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Articles from the March 31, 2024 edition


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  • Publisher's journal: DOJ: Chancellor contract 'not valid'

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Apr 2, 2024

    January’s contract renewal for Eastern New Mexico University Chancellor James Johnston is “not valid.” That’s according to the Government Counsel and Accountability Division of the New Mexico Department of Justice. The DOJ issued a letter to ENMU regents Friday in response to complaints from The Eastern New Mexico News and New Mexico Foundation of Open Government. The complaint was that regents violated the state’s Open Meetings Act when they renewed Johnston’s contract on Jan. 17. Regents met in Santa Fe with an agenda that... Full story

  • Portales city manager placed on leave

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Apr 2, 2024

    Portales City Manager Sarah Austin has been placed on paid administrative leave, and her future with the city is expected to be determined in a special meeting on Tuesday. Austin, reached at her home, said Mayor Mike Miller presented her with a letter about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday stating she has been placed on paid leave until the end of her contract. "I asked him why and he wouldn't tell me," Austin said. "I am beyond devastated. I love this community. I thought I was doing a...

  • Leroy Thomas embodied service above self

    Karl Terry, Local columnist|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    My first memory of Leroy Thomas was as a youngster in Vacation Bible School. He was a tall, gangly man with glasses and a large Adam’s Apple. He looked kinda funny as he attempted to teach grade-school kids just released from school for the summer how to sing the old VBS classic “Booster, Booster be a Booster.” I know he used emphatic fist pumps to emphasis the word “booster” and I’m pretty sure there was some poultry imitation going on when we got to the “grouchy as...

  • Our people: Church pastor answered call to preach

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    In his career with the U.S. Air Force, Kent Creamer had been on a remote assignment out of the country. When the assignment was over the only place offered as a choice to be assigned was Clovis. He came and stayed and became pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Creamer told his story to The News on Wednesday. Q: You're from West Virginia. Tell us about that. A: I grew up in Martinsburg. It's similar in size to Clovis, but things are much more accessible there. An inte...

  • Patriots rough up ENMU

    the Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    TYLER, Texas – After dropping a tight series opener on Thursday night, Eastern New Mexico University’s baseball team was left in the dust by Texas-Tyler on Friday. The Patriots took full advantage of 13 walks to rout the Greyhounds 19-1 in the opener of their Lone Star Conference doubleheader, then junior right-hander Wyatt Wick threw a five-hit shutout for a 6-0 victory in the second of two seven-inning contests. The lone tally for the Hounds (14-19, 12-19 LSC) came on a sixth-inning home run by junior shortstop Willie Pon...

  • Rams top Capital, take fifth place in tourney

    the Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    MORIARTY – Portales High’s baseball team broke a tie with three runs in the bottom of the sixth and defeated Santa Fe Capital 9-6 in Thursday’s fifth-place game of an eight-team tournament hosted by Moriarty. Senior Edel Legarda hit a go-ahead RBI single, senior Dylan Saunders delivered a run-scoring double and senior Andru Ontiveros hit an RBI single to snap a 6-6 tie against the Jaguars (6-6). Portales (5-3) pounded out 17 hits, with senior Noah Swift going 4-for-4 and Ontiveros, Swift and junior Elijah Tellez all finis...

  • Texico erases seven-run deficit for win

    the Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Senior Daltyn Cain’s two-run single capped a three-run sixth and Texico, down by seven runs early, held on to edge East Mountain 10-9 on Friday in the consolation semifinals of an eight-team tournament hosted by West Las Vegas H.S. East Mountain (6-6) led 8-1 after the second inning, but Texico (2-3) put together three-run innings in the third, fourth and sixth to win it. Senior Erik Davalos pitched the final three innings for the Wolverines for the win, allowing three hits and no runs with two walks and...

  • MSU takes series from Hounds

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    Midwestern State's Addison Lindemann did it all in this week's Lone Star Conference softball series against Eastern New Mexico University at Greyhound Softball Field. The freshman right-hander tossed 13 innings and allowed just two runs, including her first collegiate shutout with a 3-0 victory in Friday's series finale. She also delivered a two-run, first-inning homer that set the tone in that one. The Mustangs (7-29, 5-22 LSC), second from the bottom in the league coming...

  • Lady Rams coast to win over Santa Fe High

    the Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    SANTA FE – Freshman Annaleah Lujan threw a five-inning three-hitter and belted a three-run home run as Portales High’s softball team rolled over Santa Fe High 12-1 on Friday. Lujan went 2-for-4 with a double and her home run, which came as part of a six-run fifth that eventually ended the contest on the 10-run rule. In the circle she allowed only a second-inning run to the Lady Demons (6-6), with two walks and 10 strikeouts. Sophomore Skyler Massey led the attack for the Lady Rams (4-3), going 3-for-4 with a double and two...

  • Cats pick up pair of victories against Mayfield

    the Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    LAS CRUCES – The Clovis High baseball team was expecting to take it easy during spring break this week, with no games scheduled. At the last minute, though, a doubleheader at Mayfield was added to accommodate a trip the Trojans made last spring to Bell Park. All’s well that ends well, as the Wildcats posted 5-4 and 11-6 victories to improve to 8-5 for the campaign. “It was huge for us,” CHS coach Richard Cruce said. “The kids just said, ‘Let’s go out there and go play.’” In the opener, the Cats rallied for three runs in the...

  • Meetings calendar - March 31

    Updated Mar 30, 2024

    Monday *Swearing in for newly elected Clovis City Commissioners – 11:30 a.m., North Annex, Clovis-Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main, Clovis. Information: 575-763-9654 Tuesday *Curry County Commission – 9 a.m., Commission Chambers, Curry County Administration Complex, 417 Gidding St., Clovis. Information: 575-763-6016 *Portales Public Works meeting – 9 a.m., Memorial Building, 200 E. 7th St., Portales. Information: 575-356-6662 *Clovis Civil Aviation Board — 5:30 p.m., North Annex, Clovis-Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main...

  • Jail log - March 31

    Updated Mar 30, 2024

    Booked The following were booked into local jails (Tuesday - Friday): Clovis • Dhysvonne Green, 35, failure to appear on misdemeanor charge, failure to appear on a felony charge • Gilberto Ramos-Mendoza, 20, probation violation • Michael Lujan, 29, resisting, evading or obstructing an officer • Bernadette Sanchez, 51, aggravated battery against a household member • Christopher Mayfield, 38, embezzlement, theft of identity • Mickel Morales, 58, driving while license suspended or revoked • Gary Hernandez, 63, failure to ap...

  • Events calendar - March 31

    Updated Mar 30, 2024

    Today *Easter Sunday *Easter sunrise service – 6:15 a.m., Freedom Ranch, 720 SR 77, Clovis. Sponsored by the Clovis Christian Ministerial Alliance. Free breakfast to follow. *Easter egg hunt – 2 p.m., City Park, East Ninth Street, Portales. Sponsored by VFW Post 9515. Open to all kids under age 18; eggs filled with candy and cash prizes. *Easter egg hunt – 4 p.m., Portales Fun Center, 1001 W. 18th St., Portales. Meet the Easter bunny; special prizes. Information: 575-226-0440 Monday through April 27 *K through ENMU art show...

  • Ask the News - March 31

    the Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    When tree limbs are getting entangled in the power line running from the pole to my house or building doesn’t the power company come to trim those away? The quick answer is “no.” “The line that runs from a pole to a customer’s home or business is referred to as a service drop, and tree trimming around this line is the responsibility of the customer,” Xcel Energy’s senior media relations representative Wes Reeves wrote in an email. Reeves noted there is an exception. “If a tree branch falls onto the service drop, which is...

  • Pages past, March 31: Weather prediction proves true

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    On this date ... 1946: Harold “Skinny” Holland had purchased Jack’s Body Works from Jack Calkins. The Clovis auto body shop was located at 512 W. Seventh St. ‘“Skinny,’ as he is known to the people in this area, is considered one of the most skilled and proficient men of his trade,” The Clovis News-Journal reported. 1949: Cricket Coogler, an 18-year-old Las Cruces waitress, went missing. She was later found dead, raped and run over by a car. Pittsburgh Steelers football player Jerry Nuzum of Clovis was accused in her death, b...

  • Water authority approves company to provide land restoration services

    Madison Willis, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority board on Thursday unanimously approved Drake Industries, LLC to provide land restoration services. “I think we’re all excited about (the agreement) because of what it means in the way of increased valuing and respect for property owner rights as these property owners partner with us on this critical project,” said Mike Morris, Clovis mayor who also chairs ENMWUA. Water Authority Administrator Orlando Ortega presented the recommendation to the board. Ortega said the board had a...

  • Clovis to host swearing-in ceremony for new terms following election

    the Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    The city of Clovis will be hosting a swearing-in ceremony on Monday at 11:30 a.m. at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library. According to the press release from the city, the ceremony follows the recent municipal election results and will mark the commencement of the new terms for the mayoral positions and Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4 commissioners. The following commissioners will be sworn in during the ceremony: • Mayor, Mike Morris (re-elected), 4-year term • District 1, George Jones (re-elected), 4-year term • D...

  • Portales City Council adopts backflow prevention plan

    Landry Sena|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    The Portales City Council adopted an ordinance for a cross connection, control, and backflow prevention plan that would allow the installation of backflow prevention valves. The ordinance was adopted on a 7-1 vote, with Councilor Rustin Self voting against. “This was something that wasn’t taken care of a few years back,” Ashley Flores, projects manager for the city said. Backflow valves are used to ensure that no hazardous condition exists between a non-potable and potable water supply. “There needs to be a backflow valve put...

  • Portales encouraged to continue conservation efforts

    Landry Sena|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    The Portales City Council heard another water update on Tuesday, however they were again encouraged to remain in stage three water restrictions. “I still feel like we need to continue our conservation efforts,” Chris Mendoza, public utility superintendent said. He said to the council at their regular meeting that the city should not have the restrictions lifted. The city entered in a stage three emergency on June 28, 2023. Mendoza said the city is currently waiting on the approval of phase three of the geophysical sur...

  • Opinion: NATO losing credibility on Ukraine

    Rube Render, Local columnist|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    There is one way to “win” a war without winning on the field of battle and that is to become the side that can dictate what determines success in the war. There are presently three sides in the Ukraine conflict. They are, Russia, Ukraine and the collective West. In his book, “The Russian Art of War,” Jacques Baud notes that at the start of Russia’s Special Military Operation, Vladimir Putin enumerated two objectives for the campaign and has never abandoned either of those. Th...

  • Spring storm season starting across area

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    Spring storm season is underway in Eastern New Mexico. Says Jennifer Shoemake, Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque. “Spring is our primary storm season across Eastern New Mexico. There are no firm dates, but typically March through June,” Shoemake said Wednesday. Shoemake outlined three things that are needed for storms: Moisture; lift, which comes as storm systems such as troughs, low pressure systems or storm systems in general cross the area; and instability. “With severe weather there’s a fourt...

  • Opinion: Blind loyalty not a trait I admire

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    People admire different qualities in others. The traits each of us admires are shaped by our own values and experiences. What some see as a virtue, others see as a vice. Or worse. It seems most people admire obedience -- they voice admiration for those who follow orders without hesitation. This isn’t something I admire. Too much depends on who is giving the orders and what those orders are. This can include bad parents as well as people wearing uniforms or holding a p...

  • United Way banquet celebrates generosity

    Madison Willis, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    Curry, Roosevelt, Quay and De Baca county residents and companies gave $455,000 to the United Way of Eastern New Mexico in the past year. They received thanks at the charity's annual banquet Tuesday. Over 110 people attended the Safari-themed event at the Clovis Civic Center. "The banquet is just our chance to celebrate the generosity of the community and tell the story of what is occurring at United Way," Executive Director Erinn Burch said. For feeding nearly 300 people on...

  • Openings available on boards, committees

    the Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    The Clovis City Manager’s office has announced openings on some of the city’s boards and committees. The City is seeking two representatives to serve on the Civic Center Policy Board and has two vacancies on the Public Works Committee for one citizen member from District 1 and one citizen member from District 4. There is one vacancy on the Water Policy Advisory Committee for a resident of Curry County, and there are three vacancies on the Economic Incentive Board for a citizen representative from District 1, a citizen rep...

  • Opinions mixed on possibility of Lockwood transition

    Landry Sena, The Staff of The News|Updated Mar 30, 2024

    Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of stories looking at Clovis Municipal Schools plans for closure and repurposing. The series will continue over the next three weeks. Since the announcement of the possibility that Lockwood Elementary will become a preschool center last week, parents and others share mixed opinions regarding the proposal. Some believe the change is needed, however they don’t think Lockwood is the right answer, and a Pre-K program should be in a more central location. “My thought is that James...

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