Southwest roundup - April 1

County approves loan for new jail

FORT SUMNER — The De Baca County Commission on March 23 approved a resolution for financing of a new county jail.

On a 2-1 vote, the commission approved a resolution to borrow $2,726,361 for construction of the 39-bed facility. Commissioners Scot Stinnett and Bill Wertheim voted in favor of the resolution, while commissioner Joe Steele opposed.

Steele said he opposed the plan because he felt the debt would “hang on the necks of county commissioners for 30 years.”

— De Baca County News

Cattle Growers, director part ways

FORT SUMNER — New Mexico Cattle Growers Association Executive Director Caren Cowan has been removed from her position after nearly 23 years on the job.

Cowan announced the change in a March 23 email to members. She said she plans to stay in New Mexico and help a few industry groups, to continue to publish the New Mexico Stockman and to work as a consultant on agriculture and policy issues at the state and national level.

A replacement has yet to be named.

— De Baca County News

Hike It and Spike It postponed a year

ROSWELL — One of the city’s largest tourist draws has been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus.

PS Sports, the Michigan company that runs Hike It and Spike It, and local organizers Carleton “Cla” Avery and Jim Matteucci, announced the May 22-24 event is postponed until Memorial Day Weekend 2021.

Held in Roswell for 24 years, the charity flag football tournament fills hotel rooms, raises tens of thousands for local charities and has an economic impact of about $4 million.

The 2018 event involved 527 teams and 3,756 players from 30 states.

— Roswell Daily Record

NMAA cancels spring sports

SILVER CITY — The New Mexico Activities Association did what was expected Friday and canceled all spring sports and activities.

According to a news release from the NMAA, “Based on the recent directive from the New Mexico Public Education Department that schools will close for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year, the NMAA and its board of directors have canceled the 2020 State Spirit Championships, the 2020 spring sports season, and all remaining activities for the current school year. This cancellation applies to practices/workouts, in addition to contests/events.”

The NMAA board of directors will hold a special meeting in early May to discuss summer regulations pertaining to practices/camps/conditioning and scholastic eligibility for the 2020-21 school year, according to the release.

— Silver City Daily Press

Taos cancels all summer events

TAOS — No Taos Plaza Live. No summer concerts. No July 4 pancake breakfast or Taos Farmers Market.

The town of Taos has canceled all music events and gatherings on town property for the summer, another casualty of a deadly coronavirus that has swept across New Mexico and around the world.

“All events including summer concert series, craft fairs, parades and other events by the town or those using town property such as the parks are cancelled until further notice,” according to a recent Facebook live event hosted by Holy Cross Medical Center.

— The Taos News

Sheriff warns imposter posing as cop

ROSWELL — A person posing as a law enforcement officer has been randomly stopping vehicles and ordering their driver and passengers to go home.

Chaves County Sheriff Mike Herrington said Thursday his office has received multiple reports of a white male, described as tall and skinny, pulling them over.

The man conducting the stops, Herrington said, has told people they must go home in accordance with recent public health orders issued by the New Mexico Department of Health.

The man is reportedly driving either a black or white sedan equipped with red lights and a spotlight, and has pulled over people who have not committed a crime or a traffic violation.

— Roswell Daily Record

Suicide investigation may be murder

LOVINGTON — In what was originally being investigated as a suicide, a Hobbs man now faces murder charges.

Lea County sheriff deputies were called March 22 in reference to a reported suicide. They found Christopher Matthews, 36, of Hobbs, in a bedroom of a residence suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Lea Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators interviewed four residents of the home and collected evidence at the scene. Jimmy Griffin, Jr., 27, of Hobbs was charged with an open count of murder and booked into the Lea County Detention Center.

— Lovington Leader