Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1940: Clovis Floral Co., at 501 E. Fifth in Clovis, was reminding customers that “women love to get flowers” for Valentine’s Day.
“Don’t puzzle over the fact — accept it; and order her Valentine flowers from our gay assortment of fresh cut blooms,” the store’s newspaper ad read.
1946: Officials were working on a plan to make the highway between Clovis and Texico into four lanes.
Floyd Kennedy of Portales, the state highway commission chairman, said no details had been finalized.
1946: Clovis school officials vowed not to compete again against San Jon in athletic contests because of an alleged altercation after a basketball game.
“Clovis players were reported to have been cursed and threatened and the Clovis bus stoned as it was leaving town,” the Clovis News-Journal reported.
Clovis had won the game, 26-25.
San Jon’s superintendent said he was not aware of any altercation, which allegedly occurred in front of a San Jon cafe. CN-J reported one of the “ring leaders” was a “returned soldier” who had played in the game for the Coyotes.
1956: The weekend had seen four arrests in Clovis so far, most for alcohol-related issues.
A Muleshoe woman was being held in the city jail “for being drunk at Rogers Tamale House,” the Clovis News-Journal reported.
1962: The state Legislature's eighth special session since statehood was ready to get under way in Santa Fe.
"The politicians' problem generally is to find more money for schools next year - at least $13 million more - without raising taxes," United Press International reported.
1962: Workers at Gattis Junior High, Sandia Elementary, Highland Elementary, Parkview Elementary and Lincoln-Jackson Elementary were battling wintry weather in hopes of completing $800,000 worth of Clovis school projects before the start of fall classes.
Officials said all the work was expected to be completed on time except for work at Gattis, which was targeted for a late-fall completion of six new classrooms plus a gymnasium.
1968: Dr. Ernst Kredel, Curry County public officer, reported that influenza had arrived late to the United States, and that confirmed cases had recently arrived “as far west as Kansas.”
Kredel warned, “We must expect some true and severe cases of influenza anytime with confirmed cases this close to Clovis.”
In other public health news, Kredel also noted that 347 people had received the Type III Sabin oral polio vaccine during a makeup clinic the week before at Texico, bringing to 10,627 the number of Curry County residents who had received all three types of polio vaccine during recent months.
1968: Two Amarillo men crashed their light plane while attempting to land on a dirt road near a construction site where they were working in south Clovis.
Both men complained of back injuries and one was admitted to the Clovis hospital. Their plane, which clipped a power line, was destroyed.
A large section of west Clovis was without power for about 40 minutes because of the accident.
1970: Sparkle Cleaners at 412 Commerce in Clovis was offering free double orchid corsages — “flown in from Hawaii” — to all customers bringing in or picking up cleaning on Valentine’s Day.
Sparkle was Clovis’ “master cleaners,” according to its promotional advertising.
1972: Eastern New Mexico awoke to a blanket of snow.
Grady led the way with about 2 inches that fell mostly overnight.
Fort Sumner saw 1.5 inches of snow, while Clovis and Portales each recorded about an inch.
Area driving conditions were reported as hazardous, but Clovis police said only two minor accidents had occurred by mid-morning.
1973: Construction was almost complete on Eastern New Mexico University’s new asphalt track, with the first track meet scheduled for March 3 at the $100,000 facility.
Bill Silverberg, head track and cross country coach for the ENMU team, said Portales winds remained a concern for hosting events on the all-weather surface.
Silverberg said trees would be planted around the oval to help tame winds in the vicinity.
1973: State police led a five-month investigation that resulted in 34 arrests in Clovis and Portales, most relating to violation of drug laws. Agent Dean Smith said 90 to 100 law officers were involved in 6 a.m. raids around both cities. Officers seized marijuana and 1,100 tablets of suspected LSD.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
