THURSDAY,OCT. 12, 2017 Inside: 75¢ Small sparks can start big fires. — Page 4B Vol. 89 ◆ No. 167 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Locals picked for honor flight tour ❏ Veterans to visit sites in Washington, D.C. By Jamie Cushman STAFF WRITER [email protected] CLOVIS — Two Clovis residents will be among a group of veterans who depart from Lubbock on Friday bound for Washington, D.C., as part of the 2017 Texas South Plains Honor Flight. Dale Hensley and Earl Robinson, along with about 90 other vet- erans, will participate in the program that honors military veterans by Staff photo: Jamie Cushner providing free trips to D.C. to visit war memo- A squirrel stores an acorn in its mouth while perched on a tree branch Wednesday in Hillcrest Park. rials and other sites in Hensley the nation’s capital. “Everyone I’ve talked to said it’s a first class operation and they really treat you great,” Hensley said of the Honor Flight program. “I think it’s great that New residents you are able to go on something like that and friendly park visitors. ❏ Squirrels making see Washington, D.C.,” Robinson “We have a few pecan trees and Robinson said. “It will appearances now in that’s where they hang out by the be a nice trip.” par 3 (golf course),” Dayhoff said. The three-day trip includes wreath lay- Hillcrest Park trees. “I’m not sure what else they feed ing ceremonies at memorials for World on, other than we have a couple of War II, Vietnam War and Korean War vet- By Jamie Cushman individuals who have been leaving erans, the National Museum of the STAFF WRITER peanuts around the trees. I’ve Marine Corps and Arlington National [email protected] never seen anybody feeding them, Cemetery. but I’ve walked out and seen little The trip will also include a tour of the CLOVIS — Hillcrest Park has piles of peanuts.” Capitol with U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington seen a wide variety of animals He said there is a group of “three and a visit to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy since the zoo opened in the 1930s. Center of the National Air and Space or four” squirrels by the golf Museum. Now there’s a new attraction in the course “and then I’ve noticed a trees, around the golf course and Trip coordinator Mike Travis said the couple by the dog park.” Texas South Plains Honor Flight trans- near the dog park outside the zoo. Yannotti said he laughed the ports about 90 to 100 veterans to D.C. Squirrels have been spotted other day when he saw a squirrel in each year, with about 150 to 200 more scurrying around. a tree in the dog park surrounded veterans on a waiting list. City officials said the squirrel Staff photo: Jamie Cushner by dogs looking up at the animal. Travis said participant decisions are population at Hillcrest has A squirrel sits on a tree trunk just outside the dog park. “It must not be a smart squirrel,” based solely on age — the oldest appli- increased from zero to about a half Yannotti joked. cants go first, though exceptions are made dozen in the past two years. Assistant Zoo Director Mark squirrels enough food to survive at Dayhoff said there is a larger in the case of medical situations. Clovis Parks and Recreation Yannotti said he first noticed the Hillcrest. squirrel population in the Colonial Hensley spent 28 years in the Air Director Mark Dayhoff said he’s squirrels in Hillcrest this spring. “I don’t see any immediate food Park area. Force, including one tour in Vietnam. He not aware of anyone releasing the Yannotti said years ago a former source in Hillcrest,” Yannotti said, “I live between Colonial and first came to Clovis in 1972 when he was piloting FB-111 aircraft at Cannon Air nut hunters into the park, but “we zoo director had placed squirrel adding that the park might just be (Hillcrest) and we’ve got a couple boxes in trees at Hillcrest in an providing the squirrels a place to Force Base and retired to Clovis in 1992. have them.” in our neighborhood. It seems like Robinson served in the Army in “I’m going to say about two attempt to attract the animals, with- climb trees. they’re moving south,” he said. Belgium and Germany for two years after years ago we started noticing a few out long-term success. But Dayhoff said the animals completing basic training in 1944. A grad- and the numbers have kind of Yannotti said “it’s questionable” could be getting some help on the Editor David Stevens uate of Eastern New Mexico University, increased.” whether or not the park would offer food front from some squirrel- contributed to this report. Robinson has lived in Clovis since 1949. Boy Scouts to let girls in some programs ❏ Cub Scouts to be first; loyal, helpful, kind, brave and reverent, “Now, we’ve become the BSA: for example — are important for both program for older groups Babysitters of America.” young men and women,” Surbaugh added. — John Schonberger, local Scout leader expected to start in 2019. Clovis Scout leader John Schonberger, who helps administer scouting programs STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS start in 2019 and will enable girls to earn the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. in Curry, Roosevelt, De Baca and other Embracing a historic change, the Boy The Boy Scouts board of directors, area counties, said he is not happy about Scouts of America announced Wednesday which approved the plan unanimously in a the change. plans to admit girls into the Cub Scouts meeting at BSA headquarters in Texas, “The national (Boy Scouts) put out a starting next year and to establish a new said the change was needed to provide video ... to say that, ‘The parents feel it’s program for older girls using the same more options for parents. convenient that they drop the same age curriculum as the Boy Scouts. “We believe it is critical to evolve how boy and girl at the same meeting,’” Under the plan, Cub Scout dens — the our programs meet the needs of families Schonberger said. smallest unit — will be single-gender, interested in positive and lifelong experi- “I said, ‘baloney.’” either all-boys or all-girls. The larger Cub ences for their children,” said Michael “We’re saying, ‘OK, you drop your kids Scout packs will have the option to remain Surbaugh, the BSA’s chief scout execu- off, and I’m gonna entertain them. ... Now, Dreamstime photo via Tribune News Service single gender or welcome both genders. tive. The Boy Scouts of America has announced it will admit The program for older girls is expected to “The values of Scouting — trustworthy, SCOUTS on Page 4A girls into the Cub Scouts starting next year. Forecast: Today Friday Saturday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................5A Reach us at: High: 80 High: 81 High: 82 Classified ......................5-6B Markets ............................2A (575) 763-3431 Comics ..............................4B Obituaries..........................3A Low: 57 Low: 60 Low: 46 Voices................................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ THURSDAY, OCT. 12, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Events calendar Clovis schools ramping up drama Today Public Library. Information: 575-769- ■ Preschool story-time — 6 p.m. 7840 xpect more drama (MCT), which proved to be where. “The kids loved it at Portales Public Library. Book: ■ RGH health fair — 8 a.m.-noon in our schools this an enormous success. and practically learned their Donut Miss This. Information: 575- at the Roosevelt General Hospital, year than in the Cindy According to Norris, the parts overnight,” she said. 356-3940 Portales. Information: 575-359-1800 E ■ past. Happily, it’s the good Kleyn- MCT folks audition stu- The experience was so Tween program — 4:30 p.m. kind. dents, rehearse, and perform for ages 9-12 at Portales Public Kennedy enriching that the district’s Sunday Among our 11 elementary ◆ an entire production within Library. Throwback Thursday: Board ■ Wind Symphony concert — 3 Fine Arts Committee Clovis games. Information: 575-356-3940 p.m. at Buchanan Hall, ENMU. schools is the Arts Academy a week. They are complete- (Shelly Norris, Joe ■ Preschool Storyhour — 10 at Bella Vista, an arts- Municipal ly self-contained, bringing Strickland, Brandon Boerio, Admission: Free. Information: 575- Schools a.m. at Clovis-Carver Public Library. 562-1011 infused K-fifth magnet everything needed: cos- Sharna Johnson, and Sara Information: 575-763-9680 ■ Gun and knife show — 9a.m.- school whose primary focus tumes, sets, makeup, props, Hennessy) decided to use ■ Roosevelt County fall job fair 5 p.m. at Clovis Civic Center. is “to enhance academic some years ago, the Arts and any other theatrical some of the state-funded — 3 p.m.-7 p.m. at Portales Memorial Admission: $5. Information: 575-760- learning through use of arts Academy decided to revisit gear. The Missoula group is fine arts grant to extend the Building. Information: 575-356-8541 1379 teaching tools as a learning and balance its arts offerings designed to not be disrup- ■ Contract ready class — 1 experience to our other ele- methodology.” to incorporate more theater tive for the school day and mentary schools throughout p.m.-4 p.m. at Clovis Community Tuesday can perform in any setting, AABV is filled with fine into the mix. Since then, this school year. College room 101. Register by 8 a.m. ■ Afterschool STEAM — 4:30 arts activities infused into from school cafeterias to Learn about government contracts. AABV has produced and Productions will include: p.m.