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Articles from the September 29, 2024 edition


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  • Clovis man sentenced for 2022 homicide

    the Staff of The News|Updated Oct 1, 2024

    A Clovis man on Thursday pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Jimmy Whitlock, 45, is accused of killing 16-year-old Jesse Villanes-Lerma at an apartment on Sycamore Street in Clovis on Aug. 14, 2022. District Judge Ben Cross sentenced Whitlock, who will be required to serve 85% of his sentence, according to a news release from District Attorney Quentin Ray. A second suspect connected to the homicide, Deionte Fannin, 29 at the... Full story

  • School menus - Sept. 29

    Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Clovis Monday: Breakfast: Mini Cinnis. Lunch: Chicken drumstick, mashed potatoes & gravy, seasoned corn, chilled peaches, whole wheat roll or Chef Salad or pizza or burrito and French fries (grades 6-12). *October school menu not available by press time. Portales Monday: Breakfast: Waffle, fruit cup, juice. Lunch: Spaghetti & meat sauce, breadsticks, green beans, carrots, applesauce or (grades 7-12) Grilled ham + cheese, fries, cucumber, applesauce. Tuesday: Breakfast: Donut twins, applesauce, juice. Lunch: Stuffed crust...

  • Our people: She believed she could, so ...

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Michelli Rocha speaks English and Portuguese. Portuguese because that's the language of the country where she was born, Brazil. Rocha came to the United States 16 years ago. She landed in Philadelphia where she became a fan of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. The News learned more about this boutique owner and real estate agent sitting in her Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate office Thursday in Clovis. Q: What's your idea of a perfect day? A: I'd start...

  • Every dog that's adopted me has been a unique sleeper

    Karl Terry, Local columnist|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Every dog that’s ever adopted me had its own unique sleep habits, some of them a bit strange. Take for instance, when we first got the little dog Maggie, who sleeps with me every night in the bed. The first night with her, when bedtime came she jumped into the dirty laundry basket and was asleep before I got into bed myself. Later she still took naps in the laundry basket but she soon figured out sleeping in the bed with the humans was allowed. One stretch when my late wife w...

  • On the shelves - Sept. 29

    Updated Sep 28, 2024

    The books listed below are now available for checkout at the Clovis-Carver Public Library. The library is open to the public, but patrons can still visit the online catalog at cloviscarverpl.booksys.net/opac/ccpl or call 575-769-7840 to request a specific item for curbside pickup. “The Rose Arbor” by Rhys Bowen. London: 1968. Liz Houghton is languishing as an obituary writer at a London newspaper when a young girl’s disappearance captivates the city. If Liz can break the story, it’s her way into the newsroom. She already has...

  • Lady Buffs turn back Hounds

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    West Texas A&M spoiled the Lone Star Conference opener for the Eastern New Mexico University women's soccer team on Wednesday, handing the Greyhounds a 2-0 loss at Steve Loy Family Foundation Field. ENMU (1-3-1, 0-1 LSC) took a season-best 17 shots overall, with five on goal for the second-most in a match this season, but the Greyhounds were unable to penetrate WT senior goalkeeper Reagan Heelan and the Lady Buffs' defense despite having a number of quality chances to score....

  • Gattis 7th graders turn back Portales

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    The Gattis 7th grade football team improved to 3-0 on Tuesday with a 21-12 victory over visiting Portales. Rick Fenstermaker, Nathan Lewis and Luke Clements each scored a touchdown for the Cubs, while Fenstermaker added a PAT kick and a 2-point conversion. Defensively, the team was led by Jamie Fernandez with two sacks and a forced fumble, Fenstermaker with two sacks, Nate Lewis with a sack and an interception and Langdon Lewis with a fumble recovery. Both Bryan Terrarzas and Andres Cabrerra posted six total tackles. Next up...

  • Lady Cats fall to Goddard in five sets

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    ROSWELL – Clovis High’s volleyball team seemed on its way to victory Tuesday night before things came a bit unraveled. Roswell Goddard roared from behind to take a 23-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-7, 15-7 victory over the Lady Wildcats. “We played incredible in Games 1 and 2,” CHS coach Cristy Hill said. “We missed 11 serves in Game 1, and we still won.” Junior outside hitter Ashlynn Evans collected 18 kills, seven digs, two blocks and two aces for Clovis (5-4). “Ashlynn was getting balls down every time,” Hill said. “Maybe she got...

  • Cavemen keep Cats reeling with 56-8 triumph

    Dave Wagner, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Even though Clovis High's football team has struggled mightily this season, Carlsbad coach Cale Sanders wasn't about to take anything for granted on Friday night. After all, the Wildcats were also struggling last year at this time before ambushing the Cavemen 33-23 at Leon Williams Stadium, eventually winning a district title and earning Class 6A state playoff berth. Not this time, though. Senior quarterback Kaden Perez threw for six touchdowns and ran for another, and Carlsba...

  • Ask the News - Sept. 29

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    I haven't been inside the Mesa theater in downtown Clovis for years. Is the gold chain curtain still there? The gold metal drape still hangs at the Mesa theater, 206 N. Main St., in Clovis. "The drape is still on the stage, although I understand that it might have been modified a little bit from the original installation," Bob Dart said. Dart is vice president of Internet Technology & Operations at Clovis Community College, which owns the theater. Members of the rock 'n' roll...

  • Rams turn back Jaguars

    Matt Weiner, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    A cacophony of smashing pads and cheering fans flowed through Steven Loy Family Foundation Stadium on Friday night, as youngsters from Valencia High School and Portales High School duked it out in the fourth quarter of a meaningful district melee. Then in the fourth quarter, up by one possession, PHS quarterback Tommy Lopez pump-faked a screen pass, found Kaidyn Cordova streaking up the sideline and ripped a deep ball into the pitch-black sky. Time froze. The cacophony...

  • Vega, Friona deal setbacks to Lady Rams

    the Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    FRIONA – Suffice it to say, it was a long day for Portales High’s volleyball team on Tuesday. Playing in what was essentially a triangular, the Lady Rams had to wait around for Vega and Friona to complete a five-set marathon, won by the host Squaws. They then went five sets before losing to the Lady Longhorns 26-24, 27-25, 23-25, 19-25, 15-8. In the finale, Friona (23-6) notches a 25-13, 25-23, 25-22 win over PHS. Friona is ranked 30th out of 175 Class 3A schools in Texas, while Vega (24-5) is 17th out of nearly 150 Class 2A...

  • Meetings calendar - Sept. 29

    Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Monday *City of Portales Finance Committee – 4 p.m., City Hall, 1028 Community Way, Portales. Information: 575-356-6662 *City of Clovis Revenue Review Committee – 5:30 p.m., North Annex, Clovis-Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main, Clovis. Information: 575-763-9654 Tuesday *Roosevelt County Commission – 9 a.m., Commission Room, Roosevelt County Courthouse, 109 W. First St., Portales. Information: 575-356-5307 *City of Portales Public Works Committee meeting – 1 p.m., City Hall, 1028 Community Way, Portales. Informa...

  • Portales, EPCOR continue water talks

    Matt Weiner, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Portales officials decided Tuesday they’d like to continue discussions with EPCOR possibly providing water to the city. “We’d like to know what we need to do and how we move forward with you guys -- if that’s what we choose to do -- so that we’re clear with the community and that we’re not just stringing y’all along,” Councilor Mike Rackler told EPCOR Vice President Jeffrey Stuck at the City Council meeting. Officials agreed to set a work session to continue discussion. “When we schedule this working session, it will be open...

  • Water chair: Time to move past contention

    Matt Weiner, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Mike Morris wants peace with Logan and Quay County officials as they address ongoing issues with the Ute Water Pipeline. “It is past time … to move past the contention around this project,” Morris, the chairman of the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority, told Logan Mayor Barry Bass on Thursday. After the water authority meeting, Morris was seen talking with Bass and Eldon Merrick, an ENMWUA board member from Portales. Asked about that conversation, Morris said, “I think we are going in the direction of a respect...

  • Opinion: Likely to be uneventful election cycle in NM

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Other than the presidential election and a super-tight congressional race down south, it’s a fairly tame general election in New Mexico. It could have been a more consequential year, with a mid-term, term-limited governor struggling to keep her party in lockstep on issues like crime containment and school calendars — while every seat in both the state House and Senate are up for election. Currently the New Mexico Senate is run by the Democrats, who command a 27-15 supermajority. All 42 Senate seats are up for election thi...

  • Opinion: No victim deserves the blame for their own victimization

    Christine Flowers, Syndicated content|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    When I was in college, there was this campaign against what was just beginning to be called “slut shaming.” I remember seeing flyers on campus that declared women should be able to wear anything we wanted, say anything we wanted and go anywhere we wanted without having to worry that we’d end up assaulted at the end of an evening. That was common sense, although a bit naive. I remember thinking at the time that no one deserved to be a victim, but that accountability matte...

  • Opinion: Education doesn't have single-term solution

    Walter Rubel, Syndicated content|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    When new Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham fired her first education secretary, Karen Trujillo, in July 2019 after just six months on the job, I thought it was a rash decision. But to be fair, I was biased. Like many people in Las Cruces, I knew Karen a little bit, and liked her. Still, the governor’s explanation seemed weak. “It is absolutely imperative that we genuinely transform public education in this state,” she said. “We must identify a vibrant and ambitious new leader for the Public Education Department as soon as we can....

  • Opinion: We may be charging headfirst into WWIII

    Rube Render, Local columnist|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    You can’t tell the players if you don’t have a program. From 1922 until 1991, “Ukraine” was the informal name of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union, with the exception of 1941-1944 (World War II) when Ukraine was annexed by Germany as Reichskommissariat Ukraine. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Ukraine became independent and has struggled to form a stable democracy, economy, and has fought to deal with government corruption. Additionally, t...

  • Opinion: Don't make government important to you

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Government has become too important in our daily lives. Not because it’s actually important to our existence, but because it interferes with everything we do, and then threatens to hurt us if we resist its meddling. A leaky roof or a crumbling foundation is important for the same reason. I’ve had intoxicated acquaintances get in my face and hang all over me. I hated to be around them or to run into them. They were not a benefit to my life, but they made themselves imp...

  • Opinion: College presidents encourage support for G.O. Bond 3

    Updated Sep 28, 2024

    As the president of Clovis Community College and the Chancellor of the Eastern New Mexico University System, we want to outline the benefits of General Obligation Bond 3 in the Nov. 5 General Election and why it deserves the support of the citizens of Curry and Roosevelt counties. Our institutions provide access and opportunity for higher education to our region, and the students of both campuses deserve high-quality learning environments. Passage of Bond 3 will allow higher education institutions in Curry and Roosevelt count...

  • Q&A: Electric co-ops considering data center deal

    Matt Weiner, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Editor’s note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local officials and community leaders. Vick Christian is a board member of cooperative companies Deaf Smith Electric and Golden Spread Electric, which are in the process of seeing if they should back up a data center that would power Artificial Intelligence with 206 megawatts. That’s more than 200 times the amount of electricity Farwell uses. Q: Can you outline this potential deal involving Deaf Smith Electric and Golden Spread Electric and the data cen...

  • What's the best gift for a university's 90th anniversary?

    Betty Williamson, Local columnist|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Gift giving guides suggest diamonds and emeralds are appropriate to commemorate 90th anniversaries. As Eastern New Mexico University continues the celebration of its 90th year with homecoming festivities this week in Portales, they might be more likely to suggest theater and football tickets, barbecue, and drones. Tens of thousands of us Greyhounds have passed through campus over the past nine decades, and with luck hundreds (dare I say thousands?) of us will be back on campus...

  • School board considers honoring football coach

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Clovis Municipal Schools Board members on Tuesday discussed honoring longtime Clovis High football coach Eric Roanhaus in some fashion. "Several different times people have reached out to me. All kinds of people," said board member Shawn Hamilton. "It makes sense to honor him. It also honors those who were part of his program. "It's time we honor this legacy." Board member Paul Cordova, like Hamilton, played football at CHS under Roanhaus. "He put (Clovis) on the map. When we...

  • Curry County Events Center under fire

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Sep 28, 2024

    Curry County Commissioner Seth Martin said Tuesday he’s interested in parting ways with the management group overseeing the Curry County Events Center and Fairgrounds. Martin and other county officials were critical of the management team Oak View Group 360 after hearing a summary of the fiscal year’s performance – a loss to taxpayers of more than $850,000. Events Center Manager K.C. Messick spoke to commissioners at their regular meeting Tuesday, summarizing the Event Center’s fiscal year, which ended June 30. Among the num...

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