Curry commissioners vote to add digital big screen to events center

The Curry County Events Center is moving to “the next level.” Commissioners on Thursday voted unanimously to add a digital big screen inside the arena after receiving a grant from the state.

“It’s 14 by 20 feet. There will be cameras that will give us the ability to put content going on in the event center on the big screen,” Events Center General Manager K. C. Messick said.

The $379,910 grant is a “Destination Forward” grant from the New Mexico Tourism Department.

The system is being purchased from Gateway Studios and Production services of St. Louis.

“We’re taking the events center to the next level. It’s going to be pretty cool,” Messick said.

Commissioners also approved $35,079 for a mural on the back side of the Mounted Patrol Arena.

The work will be done by Drew Merritt who grew up in Clovis and has done mural work around the country.

“To have an internationally recognized artist in his home town do a mural is great, and he’s excited about doing that mural,” Commissioner Seth Martin said.

Messick said Merritt will present three options for the design of the mural for commissioners to consider.

Also Thursday, commissioners voted unanimously to appoint commissioners Brad Bender and Dusty Leatherwood to the county’s Armed Forces Support Committee.

“I’m in support of the air base. I’ve made some new friends there. For the two of us it’s a good deal. They’ve been really good to me, I like being around good people,” Leatherwood said.

Leatherwood added it’s important also because Cannon Air Force Base is in his district.

Another item of business was commissioners engaging in telephonic conferencing when not present for commission meetings.

Martin said in 2023 when any commissioner was absent from a regular meeting the commissioner would not be allowed to participate via phone, something that had been done in the past.

At Thursday’s meeting commissioners voted unanimously to continue that policy.

Commissioners Brad Bender and Fidel Madrid were absent from Thursday’s session.

With Martin, Leatherwood and Commissioner Robert Thornton present there was a quorum for voting.