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Articles from the July 19, 2023 edition


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  • Clovis man dies in Curry County ATV accident

    The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 21, 2023

    A 60-year-old man was killed Thursday evening when he was pinned under a four-wheel ATV after a crash, Curry County Sheriff Mike Reeves stated in a press release. The victim was Jeffery Joe Ward of Clovis. Curry County deputies were dispatched to the crash scene at the intersection of Curry Roads 15 and I just after 7 p.m. Thursday, according to the press release. Ward was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel after resuscitation attempts failed. The Sheriff’s Department is investigating the crash, R...

  • Quay deputy kills Tucumcari man during domestic dispute

    The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 20, 2023

    LOGAN -- A Tucumcari man was shot to death early Wednesday morning by a Quay County Sheriff’s deputy while police were responding to a domestic dispute at a home in Logan, according to a news release from New Mexico State Police. Matthew Dimas, 38, died at an area hospital after a sheriff’s deputy fired at least one shot that struck Dimas, the news release stated. Sheriff’s deputies and state police responded to a call from dispatchers at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday that a man had fired two shots from the back yard of a Logan home...

  • City commissioner strikes back at mayor

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 20, 2023

    One month after Clovis’ mayor accused him of lying about attending a taxpayer-funded training session in Santa Fe, Clovis City Commissioner David Bryant responded to the allegations early Saturday morning. “Yes,” Bryant wrote in a Facebook message to The News, “I attended” the seminar hosted June 5-7 by the New Mexico Municipal League. Bryant also suggested he is looking into legal action regarding the mayor’s accusation. “I’ve contacted legal with the City and outside leg...

  • Faith: To avoid cynicism, disappointment - keep on praying

    Curtis Shelburne, Religion columnist|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    I’m OK. I’m just tired. I don’t know what you usually say if you’re ever a bit tired and down and, truth be told, as you look around at our world and society, deeply disappointed. But that’s what I say. To others and to myself at those times. I hope most folks don’t think of me as being depressive and depressing. I hope my tombstone has something engraved on it pointing to the real hope I absolutely believe is ours in Christ. But, yes, on some days, I figure that stone will sa...

  • Life lesson: Dogs don't like fireworks

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    First thing you should know is back in the day I didn’t know about dogs and fireworks, that the booms and pops freaked out many a canine. Nobody ever told me, there hadn’t been that many dogs in my life. Carriebelle the Dalmatian was my third dog ever. She was a mighty fine pup, I even let her sleep on my bed. While she and I were together we lived in exotic locales, including Amarillo, Phoenix and Bisbee, Ariz. Carriebelle was born in Roswell and that’s where we spent our first two years together. We were great pals. I too...

  • Opinion: Left should take human trafficking seriously

    Michael Reagan, Syndicated content|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    Don’t thank Hollywood for “Sound of Freedom.” The movie, about a former Homeland Security agent who goes to Colombia and rescues more than 50 kids from child sex traffickers, is an action-thriller – a drama. But it is based closely on the true story of Tim Ballard and his personal fight against one of the planet’s most evil and profitable criminal activities – human sex trafficking. “Sound of Freedom” was actually finished in 2018. But because it couldn’t get Netflix or a majo...

  • Opinion: Congressional district in Clovis judge's hands

    Walter Rubel, Syndicated content|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    District Judge Fred Van Soelen of Clovis has until Oct. 1 to decide if the redistricting map that allowed Democrats to wrest control of the 2nd Congressional District will still be in place for the 2024 election. Recently the state Supreme Court sent a lawsuit filed by Republicans seeking to overturn the new map back to District Court, while also giving Judge Van Soelen guidance on what he should consider in making his decision. The order instructs that “a reasonable degree” of partisan gerrymandering is permissible, so lon...

  • Publisher's journal: Mayor, commissioner must agree to disagree

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    Did he or didn’t he? Only David Bryant knows for sure if he attended that Municipal League training last month. Bryant said he did. Clovis Mayor Mike Morris still says he didn’t and he wants Bryant to resign and pay back the city about $650 it spent on sending Bryant to Santa Fe. Bryant’s statement last week was not exactly clear about how much time he spent at the seminar. “I’ve attended every session of the program over my attendance at two separate offerings,” he wrote. ...

  • Pages past, July 19: Pastor wants porn crackdown

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    On this date ... 1960: Babe Ruth League all-stars from Portales included Stan Lehman, Clois Jeffries, Johnny Hooper and Tinker Wood. The 15 boys selected were scheduled to participate in a district tournament late in the month. 1960: Portales’ Lester Bayless returned home after a lousy weekend to some good news. The bad news began on a Friday morning when he lost $100 in cash, somewhere between First Federal Savings and Loan and Compton’s Store for Men. Bayless hoped his for...

  • Company offers tips for keeping homes cool, bills low

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    As the summer heat continues to climb throughout Eastern New Mexico, residents are bound to see their energy bills begin to grow along with the temperatures. According to a press release from Xcel Energy, home cooling accounts for about half of the electric bill during the summer season. To combat the summer heat and the inevitable electric bill, Xcel Energy has provided some tips and tricks for residents to keep their house cool without breaking the bank. Tips to save energy and keep bills low: • Use ceiling fans to circulat...

  • Clovis commission to consider property purchase

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    Buying a piece of property for use as a new space for Clovis’ animal control operations is on the agenda for Thursday’s regular Clovis City Commission meeting. The agenda calls for a “real estate purchase agreement for 516 Ash and 517 Hickory streets” between the city and Zia Holdings Corporation/Eastern New Mexico Rehabilitation. Commissioners meet at 5:15 p.m. in the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library. City Manager Justin Howalt makes the case for the acquisition in the notes in the city’s agenda packet, writin...

  • ENMU assistant professor awarded grant

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    Eastern New Mexico University Assistant Professor of Career Technical Education Jihyun Woo has been awarded a Fulbright-Hays “Group Project Abroad” grant for the 2023-24 school year. According to an ENMU news release, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Woo a grant totaling $133,046. The project titled “open online course design for enhancing cultural awareness and diversity,” will allow 12 ENMU “Fulbrighters” to travel to Korea in June 2024 to participate first-hand with diversity course materials. “Respecting...

  • Police officer killed in Alamogordo

    Autumn Scott, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    An Alamogordo police officer was shot Saturday while pursuing a criminal suspect after a traffic stop. Anthony Ferguson, 41, died Sunday from his wounds, police said. The Officer Down Memorial website reported Ferguson was the nation’s 62nd law officer to die in the line of duty this year, the first in New Mexico. Survivors include his father, Danny Ferguson, a 1973 graduate of Portales High School. Classmate Mike Davidson said Danny Ferguson was attending a 50th year reunion at Portales High School over the weekend when h...

  • Third woman pleads in Texico child-abuse case

    Madison Willis, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    The third woman accused in a Texico child abuse case on Monday pleaded guilty to allegations against her. Lora Melancon, 43, faces up to six years in prison amid allegations five children in the home where she also lived were beaten, starved and chained up. Judge Fred Van Soelen agreed to postpone sentencing until Aug. 14 so that the defendant can gather witnesses to speak on her behalf. The sentence can range from six years to conditional discharge. Children, Youth and Families Department workers investigated the home of...

  • Clovis man charged in child sex assaults

    The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 18, 2023

    A 14-year-old Clovis girl this month told police she had been sexually assaulted since she was “8 or 9-years-old” by her mother’s boyfriend. On Friday, George V. Gutierrez, 39, was arrested and charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor, criminal sexual contact of a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Court records show Gutierrez was questioned June 25 and detailed dozens of sexual encounters with the child. Police then interviewed the child on Ju...