Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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PORTALES — The Eastern New Mexico football team is lately the kind opponents don’t like to play, the streaking kind, the winning kind. Saturday at Greyhound Stadium, Eastern took its third straight by pulling away from UT Permian Basin for a 24-7 victory. Once a 1-5 team, the Greyhounds are now 4-5, 4-3 in the Lone Star Conference. What a difference a month makes. “We played some really tough teams early, and I think we’ve stayed together,” ENMU head coach Kelley Lee said. “An...
SANTA ROSA — Getting old sucks. At least that’s what I’ve heard. OK, I’ll admit it. I’m getting there myself. I’m 62 years old — but I’ve always been about 10 years younger, in maturity, than my actual age. In my teens, I rebelled against my peers; in my 20s, against my parents. I didn’t even start getting serious about life until my 30s, when I finally got married and started a family of my own. And while I was being a daddy to two young girls in my 40s, I had peers becoming grandparents. … I guess the only thing that explai...
The Public Broadcasting Company last week announced America’s 100 favorite books of all time, at least among readers of today, according to an extensive survey they engineered. I was a little disappointed that I had only read 30 of them. One of those was the top winner, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, which should be somewhere on everybody’s reading list, especially now when we need strong reminders of the early days of the civil rights movement and the steely courage it required. After “To Kill a Mockingbi...
Some special interest groups would have us believe crime increases on Halloween night. This might be true, or not, depending on many factors: the weather, the night of the week, whether communities offer organized activities, etc. All we know for sure is that pumpkins tend to get smashed in streets around this time of year and vehicles are ripe for vandalism anytime the weather’s warm and after-dark activities are encouraged. Also, the National Safety Council reports children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car a...
I started helping assemble the events calendar for the Eastern New Mexico News this month and it has made me keenly aware of two things. First, it’s crazy how many things there are to do on any given day here on the High Plains. Second, I now never know what day it is. Between cobbling together the calendar a few days ahead of time for each issue of the News, and then promoting events that are up to two weeks down the road, I find myself perpetually confused. But it’s a goo...
In a horrifying moment, joy was shattered. The members of Tree of Life Congregation came together in uplifting prayer Saturday morning in what they thought was the safest of places — their synagogue in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. It was Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, and on top of that, there was a baby-naming ceremony to celebrate the start of life. A gunman shouting anti-Semitic slurs and carrying an assault rifle and several handguns killed at least 11 people and wounded six more. And once again, our nation w...
Those who play politics are asking people to vote for or against the racino. Some say it will help the economy. Others say it will bankrupt people, both morally and financially. I say such things should never be up to government control. Nor should it be subject to majority opinion. People need to grow beyond this notion that they have a right to control what other people do on their own property with their own money. They don’t, even though politics gives them the illusion t...
CLOVIS — If the thousands of costumed kids who attended Boo in the Zoo at the Hillcrest Park Zoo on Sunday are any indication, eastern New Mexico residents will likely see a lot of superheroes in town today for Halloween. Spider-Man seemed to be the most popular character, with dozens sporting the red and blue of the classic Marvel superhero, though Batman and Captain America were also well-represented. Atlas Schlau, 7, said he likes Spider-Man "because he's amazing," f...
CLOVIS — A local state representative is not convinced the New Mexico Racing Commission’s planned award of a sixth racino is a “foregone conclusion.” Nor does he think Clovis is clearly in support of hosting one. Rep. Randal Crowder, R-Clovis, said as much before state officials in a meeting last week of the Legislative Finance Committee in Santa Fe. “This sixth racino has just literally ripped the city of Clovis in half,” he said. “The mayor is opposed to the racino, about half the city commissioners are opposed, half...
CLOVIS — A town hall meeting — possibly at the end of next week — is planned to discuss water contamination around Cannon Air Force Base. That’s according to Col. Stewart Hammons, commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon, who spoke to Curry County commissioners on Tuesday. Hammons told commissioners that residents in the affected area have been offered drinking water and that a town hall meeting is in the works to discuss how the contamination will be addressed. Hammons also said he will begin attending commiss...
CLOVIS — After one year on the job, the Clovis City Commission will decide on a more long-term agreement with City Manager Justin Howalt. Howalt, who rejoined the city at the beginning of last October, said a three-year employment agreement coming before the commission at Thursday’s meeting will only have a different salary. The agreement calls for a 2 percent salary increase, bringing compensation from $152,000 to $155,040 annually. The salary reflects Howalt’s dual positions as city manager and city engineer. Howalt recei...
Racino no-brainer for economic development When I first heard New Mexico would award a racino license, I was excited for Clovis. When I moved here in 2014 — and acquired two hotels in 2015 — I was told a hard truth: Curry County’s gross-receipts tax was the second-highest in the state. That was hard to believe, considering how small we are. After doing some thinking, it made sense — expenses are always there and they’re going to go up; but tax revenues were mediocre. There’s always a budget deficit and it’s only going to go u...
CLOVIS — A man was in critical condition Tuesday in a Texas hospital after being shot twice last week in Clovis. Leroy Jaramillo, 55, of Clovis, was flown to Lubbock in critical condition after being shot once each in his neck and shoulder. Officers were dispatched around 2:30 p.m. Friday to Plains Regional Medical Center, where they initially contacted Jaramillo. “Detectives were dispatched, were able to locate the scene and began their investigation,” said Clovis Police Department Capt. Roman Romero. Romero declined to id...
Voting locations Curry County Early/absentee in person • Curry County Administrative Complex, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 3 • North Plains Mall, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday Election day (voters may use any location regardless of their precinct) • Colonial Golf Course clubhouse • Youth Recreation Building • Pleasant Hill Fire Department • Melrose City Hall • Roy Walker Recreation Center • Farmer’s Electric Cooperative • Texico Community Center • Grady Senior Citizens Center Roosevelt County Earl...
Thursday • Clovis City Commission — 5:15 p.m., North Annex, Clovis-Carver Library, 701 N. Main St. Clovis. Information: 575-769-7828 Monday • Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority special board meeting — 9 a.m., ENMWUA office, Sitterly Professional Center, 801 Pile St., Suite 214, Clovis. Information: 575-935-4262 Tuesday • Portales City Council — 6:30 p.m., Memorial Building, 200 E. Seventh St., Portales. Information: 575-356-6662 • Civil Aviation Board — 5:30-6 p.m., Clovis Municipal Airport terminal building, 459 C...
Today • Preschool storytime “Halloweenies” — 10:30 a.m., Portales Public Library, 218 S. Ave. B, Portales. Costumes welcome. Information: 575-356-3940 • Fast 45 Lunch and Learn — noon-1 p.m., Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce, 105 E. Grand Ave., Clovis. Sherri Wilson on “My Secret Weapon of Persuasion.” Free for Chamber members; $20 for non-members. Information: 575-763-3435 • Celebrate Recovery pumpkin patch fundraiser — noon-6 p.m., Living Word Church of God, 1201 E. 21st St., Clovis. Information: 575-218-1914 • Safe...
The General Election is Tuesday. But voting is already fast and furious across the region. That's the word from election administrators for Curry and Roosevelt counties, who told The News on Monday they had seen more turnout from early and absentee voters than in previous recent elections, and in some cases by a long stretch. In Curry County, voter turnout has already surpassed that of the primary election in June, according to Clerk Annie Hogland. The numbers so far also...
CLOVIS — There were many “wow” moments at the Bands of America Super Regional in St. Louis over the weekend. But Clovis High Band Director Bill Allred said two stood out. One was when the band arrived, to find they were among 74 elite bands competing for supremacy at The Dome at America’s Center. The first one was when Clovis left home. “Witnessing the parade for the kids Thursday,” Allred said, “I was thinking, ‘Boy, we’d better make finals.’” The finals they did make, as the colorfully dressed color guard and musicians b...
CLOVIS — Monday, the Clovis High football team was back at it, facing the start of a normal practice week after enjoying a bye this past weekend. Hopefully for Clovis, the time to rest was helpful because the Wildcats (4-5, 2-1 District 2/5-6A) have an undefeated La Cueva team (9-0, 3-0) due into Leon Williams Stadium on Friday and the stakes are pretty high for both teams. “They’re playing for a lot; we’re playing for a home playoff game,” Clovis head coach Cal Fullerton...
PORTALES — Plenty is at stake for Portales Friday night in Lovington. A district championship and a first-round bye are the main rewards. The best reward, Ram coach Jaime Ramirez said, is to be better Friday than the Rams have been lately. Given the current four-game blowout streak, that’s a pretty tall task. “All along, we set a goal to get better every game,” Ramirez said. “A district championship is another goal. Hopefully we get a little better Friday, and win a district...
State playoffs are what football teams strive for, the only place they want to be in mid-to-late autumn. Four local teams are there this weekend, ready to begin their run at state championships. While some other area teams — Clovis, Portales and Farwell — will still be playing regular-season games, Texico, Melrose, Dora and Elida are beginning their postseason. Here’s a glance: Six-Man semifinals No. 3 Carrizozo (8-2, 3-1 district) at No. 2 Elida (8-1, 4-0 district) Saturday, 1 p.m. The season series edge belongs to Elida...
CLOVIS — Last week’s Pre-District cross country meet in Carlsbad was aptly named because it gave the Clovis team a fairly accurate preview of how Friday’s District 4-5A meet will likely go. In the Pre-District meet last Thursday, the Wildcats competed against Hobbs and Carlsbad. Just toss Roswell into the mix and you have Clovis’ competition for a district title this Friday at Ned Houk Park. Which seems to bode well for the Clovis boys, who won the Pre-District meet with 25...
LUBBOCK — In their final rodeo of the fall semester, the Eastern New Mexico men’s and women’s teams made it their best. The men took sixth place in team standings, while the women finished eighth at the weekend Texas Tech Rodeo. In total, five ENMU rodeoers made the short round in Lubbock, the top finisher freshman Logan Hyatt. The Stockton, Alabama native finished second in the average for steer wrestling — part of a 170-point effort for the ENMU men. Hyatt made the short r...
It’s a big deal for Clovis’ girls soccer team to be returning to the state playoffs. But it’s perhaps a bigger deal that the Clovis boys soccer team is making its state playoff return at home. The Wildcats will begin their state championship quest on Saturday afternoon at good ol’ Leon Williams Stadium, where they will host Santa Fe in the first round of the state 5A playoffs. Start time is scheduled for 2 p.m. Home sweet home. Wildcats head coach Greg Trujillo doesn’t...
PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico was the better offensive team for nearly all of Sunday’s pivotal regular season finale against Angelo State. The Rambelles, however, were the better scoring team for the first three minutes, and that was the difference. Conference scoring champ Trenadey Scott netted her 14th goal of the season on a breakaway just 2:39 in, and the Angelo defenders helped freshman goalkeeper Kira Miller do the rest in a 1-0 Lone Star Conference victory at Gre...