Pages past - March 1

On this date ...

1997: Clovis officials were in Santa Fe, looking for money to help fund a special events center.

Clovis Public Safety Director Harry Boden was asking lawmakers for $300,000 to acquire land and design the center, which was expected to cost $6 million.

At least some lawmakers were skeptical.

"The cost of construction is one thing, but maintenance is another," said Sen. Billy McKibben, R-Hobbs.

"It's been hard to get events to come (to a similar facility in Hobbs). Will (the proposed Clovis center) have enough activity to justify it?"

Boden said Clovis was working with Portales leaders and they were convinced an events center could draw well from a population base of about 100,000.

"We've gathered information from the experts to learn what problems to avoid," Boden said.

Rep. Anna Crook, R-Clovis, was pushing for $3 million in capital outlaw funds to help build the Clovis events center.

All bills related to the center were tabled.

Mayor David Lansford said the city's events center was ultimately funded with a 1/16 percent Gross Receipts Tax.

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. Contact him at: [email protected]