers. The changes were...
I was once fired by an employer because they did not like the way I tweeted. They had no problem with the way other people at this same enterprise tweeted, they just didn’t like my own flavor of rhetorical panache. They never actually came out and said it was the subject matter of my tweeting, or my style, that got me a date with the guillotine. They simply said we told you to stop tweeting, you wouldn’t, and so we are letting you go. I’m always fascinated when somebody else...
A crisis is a terrible thing to create. This, nonetheless, is what President Joe Biden has done at the southern border. His rhetoric during the campaign suggesting an openhanded approach to migrants coming to the U.S., and his early moves to undo Donald Trump’s border policies are creating a migrant surge that risks running out of control. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas says the situation isn’t a crisis, but “a challenge” — an “acute” and “stressful” c...
No, Dr. Seuss hasn’t been “canceled.” Granted, you’d never know it from the ruckus that erupted after Theodor Seuss Geisel’s estate decided to stop publishing six lesser-known titles by the celebrated children’s book author because they contained offensive racial stereotypes. We’re talking Asians with “their eyes at a slant,” and ape-like Africans in grass skirts. In a statement, Dr. Seuss Enterprises called such portrayals “hurtful and wrong.” Meantime, in his proclamation l...
China’s dominance of critical materials used to produce everything from advanced weapons systems to electric vehicles and solar panels is a problem so glaring both the Trump and Biden administrations have singled it out as an economic and national security threat in need of immediate action. The U.S. Geological Survey says that in 2020 imports made up more than one-half of U.S. consumption for 46 minerals, and the US was 100% reliant on imports for 17 of those. China, our biggest competitor in world trade, supplies more t...
I have been watching the movement to approve the use of recreational marijuana and am appalled that our legislators are going down this path. I have spent the last 50-plus years as a teacher, coach, school principal and superintendent. I am currently a regent at Eastern New Mexico University. As a result of these experiences, I have a point of view that I have not yet heard discussed. During my career in education, I have worked with more than 100,000 students, helping them through difficult times through counseling and the...
Curry and Roosevelt counties will be holding public hearings this week for their boards of registration to clean up voter registrations. Curry County Clerk Annie Hogland and Roosevelt County Clerk Mandi Park both said voters are added to the removal list for registered voters when they remain inactive and have also not responded to a letter from the New Mexico Secretary of State office. Park and Hogland said when registered voters submit a change of address form to state or federal entities, such as the post office, they are...
CLOVIS — Mayor Mike Morris volunteered to be the city’s potential representative on a steering committee for a land trust, and received a unanimous vote from the Clovis City Commission during an hourlong meeting Thursday night. The land trust is intended to help local entities navigate through a Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative effort at Cannon Air Force Base. The REPI program, offered by the Department of Defense, would in this case use federal dollars to incentivize landowners to convert water rights for...
CLOVIS — The Curry County Commission is seeking letters of interest from residents for service on a working committee to develop a land trust. The land trust would focus on conserving groundwater in the Ogallala Aquifer. Letters can be sent to County Manager Lance Pyle at [email protected] or by mail to 417 Gidding Suite 100, Clovis NM 88101. Letters will be accepted until 3 p.m. Friday and will be considered at the commission’s March 16 meeting. Information: 575-763-6016....
CLOVIS — Curry County officials are encouraging local students to show their love for local government through art as part of the National Association of Counties’ “I Love My County Because” art contest. The contest is part of the association’s recognition of April as National County Government Month. Winning artwork will be featured in a NACo calendar and will be displayed at the association headquarters in Washington, D.C. There is no entry fee, and submissions will be accepted until May 31. Details: naco.org/...
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE — The U.S. Air Force will hold a virtual public meeting 5 p.m. March 17 to discuss how it is addressing perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid — also known as the “forever chemicals” of PFOS/PFOA — at Cannon Air Force Base. The Zoom meeting will feature Air Force Civil Engineer Center environmental experts, who will be available to answer questions regarding mitigation efforts. Quarterly meetings will follow. “The Air Force recognizes the concerns of the Cannon community and will use th...
The Texas Department of Transportation will begin work Monday to realign the intersection of FM 145 and the U.S. 70/84 intersection in Parmer County. “We’re realigning, or moving, FM 145 to connect with US 70/84 at a new location that makes more sense and improves safety,” said Steve Perez, a Littlefield area engineer for the department. “Currently, all FM 145 traffic is detoured around a closed Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) underpass. The new FM 145 route will shift the roadway about half a mile east and create...
PORTALES - Five Portales firefighters were honored at the Portales City Council meeting Tuesday night at the Memorial Building. Firefighters Gavinn Shultz, Trevor Chacon, Michael Gonzalez, Jonathan Montiel and James Bray were all recognized for completing their Firefighter 1 and 2 certifications, while Montiel and Bray also received their one-year challenge coins. "Every bit of training we get helps make everyone in the community a little bit safer," Fire Chief T.J. Cathey...
A day after Gov. Greg Abbott announced an end to all pandemic-related precautions in Texas, President Joe Biden slammed him for putting lives at risk by clinging to "Neanderthal thinking" rather than heeding advice from the nation's top scientists. "I think it's a big mistake," Biden told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with lawmakers. "We are on the cusp of being able to fundamentally change the nature of this disease because of the way in which we're able to get...
BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- After eight seasons with Eastern New Mexico University, Kelley Lee is heading across the border to take over as head coach and athletic director at Veterans Early College High School in Brownsville. The hiring of Lee was announced Tuesday evening by Gilbert Leal, athletic administrator for the Brownsville Independent School District that includes six high schools. Leal told The News 35 qualified applications were received to run the Class 5A Chargers, and...
