Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Resident defends right to fly flag, post signs

Jack Muse believes "Socialist progressive Democrats" are trying to "cancel" him.

Muse lives on Prince Street where, in a tree that juts out towards one of the town's main thoroughfares, he flies an American flag and displays signs, some of which are in support of former president Donald Trump.

Muse appeared before Clovis city commission Thursday during a regular session, speaking during the "public comments" section of the meeting.

"I am on a campaign to keep my flag and my sign," Muse said. "My flag is my freedom of speech, my sign is my freedom of speech."

Muse spoke while commissioners listened as he had been told his flag and sign are in violation of the city's sign code and have to come down.

Muse told commissioners one city official told him his sign was fine, but that person has since taken a job in another town.

"I don't want a big battle," Muse said. "I believe I have a right to fly my flag and display my sign."

During the public comments section of the meeting citizens come before commission and speak, commissioners or the mayor generally don't respond to what the citizen has said as was the case after Muse spoke, with Mayor Mike Morris thanking him for appearing before the commission.

• In other business, commissioners bade farewell to Clovis Area Transit (CATS) Director Mary Lou Kemp. Kemp is retiring from the city after 33 years of service.

• Morris issued several proclamations: May as "Motorcycle Awareness Month," May 17 as "Nonagenarian Day" in Clovis saluting 90-year-olds, May 8 through 12 as "Teacher Appreciation Week," and May as "Great American Cleanup Month."

• Commissioners voted unanimously to take actions on four dilapidated properties: The home at 1014 W. 13th St. is to be securing with boarding up windows and doors, and the structures at 912 West St., and parcels 98 and 124 at the mobile home park at 1521 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. are to be demolished.

• Commissioners approved the creation of a new job in town: Assistant Building Official in the Building Safety Department. The head of that department, Daron Roach, will be leaving city employment to work in the Curry County Sheriff's Department, City Manager Justin Howalt pointed out. Morris and commissioners wished Roach well. The new job marks a return to law enforcement for Roach. At one time he worked for the Clovis Police Department.

 
 

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