Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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The governor’s Economic Recovery Council is looking for “low-hanging fruit” out the gate as it tries to refuel the economy as quickly as safely possible in the wake of COVID-19. Members of the advisory council said Friday they expect New Mexico businesses to begin opening gradually and purposefully over the next few weeks. Industries that can effectively practice social distancing — especially those in areas with few cases of the virus — may be allowed to open before those in areas where health concerns are higher. “I think...
Booked The following were booked into local jails (Tuesday-Friday): Clovis • Rodney Johnson, 59, aggravated assault against a household member • Maria Mann, 60, false report, criminal trespass • Stephanie Beacham, 27, failure to appear • Leander Carter, 55, failure to appear • Tyson Stilson, 34, criminal trespass • Lambert Campbell, 26, failure to appear • Jose Gonzales, 25, aggravated driving while under the influence, failure to maintain traffic lane, impeding traffic, no drivers license, no insurance • Daniel Heil, 39, kid...
After confusion surrounding the operation of plant nurseries that prompted some temporary closures, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office has made it clear: nurseries selling live plants are allowed to stay open, but only through curbside or delivery service. Nurseries must also continue to take social distancing precautions and abide by the mass gathering rule that prohibits five or more people gathering in a room or in an outdoor space where they can’t be at least six feet from each other, according to Governor’s Offic...
CLOVIS — The Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico will receive $13,200 as part of a $550,000 statewide grant to help meet food demands for unemployed New Mexicans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and several Clovis-area corporations are donating $10,000 and thousands of pounds of potatoes to FBENM, according to a church news release. The All Together NM Fund announced Friday it will give $400,000 to five food banks in the state, and the New Mexico Coalition of Community F...
SANTA FE — The number of New Mexico patients hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms jumped 24% on Friday — reaching 152 people, with 38 patients on ventilators to help them breathe. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, in a press briefing, also said six more people had died, pushing the total to 84 deaths. “This is harsh,” she said. “There’s no governor, no family member, no individual anywhere in the world that wants to report on this.” Altogether, Lujan Grisham said, testing confirmed 153 new cases of COVID-19 , bringing the total...
PORTALES — A Portales man involved in a homicide last April was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison, according to a release from the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Korbin Baldridge, 20, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit murder and armed robbery. According to the release: • On April 7, 2019, Portales police officers were dispatched to a residence where they found Adam Holts’ body inside a trailer and shot multiple times. • Manuel Silva, 23, and Baldridge were charged with the killing f...
The following marriage licenses were recently issued at the Curry County clerk’s office: • Ethan Michael Ludema, 24, and Kachine Nickole Jackson, 25, both of Clovis • Austin Christian Schreck, 29, and Reilley Kendall Cook, 22, both of Clovis The following marriage licenses were recently issued at the Roosevelt County clerk’s office: • Craig Trazell Tatum, 51, and Angelica Sherie Ybarra, 26, both of Clovis • Derrick R. Lekovich, 27, and Samantha Michelle Lucero, 24, both of Clovis • Michael Jeffrey Fox, 22, and Taryn Reshea...
PORTALES — The Portales City Council moved quickly through its Tuesday meeting, approving routine bills and four other items on a consent agenda in less than 10 minutes. The meeting began with a message of support from Mayor Ron Jackson, noting the city would eventually get past the COVID-19 pandemic. He was the only member of the council at the Memorial Building, with the city’s eight councilors participating by conference call. Items agreed to as part of the consent agenda included: • An application for juvenile adjud...
CLOVIS — Effective Monday, Clovis Municipal Schools will consolidate some of its to-go meal service for school-aged children. The move was announced Thursday in a release with several small updates on school matters. According to the release, Gattis Middle School will be eliminated as a meal pickup site. Individuals who have picked up meals there are encouraged to go to Barry Elementary, located 1.4 miles to the south of Gattis along Thornton Street. Other updates provided by the school included: • Grades for students in K-8...
PORTALES — Brook Leger and Mazin Richards didn’t wait long before making solid contributions to their Eastern New Mexico University Greyhound teams. And each was honored as the school’s top freshman athlete for the 2019-20 athletic year, according to a Wednesday school release. The university had announced top athletes in each class over the preceding days. Leger went 4-1 in the pandemic-shortened softball season with 36 strikeouts in 30 innings of work. She posted an ERA of 4.20. Richards led all Lone Star Conference footb...
For all intents and purposes New Mexico is closed for business until at least May 15. Whether you agree with the way Michelle Lujan Grisham has handled the COVID 19 crisis or if (like me) you think some of her measures have been unnecessary and heavy-handed, the fact is that New Mexico has done better than most other states in terms of preventing the spread of the virus. The governor deserves credit for that. But, every day that goes by the budget and economic state of New...
In an instantly iconic image of the coronavirus pandemic, a man in scrubs blocked the path of a pickup truck taking part in an open-the-economy rally in Denver. The man, who later identified himself as a healthcare worker, stood stoic while a woman on the passenger side of the truck, wearing a USA T-shirt, waved a handmade sign that read “LAND OF THE FREE.” The message was misdirected. The freedom the nation most needs now is from the spread of COVID-19 and a collapsing economy. That will only happen if government-mandated mi...
At a coronavirus task force briefing at the beginning of April, White House adviser Jared Kushner explained the approach that would — as events proved — get the country through its ventilator crisis. He was relentlessly pilloried, mocked and distorted in the press for it. Kushner said at one point that states shouldn’t be drawing on the federal stockpile just to hold ventilators in their own reserves (the administration was worried about ventilators sent to New York state...
I don’t know what daily life is like during our Great National Shutdown in states like Pennsylvania, where I hear golfing is verboten, all liquor stores are closed and masks must be worn into retail stores. But out here in sprawling Los Angeles, where half of the state’s 1,512 COVID-19 deaths have occurred, things are getting goofier and scarier all the time. It’s not the coronavirus I’m sacred of. It’s power-mad politicians like Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Eric Garc...
In 1995 I purchased my first cell phone, a Motorola flip with a thick battery and extendable antenna. By 2005 I was using a flat, bar-shaped Nokia. Those 10 years shared one common theme — the phones served one purpose and were rarely taken out of the vehicle. It wouldn’t be until 2008 that I would get a smart phone, and how quickly the world would change. Then sometime around last Christmas, I began thinking about the evolution of my cell phone habits. I realized how much I longed for the days I wasn’t always “conn...
The state deemed you “nonessential” and told you to go home and stay there. You still have bills to pay but no work and no paycheck. OK, you say, it’s a public health emergency. But if the state is going to do this, surely that same government will be Johnny on the Spot when it comes to processing the unemployment claim that constitutes your economic lifeline. This is what we call wishful thinking. If it’s any consolation, you’re not alone. As Albuquerque Journal investigative reporter Mike Gallagher reported last week, ten...
CLOVIS — The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education will meet Tuesday night in regular session, with the meeting its first since the Public Education Department shifted to a learn-at-home model for the remainder of the school year. The 5:30 p.m. meeting will be held virtually due to state public health orders banning mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting can be joined at zoom.us/j/98916085321?pwd=Q3VHMlpxekJYS0o5Z3MwdFUxRytzZz09. The meeting ID is 989 1608 5321 and the password is 057217. Anybody w...
PORTALES — A Portales couple is charged in connection with more than $20,000 worth of furniture and home décor officials say has gone missing from Ashley’s Homestore since June. Darius VonSchriltz, 25, was arrested Tuesday in Las Cruces, charged with larceny over $20,000, retaining stolen property over $20,000 and multiple counts of disposing of stolen property, court records show. Kekoa VonSchriltz, 24, identified in court records as Darius’ husband, is charged with retaining/possessing stolen property over $20,000. He was...
CLOVIS — The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority will see some changes to its makeup less than four weeks from now. It spent some time Thursday preparing for just that. Effective May 20, the board will transition to a six-person board to reflect the departures of Melrose, Grady and Curry County from the authority. As first constructed in 2011, the authority board is currently at seven members with three from Clovis, two from Portales, one from Curry County and one that rotates annually between Melrose, Grady, Texico a...
Meetings are subject to change due to coronavirus concerns Monday • Curry County Commission special meeting — 10 a.m., teleconference. Information: https://www.currycounty.org/open-government/meeting-portal or 575-763-6016 Tuesday • Conference call with Representative Xochitl Torres Small for small business owners, Chambers of Commerce, and Economic Development Councils — 2 p.m. Details on changes and additional funding within the new coronavirus relief legislation, and a chance to voice concerns. Call will include guests fro...
Monday • Virtual seminar: “Open for Business After Covid-19” — 1-2 p.m., via Zoom. Hosted by the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce & Clovis Industrial Development Corporation. Information includes infection prevention strategies. To join, visit https://zoom.us/j/97319671556?pwd=WGMzbEUxZmpxdjhUemtNSG9FTDFTdz09 Meeting ID is 973 1967 1556, password is 001118 Or dial in at 1-253-215-8782 or 1-301-715-8592. Information: 575-763-3435 Friday • The Psychology of the Pandemic Virtual Seminar — 1-2 p.m., via Zoom. Presented b...
On this date ... 1960: It was "fun to ride the train," especially, "when it's the San Francisco Chief," according to promotional advertising by the Santa Fe Railway. An ad in the Clovis News-Journal encouraged passengers to "Relax in luxurious surroundings - private rooms and suites or reserved 'stretch out' seats. Passengers were also promised they could "meet interesting people" and dine on world-famous Fred Harvey food. Stops on the Chief's route included Chicago, Clovis...
CLOVIS — The Curry County Commission is expected to take the first step Monday in removing restrictions from a gross receipts tax that has been on the books for nearly 30 years. The 10 a.m. meeting at the Curry County Administrative Complex is virtual due to state public health orders on mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting will be available on the currycounty.org website and the county Facebook page. Questions or comments can be sent to County Manager Lance Pyle at: [email protected] The meeting a...
CLOVIS - If you were ever inside High Plains Harley-Davidson in Clovis you could probably imagine it: See the Old Chicago brick, then picture the bar that once stood in front of it. See the hardwood floor tucked away back near today's bike service entrance, then picture the dance floor it used to be when the Harley dealership was a bar called Boot Hill. You now have less than a week to experience it again. High Plains Harley-Davidson Owner Jimmy Allison, after doing business...
PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University will pay outgoing Chancellor Jeff Elwell nearly six figures following a resignation he attributed to “serious health issues,” effective Friday. Documentation on Elwell’s departure was acquired through public records requests by The News. Calls made to Elwell and Board of Regents President Terry Othick were not immediately returned. Details of Elwell's health issues were not made public. According to the separation agreement created April 13 and signed by both parties April 17: • Elwell...
