Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1940: A Portales woman had added airplane to her long list of travel modes.
Fannie Black, 90, said she had wanted to ride in every vehicle imaginable.
“She lives near the Portales municipal airport where students fly daily, and felt the desire to get her feet off the ground,” said Leon Jones, a Portales merchant who made Black’s flight dream come true on Christmas Day.
After her airplane trip, she listed other ways she’s traveled: ox carts, ox wagons, horse wagons, hacks (she did not specify if she referred to taxicabs or horses), buggies, automobiles and a steamboat.
Next up: She was planning to travel to California and ride on an ocean liner.
1946: Two people had died from carbon monoxide poisoning as they slept at a farm house near Portales
Harold Jones, 22, and his wife, who was pregnant, both died without regaining consciousness.
Two other residents of the home had been released from the hospital, while a fifth victim remained in critical condition.
A double funeral had been scheduled for the couple at Pine Street Church of Christ in Portales.
1954: The Clovis Fire Department reported a mostly “uneventful year.” Three businesses sustained extensive damage caused by fire in 1954, including The Wing Ding and Twin Cronies, both drive-in restaurants.
Only two city homes were destroyed by fire, and one of those was vacant.
No injuries were reported in any fire.
Perhaps the most unusual fire was in the South Prince underpass where tumbleweeds were burning.
1961: Girls belonging to Highland Second Grade Brownie Troop 228 had delivered cookies to residents of Jones Rest Home in Clovis.
The Brownies included Pat Landess, Jacque Dennis, Terry Lynn Fickling, Nickie Neff and Coletta Queener.
1965: Portales High School had finished second in the Roswell Invitational basketball tournament, placing two boys on the all-tournament team: Larry Vanzantz and Mike Owen.
Clovis finished third in the tournament and also placed two on the 10-player all-tourney team: Dick Hoy and Roy Davis.
Albuquerque Highlands won the tourney.
1970: Three Clovis residents filed as last-minute candidates for the school board. Mary Esther Marin and Fayne Wise filed for position one.
Max Lowry and Arthur Snipes had filed earlier as candidates for that post.
Robert Moreno announced his candidacy in position two. He would face incumbent Leon Williams.
1970: Aztec Package Store, at 1010 E. First St. in Clovis, offered the following New Year liquor specials:
Pabst Blue Ribbon beer for $4.95 a case, Coors bottles for $4.95 a case, Falstaff bottles for $4.95 a case and Glenmore vodka for $4.40 a quart.
1970: Clovis High’s boys and girls gymnastics teams were 1-1 as they prepared for a Jan. 7 meet in Lovington.
“If people will come out to watch a meet or two to learn more about the sport, they will enjoy gymnastics,” said Coach Larry Allen.
1971: Police in Roswell were asking area law officers be on the lookout for a stolen beer truck.
The refrigerated truck had been hijacked with $6,000 worth of refreshment inside.
Police theorized the driver might be headed for West Texas “where he could peddle the beer in dry counties,” United Press International reported.
1974: A corporation made up of four Poynor brothers had assumed ownership of the White’s store at 421 Main in Clovis.
The Poynors already operated White’s stores in Portales, Muleshoe, Friona, Hereford and Littlefield.
Marlin Poynor said the Clovis store was “a mess … but we plan to do considerable rearranging in the near future and we also plan to give more personalized service in the Clovis store.”
1990: Local merchants reported the Christmas holiday season was their best ever … and awful.
“The best we’ve ever had in the 29 years I’ve been open,” said Homer Tankersley, who said business at his clothing store was 42% better than during any previous Christmas season.
But Cody Trout, manager of Miller’s Outpost, pronounced holiday sales at his store “terrible. I’ve been here three years and this is the worst I’ve seen,” he said.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
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