Businesses close for day to remember Reagan

Federal, state and city offices will be closed Friday to observe a day of remembrance for the life of President Ronald Reagan.

A funeral service for Reagan will be held Friday at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Reagan’s body will then be flown to California, where it will be laid to rest at his presidential library that evening.

In an executive order, President George Bush has directed that all federal agencies should be closed Friday. The U.S. Post Office will be closed Friday and no mail will be delivered, Clovis Postmaster Keith Fletcher said.

Gov. Bill Richardson issued an executive order Tuesday declaring Friday a day of remembrance for Reagan and authorizing eight hours of administrative leave for all but a core of state employees who are required to respond to emergencies and maintain necessary services.

Clovis City Manager Ray Mondragon also has authorized eight hours of administrative leave for city employees, except those essential for emergencies and necessary services, so the employees may “observe this day in an appropriate manner of their choosing.”

All Curry County offices will be closed Friday, as will the administrative offices of Clovis Municipal Schools and Clovis Community College, including the HPE Center, library and computer labs, according to a release from the college.

Any weekend events will proceed as planned and regular working hours will begin again Monday morning, according to the release.

All three campuses of Eastern New Mexico University will be closed Friday, but Saturday classes will meet and campus offices and services normally open on the weekend will remain open. The ENMU campuses will re-open and classes will resume as scheduled Monday, university officials said.

Clovis Mayor David Lansford said it is only proper that the community takes time out to remember Reagan.

“When he was first elected president, I was in my early 20s. I recall that the national attitude was one of fatalism. The economy was down and the Iran hostage crisis had just occurred,” he said.

“For me personally, President Reagan renewed our faith in the American way of life and inspired hope. He renewed my optimism as a young professional and as an American citizen,” Lansford said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.