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Articles from the December 15, 2024 edition


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  • Police report: Siblings caused child's injuries

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    A fall three days before a Clovis toddler’s death last month was the result of “rough play from his siblings,” a Clovis police report shows. The report also shows the 12-month-old boy and his siblings, ages 3 and 2, were taken from their home by New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department about a year ago. They were returned to their mother on Oct. 23. That was about a month before Calian Skywater was hurt, his mother told police at Plains Regional Medical Center where Calian died after she reported he was not breat...

  • Pages past, Dec. 15: Clovis High band selling fruitcakes

    David Stevens and Betty Williamson, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    On this date ... 1906: Portales and railroad officials were looking for those responsible for the theft of the Saturday night mail sack. It had contained about 1,000 letters, officials estimated. The mail sack was located late Sunday afternoon, but only a dozen letters remained inside. "It seems it must have been a deliberate plot to rob the sack and the robbers must have been laying for it," the Portales Times reported on Dec. 15, one week after the heist. "This is shown by...

  • Our people: Wildlife always fascinated Wes Robertson

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    Wes Robertson is one of those folks who dreamed about what he wanted to be when he grew up, and that's what he became. "I was fascinated by those old 'Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom' TV shows. I wanted to become a wildlife biologist and that's what I became," Robertson said. Robertson retired from his Game and Fish career about 16 years ago. Since then, he has gone places and done things. Robertson shared more about his life with The News: Q: Where were you born? Tell us...

  • School menus - Dec. 15

    Updated Dec 14, 2024

    Clovis Monday: Breakfast: Blueberry dunkers. Lunch: Bacon cheeseburger on a bun, seasoned spirals, veggie cup, dressing, chilled peaches or pizza, chicken sandwich, Chef salad, French fries. Tuesday: Breakfast: Breakfast bread. Lunch: Chicken quesadilla, seasoned corn, garden salad, dressing, chilled applesauce or boneless wings, meatball sub, Chef salad, French fries. Wednesday: Breakfast: French toast sticks. Lunch: Turkey & cheese croissant, seasoned fries, veggie dippers, dressing, chilled pineapple or pizza, bacon...

  • On the shelves - Dec. 15

    Updated Dec 14, 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. “Under Heaven’s Own Blue” by John D. Nesbitt. Under Heaven’s Own Blue is a collection of short fiction. In “Truth and Principle,” detective Henry Tresh helps a woman find the truth about the death of her son. In “Double Deceit,” detective Dunba...

  • CYFD still facing struggles, data shows

    The Santa Fe New Mexican, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    New Mexico is not faring better than it was a year ago on some of the key problems plaguing its child welfare system, according to presentations given to lawmakers on Tuesday. In particular, the state Children, Youth and Families Department struggled to make gains in recruiting resource and foster families and stabilizing its own workforce. The agency is also losing out on federal funds that would help it implement important prevention programs, Legislative Finance Committee staff told lawmakers on the committee. Committee...

  • Grocery merger halted by judges

    Albuquerque Journal, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    Greg Frazier said he and other members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1564 were "feeling good" after the Kroger and Albertsons merger fell apart, the latter grocery company deciding to pull out and sue the former after two judges on Tuesday in separate court cases halted the multi-billion-dollar deal. "Right now, the workers are excited that they can just focus on the customers," said Frazier, president of the union, which represents thousands of New Mexico meat cutters and retail workers at Albertsons and...

  • Higher education leaders grilled on funding

    Albuquerque Journal, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    SANTA FE — As higher education leaders went to the Roundhouse on Wednesday to ask lawmakers for more than $1 billion in funding for the coming fiscal year, the panel of elected officials also questioned why the leaders have not adapted to a new landscape or why money previously provided has not matched the return on investment. Stephanie Rodriguez, secretary of the New Mexico Higher Education Department; Joe Shepard, president of Western New Mexico University; Becky Rowley, president of Santa Fe Community College; and Monica...

  • Analysis: McCarthy's job comes down to final games

    Dallas Morning News, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    DALLAS — If Monday night was Mike McCarthy’s worst moment of a bad season — a loss created by a special teams gaffe in a game in which young DeMarvion Overshown suffered another major injury — then things at least improved for him during the week leading up to the Carolina game today. At least he learned Bill Belichick isn’t coming here to replace him in 2025. I thought Belichick coming to fix Jerry’s problems (while becoming a problem of a different sort) was at least remotely possible. More likely was Belichick finishing h...

  • 'A Christmas Story' reminds me of how I felt at Christmastime

    Karl Terry, Local columnist|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    Far and away my favorite Christmas movie of all time is the 1983 film “A Christmas Story” for its nostalgia and relation to my youth. The movie is set a decade before I was even born and in a Midwestern town very different from Portales, New Mexico, but somehow it evokes the way I felt at Christmastime growing up. The family dynamic itself to me is hilarious. The narrator speaking what’s happening inside Ralphie Parker’s mind as the movie plays out is somewhat like the voi...

  • High school basketball rankings - Dec. 15

    Updated Dec 14, 2024

    Here are the latest coaches top 10 polls for high school boys and girls basketball teams in New Mexico. (The number in parentheses is how many points the team received — and how many first-place votes, if any.) BOYS Class 5A 1. Volcano Vista, 3-0 (219 — 21) 2. Sandia, 4-0 (182 — 1) 3. Hobbs, 5-0 (160) 4. Organ Mountain, 2-0 (116) 5. Cleveland, 2-0 (116) 6. Atrisco Heritage, 2-2 (89) 7. Albuquerque High, 2-1 (62) 8. Rio Rancho, 4-1 (62) 9. Roswell, 1-0 (35) 10. Santa Fe, 3-0 (33) Class 4A 1. Highland, 1-1 (191 — 16) 2. Arte...

  • Area sports calendar - Dec. 15

    Updated Dec 14, 2024

    Today Basketball Men ENMU at Texas A&M International, 2 p.m. Women ENMU at Texas A&M International, noon Monday Basketball Boys Dora at Eunice, 7:30 p.m. Farwell vs. Dalhart at Vega, 7:30 p.m. Girls Clovis Christian at Texico JV, 4:30 p.m. Dora at Eunice, 6 p.m. Farwell vs. Dalhart at Vega, 6 p.m. Tuesday Basketball Boys Lubbock Christian at Portales, 6 p.m. Texico at Santa Rosa, 7 p.m. Grady at Floyd, 7 p.m. Bovina at Amarillo San Jacinto, 7 p.m. Men ENMU at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 2 p.m. Girls Artesia at Clovis, 7 p.m....

  • Tuition, fees staying the same at ENMU

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    Eastern New Mexico University tuition and fees will not increase for the 2025-2026 academic year, university system Chief Financial Officer Tony Major told regents on Friday. Room and board for 2025-2026 will go up about 4%, but not in all areas. “With continued substantial state support, strong enrollment, and improved retention of students, another zero percent tuition and fee structure was made possible,” ENMU stated in a news release. “This marks the fourth year ENMU has not raised tuition as the University conti...

  • New food service on way to Senior Center

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    Clovis City commissioners met in a special session Thursday to approve a new food service for the Hillcrest Senior Life Center. Commissioners voted unanimously for Summit Correctional Services to take over the Hillcrest Senior Meals Program beginning Monday. The program will be paid for by a grant of over $200,000 and $100,000 in city money. The Curry Retired Senior Meals program had its contract canceled by the New Mexico Area Agency on Aging effective Nov. 30. Summit Correctional Services provides meal services for a...

  • Ask the News - Dec. 15

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    When are most retail stores closing on Christmas eve? The mall? Walmart? Grocery stores? Is anybody open Christmas Day? North Plains Mall in Clovis will close at 6 p.m. Christmas eve, according to mall General Manager Leeann Glen. “Some stores may be open a couple hours later,” Glen said Thursday. Glenn added the mall will be closed Christmas Day and is scheduled to reopen at 11 a.m. Dec. 26. Clovis’ S&S Supermarket will be closed Christmas Day. Farmer’s Country Market of Portales will also be closed Christmas Day. Alberts...

  • Opinion: A plan to fix state's healthcare shortage

    Walter Rubel, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    The free market system just doesn’t work for healthcare. If it did, we would sell kidneys at auction to the highest bidder instead of having a waiting list of those most in need. Unfortunately, we have convinced ourselves that the power of the free market holds the solution to all of our problems. When public schools fail, we don’t increase funding, we shift it to private schools. But almost nobody supports auctioning off kidneys. And so, we’ve got a conundrum. With Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, we have...

  • Opinion: Public school bathrooms: Complex issue

    Pat Woods, Guest columnist|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    As an elected official, a community leader and, most importantly, as a parent, I must speak up about this controversial subject. My intention for those reading this editorial is to present this issue as a legitimate concern while also directing the attention to where it truly belongs: the Legislature. It has been brought to my attention that school districts are struggling to adhere and adjust to 2023’s House Bill 207, an expansion of our state’s Human Rights Act. Simply put,...

  • Opinion: We need to stop doing dumb things

    Rube Render, Local columnist|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    Over the years, maybe because of the way I grew up or because I chose the Marines as the cornerstone for my working life, I always hope for the best, but plan for the worst. While I hoped we were all going to be home for Christmas, I knew it would be a bad idea to turn in my rain suit and my jungle boots in November. This country is blessed in that we have oceans on either side of us, and borders that have at least amiable colleagues, if not exactly the best of friends...

  • Opinion: Giving thanks for my health - but not posting photos

    Christine Flowers, Syndicated content|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    I turned 63 on Dec. 4. Unlike many women of my vintage, birthdays are a very public celebration in my house. It’s always been that way. From the time I understood the concept of getting older, the fourth day of the last month has been a chance to revel in the joy of having made it safely through the birth canal — thank you momma — and into this amazing world. For youngsters with their hopes of presents and sugary delights, that’s a normal thing. But as we get older, we’re s...

  • Opinion: Penny jury made the right decision

    Kent McManigal, Local columnist|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    The Daniel Penny trial had me worried. I don’t trust juries to do the right thing anymore; too often they simply rubber-stamp whatever the state -- meaning any political government -- wants. Most jurors seem to believe, “If the defendant isn’t guilty, why is he on trial?” The state is usually on the wrong side, especially when self-defense is the issue. Penny stepped up to protect his fellow subway passengers in New York City from a mentally ill person who was making threats...

  • Opinion: Sexual Assault Helpline open 24/7

    Sarah Long, Guest columnist|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    New Mexico is home to a statewide network of dedicated, trained professionals who have spent decades providing support and care to survivors of sexual assault. We need these professionals and the programs they work for in our communities to be there for those of us and our family members who experience sexual trauma. Locally, Arise Sexual Assault Services provides a 24/7 helpline, advocacy, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exams, counseling, outreach, and prevention to six counties in eastern New Mexico -- Curry,...

  • 'Amazing Shake' competition narrowed to three

    Grant McGee, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    It started with all the students at Yucca Middle School. Then there were 128, then 30, and finally three. It was the competition for Yucca's first "Amazing Shake Contest" that wrapped up Thursday. The nationally held contest is the idea of education motivational speaker Ron Clark. The contest was started at his Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta in 2018 and, according to Yucca Theater and Digital Filmmaking teacher Sarah Morrow, "has expanded globally due to its success." "This...

  • Air Force Junior ROTC 'outstanding'

    the Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    The Clovis High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps unit achieved what has been termed as an “outstanding milestone” during its recent unit assessment conducted Tuesday. According to a news release from the Clovis Municipal Schools administrative office, the CHS AFJROTC unit earned an overall score of “Exceeds Standards,” the highest rating possible. The release reports the achievement “reflects the hard work, dedication, and leadership excellence of both the cadets and their instructors.” Retired Col...

  • United Way funding a real 'game changer'

    Betty Williamson, Local columnist|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    I had lunch last week with Erinn Burch, the tireless longtime executive director of the United Way of Eastern New Mexico. I mentioned to her that not a day goes past without me hearing about someone • being referred to one of United Way’s many services to receive some assistance, • “tagging” local pet rescues to help with a found dog • or being pointed to an area church for aid with groceries or gasoline. Like many non-profits and service agencies, Burch confirmed for me that...

  • Mistakenly released murder suspect back in custody

    David Stevens, The Staff of The News|Updated Dec 14, 2024

    A Clovis murder suspect accidentally released from a Lea County jail in October is back in custody, Clovis police said Thursday. Alex Zapata, 27, was booked into the Curry County Adult Detention Center at 2:12 p.m. Thursday, online court records show. A police news release issued Thursday stated Zapata was located at 3104 Smith Ave. in Clovis, the home of a “known associate,” Mikyla Sandoval. Agents from the U.S. Marshal Service, Region V Drug Task Force and Clovis police surr... Full story

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