School Officials Discuss SB 381 ❏ the Bill Allows for Use of Suvs Instead of Buses in Rural Districts
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SUNDAY,MARCH 5, 2017 Inside: $1.50 No damages, injuries reported in blaze. — Page 1B Vol. 88 ◆ No. 291 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com School officials discuss SB 381 ❏ The bill allows for use of SUVs instead of buses in rural districts. By Eamon Schools Superintendent Scarbrough Ted Trice said he was in support of any legislation STAFF WRITER that could save his district [email protected] the cost of fuel for buses, Rural school districts in but noted that SUVs are the area have carefully not as weighed the pros and cons distinc- of a bill currently traveling tive as through the New Mexico buses 17 legislature that would are, and allow for the replacement thus of buses with much small- could er vehicles in certain situa- prove to tions. be a safety concern. Senate Bill 381, current- “My only thought about ly awaiting a third reading that is that people see a on the senate floor, states yellow school bus, they that school districts may notice and pay attention to utilize district-owned sport it. If you’re in a suburban Staff photos: utility vehicles in place of that’s not painted yellow, Kevin Wilson school buses to transport people aren’t going to pay Above: Steve one to six students “whose attention to that, so that may be a safety issue as Rios of Denver residence, within the points his dog, boundaries of the school far as people not paying Quinta, to a district, is five or more attention to a vehicle full miles from the student’s or of kids,” said Trice. tube to open students’ school or Because of a high vol- their dog agility schools,” according to the ume of young children run Saturday bill’s legislation. morning at the Grady Municipal SUV on Page 3A Curry County Events Center. Quinta, 2, is a Nova Scotia duck tolling Residents divided retriever. on time change Left: Steve Yost of Albuquerque ❏ A bill to keep state on one zone leads his minia- ture Schnauzer, passes Senate, waits in House. Abby, through By Kurt Munz-Raper can disrupt schedules. the weave por- STAFF WRITER Atlanta native Darius tion of an agility [email protected] Lyons, currently stationed trial. at Cannon Air Force Base, A bill scrapping moving agrees with the bill. clocks forward and back- “It doesn’t bother me at ward for daylight saving all,” Lyons said. “A lot of time in the state has states are prompted mixed reactions changing from local residents. it. If it’s Senate Bill 239 propos- working es making Mountain day- for 17 light saving time the per- every- manent time zone for the body state, as opposed to just else, why Dogs on trial eight months each year. not for New Mexico?” The bill passed the Clovis resident Bilal ❏ The American Kennel Club agility competition is at Curry County Events Center. Senate 26-15 and is cur- Bhatty agrees it is worth- rently in the House of while to see how the By Douglas Clark novice to national title contenders, is through three times and get a title. After change affects other states Representatives. STAFF WRITER designed to demonstrate a dog's willing- they get a title, there are four levels — Daylight saving time is like Arizona, adding the [email protected] ness to work with his handler in a variety novice, standard, excellent and masters. this coming Sunday. change would benefit him of situations, with agility being an athlet- Once the competitors attain the masters According to the bill, a as a morning person who A vast array of talented canines placed ic event that requires conditioning, con- level, they begin working on their cham- state can “exempt itself is most productive during their skills on display during Saturday’s centration, training and teamwork. Dogs pionship. from the change to day- the summer. American Kennel Club agility competi- and handlers must negotiate an obstacle “A lot of the dogs here are going to light saving time as long “If it’s more daylight for tion, as hundreds of dogs are being put course while racing against the clock. head to the AKC National Agility as it does so uniformly as me, I like that,” said through the paces before judges through- Contestants navigate two courses — Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, at an entire state.” Bhatty. “If we keep more out the weekend at the Curry County the standard course, which contains the the end of this month,” said La Cruces The bill also notes state daylight in the mornings, Events Center. A-frame and other varied obstacles, in resident Hokie Wiley, who said she owns residents are better accus- AKC officials said the event, which is addition to the jumpers and weaves lay- the fastest Boxer in the nation, as well as tomed to daylight saving hosted by the Clovis-Portales Kennel out. Officials said dogs must meet the time, as changing clocks TIME on Page 3A Club, draws competitors ranging from qualifications for each course, run DOGS on Page 7A Curry County manager updates on program cuts, issues Editor’s note: Curry County phase completed in probably the The project funding cut in November? assist us with providing the serv- Manager Lance Pyle discussed end of May, first part of June. will have to be We re-assessed the program ices and getting through this fis- Q several topics as part of a periodic The next phase would be the done in phas- and the services that we were cal year. We usually do a lot of series checking up on issues relat- development of the construction es, so that we providing. We were able to con- advertising and awareness, and ed to the county. documents, to proceed with the can keep the tinue providing enforcement and we eliminated those items to be project going to bid. We antici- inmates prevention services and compli- able to do the prevention and the & At what stage is the Curry pate the project going to bid in housed in ance, and we were able to keep enforcement. County Detention Center the fall of 2017. county. all existing staff employed in expansion? The construction on the project Pyle addressing those cuts. Are there any specific state We’re currently in the is anticipated to take at least 18 How has We had a vacant position of cuts officials are concerned A design/development phase of the months from when the contract is the county’s DWI program teen court coordinator, and we project. The goal is to have that awarded. fared after the nearly $100,000 chose not to fill that position to Q&A on Page 7A Forecast: Today Monday Tuesday Index Calendar............................2A Crossword ........................3B High: 75 High: 73 High: 70 Classified ......................7-8C Obituaries..........................3A Comics ..............................4B Sports ............................1-4D Low: 46 Low: 34 Low: 34 Commentary ..................4-5A PAGE 2A ✦ SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS House votes to hike statewide minimum wage Events calendar Democrats have argued that the 2018. The hourly wage for tipped By Andrew Oxford Today ■ Teen game day — 4:30 THE NEW MEXICAN measure will improve the quality of life employees, such as waitresses and ■ for the lowest-paid New Mexicans, who baristas, would increase from $2.13 to ENMU Symphonic Band p.m. at Portales Public Library The state House of Representatives have not seen an increase in the mini- 40 percent of the new statewide mini- & Wind Symphony concert — for ages 13-18. Activity: NES voted Friday night to raise the hourly mum wage since 2009. mum wage, a total of $3.70. 3 p.m. in Buchanan Hall at game cubecrafts. Information: minimum wage to $9.25 from $7.50 in "It's appalling when hardworking But the bill also would prohibit local ENMU, Portales. Admission: 575-356-3940 2018. New Mexicans can't put food on the governments from Free. Information: 575-562- ■ Preschool storytime — 6 The 37-30 vote, just days after the table despite working full-time," the imposing certain labor regulations, 1011 p.m. at Portales Public Library. state Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill's co-sponsor, Rep. Debbie Rodella, ■ slightly smaller increase to $9, signals D-Española, said in a statement. "Too such as policies Clovis/Portales Kennel Book: Lucky Charms. that a raise in the statewide minimum many families are only one crisis away curbing flexible Club dog agility trials — 8 Information: 575-356-3940 wage is increasingly likely as the leg- from a complete economic break- scheduling decried 17 a.m. at Curry County Events ■ John Sampen classical islative session enters its final weeks. down." by workers rights Center. Admission: Free. saxophonist — 7 p.m. in The issue has been a priority for Democrats voted down a last-minute groups as leaving Information: 575-935-7000 Buchanan Hall at ENMU, low-wage laborers Democrats, who promised a raise dur- proposal by House Minority Leader Portales. Admission: Free. ing last year's election, but it also has Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, to change with uncertainty Information: 575-562-1011 won some support from Republicans. the bill, lowering the increase to $8.45. about the number of hours they might Monday The House vote on HB 442 was not Gentry said the amount is the average work in a week. Some lawmakers also ■ Stitch Addicts — 1:30 strictly along party lines. Rep. Sarah of minimum wages in neighboring raised concerns that the provision p.m. at Clovis-Carver Public Friday Maestas Barnes, R-Albuquerque, broke states.