FRIDAY,MAY 18,2018 Inside: 75¢ One year into the Russia probe. — Page 5A Vol. 90 ◆ No. 41 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Longtime CMS health director retiring ❏ Rhonda Sparks progress in the district’s health board member Cindy Osborn Moriarty, Tucumcari and ulti- Sparks would use to practice care capabilities, will be retir- said with Sparks leaving the mately Clovis. applying bandages and other has been with the ing at the end of the school district, she will miss, “just “I have been a nurse since I treatments. year. knowing that there was such a was 19 years old and so it’s “Poor thing, she went district for 19 years. Rhonda Sparks said she has fierce advocate for any child. kind of hard to think of finding through the mill,” Sparks said been with CMS for 19 years, She’s absolutely fearless about a stopping place for the thing about the doll. “I would treat By Jamie Cushman starting as a school nurse at Los advocating for the needs of the that has defined who I am for so her and care for her and so I STAFF WRITER Niños Early Intervention students.” very long,” Sparks said of her think I’ve always known that I [email protected] Center, Barry Elementary and Born and raised in Grants, impending retirement. wanted to be in that kind of nur- Sparks CLOVIS — The longtime Marshall Middle School before Sparks spent about a decade Sparks said her interest in turing position.” director of health services for taking over as director health working in hospitals as a pedi- nursing started as a child when Sparks is proud of her Clovis Municipal Schools, who services director a year or two. atric nurse before entering her grandmother gave her a doll has overseen considerable Sparks’ mentor and CMS school nursing at schools in which the then-3-year-old SPARKS on Page 3A READY FOR THE SEASON Staff photo: Tony Bullocks Gabriel Montoya of Clovis rakes the pitcher’s mound at Beachum Field on Thursday afternoon in preparation of the night’s game featuring the A’s and Yankees. The players are 8 to 10 years old. Their season runs through the end of this month. Drug Court program participants giving back By Eamon Scarbrough sessions and recovery meetings, Being National Drug Court munity every month,” she said. here in Clovis; rebuilding fami- STAFF WRITER submit to regular drug tests and Month, May sees participants “This weekend, we’ll be participat- lies,” he said, adding that since the [email protected] participate in volunteer work, ratchet up their charitable work, ing in the (Roosevelt County) program accepted its first partici- according to Curry County Drug according to Roosevelt County Prevention Day. They’re pretty pant in 2006, it has seen 140 defen- Many people that struggle with Court Coordinator Brian Forde. Drug Court Coordinator Angie busy.” dants and graduated 123. drug addiction focus on taking. The “We’ve participated with the Cordova. All this work equips participants “75 percent of the people who members of the Ninth Judicial food bank, and we’ve done that “We currently right now are for a lifelong journey that doesn’t enter into a drug court and graduate District Drug Court Program are when they’ve had food drives. Last doing drug awareness class for teen end after they leave the program, do not get re-arrested, and that is learning how to give back. Saturday we’ve also participated court participants. We also do according to Forde. the national average,” he said. The 15 month program requires with the post office when they’ve Produce to People outreach, and “I’ve seen people (in the pro- drug offenders to attend therapy had their food drive,” he said. that’s just giving back to the com- gram) actually running businesses OUTREACH on Page 3A Beer, wine coming to corporate, private events at ENMU BY THE STAFF OF THE NEWS mously approved the acquisition of University Theatre Center and The decision includes The standards, requested by Vice a governmental beer and wine Golden Student Success Center. Greyhound Arena and Greyhound President of Academic Affairs Eastern New Mexico license for Sodexo, according to In a Thursday press release from Stadium, but the university does Jamie Laurenz, now require an University’s food services provider Coordinator of Media Relations Cooper, Chancellor of the ENMU not plan to allow alcohol sales dur- ACT score of 17 or a 2.5 GPA with will soon be able to provide beer Desiree Cooper. System Jeff Elwell said a number ing ENMU athletic events. an ACT score of 14, whereas stu- and wine at corporate and private The contract with Sodexo will of community members previously Also at the May 11 meeting: dents were previously only events on campus. allow for beer and wine to be wanted to hold events on campus ■ Regents approved the addition required to have a score of 17 or a At a May 11 meeting at the served at private and corporate “but were unwilling to do so due to of a minimum ACT score to its 2.5 GPA, according to Cooper. ENMU-Roswell Campus, the uni- events at buildings including the the lack of access to adult bever- admission standards for incoming versity’s board of regents unani- Campus Union Building, ages.” students. ENMU on Page 3A Forecast: Today Saturday Sunday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................4B Reach us at: High: 90 High: 88 High: 76 Classified ......................7-8B Markets ............................2A (575) 763-3431 Comics ..............................6B Obituaries..........................3A Low: 52 Low: 48 Low: 56 Voices................................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2018 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Airman found dead in Clovis park Events calendar ■ BY THE STAFF OF THE NEWS to the 27th Special John Rebello. Her death was the second Today Texico High School gradu- Operations Wing Special Lovett was active duty involving a Cannon airman ■ Clovis High School gradu- ation — 2 p.m. at Texico Sports CLOVIS — A Cannon Operations Security Forces with the Air Force for four this month. An airman was ation — 6 p.m. at the Curry Arena. Information: 575-482-3801 County Events Center. The cere- ■ Air Force Base senior air- Squadron, was found years, he said. also found dead in his Dora High School gradua- mony will be live-streamed at tion — 3 p.m. at Guy Luscombe man was found dead around 6 p.m. at Ned Houk Lovett, 22, was from Clovis home on May 4. Park, according to a news Moultrie, Georgia, and Clovis Police Capt. Roman http://clovis-schools.org/gradua- Gymnasium. Information: 575- Monday evening in a Clovis release posted on the base’s services will be held for her Romero said the death was tion.html. Information: 575-769- 477-2211 park from a self-inflicted 4350 ■ Melrose High School grad- website. there sometime next week, not criminal. Rebello said ■ gunshot wound, according The incident is under the director of Luke Strong the cause of the May 4 Fort Sumner High School uation — 7 p.m. at the Melrose to base officials. investigation by Clovis and Son Mortuary in death was still under inves- graduation — 6 p.m. at the Fort High School Gymnasium. Jasmine Lovett, assigned police, said base spokesman Moultrie said Thursday. tigation. Sumner High School Gymnasium. Information: 575-253-4291 Information: 575-355-7734 ■ Bovina High School gradu- Sunday ation — 7 p.m. (CDT) at the ■ Grady High School Bovina High School Auditorium. LOCAL ROUNDUP Information: 806-251-1336 Graduation — 5 p.m. at the Grady ■ Muleshoe High School High School Gymnasium. business items. ing maintenance on a gas line. graduation — 7 p.m. (CDT) at Information: 575-357-2192 Clovis city commission ■ The city will consider $4.5 million in More information: Call J.D. Muleshoe High School Country Gospel Concert — meeting postponed bonds for Seventh Street, the prelimi- Gutierrez, New Mexico Gas Company, Gymnasium. Information: 806- 6 p.m. at Living Word Church, CLOVIS — The Clovis City nary 2018-19 budget and a pair of at 575-763-8429. 272-7400 2101 E. 21st St., Clovis. Bruce Commission, citing a shortfall of com- agreements covering shared services and Betty from Buckeye, Arizona missioners to attend, postponed its with Curry County. Parking lot closing Saturday will perform country gospel music. meeting scheduled Thursday. ■ American Cancer Society Information: 575-218-1914 The meeting is rescheduled for 5:15 Intersection closed for repairs, restriping Mushball Tournament — 8 a.m. p.m. Monday at the North Annex of the PORTALES — The parking lot at the Portales Softball Complex. Monday Clovis-Carver Public Library. for maintenance behind Portales’ City Hall will be Teams must register by Sunday. ■ Stitch Addicts — 1:30 p.m. Assistant City Manager Claire CLOVIS — The intersection around closed from 6 p.m. today until 10 a.m. Individual registration is $10. to 3 p.m. at Clovis-Carver Public Information: 575-693-9555 Library. Crochet lesson: Puff stitch Burroughes said three commissioners Seventh and Sycamore streets in Clovis Saturday, according to a city news ■ had out-of-town business on Thursday. will be closed for two days next week. release. Roosevelt County stole. Information: 575-763-9687 Prevention Day — She also cited an illness as a contribut- A city of Clovis news release said the The lot will be closed for cleaning, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Jake Lopez Building at ing factor to the postponement. area will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. repair and restriping, the release said.