THURSDAY,AUG. 3, 2017 Inside: 75¢ US test-launches ICBM. — Page 4B Vol. 89 ◆ No. 107 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Dora audit prompts criminal probe ❏ Group of citizens the office is determining whether it or the attend an Aug. 14 DCS Board of New Mexico Attorney General will lead Education meeting to ask Superintendent plans to ask board the investigation. Steve Barron and board members to “Just from what this audit says, there’s resign. members to resign. hundreds of thousands of dollars just The findings were presented at the from the recycle center, over $100,000, I meeting by Belcher, Wade, and Dora res- By Eamon Scarbrough believe. That’s just a small bit of what’s ident Ty Tipton, who asked the public for STAFF WRITER been spoken about in there,” he said. their questions and concerns. The audit, conducted in June by the [email protected] The audit reported that DCS’ mainte- Office of the State Auditor, identified DORA — The findings of a June audit more than $100,000 in potentially mis- nance supervisor received over $37,000 of Dora Consolidated Schools will be the managed funds in a three-year period. for school property from two recycling centers in Clovis since 2010, $66.30 of subject of a criminal investigation, Apparent audit violations included lapses Staff photo: Eamon Scarbrough according to an investigator for the dis- in documentation, conflicts of interest and which he returned to the district “for com- Dora residents sign petitions Tuesday evening at the trict attorney. improper disposal of school property. puters recycled in August of 2016.” Ninth Judicial District Attorney Shauna Wade, a Dora resident, said a The money returned, Belcher said, was Dora Community Center asking for the resignation of Criminal Investigator Dan Aguilar told group of concerned citizens, represented Dora Consolidated Schools Superintendent Steve citizens at a Tuesday community meeting by fellow resident Amanda Belcher, will DORA on Page 4A Barron and the DCS Board of Education. SURPRISE GIFT Clayton talks about water task force plans A water task force chaired by Clovis City Commissioner Ladona Clayton is scheduled to provide an update on its work at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the City Hall Assembly Room, 321 N. Connelly. The task force consists of Clovis and Curry County representa- tives plus representatives from EPCOR Water, the Clovis Industrial Development Corporation and the Eastern Plains Q Council of Governments. It has no decision-mak- ing authority, but can make recommendations to & the city’s Water Policy Advisory Committee, which can make recom- mendations to the Clovis City Commission. A Clayton answered ques- tions on Tuesday. Staff photo: Kevin Wilson Master Sgt. Trae Clark of Cannon Air Force Base presents Clovis High fooball coach Cal Fullerton with a framed U.S. flag How many meetings have been held? flown over Afghanistan on June 1 in Fullerton’s honor. Clark, who coordinated a workout for Wildcat players on base this We have been meeting summer, said he did those things for #RandomActsforAndy to honor the memory of Maj. Andrew Becker, one of three since January to make a Cannon personnel killed in a training accident. recommendation for the Water Advisory Committee. We met every two to four weeks since we began and had a full Clayton Commissioners to weigh hiring Howalt session in June with long hours to finish up the plan. We met for two ❏ Former city engineer consideration will come tonight at the was finalized and approved before saying days for about 20-21 hours total. City Commission meeting, 5:15 p.m. at more. considered for new the Clovis-Carver Public Library. By the terms of his contract, Howalt How many more meetings are scheduled? Mayor David Lansford confirmed would leave his position with ENMWUA No more because we’ve already complet- contract as city manager. Wednesday that Howalt, Executive to accept the new job. Howalt did not ed the plan, which will be proposed to the Director for the Eastern New Mexico indicate who might fill that vacancy. committee at a public meeting on Aug. 8 By David Grieder Water Utility Authority, is being consid- Lansford said he requested an execu- (Tuesday) at 1 p.m. STAFF WRITER ered for the city manager position. tive session immediately preceding [email protected] “The terms of the contract are not final- tonight’s meeting so commissioners could What was discussed? ized until the city commission acts on it have additional discussion on the pro- We did extensive research to determine CLOVIS — City commissioners are tomorrow,” said Lansford. “I’m hopeful posed contract before voting in the public the state of our condition for water. The pub- poised to consider a new employment that the commission will take final and session. lic will learn about our findings and it will contract for Justin Howalt as city manag- official action.” “I think Justin is a very good and very all be made abundantly clear. er tonight at their regular meeting. Howalt said he was “excited and qualified person for the job of city man- New Mexico Technical Institute Interim City Manager Tom Phelps said look(s) forward to the opportunity,” but more information on the contract under preferred to wait until after the contract MANAGER on Page 4A WATER on Page 3A Forecast: Today Friday Saturday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................5A High: 88 High: 81 High: 89 Classified ..........................6B Markets ............................2A Comics ..............................5B Obituaries..........................3A Low: 62 Low: 64 Low: 64 Voices................................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ THURSDAY, AUG. 3, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS AUG. 3 Retired Floyd educator honored On this date ... By Stephanie Losoya he retired in 2015. STAFF WRITER He has been an educator at the mid- The Air Force 1952: [email protected] dle school and high school levels as reported seeing an unidenti- well as a coach for volleyball, basket- fied flying object over Los FLOYD — Floyd has a Hall of Fame ball, baseball and track. Alamos, the site of major inductee. “When you're in a small school, you atomic energy installations. Retired superintendent of Floyd can do a little bit of everything,” Benoit The observers said they Municipal School District, Paul Benoit said. saw something shiny and There were a few of the was inducted into the New Mexico According to Widner, Benoit has metallic in the sky for 30 min- 5,510 participants from 12 Coalition of Educational Leaders served in every leadership capacity of utes traveling quickly but different states, making it one (NMCEL) Hall of Fame in June. the NMCEL during his time in educa- erratically. of the largest conventions, Jamie Widner, Superintendent of tion. Fighter pilots were charged according to presiding minis- Melrose, said Benoit was a mentor for “I spent a lot of time in Santa Fe help- with finding the object from ter Preston Bowen. him since he first took the position. ing craft, argue for and against school the air but were unsuccessful. The participants heard sev- “I was pleased to nominate (Benoit),” board policy,” Benoit said. “We won Observers said they saw the eral lectures including “Take Widner said. some battles and lost some battles object dodge the planes. Courage — God’s Kingdom Widner said plenty had changed ...politics should not impact and influ- is at Hand.” between his two stints as a superintend- ence education, but unfortunately it 1952: Delegates from the ent — first in House, then in Melrose does too greatly in this state.” Clovis Congregation of Pages Past is compiled following a 13-year run as a principal. He said that in 2003, education in Jehovah’s Witnesses returned by Staff Writer Anna “(Benoit) would bring me back in New Mexico began to have more con- home following a three-day George. Contact her at: line (after a mistake),” he said. trol from the state level, “but (adminis- Bible meet in Texas. [email protected] Widner said he and Benoit spent trators) still did the best (they) could to many hours traveling to and from Santa operate within local norms.” Fe and other school districts to lobby Widner said Benoit spent much time and communicate with lawmakers who focusing on fellowship between dis- Events calendar impact education in the area. Courtesy photo tricts despite other obligations. Benoit “As far as mentoring, he helped me founded a weekly online fellowship and ■ Today Back-to-school immunization learn what I needed to be doing in every Paul Benoit accepts his award and a monthly breakfast gathering one ■ Child Find screening clinic — clinic — 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 1 aspect of the job,” Widner said. is inducted into the Hall of Fame at Friday a month for area superintendents 9 a.m.-11 a.m. at Texico schools. For p.m.-3:30 p.m. at Clovis Public Health Benoit said he was “truly honored” to the New Mexico Coalition of to gather and socialize outside of their children from birth-5 years. Office, 1216 Cameo. Open to public. receive the award and and “completely Educational Leaders Banquet. typical duties. Information: 575-482-3801 No cost. Bring children’s shot records. surprised” because his wife, Lucia Benoit is still involved with area ■ Childrens’ Storyhour — 10 Information: 575-649-0754 Benoit, and Widner kept the award children in New Mexico.” schools as Northern Services Manager a.m. at Clovis-Carver Public Library under wraps until the banquet started. Benoit has spent a total of 29 years in for Cooperative Educational Service for ages 3-6. Information: 575-769- Tuesday education as a teacher, coach, principal ■ According to Benoit, the award is (CES), which provides purchasing con- 7840 Quilters Tuesday — 6 p.m.