Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Articles from the December 15, 2019 edition


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  • Meetings watch: Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents

    Updated Dec 15, 2019

    Eastern New Mexico University’s Board of Regents met Friday. The business included: • ENMU System Chancellor and Portales campus President Jeff Elwell presented the five projects the Portales campus planned to submit as top priorities for capital outlay dollars in the 2020 state legislative session. Some of the items did not have specific dollar amounts attached, but Elwell noted the item was information only and the requests would have price tags when sent to legislators. Projects included asbestos abatement and dem...

  • Regents shown potential floor plans

    Kevin Wilson - Staff|Updated Dec 15, 2019

    PORTALES — After more than a year of planning, Eastern New Mexico University Regent Terry Othick said building a new presidential residence is a battle of expectation versus reality. Reality is up by a few touchdowns. Othick shared some potential floor plans for a new residence to replace the current university house at Cherry Street, a short walk from Greyhound Arena, at Friday’s regent meeting. Plans are to build a new 3,500-square-foot structure and keep the current house standing for other possible uses. The housing com...

  • Another viewpoint: NM needs to take political bullying seriously

    Merritt Hamilton Allen|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    EDGEWOOD — Everyone hates a bully, right? And bullies who lie are even worse. Unless they are a political candidate with the correct party affiliation. Then it’s totally cool to conduct oneself like a 12-year old suffering from poor parenting and self-esteem issues. I for one am sick of it. Political dialogue has been devolving since the 1990s. We absolutely hit a new low in the 2016 election. And both sides are in on it. Remember Michelle Obama’s rousing statement, “When they go low, we go high?” Yeah, the Democrats...

  • State taxpayers deserve some of surplus back

    Paul Gessing, Rio Grande Foundation|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    According to the latest estimates from Santa Fe, the state’s general fund budget is expected to be $7.882 billion next fiscal year. When Gov. Martinez left office in 2018 the budget was “only” $6.3 billion. In two short years, New Mexico’s budget will have grown by more than $1.5 billion, a 25 percent increase. With the current group in charge, New Mexico government is going to grow fat on oil and gas revenues while average New Mexicans pay higher taxes due to hikes passed...

  • Applique techniques, exercise techniques ahead on shows

    Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Information on easy applique techniques, neuroscience-based exercises that helps creativity, and the ultimate power drink on the market will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and noon Thursday (All times Mountain). Gailen Runge is the Creative Director for C & T Publishing, and she’s going to show how easy applique can be. The secret is the lightweight sew-in interfacing and fusible web that is used. Emojis are all the rage right now and you’ll enjoy seeing ways to incorporate them in your sewing...

  • Christmas at paternal grandparents' was constant commotion

    Karl Terry|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Last week I wrote about Christmas at my maternal grandparents’. So in the interest of equal time I thought I would give you a little insight into what Christmas was like at my Terry grandparents’ home. The house was slightly bigger but the crowd of family was a lot bigger. That fact was reflected in the constant commotion. We always went up to their house on Christmas eve and Christmas night, while we spent Christmas dinner most often at my maternal grandparents’. If you’v...

  • Our people: Dinosaur mom honors her son

    Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Luli Lopez-Tollett, 29, lives in Rogers. She travels daily to Portales to work at Eastern New Mexico University as its post office manager. She's been there for a little over two years. She enjoys crafting, spending time with her husband and daughters, and volunteering as an Emergency Medical Technician and firefighter. Aside from work and family life, Lopez-Tollett collects dinosaurs in memory of her late son Miguel. "If we see something dinosaurs, we see it as a sign that...

  • Pages past - Dec. 15

    Updated Dec 14, 2019

    On this date ... 1974: The cost of meals at Eastern New Mexico University was going up. “(R)eflecting the inflationary spiral,” the price for a three-meal-per-day ticket at the ENMU lunch room was going from $285 to $310 per semester, beginning with the spring semester. ENMU officials said they projected a $31,000 deficit in food services, which inspired the increase. Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens. Contact: [email protected] For more regional history, see the website: pagespast.net...

  • Board denies grant request from brewer

    Kevin Wilson - Staff|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    CLOVIS — The Clovis Economic Incentive Board wants to take a look at exactly how manufacturers can qualify for taxpayer-funded economic development dollars. But for now, it has decided a prospective local brewer doesn’t make the cut. The board on Wednesday morning voted to deny a request from Bandolero Brewing for a $20,000 post-performance grant. At issue was Bandolero having no way to know if it could meet the current standard that its customer base be more than 50 percent out-of-state. Board members also decided to hav...

  • Portales to hear nuisance request

    Mathew Brock - Staff|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    PORTALES — The Portales City Council will hear a request for an extension to abate nuisance status on a property located at 417 N. Main during its regular meeting Tuesday. The council approved resolutions to classify the property and another located at 705 W. 17th St. as nuisances and menaces to public comfort, health and safety during an October meeting. Dora Pacheco made a request for an extension to abate the nuisance claim as a personal representative of the now deceased owner. Police Chief Pat Gallegos previously r...

  • ENMU regents add MLK Day back to holiday calendar

    Kevin Wilson - Staff|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University regents are hopeful students treat Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as the phrase goes, as a day on and not a day off. Starting in 2021, it is again a day off at the university, in terms of classes. Regents on Friday approved a holiday calendar adding MLK Day as a “campus closed” holiday. There were three dozen people in the audience for Friday’s meeting — packed by regent meeting standards — with a majority coming specifically for the discussion on MLK Day. Regents were first approached...

  • Democrats trying to keep election out of voters' hands

    Rich Lowry|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    The Democrats believe the 2020 election is too important to be left to the voters. It’s obvious that President Donald Trump withheld defense aid to Ukraine to pressure its president to commit to the investigations that he wanted, an improper use of his power that should rightly be the focus of congressional investigation and hearings. Where the Democrats have gotten tangled up is trying to find a justification that supports the enormous weight of impeaching and removing a p...

  • Letter to the editor - Dec. 15

    Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Juror: No justice for child Jury duty is a privilege. Many people find jury duty a huge inconvenience. I do not. I sat on the jury last week for a horrendous case, in which a toddler, Noah Trujillo, was abused and death occurred. My notepad was filled with observations from the testimonies, as were many of my fellow jurors’ notepads. We took this responsibility extremely serious, knowing ultimately we would decide the fate of a person, holding them either responsible or unresponsible for the events that took place. To not b...

  • Dems lowering bar on impeachment

    Michael Reagan|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Forget the phony solemnity about the Constitution and the rule of law. Forget the malarkey about the president committing high crimes and misdemeanors. We all know the real reasons Democrats are hell-bent on impeaching Donald Trump. It’s because they hate him beyond reason and because they still believe their own hoax that he stole the presidency from Hillary Clinton. But Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler and the Democrats in the House are going to be very sorry s...

  • Something obvious: Both political parties are out of control

    David Stevens - Staff|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    The House Judiciary Committee on Friday adopted two articles of impeachment against President Trump, as expected. Republicans called it a kangaroo court, as expected. Even some Trump supporters agree it’s clear the president threatened to withhold defense aid to Ukraine unless Ukraine’s president investigated alleged corruption involving Joe Biden, who happens to be Trump’s political rival. Here’s what else is clear, which should be equally disturbing to every resident of these once-United States: • Trump did not actually...

  • Collection not necessarily valuable

    Kevin Wilson - Staff|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    If you were to technically define it, I’m a collector. I see something special, I collect it. The problem is my idea of special normally doesn’t fit what prevailing common sense has determined is valuable. My living room wall contains a framed comic book of “Groo the Wanderer,” and not something valuable like “The Amazing Spider-Man.” I liked Spider-Man just fine as a kid and still do, but I always told myself someday I’d have the first issue of the comic from Mad Magazine’s Sergio Aragonés. That mattered more to me than...

  • Curry County office to be closed Tuesday

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    CLOVIS — The Curry County Administration office will be closed 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday to allow county administration to make its annual contribution to a local charity in lieu of an in-office gift exchange. To compensate for the missed Tuesday time, the office will open at 7:15 a.m. and close at 5:30 p.m. that day. The employees selected the Christian Children’s Home in Portales as its recipient for 2019. Information: Lance Pyle, 575-763-6016...

  • Flu season starting off strong

    Kevin Wilson - Staff|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    When asked how the flu season was going for Plains Regional Medical Center, Administrator Drew Dostal said it was a pretty good flu season. He quickly added that by good, he meant good if you were the flu. “It’s hard for us to call if it’s going to be one of the worst,” Dostal said. “It’s starting out of the gates pretty decently.” National indicators are showing that following two bad seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19, the 2019-20 flu season could be the worst since 2003 Nationwide, 3.5% of patient visits reported thro...

  • Board to consider student trip

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    CLOVIS — The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education on Tuesday will consider a trip to Savannah, Ga., for 11 senior members of Clovis Community College Upward Bound. The out-of-state trip, to be discussed at the 5:30 p.m. meeting at the CMS administration building, would run March 23-27 and include visits to Savannah State University and various historical landmarks and museums. To be eligible for the trip, the students must carry at least a 2.5 grade point average, take the ACT or SAT at least twice, apply to at l...

  • Woman found guilty of kidnapping

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    PORTALES — A Portales woman last week was found guilty of kidnapping, burglary and aggravated battery. Esperanza Tarango, 24, could face up to 26 years in prison at sentencing, according to a news release from District Attorney Andrea Reeb. The Portales jury heard three days of testimony and deliberated 3 1/2 hours before returning their verdict. According to the news release; • In October of 2018, Roosevelt County sheriff’s deputies were called to Roosevelt General Hospital where Albert Pino was being treated for injuries to...

  • Meetings calendar - Dec. 15

    Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Tuesday • Roosevelt County Commission — 9 a.m., Commission Room, Roosevelt County Courthouse, 109 W. First St., Portales. Information: 575-356-5307 • Clovis Municipal Schools board — 5:30 p.m., Board Room, CMS administration building, 1009 Main St., Clovis. Information: 575-769-4300 • Roosevelt General Hospital Board of Trustees — 5:30 p.m., Fred Anthony Conference Room, RGH, 42121 US-70, Portales. Information: 575-359-1800 • Portales City Council — 6:30 p.m., Memorial Building, 200 E. 7th St., Portales. Information: 57...

  • Program seeking food storage solution

    Mathew Brock - Staff|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    PORTALES — The most difficult part about giving food to those in need isn’t always gathering the food to give. In Portales, it’s finding a place to store and distribute it from. For the last six years, Central Christian Church and the Ministerial Alliance in Portales distributed food on behalf of the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico with the help of volunteers. Cold-storage issues at the church forced the distribution to shut down earlier this year. And so Food Bank officials held a meeting Thursday in hopes of reviving the p...

  • RGH warns of erroneous letters

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    PORTALES — Roosevelt General Hospital and Clinics is warning its patients about erroneous letters they may receive regarding coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico. An RGH news release notes that on Tuesday, patients began to receive letters from BCBS noting that RGH providers would be terminating and no longer be in the provider network. Once RGH was made aware of the letters, an administrator reached out to BCBS, which admitted an error and said it would work to resolve the issue, according to the release. T...

  • Laying of wreaths

    Kevin Wilson - Staff|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    CLOVIS - Lay the wreath. Say the name. Remember. Volunteers did just that hundreds of times as part of a Clovis component of the nationwide Wreaths Across America remembrance. A local ceremony was held Saturday morning at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens, and later continued at Mission Garden of Memories. Saturday's ceremony was part of a nationwide series of events with more than 100,000 wreaths being laid. Locally, 1,530 wreaths were purchased for gravesites, up from last year's...

  • ENMU students cross stage

    Mathew Brock - Staff|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    PORTALES - More than 500 Eastern New Mexico University students are headed for their futures with degrees. Officials said 543 students qualified for the fall graduation ceremony on Saturday, with 272 deciding to don robes and walk. Kathleen Wagner was the ceremony's keynote speaker, taking time to talk about one of her idols, cartoonist Charles M. Schulz, and share a lesson associated with each of his classic "Peanuts" characters to inspire the graduates moving forward. "I...

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