WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY,FEB. 7, 2021 Inside: $1.50 Locals sign with college football programs — Page 1B Vol. 92 ◆ No. 90 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com State vaccinating about 9,000 people per day ❏ Official says new NM Human Services Department or lower — green for both, yellow for each of the two necessary Phase 1B over 151,000 persons secretary, who gave a vaccine for one, red for neither. doses. But Heerding said the clinic 75+ and nearly 600,000 16+ with vaccines to be available update webinar on Wednesday. “I feel like we’re seeing every will continue as long as the state is co-morbidities, who are currently On top of the vaccine distribu- possible sign that things are getting supplying doses. eligible to receive a vaccine. in coming months. tion increase, Collins said a number better here,” Scrase said, noting Also discussed in the webinar: ■ The recent decrease in positive of new vaccines will be available in that New Mexicans still need to ■ New Mexico is still only vac- cases, Scrase said, is attributable to By Lily Martin the coming months. Vaccines cur- remain vigilant about mask wear- cinating members of Phase 1A and the vaccination of 10% of the pop- STAFF WRITER rently completing their third phase ing and social distancing to contin- select groups from Phase 1B, ulation. He added they are seeing [email protected] of trials before they can be ue the positive trends. including persons 75+ and those approximately 580 cases a day in approved include the one-dose As of Friday, the state had 16+ with underlying health issues. the state while vaccinating 9,000. New Mexico is vaccinating Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which administered 319,832 of the Other groups in Phase 1B include “I’m not good at sports analogies approximately 9,000 people per has a 72% efficacy rate, and the 324,575 vaccine doses it has frontline essential workers and vul- but this feels like the beginning of a day, a pace nearly double what the Novavax vaccine with an approxi- received. Of those, 77,691 were nerable populations. fourth-quarter comeback,” Scrase state was doing three weeks ago. mate 89% efficacy rate. second doses. “Because we have limited supply said. This increase is due to a federal An updated report on the state’s Locally, Emergency we have to prioritize groups with Cases, hospitalizations, and vaccine distribution increase of 6% “Red to Green” county-based Management Director Dan the goal of reducing morbidity and deaths are all decreasing signifi- this week on top of a 16% increase reopening will be released this Heerding said the COVID-19 vac- mortality and really looking at cantly, so much so that Scrase said last week. week. Counties operate under three cination clinic at the former equity,” Collins said. hospital workers are getting time The data is according to Dr. sets of public health orders based Raintree grocery store had given The state estimates that in Phase off for the first time in 11 months. Tracie Collins, New Mexico’s on whether they meet gating crite- 5,683 doses over 15 days. 1A there are over 20,000 residents ■ New Mexico is third in the Department of Health secretary- ria of eight daily cases per 100,000 The clinic is ideally set up for an of longterm care facilities and U.S. for COVID-19 testing, follow- designate, and Dr. David Scrase, residents and test positivity of 5% eight-week cycle, with four weeks 138,000 healthcare workers, and in ing Illinois and Connecticut. Clovis votes to renew 2011 gross receipts tax ❏ Qualifier added to allow money to be used for ‘other city of Clovis water projects.’ By Kevin Wilson EDITOR [email protected] CLOVIS — Facing a 10-year renewal of a gross receipts tax to offset costs for the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, Clovis City Commissioners on Thursday decided a little flexibility was a good tool to navigate unknown waters. The commission, by a 7-0 Inside vote, renewed a 0.25% gross receipts tax first implemented ■ Clovis in 2011, but added a qualifier that money acquired through approves airport the tax could go toward “other name change city of Clovis water projects.” — Page 2A The original tax was imple- Courtesy photo mented with the caveat that Matt Chandler, longtime Chiefs fan, at Arrowhead Stadium with family members before an October 2019 game. Pictured money must go to the ENMR- WS — better known as the Ute Water Project, are from left, top row, Chandler, Lillian Chandler, “Modern Family” actor Eric Stonestreet, Sofia De Groot and Lola De Groot; with plans for a pipeline from the Ute Reservoir bottom row, Murray Chandler, Mechi Garbarino, Michael Chandler, Nina De Groot. Chandler said the family has season tick- in Quay County to provide potable water to ets and the trips from Clovis to Kansas City are consistently great family memories The family is hoping for a second con- Clovis, Portales, Texico and Elida. secutive Super Bowl victory today. “The water issues we're facing are complex,” Clovis Mayor Mike Morris said. “As we seek solutions as a city, (along with) the water authority and other entities that are at work try- ing to find the longterm solutions to our water issues, it's possible it could be wise to create some flexibility in how this money is used.” Super Bowl ready Morris suggested the addition of the city water projects clause, along with a requirement ❏ Fans and families prep between the Chiefs and San Francisco De Leon is actually in Tampa right now, the fund always maintains a minimum balance 49ers, Kansas City is the favorite for most but not to go to the game. He planned the of 1.5 times the city's most recent annual obliga- to watch Chiefs battle oddsmakers at between 3 and 3.5 points — trip to visit family a few months ago, and tion to the authority. close enough for both fan bases to be con- about a half-dozen family members plan to Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bryant and Buccaneers today. fident. order pizza and wings for a watch party Commissioner Juan Garza, the city's representa- Count Chiefs fan Matt Chandler and rather than try to find tickets in the four- tives on the six-member authority board along By Kevin Wilson Bucs fan Steve De Leon, both longtime figure range due to pandemic-related with former Clovis Mayor David Lansford, EDITOR residents of Clovis, as confident fans. Both capacity restrictions. wanted to include references to acquisition of [email protected] are planning to root on their teams at fami- The last few seasons, De Leon said the water and domestic water supply projects. A team looking to establish legendary ly gatherings, and both are predicting a win Bucs lost more one-possession games than District 1 Commissioner Leo Lovett had con- status will cross paths today with a team for their squads. they should have because they had issues at cerns the term “domestic” could be too far- full of players who have reached that status De Leon, who has been in Clovis for quarterback and kicker. When news came reaching, and did not want a situation where already — albeit in a different place. about 22 years, grew up in the Tampa area out that Brady was signing a contract with water would be sold for commercial use. There In an unpredictable season due to the and has been a Bucs fan since the 1980s. the Bucs, De Leon wasn’t concerned about was disagreement among commissioners, but it COVID-19 pandemic, there are some very He’s watched some forgettable teams, but having a 43-year-old quarterback because was never heated, and Bryant noted that any use familiar faces. The Kansas City Chiefs, he also got a Super Bowl win in 2002 over the 43-year-old was Tom Brady. of the money outside of authority obligations with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, are the Oakland Raiders and he now gets to see “I was very optimistic,” De Leon said. “I would require a separate approval process from looking for their second-consecutive cham- the Bucs become the first team to play a knew he had a lot left in him. He wanted to the commission. pionship. Standing in their way are the Super Bowl in their home stadium. prove to the world it wasn’t just the Patriots Morris said the “domestic” back-and-forth Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with quarterback “I was military, so I traveled every- and the coach (Bill Belichick).” was an argument about something that might or Tom Brady making his 10th Super Bowl where,” De Leon said. “I ended up in While he’s not going to Raymond James might not matter a few years from now, but “the appearance and first not involving the New MacDill (Air Force Base in Tampa) and I Stadium himself, De Leon thought it was a minimum balance, we have to have that in England Patriots. decided that was my team. I loved going to Following last year’s essential pick-em games. I’ve been a true fan since then.” GAME on Page 3A CLOVIS on Page 3A Forecast: Today Monday Tuesday Index Calendars..........................2A Sunday Reader ................7B Reach us at: High: 69 High: 68 High: 63 Classified ......................7-8A Obituaries..........................6B (575) 763-3431 Life ................................3-5B Sports ............................1-2B Low: 38 Low: 34 Low: 37 Voices ............................4-5A PAGE 2A ✦ SUNDAY, FEB. 7, 2021 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Clovis approves airport name change Area events By Kevin Wilson In other business at the meeting: nomic development projects.