Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles from the May 24, 2020 edition


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  • Lawsuit challenges daily fines

    Staff and wire reports|Updated May 23, 2020

    SANTA FE — A Clovis business owner is one of about a dozen challenging the authority of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to issue daily fines for health order violations during the COVID-19 pandemic. A lawsuit filed Wednesday in the 9th Judicial District argues the governor’s administration has improperly threatened businesses with $5,000 daily fines, when the state Public Health Act authorizes fines of $100 or less, and seeks a permanent injunction from issuing the larger fines. Lujan Grisham, Public Safety Secretary Mark She...

  • Governor: Eateries may open by June 1

    Staff and wire reports|Updated May 23, 2020

    SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says the state expects to allow dine-in restaurants, salons, gyms, malls and other businesses to reopen by June 1 as COVID-19 numbers continue to improve. New Mexico is now meeting the majority of its benchmarks for reopening, known as “gating criteria,” and the rate of COVID-19 transmission has hit the state’s target for the first time, the governor and health officials said. “We’re not quite seeing a decline in cases, but we are feeling good about the stability of what’s occurring in...

  • Plans in place to honor sacrifices

    Kevin Wilson - Staff|Updated May 23, 2020

    There will be no large ceremonies Monday in New Mexico, as Memorial Day becomes the latest of gatherings to be affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. But locally and nationally, families and friends of those who paid the ultimate price protecting the United States' interests will still be honored however possible. John Montano of Clovis said the Joint Veterans Council has many individual members who plan to put flags on the gravesites of veterans, and they'll plan to leave...

  • Jail log - May 24

    Updated May 23, 2020

    Booked The following were booked into local jails (Tuesday-Friday): Clovis ∞ Sergio Briones-Rodriguez, 33, failure to appear on misdemeanor charge ∞ Lily Zamora, 23, failure to pay fines ∞ John Crawford, 31, probation violation, parole violation ∞ Joe Garza, 57, receiving/transferring stolen motor vehicles, failure to obey traffic control devices, no drivers license, evidence of registration, no insurance, failure to display registration plate ∞ Damian Bargas, 23, failure to appear on a felony charge ∞ Robert Ferguson, 3...

  • Public record - May 24

    Updated May 23, 2020

    The following marriage licenses were recently issued at the Curry County clerk’s office: • Victor Garcia, 57, and Maria Montoya, 53, both of Clovis • Wade Dillon Roberts, 22, and Kayleigh Jo Fury, 22, both of Canyon • Jess Luis Gallegos, 48, and Kristy Marie Vargas, 39, both of Clovis • Felipe Mis Gomez, 20, and Maria Gutierrez, 21, both of Muleshoe • Louis Corrado, 68, and Valerie Lynne Corrado, 59, both of Clovis • Jason Lewis Le Clear, 22, and Kaytlin Marie Knutzch, 21, both of Clovis • Robert Shawn Morgan, 30, and...

  • Man acting 'ornery' accused in arsons

    the Staff of The News|Updated May 23, 2020

    Roosevelt County officials on Wednesday charged a Portales man with arson, alleging he started four fires in rural areas. Jaylin Brown, 31, told authorities he was “being ornery” and started the fires on Tuesday, court records show. Brown “stated he used the lighter he had in his left front pocket” to start the fires, according to a statement of probable cause. The record shows he first started a fire north of Elida then went home to do laundry. He then returned to the area and started three more fires. Damage include...

  • Clovis school board to consider preliminary budget

    the Staff of The News|Updated May 23, 2020

    CLOVIS — The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education on Tuesday will consider a preliminary budget for 2020-21 it anticipates won’t look anything like the final version. The 5:30 p.m. meeting will be held online due to public health orders limiting mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting is available at the link on the school board section of the clovis-schools.org website. The budget is nearly $4 million more than last year’s $65.9 million budget, with a surplus of nearly $900,000 once the state equal...

  • Clovis decides on virtual graduation

    the Staff of The News|Updated May 23, 2020

    CLOVIS - With circumstances still unclear on the future of mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, Clovis Municipal Schools has decided to lay the foundation for a virtual Clovis High School graduation ceremony. There is no specific date listed for the event, but a school district release notes the final footage will be released after June 19, the last day the state has set for seniors to meet graduation requirements. Seniors will receive appointments to be individually...

  • Opinion: Coronavirus puts Jesus in intensive care

    Michael Shannon|Updated May 23, 2020

    The most remarkable impact coronavirus has on America is the sight of pastors waiting, like dogs anticipating a treat, until Caesar gives them permission to start rendering unto God. You couldn’t have convinced me in March that Baptist preachers would cancel Easter services. Easter is the central pivot of Christianity. Without the Resurrection, Christianity is pointless. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” The birth of Christ (Christm...

  • Opinion: No avoiding fossil fuels' continued use

    Jim Constantopoulos|Updated May 23, 2020

    Set aside the rhetoric on global warming, we are going to have to open the throttle on oil, natural gas and coal production to power our economic recovery. Together they account for 80% of America’s energy supplies. To get our economy back on track, the overriding national interest lies in maintaining full production of fossil fuels. As a major energy producer, New Mexico is better positioned than most states to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 crisis and the most catastrophic economic collapse since the Great D...

  • Opinion: Gubernatorial candidate sore loser

    Rich Lowry|Updated May 23, 2020

    Stacey Abrams has another distinction to add to her resume — she’s among the most preposterous potential vice-presidential candidates ever. Her attempt to leverage a failed Georgia gubernatorial bid into a spot on the Democratic ticket is so brazenly absurd that it’s hard to think of precedents. But the 46-year-old African American activist is not one to be constrained by standard political practice, or reality. She refused to concede her narrow, but clear 2018 guber...

  • Opinion: Hoping for return of simple pleasures

    Michael Reagan|Updated May 23, 2020

    Don’t tell the people in charge, but my friend’s wife is a member of the L.A. resistance. She’s been regularly going out into the underground economy to get her hair done. She’s been meeting with her hairdresser at an undisclosed location — his daughter’s driveway — and striking a small but symbolic blow for old-fashioned American freedom. My friend’s wife is in no danger of getting in trouble with the authorities, but her hairdresser is. According to power-mad polit...

  • Opinion: Government has purpose: ensure liberty for us all

    David Stevens - Staff|Updated May 23, 2020

    With Election Day scheduled June 2, it’s time to ask candidates a favorite question: What’s the purpose of government? Many are stumped and need a little time to think about it, apparently having never before considered the issue. The correct answer, as established by the authors of The Declaration of Independence, is short and sweet: The purpose of government is to secure the rights bestowed upon us by the Creator — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We can appreciate additional details, but that’s the gist of it,...

  • Opinion: Memorial Day is a time of remembrance

    Updated May 23, 2020

    Editor’s note: Andy F. Nazario is vice commander of American Legion Post 31, Portales, and chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9515, Portales. Following is a portion of the remarks he was scheduled to make at the Portales Memorial Day celebration, which was canceled due to coronavirus restrictions. Through Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3, God said, “There is a time for war and a time for peace….” Roosevelt County has grieved the loss of men and women serving in conflicts. Two Roosevelt County men’s stories began whe...

  • Letter to the editor - May 24

    Updated May 23, 2020

    Railroad crossing repairs leave much to be desired Memory tells me that the Texico/Farwell railroad crossing on U.S. 84 has had two major repair jobs done in the past 25 years. If the work was done correctly, letters like this would not be necessary. One would think that with all the knowledge and experience of those who oversee such projects, there would be better results than just a bandaid fix. In short, the repairs that were done still leave us with a whiplash crossing and whoever paid for them was taken to the cleaners....

  • Clovis educator named to task force

    the Staff of The News|Updated May 23, 2020

    SANTA FE — A Clovis educator has been named to a school re-entry task force created by the New Mexico Public Education Department. Silvia Miranda is one of 30 named to the task force created by Education Secretary Ryan Stewart to discuss multiple issues for a safe return to public schools in the 2020-21 academic year. The task force, which includes a range of stakeholders from parents to superintendents throughout the state, held its first meeting Wednesday via web conference. Department spokesperson Nancy Martira said t...

  • Two regional festivals canceled

    Staff and wire reports|Updated May 23, 2020

    Two regional summer entertainment staples have fallen victim to coronavirus. Heritage Days in Portales and the UFO Festival in Roswell won’t happen in 2020, organizers announced last week. “After a consecutive run of 35 years, we are going to have to take a break this year due to the ongoing pandemic,” Portales Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Karl Terry said of Heritage Days. The event is scheduled the third Saturday in June each year with a street dance on the Friday before. “After announcing last month that we woul...

  • Pages past - May 24

    Updated May 23, 2020

    On this date ... 1965: Two pro football players had been in Clovis, signing autographs at a local sporting goods store. Tommy McDonald and Bob Lilly — both future Hall of Fame players — signed more than 1,000 autographs as they visited with area residents. McDonald was a veteran flanker who had recently been traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Los Angeles Rams. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection. Lilly, one of Dallas’ greatest defensive linemen, predicted the Cowboys would be “contenders down to the final whistle...

  • Hospital board to meet Tuesday

    the Staff of The News|Updated May 23, 2020

    PORTALES — The Roosevelt County Special Hospital District board will meet in regular session Tuesday at the hospital’s Fred Anthony Conference Room. The 5:30 p.m. meeting will include a financial report on April and action on credentialing. An executive session is planned to discuss attorney-client privileged information, personnel matters and long term and strategic planning....

  • June 2 election ballot

    Updated May 23, 2020

    June 2 primary ballots Federal U.S. President Republican • Donald J. Trump Democratic • Elizabeth Warren • Tulsi Gabbard • Joseph R. Biden • Deval Patrick • Bernie Sanders • Andrew Yang Libertarian • Lincoln Chafee • Arvin Vohra • Jacob Hornberger • Adam Kokesh • John Monds • Jo Jorgensen • Sam Robb • Daniel Behrman • James Ogle U.S. Senator Republican • Elisa Maria Martinez • Mark V. Ronchetti • Gavin S. Clarkson Democratic • Ben Ray Lujan Libertarian • Bob Walsh U.S. Representative District 2 Republican • Claire Chase • Yv...

  • Events calendar - May 24

    Updated May 23, 2020

    Area high school graduation-related events continue to be rescheduled on short notice, and many are by invitation only. For current information, contact schools or a 2020 senior. Monday • Memorial Day — Local activities are restricted but the American Legion suggests paying tribute to fallen heroes by lighting candles at dusk and placing them on front porches. Thursday • Red Nose Days Eastern New Mexico 2020 — 4-8 p.m., virtual event. Fundraiser for United Way of Eastern New Mexico. Community leaders performing silly challen...

  • Meetings calendar - May 24

    Updated May 23, 2020

    Meetings are subject to change due to coronavirus concerns Monday • Memorial Day Tuesday • Roosevelt County Commission — 9 a.m., teleconference. Information and a link on how to listen live will be on the county website: https://www.rooseveltcounty.com/. Meeting will also be recorded and available on the website. Information: 575-356-5307 • Clovis City Commission special meeting — 2 p.m., North Annex, Clovis-Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main St., Clovis. No public access. Public is invited to view the meeting on Suddenlin...

  • Chance Harris commits to CSU

    Peter Stein|Updated May 23, 2020

    CLOVIS - Quarterbacks have to see the whole field, sometimes anticipate things that aren't there yet. That's what Chance Harris has been doing for about 10 years, and not just on the field. From the time he started playing organized football in the second grade, he could see himself someday wearing a Clovis High football uniform, and someday after that playing Division I college ball. Even when it wasn't there yet, Harris anticipated it. The above goals can now be considered d...

  • PHS celebrates socially distanced graduation

    Kevin Wilson - Staff|Updated May 23, 2020

    PORTALES - Parking spots replaced chairs, parking lots replaced Greyhound Arena and car horns replaced air horns. But some things did not change Saturday at Portales High School, as another class of Rams graduated with pride as they took what became an unusual first step into adulthood. Vehicles, each carrying one of the 174 graduating seniors listed in the program, began lining up in the Ram Athletic Center parking lot long before the 10 a.m. ceremony began. The procession...

  • That's a wrap

    Kevin Wilson - Staff|Updated May 23, 2020

    PORTALES - A Thursday drive through the Eastern New Mexico University campus looks like what May 21 would have had the COVID-19 pandemic never existed. The campus would be nearly two weeks removed from in-person finals and commencement ceremonies at Greyhound Arena, and be just like any late May day at ENMU - largely empty with the exception of a few cars at administrative buildings and various colleges and a jogger or two. But the pandemic is here, wiping out weeks of...

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