Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles from the December 3, 2023 edition


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  • Portales mayor stepping down

    Gabrielle Porter, Correspondent|Updated Dec 4, 2023

    Portales Mayor Ron Jackson plans to resign at the end of the year due to health reasons, he announced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Jackson is nearly two years through his current four-year term. He was elected mayor in 2018 before winning re-election in March 2022. He was also previously a City Council member from 2002 to 2014. City Manager Sarah Austin said city councilors will appoint a new mayor until the next election. Jackson told The News on Tuesday that he has b...

  • Fragile boxes connect to memories too precious to alter

    Betty Williamson, Local columnist|Updated Dec 3, 2023

    There are few things that tug harder at my heartstrings than opening up the boxes of Christmas this time of year. I nearly wrote “Christmas ornaments” in that sentence, but our boxes (and I’m betting yours) contain much more than merely the baubles that will end up on the tree. In fact, they are so saturated with memories that it’s a wonder I have the strength to lift these containers each December. I’m the third of four generations of sentimental packrats who have lived in...

  • Pages past, Dec. 3: Zoo monkeys weren't liking the weather

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    On this date … 1960: The Rosedale Baptist Church — located between Clovis and Grady in Curry County — had completed its annual “food shower” for Portales Baptist Orphans Home. The Rev. and Mrs. Porter Arnold took the food to the home and used the opportunity to visit relatives in Portales. 1966: The New Mexico wing of the Air Force Association held its annual business meeting at Cannon Air Force Base. Speakers included Col. Dick Hale, a former Cannon officer, who told dele...

  • UFO museum gets 5 millionth visitor

    Roswell Daily Record, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    ROSWELL -- A Roswell man with a daughter curious about space travel is the 5 millionth person to visit the International UFO Museum & Research Center. Chris McDonald of Roswell took his daughter Hannah to the museum on Nov. 21 to learn more about the UFO-space alien phenomenon, Museum Executive Director Karen Jaramillo said. “Very rarely do we see a visitor from Roswell come into the museum, so we were all shocked when we learned our 5 millionth visitor was actually from Roswell,” Jaramillo said. The museum annually dra...

  • Teens held after Clovis police pursuit

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    A teenager accused of shooting at Clovis police during a vehicle pursuit is jailed on multiple charges. Omarrion Price, 18, is charged with four felonies related to the chase and also faces multiple charges out of Albuquerque where he is suspected of armed robbery. No one was injured in the pursuit, which occurred Nov. 22. Police said they were aware of Price's alleged involvement in recent robberies in Albuquerque when they "spotted a vehicle they believed to be associated"...

  • Xcel appoints area manager for Corporate Economic Development

    Albuquerque Journal, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Xcel Energy, the national company that services eastern and southeastern New Mexico with electricity, has appointed its first manager for Corporate Economic Development in the company’s Texas-New Mexico service area. Tonya Tyler, a longtime employee of Xcel, will fill that role, the company said. In her new position, she will help promote the company’s support for regional economic development in the area. “Tonya has spent her career building relationships in our communities and assisting our customers with every need,” Brad...

  • Man sentenced for child porn

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    A Portales man on Thursday was sentenced to seven years in prison for possessing child pornography. Amador Mendoza, 51, also faces five years of supervised probation after he’s released from the state Department of Corrections. He also must register as a sex offender, according to a news release from the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. DA Quentin Ray said Mendoza pleaded guilty to the child pornography charges....

  • Gallery featuring student art

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    The Eula Mae Edwards Gallery at Clovis Community College will host a “Budding Artist Exhibit” Tuesday through Friday. The artwork features Clovis Municipal Schools students from kindergarten through eighth grade, according to a CMS news release. An artists’ reception is set for 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the gallery. Admission is free....

  • Construction planned for CR 14

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Road construction Monday and Tuesday will close part of Curry County Road 14, according to a news release from the contractor. Construction is scheduled to take place on the unpaved Curry Road 14 between NM 311 and Curry Road S, the release states. Traffic will be closed on the road going east and westbound on CR14 and detours will be in place before construction begins to route traffic to CR13 and CR 15 and around to CR S....

  • City seeks Civic Center representative

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    The city of Clovis is seeking one representative to serve on the Civic Center Policy Board. The board meets quarterly and makes recommendations to the Clovis City Commission regarding the Clovis Civic Center. For duties and responsibilities, visit www.cityofclovis.org . To obtain an application form, contact the city manager’s office at 575-763-9654 or email [email protected] . Applications will be received until 5 p.m. Dec. 15....

  • ENMU names VP for advancement

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Warren Lloyd, a “veteran higher education advancement professional,” is Eastern New Mexico University’s first vice president for advancement and public relations, the university announced last week. “I am looking forward to working with Mr. Lloyd to build on what we have here and to enter a new era of fundraising and support for all the great work here at ENMU,” said ENMU Chancellor James Johnston in a news release. Lloyd comes to ENMU from Colorado College, where he is associate vice president for development. In his time...

  • Curry County receives jail grant

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    A grant in the amount of $4,718 has been awarded Curry County from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. A county news release states SCAAP provides federal payments to entities that incur correctional officer salary costs for incarcerating undocumented individuals with at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions for violations of state or local law, and are incarcerated for at least four consecutive days. “Curry County utilizes SCAAP funds to make repairs to the Adult Detention Center to ensure safe and fair h...

  • Pet of the week - Dec. 3

    Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Don't be fooled by his size, this Cane Corso can only be described as a "big baby" said a Portales shelter worker. Bane is 2 years old and is always wagging his tail to snuggle up with anyone he sees. Bane is available for adoption at the Portales Animal Shelter....

  • Paw prints: Local animal rescue seeking fosters, donations

    Madison Willis, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    It started as a love for animals. Ten years ago, two best friends decided to band together to advocate for animal wellness and decrease the stray population within Clovis and Portales. Founder of Cindy’s Hope for Precious Paws, Cindy Clayton, and co-founder Wendy Turner knew immediately they had to do something about the growing stray population. Turner said they always loved animals and found it “heartbreaking” by seeing how many cats and dogs were left on the street. “It’s something we’ve been passionate about for a good...

  • Opinion: Good soul lived inside tortured man

    Tom McDonald, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    In my formative years, I worked for a program called the Appalachia Service Project, a home repair project affiliated with the United Methodist Church. We went into the poorest areas of Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee and used donated money, supplies and volunteers to make homes warmer, safer and drier for their residents. Once we came upon a house with no running water because the pipes had frozen and burst. A small, frail, elderly woman and a confused, friendly old man lived there, and they wanted and needed our help, but...

  • Opinion: Ads shouldn't mock the frailties of aging

    Walter Rubel, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    I’ll be glad when the Medicare open-enrollment period ends on Dec. 10, bringing a merciful pause to the flood of ageist television ads that saturate the airways each year at this time. The worst are produced for a business called Medicare Advantage Advisors, and feature a gray-haired woman with oversized glasses, named Martha, who, we are told, “is a bit cranky” because she heard that the open-enrollment period had started. In a voice that brings back memories of the old “Saturday Night Live” skits featuring Doug and Wendy...

  • Opinion: Clean vehicle mandate won't work in NM

    Paul Gessing, Guest columnist|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    After four long days of testimony and public comment the Environmental Improvement Board decided recently to move forward with Gov. Lujan Grisham’s plan to follow California’s “clean vehicle” standard. In practice that means New Mexico’s car dealers will have to increase sales of electric vehicles in New Mexico from the current 3% of all new vehicles to 43% by summer of 2026 and 82% by summer of 2031. New Mexico’s car dealers are the ones with the most to lose under this...

  • Opinion: Liberty always a worthy collectible

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Like almost everyone, there are certain things I like to collect. Kerosene lamps being among my favorites. At one time I only wanted enough oil lamps to light the house in case of a power outage. They are useful to have around, even though power outages are rare. Then I started liking them just for how they look. Once I had a lamp for every room of the house, plus a few spares, I realized it was time to stop collecting them. This is when I learned that collecting has an...

  • Opinion: What a tangled web we weave

    Rube Render, Local columnist|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    In early April 2022, Ukraine rejected an attempt to make peace with Russia. These mediation attempts were led by the then Israeli prime Minister Naftali Bennett and supported by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. The full story is related in a recently detailed article by Michael von der Schulenburg, a former United Nations assistant secretary-general, Hajo Funke, professor emeritus for political sciences of the O...

  • Publisher's journal: Local school leaders right to push for educational freedom

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Clovis’ public schools superintendent has been openly criticizing the state’s proposed plans to make students spend more time in school. Good for her. She should be speaking out. The state’s Public Education Department isn’t so qualified as Clovis Superintendent Renee Russ to say what’s best for Clovis students. Guidelines for Portales school students should be set by Portales schools Superintendent Johnnie Cain. And superintendents – hired and fired by locally elected sch...

  • Ask the News - Dec. 3

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    The Clovis Aquatic Center seems to be closed quite often. Why is this? “I wish there was a simple answer to the question about the Aquatic Center’s frequent closures,” Clovis’ Parks and Recreation Director Russell Hooper wrote in an email response. “The Aquatic Center has had to close at different times for various reasons. This time of year, it has mostly been due to lifeguard shortages,” Hooper wrote. Hooper went on to write the department is always looking for more lifeguards. With a recent wave of illness going aroun...

  • Recount board to review election results from Grady

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Curry County’s Recount Election Board is scheduled to convene at 9 a.m. Monday to review Nov. 7 election results from Grady. The Grady mayor’s race and City Council positions were each decided by fewer than five votes, which requires an automatic recount, according to state statute. The recount will take place at the County Commission Chambers in the Curry County Administrative Complex at 417 Gidding St. in Clovis. In the Grady mayor’s race, James Carroll Schell appeared to have defeated four other candidates following the vo...

  • 'Baby box' on horizon in Portales

    Gabrielle Porter, Correspondent|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Portales’ “baby box” is one step closer to reality after city councilors on Tuesday signed a pact with an advocacy group that’s been raising money for the project. The device, which would be installed at the Portales Fire Department, is a climate-controlled box in which a baby younger than 90 days old can be safely and legally surrendered. The project has been in the works for more than a year, according to Angie Smith, a Portales resident who chairs Right to Life of Roosevelt and Curry counties and is president of the sta...

  • Clovis superintendent shares concerns about PED

    Madison Willis, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    Clovis Municipal Schools Superintendent Renee Russ shared her concerns about proposed state mandates with school board members on Tuesday night. Russ said CMS and all public school districts in New Mexico are facing a significant challenge ahead. She said New Mexico’s Public Education Department is proposing a mandate that all school districts adhere to a minimum of 180 student days per academic year. “It’s particularly frustrating because they’re not soliciting input from educators and asking them what they think,...

  • Clovis man killed in I-27 accident

    The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 2, 2023

    LUBBOCK -- A Clovis man was killed in a vehicle accident early Wednesday morning in Lubbock County. Jermaine William Nord, 32, was involved in a vehicle crash on Interstate 27 about 3 a.m. Wednesday. He “ran on foot from the center median, where his vehicle came to rest, into the outside travel lane when he was struck by (a tractor-trailer rig) while on foot,” according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Nord died at the scene, DPS reported. A preliminary investigation revealed the truck was traveling northbound on...

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