1/11 Business briefs

The New Mexico Water Dialogue’s annual statewide water meeting is set for Thursday in Albuquerque.

The event will focus on settling regional conflicts in New Mexico that arise over water usage. Throughout the day attendees will sit through panel discussions, lectures and other lesson groups.

Registration at the door costs $30.

The events will begin at 8 a.m. at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12st Street NW, Albuquerque.

The New Mexico Water Dialogue is a non-profit group based in Corrales.

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A new 12-bed, secured Alzheimer’s unit will be opening in the next few months at Laurel Plains Healthcare in Clovis.

A secured facility is important for Alzheimer’s patients who sometimes wander around and leave the facility where they are staying, said Erika Fury, a nurse liaison for west Texas.

She said the unit has two goals: To provide a safe and secure place for our residents to live while still maintaining their independence; and to provide a home-like atmosphere that would be inviting to friends and family.

The unit will open in mid-March, she said. But those interested in securing a spot in the Alzheimer’s unit should call Laurel Plains at 762-4705.

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The New Mexico Department of Agriculture reminds New Mexico’s cotton growers that the plow down deadline for cotton is Feb. 1. The mandatory plow down was enacted to reduce over-wintering populations of pink bullworm, a press release from the department of agriculture showed. Requests for extensions for the plow down must be postmarked by Feb. 1.

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MULESHOE — A Chinese restaurant that opened Dec. 29 in this West Texas town was so successful its first weekend that it ran out of food, according to the Muleshoe Chamber of Commerce.

Muleshoe chamber officials said the China Buffet looks to be a very popular new restaurant.

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Clovis National Bank has purchased land at the corner of 7th and Norris streets and will install a branch there sometime in the future, said the bank’s chief executive officer, Doug Stone. There is no timeline for completing the project, he said.

He said the southeast side of town hasn’t really seen any bank service, and he believes with the new events center and the possibility of hotels in that area it was a good time to purchase the land and plan a branch.

He also said Norris Street is an alternative north-south route through town, especially with Prince Street getting congested with traffic.

The purchase closed last week.

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Clovis banker Kenneth Huey was selected as a 2004 Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal winner, according to a press release from Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas.

Huey was selected based on unyielding support of the Republican Party, outstanding leadership in business and for displaying a commitment to President Ronald Reagan’s vision for an entrepreneurial America, the release shows.

Huey said he has been working in the Republican Party on some campaigns, including as co-county campaign chairman for Pete Domenici, R-N.M., in the November General Election.

Huey is the executive vice president of Access Bank in Clovis.

Business Digest is compiled by CNJ Staff Writer David Irvin. He may be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail: [email protected]