FRIDAY,JAN. 26, 2018 Inside: 75¢ A look at the FBI’s tracking habits. — Page 5B Vol. 89 ◆ No. 258 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Search for person of interest called off ❏ Police case regarding Three arrests were made Tuesday “unverified information” prompted “We did locate and speak with Tuesday intending to locate Weiss while attempting to locate Brian the CPD news release, it said. Mr. Weiss last night,” CPD Capt. but instead found three others telephone threats Weiss, whom officials spoke to That release went out around Roman Romero said in an email wanted on unrelated charges. Wednesday night after issuing a 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and said offi- Thursday afternoon. “Since this is Gabrielle Carver, 25, and Cji will remain open. news release about the investiga- cials sought public assistance in still under investigation, I cannot Adkins, 34, were taken into cus- tion earlier that evening. locating Weiss, 36, a “person of comment any further.” tody on distinct outstanding arrest By David Grieder The cooperative investigation interest.” Weiss told The News police warrants, while Albert Armijo, 35, STAFF WRITER started Monday between Cannon Weiss spoke with The News came to his residence around 10 “was held by probation and [email protected] Air Force Base Office of Special around 8:30 p.m. that night and p.m. Wednesday and he agreed to parole,” Romero said. Investigations and Clovis Police said he wasn’t hiding from police. speak with them at the CPD station. Weiss was not arrested and court CLOVIS — An investigation this Department Special Operations He volunteered his location on After a couple hours talking there records show no charges against week into unspecified telephonic Unit concerning unverified “tele- Dartmouth Street and said that he departed on foot back to his res- him pertaining to telephone threats. threats remained active Thursday, phonic threats,” details of which information was easily accessible. idence, he said Thursday. He denied having a role in any such said police, but officials called off were thin. A disturbance at a local Those details then went into an arti- Officials executed a search war- activity when speaking to The their search for a person of interest. church Wednesday stemming from cle posted online soon after 9 p.m. rant at a Rio Street residence News this week. Mineral oil spills from feed facility ❏ Officials say vandals opened valve on tank and stole equipment. By Eamon Scarbrough STAFF WRITER [email protected] PORTALES — A massive amount of min- eral oil spilled out of a feed manufacturing facility and onto the streets of Portales on Thursday morning in what officials called an act of vandalism. J.D. Heiskell and Co. officials wrote in a news release that vandals broke into a facili- ty, stole equipment, and opened a valve on a tank of mineral oil. The oil drained outside and covered a large area around downtown Portales, according to Staff photo: Eamon Scarbrough John DeSha, the city’s public works director. “(The affected area) would be from Portales Street Superintendent Doug Morrison, left, along with Equipment Operator Matt Brady and Public Works Director John Commercial (Street) to Third (Street) on DeSha, right, suction up oil using a Vactor truck Thursday morning on South Abilene Avenue. Abilene (Avenue), and then the traffic has spread it on Highway 70, a couple blocks the spill with sand and suctioning oil from In its press release, J.D. Heiskell advised appropriate authorities as well as environ- either direction, and the same way on New the streets while members of the Portales anyone whose eyes or skin has come into mental engineers to ensure that any damages Mexico 88,” he said. Police Department directed traffic. contact with the oil to flush their eyes and as a result of the spill are limited, and that City officials said Thursday afternoon the DeSha said the mineral oil will likely thoroughly wash skin and any clothing. clean-up is done properly and safely.” mineral oil had been contained, and crews cause damage to the emulsion in the roads. The company warned motorists whose The company did not say how much min- will return today to finish cleaning the affect- “We actually use mineral oil to clean up vehicles have come in contact with the oil to eral oil was spilled. ed areas. our equipment, to bring all the oils and things clean affected areas with warm water and Portales Police Department Public Road crews with the city of Portales and out, so it’s going to damage the roads. It’ll detergent, and to wash vehicles at a commer- Information Officer Charlie Smart said no the New Mexico Department of take a while for the damage to show up,” he cial car wash. Transportation spent the morning covering said. It also stated that it has “contacted the SPILL on Page 5A Flu cases on rise in area ❏ Medical officials the number of patients coming in pretty dramatic. We had not seen with the flu is up from past years at much until about a week and a half, recommend flu shots, this time. two weeks ago roughly and it came “We have seen a high number for on in the eastern part of the state here general cleanliness. this time of the year,” Spence said. really pretty quick.” “When they compared our numbers There have been so many people By Jamie Cushman from last January to this year, we are coming into to RGH with flu symp- STAFF WRITER seeing much more patients with flu- toms recently that hospital officials [email protected] like symptoms.” are now asking patients to only come It’s that time of the year again. Plains Regional Medical Center in if they have emergent and severe Cover your cough, wash you hands Interim Administrator Troy Clark has symptoms in order to limit the spread and schedule a flu shot because area also noticed a large uptick recently in of the illness. hospitals have seen a considerable patients coming with the flu. “Right now we are limiting our rise in patients with the flu over the “The past week and a half to two annual exams so we’ve been calling past two weeks. weeks we’ve seen a pretty dramatic to reschedule those and just pushing Haylee Spence, director of plan- increase in both flu and upper respi- them out a few weeks so they don’t ning, marketing and public relations ratory diagnoses both at the clinics for Roosevelt General Hospital, said and the hospital,” Clark said. “It was FLU on Page 5A Forecast: Today Saturday Sunday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................8A Reach us at: High: 61 High: 54 High: 60 Classified ......................7-8B Markets ............................2A (575) 763-3431 Comics ..............................6B Obituaries..........................5A Low: 23 Low: 26 Low: 26 Voices................................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ FRIDAY, JAN. 26, 2018 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Events calendar of Farwell, who was battling Concert to be presented at AN bone cancer. Marshall Auditorium. Today Information: 575-356-3940 J . 26 Among their fundraising Sponsored by the Clovis ■ United Blood Services projects was shoveling snow Shrine Band Drum and Blood Drive — 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday On this date ... — an activity that had Bugle Corps, the concert at Curves, Clovis. Information: 575- ■ Preschool Storytime — 1983: Texico Boy Scout already added $51 to the was under the direction of 625-9743 10:30 a.m. at Portales Public Troop 429 had lined up the troop coffers. Tommy Mayfield, Philip Library. Story: “Get Well Soon.” band, Cold Country, to play The cost for the dance Wilson, Dick Echols, and Saturday Information: 575-356-3940 for an upcoming dance at was $2 per person or $3.50 Norvil Howell. ■ Special Food Distribution — ■ Tween Program — 4:30 p.m. the Texico Community per couple. Zia elementary fifth grad- 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Central at Portales Public Library. Activity: Christian Church, Portales. Center designed to raise er James Williams, the son Xbox One free play. money to send its members Individuals must fill out an income ■ 1968: The combined of Col. and Mrs. Les Stitch Addicts — 6:30 p.m. at to summer camp. bands of Clovis High Williams of Clovis, was on eligibility form upon arrival. Clovis-Carver Public Library. Information: 575-769-2103 Since forming on Jan. 2, School, Gattis Junior High, the program to perform a Lesson: Mug hug. Information: 575- ■ United Blood Services the nine members of Troop and Marshall Junior High trumpet solo as the high Pages Past is compiled 763-9687 Blood Drive — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 429 had worked to raise were in final preparations school band played by Betty Williamson. Wal-Mart, Portales. Information: $204, which they donated to for the fourth annual John “Trumpeter’s Lullaby” by Contact her at: 575-625-9743 Ongoing ■ Artist of the month — Art 15-year-old Carlos Nicolas Phillip Sousa Memorial Leroy Anderson. [email protected] Monday from Scott Blazek will be on exhibit ■ Nutrition Class — 6 p.m. at all month at Clovis-Carver Public Clovis-Carver Public Library. Library. Information: 575-762-6359 Jail logs Hosted by Zandy Bunch, NMSU. ■ Information: 575-763-9687 The events calendar is a daily Booked Devorian Acy, 23, probation viola- local jails Wednesday: listing of area events. To place an tion, failure to appear on a felony The following were booked into item on the calendar, call the charge Tuesday local jails Wednesday through Clovis* ■ Afterschool STEAM — 4:30 newsroom at 575-356-4481 or e- ■ Monty Heckman, 33, failure to Thursday: ■ mail: appear on a felony charge Matilda Trujillo, 39 p.m.