Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles from the June 23, 2019 edition


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  • District 1 replacement appointed

    Kevin Wilson|Updated Jun 25, 2019

    CLOVIS — With his mind on an upcoming vacancy in the Clovis City Commission, Mayor David Lansford asked somebody he trusted about his desire to one day be a commissioner. David Robinson responded that he never wanted to run for an office, and that’s when Lansford cornered him with a counter offer. Their eventual agreement was codified Thursday night, as Robinson was unanimously appointed to succeed Ladona Clayton as District 1 commissioner when she departs July 12. Robinson, the CEO for Plateau, will serve the final eight mon...

  • Draggin' Main Music Festival: Yesterday: When Paul McCartney (maybe) was draggin' Main

    Peter Stein|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    It was a case of hello, goodbye. That's how quickly Joe Jones and his cousin Gary Rector saw a man they were fairly certain was ex-Beatles legend Paul McCartney on Clovis' Main Street around 1973. It was quite a few yesterdays ago, but Jones - then a teenaged visitor from Friona, now a retired dentist in Santa Fe - still remembers the surprise and confusion nearly five decades later. Jones and Rector were frequent day trippers to Clovis, regularly popping over from Friona to...

  • Roosevelt to consider an alcohol election resolution

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    PORTALES — Depending on the will of the voters in Roosevelt and Curry counties, the number of dry counties in New Mexico next year could go from two to zero. About a week after Curry County had a similar resolution, the Roosevelt County Commission will consider a resolution calling for election to allow alcohol sales in the unincorporated parts of the county. The meeting will be 9 a.m. Tuesday at the commission chambers of the Roosevelt County Courthouse. In its Monday meeting, the Curry commission unanimously passed their v...

  • Water authority hears contamination cleanup options

    David Grieder|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    CLOVIS - If you're on fire the advice is to stop, drop and roll. If your groundwater is contaminated, one consultant's advice is to stop, isolate and clean up. That was the recommendation Thursday afternoon of King Industry's Tom Blaine, presenting recommendations to the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority as to how the chemical contamination originating from Cannon Air Force Base might be best addressed. ENMWUA hired Blaine on a $15,000 scope of work contract for the...

  • ENMU's TADA! in second year

    Kevin Wilson|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    PORTALES - When the idea first came to create a summer camp for the arts at Eastern New Mexico University, there was a pretty obvious acronym for a theater and dance academy. Now, the college is two years into saying, "TADA," as the academy opened last week at the University Theatre Center. Patrick McCreary, academy creator and an associate professor of theater at ENMU, said the two-week TADA is a combination of two one-week camps that build on each other but also work as...

  • Jail log - June 23

    Updated Jun 22, 2019

    Booked The following were booked into local jails Tuesday - Thursday: Clovis • Juan Aguirre-Marquez, 28, criminal trespass, battery against a household member • Roseanne Bolin, 35, abandonment of a child (no death or great bodily harm) • James Moten, 57, probation violation • Robert Reavis, 48, criminal trespass • Kristian Stubbs, 30, failure to appear on a felony charge • Sherri Andrews, 37, contempt of court • Gunner Wynn, 25, out of state fugitive • Corey Dixon, 19, disorderly conduct, resisting, evading or obstructing • W...

  • Draggin' Main Music Festival: Holograms could be ticket to past

    David Stevens|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    What if we could see Buddy Holly perform on stage, 60 years after his death? We can, as soon as this fall, as close as Albuquerque. The Rock ’n’ Roll Dream Tour, featuring holographic images of Holly and fellow music legend Roy Orbison, is scheduled to kick off Sept. 19 in San Francisco. It comes to Albuquerque’s Popejoy Hall on Oct. 6. Ticket prices range from $30 to $65 through unmtickets.com The digitally projected images of Holly and Orbison performing together will be accompanied by a live band and backup singers. “This...

  • Draggin' Main Music Festival: Aundrea Dawson: Faith, family and music

    Peter Stein|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    Aundrea Dawson has many loves. Faith. Family. Music. Basketball. Faith is likely first and foremost, the fountain from which the other three spring. Basketball was a passion in the 1990s — especially near decade’s end when she helped Clovis High’s girls basketball team win a state championship — and in the early 2000s when she was playing the sport for Liberty University. These days it’s mostly about faith, family and music. And Dawson combines all three with her Gospel act, which will open for Christian singer/so...

  • Draggin' Main Music Festival: Led to singing

    Peter Stein|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    For Josh Wilson, it was no accident. No serendipity. No coincidence. Wilson’s life, like everyone’s, has taken him on a path. But because of his deep spirituality, Wilson thinks he was led to a career as a Christian singer/songwriter. “God knows what the plans are. I don’t really know what they are,” he said Thursday in a telephone interview from Nashville. “He kind of put the things together where they are in my life. So I’m thankful for that.” Be it Providence or some fortunate booking, perhaps both, Wilson will be perform...

  • Draggin' Main Music Festival: Loverboy headlining festival

    Peter Stein|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    Turn them loose. Loverboy - a band that Baby Boomers and Gen X-ers surely remember, a band whose music most Millennials and Gen Z-ers have probably heard, whether they realize it or not - will be performing at this year's Draggin' Main Music Festival. They'll be working for the weekend, or at least part of it, when they take to the Marshall Auditorium stage on Friday night. Best known for the hit early-'80s singles "Turn Me Loose" and "Working for the Weekend," the Canadian...

  • Draggin' Main Music Festival: A trip back in time

    Peter Stein|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    CLOVIS — This is the time of year that Clovis goes back in time. Drive-ins. ’50s music and nostalgic tours. ’60s music. Even some ’80s rock. Bringing together all of the above and more is the Draggin’ Main Music Festival, scheduled to run through Saturday. Organizers have been working hard to make sure this year’s installment of the festival is a memorable one, maybe even the most memorable. “I think it’s fantastic, I think it’s fantastic. We anticipate our biggest year,” event chairman Derek Cockrell said last week. “Ye...

  • New superintendent to preside at meeting

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    CLOVIS — New Clovis Schools Superintendent Renee Russ will have her first meeting as superintendent when the school board meets 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the administrative building. Russ is technically slated to begin as superintendent in July 1, but has been interim superintendent during June as her predecessor, Jody Balch, used his remaining balance of vacation time. The meeting will largely include considerations of curriculum for the schools, including introduction of a veterinary science curriculum and reviews of existing c...

  • President's residence location selected

    David Grieder|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    PORTALES — It’s yet to be determined if the old building will stay or go. But a location for the Eastern New Mexico University president’s new residence and “public event venue” was selected Tuesday as “in the general area” of the existing residence at 1600 W. Cherry St. in Portales. Further detail on the project — funded by a state appropriation of $650,000 — and a more specific site will follow consultation between a committee of five and whatever architect is selected next month from among six still being evaluated b...

  • Innocence only matters in court

    Kevin Wilson|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    Seeing O.J. Simpson start a Twitter account is pretty much seeing every color in the spectrums of emotion and rational thought. Why does he have a Twitter account? Shouldn’t he be in jail instead? Shouldn’t seeing 1,000 O.J.s walk free be better than putting one innocent man in jail? Why does he have 50,000 followers? Do I feel better knowing at least 48,000 of those followers are there to respond to every tweet with some joke about him getting away with murder? We have certain ideals as Americans, and it’s something worth...

  • Stay-the-course pitch could work

    Rich Lowry|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    The worry a few days ago was that the Trump administration was ginning up fake intelligence about Iran blowing up oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz to justify a war against Iran. Then, last week, President Donald Trump said the Iranian attacks weren’t a big deal. The episode is another indication of the underlying modesty — not a very Trumpian word — of the administration. Subtract Trump’s taste for nonstop controversy and rhetorical brinkmanship, and you’re left with an i...

  • Car solution showed fiscal responsibility

    David Stevens|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    Fiscal responsibility and Curry County commissioners: Now those are a couple of terms you don’t see in the same sentence every day. Today it’s warranted. Commissioners last week decided to send a message to County Treasurer Debbie Spriggs, who inexplicably purchased a $24,000 car last month so she could make trips to the bank. Unable to return the car to the dealership, commissioners at least took it away from the treasurer’s office and awarded it to a Sheriff’s Department process server who may have actually needed a car f...

  • La Casita briefly locked down

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    CLOVIS — La Casita Elementary had a brief lockdown Wednesday morning following reports of somebody carrying a weapon on a playground. It was later determined students on campus for a summer program were never in danger. Following the initial report of a weapon on campus, the school entered a Level 1 lockdown, where all exterior doors are locked and instruction continues as usual. The lockdown was initiated at 10:18 a.m. and lifted at 11:33 a.m. Clovis Police Capt. Roman Romero said the department investigated the initial c...

  • City attorney steps down after more than 30 years

    Kevin Wilson|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    CLOVIS — As Dave Richards prepares to bid farewell to a job that has taken him through more than 30 years, nine city managers and countless city commissioners and department heads, many of them bid a fond and laughter-filled farewell to him. Prior to his final Clovis City Commission meeting Thursday as the city attorney, Richards was treated to the city reception that is boilerplate for some of its biggest retirements, and during the meeting he received the key to the city. Mayor David Lansford credited Richards for years o...

  • Pages past - June 23

    Updated Jun 22, 2019

    On this date ... 1989: The Clovis Community Band was planning a concert at the Ned Houk Park Band Shell just east of the Pappy Thornton Museum. The event was promoted as an “Old Fashioned Picnic and Band Concert.” For $3.50 per plate, music lovers would receive two hot dogs with “Hubby Chili,” chips and a soft drink. Dwayne Hubby was the man to call for reservations. The Community Band conductor was Norvil Howell. Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens. Contact him at: [email protected]...

  • Meetings calendar - June 23

    Updated Jun 22, 2019

    Tuesday • Roosevelt County Commission — 9 a.m., Commission Room, Roosevelt County Courthouse, 109 W. First St., Portales. Information: 575-356-5307 • Clovis Municipal Schools board — 5:30 p.m., Board Room, CMS administration building, 1009 Main St., Clovis. Information: 575-769-4300 • Roosevelt General Hospital Board of Trustees — 5:30 p.m., Fred Anthony Conference Room, RGH, 42121 US-70, Portales. Information: 575-359-1800 Wednesday • City of Clovis Public Works Committee — 8:30 a.m., Clovis City Hall assembly room, 321 N. C...

  • FBI charges former Parmer County deputy

    David Grieder|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    AMARILLO — The former Parmer County Sheriff deputy charged last month with child sex crimes in Curry County was indicted this month on a federal charge of criminal sexual activity with minors. On Thursday a grand jury in the U.S. District Court in Amarillo returned an indictment on Davin Waters, 25, of Farwell, for one count of transportation of minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The charges followed reports from multiple children interviewed May 31 and June 3, just days after Waters was first arrested...

  • Man arrested after alleged barefoot rampage

    David Grieder|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    CLOVIS — Police on Friday arrested a man after following his bloody footprints on an alleged early morning rampage that started at a Clovis gun shop. Derrick Morales, 34, is charged with felony aggravated burglary, larceny and numerous counts of criminal damage to property, including over $1,000 in damage to an interview room following his arrest. The incident started just before 2:30 a.m. with reports of a burglary to the gun shop on the 500 block of North Prince Street, and a Clovis police officer ultimately located Morales...

  • Portales OKs money for repairs

    David Grieder|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    PORTALES — There may well be “rumbling” on and concerning some roads in Portales, but city councilors hope to address the issue in time with repair work. In a brief meeting Tuesday evening the Portales City Council authorized funding agreements for various repairs to city roads, hoping in the process to address issues previously voiced to representatives. Councilor Oscar Robinson noted “a lot of rumbling about streets being in deplorable condition” and hoped the public would take note of the work in progress to correct p...

  • Officials talk 'human element'

    David Grieder|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    PORTALES - Recent funding for raises helps, but recruiting and keeping teachers is not all about money. In discussions Thursday morning before the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, state and local officials spoke to those challenges and the efforts they make to address them. Superintendents for both Clovis and Portales municipal school districts noted a decline in student enrollment in recent years and spoke to different approaches toward serving the needs of both...

  • County, state officials converge on Clovis

    Kevin Wilson|Updated Jun 22, 2019

    CLOVIS — Election reimbursements and workman’s compensation claim investigations probably aren’t that riveting to the people tasked to handle them. They’re even less interesting to John and Jane Q. Public. They are, however, discussions that need to happen and Clovis welcomed the people who should be having them — New Mexico’s county representatives, whether elected, appointed or hired. For much of the week, the Clovis Civic Center, Curry County Events Center and Clovis Community College played host to conversatio...

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