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Articles from the July 20, 2022 edition


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  • Warrant issued for shooting suspect

    The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 29, 2022

    Authorities on Friday issued a warrant seeking the arrest of a 21-year-old man they believe shot Jesus Navarrete on Monday at the Clovis Apartments. Marcus Lewis is charged with aggravated battery, felon in possession of a firearm and shooting at or from a motor vehicle. He was not in custody Friday afternoon and police warned he "should be considered armed and dangerous." Police said Navarrete was brought into Plains Regional Medical Center early Monday morning with a...

  • One critical after early morning shooting in Clovis

    The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 29, 2022

    CLOVIS — A 24-year-old man was critically injured early Monday when he was shot in the chest – the fifth shooting incident in Clovis since Saturday, police said. A Clovis police news release said Jesus Navarrete was unconscious when he was brought into Plains Regional Medical Center at 2:42 a.m. He was soon transferred to University Medical Center in Lubbock where he was listed in critical condition. The shooting occurred at the Clovis Apartments, the police news release stated. Spent shell casings were found at the sce...

  • Warrant issued for juvenile suspect in Connelly St. homicide

    The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 22, 2022

    An arrest warrant was issued Friday charging a juvenile in the July 9 homicide of Victor Davila, 22, of Friona. According to a news release from Clovis Police Department Captain Robbie Telles, Davila was driving a black Dodge truck that rammed into a home in the 900 block of Connelly St. in the early morning hours of July 9. When he was removed from the vehicle by police and rescue personnel it was discovered he had a gunshot wound. Davila was rushed to Plains Regional Medical Center where he died. Also wounded in the...

  • Palo Duro Canyon State Park closing some trails during heat advisories

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    CANYON, Texas —To curb the risk for heat exposure to visitors, Palo Duro Canyon State Park will begin closing select trails between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. (CDT) when the National Weather Service issues heat advisories for the area. Extreme heat at Palo Duro Canyon State Park led to 47 recent rescue calls in under 48 hours, according to a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department news release. “Every year, the park experiences a slew of distress calls during the hot summer months, stretching park staff and emergency services thin,” the r...

  • Council meeting contentious over rates

    De Baca County News, Syndicated content|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    FORT SUMNER — Village councilors and Mayor Louie Gallegos fielded complaints over new water and sewer rates from a room full of residents during a regular council meeting July 11. The discussion over the rates, which took effect with the June billing cycle, dominated the meeting, even though the issue was not specifically listed on the agenda. Resident and former city employee Jesse Sanchez criticized the rate hikes, saying the council spends money unwisely and does not make good use of employees. He accused city workers o...

  • Proposed monument raises church-state debate

    Guadalupe County Communicator, Syndicated content|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    SANTA ROSA — A “religion and government” discussion at the July 12 Santa Rosa city council meeting grew out of a presentation by resident Herman Baca, who wants to build a monument to Our Lady of Guadalupe on the southwest corner of the courthouse square downtown. Baca’s presentation was of a proposed monument to honor the mother of Jesus, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe who, many Catholics believe, appeared in a series of apparitions over a number of years. Baca said Guadalupe County was named after her and wants t...

  • Commander of special operations medical squadron at Cannon AFB fired

    Stars and Stripes, Syndicated content|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    The commander of an Air Force special operations medical squadron at Cannon Air Force Base was relieved of his duties last week about one year after he took command of the unit, base officials said Friday. Lt. Col. Kenneth Beadle was fired from command of the 27th Special Operations Medical Readiness Squadron "due to a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead," said Misty Mercado, a Cannon AFB-based spokeswoman for the squadron's parent unit, the 27th Special Operations Wing. Mercado declined to provide specific...

  • Pages past, July 20: Heavy rains flood region

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    On this date … 1972: Regional rainfall totals had ranged from 1 to 7 inches over the previous 24 hours. Heaviest reports were between Floyd and Melrose. Panny Bigler said she’d recorded 7 inches of moisture on her farm 3 miles west and 10 miles south of Melrose. A neighbor, Marvin Fowler, recorded 6 inches a short distance to the north, the Clovis News-Journal reported. Bigler said the heavy rains had not damaged any crops, but water was running in torrents across the Floyd to Melrose highway. She said water running thr...

  • Faith: Best to remember all earthly wealth belongs to God

    Curtis Shelburne, Religion columnist|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    If a cup of coffee on the patio on a nice morning won’t bring you joy, neither will owning a yacht. Or something like that. I don’t remember the exact quote. I recently read it somewhere. Don’t recall where. But it seems that someone was interviewing some very wealthy people about happiness and how to find it. And that’s when one of the incredibly rich folks made this incredibly wise statement. Of course, Jesus said it a long time ago: “Take care! Protect yourself from the...

  • Jail log - July 20

    Updated Jul 19, 2022

    Booked The following were booked into local jails (Friday - Tuesday): Clovis • Serapio Rodriguez, 39, failure to appear on a felony charge • Terance Abeyta, 21, failure to appear on a felony charge • Electra Laurelez, 21, aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, failure to obey traffic laws • Erica Lopez, 38, failure to pay fines • Giovanni Ceja Lua, 22, failure to obey traffic control devices, no drivers license • Theodore Cristan, 53, registration of sex offenders; information...

  • Cross country schedule announced

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    PORTALES — First-year Eastern New Mexico University cross country coach Josh Harden has announced the program’s schedule for the upcoming fall season. “I’m excited about our schedule,” Harden, who was promoted from assistant to head coach in both cross country and track in late May to replace Jeff Kavalunas, said in a release from ENMU. “I believe it gives our group a great opportunity to show growth throughout the season. We have some challenging meets to really push our top returners, while providing our key underclassmen s...

  • Clovis man medals in jiu jitsu competition

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    AUSTIN, Texas — Rudy Ledezma of Clovis captured three divisions over the weekend in the Austin Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Ledezma, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday, won two matches to take first place out of five contestants on Saturday in the Gi Division, in which competitors don traditional martial arts garb. He then beat his only competition on Sunday in the Nogi Division, where competitors wear regular clothing. He also earned the first-place medal in the Open Weight Division, where he was the only one to s...

  • Sand volleyball, cornhole event coming up

    the Staff of The News|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    CLOVIS — A 4-on-4 co-ed sand volleyball tournament and a cornhole tournament, designed to support the Clovis High volleyball program, are scheduled for August 6 at Lucky Dawg Recreation Area on Sycamore Street near Hillcrest Park. The entry fee for the volleyball tournament is $120 per team, with a maximum of six players. Pool play for seeding purposes will be followed by a single-elimination tournament bracket, with awards to the top two teams. Teams must have two women on the court at all times. Pool play matches are two g...

  • Grady teen picks up national honors

    Kathleen Stinson, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    William Drake, 14, who will be a Grady Municipal High School freshman next fall, won a Gold in the nationals in the Snatch event at the Olympic Weightlifting Youth Division competition in Las Vegas, Nev., at the end of June. At that competition, he also came in third place in the nation in the 14-15 age group and 49 kilos weight class, said his mother Rene Drake, who is herself a professional weightlifting coach. "William snatched 55kg (131.25lb) and Clean and Jerked 65kg...

  • Opinion: Only more horror stories coming

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    Now that a 27-year-old man’s confession has substantiated a doctor’s story that a 10-year-old girl was raped, got pregnant and had to go out of state to get an abortion, you’d have a heart of stone not to feel for the girl. And if you insist that she should carry her pregnancy full term, you’re more than heartless, you’re being cruel. I say this because it sickens me when children are victimized as this young girl has been, first by a man who reportedly raped her at least twice, then by an Ohio law that prohibits abortions af...

  • Opinion: Hard to reach education goal without roadmap

    Albuquerque Journal, Syndicated content|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    A 50% increase in K-12 English language arts and math achievement by the 2025-26 school year might seem aspirational, until you realize where New Mexico is starting from. At last count, prepandemic, just one in five N.M. students was proficient in math and one in three proficient in reading. If those numbers were still accurate — doubtful with the learning loss remote education inflicted — reaching these goals would mean just one in three students will be able to do math and only half will be able to read at grade level. But...

  • Opinion: Libertarians aren't on right or left

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    No one really understands anyone else, so it’s no surprise that non-libertarians don’t understand libertarians. When I first started writing on the topic of libertarianism, I ran across a blog post written by a self-proclaimed “progressive” who explained why all libertarians were racists and should be hated and mocked. I commented, pointing out a host of reasons this wasn’t true. He seemed to imagine everyone he didn’t like could be clumped under the term “libertarian.” Most o...

  • Four killed in helicopter crash

    Albuquerque Journal, Syndicated content|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    A high-ranking Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office official and three other first responders battling a small wildfire in northern New Mexico were all killed when the helicopter they were in crashed Saturday evening in a remote area near Las Vegas. A sheriff's office spokeswoman said the crew had been "providing bucket drops and other air logistics needs to fire crews on the ground" prior to the crash. The BCSO helicopter - dubbed Metro 2 - crashed about 7:20 p.m., spokeswoman...

  • Albertsons joins other supermarkets in starting e-commerce services

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    CLOVIS — Friday, Albertsons supermarket in Clovis launched the company’s free curbside pickup and delivery service. In a news release announcing the launch, the new shopping option is described as an “e-commerce service, designed to make shopping easy and convenient.” To use the online service, shoppers must be an Albertson’s rewards! member with a valid email address. Grocery orders may be placed online 24 hours a day at albertsonsmarket.com. Shoppers have the option to reserve a specific pick-up or delivery time seven days...

  • Rogers school reunion celebrates small community

    Betty Williamson, Local columnist|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    A couple of weeks ago I had an email from Lynda (Gray) Moore of Portales inviting me to attend an upcoming reunion for the Rogers school. “We have had around 13 reunions that began in the late 1970s,” Moore wrote, “and we have had great times.” But, she added, “We have lost quite a few of our group since the last reunion,” and there was a good chance “this will likely be the last one.” I happily joined the 50 or so folks who gathered Saturday in the air-conditioned...

  • Saturday SWAT incident ends with no shots fired

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    The Clovis Police Department SWAT Team was called out Saturday morning to help the Curry County Sheriff’s department in arresting a sex offender on an outstanding warrant. According to a news release from Clovis Police department captain Roman Romero the SWAT team was requested to support sheriff’s office personnel at about 3:45 a.m. at a motel at 1616 Mabry Dr. for a possible hostage/barricaded subject. According to undersheriff Michael Brockett, information had been received that Theodore Christan, 53, was at the mot...

  • Pastor: Ronchetti goal 'to end abortion' in NM

    Albuquerque Journal, Syndicated content|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    SANTA FE — The day Roe v. Wade was overturned, Republican Mark Ronchetti said he would pursue a 15-week abortion ban — with some exceptions — if elected governor of New Mexico. But Ronchetti’s longer-term goal, according to the pastor of an influential mega church, would be to end abortion in the state, not just after 15 weeks of pregnancy — remarks that have roiled the governor’s race and been seized on by supporters of Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham as abortion emerges as a defining issue of the campaign. In a sermon this...

  • Archery facility manager up in air

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Jul 19, 2022

    Bill Myers of Melrose has been wondering why the Joe C. Thomas Archery and Winged Shooting Training Center has not been opened at Clovis’ Ned Houk Park. The center, built for $3.7 million with 90% of that cost paid by the state Department of Game and Fish, was set to open at the end of last year. Its mission is to offer archery practice along with shooting areas for trap and skeet. Instead, Myers said, it remains “vacant, overgrown with weeds and covered up with trash.” Clovis City Manager Justin Howalt said this week the f...