Pages past — Aug. 16

On this date ...

1971: Officials announced a 10,000-head cattle feeder operation was scheduled to open in a month near Portales.

The feedlot was being built on land formerly owned by Dr. William Black, a Portales veterinarian. It was to be located six miles south and two miles east of the Lovington Highway.

It would become the second commercial feedlot in Roosevelt County. Anderson-Hamman Inc., north of Portales, was feeding 15,000 head, the Clovis News-Journal reported.

1966: The Air Force said it had taken disciplinary action against three colonels and a civilian for helping stage an unauthorized publicity stunt that ended in the death of two pilots and the loss of a $500 million plane.

Air Force Sec. Harold Brown said the ill-fated formation flight in June over Edwards Air Force Base in California was made “for the sole benefit of General Electric,” which wanted photos of the flight for advertising.

One colonel was removed from his job, while the others, including a top civilian official of the Air Force Command Aeronautical System Division, were officially reprimanded for their roles in the stunt.

1946: The third annual water carnival had been scheduled at Hillcrest pool in Clovis.

The carnival consisted of 37 swimming and diving competitions in four divisions.

A beauty contest wrapped up the evening with 13 girls competing for a $25 prize.

The swimming and diving events also offered prizes, including $3 for each first-place finish.

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. For more regional history, check out his weblog at:

www.highplainsyesterdays.com