No Fatalities in Melrose Train Crash
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THURSDAY,APRIL 6, 2017 Inside: 75¢ STEM program reaching out — Page 2A Vol. 89 ◆ No. 5 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Candidate grilled on arts, retention ❏ Charles Crespy of Michigan third to be interviewed at ENMU. By Alisa Boswell MANAGING EDITOR [email protected] PORTALES — The third candi- date for Eastern New Mexico University president as he was greeted with concerns surround- ing fine arts, liberal arts, retention and more. After giving a brief introduction Staff photo: Tony Bullocks of himself in which he shared an extensive background in New One member of the train crew was transported to the hospital, but there were no fatalities in the crash on Melrose's east side. Mexico and Texas, including four degrees from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Charles Crespy of Michigan answered questions from faculty members Wednesday afternoon. No fatalities “As we’re looking at them (the state) shifting the way they’re using gen. eds. (general education requirements) or the way they’re viewing a college degree, what we’re seeing is the humanity pro- in Melrose grams are suffering, not just in terms of people not taking the same amount of gen eds, but stu- dents not even knowing what degrees in certain areas mean,” said Liberal Arts Department train crash Staff photo: Tony Bullocks Chair Carol Erwin. “I’m wonder- ❏ Witness: ‘I thought attempting to cross the tracks. The accident occurred just before 10 a.m. when a train struck a ing what your philosophy is but Witnesses described hearing a semi-tractor attempting to cross the tracks. also ways in which you see trying to bridge the divide between the loud noise and seeing a large plume the train blew up.’ cleaned up within 24 hours. As of “There are quite a few cars on the way state legislators are looking at of dust and smoke. People closer to Wednesday afternoon, crews were ground, and quite a bit of damage, higher education and the ways in By David Grieder the site said it looked like a fireball still busy assessing damage. but no fatalities," said Clovis Fire which at least faculty view the STAFF WRITER from an action movie. “I have a count of 10 cars and 2 Department spokesman Dale Hand. value of — especially liberal arts [email protected] “I was standing at the register and engines derailed,” said Joe Sloan, a A press release from Curry — education.” I looked up and I saw an explosion BNSF public affairs officer. County Sheriff Wesley Waller noted “I believe at least part of the MELROSE — A train wreck and I thought the train blew up," “There’s no timeframe yet for when one of four employees aboard the problem is the way we define Wednesday morning in Melrose said Roxan Thomson, who was at they will be back...that depends on BNSF train was transported what liberal arts education is and injured one, derailed several cars, work directly across the highway how much needs to be repaired.” Wednesday to Plains Regional how we define what counts,” and led to diverted traffic the rest of from the site, at the entrance to Sloan noted traffic was halted on Medical Center for minor injuries. Crespy replied. the day. town. "It was a crazy fire and a lot both tracks while crew worked on Waller identified the tractor driv- He said a university in Miami The accident occurred just before of smoke. It was the craziest fire I've repairs. er as Federico Ortiz, 57, of wanted to influence student in the 10 a.m. at the US 60/84-NM 267 ever seen." One of the overturned cars spilled Tucumcari, who was hauling an College of Business in liberal arts intersection, when a westbound Railroad officials estimated after part of its cargo, which included earth excavator in a vehicle for BNSF train struck a semi-tractor the crash that the site would be several cases of energy drinks. Pacheco Construction and CANDIDATE on Page 3A Trucking. Ortiz was not injured. A Pacheco Construction repre- sentative declined comment on the event. Waller said the train was traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour at the time. He did not respond to a request Wednesday for additional information on the cause of the col- lision. Sloan said when the train crew saw the truck was either stalled or stuck on the crossing, it performed an emergency stop. However, any train would have needed at least a Staff photo: Alisa Boswell mile to come to a complete rest. Eastern New Mexico University president candidate Staff photo: Tony Bullocks Charles Crespy of Michigan One of the cars spilled part of speaks to faculty members its cargo, which included sever- Wednesday afternoon in the al cases of energy drinks. Campus Union Building. Forecast: Today Friday Saturday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................5A High: 71 High: 77 High: 82 Classified ......................5-6B Markets ............................2A Comics ..............................4B Obituaries..........................6A Low: 39 Low: 45 Low: 49 Voices................................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 LOCAL THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS STEM program reaching Events calendar Today Tuesday ■ Preschool story hour — 10 ■ Quilters Tuesdays — 6 p.m. a.m. at Clovis-Carver Public at Clovis-Carver Public Library. Library. Theme: Spring is for ducks Lesson: How to use a walking foot. out to smaller communities and rabbits. Information: 575-769- Registration required. Information: 7840 575-763-9687 By Eamon Scarbrough EDUCATION FEATURE Robin May, the program’s ■ Teen program — 4:30 p.m. at ■ Afterschool STEAM — 4:30 STAFF WRITER lead specialist, noted the pro- Portales Public Library for ages 13- p.m. at Portales Public Library for gram immerses ENMU stu- 18. Information: 575-356-3940 grades K-6. Activity: Play your way. [email protected] ■ ail dents in STEM as early as Preschool storytime — 6 Information: 575-356-3940 Whether it be through sci- their sophomore year. p.m. at Portales Public Library. ence fairs in area schools or “We’re paying about 20 Book: Breezy Weather. Information: Wednesday students a semester on cam- 575-356-3940 ■ Rural Development single lab work for college sopho- ■ Colour Creators — 10 a.m., mores, the Eastern New pus so they don’t have to family housing workshop — 1 work at fast-food restaurants 6 p.m. at Clovis-Carver Public p.m.-3 p.m. at ENMU, Room COB Mexico University Hispanic Library. Information: 575-763-9687 Serving Institutions Science, (to pay bills). They can work 113 in the College of Business. ■ Preschool screening clinic Please, RSVP. Information: 575- Technology, Engineering, in the research labs with their professors and get one- — 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Floyd 622-8745 ext. 4. and Math programs is set on school, by appt. only. For ages birth ■ Toddler Time — 10 a.m. at diminishing stigma about on-one contact with the pro- to 5 years. Information: 575-478- fessors,” she said. Clovis-Carver Public Library. science. 2211 Information: 575-769-7840 May added that 10 recent ■ Funded by a $911,000 ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ ■ Preschool storytime — grant from the US Courtesy photo: Robin May graduates have already been play — 7 p.m. at PHS Performing published in scientific jour- 10:30 a.m. at Portales Public Department of Education, Eastern New Mexico University students Jose Arts Center, 201 S. Knoxville Library. Book: the program develops rela- nals, a distinction Sharp Street, Portales. Admission: $5. Mondragon, left, and Davi Mondragon present their Chicken Littles. Information: tionships with area schools added is somewhat unique Information: 575-356-7015 Hispanic Serving Institutions Science, Technology, 575-356-3940 by bringing them guest for a university. ■ Tween program — 4:30 p.m. speakers, assisting teachers Engineering, and Mathematics research project at the “It’s really neat too, Friday ■ at Portales Public Library for ages with curriculum, and sched- university’s Student Research Conference. because at most larger ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ 9-13. Game day: Play your way. uling field trips to science schools, most students don’t play — 7 p.m. at PHS Performing Information: 575-356-3940 labs, according to Outreach and get these students and they think, ‘Oh, that’s get involved in lab research Arts Center, 201 S. Knoxville ■ Stitch Addicts — 7:15 p.m. Coordinator Zoey Sharp. involved.” what some nerdy person until they’re graduate stu- Street, Portales. Admission: $5. at Clovis-Carver Public Library. “We’re starting another A mission of the program does. They sit in an office all dents, or maybe their fourth Information: 575-356-7015 Lesson: Crochet a basic dish. ■ Lil Rob Reloaded concert — five-year grant. For the last is showing students the vari- day by themselves,’” said year in school,” she said. Information: 575-769-7840 ety of careers they are able to Sharp. “That’s not really “We have 18 and 19-year-old 6 p.m. at the Yam Theatre, five years, there was some- Portales. Tickets: $20. Information: pursue in the STEM field. true. I think it’s important, Ongoing one in my position, but the kids working in these 505-269-3301 ■ Pintores artist of the month role was slightly different, “Based on different educa- because we want these research labs, doing relevant ■ 41st annual Jack — Andrea Brasier is the featured and they weren’t trying to tional research that we’ve young people to be aware of research that’s important, Williamson Lectureship — 10 artist for April at Clovis-Carver reach out as much past the read, students aren’t always what’s out there, what oppor- that’s getting published in a.m.-6:30 p.m., ENMU Campus Public Library.