Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date …
1966: Clovis police investigator Cliff Wirtjes had earned the highest score in the annual policeman’s shooting competition.
Wirtjes scored 663 out of a possible 800 to take the top-gun trophy for the second year in a row.
1969: The Clovis Junior Women’s Club had announced its annual home tour.
Five Clovis homes were scheduled to be decorated for the holidays and open for public viewing.
The homes were located at
• 701 E. 21st
• 1744 Baronne Court
• 1617 Courtland Circle
• 2824 Axtell
• 1921 Enloe Drive.
Tickets were $1 with proceeds benefiting the Curry County Retarded Children’s Association.
1972: In what was certainly a “developing story,” the District Attorney’s office was on the hunt for a traveling photographer whose plan was even quicker than his shutter speed.
The shooter, who claimed to represent a studio in Henderson, Ark., had collected $5 deposits from numerous local citizens, but when they had arrived for their photo sessions at the Holiday Inn, he had checked out and moved on.
Assistant District Attorney Richard Rowley II was asking any locals who had fallen for the scheme to please contact his office.
1975: George Haynes, of 2309 Williams in Clovis, was the winner of $15 in the Clovis News-Journal’s football contest.
James Killian, of 109 Sandy Lane, picked up $10.
Third place went to Helene Caton of Mission Viejo, California.
“It appears our contest is becoming a national event,” Managing Editor Bill Southard reported.
1975: Rick Ingle, a “former ghetto gang leader of Philadelphia,” was on his way to Clovis’ First Baptist Church to tell his life’s story.
1976: Smokey Bear, described by The Associated Press as “the living symbol of forest fire prevention,” had died at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
The black bear, rescued from a fire in New Mexico’s Capitan Mountains, was 26.
In his final days, “Smokey was kept in seclusion, away from the daily hustle and bustle of photographers, television cameras and fans talking to him,” AP reported.
The bear’s remains were flown to New Mexico on a commercial airliner and he was buried near the location where he was found in the spring of 1950.
1980: The Chi Omega Alumni were planning to gather for a “Santa’s Workshop” at Elinor Wallace’s home at 1516 Abilene in Portales.
A newspaper announcement concluded with: “Remember to bring scissors.”
Pages Past is compiled by David Stevens and Betty Williamson. Contact:
