Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1918: Workers were just about finished paving the north end of Clovis’ Main Street, between Fourth and Eighth streets, with bricks that remain today.
A Plainview company did the work after a winning bid of $32,846.20, the Clovis News-Journal reported.
1936: A convicted Clovis rapist’s home was destroyed in a fire while he awaited transport to the state penitentiary.
Curly Reynolds had lived at 204 Edwards St. in a small adobe house. Neighbors alerted firefighters to the blaze.
Reynolds had pleaded guilty to statutory rape and was sentenced to 8 to 10 years in prison.
1956: A Clovis High School student was hospitalized in good condition after she crashed through a plate-glass panel next to a door at the new high school.
The 16-year-old teen, who lived at 1119 Axtell, suffered four severed tendons in her right leg in addition to gashes on her right arm.
Officials said she would be hospitalized at least three weeks.
The accident happened as students were rushing from school for the lunch hour, the Clovis News-Journal reported.
1959: The Clovis Community Theatre Association was preparing for its presentation of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Cast members included Nancijane Goodwin, Cheri Burton, Bill McCleskey, Micheale Nieves, Mike McGinnis and Mary Mitchell.
Marshall Auditorium was the site of the performance.
1964: Surplus City, at 1609 Mabry Drive in Clovis, was selling rabbit ear TV antennas for 69 cents. Men’s and boys’ high-top tennis shoes were $2.49 a pair.
1965: Portales was preparing to start its high school football season without the services of speedy halfback Bobby James.
He had broken his hand in a scrimmage with Farwell.
1966: Most of the region saw rain, led by Farwell and Texico, which each recorded 3.2 inches.
Weather watcher B.A. Rogers of Texico reported his rain gauge was broken by hail.
Several South Plains communities in Texas reported roads were impassable and power was out after 50-mph winds roared through with nearly 2 inches of rain in about an hour.
1971: Piggly Wiggly store officials in Clovis were estimating $1,500 was stolen from a locked safe.
Burglars cut a 10-inch by 14-inch hole in the roof of the store located at Hilltop Plaza and slid down using a yellow, nylon water-skiing rope, officials said.
One intruder landed on top of a toilet tissue display rack, scattering several rolls of tissue on the floor.
The theft was discovered after an egg delivery man arrived to find the back door unlocked. Authorities said the burglars broke a padlock off of the door to make their escape.
1972: A 28-year-old Clovis man was arraigned on charges of auto theft. He “was accused of stealing the police department’s unit 12 while he was being booked early Sunday on a drunk charge,” the Clovis News-Journal reported.
Bond was set at $5,000.
The man was arrested about 4:30 a.m. after reports of a car stuck in the mud near the railroad tracks south of Grand Avenue Homes.
Police said they found a sawed-off shotgun and a boning knife in the car with a man they suspected had been drinking. The man was taken to the police department, where he disappeared soon after being placed in the shift commander’s office.
Moments later, an officer reported his car had been stolen.
The car and accused drunken thief were located about 20 minutes later. The suspect “was lying on his stomach under a bush at 315 Edwards,” the newspaper reported.
1973: The annual Curry County Fair was six days away, “bringing another five days of the finest entertainment in eastern New Mexico for growers, exhibitors, ranchers and spectators as well.
Extension Agent Billy Dictson said cash prizes were expected to reach $15,000, compared to $14,300 a year earlier.
Top entertainment options included a carnival and square dancing most nights.
1975: A Clovis firefighter suffered a fractured pelvis when he plunged 12 to 15 feet to the ground after a rope broke during a training session.
Joe Bunce, 19, was in fair condition at the Clovis hospital.
“The rope looked like it (would) hold two steers ... but it broke,” Clovis Fire Chief Joe Maddox said.
“It’s one of those things that won’t happen, but did. We were in training. It’s something we’ve been doing for years.”
The accident happened at the Clovis fire station.
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
