Letter to the editor - July 24

Concerned about money spent on shooting range project

This letter is in reference to your newspaper article from Sept. 29 concerning City Manager Justin Howalt showing the progress of the Clovis Shooting Ranges at Ned Houk Park.

His expected opening date of the $3.7 million shooting complex was supposed to be in the next month or so and definitely before the end of 2021. This shooting facility was advertised and constructed to be a “state of the art” complex for eastern New Mexico and surrounding areas. It was promoted to be a benefit for the youth shooting teams of this area.

Moving forward to last week, the facility sits vacant, overgrown with weeds, and covered up with trash. The city of Clovis and New Mexico Department of Game and Fish have shown no activity toward getting the facility open to the public, for which it was designed and constructed over a year ago.

Myself, as a taxpayer in Curry County for over 50 years, am very concerned about the money spent and what the future holds for this $3.7 million facility.

My question is, how and when is the city going to move forward with this project. Tax paying citizens need to know. Also, the youth it was designed for were promised a place for their shooting teams to practice and shoot competitively. At this time, it is unknown when and if this will ever happen.

Bill Myers

Melrose