City gearing up for spring events

With a new year ahead, Portales and surrounding areas are gearing up with community events coming into the spring season.

The chamber of commerce has two important events coming up, according to Karl Terry, executive director of the Portales chamber of commerce.

On Jan. 14, the chamber’s annual banquet will be held at the Yam Theater on Main Street.

According to Terry, the banquet is called “The Chamber Awakens” and will be playing off of a Star Wars theme. The event is being held to acknowledge businesses and members of the community with awards for their service in 2015. The incoming and outgoing chamber presidents will also be speaking. Sodexo is catering the event and will be naming their dishes in accordance with the banquet’s theme.

“Their menu is real unique. They have some crazy names for their dishes,” said Terry.

Members of the chamber as well as the community will be welcome at the banquet.

March 18 and 19 will be the 24th Annual Ag Expo. The event will showcase vendors, both local and national, offering heavy agricultural equipment, lawn and garden supplies, feed, jewelry and more.

Events surrounding the tradeshow include a pork chop luncheon by the Portales Rotary Club, a shooting demonstration by nationally ranked mounted shooter Kathy “Morning Dove” Hollmann Ellsworth, as well as agricultural seminars.

Eastern New Mexico University will also be holding major events this spring.

According to ENMU Athletic Director Jeff Geiser, the athletic department will have a busy spring. This Thursday is youth day for men and women’s basketball, which invites all local elementary school students free of charge.

“It’s a great atmosphere. The kids really get into the game,” Geiser said.

Two big events, according to Geiser, are the return of the Harlem Globetrotters and the Crab Fest.

The Globetrotters, who last visited Portales in 2013, return to the Greyhound Arena on Feb. 11.

According to Geiser, because of the large amount of tickets sold last year, ENMU was rewarded with a “Golden Ball Award” in recognition of their large turnout.

Crab Fest, held to raise money for scholarships, will hold its fifth annual event on Feb. 19.

“We fly the crab in from the west coast, fresh and pre-cooked. It’s a great event.” said Geiser.

Portales isn’t the only city in Roosevelt County with events coming up.

The Floyd Lion’s Club will be holding its 66th Annual Floyd Lions Jamboree March 24-26.

According to the show’s Master of Ceremonies Dave Nash, the jamboree will start at 7 p.m. each night, with a backing band accompanying various local singers.

“We have singers that come in from all over the area, not just Floyd, but a 40/50-mile radius. Lots of them have been on the show for several years,” said Nash.

The jamboree is organized to raise money for scholarships to deserving students, according to Nash.

“It is a family show. You can bring your grandkid and your grandmother and not be embarrassed,” Nash said.

Upcoming

• Harlem Globetrotters, Feb. 11, 7 p.m., Greyhound Arena, tickets available soon from Clovis and Portales Chambers of Commerce

• Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet “The Chamber Awakens,” Jan. 14, 6 p.m., Yam Theatre, 219 S. Main St., $25 a person, $185 for a table of eight, information: (575) 356-8541

• Ag Expo, March 18-19, free, Roosevelt County Fairgrounds, information: 1-800-635-8036

• Floyd Lions Jamboree, March 24-26. 7 p.m., Floyd Schools Gymnasium, $7 each night.