Drug Probe $6,000 So Far ❏ No Arrests Made in Suspected Ambulance Narcotics Tampering
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
WEDNESDAY,APRIL 26, 2017 Inside: 75¢ Golf course pool to be repurposed. — Page 2A Vol. 89 ◆ No. 22 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Child dies in fire ❏ Mother taken to hospital Regional Medical Center for burns on her arms. with burns; fire’s cause Officials had not released identities of any- body involved as of Tuesday afternoon, but still under investigation. family members said 2-year-old Lizzy Martinez and her mother, Amber Martinez, BY THE STAFF OF THE NEWS were asleep in the home when the fire start- CLOVIS — A Tuesday morning fire at a ed. trailer home claimed the life of a 2-year-old “Amber has burns; we just got her back Clovis girl. from (a hospital) in Lubbock,” said Fabian First responders were alerted to the blaze Martinez, Amber’s father, late Tuesday after- at 4:12 a.m. on the 1900 block of East Sixth noon. Street, and were told on scene a child was “She tried to take (Lizzy) out of the fire, still inside the home, according to a release but the place was too hot. She couldn’t get in Staff photo: Tony Bullocks from the Clovis Police Department. The there.” A 2-year-old girl died in a house fire that occurred about 4 a.m. Tuesday in the 1900 release said a 2-year-old girl perished in the fire, and her mother was taken to Plains FIRE on Page 3A block of East Sixth Street, according to Clovis police. SLIDE TO THE FINISH Drug probe $6,000 so far ❏ No arrests made in suspected ambulance narcotics tampering. BY THE STAFF OF THE NEWS CLOVIS — A drug-tampering investigation aimed at Clovis’ fire department, and replacement of the drugs involved, has cost taxpayers about $6,000 so far, City Manager Larry Fry said on Tuesday. Clovis police are still investigating allegations, which stem from an April 15 ambulance run when officials sus- Staff photo: Alisa Boswell pected narcotics packaging had been Friends Mikey Auderson, left, and Tenika Heidelberg laugh as they finish racing each other through an inflatable obstacle “tampered with,” Fry said. course, which was set up behind the Eastern New Mexico University Campus Union Building for Inflatable Day, an end-of- No arrests have been made and no semester celebration. personnel tested positive for illegal substances, Fry said. Following the discovery, the city began following Drug Enforcement Administration protocol, which includes drug testing personnel and The News takes top prizes at contest removing drugs that may be tainted. On Tuesday, Fry said the city has publisher Rob Langrell. and Alisa Boswell ■ Second place, Sports BY THE STAFF OF THE NEWS drug-tested 78 personnel at a cost of “We've undergone a lot of ■ First place, Human Photography: Kevin Wilson about $3,900. Cost to replace drugs AMARILLO, Texas — The changes in the past year to 16 Interest Photography: Tony and Tony Bullocks was $2,003.92, he said. Eastern New Mexico News was months, but we're putting out a Bullocks ■ Second place, Front Page awarded the top newspaper quality newspaper every day. ■ First place, Spot News Layout: Jenna Zamie and “I am told that morphine and fen- prize in its division at the 107th “We strive to have something Photography: Tony Bullocks Malinda Montgomery. tanyl were replaced,” Fry said. “The Annual Panhandle Press that appeals to all of our differ- ■ First place, Additionally, the Quay removed drugs are sent to the DEA for Association awards held last ent readers,” he added. “We Society/Lifestyle section: County Sun — the weekly testing.” weekend. know how important commu- Malinda Montgomery paper based in Tucumcari that Morphine is a pain medication with The News collected the nity journalism. It's, of course, ■ First place, Best is also owned by Clovis Media a high potential for addiction and General Excellence award in nice to be recognized for our Website/Online newspaper: — picked up six awards. They abuse. work. We have a great staff that were: Division II, which consists of Shawn Luscombe and staff The National Institute on Drug PPA newspapers that are works their tails off on a regu- ■ Second place, Serious ■ Second place, Editorial Abuse defines fentanyl as “a powerful dailies or semi-weeklies. The lar basis to cover Clovis, Column: Thomas Garcia synthetic opioid analgesic that is sim- Canyon (Texas) News was the Portales and all of the sur- Writing: David Stevens ■ Second place, Sports ■ Second place, Feature ilar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times runner-up. In Division I (week- rounding communities. I'm Writing: Thomas Garcia more potent. It is a schedule II pre- lies), The Canadian (Texas) proud to be a part of that.” Writing: Alisa Boswell, Kevin ■ Third place, Feature scription drug, and it is typically used Record won the top honor. The News won awards in the Wilson and Brooke Finch Writing: Thomas Garcia ■ Overall, The News won following categories: Second place, Sports ■ Third place, Sports to treat patients with severe pain or to seven categories and took sec- ■ First place, Serious Writing: Dave Wagner and Photography: Thomas Garcia manage pain after surgery.” ond place in six others. The Column: David Stevens David Norton ■ Third place, Best Fry said all 78 fire department per- contest was for entries pub- ■ First place, Humorous ■ Second place, Headline Website/Online newspaper: sonnel have some access to the nar- lished in 2016. Column: Kevin Wilson Writing: Jenna Zamie, Kevin Shawn Luscombe and staff cotics, but they “must be accessed in “We had a great showing at ■ First place, News Writing: Wilson and Malinda ■ Honorable mention, News conjunction with one of four person- the PPA awards this year,” said David Stevens, Kevin Wilson Montgomery Writing: Thomas Garcia nel.” Forecast: Today Thursday Friday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................5A High: 68 High: 80 High: 76 Classified ......................5-6B Markets ............................2A Comics ..............................4B Obituaries..........................5A Low: 46 Low: 48 Low: 42 Voices................................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS Golf course pool may be repurposed Events calendar Today ■ Relay for Life — 10 a.m.-10 ■ By Stephanie Losoya adjustments fall within a Toddler Time — 10 a.m. at p.m. at Portales City Park. Clovis-Carver Public Library. Information: 575-607-5692 or 575- STAFF WRITER $2,000 range. The meeting also held a dis- Information: 575-769-7840 309-6487 [email protected] ■ ■ cussion regarding updates at Preschool storytime — Clovis Municipal Schools CLOVIS — The pool at the High Plains Motor 10:30 a.m. at Portales Public job fair — 9 a.m.-noon at 1009 Colonial Park Golf Course is Speedway. Library. Book: Main Street. Information: 575-769- Do Like a Duck Does. 4322 in such disrepair, any restora- Brad Harris, general manag- ■ tion would essentially require Information: 575-356-3940 International Tabletop Day er of the High Plains Motor ■ Tween program — 4:30 p.m. — Clovis-Carver Public Library. 10 building a new one from Speedway, requested funds for at Portales Public Library for ages a.m.-3 p.m. for family games, 5 scratch. LED lighting on the track and 9-12. Game day: Xbox One free p.m.-9 p.m. for grown-ups. Instead, the city’s Parks, bleacher updates. play. Information: 575-356-3940 Information: 575-769-7840 Recreation and Beautification Harris said both items ■ Indoor Rummage Sale —7 committee hopes an entertain- would help defray costs for the Thursday a.m.-1 p.m., Highland Shopping ment area will be a better and organization. ■ Preschool story hour — 10 Center, Clovis. Proceeds benefit cheaper use of the 8,400 “Getting quality aluminum a.m. at Clovis-Carver Public Clovis Meals on Wheels. square feet. Staff photo: Kevin Wilson bleachers will decrease insur- Library. Theme: April showers bring Information: 575-309-4576 Parks and Recreation May flowers. Information: 575-769- ■ Astronomy Club viewing — The pool at the Colonial Park Golf Course, unused ance by $300 a month,” said 7840 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. for daytime Director Mark Dayhoff pre- Harris. “If our electric (bill) sented preliminary plans and a since the city purchased it as part of the country club, is ■ Teen program — 4:30 p.m. at viewing, 6:30 p.m. for nighttime goes down (because of the total estimate of $89,141 to the recommended to be paved over and converted into an Portales Public Library for ages 13- stargazing at Clovis-Carver Public committee at its Monday entertainment area. lighting) I can pay drivers 18. Activity: Sponge-stamped pil- Library. Information: 575-763-9683 meeting. more and build up the audi- lows. Information: 575-356-3940 ■ World Tai Chi Day — 10 a.m. The department plans to fill ed lighting will come up to recreation committee allowed ence” ■ Preschool storytime — 6 at Hillcrest Park, Clovis. Learn in the pool and create an area about $11,277 in additional Dayhoff some latitude to make The total cost for the new p.m. at Portales Public Library. about traditional Chinese Tai Chi equipped with a 20 square-foot costs. adjustments to the plans, bleachers, including shipping Book: and Qigong. Registration starts at metal shelter, small patches of “The time frame for the including the location of the from Connecticut, said Harris, Do Like a Duck Does. 9:30 a.m. Information: 575-749- is $26,713. The committee Information: 575-356-3940 3300 landscaping, room for tables, project,” said Dayhoff, “is for shelter and the bubble rock. ■ it to be finished by late July or Committee members voted voted to contribute $27,000 The Devised Project: seating, an entertainment set Departures — 7 p.m.