Commission passes meth ordinance

Tony Parra: PNT Staff Writer

The Roosevelt County Commission approved a county ordinance Tuesday that would restrict the sale of cold medicine that included an ingredient used to make methamphetamine.

The ordinance passed by a 4-0 vote. Commissioner Dennis Lopez was not in attendance.

The restrictions are for non-gel tablets and include:

• Moving all medicine containing pseudoephedrine behind the counter or in a locked display case.

• Requiring all purchasers to present photo ID and allow their name to be recorded on a list, which will be accessible by law enforcement officers

• Restricting the sale to quantities of no more than three packages, not to exceed 100 tablets per transaction without a valid prescription.

Ninth Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler said retailers violating the ordinance could face a punishment of a $300 fine and/or 90 days in jail.

“It’s the standard penalty for a city and county ordinance,” Chandler said. “I don’t think we will have any problems with retailers cooperating. They’ve all complied with the program.”

The ordinance will go into effect in one week.

Also at Tuesday meeting:

• Commissioners supported a name change on a historical marker in Lingo, 30 miles southeast of Portales near the Texas border, which marks the end of an 1877 mission for a troop of black soldiers.

Referred to as Nigger Hill, the name of the landmark will be changed to Buffalo Soldier Hill.

Robert Julyan, chair of the New Mexico Geographic Names Committee, the recommendation to change the name to Buffalo Soldier Hill to the United States Board on Geographic Names for the name to be official.

• Sgt. Rick Short of the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office updated commissioners on the shooting death of Causey resident Jimmy “Bo” Chunn.

Chunn, 71, was discovered in his home July 8 shot to death.

Short said investigators continue to work on the case, but no charges have been filed in connection with the case.

Chandler said authorities are waiting for test results from the state. He said some lab-test results are back but other items are still being tested.

A warrant obtained in district court showed Donald Taylor, 24, of Rogers, was identified as a person of interest in Chunn’s death.

Police confiscated bloody clothes from his vehicle.

Taylor is being held without bail on probation violation.

• Members of the United Way of Eastern New Mexico told commissioners the goal is to raise $70,000 in Roosevelt County.