Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1932: A man accused of “city slicking” had been arrested in Hot Springs, Ark., after a Clovis cafe owner reported he’d been tricked out of $95.
George Johnson of Clovis told police the stranger had approached him with a story claiming he had found $1,500 worth of gold dust in Alaska.
The stranger wanted to send the gold to a mint in San Francisco where it could be converted into gold coin. But the man did not have the money to pay for shipping.
Johnson told police he borrowed $95 and gave it to the stranger with a promise of receiving $115 when the coins were returned.
Instead the stranger skipped town and the heavy box he and Johnson had wrapped and shipped to San Francisco contained only nails and pieces of iron.
Clovis law officers told the Clovis Evening News-Journal it was the “cleanest ‘city slicking’ deal ever pulled here.”
1945: Bill Vance of Portales announced his dog, Buzz, had been poisoned and he would pay a $25 reward if someone could identify the perpetrator.
Two other dogs had also been recently poisoned in Portales, including “the dog of the little crippled children of the Colby family,” The Portales Daily News reported.
1959: The Clovis Lions Club had hit the midway point of its annual broom and mop sale.
“The funds received are for a good cause — the Sight Conservation program sponsored by the Lions,” the Clovis News-Journal reported.
1960: Music fans were looking forward to a performance by Soprano June Johnson at the Eastern New Mexico University Music Building.
Johnson, a member of the School of Music faculty, was to perform an all-German program, including selections by Schumann, Carl Maria von Weber and Bach.
1961: A Portales grain elevator was destroyed by fire.
Owner Jay Slone estimated damage at more than $100,000, including $85,000 worth of seed and grain.
Cause of the fire was not immediately known.
1965: The Redbud Garden Club, on behalf of the Clovis Council of Gardens, had received a $200 grant from Sears it planned to use to landscape Greene Acres Park.
Five Clovis garden clubs, whose members totaled more than 110, were expected to be involved in the project that would add shrubbery, flower beds and plants to the city’s newest park.
1966: A Clovis boy who wrote to Lady Bird Johnson about efforts to keep Clovis clean had received a response from the first lady’s secretary.
The letter, addressed to Master Tony Fotopulos, 6, who lived at 2704 Wallace St., was written by Bess Abell.
It read: “Dear Tony,
“Mrs. Johnson asked me to thank you for letting her know of your interest in our nation’s beauty.
“She is always happy to learn of young people who appreciate our scenic heritage, for all of us must work together to preserve and increase the beauty of our cities and countryside.
“It was thoughtful of you to take the time to write, and Mrs. Johnson sends you best wishes.”
1973: A violent spring storm brought the threat of twisters, followed by strong winds, thunderstorms, and eventually more than 5 inches of heavy, wet snow to Clovis and surrounding areas, causing multiple broken tree limbs and downed power lines.
Stranded motorists filled all the area hotels and motels, and a number of motorists ended up in private residences during the night as they waited for roads to be cleared.
The Texas Department of Public Safety reported at least 200 vehicles were stranded on U.S. Highway 84 between Clovis and Muleshoe.
Numerous power outages were also reported throughout the area.
1975: Clovis native Jerry Large had been named president of the New Mexico State University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi.
Large, who worked as a reporter between semesters at the Clovis News-Journal, went on to a career as a columnist with the Seattle Times, where he sometimes wrote about growing up in Clovis.
He recently retired.
1976: More than $10,000 worth of heroin had been confiscated by Clovis police in a raid at 1304 Axtell St.
Lt. Roger “Bart” Bartosiewicz and Detective Mike Bennett of Clovis PD led the raid that resulted in 78 “bindles” of heroin being seized. Officials described it as “high grade” from “the Far East.”
Assistant District Attorney Bill Bonem participated in the arrests and seizure of the drugs.
Seven men, all age 19 to 22, were arrested.
1978: Timberline, a popular local country and western band, had opened for American country singer and songwriter Merle Haggard in a concert at Eastern New Mexico University’s Greyhound Arena.
Timberline members included Kim Blakey of Portales, Roy Black of Ruidoso, Donnie Fennimore of Clovis, and Craig Yuetter of Adrian, Michigan.
Besides being a fixture in local clubs, they had also previously opened at a concert for country singer Ronnie Milsap.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
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